The Scottish Naturalist. 27 



that a few bred there. Mr. Gray made some remarks on the shell mounds of the 

 Outer Hebrides, and mentioned some grounds for suspecting that these mounds 

 might not be of greater age than 200 or 300 years, Mr. J. S. Dixon read a 

 notice of an ancient canoe found near Kirkintilloch. The notice was illustrated 

 by drawings. 



Geological Society of Glasgow, 3d November, 1870.— J. Young, Esq., 

 Vice-President, in the Chair. — Mr. J. Thomson, F.G.S., exhibited three fossils, 

 new, at least, to the west of Scotland. These were Acanthoides Wardii from 

 Airdrie, Athyris pisum from Brockley, and Anomia corrugata from Dairy. 

 Mr. Thomson pointed out the distinctive characters, (fee. Mr. D. C. Glen, C.E., 

 communicated notes upon a shell-bed found in the boulder-clay in excavating 

 a new dock at Cartsdyke, near Greenock. From certain appearances presented 

 by the bed, he was inclined to think that it was not in its original position but had 

 been dug from some neighbouring part of the shore and laid down in its pre- 

 sent position many years ago, when the policies, where the excavation occurred, 

 were formed. The chairman remarked that the boulder-clay and shell-bed in 

 question were of great interest. The boulders were sand-stone of local origin, 

 and granite, trap, and schist, from distant localities. Many of these boulders 

 were beautifully smoothed and striated by ice-action. The bed was very rich 

 in organic- remains, —about 140 species, including some rare, and many well- 

 known Arctic forms, having heen found in it. After some further discussion, 

 arrangements were made for an excursion to the excavation. 



1st December.— J. Young, Esq., Vice President, in the Chair.— Mr. Young 

 exhibited a block of Carboniferous Sand-stone from Gilmorehill Quarry, about 

 nine inches in thickness, and showing in that space thirty- two well-defined 

 alternate white and dark brown stripes. The brown stripes were caused by the 

 sand having become mixed with bituminous matter previous to its disposition, 

 and the layers of white and brown sand had evidently been deposited as such at 

 irregular intervals over the area in which this striped sandstone is found. Mr. 

 T. Naismith exhibited several drawers of fish remains, principally from the coal- 

 fields near Glasgow. Among these were specimens of Rhizodus Hibberti from 

 the iron-stone at Possil, Megalichthys Hibboli and Af. rngosus from Airdrie, and 

 a few fragments of reptilian crania, vertebrae, etc., from Airdrie and Hamilton. 

 The Chairman made a few remarks on certain specimens in the collection, and 

 Mr. J. Thomson, F.G.S., called attention to the reptilian remains, which he said 

 belonged to two new species of Labyrinthodon, specimens of which, found by 

 him, were at present in the hands of Professor Huxley for examination. Mr. 

 Thomson further remarked that the Labyrinthodons were Batrachian reptiles, 

 and had been, from the singular combination of batrachian and crocodilian 

 forms, termed sauroid batrachians. The genus got its name from the singular 

 structure of the teeth, whose curious convolutions Mr. Thomson described. Mr. 

 D. C. Glen, C.E., exhibited specimens of oil shale from Canada, and also samples 

 of petroleum distilled from it. These shales received their bituminous ingredients 

 from the immense quantities of trilobites, entomostraca, and other organisms 

 contained in them. 



Dundee Microscopical Society, 31st August, 1870.— Mr. Adie read a 

 paper upon " Local Diatomaccce, Specimens of various species of Diatomactee 

 found in the district, were exhibited. 



