409 



ing cells, like the chyle cells of the intestinal tube, taking up for the 

 foetus the matter secreted by the external cells, 



3. That the placenta not only performs the function of a lung, 

 but also that of a gastro-intestinal mucous membrane. 



2. On the Mode in which Sound is produced and diffused, 

 and on the Vibrations caused in the quality of Sound by 

 substance and form. By Sir George S. Mackenzie, Bart. 



The following Donations of Books to the Society's Library 

 were announced. 



Voyage dans la Russie Meridionale et la Crimee, par M. Anatole 



do Demidoff. Tome 4, avec un Atlas des Planches. — By the 



Author. 

 Bulletin de la Societe Geologique de France, from 15th March to 



9th September 1841. — By the Society. 

 Proceedings of the Glasgow Philosophical Society, 1841-42. — By 



the Society. 



The following Gentlemen were duly elected Ordinary Fel- 

 lows of the Society : — Joseph Mitchell, Esq., civil engineer ; 

 Duncan Davidson, Esq. of Tulloch. 



Monday, 27th February 1843. 

 Dr ABERCROMBIE, Vice-President, in the Chair. 

 The following communication was read. 

 Papers on Glaciers. No. 2, describing the Rate of Motion of 

 the Ice of the Mer de Glace, deduced from observation. 

 By Professor Forbes. 



The author detailed in this paper the methods of observation by 

 which he was enabled to ascertain the daily and even hourly motion 

 of different parts of the glacier. 



The following are some of the principal results : — 

 I. In the particular case of the Mer de Glace, the motion of the 

 higher parts of the glacier are on the whole slower than those of its 

 1 lower portion, but the motion of the middle region is slower than 

 [either. 



The following table, the result of observations at a series of ascend 

 ling stations, will authorize this conclusion. 



