372 TJ^ernerian Natural Uistory Society. 



iiifv the journey from King George's Sound to Edinburgh, theKee- 

 long remained five months without food, was only twice dipped in 

 water, and arrived much emaciated and very weak. It is now kept 

 in a hothouse in Dr Neill's garden at Canonmills, and has recovered 

 vigour ; its neck and limbs, which were shrivelled, having become 

 full and firm. It is fed every second or third day, and greedily 

 gulps down some bits of raw butcher-meat, placed in its water- 

 trough. 



On this occasion, Mr Commissary Neill presented various imple- 

 ments, the work of the natives of Western Australia, forming an in- 

 teresting addition to the valuable ethnological department of the Uni- 

 versity Museum. 



Several minerals remarkable for their novelty, rarity, or great 

 beauty, were afterwards exhibited. Among these were particularly 

 noticeable spt'cimens of that rare mineral the Datolite in greenstone, 

 as found in Salisbury Crags, near to this city, where it was first dis- 

 covered many years ago by Professor Jameson. As the Professor 

 considered the datolite of Salisbury Ci-ags of contemporaneous for- 

 mation with the greenstone, he considered that boracicacid, the most 

 characteristic ingredient of the datolite, might prove to be a consti- 

 tuent of some varieties of the greenstone ; but we did not learn that 

 the greenstone had been tested for boracic acid. A fine mass of 

 meteoric iron, found on the Continent of Europe, was also exhibited. 

 Very fine specimens of Dioptase, or silicate of copper, were shewn, 

 being the most precious ever seen in Scotland. The same may be 

 said of some Tellurinums, which were likewise submitted to the in- 

 spection of the meeting. 



It was announced that four large cases, containing a very valu- 

 able collection of quadrupeds, birds, &c,, collected by Mr William 

 Jameson, lI.E.I.C. Service, in India, had reached the College, and 

 would soon be prepared, and deposited in the Museum. Also, that 

 a beautiful series of specimens of birds, brought from the west coast 

 of Africa by Staff-Surgeon Dr Gordon, of this city, was in the course 

 of preparation. The receipt of a collection of copper oi-es. fi-om the 

 famous Australian copper-mine of Burra-Burra, presented by Assis- 

 tant-Commissary Neill, was also acknowledged. 



The late W. II. Townsend, Esq. — A notice of the death of tlie 

 accomplished Mr W. H. Townsend, artist to the Society, was com- 

 municated to the meeting by Professor Jameson. The loss of the 

 remarkable and varied talents of that gentleman, so universally ac- 

 knowledged, will be long and deeply felt by the W^ernerian Natural 

 History Society. Mr Townsend excelled in delineating objects of 

 natural history, of comparative anatomy, and morbid anatomy ; and 

 his drawings of geological subjects and of the physiognomy of coi.m- 

 tries, were excellent. It was remarked of Mr Townsend, that he 

 had left in Scotland few equalling him in these important depart- 

 ments of art. 



