Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 271 



posed that I had gone no farther ; but, if he will take the 

 trouble of turning over the page, he will find his arguments 

 demolished without quarter. He asks for a demonstration 

 where it is evident (as I have shown) that none can be given, 

 (for who can actually see a bird imbibing the oil); and then 

 affirms, that nothing else will satisfy him. This is rational con- 

 duct, truly. The other demonstration has already been given 

 by eyewitnesses, who have seen the dipper walk underneath 

 the water. (See Mudie's Feathered Tribes, as quoted by 

 S. D. W., in VJII. 638.) 



Now, we come to his "barn-door fowl without a tail,'* 

 " risum teneatis amici ? " which he introduces as an answer 

 to my question, whether any birds are without the oil gland. 

 [The correction prefixed to Mr. Waterton's communication in 

 p. c 266 — 269., should be taken cognisance of here.] Another 

 instance this of his cleverness at illustration ! Really, Mr. 

 Charles Waterton, I had given you credit before for some 

 little knowledge of the rudiments of natural history, which 

 little, it seems, you had no claim to. What, Sir! are we to in- 

 fer from your "barn-door fowl's" having no tail, that, there- 

 fore, it has no oil gland ? What, in the name of all the barn- 

 door fowls that ever lived, have the feathers of a bird's tail to do 

 with its anatomy ? Answer me this question, and get over 

 this how you can. Stay, yet one more question. How many 

 converts are there to your theory about the oil gland ? I will 

 tell you: just as many as have embraced your method of stuffing 

 birds, given to the world so many years ago in your Wander- 

 ings ; and, what is more, the number will always remain the 

 same : but on this subject you shall hear from me again. 

 "We shall meet at Philippi." Let me only add that, while you 

 were wa?idering in South America, I was acquiring an experi- 

 mental knowledge in England of its native birds, which you 

 will never possess. — F. O. Morris. March 1. 1836. 



Art. XL Instances of Mans Progress in the Extension of his 

 Knowledge of Natural History. 



A BOTANICAL Society has been established in Edinburgh. — 

 At a meeting which took place on March 17., the Society, was 

 constituted under the title of " The Botanical Society of 

 Edinburgh." The meetings are to be held on the second 



DO 



Thursday of every month, from November to July inclusive. 

 Professor Graham has been elected president, and Drs. Gre- 

 ville and Balfour vice-presidents, for the present year. The 

 advancement of botanical science is the object of the Society. 



