Royal Physical Society. 463 



and congratulated their energetic member, Mr Peach, on his 

 discovery. As an amateur in Photography, he was not at a 

 loss to account for the effects produced; the Desmarestia 

 furnished the iodine, and the sea itself was capable of supply- 

 ing all the silver required for the process, while the sun, 

 though it did not stay in its course, yet "played the alchemist." 



V. Dr J. A. Smith exhibited a male specimen of the Raia 

 spinosa, the Sandy Ray of Cornwall, where it was first 

 observed by Mr Couch. It had also been taken off the coast 

 of Ireland, as mentioned by Mr Yarrell, who figures it in the 

 second volume of his "British fishes/' The fish on the table 

 measured 2 feet in length to the point of the tail, and 1 foot 

 2J inches broad ; and, as far as he was aware, it was the 

 first time it had been observed on the Scottish coasts. Its pre- 

 servation showed the interest excited among his acquaintances 

 by the labours of one active naturalist, as the fish was 

 observed at Boathaven, near Wick, by It. Boyd, Esq., Collector 

 of Her Majesty's Customs, Wick, on the 23d ult., who im- 

 mediately secured it as possibly something to interest his friend 

 and colleague Mr Peach ; and the latter gentleman discovering 

 its rarity, kindly forwarded it for exhibition to the Society. 



[Dr Smith has since been informed by Mr James Macdonald, 

 Elgin, that the R. spinosa had been several times taken on 

 the adjoining coast of Morayshire.] 



Dr Smith placed on the table a specimen of the Gaster- 

 osteus spinachia, the fifteen-spined stickleback, taken at 

 Portobello in March last. Dr Parnell considered it rare in the 

 Firth of Forth. 



VI. Notice of Granite found in situ in Mid-Lothian. 



Mr George Forrest, 96 Nicolson Street, exhibited speci- 

 mens of a compact grey granite, in colour much like that 

 found at Aberdeen, which had been lately discovered in situ 

 near Esperston. Mr W. A. J ardine, C.E., had visited the place, 

 and it appeared to exist in considerable quantities. He made 

 some remarks as to the importance of the discovery in an eco- 

 nomical point of view, and at so short distance from the city. 



[Dr Smith had since learned a few additional particulars 

 of the discovery, which he considered of some little interest. 



vol. i. 2 x 



