coverings as rings encircling the base of the nucleus. In the ovules of Funkia the coverings were seen in different stages of incompleteness, and in those of the Violet complete. The raphe, embryo-sac, &c., were also shown; and the orthotropal, campylotropal, and anatropal ovules were respectively illustrated by those of Rhubarb, Orobus, and Violet.

AUGUST 12TH, 1879.

Mr. W. J. Milligan in the chair.

Mr. M'Kay reported on the excursion to Ben Vorlich, where the following plants were seen in flower :—

Thalictrum alpinum.

Silene acaulis.

Sibbaldia procumbens.
Epilobium alpinum.
Sedum rhodiola.
Saxifraga stellaris.

S. aizoides.

S. oppositifolia (in fruit).

S. hypnoides.

Carduus heterophyllus.
Gnaphalium supinum.
Salix herbacea.

Juncus triglumis (in fruit).
Luzula spicata (in fruit).
Carex rigida.

Lycopodium annotinum.

Mr. Stewart exhibited Lastrea dilatata, var. alpina, in three distinct forms, which had been sent to Mr. Moore as distinct species.

Mr. Turner then read a most interesting paper, entitled "Notes on the Botany of Avondale." This paper was intended as a slight contribution towards a plan of working which the author commended to the Society-viz., that a number of the members should each take up some limited area of the neighbourhood of Glasgow, and work it up thoroughly, so that in the course of a few years, by the combination of their labours, it would be possible to form a very complete flora of the district. Mr. Turner also proposed that a botanical register should be undertaken and regularly kept by the Society. Such a register would facilitate the work in a way that mere notices in the minutes never could do.

Mr. Cameron then exhibited some nature-printed plates of butterflies, by a new French process. In these the colours and markings of the wings and body were reproduced with the most marvellous accuracy, and with all the brilliance of nature, while the price was very moderate.

AUGUST 26TH, 1879.

Mr. Thomas King in the chair.

Mr. M'Kay reported on the excursion to Eaglesham, where little of interest had been found, except Polygonum minus.

Mr. Turner moved that a committee be appointed to keep a register of plants and their localities. The motion was agreed to. Messrs. Turner, M'Kay, and King were then appointed as members of the committee.

Mr. P. Cameron then read an interesting paper on the "Evolution of the Hymenoptera with regard to Larval Coloration."

23RD SEPTEMBER, 1879.

Mr. W. J. Milligan in the chair.

Mr. Allan gave an account of the excursion to Campsie, which was the last of the season.

Mr. Crawford exhibited Trientalis europaea from Perthshire, and Mr. M'Kay a branch of Evergreen Oak from Milngavie.

Mr. J. J. King gave an account of a visit he had paid during the summer to Hampshire, and exhibited some beautiful specimens of Lepidoptera which he had captured there.

Mr. Thomas King then read a paper on "Goethe's Essay on the Metamorphosis of Plants," published in 1790. An English translation of it appeared in Seeman's Journal of Botany, vol. i., 1863.

The reports were all unanimously approved of.

The election of office-bearers was then proceeded with, when the following list for 1879-80 was unanimously agreed to:President-Professor John Young, M.D., F.G.S.; Vice-Presidents -John Young, F.G.S., John A. Harvie-Brown, F.Z.S., and W. J. Milligan; Secretary-Robert Mason; Treasurer-Robert J. Bennett; Librarian-Henry C. Young; Members of CouncilArchibald Robertson, David Robertson, jun., Thomas King, John M. Campbell, Arthur Pratt, John Kirsop, James B. Murdoch, James Allan, and A. S. Wilson.

Mr. John Farquhar, 352 South Wellington Street, was elected an ordinary member.

On the motion of Mr. James Coutts, it was agreed to enter on

the record a notice of the death of Mr. Thomas Chapman, and the Secretary was instructed to forward an extract from this portion of the minutes to the widow and family of the deceased.

Mr. Thomas Chapman, who died on 27th August last, at the residence of his son, Dr. Chapman, in Hereford, was identified with the Society during the greater portion of its existence. He became a member in 1852, the year following its formation, and was thus connected with it for the space of 27 years. During that time he was regular in his attendance, and served on different occasions as a member of Council, for some time as Treasurer, subsequently as Librarian, and at two periods as Vice-President.

While taking an interest in all departments of Natural History, Mr. Chapman was more particularly devoted to the study of Entomology, especially of the family Lepidoptera, in which he was recognized as an authority. He possessed an extensive cabinet, which not only contained specimens of the native species but was enriched by contributions from many foreign countries with which he maintained an extensive correspondence. The Proceedings of the Society show the frequency with which he brought forward specimens for exhibition, as he allowed no opportunity to pass for securing anything that was new or rare which might add to the interest of the meetings.

