170 TEANSACTIONS OF THE 



commoner fossils and several of tliose peculiar to the district had 

 been found. 



SPECIMENS EXHIBITED. 



By Mr. W. J. Milligan. — Specimens of Productus spiriferus and P. 

 longispinus, the latter showing the spines very well. 

 By Mr. F. G. Binnie. — A large collection of insects. 



PAPER EEAD. 



Mr. James Allan gave a sketch of the life of Karl Linnaeus, the 

 Swedish botanist, and read some extracts from his works. Linnaeus 

 was born on the twenty -fourth of May, 1707, his father being a 

 clergyman in Smalund. From his father he received a taste for the 

 study of Natural History, So backward was he at school that his 

 father was advised to make him a shoemaker. Notice was taken of 

 his early struggles with poverty, often mending his boots with 

 brown paper ; his travels in Germany, Holland, France, and England, 

 and his meeting with Dillenius in England. After his return home 

 his life was a continual series of successes. He was made a 

 Professor, then a Knight of the Polar Star, then a Baron, enjoying 

 an intimate friendship with the king and queen, and was so admired 

 by the people that when he and his students were returning from 

 Botanical excursions they were met by the citizens of Upsala with 

 bands of music, as if they had been conquerors. 



He found Natural Science in great confusion, without arrangement 

 or system, and left order and system in every branch. Besides 

 Botany, he made Conchology a science, and it has remained till now 

 almost as he left it. He was assisted by his students, who travelled 

 all over the world, and sent him reports. He was much beloved for 

 his amiability of character, and acted up to his motto, " Famam 

 extendere factis." He died in 1778, aged 71. 



18th April, 187G. 



Mr. W. J. Milligan, Vice-President, in the chair, 



Messrs. David Wood Inglis, M.A., Biggar; John Harrison, 

 Lesmahagow; and Kobert M. Cairney, 47 Scott Street, were elected 

 members of the Society. 



