PROCEEDINGS OP SOCIETIES. 



239 



simply as series of successive changes, nor merely as magnificent apparitions 

 of loveliness; but as they declare the existence, proclaim the perfections, repose 

 in the shadow, rise toward the throne, and are illustrated and supplemented by 

 the Word of God." 



The object of Professor Balfour is to present in this book the leading 

 principles of the science of Botany in a form suitable for general readers, and 

 to lead to the contemplation of Vegetable Phenomena in a christian spirit. 

 These purposes he has most successfully carried out; the tone of the whole 

 work exhibits a truly christian spirit; and we have sincere pleasure in recom- 

 mendinsr it to the attention of our readers. 



l^rnrfrMiigs of InrittiBSf. 



Yorkshire Naturalists' Club, Monthly Meeting, November 5th., 1851. — Tlie club met as usual 

 at Mr. Graham's, in Jubbcrgate. D. Ferguson, Esq., of Kedcar, occupied the chair. 

 fr F. GiBKES, Esq., of Northallerton, in reference to the subject of the occurrence of foreign 

 bodies in hen's cggS; which had been mentioned at the July meeting, shewed a large diagram 

 of the digestive organs of fowls, and expressed his opinion that no body of the size of a shilling . 

 could pass from the gizzard into the intestines, but he admitted that if it found its way into the 

 oviduct, it was quite possible for it to be included in the albumen of the egg before it received 

 its calcareous envelope. Mr. North and Dr. Moi-ris both thought it difficult to assign limits to 

 the expansibility of any of the canals in the living body. The Chaii-nian inclined to Mr. Gibbes' 

 opinion. 



Mil. Baines shewed a goose's e^g which had a smaller egg within it. Also, a large reddish 

 brown tick, which had been taken from the upper lip of a hare. 



, Tjie Chairman exhibited a number of beautifully-mounted sea-weeds, which he had received 

 from Plymouth. 



Mr. Ciiarleswortii and 1)k. Morris both shewed some elegantly prepared specimens of 

 sea-weeds, which they had received from the Eev. Dr. Landsborough, of Saltcoats, N. B., the 

 well-known author of a very valuable little work on British Sea-weeds. 



The CiiAiitMAN exhibited a collection of grasses, one of mosses, arid one of the Hepaticce, 

 which had been prepared by the pupils of the agiicultural school, at Ayton, near Stokesley. 

 Tliey were very nicely got up, and correctly named. 



ilR. T. Aelis mentioned that a friend of his had shewn him some wheat wliich he had 

 grown, which had the external appearance of barley. It, however, tasted like wheat. 



Mr. Gibbes exhibited a specimen of the Great Shrike, (Lanius excubitor,) procured near 

 Northallerton, 



Mr Eichardson exhibited a very interesting series of Alpine plants, which he had procured 

 and collected in Switzerland, this summer. 



Dr. Morris exliibited a specimen of Bay's Bream, (Brama Raii,) which Mr. E. "Wood had 

 picked up in the Eichmond market, on October 21st. It had come with other fish from 

 Eedcar. It measured twenty-one inches in length. The Chainnan stated, that, although genei-ally 

 considered rare, it occuiTcd tolerably frequently at Eedcar. 



Mr. Graham exhibited a curious light-coloured variety of the Hen Pheasant; also a Little 

 Auk, (Mergulm alle,) which was procured at Nabum, near York, on the 21st. of October last. 

 He also exhibited a spocunen of the young Gannet, (Sula alba,) Avliich had been caught 

 when asleep, in a field near Beverley. Also, a very fine specimen of the Otter. 



Mr. Charlesworth read an extract from a letter from a gentleman in America, to 

 Mr. W. P. Cocks, of Falmouth, detailing some successful experiments of his, on keeping 

 marine molluscs alive in sea water for months. He also shewed a very neat plan for mounting 

 small shells safely. The shells were first fixed on slips of cardboard, which were then inserted 

 into a cut in a cork, which then fitted into a small glass tube; by this means they were 



