374 Proceedings of the Royal Physwcd Society. 



Geissler Tubes, which does not seem to have been noticed previously, andwhich 

 may help to explain the nature of the discharge within exhausted tubes. 

 If a wire from one pole of an induction coil be wound round a Geissler Tube — 

 a narrow part of the tube is to be preferred — on setting the coil in operation 

 the tube appears luminous. The wire is in connection with one pole only ; 

 if the circuit is completed by attaching it to the other pole the luminosity 

 will not make its appearance. The tube may be placed at a considerable 

 distance from the coil, to avoid any effect arising from induction of the coil 

 itself. The explanation of the phenomenon seems to be that the wire becomes 

 statically charged, and the luminosity arises from induction caused thereby, 

 there being no current through the tube. 



4. "Exhibition of a Maigre {Scicena aquila) caught in the Firth of Forth, 

 July 1878, and measuring three feet two inches in length ; and of a 

 Garfish {Beloue vulgaris) also caught in the Firth of Forth, and measur- 

 ing 32^ inches in length." By John Gibson. 



Wednesday, 19th February 1879.— Professor Duns, President, in the Chair. 

 The following gentleman was elected a Corresponding Fellow of the Society : 

 Charles Lapworth, F.G.S., St Andrews. 

 The following communications were read : 



1. "On Splenic Fever, with a Short History of the Bacillas anthracis/' By 



Principal W. Williams. 



2. "On the Old Red Sandstone of Shetland." By B. N. Peach, F.G.S., and 



John Horne, F.G.S., H.M. Geological Survey. 



3. " On Spawning Season of Eyas araneus." By Robert Kidston. 



4. " On Ramose Form of Plantago maritima.^' By Robert Kidston, 



5. Professor Duns exhibited, with remarks (1.) A specimen of Vesicularia 



spinosa, showing abnormal branching, and adventitious membranes at 

 the forks of the branches ; (2.) Specimens of Fucus Mackii from Orkney 

 — a new locality for this seaweed. 



Wednesday, 19th March 1879. — Dr R. H. Traquair, President, in the Chair. 



The following gentlemen were elected Ordinary Fellows of the Society: 

 Johnson Symington, M.B., CM., F.R.C.S.E. ; Henry Aubrey Husband, 

 M.B., CM., F.R.C.S.E. ; Alfred Daniell, M.A., B.Sc. 



The following communications were read : 



1. "On the Influence of the Recent Storm on Bird Life." By Professor J. 



Duns, D.D. 



2. "Notes on a Visit to the Baths of Mont Dore. " By W. T. Black. 



3. "Notes on the Occurrence of the Stockdove {Columba cenas) in Berwick- 



shire. " By Robert Gray. 



4. " List of the Birds which have been observed in the Parish of Callander." 



By J. Hamilton Buchanan. 



5. "Note on the Occurrence of the Starry Ray {Eaia radiata) in the Firth of 



Forth." (Specimens exhibited.) By C W. Peach. 



6. " Notes on the White-winged Crossbill {Loxia Uucoptera) and Grasshopper 



Warbler {Calamodyta locustella)." By William Evans. (Communi- 

 cated by the Secretary.) 



