184 The Scottish Naturalist. 



CHARA FRAGILIS Desv., var. STURROCKII., var. nov.— Stem 2-3: 

 feet high, very imperfectly triplostichous. Spine-cells tubercular. Branchlets 

 1-3 inches long, with all the segments ecorticate. Bract-cells whorled. East 

 Perth (coll. A. Sturrock.) 



This is a very remarkable plant, and although we have included it under 

 C. fragilis for the present, we think that an examination of a series of speci- 

 mens may show characters on which to found a species. A form of C. fragilis 

 var. Hedivigii occurs in the same loch, and though much like this plant in size, 

 &c, it differs in the cortication of the stem, as well as in the presence of cortical 

 cells in the branchlets. We understand from Mr. A. Bennett that Professor 

 Nordstedt has proposed the name of C. fragilis var. gymnophylla ; but in view 

 of the complication of nomenclature resulting from having several vars. gymno- 

 phylla in the same genus, we think it best not to adopt such names for varieties 

 which appear permanent, and have distinctive characters other than those im 

 plied in the name. H. & J. Groves (in the Journal of Botany, 1884, p. 2). 



CLADONIA PYXIDATA var. LEPTOPHYLLA. Flk. in Scotland.— 

 Towards the end of last year I gathered this exceedingly rare Cladonia by the 

 side of the Newton Stewart road, about 1^ miles from New Galloway. It 

 was scattered over a space of several square yards on a heathy roadside bank, 

 was in excellent and abundant fruit, the capitate flesh-coloured apothecia hav- 

 ing the appearance of large specimens of Bceomyces rufus. The Rev. W. A- 

 Leighton in his " Lichen Flora," has the following very interesting remarks on< 

 this lichen : — " Of this I have seen no British specimens, but possess an 

 authentic one from Dr. Nylander, collected in Java, 7000 ft. alt. Coemans- 

 (Clad. Achar.) states that the Acharian herbarium at Helsingfors contains a 

 specimen of this lichen from England, and that he considers it as a variety of 

 eartosa, which it certainly generally resembles, but the different reaction keeps- 

 them quite distinct. He gives it as being found by Mr. Borrer in " Tilgate- 

 and St. Leonard's Forests, Sussex." The European Geographical distribution 

 in addition to England is " France and Switzerland." Dr. Nylander in his- 

 " Synopsis " speaks of Cladonia leptophylla Flk. as found "super terram macram 

 praesertim argillosam in Anglia, Helvetia, et Gallia parce." Schaerer writes 

 in almost similar terms. It is certainly a very rare lichen, and is one ol a num- 

 ber of very good Cladonia found in this district of Kirkcudbrightshire. I am 

 certain that the majority of the species of British Cladonise could be gathered'. 

 here. — James M 'Andrew. 



MEETINGS AND PBOOEEDINGS OF SCOTTISH SCIENTIFIC 



SOCIETIES. 



[Note. — Accounts of meetings during the month preceding date of issue of" 

 any number of this Magazine are too late for insertion in that number, but 

 will appear in the following one.] 



ABERDEEN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.-i8th December, 1883. 

 — Four papers were read. I. "On the Cultivation of Plants in Fertilised 

 Moss," by Mr. J. Sim. Mr. Sim gave an account of his own experience of 

 this method of cultivation, and pointed out its suitability for use in ornament- 

 ing the interior of rooms with living plants. In illustration of his remarks, he- 

 showed several plants belonging to different groups, all of which looked very 

 healthy and vigorous. 2. " On Worm-Boring's in Boulder Clay, shown i» 

 Excavations at Esslemont Avenue, Aberdeen," by Dr. A. Cruickshank. 

 Dr. C. called attention to the peculiarity of worm-borings extending several 

 feet down into the very hard red boulder clay, and remarked that some at least 

 of the burrows ended in a pouch about the size of a walnut, in which lay a 



