156 



PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS. 

 EDINBURGH. 



Royal Physical Society — March 31. 1830. — A Collection of Insects was pre- 

 sented, accompanied with some remarks on their Natural History ; by Mr. Hewett 

 Watson. 



A notice of some rare Animals recently added to the collection of the Zoologi- 

 xal Society of London, was read by A. T. Holroyd, Esq. F.L.S. F.Z.S. 



Mr. W. Ainsworth made some remarks on the Mineralogical Characters of the 

 Slagnesian Limestone of Durham, illustrated by specimens and sections. 



April 7 — Captain Thomas Brown, F.L.S. &c. read an account of a new spe- 

 cies of Fish, of the genus Platessa, (Vide present Number, p. 99.) 



Mr. K. T. Kemp made some observations on the mode of determining the size 

 of Galvanic Plates necessary for producing a full shock on the human body : with 

 remarks on the difference between the intensity and quantity of Galvanism. 



April 14. — Mr. J. Marsdeii read some observations on the Physiology of 

 Plants. 



Mr. K. T. Kemp noticed some experiments where Electricity is excited by 

 simple substances ; with observations on the cause of bodies being conductors, 

 and non-conductors of Electricity. 



April 21. — Mr. Ainsworth exhibited specimens of Coprolites from the Mu- 

 seum of Professor Buckland, and made some observations on their Geognostical 

 distribution. 



An account of a new instrument for measuring the Dip of the Magnetic Needle 

 was given, with an exhibition of the contrivance, by Mr. Fowlis of St. John's^ 

 (New Brunswick.) 



Henry H. Cheek, F.S.S.A. &c. communicated some remarks on Geoflfroy St/ 

 Hilaire's theory of the Unity of Organization. 



Wernerian Society. — March 20. — Mr. James Wilson read a paper " on the 

 Origin of our Domestic Poultry." 



Dr. Scot read a paper " on the question, whether the Hyena of Naturalists be 

 mentioned or alluded to in the Sacred Writings." 



April 3. — A very able and interesting account of the anatomy of the Sturgeon 

 was read by Dr. Craigie, exposing many errors that Dr. Munro, secundus, and 

 Sii Everard Home have committed, in their details of the structure of this Fish. 

 . *■ 



LONDON; 



Royal Society — -March 11. — Mr. Lubbock read a paper on the Pendulum. 



An experimental inquiry relative to the Polarization of Heat, by the Rev. B» 

 Powell, Savillian Professor of Geometry in the University of Oxford, was read. 

 Mr. Aldini presented ah interesting work on the improvement of Light-Houses. 



March 18. — A paper was read on the Electricity of Threads of Glass, by 

 WiUiam Ritchie, Esq. F.R.S. 



Dr. Simons read an essay on the Velocity of Sound, 



April 1 — A letter was received from the Rev. James Farquharson, containing 

 the sequel of his observations on the Aurora Borealis. 



George B, Balton, Esq. read a statement of the principal circumstances in 

 connection with the Union of the Siamese Twins, (they being present.) 



Mr. Coddington exhibited his improved Microscope ; Mr Ritchie, his new de- 

 licate Torsion Balance and Galvanometer ; and Captain Fleming, an ingenious 

 mechanical invention to be used on board ship. 



