EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. All the Figures were drawn with the Camera lucida. Fig. 1.-Stem showing (obverse ?) face with cells of various sizes, some no larger than pores. X 40. Fig. 2.-Portion of stem showing cell without pores; groups of pores without cells; and an intercalated row of cells. X 40. Fig. 3.-Well preserved fragment showing tubercular ridges surrounding cells, pores, and (aborted ?) cells. At one point in the left hand row a space is enclosed between two transverse tubercular ridges, but no cell nor pore is visible in it. X 120. Fig. 4.-Transverse division of cell aperture, the upper chamber seeming to replace pores. Fig. 5 shows cells of various sizes, and pores, surrounded by tubercular ridges. In the middle row one cell is transversely divided, while immediately below it two cells are associated with one group of pores. Fig. 6 shows numerous tubercular ridges, some without intervening cells. Fig. 7.—Single cell, from worn specimen, with two pairs of pores. Fig. 8.-Bifurcating stem, showing confluence of intercalated rows, irregular arrangement of pores, and abortion (?) of cells at angle of bifurcation. X 60. Fig. 9.-Branch 028 in diameter, showing, in left hand row, transverse division of a cell, while in each of the two upper cells of the same row, the lowest of the three pores is included by a ▲ shaped ridge within the same area as the cell aperture. Figs. 10 and 11.-Fragments showing irregularity in number, size, and position of pores. FEBRUARY 27TH, 1877. Mr James Ramsay, Vice-President, in the chair. SPECIMENS EXHIBITED. Mr John Kirsop exhibited a horn and portion of the skull of the extinct ox Bos longifrons, found at Pollokshaws Road in sandy clay six feet below the surface. It had been forwarded by Mr Gillespie, inspector to the Water Commissioners, and is the second recorded specimen found in the West of Scotland. Mr Kirsop also showed a collection of fishes from the river Amazon, and from Rio Grande do Sul, South America. The collection embraced examples of a flying fish of the gurnard family Prionotus; a trunk fish, Ostracion; a skate or ray, Raia; a spinous globe fish, Diodon; a sucking fish, Echineis, 21 inches in length; a speat fish, Loricaria; and two species of lobsters. These had been forwarded by Mr James Albert Smith, and with his permission were presented by Mr Kirsop to the Hunterian Museum. Mr John Young, F.G.S., showed a series of small turbinated corals from the weathered limestone, found at Cunningham Bedland, near Dalry, varying in size from a quarter to half an inch in length. These corals apparently belong to the genus Cyathaxonia, and are characterized by their deep cup or calice, prominent central columella, and by having the septa well marked, and continuous from the outer edge to the bottom of the calice. One species of this genus, Cyathaxonia cornu, Michelin, has already been noted in the catalogue of the Western Scottish Fossils, Glasgow, 1876, as being found in the limestone shales at Brockley, near Lesmahagow, but it probably differs from the species found at Dalry in not being adherent. Prof. Milne Edwards and Prof. De Koninck describe the genus Cyatharonia as being adherent by its base in some species and being free in others; C. cornu being free, C. Konincki being adherent. Mr Young said he was therefore inclined to identify his specimens with this latter form. Those exhibited from Cunningham Bedland seemed to have become adherent in nearly every instance to the spines of Producti, the groove of attachment to the spines being well seen in most specimens. In a few specimens, Mr Young had found the outer theca of the corallum completely encircling the spine of the Productus, which had since been dissolved away, leaving an open tube through which he had passed strong hair bristles to represent the spines. The carbonate of lime in these corals had since their entombment been replaced by silica, which had resisted the weathering influences of the air; hence the specimens show their deep cup and internal structure very clearly. The only other adherent turbinated corals he had yet seen from our Scottish Carboniferous strata were two specimens found by Mr David Robertson at Shiells quarry, near East Kilbride, but they, from their difference in size and broad base of attachment, evidently belong to a different genus from Cyathaxonia. Mr Young exhibited two other groups of small turbinated corals belonging to the genera Lophophyllum and Zaphrentis, which showed no attachment by their theca, even in the most perfect specimens. He therefore concluded that not only these genera, as well as many of the larger turbinated corals found in our limestone strata, had been free organisms, and had grown in the sediments in which they are now entombed without any visible mode of attachment, being possibly supported by the surrounding mud in an upright position. Only in a few rare instances have any of the larger turbinated corals been found with marks of attachment, and these were seen to have been in the younger state; these, therefore, differ from the adherent form of Cyathaxonia now exhibited, in this respect, that the latter is not known to have had a free existence in any later stage of its history. PAPERS READ. I.