to discover a new alkaloid, or in astronomy to demonstrate the identity 
of two comets. A naturalist cannot be too cautious. It is better to 
allow diatoms to remain in the depths of the sea, or in their native 
pools, than, from imperfect materials , to elevate them to the rank of 
distinct species, and encumber our catalogue with a load of new names 
so ill defined, if defined at all, that others are unable to recognise 
them ; the same object can be more easily attained by attaching 
them, in the mean time, to some already recorded species, with the 
specific character of which they sufficiently accord. In all such 
cases the question to be solved for the advantage of naturalists is 
not, whether the object noticed be a new species, but whether it has 
been proved such, and clearly characterized. 
The following Candidates were duly elected Fellows of the 
Society : — 
James Leslie, Esq., C.E. 
Cosmo Innes, Esq., Advocate. 
Professor A. C. Fraser. 
The following Donations to the Library were announced : — - 
Proceedings of the Royal Society, London. Vol.IX., No. 28. Lon- 
don. 8vo. — From the Society. 
Proceedings and Papers of the Historic Society of Lancashire and 
Cheshire. Sessions 1 to 6. Liverpool, 1849-54. 8vo. — From 
the Society. 
Papers read at the Royal Institute of British Architects. Sessions 
1855-56 and 1856-57. London, 1856-7. 4to. 
The Canadian Journal of Industry, Science, and Art. November 
1857. Toronto. 8vo. — From the Institute. 
Atlantis : A Register of Literature and Science. Conducted by 
Members of the Catholic University of Ireland. No. 1. Jan- 
uary, 1858. London. 8vo. — From the Editors. 
(Euvres Completes de N. H. Abel, Mathematicien, avec des notes 
et developpements. Redigees par B. Holmboe. 2 Tomes. 
Christiania, 1839. 4to. — From the University , Christiania. 
Quelques Observations de Morphologie Yegetale faites au Jardin 
Botanique de Christiania, par J. M. Norman. Christiania, 
1857. 4 to. — From M. Norman. 
In versos vessicse urinarise og luxationes femorum congenitse hos 
