14 Transactions. 
Wilson referred to the prevalence of fever in Dumfries during 
the past autumn and the preceding one, and asked if the cause of 
this was not traceable to a want of due regard to the sanitary 
laws? In his opinion he believed it was, and for that state of 
affairs he held the Local Authority responsible, for that body 
neglected to put in force the powers conferred upon them by Acts 
of Parliament. The open sewers and middens throughout the 
burgh might be compared to nursery gardens, in which the germs 
of disease were “forced,” and from which they were disseminated 
far and wide, carrying with them disease and death into many 
bright and happy homes. Until the authorities remedied these 
unsightly and dangerous nuisances, every case of fever in their 
midst would be a stain on the fair escutcheon of their royal and 
loyal burgh. 
7th March, 1884. 
Dr Gitcurist, President, in the Chair. Thirty-two 
members present. 
New Members.—W. H. Maxwell, Esq. of Munches, was elected 
a Life Member; and Messrs D. Carnegie, Castlebank ; and E, 
M‘Gowan, English Street, were elected Ordinary Members. 
Donations.—Mr Wilson presented, on behalf of Mr Carnegie, 
six old copper coins found by the donor in his garden in the 
neighbourhood of Montrose. 
Exhibits —The Chairman exhibited, on behalf of Miss Gillies, 
a fine section of a stalagmite, a case of copper ores, a nugget of 
native copper, and a piece of the brain coral. Mr Hogg exhibited 
a box of shells from Aden, a “potato stone,” a fine old flint 
pistol, an ancient tobacco-box found in the Highlands, and a 
piece of black limestone from Niagara. 
COMMUNICATIONS. 
I. The Destruction of Beasts and Birds of Prey. By Mr 
W. J. Maxwe t, Terregles Banks. 
The subject of which I am to speak is not of scientific 
interest alone, and it is not as a scientific question that I 
intend to deal with it. JI leave that to some member of 
this Society more deeply versed in natural history than I 
am. I wish, rather, to draw attention to the practical or 
