176 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Dothidea sambuci, Labrella Ptarmica, Peziza palustris, P. rubella, 

 Torula pinopJiila, Sphaeria fuliginosa, S. clryina, and Macrosjoora scirpi. 



EXCURSION. 



Finnich Glen. — Mr. M'Kay mentioned that nothing of interest 

 was found at this excursion, with the exception of Saxifraga granulata 

 and Juniperus communis. 



Ben Lomond. — Mr. R. H. Pater son gave an account of an excursion 

 to Ben Lomond, where he had found the moss Leucohryum glaucum 

 in fruit. This is the first time it has been found in fruit in Scotland. 

 He also found several rare fungi in the woods at the foot of the hills, 

 such as Polyporus perennis, P. variegatus, Hydnum niveum, Merulius 

 aurantiacus, Tremella frondosa, Ilymenochaete tabacina, Mitrula alba, 

 M. cuculata, M. paludosa, Torula splendens, and Ascobolus subhirtus. 



PA PEES READ. 



Mr. James Allan gave a short account of the arrival of some of 

 our commoner birds for the last ten years, showing that although 

 the seasons varied greatly the birds arrived about their usual time 

 each year. 



Dr. James Stiarton, F.L.S., gave an account of some lichens which 

 had been gathered by Mr. R. H. Paterson in Kilfinan last year. 

 Among them he had found six species new to science, but which had 

 yet to be named. There were also three species found for the first 

 time in Britain, viz., Squamaria chrysoleuca, S. lentigera, and Pertusaria 

 velata, also the rare lichens Physcia chrysophthalma, Lecanora rubra, 

 Placodium fulgens, Parmelia aleurites, Lecidea Hoolcerii, Verrucaria 

 glahrata, and Dacampia Hoohrii. 



Mr. W. D. Benson gave an explanation of a new method of 

 mounting objects for the miscroscope. In illustration of his remarks 

 he exhibited some beautifully prepared specimens. 



Dr. Cunningham read a paper on the '' Nervous System of the 

 Cetacea." This class of animals belongs to the great order 

 Mammalia, although believed by those who are uneducated to 

 belong to the fishes from the general appearance of the body. 

 Schwann first discovered that they were lung-breathing animals which 

 suckle their young. He then gave a general sketch of the nervous 

 system, reserving the peculiar distribution of the nerves of the tail 

 till the end of his paper. The skin of most of the class is glistening 

 and tough, and is wholly destitute of hairs. Hair in the form of 



