Arctic tern appears to be the sand-eel or sand-lance (Ammodytes). This rather curious fish appears in our bay occasionally in prodigious shoals; indeed, one of our most observant fishermen lately informed me that the masses of these fish he has seen on our coast exceeded by far anything of the kind he ever saw, not excepting the "races" or "banks" of herrings, which are described (principally by sanguine ship-captains) as being something prodigious. Large numbers of sand-eels are exhumed from a sandbank at the mouth of the river. They are used as bait, and numerous fishermen visit the bank when the tide has ebbed, armed with an instrument resembling a corn-hook, with which they dexterously drag to light the buried eel. I witnessed a foray of this description in spring last; but although this was not the first occasion, I was attracted in this instance by the number of sea-fowl that fluttered over the fishermen's heads, and came almost within reach of the weapons in their hands. The Arctic tern, the lesser blackbacked gull, and the kittiwake were the species that joined in the pursuit. The kittiwakes were the boldest, or rather the most familiar, of the three; and at a distance, you could hardly say with certainty whether the eel just brought to light was destined to find the fisherman's basket or the kittiwake's maw. It was almost a neck and neck race, and Piscator very frequently had not much to spare.

That large and splendid species, the great black-backed gull, breeds on favourable stations all along our east coast. What appears to be favourite situations are those insulated rocks to which there is no access by land. On the flat and grassy tops of these gigantic pillars, the black-back builds and rears its progeny, which resemble the young of the herring and other gulls. Sometimes such a "stack," as these pillars are termed, is occupied by two or three pairs; in other instances a single couple hold undisputed sway, and monopolise the isolated territory. When the haunt of these gulls is intruded upon, the whole colony rise screaming overhead, making a terrific din; but above all the uproar, the hoarse croak of the "Saddle-back" may be distinguished. The lesser black-backed and herring gulls occasionally

sweep within reach, but their larger associate keeps far above, and seldom ventures within gunshot. On one of these "stacks," situated in Sinclair's Bay, I have seen shags and cormorants sunning themselves in every niche, the top even being occupied by numbers of these sombre gentry. The black-back is extremely wild and vigilant, and consequently difficult to approach; the only time when it ventures within reach of a gun, being in the breeding season, when it usually becomes a degree bolder. This gull is also very jealous of the neighbourhood of hawks and crows, having in especial an antipathy to the hooded crow. From its size and fierceness, it is generally monarch of all it surveys, the raven even succumbing to its attacks. In the last breeding season, however, the district received a visit from a stranger before whom all birds fled, the great black-back even making discretion the better part of valour. This was a white-tailed or sea eagle (Haliætus albicilla), and his presence evidently caused the more alarm, from the fact that an eagle is seldom or never seen in the vicinity. An observer who carefully watched this powerful depredator while beating the margin of a loch not far from the edge of the rock, saw him slip over the precipice and shoot along about half-way between the top of the cliff and the sea. Hardly had he made his appearance, when a rush of birds seawards took place. Everything that could fly left the rocks, and the terror and confusion that ensued was remarkable. This continued during the whole course of his flight, and his appearance was invariably the signal for a hurrying of the scared masses out of the reach of danger. So numerous, and so very much frightened were the birds, that the progress of the eagle could be traced, long after he himself was invisible, by the strings of seafowl, of various kinds, that persistently continued to seek safety in flight. It was long before gull and guillemot got over their fright, and matters resumed "the even tenor of their way."

The Arctic skua, the lesser black-backed gull, and the common gull, breed in a remote moorland district in the centre of the county. Here there are numerous pools or patches of water, known as "doo-lochs," of various sizes and shapes, studded with mossy mounds or islands, which

are usually as high above the surface as the surrounding ground. On these mounds the birds, for the most part, rear their young with safety. Great numbers of eggs are destroyed, however, as, in consequence of there not being space enough on the detached portions for the multitude of birds that resort hither in the season, numbers of nests are built on the margins of the pools, which are robbed by herdboys and occasional visitors. I have seen some excellent specimens of the Arctic skua shot in the neighbourhood of these lochs in spring last by a collector. The lesser blackbacked gull does not restrict itself apparently in the choice of a situation for breeding, as its nest may be found inland on these moors, as well as on the "stacks" frequented by the great black-backed and herring gulls. In the inland district above-mentioned, the curlew breeds regularly, and I have good reason to believe that it also forms a breedingstation of the whimbrel (Numenius phaopus). The nest of the kestrel may frequently be met with along the east coast. A few pairs of peregrines still manage to rear a brood here and there amidst the precipitous rocks, but this bird exists in greatly diminished numbers. The sparrow-hawk is much rarer with us than the two species above-mentioned, or than the hen-harrier or merlin. The hen-harrier is known to breed in a retired hilly district about twenty miles from Wick. The merlin, the smallest and most beautiful of our falcons, builds its nest among the heather, usually selecting a situation where the growth is luxuriant and abundant. On one occasion, some years ago, I accompanied a gamekeeper and his two sons on an expedition to the hills of Yarrows, distant about seven miles from Wick. The object of the expedition was the destruction of a couple of merlins, which had built their nest amidst the heather on a gentle slope, which ran backward from a narrow valley or ravine. It was anticipated that, by keeping this hollow until opposite the nest, both birds might perchance be secured in its neighbourhood. The desired point was reached, the guns (three) were prepared, and the trio were just on the point of leaving their hiding-place, when the shriek of the male bird, giving the alarm, was heard, and on looking up the little fellow was descried far overhead, sailing in circles, and anxiously watch

