22 PROCEEDINGS OP SOCIETIES. 



Comatula rosacea at Redcar. — A very fine specimen of this rare Star-fish was taken here 

 yesterday. — Idem. 



The Eel, (Anguilla acutirostris.) — A short time ago, I read in one of our provincial papers, 

 an account of an Eel being taken, -which when opened, was found to contain a kitten. My 

 conscience, I must confess, is somewhat elastic, but this story staggered my belief at the 

 time. A friend of mine, Mr. Brooke, of Missex, Lincolnshire, however, assures me that he 

 was once fishing in tho Kiver Idle, and caught a very large Eel, which was found to contain 

 a full-grown water-rat. Tliis fact somewhat strengthens the first part of the story, and prepares 

 us to swallow it without such a stretch of gullibility. On wet summer nights, in the same 

 locality. Eels have often been caught gliding amongst the grass, in quest of food, which appears 

 principally to consist of small frogs and slugs. Many. have been met with nearly five feet in 

 length; this has often given rise to marvellous stories respecting snakes infesting certain fields, 

 much] to the terror of many a simple rustic, who generally imagines himself to have been 

 hotly pursued by a formidable member of the genus. I should not like to spoil the 'penchant 

 of any Eel-pie epicure with more facts concerning this semi-reptilian creature, of whose 

 peculiar habits much remains to be written. — John Dixon, Leeds, August 9th., 1852. 



l^rnttrMngs nf Inrirtits. 



Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh. — The first meeting of the eighty-second session of this 

 Society was held on Saturday, the 13th. November, at two o'clock, at 6, York Place, when 

 there was a very full attendance of members and visitore. Dr. Coldstream, on taking the chair, 

 delivered the opening address, for which the cordial thanks of the Society were tendered to him. 



We much regret that our space will not allow us to insert the address in cxtcnso, but we cannot 

 omit the concluding tribute to the memory of three excellent naturalists whose valuable contributions 

 to science will long be remembered and prized. "Allow me, in conclusion, to advert to the good 

 examples of earnest diligence as naturalists, which were set before us by those distinguished men 

 who have been removed from amongst us by death within the last year or two. I refer to the late 

 Sir John Graham Dalyell, Dr. Patrick Neill, and Professor M'Gillivray, of Aberdeen, each of whom 

 has left a blank not soon to be filled up. Scotland has had few, if any, such accomplished 

 naturalists. It well becomes this Society aSectionately and respectfully to cherish the memory 

 of these excellent men. Sir John Dalyell was appointed first president after the revival of this 

 Society; and, although his bodily infirmities prevented him from attending our meetings, we 

 received many proofs of his interest in us, and of his constant desire to promote our object. 

 Of the singleness of aim, indomitable perseverance, profound sagacity, and wonderful success 

 with which Sir John, throughout the course of his long life, gave his days and nights to the 

 searching out of the most obscure pai-ts of the great plan of creation, we may be thankful that 

 so admirable and valuable a monument is preserved to us, as appears in his "History of Earo 

 and Remarkable Animals of Scotland," the completion of the publication of which has been 

 entrusted to our distinguished associate Dr. Fleming. To go through that wonderful work 

 is, indeed, to sit at the feet of a great master, in whom we rejoice to see not only an extra- 

 ordinary amount of knowledge, but a deep venei-ation for Him whose works he would attempt 

 to unravel. We shall all expect with interest a full biography of Sir John from Dr. Fleming, 

 when he shall have completed the publication of his posthumous works. Dr. Ncill also was a 

 member of this Society. He entered it from the Natural History Society in 1812. Few men 

 of his day knew so much from personal observation of the zoology and botany of Scotland, as 

 did Dr. Ncill. Those who knew him personally (and these were indeed many) will long 

 remember his modesty, simplicity, and acuteness as an observer, and his kindness, stcdfastness, 

 and sincerity as a friend. His public spirit was ever active; and to it we are indebted for the 

 institution of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, and of the Zoological Gardens, as well as 

 for abundant and self-denying labours in connexion with many other scientific and charitable 

 institutions. His wondrous little treasury of plants and animals at Canonmills was indeed an 

 earthly paradise to those who could appreciate the moral excellencies of the possessor, as well 

 as the riches of the spot. Professor M'Gillivray was a native of the Hebrides, but resided in 



