124 Glimpses of Marine Life on the Forth. [Sess. 



The crab proceeded in exactly the same fashion when the 

 bottom of the aquarium was strewn with sea-weeds or any 

 kind of zoophytes. Moreover, it was observed that some 

 specimens, clothed with sea - weed, which were left in an 

 aquarium of which the bottom was covered with sponges, 

 did not hesitate to take off their old clothing and put on 

 a new one of sponges. 



Note. — The cavity of the ear in most animals contains 

 small solid bodies, or otoliths, which play upon the nerve 

 fibres. Sometimes these are secreted by the walls of the 

 cavity itself, but certain Crustacea, says Lord Avebury, have 

 acquired the remarkable habit of selecting, after each moult, 

 suitable particles of sand which they pick up with their 

 pincers and insert into their ears. 



[About ninety beautiful hand-painted sketches were used to 

 illustrate the objects described in this paper.] 



At U.F. Manse ^ North Queensferry^ on the 8th 

 February igog, of pneujnonia, the Rev. Alexander 

 Stoddart Wilson, M.A., B.Sc, aged js years. 



The loss to this Society of so keen and appreciative an 

 observer of Nature in all its aspects is irreparable. The 

 results of his observations and studies, whether in Botany, 

 Zoology, or Geology, were always readily bestowed upon the 

 members in lectures, which, for effectiveness of description and 

 for beauty of literary style, could not be surpassed. 



Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his widow and family. 



