Proceedings of Societies. *209 
WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, March 12, 1836 Robert Jame- 
son, Esq. P. in the Chair. The Secretary read Dr Richard ParnelPs account of 
the occurrence of the White -bait, Clupea alba, in the Frith of Forth, in consi- 
derable abundance ; and also his description of the Sprat or Garvey-herring, C. 
Sprattus. 
March 26 David Falconar, Esq. formerly V. P. in the Chair. The Secre- 
tary read Dr Parnell's account of the Tadpole fish, Raniceps trifurcatus, and of the 
Sea-snail, Cyclopteris liparis, observed by him in the Frith of Forth, and specimens 
of both were exhibited. Mr Wilson, for the Secretary, then read Remarks on 
the Vitality of the Toad, communicated by the Rev. Edward Stanley of Alder- 
ley Rectory. 
Dr Thomas Aitken gave an account of the anatomy of a specimen of the 
Ursine Sloth, Ursus labiatus, which died a short time ago in a travelling mena- 
gerie, while at Edinburgh, demonstrating the peculiarities of the organs of re- 
spiration and digestion. The stuffed specimen of the animal was also exhibited. 
Professor Jameson exhibited a series of birds from Northern India, collected 
by Mr Hamilton Stirling, which, he remarked, was remarkably interesting, as 
presenting many species which were not known to exist in that quarter. Mr 
William Jameson pointed out several of these ; of the rapacious order he noti- 
ced the Milvus govinda, and Accipiter dukhunensis, the former of which was con- 
sidered to be probably the young of the Falco cheela. With regard to the 
geographic distribution of the genus Milvus, it was stated, that it occurs in all 
the different continents of the Old World and New Holland, but that it has not 
as yet been detected in the New World, its place being there supplied by the 
genus Nauclerus. Specimens of the Gypaetos barbatus were again laid before 
the Society, Professor Jameson having many years' ago exhibited this bird sent 
from Northern India by Lieutenant Tytler (which, since that time, has been dis- 
covered by other travellers,) for the purpose of pointing it out under the form 
of the Vultur niger, it in the young state being considered as a distinct species, 
and described under this name ; and also for the purpose of showing that it from 
the nest upwards, undergoes the same changes as the European specimens, a cha- 
racter, before all others, marking them, to be one and the same species. In re- 
gard to British birds in general, in connection with Indian ornithology, Mr Jame- 
son stated, that more than one-third of them occur in India, efther identical 
with, or undergoing certain slight modifications in the colour of the plumage, 
size, &c., characters which, if their habits and manners are the same, would lead 
him to consider them rather as marked varieties than as new species. To the 
.diurnal rapacious birds Mr Jameson particularly directed the attention of the 
Society, and stated, that of the 18 diurnal birds of prey found in this island, the 
following striking distribution was presented, viz. In common with Europe 3 ; 
Europe and Asia 2 ; Europe, Asia, and New Holland, 1 ; Europe, Asia, Africa, 
and New Holland, 3 ; Europe, Asia, and North America, 5 ; if, however, the 
Circus cineraceus exists in North America, wluch is not at all improbable, we 
shall have 6 ; Europe, Asia, and South America, 1 ; Europe and North Ameri- 
ca 3. To these conclusions, Mr Jameson remarked, he had come, principally from 
an examination of the magnificent collection of the Museum of the University 
of Edinburgh. After some other general observations on the identity of parti- 
cular species of rapacious birds, in which it was stated, that the Falco cher 
rug of Gray, is the female of the Falco islandicus ; the Circus pallidus, Sykes, 
the young male of the Circus cyaneus ; the Circus variegatus, the Circus rufus, 
NO. II. O 
