98 Proceedhiijs. 



Mr. Miller Christy read a paper ' On the Hygroscopic Awns 

 OF Stipa spaktea,' in which he described the harm done in 

 Manitoba to Sheep and CoUie Dogs through the long, sharp 

 awns of this grass working their way through the wool or fur 

 into the flesh of the animals. Mr. Miller Christy described 

 in detail the construction of the awns, which peculiarly fits 

 them for working their way into an opposing substance, 

 under the influence of changes in moisture, which cause the 

 shaft or awn to twist or untwist, forcing the sharp point of 

 the seed forward. 



Mr. Christy illustrated his paper with specimens of the 

 awns and seeds of Stipa spartea. 



Dr. Bossey exhibited dried specimens of Stiim pinnata and 

 of some other species of Stipa. 



Mr. Henry M. Wallis, of Reading, then read a paper ' On 

 THE Birds of Arran Moke ' : — 



On May 21st, Turnstones were seen on rocks at low tide 

 between Arran More and the mainland ; next day a single 

 bird was seen ; from this time until June 7th parties of 

 Turnstones were noticed in similar situations; one flock seen 

 on the Roannish Islands numbered thirty birds in all stages 

 of plumage. 



A pair of Purple Sandpipers were at the tide's edge under 

 the western cliffs of Arran More on May 21st ; these birds 

 were exceedingly tame, and were probably the same pair 

 which were noticed near the same place at intervals during 

 the following week. A second pair were on the Eoannish 

 Islands on the 28th, but nothing occurred to suggest breeding. 



At the same date a Common Gull was sitting on a nest on 

 an inland lake. Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black- 

 backed Gull, and Herring Gull were breeding on the Arran 

 More cliffs and outlying rocks, but no IQttiwakes were seen 

 until May 28th. Shags were abundant, and were breeding. 

 Cormorants were uncommon ; some years ago their nests 

 were burned, and they deserted the rock on which they were 

 accustomed to build. Tliere are a few Guillemots and Razor- 

 bills along the coast, but there is no great breeding station 



