i8o,i-9 2 -] Annual Business Meeting. 45 



apochromatic was devised, it is believed, by Mr E. Nelson to designate 

 those lenses which are made of the new descriptions of Jena glass manu- 

 factured by Messrs Schott & Co. They differ from the apochromatics in 

 having no fiuorite lenses in their composition. Dr Czapski has stated 

 that the term used is one not quite applicable, as there certainly is nothing 

 peculiar in their construction further than the use of the new glass. The 

 particular objective exhibited gave very fine sharp definition in the centre 

 of the field, but it had a considerable amount of spherical aberration. 



Fasciation in a Pine. — This specimen of fasciation formed the top of an 

 Austrian pine which grew in the grounds in front of Mr Forgan's house, 

 Woodend, on the western shore of the Gareloch. The fasciated portion 

 was from four to five inches in breadth and over a foot in length. The 

 tree was a young one, about ten feet high, and when cut down in Sep- 

 tember the fasciated portion was the growth of the previous season. It 

 showed a very decided twist, the spiral following the direction of the 

 movement of the sun. Mr Hugh Fraser, Leith Walk Nurseries, made a 

 few remarks on the exhibit, and said it was perhaps as fine a specimen as 

 he had ever seen. 



By Mr George Bird. 



The Chough. — Mr Bird exhibited a specimen of the Cornish Chough or 

 Red-legged Crow (Fregilus graculus), and read an interesting communica- 

 tion on the habits of this somewhat rare denizen of our British sea-coasts. 

 The specimen shown was shot near Colonsay. 



ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. 



The Annual Business Meeting of the Society was held at 5 St 

 Andrew Square on the evening of October 26, 1892, — Dr T. 

 B. Sprague, President, in the Chair. The Secretary intimated 

 that 6 indoor meetings had been held during the Session ; and 

 that there had been 6 field excursions, to the following places : 

 Hawthornden to Polton (May 14), Batho and Kirkliston (June 

 4), Culross (June 25), Greenend to Little France and King- 

 ston Grange (July 2), and Gosford Links (July 9). On July 

 16 the members of the Society were invited to a garden-party 

 at Easter Duddingston Lodge by Mr Charles Jenner, where 

 luncheon and tea were served in the grounds, and a most 

 enjoyable day was spent. A photograph of the party was 

 taken before dispersing. 



