66 Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. [Jan. 



6,000 and 7,000 feet high. It lias a level area at its top, of 

 nearly a circular form. The summit is surrounded by a grove of 

 trees of the genus rhododendron, but of a species which is said 

 to grow in no other situation. The plants are accounted sacred, 

 so that it was impossible to procure a specimen for examination. 

 Tire mountain itself is composed of gneiss, the constituents of 

 which exist in very different proportions in its different parts. In 

 some districts hornblende predominates so much as almost to 

 change the character of the rock ; but this passes by insensible 

 degrees into a more perfect gneiss, without exhibiting any exact 

 limit of separation. The author observed some of the gems, 

 which are the produce of Ceylon, imbedded in the gneiss which 

 composes this mountain. 



WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



The first meeting of the Wernerian Natural History Society 

 for this session took place in the College Museum on Nov. 15. 

 It was moved by Professor Jameson, and unanimously agreed to, 

 that, in consequence of the melancholy event of the death of 

 the Princess Charlotte of Wales, the Society should immediately 

 adjourn, without proceeding to business. 



The Wernerian Natural History Society met again on the 6th 

 inst. when the following office-bearers were chosen : 



President. — Robert Jameson, Esq. F.R.S. 



Vice-Presidents. — Colonel Imrie, F.R.S. ; John Campbell, 

 Esq. F.R.S.; Lord Gray, F.R.S.; Sir Patrick Walker, F.L.S. 



Secretary. — P. Neil, Esq. F.R.S. 



Treasurer. — W. Ellis, Esq. 



Ubiwrian and Keeper of the Museum.— James Wilson, Esq. 



Painter. — P. Syme, Esq. 



Council.— Dr. Macnight, F.R.S.; C. S. Monteath, Esq. 

 F.R.S.; Dr. Wright, F.R.S.; Dr. Yule, F.R.S.; D. Bridges, 

 Esq. ; Dr. D. Ritchie, F.R.S. ; Dr Falconer, F.L.S. ; T. Siv- 

 right, F.R.S. 



Professor Jameson at this meeting read a communication from 

 William Scoresby, jun. M.W.S. &c. entitled, " Narrative of an 

 Excursion upon the Island of Jan Mayen, containing some Ac- 

 count of its Appearance and Productions." This remote and 

 desolate spot, situated in lat. 70° 49' to lat. 71° 8° 20" N. and 

 long. 7° 25' 48" to 8° 44' W. was visited by Captain Scoresby, 

 jun. on Aug. 4, 1817. On approaching it, the first object which 

 strikes the attention is the mountain of Beerenberg, which rears 

 its icy summit to the height of 6840 feet above the level of the 

 sea. At this time all the high lands were covered with snow and 

 ice ; and the low lands, in those deep cavities where large beds 

 of snow had been collected, still retained part of their winter 

 covering, down to the very margin of the sea. Between capes 

 North-east and South-east, Captain Scoresby observed three re- 

 markable icebergs, having a perpendicular height of 1284 feet, 



