138 Wernerian Natural History Society. 



to the action of the air and light, convert a portion of it into proper 

 juice. A plant is nothing more than a multitude of buds or fixed 

 embryos, which send their roots downwards to form their bark and 

 wood. The leaf should be considered the most essential part of the 

 plant, from which all its other parts are either directly or indirectly 

 formed, as it is not an expansion of anything, but a very important 

 organ, having as it were a distinct existence of its own. 



A discussion ensued, in which Dr. Macreight, Dr. Willshire, and 

 other Members joined. 



WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



The Wernerian Natural History Society, in a notice dated Edin- 

 burgh, 20th April 1839, offers Honorary Premiums, value 10/. each, 

 open unconditionally to all scientific naturalists. It is understood 

 that the successful Essays on the subjects proposed, and such Draw- 

 ings and Specimens as accompany them, become the property of the 

 Society ; and that, in the event of the Society not publishing the 

 Essays, the authors may be allowed to publish them on their own 

 account. 



Hydrography. — 1. On the temperature, magnitude, chemical com- 

 position, and geological relations of the Springs of Scotland. 2. On 

 the temperature, colour, chemical composition, mechanical admix- 

 ture, magnitude, velocity, and alluvial formations of any one of the 

 following Rivers in Scotland, viz. the Tweed, Tay, Dee in Aberdeen- 

 shire, or Spey. 



Geology. — 3. On the erratic blocks or boulders of Scotland and its 

 Islands ; their mineralogical and paleontological characters, and phy- 

 sical and geographical distribution ; with illustrative maps. — 4. On 

 the mineralogical constitution and chemical composition of the Trap- 

 Rocks of Scotland; with specimens. — 5. On the chemical composi- 

 tion of the altered or metamorphic rocks met with in granite, por- 

 phyry, serpentine and trap districts ; with specimens. — 6. On the 

 fossil organic remains found in the transition strata and carboniferous 

 systems of Scotland ; with drawings of new species and specimens re- 

 quired. — 7. On the so-coWed Raised Sea- Beaches met with in Scotland 

 its Islands, and elsewhere. Specimens of the shells, &c. required. 



Zoology. — 8. On the entomology of the Three Lothians, and the 

 river district of the Forth ; with specimens. — 9. Drawings and De- 

 scriptions of the microscopic animals inhabiting the waters of any of 

 the following arms of the sea and lakes, viz. Firth of Forth, Firth of 

 Clyde or Loch Fyne ; or of Loch Lomond or Loch Tay. — 10. On 

 the natural history and comparative anatomy of the land and water 



