74 TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



inductive pliilosoplier, whose only idea of privation is that involved 

 in incessant work, Referring to the extent of the field of study, 

 and the absolute necessity for division of labour lie insisted that 

 advancement can only come from special study of special branches. 

 Loss can be the only result of talent dissipated over the whole 

 I'ealm of nature. He concluded witli a notice of a few of the 

 pi'imary advantages attending the study of nature, in preserving 

 our higher nature pure amid the various adverse elements of a busy 

 life, in elevating the mind by the contemplation of the grand 

 harmony and unity of nature, and in training and improving the 

 mental faculty itself. 



6th November, 1874. 



Mr. Richard M'Kay, Yice-President, in the chair. 



Mr. Peter Cameron, jun., instead of previous motion, moved, 

 ''That this Society enters into negotiations with the Natural 

 History Society of Glasgow, for the purpose of amalgamating with 

 it on suitable terms." 



Mr. Harvie moved as an amendment, " That this Society, whilst 

 favourable to amalgamation, take no steps in the matter till the 

 Natural History Society make a proposal stating terms of proposed 

 union." After a discussion, the amendment was carried on a vote 

 being taken. The votes were: for amendment, 10; for Mr. 

 Camei-on's motion, 9. 



PAPER READ, 



Mr, Gregorson read a paper entitled "Notes on the Natural 

 History of Kilsyth." After explaining its position and leading 

 physical features, and sketching the piincipal points and facts 

 in. its antiquities, history, and geology, he referred at more length 

 to the botany of the district. Up to this date, his list of observed 

 plants comprises 350 species, which, considering the limited time 

 he has been enabled to devote to their investigation, he thought, 

 showed that the district was a tolerably rich one. The carices, 

 grasses, mosses, lichens, and fungi, he had scarcely touched. 

 Twenty species of ferns have been observed, including amongst 

 others, Asplenium viride, Cryptogramme crispa, Aspidium angulare, 

 Ophioglossum vulgatum, and BotrycJdum lunaria. There is an 

 absence of vegetation in the standing waters as compared with the 

 immediate neighbourhood of Glasgow, He then enumerated in 



