87 



Dr. Balfour mentioned that he had received a letter from Dr. John- 

 ston, of Berwick, in which he states that he is now convinced that the 

 Anacharis Alsinastrum found in the Whiteadder is of foreign origin. 



A letter was read from Mr. C. E. Parker, of Torquay, noticing 

 various instances which had been observed of the effects of lightning 

 on trees, and mentioning the occurrence of Tilia Europaea on a pro- 

 montory in the sea near to Torquay, where he supposes it to be indi- 

 genous. 



Mr. M'Laren exhibited specimens of Erica hyeraalis, Epacris 

 miniata and nivalis, Cactus, Primula, Cydonia japonica, &c., pre- 

 pared by dipping in wax melted in a steam bath. He found that the 

 colour of the Camellia was destroyed by the operation ; but he suc- 

 ceeded with all the other plants he had tried. 



Mr. Gorrie exhibited specimens of the woods of Quercus pedun- 

 culata and sessi flora, grown in the glen above Crichtou. These, 

 with oth^r specimens, were presented to the museum at the Botanic 

 Garden. 



Mr. G. Lawson exhibited specimens of Peziza coccinea from Arnis- 

 ton Woods, where it is at present in great abundance. 



Microscopical Society of London. 



January 15, 1851. Dr. Arthur Fane, President, in the chair. 



A paper ' On the Femoral Plates or Scales of Zootoca vivipara, a 

 kind of Lizard,' by J. B. Spencer, Esq., was read. 



After some introductory remarks, in which the description given by 

 Professor Bell in his ' History of British Rejjtiles ' was noticed, as 

 stating that this lizard was one of those distinguished by being 

 covered with scales or plates, some of which possess a very curious 

 structure, and among which the femoral plates are particularly dis- 

 tinguished as having pores, the use of which is not known, the author 

 went on to state that these femoral plates occur in a single row on the 

 under surface of each lower leg, and are usually ten or twelve in num- 

 ber. He, however, found upon examination that they did not agree 

 with Prof. Bell's description, not being perforated, but on the con- 

 trary, their surface was produced into a semi-transparent process or 

 horn, of a light yellow colour, without anj- discoverable perforation ; 

 these last, where they occur, being due to the rubbing off of the horny 

 process, which is detached by a very slight touch. He was, there- 

 fore, induced to believe that these scales possibly serve to give the 



