104 Th e Scottish Naturalist. 



two groups of Bryophyta and Thallophyta are exhibited in like 

 manner, with the addition of models of some of the Fungi. The 

 polymorphism of some of the latter is also pointed out, as well as 

 the composite nature of the Liche?is. 



As in the Zoological department, the back of each case bears 

 placards, giving the most important characters of the groups. 



(To be continued.) 



LECTURES ON BOTANY AT SOUTH KENSINGTON. 



After an interval of several years, a selection of about thirty Science teachers- 

 had, during last July, the privilege again accorded to them of attending a short 

 course of lectures on Botany, and of working in the Biological Laboratory, 

 South Kensington. Representatives were present from various parts of Great 

 Britain and Ireland, and among the number were teachers from Edinburgh, 

 Glasgow, Dundee, Cullen, &c. The lectures were delivered by Mr. F. O. 

 Bower, who also superintended the laboratory work. The students were- 

 equally pleased with the parts of the subject selected for his prelections, his 

 clear expositions, and the painstaking manner in which they were guided and 

 helped in their practical studies. They wrought from proof copies of a scheme- 

 of practical instruction prepared by Mr. Bower, which we are glad to learn will 

 shortly be published. The students, both male and female, engaged in their 

 work with the utmost enthusiasm, and' this wise and enlightened policy on the 

 part of the S. and A. department will doubtless bear fruit in the more efficient 

 teaching of Botany throughout the country by those who were fortunate enough 

 to spend three busy weeks at the Normal Scho6l of Science in acquiring facility 

 in the use of the Microscope and the Microtome. 



Dundee, \yh October, 1883. J. Brebner. 



HYGKOPHOKUS HYPOTHEJUS. 



Fries says that this species does not come up until after the first frost in 

 autumn. Be this as it may, its appearance certainly is an indication that the 

 glory of the agaric season is waning. It is one of the most variable species 

 we have in point of colour. Before me are two specimens, gathered the other 

 day upon a sandy heath under some Scotch firs — its favourite habitat. One is- 

 a dark smoky brown on the top of its pileus ; the other bright orange, passing 

 at one or two places into a bright vermillion. A casual observer would never 

 take them to be the same fungus ; but compare their gills and stems, and they 

 are clearly the same. This change of colour from brown to orange is simply 

 due to the weather. A succession of rainy days had washed off the brown 

 gluten ; then the stray gleams of sun and slight frosts at night completed the 

 metamorphosis. This fungus is often extremely abundant where it occurs. 

 This was the case where these two specimens were gathered. The majority of 

 the specimens bore marks of birds having pecked them. Some were quite 

 destroyed, only a few fragments remaining to show where the fungus had been. 

 Others had only a small part pecked out from the centre of the pileus. 



Charles B. Plowright. 

 7 King Street, King's Lynn, iy/i Nov., 18S3. 



