200 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS. 



Variation in Plants. In the hope of enlisting the aid of Scottish 

 botanists in a line of investigation that has proved of much interest 

 to myself, and that can be successfully pursued during a vacation in 

 the country, I venture to suggest the systematic study of variation. 

 We have very few published records in this field on even the 

 commonest species of weeds, and there is apt to be an impression 

 (for it deserves no stronger name) that there is nothing to be learned 

 that would repay the trouble of examining hundreds or even 

 thousands of examples, which, it is assumed, would closely resemble 

 one another. I confess that till I began the study of variation about 

 three years since I assumed this constancy of structure to be 

 general ; but, so far from that being the case, I find variability in 

 some plants to a great degree, not only in form and colour, but also 

 in structure, in the flowers as well as in the vegetative organs. This 

 is especially true of inconspicuous flowers, though by no means con- 

 fined to them. In certain species of Polygonum (e.g. aviculare) these 

 floral variations amount to hundreds. This year I have examined 

 many heads of Equisetum, and find variations common in them also. 

 The importance of reliable information as to the extent and nature 

 of variation in wild plants in its bearing on the problems of evolution 

 is evident ; and a wide field is still open for workers who are willing 

 to devote careful and patient study to the investigation of almost 

 any plant, however common a weed it may be. JAMES W. H. 

 TRAIL. 



CURRENT LITERATURE. 



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

 tory which have appeared during the Quarter April-June 1895. 



[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. 



PINE MARTEN IN BANFFSHIRE. J. K. F. The Field, 27th 

 April 1895, p. 595 ; 25th May 1895, p. 750. A fine male measur- 

 ing 31^ ins. and weighing 4^ Ib. Locality not mentioned. [First 

 recorded as a Polecat.] 



ROEDEER IN THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND. D. A. M. The Field, 

 iith May 1895, p. 671. Absent from Berwickshire and Roxburgh- 

 shire. Appeared in Selkirkshire eight years ago, but are now believed 



