18 Proceedings of the 



III. On the Discovery of Calcareous Zoophytes in the Boulder Clay of 

 Caithness, N.B. By Charles W. Peach, Esq., Wick. 



Zoophytes have not hitherto been discovered in the boulder clay of Caith- 

 ness, but the author laid before the Society specimens of two species, one 

 found by Mr Dick at Thurso, the other by himself in the scaur in Wick 

 harbour. The former, which was much rubbed, proved to be the Lepralia 

 simplex of Johnston, the latter the Lepralia Peachii, both of which now 

 exist in our seas. The only perceptible difference between the recent and 

 ancient specimens, is, that the latter have thicker walls to their cells, pro- 

 bably as a provision against the boreal clime and more troubled seas they 

 were denizens of. Besides this addition to the fauna of the boulder clay, 

 he mentioned that its flora has yielded some of those curious calcareous 

 plants, the Melobesia. He proposed in a future communication to lay be- 

 fore the Society the details of a microscopic examination of these plants. 



IV. Andrew Murray, Esq., then read a short notice he had received 

 from Sir W. Jardine on the Baric-boring Woodpeckers of California. 



V. Analyses of Pectolite from Mourne Mountains, and Table Spar from 

 Girvan. By M. Forster Heddle, M.D. 



These analyses have already appeared in the Philosophical Magazine 

 for April and June 1855, pp. 248 and 452. 



VI. Dr John Alex. Smith exhibited an adult male, female, and young 

 male of the Gadwall duck (Anas strep era), shot on the Forth, near Kin- 

 cardine, in the beginning of this month ; Captain Ord, 42d Highlanders, 

 to whom he was indebted for being able to exhibit these ducks, which 

 appear to be very rare visitors to this country, was attracted by their un- 

 usual appearance in the shop of Mr Muirhead, poulterer, Queen Street. 

 Dr Smith had made particular inquiries at Mr Muirhead, who informed 

 him there could be no mistake as to the locality the birds eame from. He 

 might mention it was only in very open winters the poulterers required 

 to get supplies from foreign markets, while in severe seasons like the pre- 

 sent there was no scarcity of birds nearer home, to be procured at much 

 less expense. Dr Smith also exhibited two adult males of the Smew 

 (Mergus albellus, Linn.), — these birds, which are rarely seen in Scotland, 

 were killed near Mountblairey on the River Doveron, in Banffshire, in Fe- 

 bruary and March ; and a specimen of the Glaucous Gull, Larus glaucus, 

 taken on the Firth of Forth last autumn. 



Wednesday, 25th April. — Robert Chambers, Esq., President, in the 



Chair. 



I, Remarks on Ram Gauges, with the view of securing Comparable 

 Observations. By Professor Fleming. 



In this communication, made at the request of the Society, Professor 



