224 THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE BRITISH 



and water— Lord Greenock, on the coal strata of Scotland — Dr. Clelland, on the 

 statistics of Glasgow. Dr. Powell, of Oxford, stated his views in reference to the 

 undulatory theory. 



Fourth Day (Thursday ) Professor Whewell reported the transactions for the 



day in the section of mathematics and general physics. A paper had been read by 

 Professor Rennie on hydraulics. Mr. Phillip read a paper on a new form of the 

 dipping needle, whereby errors regarding the centre of gravity could be corrected. 

 Professor Robinson made some remarks on the Edinburgh observatory — Dr. 

 Christison reported the proceedings of the chemical section — Lord Greenock those 

 of geology and geography — Mr. Nichol read a paper on fossil wood, and Professor 

 Traill on fossil remains found in Orkney. Professor Graham reported the section of 

 natural history — Mr, Selby read a notice of the birds in Sutherlandshire — Sir W. 

 Jardine on the various species of the genus Salmo — Mr. Trevelyan on the dis- 

 tribution of the phenogaraous plants of the Faroe Island — Mr. J. D. Dalzell on 

 the propagation of Scottish zoophytes, and Dr. Arnott on the coculus indicus of 

 commerce. Dr. Roget reported the pi-oceedings of the section of anatomy and 

 medicine, the most prominent feature of which seemed to be a lecture by Sir Charles 

 Bell, on the nervous system. Col. Sykes reported the statistical section, and Earl 

 Fitzwilliam suggested that more minute details regarding the subject of agriculture 

 should be obtained. On the suggestion of Lord Jeffrey, the committee undertook to 

 communicate with the Highland Society on the subject. Mr. Brunei reported the 

 proceedings of the sub-section of mathematics. 



Fifth Day (Friday) — After the reports of the different sections had been read, 

 Professor Robinson read the report from the section of mathematics and physics, at 

 which, among other topics, Dr. Knight had explained a method of rendering the 

 vibrations of heated metals visible to the eye. Mr. Russell read an account of 

 experiments relative to the traction of boats at considerable speed on canals ; and 

 Sir D. Brewster of a series of experiments relative to the surfaces of crystals when 

 in a state of solution. Sir Thomas Brisbane made some remarks on a kind of 

 siliceous sand found in New South Wales, from which glass of a superior quality is 

 manufactured. Dr. Christison read the report from the section on chemistry, in 

 which papers on various subjects connected with the science were read by Mr. 

 Harcourt, Dr. Clark, Sir David Brewster, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Kemp. Professor 

 Phillips reported from the section of geography and geology, and Mr. Murchison 

 read a paper on the fossil fishes found in the old red sand-stone of England, and 

 also in Forfarshire, and other counties in Scotland. Dr. Traill announced that the 

 fossil fishes which he had brought from Orkney had been inspected by M. Agassis, 

 who had discovered among them five new species. M. Agassis read a paper on certain 

 fossils found in the quarries near Burdiehouse, which he conceived at first to be reptiles, 

 but which were in reality fishes, partaking of the character of reptiles. This 

 remarkable fact was now brought for the first time under the notice of science. 

 Professor Graham read the report from the section of natural history, and Mr. 

 Peutland concluded his observations on the remains of what appeared to him to be 

 an extinct variety of the human race, which had inhabited a district in South 

 America, extending from the 16th to the 19th degree of south latitude. Sir David 

 Brewster gave a masterly and luminous account of a remarkable structure in the 

 webs of the feathers of birds, for keeping the laminae from separating during flight. 

 This extraordinary fact had hitherto escaped the observation of naturalists. Dr. 

 Abercrombie reported from the section on medicine, that several papers on that 

 subject were read and discussed. The learned Doctor then took occasion to express 

 the gratification he and his brethren had experienced from the meeting of the British 

 Association in Edinburgh, and their anticipation of the happy results to which the 

 friendships thereby commenced might lead. He was not one of those who were of 

 opinion that the pursuit of physical science was hurtful to the higher interests of 

 man considered as a moral being. Col. Sykes reported from the section of statistics, 

 and Capt. Maconochie read a long and interesting paper on the population and state 

 of crime in France. 



Sixth and last Day (Saturday) — The Rev. G. Harcourt, general Secretary, 

 read a report of the week's proceedings, and stated the objects to which it was 

 desirable that the members should direct their attention during the coming year. 

 Thanks were then voted to the officers of the University— to the Royal College of 



