PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 



381 



instance the Mites were found in this furniture only. After- 

 wards they spread to other objects in the room, but were not 

 observed in any other apartment in the house. Through a 

 student engaged in the Zoological Laboratory, Dr. Rankin 

 procured some samples of horsehair which had been hanging 

 in a damp stable for some time, and also some combings taken 

 directly from the manes and tails of the horses. In the latter 

 no Mites were seen, but many of the same species were found 

 in the former. As it is a common practice for farmers to 

 preserve the combings of horsehair, and to dispose of them to 

 itinerant dealers, who in turn sell them to cabinetmakers, Dr. 

 Rankin thought there could be little doubt as to the source 

 from which the Mites had come, more especially as they are 

 said to feed on the animal fat adhering to uncleaued horsehair, 

 and he urged that all horsehair utilised in stuffing furniture 

 should be thoroughly cleaned before being used. He also 

 stated that it seemed almost impossible to get rid of the Mites 

 in furniture, fumigation and strong chemicals having been em- 

 ployed without success. 



Mr. John Ballantyne, Hamilton, read a paper entitled " Notes 

 on the Occurrence of Sire jo gigas, L., and Sirex juvencus, L., 

 in Bute and AiTan " (see page 305). 



25th February, 1902. 



Mr. Alex. Somerville, B.Sc, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 



Mr. John Paterson, Vice-President, on behalf of Mr. Charles 

 Kirk, exhibited a very beautiful example of a Cream-coloured 

 Woodcock, Scolopax rusticula, L. 



Dr. T. B. Henderson exhibited two species of Lizards — (a) 

 Lacerta vivipara (Dumeril and Bibron), the common English 

 Lizard, and (6) Ampliibohirus harhatus (Wiegm), the Bearded 

 Lizard of Australia. Details regarding the two species were 

 given by Dr. Henderson, and several members referred to the 

 frequency with which the English Lizard is met in different 

 parts of Scotland. 



Mr. John Ballantyne exhibited a Chicken with four legs, and 

 made some remarks on its structure. 



On behalf of Mr. George Paxton, a paper entitled " Notes 



