40 THE QUERIST. 



Mr. Thomas Gray exhibited specimens of Terebratulm, from tliq chalk, from -which he had 

 succeeded in perfectly removing the embedding rock. This he had done so carefully as to 

 preserve entire the delicate processes in the neighbourhood of the hinge. No trace of the 

 internal calcareous process, usually denominated by collectors "the carriage spring," and which 

 seems a branchial support of some kind, appeared in these specimens. They were so completely 

 divested of every trace of the matrix in which they had been fossilized, as to present all the 

 appearance of recent specimens. 



Mr. Gouulie read a communication from Dr. Scouler, "On the introduction of the potato 

 into Scotland," after which Dr. Lon-ain read "Some observations on the Xorth American Helices.' 



2nd. December, 1851. — Mr. W. Ferguson read a communication from Dr. Scouler, entitled 

 "Notices of the occurrence of the Reindeer in Scotland." This paper narrated the discovery 

 of an undoubted portion of the horns of the Eeindeer, as well as of portions of those of Red 

 Deer, in alluvium on the banks of Clyde, near Renfrew. The notice will appear in a scientific 

 journal. 



Dr. Lorrain read a paper "On the structure and peculiar habits of a North American Snail," 

 the Helix concava, pointing out its carnivorous character, and detailing its mode of nidification. 



Two very fine fossil jaws belonging to a sauroid flsli, were exhibited by Mr. J. P. Fraser 

 and Mr. W. Ferguson. They were obtained from the limestone quarries at Burdie House, 

 near Edinburgh, and were accompanied with other specimens for comparison. A notice of them 

 was read by Mr. W. Ferguson, detailing the position and character of the beds in which they 

 were found, and pointing out the confusion that existed as to the remains of Megalichthys and 

 Holoptychius ; many of the remains figured as belonging to the foi-mer genus, being really 

 those of individuals of the latter — even the Megalichthys of Dr. Hibbert's own memoir, in vol. 

 13 of the "Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh," being the Holoptychius of •Professor 

 Agassiz. The jaws exhibited were about fourteen and a half inches in length, and] contained 

 reptile and ichthyolitic teeth, a group of the latter alternating with each of the fomier. Some 

 of these reptile teeth measured two and a half inches in length. The specimens were referred 

 to Holoptychius Hibberti. The other specimens exhibited were a portion of a Holoptychius 

 from the Yellow Sandstone, (a member of the Old Red,) of Dura Den, Fifesliire, a fish probably 

 not even generically allied to the Holoptychius of the Carboniferous system (Miller) — remains, 

 such as scales and plates of both Holoptychius and ilegalicthys from the Lanarkshire coal 

 fields, — and specimens of Sphenopteris affiais, the characteristic fern of the Burdie House bed. 



€[}i (j^Htrrist. 



Ichneumons. "With respect to G's query relative to Ichneumons, I should like to speak 

 positively on the subject, but I very much doubt their attaclcing insects absolutely in the pupa 

 state; but I will answer for then- attacking the larva whilst forming its silky cocoon; for I 

 watched several of them, in the very act, for a considerable time in my own garden this 

 last summer. I could not say they succeeded in piercing the insect, as the silky cocoon seemed 

 to yield, much to their annoyance, for they seemed very angry about it. I shall be curious 

 to see what other entomologists say upon this subject, and, if I live another year, I shall try 

 to make some experiments, so as to be able to come to some decision. BoMiiYX Atlas, 

 November 13th., 1851. 



D. G. F. Ether, I should think, may very well answer for killing small insects for the 

 cabinet, provided they are spanned out after the English fashion. It is not, however, sufficiently 

 powerful for the robust sorts, simply stunning them for a while. If the insects are spanned 

 out, (as all mine are,) after the Continental fashion, ether is rather objectionable, as it makes 

 the wings too rigid, and necessitates the operation of damping ; still ether is a very good thing 

 when a peraon is going out for a long day's hunt, as it makes the insects go to sleep, and 

 they come home safely without injury. I generally contrive to put my smaller insects in quite 

 little pill boxes, and then kill them in a smothering box, burnuig a little phosphorus or 

 brimstone underneath; it answers very well. Muriatic acid is a very good thmg for tlic larger 

 insects. Idem. 



