PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
151 
through an application of Lord Durham, of a collection of minerals from Siberia. 
They had received intimation of the shipment of nine cases of specimens, con¬ 
taining 949 specimens. The ornithological department had received valuable 
presents from the Duke of Northumberland and other contributors, and it would 
soon be necessary to make an addition to the buildings for their accommodation. 
The public generally had been admitted to the museum, with very slight restric¬ 
tions, and no less than 30,000 persons had been admitted within the last twelve 
months, whilst it was satisfactory to state that no damage or abstraction of 
specimens had occurred. 
DURHAM SCHOOL OF CIVIL AND MINING ENGINEERS. 
In connexion with Geology and Mineralogy, we are happy to hear that this 
Institution is in a very flourishing condition. The number of members has been 
doubled during the present term, and the first years students have passed their 
examination in a highly creditable manner. 
PHILOSOPHICAL AND LITERARY SOCIETY OF ST. ANDREWS. 
The ordinary monthly meeting took place June 4. The President, Lord 
William Douglas, having explained that business would probably call him away 
before the close of the meeting, on the motion of Sir David Brewster, Dr. 
Cook, Vice-President, was called to the chair. Many valuable specimens were 
then presented to the Society. Sir D. Brewster read a very interesting paper 
on certain varieties of fluids, and of moveable crystals and floculent matter 
observable in the Topaz.—Mr. George Buist gave some account of certain 
remarkable carved stones to be seen in various parts of Scotland and Ireland, 
of many of which he exhibited drawings.—The Rev. C. Lyon read an elaborate 
and able paper on the origin and history of the Culdees.—Sir David Brewster 
gave some account of the teeth of Saurian fishes found in the Parrot-Coal brought 
from Halbeath (only), and used at the gas-work, St. Andrews. This tooth mea¬ 
sured in extreme length two inches ; and in circumference at base, two inches and 
a half. Its colour was a fine velvet black, its lustre vitreous, inclining to resinous; 
when broken across and examined by a microscope, it exhibited a section, like 
the cross cut of a Fir-tree. On a rude analysis, it seemed to be composed 
chiefly of Bituminous matter, with a small trace of Lime, probably in the state 
of carbonate, as no indication of phosphoric acid could be distinguished. The 
matter of the bone had in this way become by some means entirely withdrawn, 
and a totally new and quite different substance substituted in its place. This 
new matter, while in a state of solution, had most probably been deposited in 
the layers seen in the cross section. There was no vacuity in the core of the 
