142 



the white bait may be distinguished from the shad, the herring, the 

 sprat, and the pilchard. 



In the white bait, the tongue and roof of the mouth are furnished 

 with three or four rows of distinct teeth ; these parts in the shad 

 are destitute of teeth. 



The dorsal fin of the herring is placed half way between the point 

 of the upper jaw, and end of the long caudal rays ; the same fin in 

 the white bait is situated much nearer the tip of the tail than to the 

 point of the upper jaw ; the body is more compressed, of a lighter 

 colour, and the belly is much rougher to the touch, under the pec- 

 torals, than is observed in the herring. 



The origin of the ventral fins, in the sprat, is placed before the 

 first dorsal ray ; in the white bait, it is situated behind the third dor- 

 sal ray. 



The pilchard has its dorsal fin placed exactly in the centre of 

 gravity, so that, when the fish is held up by the anterior rays, the 

 body preserves an equilibrium ; whereas, if the white bait be taken 

 up by the same part, the head will be observed to dip considerably. 



3. Account of a Visit to the Governor of the Chinese Fron- 

 tier Town of Mai-ma-tchin, bordering with Kiachta, in 

 Siberia. By a General Officer in the Russian Service. 

 Communicated by Mr Robison, Sec. R. S. Edin. 



Monday, M May 1836. 

 Sir T. M. BRISBANE, Bart. President, in the Chair. 



The following gentlemen were duly elected Ordinary Fel- 

 lows of the Society : 



1. Archibald Robertson, M. D., F. R. S. 



2. J. Macpherson Grant, Esq. younger of Ballindalloch. 



3. Alexander Gibson Carmichael, Esq. 



4. Edward Sang, Esq. 



5. Rev. Professor Nichol. 



The following Donations were presented : 

 Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologie uitgegeven 



door J. van der Hoeven, M. D., en W. H. de Vriese, M. D. 



Deel ii. Stuk. 4. — By the Editors. 

 A Memoir of the late Lewis David Von Schweinitz, P. D., with a 



Sketch of his Scientific Labours. Read before the Academy 



