with that forming the wall of the duct, and that the cavity of the one is continuous with that of the other.

In this communication I have avoided the use of the term acini, as it has been employed by different observers to express different structures, so that its use is liable to lead to confusion of ideas; some applying the term to express the ultimate lobules of the gland, whilst by others it is used to signify the ultimate follicles of these lobules.

II. Notice of Reptilian Fossils, Morayshire. By WILLIAM RHIND, Esq.

The specimens which Mr Rhind exhibited of reptilian remains from the sandstone of Moray were contributed by Patrick Duff, Esq. It is now about a quarter of a century since the late lamented President of this Society, Professor Fleming, first detected an organism in the Old Red Sandstone of Scotland. It was but a minute fragment of a fish scale, yet it had the effect of awakening an interest for, and stimulating a research into, those beds of sandstone which skirt almost the whole of the Scottish shores to the north of the Firth of Forth, and which hitherto had been looked upon as destitute of organic remains. A few years after this discovery, Mr Duff began his researches in Morayshire, with an enthusiasm and perseverance which have seldom been equalled. He soon found that the sandstones of Moray teemed with organic remains, as well as these of the opposite shores of Cromarty, which were at the same period under the scrutiny of Mr Hugh Miller. From that time Mr Duff has formed the nucleus round which the researches of other scientific men and the casual discoveries of the workmen in the various quarries have centred, so that a most varied and interesting assortment of specimens have been accumulated. As long as the organisms brought to light partook of the character, or were supposed to do so, of fishes, no doubts remained that the sandstones of Moray, under the several modifications of colour and position, belonged to the Devonian era; but subsequently, when organisms of a higher order made their appearance, assuming the distinct forms of reptiles of various families and sizes, a doubt began to arise whether the fish-bearing and the reptile-producing strata belonged to the same series. This questio vexata still prevails; and Mr Rhind, assuming that the decision is still left open, proceeded to exhibit by a section the relative positions of the sandstone beds, in so far as these are open to inspection. The general conformity of the lowest red, the greyish, and the yellow sandstones,-the parallelism of the dip of these three beds of strata, and the superposition of a band of limestone or cornstone commencing south of Elgin, and seen with more or less interruption at Linksfield, Spynie, and Stotfield, capping and inclosing the whole series, were pointed out; while the absence of scales of the distinctive fishes of the Devonian era in the particular localities where the reptilian remains have been discovered was also mentioned, an absence which probably may arise from as yet defective search, considering that the accidental disinterment of the reptiles has occurred within the short space of a few years, and that another few years may either add the discovery of fish scales, or, if not found, afford a somewhat negative proof of the non-identity of the yellow sandstones with the Devonian. It was also suggested that the appearance of the vast masses of compact sandstone forming the hills

which traverse the lower region of Moray from west to east, indicated a process of accumulation by drifting, rather than that slow and regular deposition which is indicated in the lower red sandstone beds, where conglomerate, shale, and fine-grained sandstones are alternately superimposed,- -a condition always favourable to the existence of organic remains either of plants or animals; while the drifting process, which carried the land reptiles into the sea, was unfavourable to the preservation of fishes. Lastly, allusion was made to the recent discoveries of vegetable remains of Lepidodendrons, Lycopodiums, and others analogous to those of the coal strata in the true Devonian sandstones of Canada, by Mr Dawson, and of similar fossil plants found in the Caithness slates, by Mr Salter, all indicative of dry land, and the progress of organic life during the period of the Devonian Sea.

III. Contributions to the Fauna of Old Calabar-Mammals. By ANDREW MURRAY.

This paper was chiefly occupied with a list and notes relating to the various animals, of which specimens had been sent at different times by the United Presbyterian missionaries stationed at Old Calabar, among which were the following:

Troglodytes niger-The Chimpanzee.

With reference to a specimen of this animal which had been brought away alive by the Rev. Mr Baillie, but which unfortunately died on the passage home, Mr Murray remarked, that it had been preserved by Professor Goodsir, in a way which, if it should prove successful, was well worthy of adoption, in cases where the rarity or value of the specimens might justify the expense. The plan was to place it in spirits in a glass tank or coffin as it were, covered with glass hermetically sealed down. This is an enlargement of the plan devised by Goadby for the display of his minute dissections; but as in his little glass boxes, so here, the difficulty to be contended against was leakage. Do what one can leakage seems almost always to occur after a certain lapse of time; but this could be conquered if by no other means, at all events by soldering the glass together by the blow-pipe; so that where it is desirable to have recourse to this plan, this difficulty in the manipulation need prove no insurmountable obstacle.

Mr Murray detailed some anecdotes relating to the individual in question, which had been communicated to him by Mr Baillie, illustrative of the kind and extent of intellect possessed by it. For example-It was very fond of some sweet

meats, which were kept in a press or cupboard, but to prevent its getting access to them when not wished, the cupboard was kept locked. On one occasion the key had been forgotten and left lying on the table, the chimpanzee noticed this, secured the key, and when no one was present, proceeded to unlock the door of the cupboard, but being unable to reach the key-hole, drew a chair to the side of it, and getting up on it unlocked the door, and so got access to the desired sweetmeats, an act involving more than one process of that kind of ratiocination which is usually thought the exclusive property of man.

