64 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



results, when these are guarded by reference to a sufficiently wide 

 assemblage of species for each formation, giving a characteristic facies. 

 The flora of the various divisions of British Carboniferous rocks is 

 treated in several pages, the more important species in each being 

 enumerated ; and a chart is given to show the extent of the geological 

 distribution of certain plants, and their relative abundance in each 

 formation. A table follows, in which are noted the geological range 

 of all the plants known to occur in Carboniferous strata in Britain. 



In the second paper Mr. Kidston describes and figures (on Plates 

 IV. to VI.) six new species, of which one fern is referred to a new 

 genus. 



The Set of British Willows, of which Messrs. E. F. Linton and 

 W. R. Linton have issued the first fascicle (Nos. i to 25), will be a 

 very valuable aid to botanists who desire to become more intimately 

 acquainted with the forms of a genus most interesting to the 

 evolutionist, but most difficult to determine without actual examples 

 accurately named for reference. It is expected that about 100 

 numbers will complete the set. Those already issued are repre- 

 sented by very carefully selected and prepared specimens, many of 

 which have been taken from cultivated examples. The original 

 localities of the plants are in all cases stated, seven coming from 

 Scotland. Ten of the whole number illustrate forms of hybrids ; 

 and two others at least are suspected to be hybrids. The labels of 

 all bear bibliographical references ; and on many there are also in- 

 teresting and valuable notes. 



The Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium marinuni) in the Island of 

 Earra, Outer Hebrides. This pretty fern was growing in consider- 

 able profusion among rocks above Sinclair Loch on the west side of 

 the island. The plants were in dense clusters in the crevices of 

 the rocks, but the fronds were not very large ; one of the larger 

 size taken as a specimen measures scarcely 6 inches in length. 

 Asplenium marimim has been recorded from Little Barve, Harris 

 (also one of the Outer Hebridean islands), but I do not know of any 

 previous record of its occurrence in Barra. THOMAS SCOTT, Leith. 



Topographical Botany: Wigtownshire. At. p. 159, Gera- 

 nium sylvaticum is recorded, on the authority of Mr. J. M'Andrew, as 

 occurring in Wigtownshire. Now I am fairly well acquainted with 

 the phanerogamous flora of that county, and I have never yet seen 

 G. sylvaticum. Mr. M'Andrew has told me that he did not find 

 the plant in flower, but recognised the leaves on the shores of the 

 White Loch of Myreton. It is not G. sylvaticum which grows there, 

 but G. phtzum, which I have known in that place for 25 years, 

 probably a wanderer from neighbouring gardens. HERBERT 

 MAXWELL. 



