Proceedings of' the Werner ian Society. 391 



1829, Jan. IT— Henry Witham, V. P. in the chair. The 

 Reverend J. G. Macvicar read a paper on the rotatory motion 

 of Molecules. The object of the author was to shew, that, from 

 the relation which subsists between the two forces, magnetism 

 and electricity, rotation must result in every body composed of 

 particles, externally and internally heterogeneous, and also in a 

 a homogeneous body in a dissimilar medium. After rotation 

 has been established, then, though the body should be spherical, 

 and there exist no circumstance in its form to determine the di- 

 rection of its magnetic axis, or axis of symmetry, he endeavoured 

 to shew that this axis is developed in the line of the axis of 

 rotation, which imparts to the body a tendency to move to- 

 wards another presenting a consecutive pole, or susceptible of 

 such attraction ; and that hence a motion of progression, as well 

 as rotation, will be established. 



Jan. 31. — G. A. Walker Aenott, V. P. in the chair. The 

 Secretary read Mr James Wilson"'s Essay on the Origin and Na- 

 tural History of the breed of domestic Dogs, the object of which 

 was to prove that the southern kinds have probably derived 

 their origin from the jackall, and the northern from the wolf. 

 The Reverend Dr Scot of Corstorphine then read a paper on 

 the pelican of the Sacred Writings. 



Feb. 14 — Robert Stevenson, Escj. Civil Engineer (for- 

 merly V. P.), in the chair. — Professor Jameson read extracts 

 from a paper on the geology of the Snowdon range of moun- 

 tains, as connected with its scenery, soil, and productions, by 

 James Stewart Menteath, Esq. younger of Closeburn. The Reve- 

 rend Dr Scot then read a communication on the Gourd of 

 Jonah, shewing that it was probably the Ricinus Palma Christiy 

 or Castor-oil plant of modern times. At the same meeting, the 

 Secretary read a notice regarding the habits of the Omithoryn- 

 chus paradoxus, by Thomas Axford, Esq. of Thorpe, New 

 South Wales; communicated by Mr Robeit Neill of Hobart 

 Town, Van Dieman's Land. 



