HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY. 
579 
quality has been generally denied to it by unscientific com- 
mentators. — At the same meeting, the Rev. Dr Scot read 
a paper on the Alabaster of the ancients. 
Robert Jameson, Esq. P. in the chair. — There was read 1831 
an essay on the Beacon Lights of Remote Antiquity, com- 
municated by Mr Robert Stevenson, civil engineer. Like- 
wise a paper on the Influence of Rocks on the Nature of 
the Vegetation which covers them, communicated by Dr 
Alexander Murray of Aberdeenshire. — At the same meet- 
ing, Mr John James Audubon communicated an interest- 
ing and graphic description of a Flood of the Mississippi, 
which he had witnessed during his residence in the western 
parts of America. 
Robert Jameson, Esq. P. in the chair.-— The first paper Mar. 
read was Dr Turnbull Christie's account of the occurrence 
of Hailstorms within the Torrid Zone, in the peninsula of 
India. — The Rev. Dr Scot read an essay on the Zebi of 
the Bible, which he proved to be the Mountain Gazelle, 
and not the Roe, as in our translation. Dr Greville, V. P. 
having taken the chair. Prof. Jameson stated the general 
results of accurately kept Meteorological Tables, shewing 
the nature of the weather in the Isle of Man from 1824 to 
1830. He also communicated a copy of the Meteorological 
Register for 1830, kept at Kinfauns Castle, under the di- 
rection of Lord Gray ; and a similar Register, kept at 
Aberdeen, by Mr George Innes.— The Professor then laid 
on the table a copy of a return to an Address of the House 
of Commons relating to sums of money granted for Mine- 
ralogical Purposes in Scotland; from which it appeared, 
that no part of the money had been granted to this Society, 
nor to the Edinburgh Museum, although the printed par- 
liamentary votes had mentioned the Mineralogical Society 
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