170 MR. embleton's address. 



the mouth of the Pease-burn, and from thence to a " quarry," 

 about half a mile along the coast, which abounds with the 

 scales of a species of Holyptechius in the old red sandstone. 

 From thence the party proceeded to the well-known Siccar 

 Point ; and returning by the direct road to Cockburnspath, 

 they visited the magnificent and newly erected bridge over 

 Dunglas-dene. — A paper was read by Dr. K D. Thomson, 

 which gave an exposition of the comparative nutritive and 

 calorifacient qualities of different articles of food ; illus- 

 trating his statements with a series of diagrams. A speci- 

 men of the Bridled Guillemot was exhibited by Mr. Hepburn, 

 who, with Major Elliott, honoured the meeting with their 

 presence. It was shot by Mr. Hepburn upon the Bass Rock, 

 about six years ago ; its peculiarities were pointed out. A 

 specimen of a new British Sponge was shown by Dr. Johnston, 

 and to which he has given the name of Halichondria macu- 

 laris. The day was equally unfavourable to the entomologist 

 and the botanist ; very few insects were observed, and the only 

 plants worth naming were Ligusticum scotimm and Senecio 

 tiscosus. 



Such, Gentlemen, is a very hurried and imperfect sketch of 

 the meetings of the Club for the past year ; and it has been 

 a matter of very great regret to myself, that my professional 

 duties have been of such a nature as to prevent me from 

 attending so regularly, as my duty as your President, and 

 my inclination as a member, would have prompted me. But 

 I look forward with pleasure to the time, when the means 

 of our communication with each other will be so much in- 

 creased, as to leave but little excuse for non-attendance at 

 our meetings. The past year has been one remarkable for 

 its beauty and the steadiness of its temperature, and by re- 

 ferring to the adjoined table, showing the mean height of the 

 Barometer and Thermometer from January IS^l, to the day 

 of our meeting, it will be seen how much higher and steadier 

 it has been than in any of the previous years. 



Vegetation has been rapid and luxuriant, and the harvest 

 has been gathered earlier, and in better condition, than it 

 has been since the year 182G. Notwithstanding, however, 

 the favourableness of the season, we have again to deplore 

 the ravages of that fearful disease amongst the potatoes, in 



