1826.] Medico-Botanical Society, 14t 



times bear a less obvious resemblance to the trap, and from ex- 

 hibiting a transition from that to the rocks that compose the 

 regular strata, are probably the latter, more or less changed by 

 contiguity with the trap. 



WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



At a meeting of the Wernerian Natural History Society 

 towards the close of last year, a letter from Mr. Meynell, of 

 Yarm, Yorkshire, was read, on Changing the Habits of Fishes, 

 and mentioning that he had, for four years past, kept the smelt 

 or spirling (Salmo Eperlanus, Lin.) in a fresh water pond, having 

 no communication with the sea, by means of the Tees or other- 

 wise, and that the smelt had continued to thrive and breed as 

 freely as when they enjoy intercourse with the sea. 



At the sitting of the same society on the 14th January, 1826, 

 Dr. Fleming, of Flisk, exhibited a specimen of the migratory 

 pigeon of North America, shot in Fife on 31st December last, 

 and showed, from the perfect state of the plumage, that the 

 animal had not been in a state of confinement, but had pro* 

 bably been wafted across the Atlantic by strong and continued 

 westerly gales. — (Edin. Phil. Journ.) 



MEDICO-BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 



April 14. — Sir James McGregor delivered an address to the 

 members of the Society on being elected President. 



A communication was read on the different species of Helle- 

 bore used in medicine, and on its use in maniacal cases. 



May 12. — A paper entitled, " Remarks on the Bitter Prin- 

 ciple existing in the Fruit of Laurus Persea, and on its Use as 

 a tonic Medicine by the Natives of Demerara ; " by J. Frost, 

 Esq. FSA. FLS. Director, was read. 



June 9. — A collection of specimens of the plants enumerated 

 in the Pharmacopoea list was presented by W. Anderson, Esq. 

 FLS. 



Mr. Frost deUvered a lecture on the properties of Aconitum 

 Napellus and Conium Maculatum, and their narcotic principles. 



July 14, — This being the last meeting of the Society during 

 the present session was numerously attended, and, after the 

 ordinary business had been gone through, a paper, entitled 

 '' A Catalogue of Plants indigenous to Switzerland," by J. P. 

 Yosy, Esq. was read. Notice was given from the chair that 

 communications for the gold and silver medals must be sent in 

 before the 1st of December. 



The Society then adjourned to the 13th of October. 



E. W. B. 

 l2 



