Proceedings of Societies. '209 



Wernerian Natural History Society, March 12, 1836. — Robert Jame- 

 son, Esq. P. in the Chair. The Secretary read Dr Richard Parnell's account of 

 the occurrence of the White -bait, Clupea alba, in the Frith of Forth, in consi- 

 derable abundance ; and also his description of the Sprat or Garvey-herring, C. 

 Sprattus. 



March 26 David Falconar, Esq. formerly V. P. in the Chair. The Secre- 

 tary read Dr Parnell's account of the Tadpole fish, Raniceps trifurcatus, and of the 

 Sea-snail, Cyclopteris liparis, observed by him in the Frith of Forth, and specimens 

 of both were exhibited. Mr Wilson, for the Secretary, then read Remarks on 

 the Vitality of the Toad, communicated by the Rev. Edward Stanley of Alder- 

 ley Rectory. 



Dr Thomas Aitken gave an account of the anatomy of a specimen of the 

 Ursine Sloth, Ursus labiatus, which died a short time ago in a travelling mena- 

 gerie, while at Edinburgh, demonstrating the peculiarities of the organs of re- 

 spiration and digestion. The stuffed specimen of the animal was also exhibited. 



Professor Jameson exhibited a series of birds from Northern India, collected 

 by Mr Hamilton Stirling, which, he remarked, was remarkably interesting, as 

 presenting many species which .were not known to exist in that quarter. Mr 

 William Jameson pointed out several of these ; of the rapacious order he noti- 

 ced the Milvus govinda, and Accipiter dukhunensis, the former of which was con- 

 sidered to be probably the young of the Falco cheela. With regard to the 

 geographic distribution of the genus Milvus, it was stated, that it occurs in all 

 the different continents of the Old World and New Holland, but that it has not 

 as yet been detected in the New World, its place being there supplied by the 

 genus Nauclerus. Specimens of the Gypaetos barbatus were again laid before 

 the Society, Professor Jameson having many years ago exhibited this bird sent 

 from Northern India by Lieutenant Tytler (which, since that time, has been dis- 

 covered by other travellers,) for the purpose of pointing it out under the form 

 of the Vultur niger, it in the young state being considered as a distinct species, 

 and described under this name ; and also for the purpose of showing that it from 

 the nest upwards, undergoes the same changes as the European specimens, a cha- 

 racter, before all others, marking them to be one and the same species. In re- 

 gard to British birds in general, in connection with Indian ornithology, Mr Jame- 

 son stated, that more than one-third of them occur in India, either identical 

 with, or undergoing certain slight modifications in the colour of the plumage, 

 size, &c, characters which, if their habits and manners are the same, would lead 

 him to consider them rather as marked varieties than as new species. To the 

 diurnal rapacious birds Mr Jameson particularly directed the attention of the 

 Society, and stated, that of the 18 diurnal birds of prey found in this island, the 

 following striking distribution was presented, viz. In common with Europe 3 ; 

 Europe and Asia 2 ; Europe, Asia, and New Holland, 1 ; Europe, Asia, Africa, 

 and New Holland, 3 ; Europe, Asia, and North America, 5 ; if, however, the 

 Circus cineraceus exists in North America, which is not at all improbable, we 

 shall have 6 ; Europe, Asia, and South America, 1 ; Europe and North Ameri- 

 ca 3. To these conclusions, Mr Jameson remarked, he had come, principally from 

 an examination of the magnificent collection of the Museum of the University 

 of Edinburgh. After some other general observations on the identity of parti- 

 cular species of rapacious birds, in which it was stated, that the Falco cher- 

 rug of Gray, is the female of the Falco islandicus ; the Circus paUidus, Sykes, 

 the young male of the Circus cyaneus ; the Circus variegatus, the Circus rufus, 

 NO. II. O 



