34 Mn selby's address. 



"upon that occasion, I need scarcely recall tlie attention of those who 

 had the satisfaction of hearing it in person ; and I am sure, those who 

 did not enjoy that pleasiire will rejoice with me, that the subsequent 

 publication of our Transactions has now placed it within their reach. 

 Among the communications read at the meeting, the first related to a 

 bird belonging to the genus Cataractes (Skua), killed upon the adjoin- 

 ing coast, and which, at that time, I could not precisely refer to any 

 of the described species, although I pointed out its near affinity to the 

 Cataractes (Lestris Eichardsonii) of the Fauna Bor. Ajner. I have 

 since ascertained, that it is identical with that kind, the under plumage 

 being subject to vary, and not always possessing the uniform brown 

 tint, as described in that work ; and further, that it is this species 

 which annually resorts to the northern islands of Scotland, for the 

 purpose of incubation, and not the true Cat. parasiticus (Arctic Skua), 

 as ornithologists have hitherto generally supposed. Dr Johnston 

 afterwards read an interesting paper, on the Insects, Mollusca, &c., 

 observed at the previous meeting held at Holy Island, emdched with 

 valuable and curious remarks on their structure and functions. Among 

 the insects I may particularise the Phjllojjertha Friscliii, a beetle of 

 rare occurrence in the north, and very locally distributed, and which 

 has only once been met with beyond the northern boundary of the 

 Tweed. Next followed a paper by our worthy secretary, Mr Embleton, 

 on the plants observed at the former meeting, and a continuation of 

 his interesting meteorological observations. Mr Mitchell also read an 

 account of the brown amethyst found in a ravine near Cheviot, amongst 

 the debris of the porphjadtic trap-rock, exhibiting a specimen of the 

 gem, and a hst of new habitats for rare plants. This was succeeded 

 by an ingenious paper of Dr Thomson's on the Tormentilla reptans, and 

 the genus Potamogeton ; and the business of the meeting was concluded 

 by a curious account of the game of Ball, as played at Dunse on 

 Pastern's Eve, by Mr Thomas Brown. 



As usual, the next meeting was held in December at Berwick-upon- 

 Tweed, where, in defiance of the short days and wintry blasts, a 

 numerous party assembled. The wetness of the morning prevented 

 any extended excursion ; but towards noon, when the mists and rain 

 cleared oif , a ramble along the steep and rocky coast to the north of 

 the town, as far as the lofty pinnacle-shaped rock, called the Needle 

 Eye, from the perforation at its base, delighted those who had not 

 before visited the environs of Berwick ; and the interest of the walk 

 was increased by a search along the shore for algai and other marine 

 productions. At this meeting I may mention, that the Club resolved 

 to print the communications already read before it, a resolution I hold 

 to be of great importance, and which, I hope, will be repeated at 

 regular intervals, not only on account of the intrinsic value the papers 

 may individually possess, and which are thus made available to 

 others ; but, as an evidence that the Club is really earnest in its inten- 



