The following Communications were read : — 



1. On a New Register Anemoscope. By Dr Traill. 



The author's object was to obtain an instrument which might re- 

 cister the changes of the wind in the absence of the observer. For 

 this purpose he connected a vane with a vertical axis, at the lower end 

 of which the horizontal revolution was changed to a vertical revolution 

 by bevelled wheels ; and the axis of the vertical wheel carried an index 

 and pencil ; which described on a vertical dial of slate, or of polished 

 porcelain, all the changes experienced by the vane above. In this man- 

 ner, however, the instrument registered the changes occurring during 

 only one revolution of the vane. In order to obtain the registration of a 

 greater variety of changes, — when the wind has blown all round the 

 compass more than once, thefollowing addition was made. "Each bevel- 

 led wheel containing 42 teeth, a pinion of 21 leaves was fitted to the 

 axis of the vertical wheel, which pinion plays in the teeth of a small- 

 er wheel with 42 teeth also provided with a pinion of 21 leaves. 

 This last moves a second small wheel of 42 teeth, which again turns 

 round the axis of the primary vertical wheel. The last small wheel 

 moves a second index which turns round the dial-plate once, while 

 the vane and primary index make four complete revolutions. The 

 second index carries a stud, which moves in either direction a pair of 

 hands concentric with the indices, but not attached to their axis. 

 This stud, then, will carry one of the hands through 90 degrees, while 

 the vane has made one complete revolution ; or the hands are capable 

 of indicating four entire revolutions of the vane. The face of the in- 

 strument has three concentric graduations. The interior is the 

 rhumbs of the mariner's compass ; the second has the degrees of a cir- 

 cle ; and the outer scale has four series of 360 degrees." 



2 . On the force of the Latin Prefix vc or vac. By the 

 Rev. John Williams. 



The author, after describing shortly the history of the philology of 

 the Latin language, and alluding to the corruptions which were in- 

 troduced into the science during the dark ages, proceeded to show 

 that the prefix ve or vae must always be regarded either as an adjec- 

 tive signifying small, or an adverb having the force of the Latin parum 

 or 7miius. 



The term is to be found, in the opinion of the author, in most of 

 the cognate languages of the great Caucasian branch of the human 

 race, and still remains in Scotland under its Latin form ve, for the 

 Latin V was undoubtedly pronounced like our W, Qr, wee.'] 



