Proceedings rfthe Wernerian Natural History Society. S57i 
on the management of young plantations, recommending, in the 
fir-tribe, the practice of disbudding with the thumb at a very 
early period, in preference to pruning with the knife and saw 
at later times. 
At the same meeting, there was shewn to the members a 
live Rattlesnake, which had just arrived from South Carolina, 
and which, on being irritated by means of a stick, sounded his 
rattle for some minutes. 
Art. XXX. — Proceedings of the Society of Scottish Anti- 
quaries. 
Nov. 11 . 1823 — A letter was read from Mr John Merricks 
to Dr Brewster, giving an account of a kettle of Roman metal 
found near Roslin. 
JVbu. 18. — There was read, An account of Macbeth’s 
Castle at Inverness, as it existed about thirty years ago, by H. - 
W. Williams, Esq. accompanied by a drawing ; 9.dly^ Extracts 
from some remarks on the manners and customs of Orkney and 
Shetland, communicated by a very old, though anonymous cor^, 
respondent of the Society, who adopts the signature of A. Z. 
Nov. S9.~— The following Gentlemen were elected OfSce- 
Bearers : 
President. 
The Right Hon. The Earl of Edgin and Kincardine. 
V ice-Presidents. 
Sir Robert Dundas, Bart, Henry Jardine, Esq. 
Sir John Hay, Bart, 
Council. 
Dr Brewster. Lord Meadowbank. Captain J. D. Boswali. 
J. G. Dalyell, Esq, Gilbert Innes, Esq. Alex. Smellie, Esq. 
Thomas Allan, Esq, Robert Stevenson, Esq. W. H* Anderson, Esq. 
Robert Scott MoncrieiF, Esq. Treasurer. 
Samuel Hibbert, M. D. Thomas Kinnear, Esq. Secretaries. 
The Rev. Alex. Brunton, D. D. Secretary for Foreign Correspondence. 
James Skene, Esq. Curator op the Museum. 
The thanks of the Society were unanimously voted to Alex- 
ander Smellie, Esq, for his valuable services to the Society 
Secretary, during the many years that he has held that office. 
Hec. 8. — There was read by James Skene, Esq., An account 
