150 JVernerian Natural History Society. 



the Egyptians. It was here then that three priests were 

 stationeci to prevent the intrusion oF improper persons, who. 

 in the Coptic language were called Caen, a word which the 

 Greeks translated Do^s, and thence the triple-headed Dog 

 Cerb'jrus of the poets. And here, it [ mav he allowed to 

 speculate on the description of Virgil, that beneath an ovcr- 

 shadowinc rock, to the left, the ciiv of Tartarus was placed 

 at the entrance of these wavs, I should place the dungeon 

 of the Temple in the grotto beneath ; for there is little doubt 

 that the Tartarus of the poets orioinated in the penances 

 of the Priests, exemplified either in the persons of their re- 

 fractory satellites, or on those of initiates who had violated 

 their oaths. Hence arose the stories of Sisyphus, Fxion, of 

 the Danaides, victims, as it would appear, cond.mned to 

 draw water, to raise stones, or to move the wheels of ma- 

 chinery." 



Mr. Clarkson then proceeds with an interestina" descrip- 

 tion of Elysium, which he contends was the garden of the 

 Mouaslic College ; detailing rather at large the mystic dra- 

 mas that were there represented, and ending with a learned 

 and curious aryrument on the Origin and Effects of Drama- 

 tic Representation. 



Upon the whole, we take our leave of Mr. C. with con- 

 siderable feelings of respect. We have derived at once 

 pleasure and information from his lectures, and we sympa- 

 thize cordially with his future objects. 



WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETV. 



At the first winter meeting of this Society, an interesting 

 communication from Dr. Arthur Edmondstone was read, 

 concerning the Lurus parasiticus^ or Arctic Gull. Owing 

 to the remote situation of the haunts of this gull, its history 

 and manners have hitherto been little known. Dr. Ed • 

 mondstone has now illustrated them. He has observed two 

 kinds of arctic gulls in .the Shetland islands; the common 

 sort, with the breast and belly of a mouse colour: and an- 

 other sort with the breast and belly pure white. Each kind 

 keeps together; and the ui)ite is a larger and heavier bird, 

 but less bold than the other. The Doctor is therefore in- 

 clined to consider these not merely as varieties, but as di- 

 stinct species. 



At the same meeting. Professor Jameson read to the. So- 

 ciety a short descr'ption of several varieties of the precious 

 stone named Zircon, which he had lately discovered im- 

 bedded in sienile, in Galloway. He also informed the So- 

 ciety, 



