222 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Mr D. C. Brown exhibited several nut galls, from Rothesay ; 

 illustrating the usefulness of insectivorous birds. 



Mr John Kirsop exhibited several objects of interest, from 

 India, including a perfect specimen of a saw-fish, caught in the 

 Bay of Bengal, and a series of birds' skins, from the Carnatic. 



The Librarian announced the following donations to the 

 Library : — The Natural History of the Tineina ; from Dr 

 Colquhoun ; Transactions of the Geological Society of Glasgow, 

 Vol. iv., Part ii. ; from the Society. 



October 28th, 1873. 



Mr John Alexander in the chair. 



Mr Edward R. Alston, F.L.S., was elected a corresponding 

 member, and Messrs John Chalmers and Hugh M'Bean ordinary 

 members. 



Mr Thomas Chapman exhibited specimens of Urania ripheus, 

 from Madagascar, and two other species of the same genus, and 

 remarked that these day-flying moths, which are often called 

 emerald butterflies, compose the genus Urania, of which they form 

 the only authentic known species. Urania leilus has been known 

 in Europe for more than 200 years, and was named by Linnaeus. 

 It is by far the most abundant species, and inhabits the northern 

 half of South America and the West Indian islands. Urania 

 Sloanus was first named by Cramer, and figured in his great work 

 in 1779; it is not known to inhabit any other place than Jamaica, 

 and is, therefore, not common in collections. Urania rijohens was 

 first made known to the world by Drury, in the second volume of 

 his work published in London in 1773 ; but his figure was made 

 from a defective specimen, wanting the tails of the hind wings, and 

 with the head of a butterfly substituted for the original. Drury 

 states that the specimen from which his drawdng was made was 

 brought from China. The next specimen we read of was figured 

 by Cramer, in 1782, with the statement that it came from the 

 coast of Bengal ; he refers to Drury's figure, and suggests that it 

 was defective. Espcr published a superior drawing of this species 

 in 1801, and mentions that only three specimens were known to 

 exist, and that he did not know from whence his came. Up to 



