equalled; consequently, trees and shrubs were very luxuriant in all the Parks during the summer and autumn. The only exception proved to be the horse chestnuts and limes in Kelvingrove Park, which received a blight in May during a few days of east wind. This, combined with the sulphurous smoke from St. Rollox, rendered them unsightly for the remainder of the season.

The flowers in all the Parks bloomed very profusely, more especially geraniums and calceolarias. The planting-out season in May being very favourable, the plants were enabled to get a good start, and with the high temperature and brilliant sunshine which prevailed during June, July, and August, the blooms and foliage were brought to remarkable perfection. The flowers continued in good form until late in the autumn, indeed geraniums, antirrhinums, stocks, and pentstemons remained in bloom until the end of October, when frost and snow killed them. A further proof of the very mild weather in autumn was afforded by the bursting into leaf and flower of the Scarlet-fruited Elder.

As a result of the fine weather during last summer and autumn, all flowering trees and shrubs promise an abundant bloom for this year, especially the rhododendrons. Although the frost was very severe during December, the wood and buds were well matured, and do not appear to have suffered.

It may be interesting to note that the display of flowers in George Square, although in the centre of the city, was not far behind that of the Parks--annuals, stocks, geraniums, calceolarias, and other bedded-out plants were very effective. Experiments were made by planting a number of foliage plants and shrubs, to test their endurance of smoke. The following appeared to good advantage all the season: Eucalyptus globulus, or gum-tree of Australia, Arabia sieboldii, various species of Dracaena, Yucca, Agava americana, Echeveria metallica, Acacia lophantha, Grevillea robusta. These were planted out about the beginning of June, and remained in the ground until the first week of October.

At the close of my remarks on the weather of 1877, which was an extremely wet season, I expressed a wish that the old Scotch proverb, "Lang foul, lang fair," might prove true in 1878, and I think you will agree with me that it has been verified by the following record kept at Queen's Park:

During 1878 there were 225 dry days, with a total rainfall of 26.18 inches, as against 195 dry days, with a total rainfall of

1876.

THERMOMETER,

THERMOMETER.

Average.

Dry Days. Rainfall.

Average.

Max.

Min.

Max.

Min.

Dry Days.

48.03 inches, in 1877. The lowest point to which the thermometer fell was 10° on the 24th December last, and the highest in the shade 89° on the 28th June, as against 13° on the 27th February, and 79° on the 16th June, of 1877, the average temperature being about equal for each year.

It may be interesting to notice a prediction made to me by an old gentleman in Kilmarnock when I was there at the end of February last year. On the previous week a peculiar fog or mist had settled down over the town, which my friend assured me was a sign that we would have a very dry summer, as he recollected the same phenomenon occurring before the dry year of 1826.

The above record proves this weather prophet to be a keen observer of nature, and teaches us that we may derive benefit from everyday signs if we can read them aright.

MARCH 25TH, 1879.

Mr. John A. Harvie-Brown, F.Z.S., Vice-President, in the chair.

Messrs. R. Wilson Thom and St. John Vincent Day were elected ordinary members.

SPECIMENS EXHIBITED.

Mr. James Coutts exhibited specimens of sponges from the Greensand, and various fossils from the Carboniferous and Liassic formations in the South of England, on which Mr. John Young, F.G.S., made some descriptive remarks.

PAPERS READ.

I.-Notes and Observations of Adventitious Structures on Crinoid Stems. By a Corresponding Member. Communicated by

MR. JOHN YOUNG, F.G.S.

[Third Paper.]

A long engagement, often renewed, renders the remarks which follow in some degree hallowed; and it would be a relief, while the pen can still be wielded, to advance or complete the old selfimposed compact, in continuation of previous observations in these pages for nature presents nothing in itself frivolous.

In a short paper read at a meeting of the Natural History Society, about a year ago (see Vol. III., 1878, p. 333), it was demonstrated that the Polyzoa and Crinoidea attached themselves, not strictly parasitically, but adequately, by a basal structure, as independent organisms, to fragments of old ocean debris, particularly in the latter, to those belonging to its own genus. Other organisms likewise attach themselves less markedly, and a few as if so attached are found which do not need or seek such support, except as a temporary resting-place, and there apparently perish. But to begin:

I. ?Michelinia, De Kon. An irregular mass of irregular calcareous structure, attached to a much worn fragment of Crinoid, found at Gare, has somewhat of the character of the coral Michelinia. The cups or cells are heaped up and ill defined in variously shaped squares, divided by slender partitions, with no notable surface markings. Some specimens of what is evidently the basement portion are found, but do not aid much in defining or determining this organism, being seemingly the side of a cell, with the slender partitions, and in one instance showing lines or bracings of attachment or of extension. The structure is by no means attractive, and from this cause, or its rarity, few specimens have been collected or preserved.

II. Palæacis cyclostoma, Phill. Numerous specimens of this Actinozoon, on worn stems of Crinoids, at Gare, and in the beds connected with the first calmy limestone, are found.

A species also named Palæacis cyclostoma, is found in the shales above the Hosie limestone. These are so dissimilar in aspect and character, as to admit of a doubt whether they are of the same species. The specimens from Gare, and from the first calmy limestone, are all badly-formed single cells of the same size (about one line diameter), high and comparatively strong on one side. The whole consists apparently of three or four distinctly dotted rows of a coarse character, rather than of fine reticulation; the lowest row only forming a complete circle, while the others form portions, more or less, of circles. The high side derives its strength from the angle of its external wall alone, as it is straight or perpendicular on the inner side, and from the highest point the lips of the cup gradually slope to the opposite side, which is low. The bottom of the cup is thin and flat. At a glance they all appear imperfectly-formed cups, yet, as every specimen is alike, there is reason to believe that the organism is of adult proportions, never

assuming any other form, size, or ornamentation. But the specimens found in the shales above the Hosie limestone are elegant and complete structures, twice the diameter of the former, the cells being formed in a mass of some thickness, with welldefined elevated cups, and depressions in the mass separating the cups from each other. The cups are symmetrically formed, strong, with rounded bottoms. The whole structure is finely reticulated.

III. Spirorbis caperatus, M'Coy.

This little Annelid often selected Crinoids on which to attach and construct its abiding place, and does not seem to have chosen any but those which were much worn. Although numerous, the specimens are by no means conspicuous, and a small bit of Crinoid may have from one to four specimens on its surface; but comparatively few bear the characteristic markings, and the size is not uniform. Professor M'Coy's description does not seem to be perfectly correct, although not likely to be misleading; but at the time of passing the "Synopsis through his hands, he had seen only one example of the species. "Strongly wrinkled concentrically," as described by him, applies to distinct and regular, round, concentric, fine lines, crossing the shell from one point of attachment to the other, a shell marking which belongs to the outer coat exclusively, not as wrinkles or wrinklelike, as illustrated by the specimens exhibited.

A.

A characteristic specimen.

B. Partially abraded.

C. Showing cavity and thickness of shell.

D. Three specimens on a bit of worn Crinoid, along with
Palæacis, Stenopora, basal attachment of Polyzoon,

&c.

E. A specimen entangled with web of Stenopora not during life.

IV. Ortonia carbonaria, J. Young. To have found that good specimens of Ortonia carbonaria had been laid aside for enquiry, upwards of 50 years ago, is something very like a new observation. Often in comparatively recent times, in agglomerated masses of fossils, this organism has been found at Gare, and in the first calmy limestone bed; but the specimens-about a dozen in number -under notice, which had so long ago excited attention, are attached to the surface of a clean well-preserved Crinoid. A question naturally