56 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



since been taken in the same county, one of which, while in Mr 

 Buckland's possession, gave birth to five liAdng young, thus con- 

 firming the statement of Von Tschudi, and other Continental 

 naturalists, who had asserted that this species is not oviparous, 

 like the common ringed snake. Mr Alston observed, further, 

 that it is a local, though not uncommon, species in many parts of 

 Europe, preferring dry to marshy ground, and living mostly on 

 lizards. It is found in Austria, and is indigenous to Switzerland, 

 where Von Tschudi says it occurs on the Alps at an elevation of 

 upwards of four thousand feet. He concluded his remarks by 

 observing that all the specimens yet obtained in the British 

 Islands had occurred in Hampshire, a peculiarity arising probably 

 from its having been confounded with the ringed snake {Natrix 

 torquata), but that further investigation might prove it to be a 

 species more generally distributed. 



Mr David Robertson exhibited specimens of Doris j^Ianuta, Eolis 

 olivacea, and Eolis gracilis, taken by himself at Cumbrae, under 

 stones at low water. Dr Lindsay drew the attention of the 

 members to an unusually large specimen of Astrophjton sciitatum 

 (Euri/ale of Lamarck), wliich he exhibited from the cabinet of 

 Dr Thomas Paterson. 



The following plants were exhibited by Mr Peter Clark, of the 

 Royal Botanic Garden: — Laurus camphora, Ficus religiosus, Cycas 

 circinalis, and Oncidium graminifolium, all in the finest condition; 

 and Dr Scouler made some observations on each of the species. 

 Mr Clark also exhibited a specimen of Melopsittacus widulatus (the 

 warbling grass paraquet), a young bird wliich had been reared in 

 Glasgow. 



Dr Dewar exhibited a head of the white urus, or Caledonian ox 

 {Unis Scoticus, Sm.), and read a short paper on the species as it 

 at present exists in Cadzow forest, the only preserved habitat in 

 Scotland. Old writers speak of these cattle, which, in their own 

 time, haunted the ancient Caledonian forest, extending from 

 Stirling to Atliol and Lochaber, as large and furious animals; and, 

 in more recent times, Gesner and Sir Robert Sibbald allude to 

 them as either degenerated or extinct, except in the district of 

 Cumbernauld. The breed at Hamilton, which is carefully pre- 

 served, is one of great interest, and is looked upon as directly 

 descended from the herds of wild cattle kept by our ancient 

 Scottish kings; and as the Cadzow enclosure yet retains much of 



