104 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



As Hon. Treasurer — Mr. John Renwick. 



As Hon. Librarian — Mr. James Mitchell. 



As Hon. Editor of I'ratisactions — Mr. John Patcrson. 



As Members of Council — Messrs. Alex. Patience. John 



R. Lee, P. Ewing, F.L.S., Archd. Park. 

 Messrs. Joseph Somervillc and James Jack were re-appointed 

 as Auditors. 

 The Secretaries were instructed to write to the Rev. Mr. 

 Knight and thank him for his services as Editor of the Society's 

 Transactions. 



Mr. Thomas Anderson, 40 Holmscroft Street, Greenock, was 

 elected an Ordinary Member, and Mr. G. A. Hardy, 11 Windsor 

 Terrace, St. George's Road, an Associate. 



Mr. D. A. Boyd read a Report on an excursion to Johnstone 

 Castle. 



Mr. P. Ewing, F.L.S., the retiring President, delivered his 

 valedictory address, taking as his subject " Variation." Mr. 

 Ewing carefully stated the diiferent theories which have been put 

 forward in explanation of variation, and gave a special resume of 

 the work of Mendel and de Fries. 



28th Novembkk, 1905. 



Mr. D. A. Boyd, President, in the chair. 



Miss Jane Adelaide Cathcart, of Old Auchendrane, AUoway, 

 Ayr, was elected as an Ordinary Member. 



Mr. John Renwick, on behalf of Miss Cathcart, of Old Auchen- 

 drane, presented to the Society two photographs of trees on her 

 estate, a Birch and a Scots Fir. Particulars relating to these 

 trees will be found in these Transactions, Vol. VII. (N.S.), 

 pp. 262-9. It was agreed to send to Miss Cathcart the thanks of 

 the Society for her gift. 



Mr. R. M. Buchanan exhibited the down of several species of 

 the Anatidse, and, referring to the part played by down during 

 incubation, expressed the opinion that, but for this wonderfully- 

 efficient heat retainer, ducks would be seriously handicapped in 

 the struggle for existence. 



Mr. Robert Wilson showed a Grey Plover {Squatarola helvetica), 

 got at Fairlie recently. This bird is one of the rarer Arctic 



