183 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
seated, but the mo3t complete department is that of Con- 
chology. 
On Wednesday, 10th, after the usual sectional work, 
the Ladies’ Reception Committee invited members 
to a garden party in the grounds of Haverford College. 
The managers of the Electric Exhibition had also specially 
invited members for this day, and we devoted ourselves to 
an examination ot their exhibits. The exhibition was held 
under the auspices of theEranklin Institute, and being the 
first American exhibition devoted exclusively to the illus¬ 
tration of the progress of electric science, it naturally 
attracted much attention in the States. There was cer¬ 
tainly a very good and interesting display, but nothing 
very novel, and I do not suppose that it was in any way 
superior to the Electric Exhibitions which have been held 
in this country and on the Continent. The Eranklin In¬ 
stitute was founded in 1824 for the promotion of the 
mechanical arts, and now possesses valuable collections 
of models and instruments. It does much good work in 
the way of providing lectures, and by the publication of its 
journal, which gives authentic information concerning all 
advances in the mechanical arts. Thursday, 11th Sept., 
saw the close of the Contention. Many of the sections 
had finished their business on the previous day, and did 
not meet. In the evening a concluding meeting, to which 
I have already referred, was held in the Academy of Music> 
and two hours were spent in the exchange of civilities,— 
votes of thanks being given to each and all of the various 
bodies who had combined to give the Association such a 
hearty welcome. Altogether it was considered that this 
1884 Convention was the most successful in the annals of the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science. 
And now, does some one ask, what practical good re¬ 
sults from meetings such as those we have endeavoured to 
describe to you ? Are they anything more than mere 
pleasure parties, with science as an excuse for their being 
held ? It is true that no actual scientific work is done at 
the meetings. That must be reserved for the laboratory 
and the study. The week gives scientific workers a pleas¬ 
ant and congenial break, and an opportunity of bringing 
their results, in the form of papers at the various sections, 
before an interested and as a rule highly-intelligent audience. 
Then students and amateur scientists, if I may use such a 
term, meet with the real workers in the paths of science, 
and perchance catch a something of their spirit. I have 
heard several men who are now leaders in their respective 
branches state publicly that they have first been stimulated 
to work by attending just such meetings as these. 
In conclusion, let me only advise the sceptical to take 
advantage of the opportunity which will be afforded next 
year when the British Association meets—practically at 
our own door—in Aberdeen, and see whether attendance 
at the meetings will not rouse them, and give them a new 
interest in the progress of science. 
On the motion of Mr J. M'Heill, a vote of thanks was 
awarded to the delegates for their reports. He hoped 
that many members of the Society would act on the advice 
given them by Mr R. D. Pullar, and attend the meetings 
of the British Association, to be held in Aberdeen next 
year. 
Mr John Young, C.E., in seconding the motion, re¬ 
commended the Society to invite the British Association 
to visit Perth. He believed they could provide plenty of 
accommodation for the meetings of the various sections. 
If they made application they might be able to get the 
Association to come to Perth a few years hence. He 
thought they might instruct their President to keep this 
in view. 
The following paper was read 
“ Comparative Anatomy of the Teeth. I. Fishes, Reptiles, 
and Birds.” By Mr James Stewart, L.D.S. 
It is not my intention this evening to give a detailed 
description of the teeth of animals, but simply to draw 
the attention of the Society to some of the more peculiar 
and characteristic dentitions, hoping to awaken, in 
some of our members, an interest in the study of 
comparative anatomy. This, the most important part 
of zoology, is much neglected by us. We are content 
to know merely the name and external appearance of a 
specimen, and do not trouble ourselves to examine its 
internal structure and organization. Undoubtedly this 
neglect of anatomical investigation was the cause of many 
of the mistakes of the older naturalists. Eor example, it 
is not without difficulty that you can convince some people 
that such an animal as a porpoise is not a fish. They 
point to its shape and habitat, and these unimportant 
points are, to them, sufficient to fix its position amongst 
the animals; but the anatomist removes any doubt by 
showing it to have a four-chambered heart, warm blood, 
circular blood corpuscles, lungs, and many other struc¬ 
tures which entitle it to a place in the highest division 
of the animal kingdom. Again, it seems almost incredible 
that two animals so different in external appearance and 
habits as a bird and a reptile should resemble each other 
in so many important points that they are placed in the 
same division, yet anatomy tells us that they are closely 
