252 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Mr. James Renny, who informs me that he has gathered it in Savoy 

 and Switzerland. The milk soon assumes a violet tint on exposure 

 to the air, and is a very distinctive feature. 



Strobilomyces strobilaceus, Berk. This has been forwarded to me 

 from Eastwood, Dunkeld, by Mr. Charles MTntosh. The specimen 

 was small, but perfectly developed. Until recent years it was found 

 only in Herefordshire. In 1889 a few good specimens were 

 gathered in Drummond Wood, near Crieff, during the visit of the 

 Cryptogamic Society. Mr. M'Intosh has been fortunate in adding 

 another Scottish station for this very remarkable plant. JOHN 

 STEVENSON. 



Parka decipiens. Notes on specimens from the collections of 

 James Reid, Esq. of Allan House, Blairgowrie, Scotland. By 

 Sir William Dawson, LL.D., F.R.S., and Professor Penhallow, B.Sc. 

 "Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada," Section IV., 1891, pp. 3-16, with a plate. 



Part I. Historical and Geological. By Sir William Dawson. 



This part gives an account of the various views that have been 

 held regarding the nature of Parka decipiens since its discovery by 

 Fleming in 1831. This is followed by a description; but as to the 

 mode of occurrence and the individual appearance of the specimens 

 sent him by Mr. Reid, who, in addition to those of his own collecting, 

 forwarded to Sir William Dawson additional specimens collected by 

 Mr. W. Graham, Rescobie, after reviewing the evidence in favour 

 of each of the rival claims for the animal and vegetable affinities of 

 Parka, and referring to the plant remains with which it is usually 

 associated, Dawson sums up as follows: "Putting the parts to- 

 gether in accordance with these facts, we may suppose Parka 

 decipiens to be the fruit of an aquatic plant having strong rugose 

 but not woody stems or rhizomes, producing numerous branches ; 

 those which were fertile, and perhaps nearer the base, supporting 

 clusters of Parka, those which were barren producing long grass-like 

 floating leaves like those of Zostera. The affinities of such a plant 

 would be with modern rhizocarps, though a peculiar and exaggerated 

 form." Dawson further states : " It seems possible that the plant 

 formerly described by the author as Cordaites angustifolia, from the 

 Erian of Gaspe, may be allied to Parka, though only its leaves and 

 stems are known." He also thinks that such organisms as Sporocystis 

 and Lepidocystis of Lesquereux may be allies of Parka. 



Part II. Microscopical and Botanical Results. By D. P. 



Penhallow, B.Sc. 



In the first paragraph of this part of the subject, we have the 

 key-note to the general results of Professor Penhallow's investigations 

 summed up in the following sentence : " After careful examination 

 and comparison, the conclusion was reached that Parka was an 

 aquatic rhizocarp, probably allied to Pilularia. 



