432 Proceedings of the Eoyal Society 
ville Bell, E.E.I.S., &c. Edinburgh, 1865, 12mo. — From the 
Author. 
Abhandlungen der Koniglichen Akademie der Wissenscbaften zu 
Berlin, 1863. Berlin, 1864, 4to. — From the Academy. 
Verzeicbniss der Abhandlungen G-elehrter G-esellscbaften und der 
Wissenschaftlichen Konigl. Preussischen Akademie der Wis- 
senscbaften zu Berlin. Berlin, 1864. 8vo. — From the Academy . 
Lawson’s Pinetum Britannicum. Part YIII. Elephant Folio. — 
From the Bight Hon. The Lord Provost. 
Monday, 11 th April 1864. 
LOED NEAYES, Y.P., in the Chair. 
The following Communications were read : — 
1. On Confocal Conics. By H. Fox Talbot, Esq. 
2. On the Celtic Topography of Scotland. By W. F. Skene, 
Esq. 
The author commenced by distinguishing between an etymology 
of names of places founded upon mere resemblance of sounds, and 
one where the names are analysed according to fixed laws, based 
upon sound philological principles and a comprehensive observation 
of facts. The former is the ordinary process to which they are 
subjected, and has characterised all systematic attempts hitherto 
made to analyse the topography of Scotland. It can lead only to 
fanciful renderings, and is incapable of yielding any certain results, 
while the latter becomes an important element in fixing the eth- 
nology of the inhabitants of a country. Names of places undergo 
a process of change and corruption. The language from which 
they were derived has likewise gone through a process of change 
and decay, and an interpretation based upon mere resemblance of 
sounds, in the present form of the names of places, to words in an 
existing language, ignores this fact and can only mislead. In order 
to obtain a sound etymology it is necessary to ascertain the old form 
of the name, and to analyse it in conformity with the phonetic 
laws of the language from which it sprung. 
