The Scottish Naturalist. 131 



PUBLICATIONS OF SCOTTISH SCIENTIFIC! SOCIETIES. 



THE TRANSACTIONS AND JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 

 DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY NATURAL HISTORY AND ANTI- 

 QUARIAN SOCIETY : 



Sessions 188J-S4, 1884-85, 1885-86, (Published 1887). 



"1 1 7E are glad to see so good evidence as this publication affords of 

 * the well-being of the most southern of Scotch Natural History 

 Societies. The range of subjects is wide and varied, including local 

 antiquities, as well as the Natural Sciences ; and the contributors of 

 papers are drawn from a wider circle than in a good many Societies of 

 the same kind. A good feature in the meetings is the exhibition of 

 specimens, especially of such as have been newly discovered in the 

 district. We have had the opportunity, in former issues, of noticing 

 the progress of the Society from newspaper reports ; but we are now 

 enabled to estimate more clearly the work that it has done during the 

 three years, and its prospects of continued prosperity. 



The scientific papers read were as follows : 



In 1883 : The Sociological Value of Entomology, by D. 

 Sharp. M.B ; The Museums of Brussels, by J. Gibson Starke ; 

 and Ornithological Notes (pp 6-7), by W. Hastings. In the 

 latter paper are noted the occurrence of a female Black-tailed Godwit 

 {Limosa cegocephald), a Ring-ouzel (Turdus torquatus) with a white 

 head and neck, a male Shoveller {Spatula clypeata), and a Red- 

 breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator), as well as an unusual abund- 

 ance of the Great Black-backed Gull {Larus ?narinus) and of the 

 Short-eared Owl (Asio accipitrinus). 



In 1884, in a paper on First Blossoming of Wild Flowers in 

 Tynron during the summer months of 1882 and 1883 (p. 8.), 

 by James Shaw, the conclusion come to is that " Generally speaking, 

 the vanguard of any given species came to the front a fortnight later 

 in 1883" than in 1882. Zymotic Diseases, their Cause and 

 Cure (pp. 12-14.), by J Wilson, gives a resume' of the recent 

 views in regard to the part filled by Bacteria in zymotic dis- 

 eases, of the modes of propagation and distribution of these micro- 

 organisms, and of the best methods for combatting them. The Des- 

 truction of Beasts and Birds of Prey (pp. 14-18.), by W. J. 

 Maxwell, deals with a subject of so great practical value that we 

 venture to print it in full in another part of this Journal (p. 102). A 



