U PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Some facts were then stated, and a discussion ensued respecting 

 the excessive mortality which had occurred last month amongst 

 the sea birds of the Firth of Clyde, Belfast Lough, and several 

 other places chiefly in the West of Scotland. From information 

 communicated by one or two gentlemen connected with the 

 society, it would appear that the stricken birds were found floating 

 literally in thousands — dead or in a dying state — many parts of 

 the coast being strewed with their bodies. An opinion seemed 

 to prevail among the members that the epidemic — if such it could 

 be called — had set in about the time of the birds leaving Ailsa 

 Craig, and the breeding places off" the coast of Ireland; and that, 

 during the course of the few intervening weeks, they had, probably 

 from a diminution or entire absence of their usual food, fallen 

 into a condition favourable to the development of a species of 

 entozoon — the common tapeworm, for example — which, as in the 

 case of the grouse some years ago, would, no doubt, on dissection, 

 be found to be the ultimate cause of death. 



October 25th, 1859. 

 John Scouler, M.D., LL.D., F.L.S., President, in the chair. 



SPECIMENS exhibited. 



Mr David Robertson exhibited the following specimens: — 



PaguTus Forbesii. — Dredged off" the Cumbrae Islands. 



Cuma unguiculata. — A new crustacean, from Cumbrae, and 

 named by Mr C. Spence Bate. 



Sepiola Rondeletii. — Dredged by himself off" Cumbrae. 



Podocerus falcatus. — Dredged by himself off" Cumbrae. 



Mr Eobertson also made some remarks upon the additions made 

 to the list of Crustacea found in the Firth of Clyde, for 1857, '58, 

 and '59, enumerating 24 species, besides referring to others which 

 were doubtful. 



The subject of the recent mortality among the sea-fowl of the 

 Firth of Clyde having been resumed at this meeting, the following 

 facts were elicited from some of the members present who had been 

 engaged in its investigation: — 



The birds which had fallen victims to the so-called epidemic 

 were of four species, viz., the common guillemot (Uria troile), the 



