42 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



migration from one place to anotlier ; in all of which a thorough 

 investigation of our own inland molluscan fauna — the details and 

 limits of whose distribution e'ven is by no means complete — will 

 undoubtedly give valuable results. 



5th December, 1873. 

 Mr. J. Allan, Vice-President, in the chair. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



Mr. Binnie exhibited a specimen of Helix pyyinaea, found near 

 Loch Lomond, which has not been recorded for the district. 



PAPER READ. 



The Chairman read a paper on " Centres of Creation," in which 

 he defined the idea implied in this phrase, and objected to the 

 phrase as hardly correct, although it has obtained a footing from its 

 being concise. Centres of Distribution is probably more correct. He 

 also considered it in connection with Darwin's theories. He 

 thought it impossible to mark the centre of creation for any 

 species, the original being planted apparently all round the world 

 within a certain zone. He also thought that there was a great 

 want of a natural history censiis, both of distribution and propor- 

 tion. The " Cybele Britannica" supplied this want to some extent 

 in Botany, but it was only a census of distribution. There are, 

 however, wide areas in which the fauna and flora are quite distinct, 

 as Madagascar, Brazil, Australia, where the term seems tolei'ably 

 accurate. The plants and animals are so distinct, that there seems 

 to have been a separate creation for each area. The subject, 

 which, was treated at considerable length, was pointed out as 

 i-ather an important one in the great Darwinian dispute. 



19th December, 1873. 

 Mr. J. Allan, Vice-President, in the chair. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



Mr. Cameron exhibited specimens of Apanteles placidus, Hal., 

 one of the parasitic Hymenoptera, which he had bred from spiders' 



