Ixxxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



of an outer and inner poition, the foi-nier being composed of a 

 thick fibrous layer forming the iris, and the latter of a network of 

 glandular matter without nuclear or clavate cells. Each series of 

 photodisks is connected with a roe-like organ running down 

 either side of the body, outside the nuiscles. They appeal- to be 

 poi'tions of the roe-like mass pushed out to the surface. In the 

 anterior region these lateral organs are widely separated by the 

 abdominal cavity, but they meet at the anal extremity. They 

 are intimately related to the mucous canal, which passes along a 

 tube formed by the fibrous coat enclosing the whole system of 

 photodisks. As the eyes of the fish are remarkably well developed, 

 there seems no reason for the assertion which has been made that 

 the photodisks are organs of sight. They appear rather to be 

 highly sensitive structures, capable of being stimulated by im- 

 pressions from without, and of emitting light. 



Mr. R. J. Harvey Gibson, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.L.S., University 

 College, Liverpool, submitted a Preliminary List of the Marine 

 Algae of the Oban District.* 



29th December, 1891. 



Mr. William Stewart, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. James Steel referred to the loss which the Society had 

 sustained through the death of Mr. James Dairon, F.G.S., one of 

 the Ordinarj' Members ; and it was unanimously agreed that a 

 memorial notice of the deceased should be recorded in the 

 minutes. 



m MEMORIAM— James Dairon, F.G.S. 



Mr. Dairon was born in Edinburgh about the year 1810. After 

 having served his apprenticeship as a plasterer in that city, he 

 travelled over the greater part of England, and worked in many 

 of the larger towns. He finally resolved to settle in Glasgow, 

 where, for many years, he has sviccessfully carried on business. 

 Although unremitting in his attention to business, Mr. Dairon 

 had also a keen taste for scientific pursuits, which he cxaltivated 

 with much success. He was specially interested in geology, and 

 had formed a very extensive collection of specimens. His favourite 

 branch of study was the Silurian Graptolites, and he had long 

 been recognised as a leading authority on that subject. Several 

 important papers were from time to tiuae communicated by him 

 to the Geological Society of Glasgow and published in its Transac- 

 tions. With his scientific tastes Mr. Dairon combined consider- 

 able artistic skill. He designed and constructed an enlarged set 

 of models of Graptolites, which have been universally admired for 

 their artistic excellence, as well as for the general accuracy of 



their details. 



* Transactions, vol. iii., p. 22i. 



