138 Wemerian Natural History Society. 



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

 juice. A plant ll 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, J'rom which all its other parts are either directly or indirectly- 

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

 oriran, 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- called 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 



