62 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



ornithological drawings, by Mr William Sinclair. These dravangs 

 were distinguished for great beauty of colouring and accuracy of 

 delineation, being original figures of interesting species, drawn 

 with a skill seldom equalled. 



Mr David Robertson exhibited specimens (male and female) of 

 Bodotria Goodsirii, a species new to Britain, found by himself at 

 Cumbrae. 



Dr Dewar exhibited two specimens of the marsh harrier (Circus 

 ceruginosus) — one of them in the chocolate-coloured j^lumage, with 

 a cream-coloured head and chin; the other, which was shot by 

 himself in the Crimea, being in the plumage figured by Gould 

 and Yarrell in their respective works, but which is seldom, if 

 ever, observed in specimens killed in this country. Respecting 

 the latter, Dr Dewar observed that it appeared, on close exami- 

 nation, to be a younger bird than the British specimen — a fact at 

 variance with Mr Gould's statement that all old birds (the species, 

 as he says, being long in attaining maturity) are coloured as 

 represented in his figure. The two birds, indeed, would appear 

 to be distinct, inasmuch as Continental specimens, and those 

 occurring in the British Islands, preserve, as a rule, their dis- 

 tinctive colours, without much variation; and Mr Gould's admis- 

 sion of the fact of this bird breeding before arriving at maturity 

 is not sufficient to account for the entire absence, in this country, 

 of specimens in the plumage of what is called the perfect hvery. 



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

 Royal Botanic Garden: — Ouvirandrafcnestralis (lattice leaf); Good- 

 yera discolor, a beautiful specimen, with upwards of fifteen flowering 

 stems, all in fall bloom; and Urostigma elastica (India-rubber tree). 

 Regarding the first named, Mr Clark informed the meeting that 

 this remarkable plant — one of the most interesting which has 

 been raised in the garden — was grown from seeds obtained from 

 Mr Norman M'Leod, of Dalvey, to whom the garden has been 

 much indebted for many rare and valuable donations, and quoted 

 the following remarks from the Rev. William Ellis, Avho was first 

 the means of bringing the species in a living state to this country, 

 about eight years ago: — " The most rare and choice acquisition 

 which I made in Madagascar during this visit was the beautiful 

 aquatic plant Ouvirandra fenestralis, which I have been able, with 

 much ease, to bring safe home. From the work of Du-Petit 

 Thouars, in M. Bojer's possession, I copied the Ouvirandra, and, 



