garded as the centrum of the atlas,-a view which seems to be supported by its very large comparative size in the young condition, long before the anterior tubercle of the atlas makes its appearance,-then we must recognise in the odontoid ligaments the terminal member of the series to which the transverse ligament of the atlas and the ligamenta conjugalia belong; and indeed the arrangement of their fibres, some of which are continuous from side to side, is favourable to this supposition, and reminds one of the ligamentum conjugale in the sheep. Fig. 1. Atlas of a young Chelonia virgata—after Rathke. a, The arch b, Osseous centre of the tubercle. Fig. 2. Dorsal vertebra of a young seal, for comparison with the following figures: a, Oblique process. b, Articular surface for head of rib. Fig. 3. Superior aspect of the axis of a human foetus. a, The centrum, b, Odontoid process. c, Superior articular surface. d, Bulging of the arch in the situation of the inferior articular surface. Fig. 4. Inferior aspect of the atlas of the same subject. a, Articular surface. Fig. 5. Cervical vertebra from the same subject. a, Oblique process. b. Part of the arch entering into the composition of the body of the vertebra. NOTE. Since writing the above, my attention has been called to Rathke's work, "Ueber die Entwickelung der Schildkröten," in which (page 77) the view that the odontoid process is the centrum of the atlas is strenuously urged, and strong evidence brought forward in its favour. See also Owen, "On the Homologies of the Vertebrate Skeleton," page 93. Rathke points out that the ligamentum suspensorium, which, in the birds and higher reptilia unites the odontoid process to the occipital condyle, is the serial representative of the intervertebral discs behind. He found that in most chelonians it consisted of true cartilage, and that in certain birds it was composed of fibro-cartilage. This view of the ligamentum suspensorium is quite consistent with the suggestion which I have offered, that the ligamenta alaria are homologous with the transverse liga ment. The large portion of the cup on the anterior aspect of the chelonian atlas, which is formed by the expanded inferior extremities of the arch, illustrates very well the unity of plan upon which the articular surfaces of the atlas are formed in animals having one occipital condyle, and those which have two. This will be seen by comparing the woodcuts above. When, in the human subject, a process of bone passes up from the arch of the atlas, to meet the superior articular surface, and convert the groove for the nerve and vertebral artery into a foramen, the process in question is a true oblique process. If, in addition, we were to imagine the tip of the transverse process thickened and projecting upwards to meet the superior articular surface, we should then have presented to us the condition of parts found in the pig and the sheep. IV. Ornithological Notes. By JOHN ALEXANDER SMITH, M.D. (Specimens exhibited.) (1.) Falco islandicus, (Lath). The Gyrfalcon. This specimen of Gyrfalcon was killed about the middle of last October by James Maclean, gamekeeper to Sir John Orde, on his property near Loch Maddy, in North Uist. The bird is probably a young male, and a very fine specimen of this extremely rare and occasional visitor, -no instance of its breeding in Scotland, he believed, was on record. It measured in length 22 inches; the wing, from flexure to point of primaries, 15 inches. The head white, with longitudinal stripes of brown; the upper parts of body brown, tinged with grey; the feathers partially edged and spotted on the margins with white. Below white, with longitudinal spots of brown; the flanks white, broadly dashed with brown. In the wings, the second primary is the longest, the first and third being nearly equal. Tail brown, barred with white, the white mottled with brown. Another specimen of this falcon was killed by Maclean during the autumn of the previous year; but unfortunately nothing but the head and wings were preserved. The bird was new to the keeper, being the first of the kind he had seen. (2.) Picus major. (Linn.) The Pied Woodpecker.-The Pied or Greater Spotted Woodpecker exhibited, was taken on Mr Trotter's property of The Bush, near Penicuik, on 7th November. Mr James Stewart, who shot the bird, was attracted, at about 100 yards distance, by the noise made from its tapping on the trunk of a large oak tree. The bird was an adult male, showing the crimson occiput. our permanent residents, but rare. It is one of Dr Smith brought under the notice of the Society in 1851, a specimen killed in the neighbourhood of Dryburgh Abbey. (3.) Lanius excubitor. (Linn.) The Great Grey Shrike. -Dr Smith noticed the capture of a Great Grey Shrike, on the 9th of November, in the vicinity of Dirleton, East Lothian. (4.) Perdrix cinerea. (Linn.) Common Partridge.