36 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



is not a fruit in the sense of being a ripened ovary, hut a receptacle 

 for the seed, like Jx>dies growing on its inner walls, each of which 

 ends in a style and stigma, The structure of fruits such as the straw- 

 berry, fig, plum, &c, was next described, and various points con- 

 nected with them brought under notice ; and, applying what had been 

 discussed to the orange, Mr King was of opinion that the "liths" 

 of which it is composed, which can be separated from one another 

 without injury, are evidently carpels enclosing the seeds, and that 

 the outer rind does not belong to the carpels at all, but is an axial 

 formation — a prolongation upwards of the receptacle, forming, as in 

 the case of the rose hip, a large cavity filled with carpels. 

 The paper was illustrated by a number of diagrams. 



III. — On the Natural History of the Cetacea. By Mr. Thomas 

 Southwell, F.Z.S., Norwich. Communicated by Mr. John A. 

 Harvie-Brown, F.K.R.E., &c., V.P. 



It was stated that the author had given particular attention to 

 the study of this order of mammals. The various families were 

 described at length — the habits, structure, and distribution of the 

 different species being minutely dwelt upon. 



The paper was illustrated by plates of the various species of whales, 

 and by coloured maps showing the range of their distribution. Mr. 

 John M. Campbell, who read the paper, had provided a series of 

 specimens, consisting of skulls of the porpoise and dolphin, the ear- 

 bones of various species, the straight, slender, and spirally-twisted 

 teeth of the narwhal, measuring five or six feet in length, the teeth 

 of the cachelot or sperm whale, and some of the economic products 

 of the fisheries. 



IV. — Meteorological Notes and Remarks on the state of Vegetation 

 in the Public Parks of Glasgow during the year 1880. By Mr. 

 D. M'Lellan, Superintendent of Parks. 



It is a common saying, that one extreme is usually followed by 

 another ; and, when we contrast the weather of the last year with 

 that of the previous one, the force of the remark is apparent. 

 About a year ago my notes showed a very gloomy retrospect for the 



