NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 181 



species are used as food, and in all there is an abundant supply of 

 oil, the liver being large. Mr. Kirsop also exhibited several other 

 interesting objects from various places, and an ink-bottle shewing 

 the industrial applications to which natural objects are sometimes 

 put, it being an epitome of the mineralogy of the Colorado district 

 in the United States. 



Mr. Peter Cameron exhibited several interesting species of Hy- 

 menoptera, amongst them being an ant which inhabits the thorns of 

 an acacia in Guatemala, Central America. When these ants were 

 found the acacias became modified in certain parts to suit their 

 insect inhabitants, several different species of which are known. 

 He also exhibited specimens of Tenthredopsis nigriceps, Nematus 

 Bread albanen sis, Cam., Tenthredo Scotica, Cam., also the type 

 specimens of Megaspilus mullensis, discovered by himself. 



Mr. J. M. Campbell exhibited some specimens of Brooke's Snail, 

 Helix Brookei, from Borneo, as many of the members might not 

 have had an opportunity of seeing this fine species. It derived its 

 specific name in compliment to the late Sir James Brooke, Eajah 

 of Sarawak. Mr. Campbell noticed some of the peculiarities of the 

 genus Helix, such as their longevity, a specimen of one species having 

 been known to live for 20 years without sustenance. 



Mr. B>. Turner made a few remarks on a curious circumstance 

 connected with a piece of pavement, observed in' Hillhead some time 

 ago. About a foot square of solid asphalte pavement became 

 gradually elevated in an arch till it was clear of the kerbstone, 

 and a space left in which one could readily turn his hand. On 

 looking into the hollow thus formed, the mystery became apparent. 

 The whole space was seen to be full of growing Agarics, of an 

 edible species, Coprinus comatus, which had forced up the hard 

 asphalte by their vegetative power. Many inequalities in newly 

 formed pavements are due to a similar cause. 



PAPERS READ. > 



I. — The Islands and Rocks of Haskeir, off N. Uist, and their Bird 

 Life. By Mr. John A. Harvie-Brown, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S., &c. 



With a Sketch by the Author [Plate III]. 



No special papers have appeared upon Haskeir, that I am aware 

 of, but numerous short notices of it are scattered about in the 

 works of authors who have written on the Hebrides generally. 



