436 Proceedings of the 



smooth creamy-like matter. The testes were very small, being scarcely 

 one -fourth of an inch in length, the largest like a very small pea. 

 Several genera of birds, it is well known, eject the indigestible parts of 

 their food as pellets. Sir William Jardine believes, that in addition to 

 the Accipitres, the cuckoos, king-fishers, motmots, and bee-eaters all do so. 

 Macgillivray says, — " I have never met with a fragment of the elytra, 

 the articulation of a limb, or any other hard part of an insect in the in- 

 testines of the cuckoo, the contents of which are of a uniform pulpy and 

 impalpable mass of a light red colour. Of course, the remains of insects 

 in the stomach must be thrown up in pellets as in hawks and owls." Dr 

 Smith was able, therefore, to supply the positive side of the evidence, 

 and by exhibiting the pellet from the stomach itself, put an end to any 

 doubt that might have existed on the subject, at least in regard to the 

 cuckoo. 



Wednesday, 28th April 1858. — Andrew Murray, Esq., President, in 



the Chair. 



Incorporation of the Wernerian Natural History Society with the Royal 

 Physical Society. 



[Since the death of Professor Jameson the Wernerian So- 

 ciety had been comparatively inactive, and it was at last re- 

 solved by its surviving members, after holding special meetings, 

 which had been summoned by public advertisement in the dif- 

 ferent newspapers, that it was inexpedient, for various rea- 

 sons, to resuscitate the Wernerian Natural History Society. 

 It was further resolved, that as the Royal Physical Society 

 had been vigorously cultivating the different branches of Na- 

 tural Science, while the Botanical Society had taken up the 

 department of Botany ; the Wernerian Society be formally dis- 

 solved ; and that its funds be divided between these two So- 

 cieties, in the proportion of two-thirds to the Eoyal Physical 

 Society, and one-third to the Botanical Society. The books 

 on botanical subjects being given to the Botanical Society, and 

 the remainder (with certain exceptions) to the Royal Physical 

 Society. 



It was also arranged that all Members of the Wernerian 

 Society be admitted to the membership of these Societies with- 

 out the payment of any entrance fees, and with all the privi- 



