Ixxxviii PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



as a separate plant iiiider the name of Sclerotium roseum, 

 Kneiff) appeared to be fairly common in various parts of 

 Scotland, the fungus was not often found in a perfectly developed 

 condition. Several specimens, one of which was submitted for 

 exhibition, had recently been gathered by him at Chapel ton, 

 near Seamill, Ayrshire. 



29th March, 1892. 



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



Mr. Henry M'CuUoch exhibited specimens of the Iceland Gull, 

 Lams leucopterus. Fab., and Glaucous Gull, L. glmicns, L., 

 both recently shot in the neighbourhood of Campbeltown. 



Pi'ofessor Edward E. Pi-ince, B.A., F.L.S., exhibited a specimen 

 of the Natterjack Toad, Bufo calamita, Laur., from County 

 Kerry, Ireland. He stated that the species is locally distributed 

 throughout England, and has been found in one locality in 

 County Kerry. It is readily distinguished by a prominent 

 golden-yellow line which runs down its back, as well as by 

 its variegated colouring. It is more active than the Common 

 Toad {B. vulgaris, Laur.), and runs very rapidly, but does not 

 leap. Its voice is very loud and peculiar, and qxxite unlike the 

 croaking of allied species. The specimen imder notice was kept 

 mauj- months, and took food readily. 



Professor Prince also exhibited specimens of the Grey Skate 

 {Raia batis, Linn.) at an early stage of growth. Among these 

 was a very yoxmg worm-like example, of special interest on 

 account of the rarity of specimens of the fish at so extremely 

 young a stage. The flat form of the Skate was not yet indi- 

 cated. The breast-fius and ventral-fins occurred as long folds at 

 either side of the body. The yolk had been removed, and the 

 vitelline stalk showed the connection which had existed between 

 the fish and the food-yolk. The eye was coloured with black 

 pigment ; the head was curved round, and the optic lobes bulged 

 OTit in front, as in niost vertebrate embrj'os. In addition to the 

 gill-slits, external gills were present as two groups of thread-like 

 filaments, which probably served the fish more for absorbing 

 nxitriment than for respiration. The long tail was notable for 

 the presence of four longitudinal fins, viz.: the dorsal, ventral, 

 and two lateral fins. 



The other and older specimens had most of the features of 

 the adult ; but the yolk was still large, and the external bunches 

 of gill-filaments stood out on the under side of the head. The 

 four finfolds still existed towards the tip of the tail. 



Professor Prince also showed a very young specimen of the 

 Lesser Spotted Dogfish {Scyllium atnicula, Cuv.), probably at 

 the third or fourth day of embryonic development. The embryo, 

 which had been taken out of a living egg, was 10 mm. in length. 



