120 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Algae, and then comes a chapter of instructions for the preservation and 

 arrangement of the specimens procured, which will be most useful to those who 

 wish to have their spolia opirna in a condition to exhibit to their friends, in 

 somewhat of their pristine elegance and beauty: few botanical collections are 

 more attractive than one of nicely prepared sea-weeds; and those who follow 

 Mr. Landsborough's directions will find little difficulty in rendering their marine 

 herbarium an object of interest as well as beauty. Those who wish to encourage 

 a taste for such pursuits in any of their young friends going to the sea- side, 

 cannot lay out half-a-guinea better than in making them a present of this very 

 useful little work, and if they are themselves bound on a similar journey, they 

 will not regret purchasing it for their own use. 



^.^rntwMngs nf Inrktirs. 



YorJcshire Naturalists' Club. — The monthly meeting was held, iis usual, at Mr. Graham's, m 

 Jubber"-ate, on Wednesday evening, May 7tli., when there was a full attendance of members. 

 "William Gbay, Esq. occupied the diaii-. 



Several interesting objects were exhibited by Mr. T. Stuubs, of Kipon. Among them the 

 windpipe of the Velvet Scoter, (Oidemia ftisca;) a fine specimen of the nest of the Ves2)a 

 Britannica; the skull and portion of the skin of the Walrus, (Tricliechm Rosmarus;) several 

 pieces of Ash wood, obtained last year, on which the excavations of a small beetle, (Anoblum,) 

 of a cliiss exceedingly destructive to timber, were beautifully shown; also several specimens of 

 the beetle itself, etc. 



Dr. Morris exhibited a fine specimen of the Old English Black lljit, (Mas ratttts,) for which 

 he was indebted to the kindness of W. Richardson, Esq., of Stockton-on-Tees, where it was cap- 

 tured recently. He also exhibited several fine specimens of the Stoat, or Ermme, (Mustcla 

 erminea,) in its white winter fur, and called the attention of the club to the large number of 

 these animals, which had been procured in this state during the past winter, notwithstanding 

 its extreme mildness ; showing that the change in colour of tht\ fur must be dependent on other 

 causes than mere severity of cold. 



Mr. Graham exhibited two splendid adult specimens of the "Wliite-tailed Eagle, ( Ilalimctics 

 albicilla,) which had been procured in Sutherlandshire ; also the male and female of Stcllers 

 Western Duck, (Somateria dispar;) all of which he had recently mounted for W. M. E. Milner, 

 Esq., M. P. He also produced a specimen of the Fifteen-spined Stickleback, ( Gasterosteiis 

 spinaehia,) which he had received from Scarborough. 



Dr. Morris exhibited several interesting sections of wood by the microscope, particularly one 

 of the Indian Wood, called Phytocrene. "In this curious production the wood consists of plates 

 containing vessels and woody tissue, having no connexion with each other, and separated at very 

 considerable inten-als by a largo mass of prosenchjTiiatous cellular tissue, filled with vasifonn 

 tissue, and representing medullary rays. When the stem is dry, the woody plates separate fi-om 

 the other tissue, in which they finally lie loose." — Lindley. Dr. Morris also exhibited, by the 

 microscope, some specimens of Marine Alga. 



The Eev. D. LANDsnoROUGH, whose interesting little work on Sea-weeds, should be in the 

 hands of every Algologist, was present as a visitor, and exhibited a fine series of most beauti- 

 fully preserved Sea- weeds, many of them of considerable rarity; after which he kindly gave the 

 members present a very clear, interesting, and useful account of the best methods of mounting 

 and preserving specimens of Marine Alffce, and by which, in fact, all the specimens on the table 

 had been so beautifully preserved, as to appear rather like elegant and highly-finished drawings, 

 than specimens of "worthless Sca-wecd." Tlie account was received with great interest by the 

 members. 



The following new members were admitted: — Capt. C. J. Fcatherstone, E. N., Eipon; and the 

 Eev, J. Overton, Sessay. 



