Natural Uidory and Antiquarian Society. 7 



any Member who might wish to have them. — On the motion of 

 Mr M 'II wraith, the report was unanimously adopted. 



Mr Rutherford read a paper, entitled " Ingenuity of a Spider," 

 in which an account was given of the habits of Theridion lineatum 

 (Walck.) when providing for the safety of its egg cocoon. 



Mr Rutherford also read a paper on " Instinct of the Wasp," 

 detailing the behaviour of the inmates of a nest of one of the 

 social wasps when their nest-hole was obstructed with a wisp of 

 hay or dock leaves. 



Mr Rutherford next read " Microscopic Notes," consisting of 

 observations on the habits and anatomy of various microscopic 

 subjects living in muddy ditches at Jardineton. The paper con- 

 cluded with an account of experiments with frosted potatoes, in 

 which the various changes that take place in a potato when 

 exposed to frost were clearly described. A long conversation 

 followed upon the reading of the several papers, and some 

 interesting information was elicited. 



The Chairman exhibited a fine specimen of Mygale fasciatus 

 (Koch) from Ceylon, Mr Rutherford showed in his microscope 

 an interesting series of objects, including crystals from a frosted 

 potato. Mr James Lennox exhibited a copy of Allan Ramsay's 

 Works (original edition), which had belonged to Robeit Burns 

 for eight years prior to his death. 



April 5th, 1879. 



The Seventh Meeting of the Session was held in the Mechanics' 

 Institute — Mr M'llwraith in the chaii-. 



Messrs R. Chrystie, Samuel Chrystie, John Neilson, J. Amott, 

 and Provost Shortridge were elected Ordinary Members. 



The Secretary then submitted the following list of Field 

 Meetings, to be held on the first Saturday of each month as 

 formerly, as proposed by the Committee : — May, Kirkmichael ; 

 June, Corsock ; July, Slogarie ; August, Annan Waterfoot to 

 Brow Well ; September, Arbigland. — On the motion of Mr 

 Thomson, the list was approved of. 



A review of the lately issued Transactions, as contained in the 

 Scottish Naturalist, was read by Mr Moodie. An animated con- 

 versation ensued as to the best mode of extending the operations 

 of the Society, and it was agi-eed that preparations should be 



