Transactions. 37 



Exhibits. — By Mr Davidson of Summerville, a beautiful 

 ammonite from Whitby, and a very perfect arrow-head from 

 Knockgray, Carsphairn ; by Mr Rutherford, a hornstone celt, 

 found at Fernycleuch, Tinwald. 



The Secretary called the attention of the meeting to several 

 encouraging letters he had received from Members of the Society ; 

 amongst which was one from Mr J. J. Armistead, The Fishery, 

 Kinharvie, with the promise of a Lecture on " Fish and Fish 

 Hatching," which would be given on the 19th of January next, 

 and an invitation to the members of the Society to go 

 down to Kinharvie and see the " Fishery" when the hatching 

 was in process. A letter was read from Mr Bennett, F.L.S., 

 Croydon, offering for distribution a packet of Characece, and 

 to assist any of the members at any time in naming Fotamo- 

 geton, Characece, and other Pond- weeds. 



The Secretary further reported that he had along with the 

 Treasurer examined the accounts for last year, and that instead of 

 there being a balance of £2 8s 3d in favour of the Society, as 

 reported at the Annual Meeting, the Society was at that time 

 £8 Is 9d in debt. 



The Secretary intimated that the following course of extra 

 lectures would he given during the winter : — November — 

 " Nature's Tiny Workmen," by Dr Gilchrist ; December — 

 " Atmospheric Electricity, with Experiments," Mr Rutherford ; 

 January — " Fish and Fish Hatching," Mr J. J. Armistead, 

 Solway Fishery ; February — " The Brain and Nervous System," 

 Dr Grierson, Thornhill ; March—" A Cup of Tea," Mr J. Wilson ; 

 April — "Bruce's Castle, Lochmaben, its Past, Present, and Future," 

 Rev. W. Graham, Trinity, Edinburgh. 



The Chairman proceeded to deliver the first part of his lecture 

 on Corals and Corallines, entitled " Nature's Tiny Workmen," 

 which was illustrated with a large number of diagrams and proved 

 to be highly interesting. 



Eare Birds. — Mr Hastings, taxidermist, read the following 

 paper on " Rare Birds." In looking back upon what is past of 

 this year, I have to communicate as follows regarding rare birds 

 that occasionally make their appearance in this district. In the 

 early spring I received a specimen of Blacktailed Godwit, Limosa 

 melamcra, shot on the banks of the Nith not far from Glencaple. 

 It is the only one I have ever had shot in this country. I have 



