NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 13 



stations and depths greatly dissimilar, we may reasonably infer that 

 there must be some similarity of conditions between these stations, 

 so widely different both bathymetrically and geographically. The 

 gathering from Portree Bay was greatly more diversified and num- 

 erous than that taken during the same month in Stornoway Bay, 

 both places having fresh water flowing into them, and, as far as I 

 could judge, in about the same volume. The material of both bot- 

 toms is much alike; sandy, shelly mud, more or less crowded with 

 dead shells; with this difference at Stornoway, the depths dredged 

 are from 5 to 9 fathoms, and at Portree, from 1 4 to 18 fathoms, but 

 differences of moderate depths seem to be of little importance in 

 controlling the habits of the foraminiferal fauna. If a solution is 

 ever to be found, most likely it will be from the obscure and 

 variable character of the sea bottom. 



Mr. Robertson's remarks were illustrated by a fine series of 

 mounted slides of Foraminifera, which the members had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining under the microscope at the close of the 

 meeting. 



THE SOCIETY'S ROOMS, 207 BATH STREET, 



October 26th, 1880. 



Mr. John Kirsop, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. W. E. Koch, M.A., F.G.S., was elected an ordinary member. 



PAPERS READ. 



I. — Some Apiarian Notes for 1880. 

 By Mr. Robert J. Bennett. 



Since 1861, Bee culture has perhaps never had such an unfavour- 

 able beginning as this year. In my concluding remarks in 1879, 

 I mentioned that that had been the worst season for 20 years, and 

 I advised those who had stocks left to feed them till every hive was 

 at least 30 lbs. weight. Those who did not take the precaution of 

 doing so were left bee-less. During January we had several fine 

 days, of which the bees availed themselves to take a cleansing flight. 



Till the middle of February the bees were often on the wing and 

 breeding had commenced in most of the hives. As in former years, 



