818 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
Period in Britain,” which was published last year in the Transactions. 
The most striking features of this memoir are the new views it 
presents of the grand and varied sequence of events in the pro- 
tracted volcanic activity of Tertiary time, and more especially the 
recognition of the plateau type of volcanic eruption in this country, 
and the connection of the successive sheets of basalt that form the 
terraced hills of our Western Islands with the almost innumerable 
dykes which cross the country as far as Yorkshire. For this patient 
and successful research, culminating in an essay, which is probably 
the most memorable which the author has yet written, the Council 
has again awarded him the Makdougall-Brisbane medal. 
The following Communications were read: — 
1. Obituary Notice of R. M. Smith. By Professor Swan. P. 
2. On the Air’s Resistance to an Oscillating Body (its Influence on 
Timekeepers). By E. Sang, LL.D. P. xvi. 181. 
3. A New and Easy Method for the Rapid and Sure Detection of 
Mercury. By A. Johnstone, Esq., F.G.S. Communicated by Professor 
Crum Brown. 
Monday , 6th May 1889. 
Mr A. Beatson Bell in the Chair. 
The following Communications were read 
1. Obituary Notices : — 
{a) Of Dr Charles Edward Wilson. By William Jolly, Esq., 
F.G.S. , H.M. Inspector of Schools. P. 
(b) Of William Dickson, Esq. By Josiah Livingston, Esq. P. 
2. Analysis of the “ Challenger ” Meteorological Observations. Second 
Paper. By Dr Buchan, Secretary to the Scottish Meteorological Society. 
P. xvi. 786. 
3. On the Secretion of Carbonate of Lime by Animals. Part II. By 
Robert Irvine, F.C.S., and Dr G. Sims Woodhead, F.R.C.P.Ed. P. 
xvi. 324. 
4. Continued Observations on the Progression and Rotation of 
Bivalve Molluscs and of detached Ciliated Portions of them. Part II. 
In Fresh Water Mussel ( Unio ). Part III. In the Osyter ( Ostrea ). By 
D. M ‘Alpine, Esq. Communicated by Dr G. Sims Woodhead. P. 
xvi. 725. 
5. Preliminary Note on the Composition of Sea Water. By Dr John 
Gibson. 
Dr William Morse Graily Hewitt, F.R.C.P., was balloted for, and 
declared duly elected a Fellow of the Society. 
