CURRENT LITERATURE 131 



to R. mucronatus, Blox., and R. podophyllus, P. J. Muell., coming 

 between them and the more glandular states of R. calvatus, Blox., 

 and distinguishable from the two former by its stronger, larger 

 prickles, more mixed armature, gradually acuminate leaflets, com- 

 pound panicle, and dark purplish brown colour of stem and rachis ; 

 and from R. calvatus by the close, even toothing and soft under 

 surface of its more roundish-acuminate terminal leaflet, as well as by 

 the mixed armature. . . . My very distinct Hants and Dorset 

 plant, described as R. melanoxylon by Professor Babington in 

 'Journ. Bot.,' 1890, p. 133, is R. melanodermis, Focke." 



" R. Drejeri, G. Jansen. West Perth, by Lochs Earn and 

 Vennachar ; Stirling, on Castle Hill, and among rocks beyond 

 King's Park. Thus named for me by Dr. Focke, with the additional 

 note : ' R. Drejeri, I think, is exactly the same plant as the type 

 from Slesvig and Denmark.' This is not quite the plant described 

 by me in 'Journ. Bot.,' 1892, p. 271, under the same name, then 

 suggested for it by Dr. Focke, that being the R. Leyanus, Rogers, 

 ' Lond. Cat.,' ed. 9, No. 482, a widespread and locally abundant 

 form with us, which appears to be unknown on the Continent. The 

 true R. Drejeri . . . differs from R. Leyanus in its dull-coloured, 

 more hairy stem, its chiefly 3-nate leaves and shortly pointed 

 roundish or obovate leaflets, with less formal outline, looser toothing, 

 and harsher greener under surface, its much longer and more 

 cylindrical panicle with hairier and more densely prickly rachis and 

 broader less attenuate sepals. Thus the shining, neat look and 

 yellowish colour so characteristic of R. Leyanus give place to a 

 rough, shaggy look and dull brownish colour in R. Drejeri, and the 

 close alliance between them is by no means striking at first sight. 

 ... I think that form (Leyanus) had best be placed as a strongly 

 marked variety under R. Drejeri." 



In addition to the above forms there are many new county 

 records, especially from West Perth, but these will appear in due 

 course in Mr. Bennett's annual report of additions to " Topo- 

 graphical Botany." 



CURRENT LITERATURE. 



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

 tory which have appeared during the Quarter January-March 1897. 



[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 initals of the Contributor. The Editors will have access to the 

 sources of information undermentioned.] 



ZOOLOGY. 



THE ISLANDS OF YELL SOUND. By Robert Godfrey. The 

 Field, Qth January 1897, p. 62. Treats of the birds of these islands, 

 and of the mammals in the surrounding waters. 



