35 



Mr. Oliver thought that the albino condition could not be explained by 

 the theory that animals when breeding throw back to an original stock, 

 because the original species of pigeon is supposed by Darwin to be allied to 

 the "blue rock," which would negative the theory of reversion when 

 applied to white pigeons. With regard to the rarity of the condition, he 

 showed that there were no land birds or quadrupeds in Europe in the feral 

 state of a white colour, although blackbirds, starlings, crows, deer, hares, 

 moles, rats, &c., occasionally were albinos, and considered this due to' 

 firstly, sexual selection, the females not caring for white males ; and,' 

 secondly, Avhite not affording protection to an animal by enabling it to 

 hide from birds and beasts of prey, instancing in this connection the case 

 of moles, rats, mice, and bats, where dark colour assists in concealing 

 them during the night. Mr. Oliver agreed with Mr. Hall in thinking 

 that parasitic disease could not be considered a cause of the condition"^ 

 and showed that nerve disease would hardly be a cause ; nerve disease^ 

 as a rule, commencing only in parts of the body supplied by 

 certam nerves, while albinism affected the body generally, and often 

 symmetrically. Mr. Oliver thought that Mr. Hall's observations on albinos 

 were although incomplete of great value, and would like to hear of 

 further observation in the same direction. 



Meetmg held m the Library of the Leeds Literary and Philosophical 

 Society, Park Row, November 4th, 1889. John Stubbins FGS 

 F.R.M.S., Vice-President, in the chair. '' 



EXHIBITION OF "MARINE FAUNA AND FLORA." 



Mr. F. W. Branson, F.C.S., exhibited a small marine aquarium, 

 set up with a view of experimenting on the possibility of rearing marine- 

 life away from the coast. The experiment had proved successful. 

 Some interesting notes were given. The aquarium must be kept 

 covered, so as not to allow evaporation. In the above experiment a 

 glass jar was used a little more than half filled with sea-water, containing 

 a piece of rock, upon which were growing algse, &c., a number of organisms^ 

 chiefly small crustaceans, young anemones, and two or three periwinkles 

 were admitted. Although the water had not been disturbed for more 

 than two years all seemed in healthy condition. 



Mr. Edgar E. Waite exhibited and gave short notes on a large and 

 representative number of marine birds, including Terns, Gulls, Skuas, 

 Pock birds, Divers, Sea Ducks, and sundry waders. Of the Larida the 

 most notable example was a Richardson's Skua {Stercorarius crepidatus) 

 Jtained at Settle in September by Mr. Charles worth {vide Naturalist for 

 November). The Skuas are pre-eminently sea-birds, and it is rare to find 

 them far inland. The Alcidce, or rock birds, were well represented, special 

 attention being called to two Black Guillemots {Uria grylle) in the 



