Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh. 3341 



3. Mr. R. F. Logan presented the Report of the Entomological Committee on the 

 order Lepidoptera, and said that he had hoped it would have been undertaken this sea- 

 son by Dr. Lowe ; and it was only at his request, in consequence of absence from home, 

 and professional engagements at the height of the season, that he had been induced 

 to enter upon the subject. He then proceeded briefly to detail the results of the va- 

 rious excursions undertaken by the Committee during the season, for the purposes of 

 investigation, and mentioned that many insects had been found, which were probably 

 additious to the Fauna of Scotland, — several probably undescribed species ; and that 

 the Committee had this year added twelve species to the list of Edinburghshire Lepi- 

 doptera, viz., — Amphysa prodromana, Gracilaria auroguttella, Rceslerstammia pyg- 

 maeana, Argyresthia arceuthina, Gelechia Cirsiella, G. longicornis, Ornix torquilella ? 



Nemotois ? Argyresthia dilectella, Depressaria conterminella, Elachista ? 



Exapate gelatella. Specimens of these, and of a variety of other species captured 

 during the past season, were exhibited by Mr. Logan, who was highly complimented 

 by the entomologists present for the beautiful manner in which they were set and pre- 

 served. It was mentioned that the use of chloroform is the best and easiest method of 

 killing insects, as it at once deprives them of life without in the slightest degree in- 

 juring them. 



4. Mr. Rhind exhibited a drawing of a fossil animal lately found in the upper 

 beds of the old red sandstone in Morayshire, by Patrick Duff, Esq. The skeleton is 

 that of a vertebrated animal, and, including the upper portion of the tail, measures 

 about five inches in length. The head exhibits teeth in both jaws ; there are four legs. 

 The first six ribs have the usual curved form of the thorax of an air-breathing animal ; 

 the next six or seven false ribs extend outwards in a horizontal position ; the whole 

 structure of the skeleton bearing a resemblance to that of the Draco volans, or flying 

 lizard of the East Indies. It is to be hoped that a more particular description of this 

 singular fossil will be given to the public by its possessor. 



5. Mr. Rhind then brought before the notice of the Society, a collection of zoo- 

 phytes from the Frith of Tay, near the village of Newport, chiefly with a view of point- 

 ing out a locality not hitherto much explored by collectors. Five species of Sertularia 

 were exhibited, also Plumularia falcata ? Gemellaria loriculata, <Scc. ; fine specimens 

 of Laomedea dichotoma, and specimens of L. gelatinosa, from eight to ten inches in 

 length. A muddy bottom, and a considerable proportion of fresh water from the flow 

 of the river, were supposed to have influenced the forms of some of the zoophytes 

 exhibited. 



6. Mr. Alexander Bryson exhibited a suite of fine zoolitic minerals from the Bay 

 of Funcly, Nova Scotia, collected by Professor Chipman, of Acadia College. The se- 

 ries comprised Chabasie, Heulandite, Stilbite, Analcime, Mesotype, Apophyllite, and 

 Dysclasite. The crystals of Chabasie are peculiarly interesting, some being hollow, 

 showing that, instead of crystallizing around a central nucleus, the external surfaces 

 were first deposited. Mr. Bryson referred to similar examples occurring in garnet, 

 Iceland spar, &c. The foot-prints of the sandpiper, from the Bay of Fundy, were also 

 exhibited. 



The Society then adjourned till the first Wednesday of January. — R. F. L. 



