300 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
uninvested balance of capital should be increased to an investible 
sum, say to£50. Mr. Somerville moved that the newly-appointed 
Finance Committee be empowered to do what would seem to 
them safe and expedient as the Society’s representatives. On this 
motion being seconded by Mr. William Stewart, it was agreed to. 
Professor Thomas King, the President, exhibited specimens, in 
spirit, of the Gulf-weed, Sargassum bacciferum, Agardh, from the 
North Atlantic. This remarkable floating Alga, observed by 
Christopher Columbus four centuries ago, is found in the Gulf 
Stream, principally after its deflection in the direction of the 
Azores, and in such abundance that the area of its chief 
occurrence—where it actually impedes navigation—is known as 
the “Sargasso Sea.” It belongs to the Pucacee, its globular air- 
bladders leading to the specific misnomer bacciferwm, and it forms 
the home of countless marine animals of remarkable habits. 
Colonel J. 8. Stirling of Gargunnock exhibited, on behalf of 
the Chairman and himself, specimens from Stirlingshire of the 
newly-determined Pond-weed, Potamogeton Bennettii, Fryer, con- 
sidered to be a hybrid between crispus and obtusifolius, and he 
offered some remarks on this difficult genus. 
Mr, A. Somerville, B.Sc., F.L.S., submitted speeimens of the 
scarce Bur-reed, Sparganiwm affine, Schnizl, obtained by him 
near Lag, in the Island of Arran, and not préviously recorded as 
‘occurring in the county of Bute. 
Mr, James Campbell, C.M., read a paper on the habits of 
Wasps, as observed by himself while painting in the open air. 
Wasps living near roads or dwellings act differently from those 
in fields or woods, becoming familiar, and, if encouraged, coming 
daily to share your lunch. They will sit on your easel or arm, 
and, after confidence is established, will not resent being stroked 
with the finger. Everywhere, under the summer sun, wasps are at 
work removing what is offensive to man, and they, besides, play 
an important part in plant-pollination. A discussion on the sub- 
ject was opened by Mr, James Whitton, Superintendent of Parks, 
and continued by Mr. L. Watt, Mr. James Steel, and others, who 
gave interesting reminiscences, (See page 265.) 
A popular paper, entitled “‘Jottings from my Note-Book—the 
Gulls and their Neighbours,” by Dr. David Robertson, F.LS., 
F.G.S., was read, in which that gentleman gave the results of his 
