The Scottish Naturalist. 135 



recorded, but they seem to be comparatively rare in Scotland. 

 Agaricus aureus Malt, has not been found hitherto in Britain, 

 though A. Vahiii, which Fries regarded as a variety of A. aureus, 

 has been recorded. The typical aureus now found is a finer 

 plant, being remarkable for its great size, for its rich colour, 

 and for its beautiful velvety pileus. Lactarius capsicum, with its 

 chestnut-coloured pileus and somewhat orange gills, is new to the 

 British flora ; and Hydnum gclatiuosum, a plant of singular beauty 

 in its form, tremelloid habit, and delicate colouring — being almost 

 translucent with steel-blue tints shading into violet, while the 

 spines are of a pure soft white — has not hitherto been met 

 with in Scotland. Few Coriinarii were seen, and these only the 

 commoner species. 



The next annual meeting of the Society is to be held at Kelso, 

 under the presidency of William B. Boyd, Esq., of Faldonside. 

 We may add that communications should now be addressed to 

 Rev. John Stevenson, Glamis, Forfarshire, who has been appoin- 

 ted Hon. Secretary to the Society, in room of Dr. Buchanan 

 White, resigned. J. S. 



THE DUMFRIES-SHIRE AND GALLOWAY SCIENTIFIC, NATURAL HISTORY, 



AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY 



Held its annual general meeting on the 5th October. There was an attendance 

 of about 40 members — Dr. Gilchrist, the president, being in the chair. Several 

 objects of interest to the members were exhibited ; and the Secretary intimated 

 a donation from Mr. M' Andrew of a fine collection of upwards of 500 mounted 

 specimens of Mosses, Lichens, and Hepaticae from the south-west of Scotland, to 

 be deposited in the Observatory, along with the other collections belonging to the 

 Society. Reports were submitted by the Secretary and the Treasurer of a very 

 satisfactory kind. From these reports we gather that besides the meetings of the 

 Society, a course of lectures was organised last winter on subjects of scientific 

 and antiquarian interest, and that these lectures drew large audiences, and 

 considerably increased the popularity of the Society. During the autumn 

 there was a good deal of special work incurred in making arrangements 

 for the meeting of the Scottish Cryptogamic Society in Dumfries, and for 

 the accompanying fungus show. In another page will be found evidence 

 of the care and success with which this work was performed, and of the 

 pleasure enjoyed by those that visited Dumfries as members of the latter 

 Society. We see also that the antiquities of Dumfries and its surroundings are 

 religiously watched over, and that there is little cause to dread injury to them, 

 either through neglect or wilful damage, while they find so watchful guardians. 

 The Society proposes to publish transactions for the past three years. 



The second monthly meeting of this Society was held on Friday, November 

 2nd, when Dr. Sharp read a suggestive paper on the " Socialogical Value of 

 Entomology," in which he drew attention to its value educationally, as well as 

 in other ways. Mr. Starke followed with an account of some of the more 

 remarkable features of the "Museums of Brussels," observed during a visit in 

 the autumn of 1883. 



KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB. 



At a meeting of the above Club, held on November 1st, Dr. Gilchrist, of 