Galago Murinus.—(Murr.)

In addition to the information formerly given regarding this interesting little animal, Mr Murray had received some additional facts, communicated to him by the Rev. W. C. Thomson, through Dr Hewan. From these it appeared that the little creatures are gregarious, or social rather, travelling in small companies, and inhabiting a common nest; one of which Mr Thomson got a glimpse of. He saw several individuals rush out of it as he passed, and it answered in its situation and description to the account he had received of them, which was, that they were built on suitable forks on trees, with a foundation of clay, and superstructure of dried leaves.

Stenops, Potto (?).

Two or three specimens of this curious loris have been received, and the singular structure under the tongue (a development no doubt of the frenum, but exceedingly like a bird's tongue), as well as the rete mirabile of the arteries of the limbs, was well shown in Mr Murray's preparations.

The sublingual plate is also found in the Galago, although less developed.

Mephitis-Sub Genus Rhabdogale (sp. ?)

Mr Oliphant has received a specimen of an animal which Dr Cleland, to whom he has presented it, refers to this genus, but he has not yet satisfied himself as to the species.

Anahyster (Nov. Genus of Otters.)-Calabaricus Murr.
If a difference in the dentition be, as is usually allowed,

VOL. II.

Ι

sufficient to warrant the separation of the animal possessing it into distinct genus, then the present species is entitled to that place.

It is as yet only known by the skull, which was sent by Mr Thomson to Mr Murray. Its dentition differs from that of our common otter, Lutra vulgaris, in having one fewer premolar in the upper jaw. Mr Murray had submitted it to Professor Owen, who believes it to be nondescript, and that it approaches Enhydra of Fleming (Phil. of Zool.) in having the first pre-molar suppressed above, but that the latter has also the first pre-molar suppressed below. It has, however, six incisors in the under jaw, while the sea otter, Enhydra, has only four in the adult state, which the specimen in question has.

It would appear to form an intermediate link between the true otter and the sea otter; and its habitat in an estuary may therefore perhaps be thought suitable enough; and it was in reference to this that Mr Murray proposed the above generic name for it—Anahyster (belonging to an estuary).

Phacocharus, (sp. ?)

Dr Cleland has received a young individual of this genus; there does not appear to be any essential difference between it and the Cape of Good Hope and Mozambique species, Ph. Ethiopicus. But the individual is too young to allow an opinion to be given with confidence.

Hippopotamus amphibius.-Lin.

From the information received from the missionaries, there is good reason to believe that the hippopotamus is found in the Old Calabar River further up than the mission stations; but no specimens, or portions of specimens, have yet been sent home. It may be a question whether there are more than one species of hippopotamus. It is generally supposed there is only one, but it has been found in rivers so widely, and apparently impassably, separated, that it would be noways surprising if more than one species shall yet be determined.

Manatus Senegalensis.-Desmar.

Several skulls of this most interesting animal have now found their way into this country from our Old Calabar friends.

Delphinus (sp. ?)

Mr Oliphant has received the head of a species of dolphin.

Rhinomus soricoides.-(Nov. Gen., Nov. Sp. ?)-Murr.

This is a very puzzling little animal. It has the appearance of a shrew, with its long snout, but is in reality a mouse. Its dentition is somewhat peculiar, the incisors having a process behind them, like the cusp of a carnivorous tooth. It is pentadactylous both before and behind, and as all the allied genera and species have four fingers before and five behind, Mr Murray considered that there was no alternative but to make a new genus for its reception, and in reference to its long snout, he proposed the above name for it.

It is mouse-coloured, with

ear and

tail.

IV. On the Chalk Flints of the Island of Stroma, and Vicinity of John o'Groat's, in the County of Caithness. By CHARLES W. PEACH, Esq., Wick.

Notices of the occurrence of chalk flints in the boulder clay of Caithness have from time to time appeared in various publications. Many of the localities I have been able to verify, and to add new ones as well. Knowing the interest attaching to their presence so far north, and not being able to find any account in any work that I have access to of their having been found on the surface of the land, the intent of this communication is to show that I have been fortunate enough to make that discovery.

On the 5th instant I had to go to the island of Stroma on business. When walking across the north side of it, I was somewhat surprised to find chalk flints in considerable abundance on the surface there. This part of the island is stripped of its turfy covering, and is consequently favourable for observation. Wherever I went, even on ploughed land, and where the short vegetation was not too thick, I met with the flints. They vary in size from that of a boy's marble to eight or ten inches over, and are generally of a light colour. Some contain sponges; in most of them spicula may be seen in thin splinters, which I chipped off, and in one piece I observed those hollow and branched spicula with the small hall-like