NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 73 



" To-day I skinned and dissected a Hedgehog, and was much 

 struck by the curious development of the pannicidus camosus, or 

 skin-moving muscle, by means of which it rolls itself up. This 

 structure is not mentioned in Prof. Bell's British Quadrupeds, and 

 is only cursorily alluded to in the English Cyclopaedia, and the 

 Rev. J. G. Wood's Popular Nat. History." He then proceeds to 

 describe this muscle, with the assistance of a rough but distinct 

 sketch. 



Of the Alpine Hare he writes in 1865: — "Alpine Hare — It 

 seems that a Mr. Hunter over at Glenbuck turned out a number 

 of this species about four years ago, and James Taylor tells me that 

 they have spread a good deal already. This winter, specimens 

 have been shot both at Cumberhead and Skellyhill, but none have 

 been seen at Stockbriggs yet. I suppose this is an addition to the 

 fauna of Lanarkshire, if not to the South of Scotland." 



Of Birds there occur many notes also, some of much interest. 

 " Several years ago a pair of Martins built against a pane of glass 

 in the window of the barn. The nest was unsupported from below, 

 still it seemed to stick quite securely to the glass, through which 

 the old bird might be seen sitting on the eggs." Also, — "A pair of 

 Martins built in 1857 against a sloping beam in the archway at 

 the stables, and fearing that their nest might not have sufficient 

 support, they constructed a long line of clay pellets along the beam 

 on which the nest was built." This latter is illustrated by a neat 

 sketch. 



On Fish there are also many notes. " In July, 1858, my 

 brother Charles caught a very large minnow in a small pool near 

 here. It was a female, containing spawn, and was 4| inches in 

 length, weight 1 oz. This specimen is now in the Hunterian 

 Museum, Glasgow." Notes occur following this upon Tin-rays of 

 Fish, Minnows and Loaches, and Rare Fishes in Scotland [ex- 

 hibited at meetings of the Society in 1864]. 



Besides these occur notes on Reptiles -and a " List of Specimens 

 of Asiatic and European Quadrupeds and allied species in the col- 

 lection of Edward Richard Alston, F.Z.S.," begun in June, 1869, 

 on the page and letter system now generally adopted by naturalists 

 in cataloguing; and corresponding Lists of Birds and Eggs, with 

 very full notes and diary. 



Mr. Alston became a member of the Natural History Society of 

 Glasgow in February, 1863, and until the time of his death he 



