86 Proceedings. 



Ordinary Meeting, January 2nd, 1894. 



[Adjourned from December 26th, 1893, by resolution of 

 the Council.] 



Mr. James Cosmo Melvill, M.A., F.L.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



The thanks of the members were voted to the donors of 

 the books upon the table. 



Reference was made to the untimely death of Professor 

 A. Milnes Marshall, F.R.S., who was elected a member 

 of the Society in 1879, the members present testifying in a 

 very special way to their sense of personal loss. 



Reference was also made to the completion of the 

 Manchester Ship Canal, and the following resolution, 

 moved by the Ven. Archdeacon ANSON, and seconded by 

 Dr. BOTTOMLEY, was adopted : — " That this meeting 

 congratulates the Directors and Shareholders of the Man- 

 chester Ship Canal Company on the completion and 

 opening of the Canal for traffic, and expresses a sanguine 

 hope that it will conduce to augment the prosperity of the 

 city and district." 



A discussion on the appearance of gulls on the Canal at 

 Throstle Nest, and elsewhere, ensued. 



Mr. Charles Bailey pointed out that in the records 

 of the Society there were accounts of the appearance of 

 similar gulls at Peel Park, and elsewhere, many years ago. 



Mr. F. Nicholson, F.Z.S., said that the birds now seen 

 are young birds of the black-headed marsh-gull species, 

 which breeds at Winmarleigh. The peculiarity of the 

 phenomenon is that the birds seem to be settling in the 