Mr. Chapman was well known to many of the members, by whom he was much esteemed and respected, as he spared no pains to help such as were engaged in similar studies, or who might feel an interest in them. Being of a retiring disposition, he confined himself more to practical work than to writing or lengthened speaking on scientific subjects. The position he occupied will not easily be filled, and it is believed that the remembrance of his services and of his many good qualities will cause his memory to be long cherished in the Society.

It was also resolved to record the recent death of Mr. Thomas Anderson, of Girvan, who was elected a corresponding member in 1867. In the early years of his connection with the Society, Mr. Anderson brought forward on various occasions specimens of rare Star-fishes and Zoophytes from the shores of Girvan. He was the author, conjointly with Mr. Robert Gray, of a lengthened paper on the "Birds of Wigtownshire," which is published in the first volume of the Society's Proceedings. Of late years he devoted himself principally to the investigation of the Palaeontology of the

Girvan Valley, and had been the means of adding several new species to the list of Silurian fossils, which will be described and figured in the monograph now being published by Professor Alleyne Nicholson and Mr. Robert Etheridge, jun.

SPECIMENS EXHIBITED.

Mr. George J. Combe exhibited specimens of the Hazel-leaved Bramble, Rubus corylifolius, on which he made a few remarks.

The Secretary exhibited eggs of Cygnus nigricollis, Chauna chavaria, Ciconia maguari, and Polyborus thaurus, which had been brought from Cape San Antonio, in the province of Buenos Ayres, by Mr. Ernest Gibson, corresponding member.

Mr. John M. Campbell made some remarks on the habits of the different species, and it was stated that the specimens had been presented to the Kelvingrove Museum.

PAPER READ.

Ornithological Journal of the Winter of 1878-79, with Collected Notes regarding its effects upon Animal Life, including Remarks on the Migration of Birds in the Autumn of 1878 and the Spring of 1879. By Mr. JOHN A. HARVIE-BROWN, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.

The following attempt to chronicle the abnormal effects of an unusually severe winter cannot lay claim to any approach to completeness. Living at an inland locality myself, I had not the same opportunities of observation which occur to the resident near the coast lines, the principal effect upon bird-life at inland localities being simply the general absence of it, except around the farmsteadings and in certain sheltered localities. I was in hopes of receiving more assistance from the members of our own Societysome of whom, at all events, live in localities suitable for observations being made; though I have received some interesting notes from one or two members, amongst whom I may mention Mr. J. S. Dickson.

Several papers have already appeared upon this subject, amongst which I may mention the following, to all of which I am largely indebted for material for the present collection and compilation of items :

Professor Duns read a paper at a meeting of the Royal Physical

Society of Edinburgh, "On the Influence of the Recent Storm on Bird-Life," of which he has kindly forwarded me a copy.

Mr. George Sim contributed a short but able paper on "The Effect of the Late Storm upon our Wild Animals in the Northeast of Scotland" to the Scottish Naturalist, April, 1879, No. xxxiv., p. 84.

Mr. A. Brotherston, of Kelso, contributed an interesting paper, "Notes on the Effects of the Past Winter in the South-east of Scotland," to the Scottish Naturalist, April, 1879, No. xxxiv., p. 81.

Mr. A. Brotherston also has another paper, "Notes on the Effects of the Past Winter," published somewhat later than the last-mentioned, in the "Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club," and I am obliged to the author for a separate copy of his paper, as also for one of his "Zoological Notes" (op. cit., p. 521), in which he makes references to various facts of interest. Mr. Robert Service has reported upon "The Winter and Birds," in the Dumfries Courier of 25th March, 1879, referring principally to the South-west of Scotland.

Mr. John Cordeaux has treated of the "Early Migration upon our East Coast-England-in the Autumn of 1878," in the Field and Zoologist. I am indebted to him for a copy of this paper.

Mr. Robert Warren has an able paper on "The Effect of Severe Frost on Animal Life as observed in the County Mayo," in the Zoologist for July, 1879, which should be read in this connection.*

Dr. Buchanan White has some "Notes of the Spring of 1879," in the July number of the Scottish Naturalist, p. 132, principally Botanical, but with a few references to Birds and Quadrupeds.

Mr. J. Hardy, of Old Cambus, has some interesting notes in

Those who are interested in the effects of the winter upon Fish should read a paper in the "Journal of the Scottish Meteorological Society, New Series, Nos. lvii., lviii., lix., by Archibald Young, Commissioner of Scottish Salmon Fisheries, entitled On the connection between the Severe Winter and Spring of 1878-79 and the Failure of the Spring Salmon Fishing in the Early Rivers."

66

Mr. Cordeaux has also a paper, "Our Notes from North Lincolnshire," in Zoologist, 1879, p. 371, which may be consulted in this connection. In it some parallel observations may be found upon the scarcity of spring migrants and the delay of migrants, and consequent hurrying north of these species at a later date. These may be compared with my remarks in this paper upon the crowding upon our latitudes of certain other species, such as the Willow Warbler, &c.