298 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinhurgli. [april 16 , 
Physiological morphology views the formation of the body as one 
of the expressions of organic life, and to its study science will apply 
physiological methods and physiological considerations. The ex- 
planation of the purposes of such a science was the object of this 
letter. 
5. Mathematical Notes. By Professor Tait. 
PRIVATE BUSINESS. 
The Eev. Thomas Burns, Mr William A. Bryson, Mr B. Milne 
Murray, and Mr John M‘Faydean were balloted for, and declared 
duly elected Fellows of the Society. 
Monday, IQth April 1888. 
Professor CHEYSTAL, Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following Communications were read : — 
1. Analysis of the “ Challenger ” Meteorological Observa- 
tions. By Dr Buchan. 
2. Description of the Rocks of the Island of Malta, and 
Comparison with Deep-Sea Deposits. By Dr John 
Murray. 
3. An Electrical Method of Reversing Deep-Sea Thermo- 
meters. By Professor Chrystal. 
4. On a Class of Alternants expressible in terms of 
Simple Alternants. By Thomas Muir, LL.D. 
(1) The name “Alternant” has hitherto been confined to deter- 
minants of the form 
<#>(«) x(«) '/'(«) 
m x(b) m 
^{0 x(«) '/'(«) 
