elements. 2. Observations on the Transit of Mercury on the 3d November 1822, Sir Thomas Brisbane having proceeded to Sidney, at the distance of fifteen miles, for the purpose of observing it, while Mr Rumker observed it at Paramatta. 3. Observations on the Winter Solstice of 1822; and, 4. Observations of the Comet of Encke during the month of June 1822. On the same evening, there was read Remarks on the Natural-Historical Determination of Diallage, by W. Haidinger, Esq.

Professor Wallace read a paper, entitled, Investigation of Formula for finding the Logarithms of Trigonometrical Quantities from one another; and also a paper entitled, A proposed Improvement in the Resolution of a Case in Plane Trigonometry.

Nov. 17. Dr Knox read a paper On the Limits of the Retina in the Eye of the Sapia loligo.

Nov. 24. At a General Meeting of the Society, the following gentlemen were elected Office-bearers and Counsellors for the ensuing year:

Sir WALTER SCOTT, Bart. President.

Dec. 1. There was read a paper On a Remarkable case of Magnetic Intensity of a Chronometer, by George Harvey, Esq. M. G. S., M. A. S.

There was likewise read a paper, On the Enlargement of the Mamilla of Males at the age of Puberty, by John Bremner, Esq. Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London.

Professor Russell read an account of a Parhelion observed at Darlington, by Mr Cumming.

At this meeting the following gentlemen were elected members:

FOREIGN.

M. Thenard, Professor of Chemistry in the College of France.

Robert Knox, M. D.

ORDINARY.

John Gordon, Esq. of Cairnbulgh.
George Kellie, M. D. Leith.

Robert Christison, M. D. Professor

of Medical Jurisprudence,

Dec. 15. A paper by Dr Brewster was read, On the Accommodation of the Eye to different Distances.

Dr Knox read a paper On the Comparative Anatomy of the Base of the Iris, and of its mode of Union with the Cornea, and the Annulus albus.

At this meeting, Mr Adie exhibited to the Society the experiment of Professor Dobereiner on the action of platina on hydrogen gas, already fully explained in this Number, p. 153.

Professor Wallace exhibited to the Society one of his improved Eidographs, for copying and reducing plans and drawings.

ART. XXIX.—Proceedings of the Wernerian Natural History Society. (Continued from Vol. IX. p. 390.)

Nov. 15. 1823. THE Secretary read a communication from the Rev. Mr Dunbar of Applegarth, confirming Shirach and Huber's doctrine of the occasional conversion of the larvæ of working bees into queen-bees. (This paper is printed in the present Number of our Journal, p. 22.)-He likewise read a notice from Dr Cumine of Glasgow, regarding the formation of young tubers, within the substance of a large potato, the original specimen being at the same time exhibited. And also a paper "On the natural and economical history of the Cocoa-nut tree," by Mr Marshall, staff-surgeon.

At the same meeting, Dr Knox gave an account of the Fora

of

men centrale of Sömmering, as discovered by him in the eyes certain reptiles, illustrating his communication by beautiful anatomical preparations.

Mr Parry exhibited Colonel Miller's newly invented percussion shell, and gave an account of some very successful experiments made with it near Leith Fort.—And Mr Nicol repeated, in presence of the meeting, Professor Dobereiner's remarkable experiment, shewing the ignition of the fine powder of platina, when exposed to a stream of hydrogen gas in atmospheric air.

Nov. 29.-Dr Knox read a paper on the organs of digestion, respiration and circulation of the Ornithorynchus paradoxus, illustrating his description by specimens and drawings.

The Secretary read the concluding part of Dr Fleming's gleanings of Natural History, during a voyage along the coasts of Scotland in 1821. Likewise, a notice, by Mr R. Lindsay of Aberdeen, of a shower of remarkable pyramidal hailstones, which fell at Aberdeen in June last.

Mr Parry exhibited some drawings made from carvings in oak, executed previous to the time of Henry VIII. And Professor Jameson laid before the meeting a chart, shewing the route pursued by Captain Parry through various parts of Baffin's Bay, during the three preceding summers.

At this meeting the following gentlemen were elected officebearers of the Society for the ensuing year:

FOREIGN.

The Rev. Thomas Macculloch of Pictou..

CORRESPONDING.

Mr William Macgillivray.

Dec. 13. Dr Knox read a paper on the kidneys, urinary bladder, and organs of generation in the male of the Ornithorynchus paradoxus, illustrating his description by sketches. Dr Yule gave an account of the changes produced on some tallow-candles, accidentally preserved in a dry state for near a century, and exhibited specimens. Mr Greville read an account of Mr Cormack's Journey across Newfoundland, in the autumn of 1822. (This interesting communication is printed in the present number of this Journal p. 156., and illustrated by a map, constructed by Mr Cormack.)

At the same meeting, Professor Jameson gave an account of thermometric and hygrometric observations made at Port Callao in South America, by Mr William Jameson, surgeon; and read extracts of a letter, written fron Funchal, by Mr Bowdich, the African traveller.

ART. XXX.—Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, for 1823. (Continued from Vol. VIII. p. 388.)

f

-A communication was read from J. Hogg, B. A.,

F. L. S., and Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society; giving the description of an Oolitic Bed in the Magnesian limestone formation, at Hartlepool in the county of Durham.

A letter was read from W. J. Banks, M. A., Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, M. P. for the University, accompanying a description of the late earthquake at Aleppo, transmitted to Mr Banks, by Mr Salt from Alexandria.

A paper was read from B. Bevan, Esq., containing an account of some experiments on the vibrations of strings, by which it appears that the times of their vibrations agree with those deduced from theory, by Dr Smith and others.

March 3.-W. Whewell, M. A., Fellow of Trinity College, read a notice of some mathematical calculations, proceeding on Mr Ampere's theory of Electro-Magnetism, or, as the author

proposes calling it, Electro-Dynamics. The object of these investigations was to compare the results of this theory with that of Mr Barlow, and with experiment; but they will require further development before they can be considered as sufficiently complete.

A paper was read by Professor Sedgwick, M. A., F. R. S., Fellow of Trinity College," On the Association of Trap-Rock, with the Mountain Limestone Formation in High Teesdale, &c. The author commences with some general remarks on the structure of the great calcareous chain in the north of England. He then shews the great importance of the transverse valleys; the upper and lower portions of which often exhibit a double system of sections, by which the relation of the formations are completely ascertained. He afterwards proceeds to examine the structure of the Higher Teesdale, and explains at considerable length the modifications which have arisen from the existence of many faults of extraordinary length and magnitude. In this part of the paper, he first shews the want of correspondence in the strata on the two sides of the valley, which extends 5 or 6 miles above Egglestone; more especially the appearance of a great bed of trap on the south-west side, to which no bed corresponds on the north-east side.

2. He describes the phenomena exhibited by the trap after its first appearance in the bed of the river, till it crosses in the form of a great dam at the High Forse.

3. He describes the appearance of a great fault, which intersects the whole valley about a mile above the High Forse, and throws the whole system of strata, on the north-west side of its range, more than 20 fathoms above their previous level. In the latter part of the paper, the author proceeds to examine the phenomena presented at the junction of the trap with the other strata, and he arrives at the following conclusions.

(1.) That the great mass of trap (the whin-sill), may be traced to a point within a few hundred feet of the mass of trap, which is prolonged into the coal measures in the form of a dike.

(2) That the whin-sill is not a regular bed, but a great wedge. shaped mass, which becomes thickest in the upper part of the valley.