Proceeditu/s of the Wernerian Society. 177 



Dr Traill next conimuMicated some remarks on the food of the 

 genus Trochilus, and stated, that having; frequently dissected dif- 

 ferent species of Trochilus, which had been put up in spirit when 

 recently killed, he had invariably found the expansion of their 

 ttjsophag-us corresponding- to the crop of gianivorous birds, to con- 

 tain insects, and, in some instances, to be completely stuffed with 

 them, among which he had never observed any apterous insect. 

 In a specimen of Trochilus viridissimus, opened in presence of the 

 meeting-, two species of dipterous insects were found. From these 

 observations he inferred, that Alexander Wilson and some other 

 naturalists were not only rig-ht in asserting that insects v/ere oc- 

 casionally eaten by humming-birds, but that the chief object of 

 their fluttering about flowers was more for the purpose of obtain- 

 ing insect food than for the alleged object of sucking the honey 

 from the nectaries of plants. 



Professor Jameson directed the attention of the members to the 

 height of the coast-line of fuci or sea-weeds; remarking, that im- 

 portant geological results would seem to have been obtained by 

 the French northern scientific expedition, from observations made 

 on the variations it presents in Norway, as mentioned in the April 

 number of the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, p. 420. It 

 was recommended that comparative measurements should be made 

 on the coasts of Scotland and its islands, with the view of collect- 

 ing information regarding a phenomenon which appears to bear 

 so directly on the question of the supposed elevation of the land, 

 or the depression of the sea. The Professor then exhibited the 

 skin of a species of sheep from the lofty Himmalayan range, much 

 resembling the argali of Siberia, but differing from the argali of 

 North America. He observed, that if the animal could be intro- 

 duced alive into Scotland, it would probably thrive in our High- 

 lands, and become valuable, not for wool certainly — the fur being- 

 hairy and like that of the deer — but for its flesh, which is described 

 as delicate and excellent for food. 



April 18. — Dr Robert Hamilton in the Chair. — Mr Edward 

 Forbes communicated observations on certain rare British Zoo- 

 phytes ; illustrating his remarks by drawings. 



Professor Jameson read a communication by Professor L. A. 

 Necker on some rare Scottish minerals (published in this Number, 

 p. 75). He likewise exhibited specimens of the lead and iron ores 

 of Craigengillan, in the parish of Carsphairn and Stewartry of 

 Kirkcudbright. 



VOL. XXIX. NO. LVH. JULY 1840. M 



