HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY. 
569 
Dr Knox read a Memoir on the Osseous, Muscular, and ^^^21 
Nervous Systems of the Ornithorynchus paradoxus, illus- 
trating his description of the osseous structure by a perfect 
skeleton of the animal. The Secretary read a deposition 
by three Shetland fishermen, Daniel and William Manson, 
and John Henderson, emitted on oath before Arthur Ni- 
cholson, Esq. of Lochend, Justice of the Peace, relative to 
a small cetaceous animal, of very uncommon appearance, 
which they had accidentally captured at the deep sea fish- 
ing, and taken into their boat, but soon afterwards released, 
from superstitious feelings, they having believed it to be a 
mermaid. 
Professor Jameson read an Account of Petrified Shells Mar. 6. 
found in the Gawilghur range of hills, and of the Structure 
of the Hill of Seetabuldee-Nagpoor, in the East Indies, by 
Mr Vaysey. A live Rattle-snake, newly arrived from South 
Carolina, and in a vigorous state, was exhibited to the 
meeting. Mr Parry read the first part of his Paper on the 
Management of Young Plantations, recommending, in the 
fir tribe, the practice of disbudding with the thumb, at a 
very early period, instead of pruning with the knife and 
saw at later times. 
The Secretary read the second part of a Paper by Mr Mar. 20. 
John Murray, F. L. S., on the Ascent of some species of 
Spiders into the air, shewing that this depends on their fine 
gossamer threads being peculiarly affected by the electric 
fluid of the atmosphere. Also two Papers by the Rev. Dr 
Fleming of Flisk ; the one containing an Account of a New 
British Species of Spatangus ; and the other a Description 
of a New Species of Plumularia, collected in the late expe- 
dition under Captain Parry ; with some Remarks on the 
