112 



^c^rarFrMiigH nf InriftifH. 



Natural History Society of Glasgow. — The ordinary meeting of this Society was held on the 

 3rd. of February, 1852, when there was a full attendance of members. 



Dr. Loukain handed in his resignation of the office of Vice-President, being about to leave 

 the country on account of his health. The Society accepted it; and in doing so, the meeting 

 recorded their deep regi'et at the sudden removal of so valuable a member from among them, 

 and expressed their sympathy with him in his present circumstances. On the motion of Mr. 

 William Ferguson, Mi*. Thomas Gray was unanimously elected to fill the vacant office. 



Mr. Ferguson exhibited a pretty variety of Purpura lapillus, forwarded by Mr. Charlesworth, 

 of York. It was picked up by that gentleman at AiTan, in 1849. It is smooth, white, and 

 very much acuminated. 



Specimens of a verj^ beautiful variety of Nassa reticulata, also forwarded by Mr. Charlesworth, 

 were exhibited, and a notice of it by Mr. Charlesworth read. 



He also forwarded for exhibition, specimens of minute shells, beautifully mounted, accompanied 

 with these remarks — "It is a most impoi-tant object, especially in public museums, to mount 

 small specimens in such a way that they may be secure from injury by dust, and yet be readily 

 accessible to close inspection. My own way of attaining this is to gum the shells or other 

 objects on a thin slip of card, one end of which is inserted in the cork of a small glass tube. 

 The objects fixed in this way may be much more conveniently examined than if loose in the tube, 

 while a number, or other memorandum, may be written on the back of the slip of card. If 

 very close inspection is required, it is only necessary to draw out the cork." 



The specimens exhibited were — • 



Montacuta bidcntata, Bisoa eostata, Truncatella Montagui, and Bulla truncata, and they were 

 numbered with reference to a "Catalogue of British Marine Shells," prepared for the "British 

 Natural History Society;" a copy of which was laid on the table along with the specimens. 



On the motion of the President, the thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Charlesworth 

 for his interesting communications. 



Mr. Gourlie read a most interesting paper "On the Botany of New Zealand," illustrated 

 by a beautiful collection of plants and drawings. 



Mr. J. P. Fraser then read a paper entitled, -"Notes on a Sandstone quarry in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Glasgow," illustrating his remarks with sections. 



Mr. Colin Brown, Glasgow, and James Paton, Esq., M. D., Paisley, were admitted resident 

 members. 



March 2nd., 1852. — Mr. Kennedy exhibited a specimen of Alasmodon vulgaris from the 

 Clyde, below Clyde Iron Works, which contained a great numder of pearls; also a specimen of 

 Buccinuin undatum from Gourock, the apex of which was broken off, presenting a very singular 

 appearance. It was suggested that, propably the apex had been mutilated accidentally, and 

 the animal had deposited calcareous matter upon the opening which consequently had been 

 made, and thus filled it up so as to protect itself. 



Mr. Thomas Gray, the Vice-President, read a paper, entitled, "Some notes upon a species 

 of Strombus, in the Hunterian Museum, supposed to be unique." He illustrated it by a 

 beautiful drawing of the shell taken by himself in water-colour. This paper will bo printed in 

 full with a lithograph of the shell. 



Mr. George Donaldson was admitted a resident member ; and the Eev. Dr. Landsborough, 

 Saltcoats; Major Martin, Ardrossan; the Eev. James Yuill, Peterhead; Beverley E. 

 Morris, Esa., M. D., York; Edward Charlesworth, Esa., F. G. S., York; and Dr. T. B. 

 Grierson, Thomhill, were admitted corresponding members. 



Busmess being concluded, the Society adjourned to the first Tuesday in April. 



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I shall feel greatly obliged to any one who will kindly inform me what is the best medium 

 in which to mount the more delicate of the conferva for the microscope. I have hitherto failed 

 in my attempts to preserve them. I shall be very happy to exchange duplicate specimens with 

 any gentleman similarly engaged with myself. — T. P. Fernie, Kimboltoji, March 12th., 1852. 



