56 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



near Colinton, Midlothian ; it was subsequently detected also at 

 Clubbiedean Reservoir in the same neighbourhood. The water has 

 been very low in these ponds all summer, mosses and liverworts 

 having thus been given time to appear on the exposed mud, which 

 is of considerable area. The Physcomitrdla occurred abundantly 

 along with antheridia - bearing plants of Fioiaria hygrometrica, 

 Sibth., and Riccia crystalling Linn., in both localities. In the 

 "Census Catalogue of British Mosses," issued in 1907 by the Moss 

 Exchange Club, there is no mention of Physcomitrella patens, B. and 

 S., in any Scottish county. The identification was verified by Mr. 

 H. N. Dixon, F.L.S. -W. EDGAR EVANS, Edinburgh. 



Rosa spinossissima, Linn., x mollis, Sin., in Banffshire. - - In 



July last, whilst visiting Boyne Castle, near Portsoy/I met in with a 

 fine clump of what I have no doubt is this hybrid. It was growing on 

 the lofty, tree-shaded bank of a gorge which runs down from the castle 

 to the sea. There were numerous bushes of R. spinossissima, Linn., 

 growing around it, and mollis and other species were also not far off. 



Its prickles are precisely those of R. spinossissima, Linn., even 

 affecting the declining habit often found in those of that species. 

 In the form of its leaflets, however, it closely approaches the shape 

 of those of R. mollis, Sm. They are softly hairy in both surfaces, 

 the hairs rather long and appressed. In colour they are of a very 

 glaucous hue, with a bluish tinge, darker above, paler below. Sub- 

 foliar glands are" present, but in very small quantity, chiefly on the 

 midrib. The serration is composite-glandular. The upper stipules 

 are much dilated, though varying in this respect ; some are gland- 

 less, others densely glandular on the back. The peduncles, fruits, 

 and sepals are more or less densely glandular. The sepals are long 

 and slender, broadened at the point, and perfectly simple. Some 

 leaves with nine leaflets occur on the flowering branches. 



The shape, colour, and clothing of the leaflets, the dilated 

 stipules, and the long, slender, and simple sepals seem to me to leave 

 no doubt as to the parentage of this form. WILLIAM BARCLAY. 



CURRENT LITERATURE. 



The Titles and Purport of Papers and Notes relating to Scottish Natural 

 History which have appeared during the Quarter October-December 1908. 



[The Editors desire assistance to enable them to make this Section as complete as 

 possible. Contributions on the lines indicated will be most acceptable, and 

 will bear the initials of the Contributor. The Editors will have access to the 

 sources of information undermentioned.] 



ZOOLOGY. 



NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY, GEOLOGY, AND ANTI- 

 QUITIES OF DUROR, ARGYLLSHIRE. Rev. G. A. Frank Knight, 



