Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edlnhitrgh. 4rl7 



18S6, January 4. — Sir Thomas M. Brisbane, President, 

 in the Chair. The following communication was read : — 



Some Observations on Atmospherical Electricity. By Dr 

 John Davy, F. R. S. 



January 18. — Right Hon. Lord Geeenock, V. P. in the 

 Chair. The reading of the following paper was commenced :— 



1, Observations and Experiments on the coloured and co- 

 lourable matters in the Leaves and Flowers of Plants, 

 particularly in reference to the Principles upon which 

 Acids and Alkalies act in producing Red and Yellow or 

 Green colours. By Dr Hope. 



Proceedings of the Wernerian Natural History Society. (Con- 

 tinued from p. 201.) 



1835, Dec, 19.— Professor Traill, V. P. in the Chair. Dr Mar- 

 tin Barry demonstrated the Ganglion oticum in the human sub- 

 ject, as dissected by himself, under the direction of Professor Tiede- 

 man of Heidelberg. 



Professor Jameson read Mr Dufrenoy's account of the period and 

 mode of formation of the Monte Somma, or exterior of Vesuvius, 

 and of Mount Vesuvius itself, shewing that the latter probably did 

 not exist before the great eruption of the year 79. He also com- 

 municated a note respecting the fossil elk of Ireland and Isle of 

 Man, shewing that we possess no historical evidence of the animal 

 being known as a living species, the rude figure in the Cosmogra- 

 phia of Munster not representing the elk but the fallow deer. 



Sir Patrick Walker exhibited some insects which prove very 

 destructive to the pine forests in the Highlands of Scotland, and 

 made a few observations on their mode of boring into the wood. 



1836, Jan. 9. — Professor Traill, V.P. in the Chair. Mr James 

 Wilson read a paper on the birds included under the genus Eury- 

 laimus of Horsfield, illustrating his remarks by specimens and 

 figures. 



Dr Deuchar gave an account of some new tests for easily dis- 

 tinguishing Carbonates from Bi- Carbonates, and exhibited the mode 

 of making the experiments. 



Sir Patrick Walker then read notices regarding the occurrence, 

 near Edinburgh, of several native birds, generally regarded as ex- 



