354« Proceedings of the British Association. 



the influence of the western ocean gives it a moister climate. Scot- 

 land is, in consequence, much the riclier in alpine plants, and Mr 

 Mackay enumerated fifty-five species of the more remarkable alpine 

 and other plants natives of that country, which do not occur in Ire- 

 land. Many plants on the western coast are natives of the moun- 

 tains of Spain and Portugal. A list was then given, in which 

 twenty-one species were enumerated as natives of Ireland, but 

 which had not been found in any other parts of Great Britain, and 

 it was very remarkable that several of these were also to be met 

 with on the western side of the Pyrenees. In conclusion, Mr 

 Mackay proposed to continue his observations, hoping to present 

 the Association with a more perfect list on a future occasion. 



Mr Royle read a communication on Caoutchouc. 



Mr P. Duncan detailed some observjitions on Marine Luminosity. 



Dr Hancock read a paper " On the Cow-fish, MancUus Jluviatilisy 

 of the inland waters of Guiana." 



Dr Macartney made some observations on the preservation of 

 animal and vegetable substances from the attacks of insects. He 

 employed a concentrated solution of equal parts of alum, nitre, and 

 salt, mixed with an equal quantity of proof spirits and a little oil 

 of lavender or rosemary. A forcible injection of this liquid into the 

 arterial system would perfectly preserve a dead body for three or 

 four months fit for dissection, and portions of one which had been 

 thus injected, if rubbed over with pyroligneous acid, might be pre- 

 served for any length of time. He recommended a coat of plaster 

 of Paris to be daubed over succulent plants as a mode of preserving 

 them, and, when dry, this might be easily removed. He noticed 

 the entire preservation of some bodies found in the bogs of Ireland. 



Mr Hope exhibited a collection of North American insects, prin- 

 cipally Coleoptera, collected from the raw turpentine sent over to 

 this country, in which they had become entangled. They were ex- 

 tracted from the turpentine whilst it was slowly melting at the 

 warehouse, and then placed in spirits of turpentine to cleanse them 

 thoroughly. In this way they may be prepared in as great beauty 

 and perfection as when newly captured. 



Section E. — Anatomy and Medicine. 



Dr Macartney read the report of the Dublin Committee, appoint- 

 ed by the British Association, " On the Motion and Sounds of the 

 Heart ;" and the report of the London Committee, " On the Sounds 

 •f the Heart," was read by Dr Clandiniri^. Dr Symonds then read 



