Proceedings of Scientific Informations. 93% 
Society of Arts.—Nov. 4th, Mr. Hobly in the chair.—This evening the first 
meeting of the season took place. The Marquess of Northampton was elected a 
member ; thanks were voted to Mr. Peel for obtaining certain bills, votes, and 
papers, of the House of Commons, chiefly connected with commerce, manufac- 
tures, and the arts, for the use of the. Society. A great variety of communica- 
tions from competitors for the Society’s premiums were read ; amongst them was 
one for a glass clock. These were generally referred to the respective commit- 
tees. Baron Ferusac, director of the bulletin Universel, made an application, 
requesting the Society to take some shares in the literary scheme he is at pre- 
sent attempting to establish in Paris. We understood the Society to decline 
the baron’s request. ‘This meeting being of the old series, no original paper was 
read by Mr. Aikin. 
Royal Physical Society.—November 3d, 1829. The Society was opened with 
an introductory address from Mr John Deuchar, the president, in which he took 
the opportunity of tracing the recent important results to which the enthusiastic 
exertions of its members had led. During the summer session of 1828, no less. 
than 72 new members were introduced. During the succeeding winter, 63 gen- 
tlemen were added to the roll, from many of whom important papers and notices 
of discoveries in science had been received, from which numerous extracts have 
appeared in the different philosophical journals. 
Mr. Henry H. Cheek read a paper on the Natural History of the Dugong, 
(Halicore Indicus, Desm.) the Mermaid of early writers ; and particularly on the 
differences whlch occur in its dental characters. (Vide. Jour. of Nat. and Geog. 
Science, vol. i. No. 3, p. 161.) 
November 10th. Donation of a course of the French Language, by Mr. 
Theodore Le Clerc, and a collection of shells from the county of Kent, by a La. 
dy, through Mr Wotherspoon, were made to the Society. Captain Brown, 
F.R.S. E. exhibited elegantly coloured drawings of the three stages of the plu- 
mage of the Paradise Bunting, from a living specimen now in the possession of 
Sir Patrick Walker of Drumsheugh. 
Mr. Hunter exhibited a drawing of the Quizel, from North America. 
Mr. William Ainsworth read part of his Essay on the history of Uncultivated 
Tracts in connection with the dispersion of Man. 
November 18th. Mr. William Ainsworth made a communication on the 
Prismatic Form in Mountain Rocks, with specimens. 
Mr. Wotherspoon, F.S.S.A. read an Essay on the derivation of the Human 
Race from a Single Pair. 
In consequence of the Meetings of the Plinian Society (devoted to pursuits 
similar to those of the Royal Physical Seciety) taking place on the Tuesday 
evenings, the Society assembled in their Hall on the evening of Wednesday the 
k8th, and will continue to meet on the same evening during the session. 
Pliman Socieiy.—The first meeting for the session of this Society took place 
on Tuesday, Nov. 16th, when Mr. Balfour, after congratulating the members on 
its flourishing condition, the rapid progress it has made, and. the prosperous. state 
of its finances, proceeded to communicate to the Society, from the Rev. George 
Gordon, a new locality for that very rare and interesting plant, Pyrola Unijiora. 
It was gathered by John Lawson, Esq. in the Oak Wood near Elgin and not 
far from the Knock of Alves, where another botanical rarity, the Linnea Borealis, 
was discovered last year. 
Mr. Robert Spittal then read a paper upon the analogies existing between the 
animal and vegetable kingdoms. 
November \7th. Myr. Wilson announced the discovery of a new habitat in 
Scotland for the Acorus Calamus. It was only lately known to be an inhabitant 
of this country, and was found by Mr. W. near Ayr. 
