GLASGOW SOCIETY OF FIELD NATURALISTS. 189 



19th September, 1876. 



Mr. John Harvie, Vice-President, in the chair. 



The Eev. John Stevenson, Glammis, Forfarshire, was elected a 

 corresponding member of the Society. 



The Secretary intimated that he had received copies of the 

 " Transactions of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club " and '• Leeds 

 Naturalists' Field Club " from the respective Societies. 



Dr. Stirton submitted a request on behalf of Dr. C. E. Lichke, 

 Bonn, Ehine, Germany, for dried specimens of Scotch Ferns correctly 

 named. It was agreed to help him as far as possible with this. 

 He also read a circular from M. Kichter Lajos of Budapest, 

 announcing the formation of a Botanical Exchange Club there for 

 plants of the Austrian provinces. 



SPECIMENS EXHIBITED. 



By Mr. W. J. Milligan. — A number of mosses gathered at the 

 Strathblane excursion. 



By Mr. J. Harvie. — A number of star-fishes and crabs gathered at 

 a dredging excursion of the British Association. 



EXCURSION. 



The excursion to Kilsyth was reported as being most enjoyable. 

 The spot visited was the Hermitage, a most romantic building in the 

 middle of the Carron river, where the vSurroundings are well suited for 

 botanists, and many good things were got. In the evening the 

 party were hospitably entertained by Mr. Gregorson. 



The excursion to Strathblane, being the last of the season, was 

 devoted to sociality more than work, and most agreeably wound up 

 an agreeable series of excursions, in which some good work has been 

 done. 



PAPEES READ. 

 By Mr. James Allan.— Mr. Allan read a paper on "The Habits of 

 the Common Rat." This animal does not appear to be mentioned in 

 Scripture, although the mouse and the weasel are both named, and 

 in iEsop there is no mention of the rat, although almost every common 

 animal is mentioned by him. The origin of the word is evidently 

 Gothic, and may be either from roth, red, or ratlie, meaning wisdom, 