ing every movement. Not a moment was to be lost, and the three, ranged in line, left their hiding-place and advanced rapidly on the nest. If the female still remains, her chance of escape is a poor one, for she is now within range of six barrels ! She sits so close, however, that doubts are beginning to arise, when up she springs and dashes rapidly off, brushing the heather in her flight. She has not flown far when a single shot is fired, and poor falco drops among the heath with a broken wing. The male escaped on this occasion and was not seen again, although diligent search was made for some days afterwards. The nest contained four eggs, and was situated where one would rather expect to find the nest of the red grouse.

Dr J. A. Smith said, naturalists were indebted to Mr Shearer and Mr Osborne for their valuable list, with its accompanying details, of the birds of Caithness. He had requested Mr Osborne to add some notes on the nesting of the birds, and was sure the Society would agree with him in the great interest of these communications; he only wished a similar careful list of the appearance and nesting of the birds, could be got from all the counties of Scotland. The capture of the ivory gull, referred to by Mr Shearer as new (page 341), had been brought under the notice of the Society by Sir W. Jardine (see Proc., vol. i. p. 4; and vol. ii. p. 57). The specimen was described by him as being the Pagophila brachytarsus (Halböll), and the first time it had been observed as occurring in this country.

IV. Ornithological Notes.-Larus glaucus (Glaucous gull), Mergulus alle, (Little Auk), &c. (specimens exhibited). By J. A. SMITH, M.D. A fine specimen of the Larus glaucus, the great whitewinged or glaucous gull, was sent for exhibition by Mr. Edward Hargitt. It is a bird of this year, and was shot on Holy Island, near Berwick, in the third week of November. Dr Smith also exhibited a specimen of the Little Auk, recently shot in the Firth of Forth. This bird is an occasional winter visitor, generally after severe storms. It occurs abundantly in the Arctic regions; and he might mention in regard to it, that the late Professor Jameson used to exhibit

a specimen, presented to the Museum of Natural History in Captain, afterwards Sir Edward Parry, which was captured by him in the year 1827, as far to the north as Lat. 82° N.

V. Dr Smith exhibited plaster casts of the skull of the famous Gorilla, and also of its brain cavity. Mr Alexander Stewart, No. 1 Surgeon Square, had been most successful in making these casts; and from him specimens could be obtained.

Wednesday, 26th February.-JOHN COLDSTREAM, M.D., President, in the Chair.

Norman Bethune, M.D.; H. W. Mitnish, Esq., M.R.CS.L; and William M'Nab, Esq., Royal Botanic Gardens, were elected members of the Society:

The Secretary stated he had received from the Right Honourable Sir George Grey an official intimation of the Society's Address of Condolence having been duly presented to her Majesty.

The following Donations to the Library were laid on the table, and thanks voted to the donors:

1. (1). Meteorological Observations made at Providence, R.I. By Alexis Caswell. October 1860.-(2.) Meteorological Observations made near Washington, Arkansas. By Nathan D. Smith, M.D. October 1860. -(3.) Researches upon the Venom of the Rattlesnake. By S. Weir Mitchell, M.D., Washington. January 1861. From the Smithsonian Institution, U.S.A.-2. Second Report of a Geological Reconnoissance of the Southern and Middle Counties of Arkansas, made during the years 1859 and 1860. By David Dale Owen. Philadelphia, 1860. Presented through the Smithsonian Institution.-3. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. Vol. VII. 16-28, and Vol. VIII. 1-4. From the Society.-4. On the Sounds caused by the Circulation of the Blood. By Arthur Leared, B.A., M.D., Dub. London, 1861. From the Author.

The following Communications were read :—

I. Exhibition of Drawings, by Native Artists, of Animals collected in India, belonging to the different Great Divisions of the Animal Kingdom. By WALTER ELLIOT of Wolfelee, Esq. Communicated by JOHN COLDSTREAM, M.D.

After some introductory remarks on the occasion of his occupancy of the chair for the first time since his re-election as one of the Presidents of the Society, Dr Coldstream adverted to the great loss which the Society had recently sustained in the death of Mr John S. Livingston, one of the