48 



f rnmMiigH nf Intiftiw. 



AherdeensMre Natural Iliatory Association. — October 5th.^ 1855. Mr, A, 

 Stephen in the chair. 



The proceedings of the Session, IS/jlo-G, were commenced by an address 

 from Mr, J. Longmuir, Jun., which^ in his absence, was read by Mr. W. 

 E. Brown. It consisted principally of a short account of what had been 

 already done in a few of the principal divisions of the animal kingdom in 

 Aberdeenshire, and of how much yet remained to be accomplished. The 

 essay was well received, and a general conversation on its subject ensued. 

 The Association then adjourned. 



The following are appointed office-bearers for 1855-6: — Honorary — Pre- 

 sident, Professor Owen, F. R. S., etc.; Vice-Presidents, Dr. James Moir 

 and the Rev. J. Longmuir. Ordinary — President, Mr. Alexander Stephen; 

 Vice-President, Mr. E. Donald; Treasurer, Mr. J. Taylor; Secretaries, Mr. 

 W. Brown and Mr. J. Longmuir, Jun. 



This Association was established for the purpose of studying the fauna 

 and flora of the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and Kincardine. 



Such of the readers of ''The Naturalist" residing in any of these counties 

 as are interested in the advancement of Physical Science within the district, 

 are invited to communicate with Mr. J. Longmuir, St, Mary's Place, Aber- 

 deen, or with the other office-bearers. 



Aberdeenshire Natural History Association. — Special Meeting, October 

 19th. A pro-re-natd meeting was held for the purpose of exhibiting a 

 specimen of the Esquimaux Curlew, by the kind permission of William 

 Cusack Smith, Esq., who shot the bird on the 6th. of September last, in 

 the neighbourhood of Durris House, Kincardineshire, where he was residing 

 at the time. It was in beautiful preservation. Mr. A. Mitchell exhibited 

 a fine specimen of the Ballan Wrasse, [Lahrus hergylta,) the property of 

 Dr. Dyce, obtained a short time previously in the vicinity; and an interesting 

 variety of the Sparrow Hawk, Mr. E. Donald also shewed some microscopical 

 preparations. The Association then adjourned. 



In the "Times" of Friday, the 21st. of December, there was a letter 

 from Mr. G. W. Bell, of Chancery Lane, on the subject of the folly of 

 exterminating Sparrows, and referring to the "Times'" "excellent article" 

 on the same subject. Can any correspondent of "The Naturalist" tell me 

 in what Number of the "Times" the said article appeared. A friend has 

 sent me a long paragraph from the "Times," copied from the French "Consti- 

 tutionel." — Was that the one? — P. 0. Morris, Nunburnholme Rectory, Hay- 

 ton, Yorkshire, January 8th,, 1856. 



