Description of ELCHO CASTLE,

THE remains of this ancient edifice are situated on the south side of the river Tay, about four miles below the town of Perth. It was once a fortress of great strength and extent, but has for many years been uninha, bited, and only its ruins now remain, About the middle of the fourteenth century, Elcho, along with other extensive lands in Perthshire, was acquired by the family of Wemyss, whose property had before been entirely situated within the county of Fife. On the 28th of August 1511, Sir David Wemyss obtained from King James IV. charters, by which all his lands in both counties were erected into one free barony. He accompanied that monarch to the battle of Flodden, where he fell, and was succeeded by his son of the same name, who also, under the following reign, was honoured with many marks of royal favour. His son, Sir John Wemyss, was much esteemed by Queen Mary, and remained steadily attached to the cause of that unfortunate princess: he received from her a confirmation of his titles to the lands of Elcho. A successor, of the same name, was in equal favour with Charles I., and was raised by that monarch to the

honour of the peerage. He was created first Lord Wemyss of Elcho,which seems to indicate that place to have been then the principal seat of the family.

He was afterwards dignified, however, with the title of Earl of Wemyss; and Lord Elcho then became the title of the eldest son. David Lord Elcho, son of James, fourth Earl of Wemyss, having engaged in the rebellion of 1745, was attainted, and rendered incapable of succeeding: the title, in consequence, became dormant ; and the Earl made a disposition of his property in Fifeshire, in favour of his third son James, who transmitted it to his son William, now General Wemyss of Wemyss Castle. On the 29th April 1787, Lord Elcho died at Paris, and the title then descended to his next brother Francis, who was enabled to support the dignity of the peerage by being left heir to the immense property of his maternal grandfather, Colonel Francis Charteris. He purchased extensive estates in East Lothian, where he built the house of Amisfield, and another on a scale of extraordinary magnificence at Gosford, now called Wemyss House. He was succeeded in 1808, by his grandson Francis, sixth Earl of Wemyss, to whom Elcho Castle still belongs, though he has not any residence in its neighbourhood.

Monthly

tory.

POLAR BEAR-A live specimen of the White Bear, (Ursus maritimus,) has, within these few weeks, been received at Leith. It is quite a young animal. It is destined, we understand, for the Professor of Natural History in the University; and we are glad to learn that a den is preparing in the College grounds, by order of the Magistrates as patrons of the University, where the animal may be kept alive, and attain its full size. It was taken, according to our information, on an ice-float, in the West Greenland seas, in the end of May or beginning of June last, by Mr Scoresby, jun. of Whitby. That gentleman, (the same who has favoured the world with the first accurate drawing of the common whale*,) being a keen naturalist, resolved to observe its manners and the progress of its growth, and had a large hogshead fitted up as a cage for its reception. It was daily washed with pailfuls of sea water, and was fed with all kind of offals. It grew rapidly; and from being a mere cub, having probably been brought forth in March, it is now equal in size to a very large mastiff. It has even increased in size since its arrival here, three weeks ago; its teeth, in particular, have become larger, and more prominent. At present, fresh water is every day pumped into the hogshead, till it be about half full: the young bear shews its happiness, by incessantly rolling and tumbling among the water, and by uttering growling notes of satisfaction. It seems very impatient of heat; and therefore, in constructing even a temporary den, the coolest situation should be chosen, and means should be taken for producing an arti

stant access to a cistern of water, or throwing plenty of water upon it daily, seem very obvious means, and will probably be found indispensable.

A polar bear was kept for several years in the collection at the Tower of London, where a cistern and den were allotted for it. It died about four years ago. Two or three white bears are described as kept in the National Menagerie at Paris*. One is mentioned as having been seven years an inmate, and feeding only on bread, of which it was satisfied with 6 lb. a-day. The young bear at Leith devours bullocks liver or garbage of fish greedily. We are not aware of the white bear having ever before been kept alive in Scotland.

