1889-90.] 
Meetings of the Society. 
413 
Monday , 27 th January 1890. 
The Eev. Professor Flint, D.D., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following Communication was read : — 
On Evolution and Man’s Place in Nature. By Professor Calderwood, 
LL.D. P. xvii. 71. 
Monday , 3rd February 1890. 
Sir William Thomson, P.R.S., President, in the Chair. 
The following Communications were read : — 
1. New Estimates of Molecular Distance. By W. Peddie, D.Sc. 
2. On the Gravimetric Composition of Water. By Prof. Dittmar. 
3. On the Number of Dust Particles in the Atmosphere of 
certain Places in Great Britain and on the Continent, with remarks 
on the Relation between the Amount of Dust and Meteorological 
Phenomena. By John Aitken, Esq., F.R.S. P. xvii. 193. 
4. Note cn some Barometric Curves in Relation to the Strength of 
Wind at Ben Nevis Observatory, by Dr Alex. Buchan, was postponed. 
The following Candidates for Fellowship were balloted for, and 
declared duly elected Fellows of the Society : — 
Aikitu Tanakadate. 
The Rev. George Matheson, M.A., B.D., D.D. 
Monday , \7th February 1890. 
Sir William Thomson, F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 
The following Communications were read : — 
1. On Descartes’ View of Space ; and Sir William Thomson’s Theory 
of Extended Matter. By S. Tolyer Preston, Esq. 
2. A New Synthesis of Dibasic Carbon Acids. By Prof. Crum Brown, 
P. xvii. 53 (Abstract). T. xxxvi. 211. 
3. On the Electrolysis of Potassium-Ethyl Malonate and of Potassium- 
Ethyl Succinate. By Prof. Crum Brown and James Walker, D.Sc. 
P. xvii. 54 (Abstract). 
4. The Action of Sodium Carbonate and Bromine on Solutions of 
Cobalt and Nickel Salts. By Dr Gibson. P. xvii. 56 (Abstract). 
5. On the Swimming Bladder and Flying Powers of Dactijlopterus 
volitans. By W. Calderwood, Esq. Communicated by Prof. Ewart. 
P. xvii. 132. 
