152 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
tooth, as in those described by Dr. Hibbert, and found at Burdie House—indi¬ 
cating, from the extent to which they differed from those, how greatly the trans¬ 
muting process was modified by the circumstances and elements amidst which it 
took place. Sir David mentioned the case of nuts which he had seen where the 
shell and calyx were quite entire and unchanged, but the kernel had wholly 
disappeared—dissolved in -water, or resolved in some way, so as to escape through 
the woody walls which surrounded it; as also a case of decayed Birch-trees 
which he had seen immersed in water, where the wood had entirely vanished, 
though the bark remained entire. This was filled up with Sand and earthy 
matter from the river, so that we had passing before us an operation which might 
to a considerable extent solve some of the difficulties of geologists. Were we to 
suppose a Sand-bank to surround these destructible cortical integuments, and the 
whole to be ultimately converted by induration into rock, we should then have 
Sandstone casts of the Birch divided from the Sandstone in which they were 
embedded by a layer of Coal or Carbonaceous matter, similar to that which we 
now see surrounding the fossil trees of the Coal formation. 
The rest of the transactions seemed chiefly to refer to details affecting the more 
minute business of the Society; we may observe that we were struck with the 
sensible and clear-sighted manner in which these were conducted. The old Latin 
class-room is fitting up as a museum for the Society; and an Antiquarian Com¬ 
mittee was appointed to collect and arrange the relics of other times, with which 
every part of St. Andrews so greatly abounds, but most of which have for many 
years been most grievously neglected. We understand that the old chapel of 
St. Leonard’s has been selected as a receptacle for those monuments which will 
not take damage by exposure in the open air, and which might be too ponderous 
or bulky for being placed in the ordinary museum. This is at length setting 
about a task with spirit, and in the right way, which St. Andrews has for many 
a weary day greatly stood in need for some one fittingly to discharge for her. 
Already have several monuments of much historic interest been discovered— 
amongst others, those of Robert Stewart, commendator of St. Andrews, and 
afterwards Earl of Lennox ; and of Principal Wilkie, the immediate successor of 
George Buchanan. 
The following gentlemen were appointed honorary members :—The Rev. T. 
Crawford, Cults; A. Russell, Esq., Leuchars Castle; R. Scott, M.D., Leu- 
chars ; and Walter Foggo Ireland, Esq., banker, Tredegar. 
WARRINGTON PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Since our last notice of this Society (Vol. III., p. 205), owing to the summer 
vacation having intervened, only three papers have been read, viz., “ On Courage 
