March 7. 



HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY. 481 



tary then read Mr Hay Cunningham's paper on the geology of 

 the islands of Eigg, Rume, and Canna ; exhibiting, at the same 



time, illustrative sections and specimens The Secretary read a 



memoir by Mr James Macnab on the local distribution of trees in 

 the native forests of North America. — Professor Jameson placed 

 before the meeting a series of birds from the Himmalaya Moun- 

 tains, most of which seem identical with the European species, 

 including the Gypaetas barbatus ; Falco tinnunculus, subbuteo ; 

 Nisus communis ; Circus cyaneus, cineraceus, aeruginosus ; La- 

 nius excubitor ; Oriolus galbula ; Turdus merula ; Gracula rosea, 

 cyanea ; Sylvia rubecola, tithys ; Saxicola stapazina ; Curruca 

 atricapilla ; Sturnus vulgaris ; Upupa epops ; Picus major, vi- 

 ridis ; Yunx torquilla ; Pyrgita domestica ; Anthus arboreus ; 

 Haematopus ostralegus, 



Bindon Blood, Esq., Vice-President, in the chair. — Sir Pa- 1835. 

 trick Walker exhibited a specimen of a small species of the Mus 

 family, possessing some of the characters of the Marmot, which 

 had been found on his property at Drumsheugh, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Edinburgh, its haunts having been disturbed by 

 the progress of building. — Mr Macgillivray read remarks on 

 varieties of the Fox observed in Scotland. The author distin- 

 guished four races or varieties : 1. The Hound Fox, tall, slen- 

 der in the limbs, with a very attenuated muzzle, a bright reddish- 

 3'ellow fur, the lower parts of the body greyish-white, the tail 

 yellowish-grey, with long black hairs scattered towards its extre- 

 mity, and about three inches of the tip white. 2. The Cur Fox, 

 similar to the hound fox, but smaller, with the body deeper, the 

 legs shorter, the tip of the tail white. These two races seem to 

 pass into each other, and can scarcely be distinguished except 

 in the extremes. 3. The Dog Fox, compact in form, with com- 

 paratively short limbs, the head rather broad, the muzzle pointed, 

 the fur deep red, the lower parts brownish-red, the tail yellowish- 

 grey, darkened with black hairs, and having the tip of the same 



VOL. VII. H h 



