1 68 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



II — On Ancient Canoes recently found at Renfrew. 

 By Mr W. Newton MacCartney. 

 Mr MacCartney gave an account of the discovery of two of these 

 interesting relics on the banks of the Clyde, near the ferry, in 1863. 

 Both were found at a depth of fourteen feet in the sandy gravel. 

 The largest specimen was about twenty-five feet long, and was in 

 excellent preservation. These two canoes had remained on the 

 river bank uncared for till the workmen broke up the remains for 

 firewood and other uses. Several pieces had been taken to Een- 

 frew and converted into walking sticks. Mr MacCartney sug- 

 gested that the society should memorialise the Clyde Trustees, 

 with a view to the future preservation of those or similar objects 

 of interest, should they 'be discovered. Various animal remains 

 had from time to time been obtained during the excavations 

 carried on at different parts of the river, and these, under proper 

 instructions, might in future be made to serve the purposes of 

 science, instead of being destroyed by the hands of the careless or 

 ignorant. It was, therefore, agreed that a representation should 

 be made to the Trustees on the subject.* 



March 26th, 1867. 

 Mr James Home in the chair. The folloAving gentlemen were 

 elected members: — Rev. James T. Graham, Govan; Eev. Robert 

 Small, Caddenfoot Manse, Galashiels; Rev. John R. Secular; and 

 Mr Thomas H. TurnbuU, resident ; Dr John Alston, late of the 

 Province of Maranam, Brazil; and Mr Thos. Edward, Banfi", 

 corresponding. 



SPECIMENS EXHIBITED. 



The Secretary exhibited a beautiful specimen of the ivory gull 

 {Larus eburneus) which was shot near Campbeltown last month, 

 and preserved by Mr Martin, Buchanan Street. The species is 

 one of great rarity in the British Islands, and is known to have 

 occurred only in a few instances in Scotland. Mr Gray, however, 

 remarked that solitary birds might probably be found lingering 

 occasionally on Ailsa Craig, as pure white gulls had been oftener 

 than once observed there. 



Mr Alexander M'Kinlay exhibited specimens of Jungermannia 



* In July, 1868, near Dunglass, on the Clyde, other two canoes were found. 