In Iceland, a few white bears make their appearance every season, being wafted on ice-floats, as is believed, from the opposite coast of East Greenland, which is only a short distance from the north of Iceland: Sir George Mackenzie, it may here be noticed, brought from that island, in 1810, an entire skin of a full grown bear, which he presented to the University Museum, and which has been stuffed, and placed in that excellent and improving collection.

When full grown, the Greenland bear is from 10 to 12 feet long. All the accounts of voyages to high northern latitudes contain descriptions of the great numbers, vast strength,anddreadful fierceness of this animal. They of ten pass along ice-bergs some leagues from land, attracted by the powerful carrion smell of the rejected krangs or carcases of the whales when stript of the blubber. During winter they lie buried under the snow, perhaps at the depth of 20 or 30 feet; long spiracles, or chimneys for breathing, marking their places. In Hudson's

Bay,

+ La Ménagerie du Museum Nationale d'Hist. Nat.

AT the general meeting of this Society, held on Tuesday the 8th September in the Physician's Hall, it was reported from the Committee of Prizes, that they had met on the 7th of July, and examined several specimens of forced peaches and seedling pinks, and that the medal for the former was due to Mr Ingram at Torry,

and for the latter to Mr Henderson at Delvine.

At this meeting there was a very fine display of fruit, considering the backwardness of the season, particularly peaches, nectarines, apricots, grapes, green gage plums, and jargonelle pears. On report of the Committee of Prizes, medals were awarded as follows:

PEACHES. First medal, to Mr Barton at Bothwell Castle.

Second medal, to Mr Archibald at Dalhousie Castle.

NECTARINES. First medal, to Mr Trotter at Alva.

Second, to Mr Barton.

APRICOTS. First, to Mr Kirk at Smeaton. Second, Mr Macdonald at Dalkeith. GRAPES. First, to Mr William Wright, Leith.

Second, to Mr Porteous at Drummore. GREEN GAGES. First, to Mr Ford at Tyningham.

Second, to Mr Reid, at Lees. JARGONELLES. First, to Mr Barton. Second, to Mr Kirk. GOOSEBERRIES.-First, to Mr Affleck at Hirsell.

Second, to Mr Archibald. SEEDLING CARNATIONS. First, to Mr Henderson at Delvine.

Second, to Mr Mitchell at Moncrieffe

House.

The Committee appointed to examine the HOME-MADE WINES reported, that no fewer than thirty-two specimens had been produced, most of them of excellent quality; but that, upon the whole, (it having been previously determined that only one me dal should this year be awarded) they had given the preference to a white currant wine marked

Ce vin d'Ecosse

Merite quelque chose;

and that on opening the sealed letter with that motto, it was found to belong to Mrs Thomson, 10, Picardy Place, Edinburgh.

Several communications were read, particularly a letter on the culture of sea-cale, by Dr John C. Lettsom, London; observations on the Egyptian ground onion, by Dr Duncan, sen.; on protecting the blossom of Smeaton; and an account of a large green gage plums, by Mr Kirk at and early apple, which grows freely from cuttings, by Mr Porterfield, gardener at St Bernards,

The following gentlemen were duly admitted members, viz.

ORDINARY.

The Rev. Laurence Adamson, Cupar, Fife.
Francis Balfour, Esq. of Fernie.
James Bryce, Esq. surgeon.
George Gardner, Esq. of the Customs.
William Henderson, Esq. merchant.
Mr Alexander Wright, seedsman.
Mr Alexander Melville, at Oxenford Castle.
CORRESPONDING.

Mr William Air, seedsman, Coldstream.
Mr Alexander Gibson, gardener at Black-
shiels.

The names of nearly thirty candidates for admission were enrolled at this meeting; a pleasing earnest of the progress and success of the institution.

The third anniversary dinner was afterwards held in Macewan's large room, where about 50 members dined. Dr Duncan, sen. was in the chair, and was supported by the Earl of Leven, Lord Torphichen, Colonel Cal

derwood,