—Notes on some Spiders collected in the West of Scotland in 1876. By Mr HENRY C. YOUNG. Very little has yet been done in collecting, or forming at catalogue, of Scottish spiders, the only published local lists I know of being those of Messrs Hardy in Berwickshire and Traill in Aberdeenshire, while up to the present time there is no general list of Scottish spiders published. The specimens I exhibit tonight comprise 20 genera and 39 species, which form but a very small proportion of the known British spiders. I hope, however, to make considerable additions to this number from time to time, as I am convinced that the district will produce a much greater variety of species than those I have already taken, there being many spiders common in other parts of Scotland which I have not yet seen in the vicinity of Glasgow. The principal authority on the order in this country, the Rev. O. P. Cambridge, has examined my specimens, and I have followed the arrangement published by him in the Transactions of the Linnaean Society. Harpactes Hombergii, Scopoli.-Of this species I took several specimens at Arthur's Seat in May, but have not yet found it near Glasgow. It is common in the North of England. Segestria senoculata, Linnaeus.-This species is very common in the district, and seems to be generally distributed in Great Britain. It is longer lived than most spiders, not attaining maturity for two years. It passes the winter in a kind of silken tube under stones, where it may be found at all times. Cheiracanthium nutrix, Westring.-This is an extremely rare spider; the specimen I exhibit was taken near Milngavie. When Blackwall's large work was first published, only one British specimen was known. It has since been met with, but is still exceedingly rare. Amaurobius fenestralis, Stroem.-This is one of the commonest spiders we have, and may be found at any time under stones, beneath the bark of trees, and in other similar situations. Tegenaria Derhamii, Scopoli.-This seems to be the usual spider found in houses in this district. Erigone Douglasii, Cambridge.-This spider is known to science by only two specimens: the first was taken by Mr Douglas in Kirkcudbrightshire, in 1875, and the other specimen, which I exhibit to-night, was taken by myself in Cumbernauld Glen in April, 1876. Both these specimens are females: the male is not yet known, and until more specimens are found it is impossible to say anything regarding its distribution. The following is a complete list of the species exhibited, with the localities where they were found: Harpactes Hombergii, Scopoli.-Several specimens taken at Arthur's Seat in May. Segestria senoculata, Linn.-Common everywhere. Clubiona reclusa, Cambridge.-Is not uncommon in various localities in the district; I have taken it at Milngavie and Kennuir. Cheiracanthium nutrix, Westr.-1 specimen taken near Miln gavie. Amaurobius fenestralis, Stroem.-Common everywhere. Tegenaria Derhamii, Scopoli.-Common in buildings. Theridion sisyphium, Clerck.-Common in the district. Theridion pallens, Blackwall.-1 specimen taken by the Allander. Nesticus cellulanus, Clerck.-1 specimen taken in Cumbernauld Glen. Phyllonethis lineata, Clerck.-Common. Erigone rubens, Blackwall.-1 specimen taken by the Allander. Erigone Douglasii, Cambridge.-1 specimen taken in Cumbernauld Glen in April. Erigone acuminata, Blackwall.-Not uncommon: taken at Strathblane, Cumbernauld Glen, etc. Pachygnatha Clerckii, Sundevall.-1 specimen from the Allander. Pachygnatha Degeerii, Sund.-1 specimen from the Allander. Linyphia tenebricola, Reuss-Wider.--Taken at Kelvinside, Kenmuir, etc. L. variegata, Blackwall.-Taken at Cadder and Kenmuir. L. socialis, Sund.-Taken at Loup of Fintry and Cadder. L. triangularis, Clerck.-Taken at Moffat, Milngavie, and Bearsden. L. peltata, Reuss-Wider.-Taken at Cumbernauld and Cadder. L. pusilla, Sund.-1 specimen taken at Blairmore. Meta segmentata, Clerck.-Common. M. Merianae, Scop.-Not common: taken at Baldernock and by the Allander. Zilla-x-notata, Clerck.-Not common. Z. atrica, Koch.-Common. Epeira cucurbitina, Clerck.-1 specimen taken at Cadder. E. cornuta, Clerck.—1 specimen taken by Allander. E. quadrata, Clerck.-Taken at Ben Voirlich, Clober, etc. Trochosa ruricola, De Geer.-Taken in several localities. Lycosa amentata, Clerck.-Common. L. pullata, Clerck.-Common. L. monticola, Clerck.-1 specimen from Innellan. T. andreniora, Walckenaer.-1 specimen taken at Loup of Fintry. II.-On Pisidium fontinale and Planorbis complanatus, two freshwater shells new to Scotland, and Helix villosa, a land shell new I to Britain. By Mr DAVID ROBERTSON, F.L.S., F.G.S. may mention that the two shells new to Scotland and the one new to Britain, which I now bring before you, have been in my possession for a considerable time. Although I have not made land and freshwater shells a study, yet I have at all times picked up any that came in my way, generally without further |