120 FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. [Ap)^il, 



simultaneous appearance of the great divisions of the animal 

 kingdom. Besides these, other difficulties would be suggested by 

 a little reflection, such as the nnexpected stop in the development 

 of some organisms, as in the Diatoinacece, the earliest forms of 

 which are as perfect in every particular as those now living ; or the 

 retrograde development in others^ as in the singularly diminutive 

 Lycopods, descended in accordance with the "selective power of 

 nature" from the giant Lepidodendro7is of the coal measures. 



At the close of this paper, Professor Bialloblotzky, of Gottingen, 

 was introduced to the Society, and amongst other remarks said 

 that he did not think that Lyell's superficial division of the 

 Tertiary system would stand long, now that the more scientific 

 division of Dr. Fleming had been published. 



After two papers on geology, Mr. Sadler read two lyrical 

 effusions communicated by Professor Balfour from Mr. James 

 Hardie^ the first of which was an ode to the Draba verna, and the 

 second a translation of Sibbald's ode to Rosa ciphiana. Mr. 

 Robert Brown then read a note concerning the recent capture of 

 Corrynactus viridis on the coast of Caithness; and after the 

 transaction of some business the Society adjourned. 



On March 6, the Society held its usual fortnightly meeting, 

 John Sadler, Esq., president, when the following were the com- 

 munications read : — 



1 . Part 1 of a paper on the Algse in relation to Medicine, the 

 Arts, Manufactures, and Domestic Economy, by Robert Brown, 

 Esq., F.R.P.S.E. The paper treated of the medical properties 

 of the Algse of various countries, and their economic application 

 to the arts and manufactures ; but as Part 2 will be read at the 

 next meeting, a fuller report of the paper will then be given. 



2. Thermometrical Observations made in the Royal Botanic 

 Garden, Edinburgh, from 1854 to 1860, by Mr. Wm. R. M'Nab, 

 in remarks on which the Rev. James Stewart said that he thought 

 it would be found that the temperature of this country followed 

 a regular curve, as most certainly the data afforded by the present 

 paper would lead us to suppose. 



3. Botanical Rambles, being a Sketch of an Excursion to 

 Strathmiglo, Balvaird Castle, Glen Farg, and Bridge of Earn, by 

 John Sadler, Esq., Sec.B.S.E. In this paper the author gave a 

 graphic description of one of Professor Balfour^s class excursions, 

 and noticed among the various plants found the Cerastium arvense, 