—An accidental variety of the Common Partridge was also exhibited, showing pure white feathers in the scapulars, wings, and tail. V. A large Cup-shaped Sponge was exhibited by JOHN ALEXANDER SMITH, M.D. A very large and fine specimen of a Cup-shaped Sponge, Halichondria ventilabrum, attached by its base to a stone, was exhibited. It was sent from Shetland, where it had been dredged up from the sea bottom. The Sponge was sent for exhibition, at Dr Smith's request, by Mr James Carfrae, Princes Street, who was desired to make inquiries as to the exact locality where it had been discovered.* *This sponge has since been acquired for the Museum of Natural History, University. VOL. II. 2 G Wednesday, 26th December, 1861.-WILLIAM RHIND, Esq., President, in the Chair. The following gentlemen were elected the Office-bearers for the Session 1860-61: Presidents-Thomas Strethill Wright, M.D., Alexander Bryson, Esq., James M'Bain, M.D., R.N. Council-John Coldstream, M.D., Andrew Murray, Esq., John Cleland, M.D., William Rhind, Esq., David Page, Esq., William Turner, M.B., Esq. Secretary-John Alexander Smith, M.D. Assistant-Secretary-James Boyd Davies, Esq. Treasurer-George Logan, Esq. Honorary Librarian-Robert F. Logan, Esq. Library Committee-W. H. Lowe, M.D., John Anderson, Esq., John Livingston, Esq. Wednesday, 23d January, 1861.-ALEX. BRYSON, Esq., President, in the Chair. William Burns Thomson, Esq., surgeon, Superintendent of Medical Mission Dispensary, 39 Cowgate, was elected a non-resident member of the Society. The following donations to the library were laid on the table, and thanks were voted to the donors : 1. Biographical Sketch of the late William Oliphant, Esq., publisher, Edinburgh.-From William Gibb, Esq. 2. Iagttagelser over Den Postpliocene Eller Glaciale Formation I En del Af Det Sydlige Norge. Af Profr. Dr M. Sars og Lector Th. Kjerulf. Christiania, 1860.-From the Royal University of Norway. 3. Jahrbuch der Kaiserlich-Koniglichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt, 1859. X. Jahrgang, No. 3, Juli, August, September. Wien.-From the Society. 4. The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society. No. 58, May 1859, Vol. XV., Part 2.-From the Society. 5. Fragmenta Phytographiæ Australia. Nos. VIII, IX., X. With Plates.-From Dr Ferdinand Mueller, Victoria, Australia. 6. Canadian Journal, Toronto. No. XXVI., for March, and No. XXX., November 1860.—From the Canadian Institute, Toronto. The Communications read were as follows: I. On Inflammation in Fishes. By ALEXANDER M'Kenzie About the year 1859, the attention of Scottish surgeons was drawn to some suggestions made many years before, by their American brethren Physick and Levert, on the probable benefit likely to result in the treatment of wounds, from substituting metallic threads for those of silk or hemp usually employed. They were led to this opinion by observing the small amount of irritation sometimes resulting from the presence of a metallic substance, such as a bullet, in the textures of the body. I was then engaged with Professor Simpson in experimenting upon animals, and endeavouring with him to collect reasons why the metallic thread should supersede the silk one. As an instance of how little irritation is caused by metal left in living tissues, I instanced the practice of marking par, grilse, &c., with wire, and these marks being found in the fish after months or years; whereas, had the material of the marks been non-metallic, they would most probably have cut or ulcerated out of the tissues. I was told that this was no argument, as fish did not inflame-at all events, that their tissues did not ulcerate or suppurate-and I was referred to the following passage in Macartney's treatise upon inflammation: "In neither of the two classes of vertebrate animals with cold blood do I believe it possible to produce the genuine effects of inflammation. In conducting some experiments on the swimming-bag of fishes, I was surprised to find that the wound made into the belly did not inflame. I was therefore curious to know what injuries fishes would bear without producing inflammation. Having taken some living fishes from the water, I introduced pieces of wire beneath the skin and amongst the muscles of the body; the fishes were then returned to the water, and on examining them several days afterwards, I found that no suppuration had taken place. The tracks of the wounds were pale and smooth, and only moistened with a serous fluid, and none of the usual appearances of inflammation were visible. A very common occurrence in fishes is the existence of worms, which perforate the tunics of the alimentary canal, without producing any change of structure, except an increased vascularity around the perforations. The reproductive power of fishes is confined to the fins, which are sometimes régenerated after being lost |