2S PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



form. The Professor also alluded to the great loss our Society, and science 

 in general, had sustained in the death of Professor Forbes. 



The second communication was a " Notice of an Interesting Habit, stated 

 to have been observed of one of the Woodpeckers in California." By 

 Andrew Mun-ay, Esq. 



Dr. Lowe moved that the thanks of the Society should be given to Mr. 

 William Murray, San Francisco, not only for the facts contained in the 

 curious communication Avhich had just been read by Mr. A. Murray, but 

 also for the various services he had, from time to time, rendered to the 

 cause of physical science in general, making many of our naturalists ac- 

 quainted with the varied natural productions of that distant land. The 

 motion was unanimously agreed to, and Mr. Mun-ay was requested to convey 

 to his brother the best thanks of the Society. 



The next was a " Verbal Notice of the Lepidopterous captures during the 

 past season." By William H. Lowe, M. D., Convener of the Entomological 

 Committee. 



The fourth communication was, a " Notice of the Scops Eared Owl, Scops 

 Aldrovandi, Will. Orn. Shot in Sutherlandsliire (the specimen was exliibit- 

 ed)." By John Alex. Smith, M.D. 



Mr. Mubray then read an extract of a letter he had received from Sir 

 William Jardine announcing a capture of the Ivory Gull; " I have received 

 this week," Sir William says, " a beautiful specimen of the Ivory Gull, Larus 

 eburneus, shot at Thrumster, county Caithness, while skimming over some 

 marshy pools. It was procured by Mr. Robert Shearer, Borrowston near 

 Wick, and kindly sent to me by that gentleman, who has therefore added 

 another specimen to the two or three which are known to have been killed in 

 Britain." 



Professor Gregory was balloted for, and unanimously elected a member 

 of the Society, and the Society then adjourned. 



%\t gtte^ttt. 



On Thrushes alighting on the Backs of Sheep. — Statements Avhich appear in 

 The Naturalist, I apprehend, are open to criticism, when there appears a 

 doubt as to their correctness. At pages 258 — 9 of vol. iv., there is a state- 

 ment respecting " Thrushes feeding on the backs of Sheep," and that they 

 appeared in considerable numbers. I am not intending to convey the idea 

 that Thrushes never do alight on the backs of Sheep ; but in the course of 

 long observation, I never have seen even a solitary instance of the kind ; 

 and I have made inquiry of my Naturalist Friends, as well as of breeders of 

 sheep, who all concur in my opinion that it is veiy rare for them to do so, 



