The Scottish Naturalist. 231 



They treat of the Marsileaceez, Lycopodiacea, and Equiseta in part, and the 

 .Ferns, of the British Islands ; and, of course, include the distribution of these 

 plants in Scotland, so far as known to the Editor, than whom there is probably 

 no man more competent to speak on this matter. An examination of the parts 

 issued shows that Dr. Boswell has done his part of the work with all his 

 wonted care, though even here it might be possible to add minor details to the 

 information given by him. For example, we observe under Lycopodiutu 

 hiundatum, in speaking of the distribution, Kincardineshire is mentioned with 

 some uncertainty, while Aberdeenshire is entirely omitted. The plant is 

 very local in both counties, but occurs 'rather plentifully in more than one 

 locality on Deeside, where it was, we believe, detected by Mr. Roy, of 

 Aberdeen. 



Unfortunately, some of the plates show the very unsatisfactory colouring, only 

 too familiar to those that have had occasion to use the earlier volumes of the 

 work. In some cases, vide Selaginella selaginoides, the figures cannot be said to 

 be at all characteristic. 



A first glance at the plates roused fear that a new genus had been adopted 

 for Isoetes tchinospora, which appears under the name Poetes, hence it was with 

 a feeling of relief that we, on turning to the letterpress to realise the worst, dis- 

 covered that Poetes was but a misprint for the familiar designation. But though 

 noticing these defects, in the hope that they may not be met with in the sub- 

 sequent parts, we are glad to welcome the last volume of this well-known and 

 valuable flora, the fullest and most complete on British plants yet published ; 

 and we venture to express a hope that it will itself aid in rendering it possible, 

 in no long time, to witness the publication of a national flora, worthy in the 

 plates, no less than in the letterpress, to rank alongside of the " Flora Danica," 

 or Reichenbach's "Deutschlands Flora." 



Part VII. of Braithwaite's British Mossflora has been published (6 plates) 

 continuing the Dicranaceez. 



Parts VI {Ulotrichatece and Chatophoracecc), VII {Chroococcaceee and Nostoc), 

 and VIII {Nostocece and Lyngbyce of Cooke's British Fresh-water Atgcehnve 

 recently appeared. We observe that the author gives (as an appendix to 

 Chroococcacece) descriptions of the Chytridiece yet known as British. We be- 

 lieve that he is, however, disposed to regard them as Fungi, despite including 

 them here. 



MEETINGS AND PKOCEEDINGS 0E 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.] 



PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE.— March 6th— 

 Annual Meeting. — Numerous donations were intimated to the local collection 

 in the Museum. Reports were then submitted by the Council, the Treasurer, 

 the Librarian, the Editor, and the Curator of the Museum. The attendance at 

 the meetings has been considerably increased during the past session. Four 

 excursions were made during the summer of 1883. The membership of the 

 Society now reaches 321. The Museum has been visited since it was opened 

 by a constant succession of people, the total number of visitors up to the date 

 of the report having reached 7000. The financial position is satisfactory, the 

 income for the year being ^113 13s. 5d, and the expenditure ^104 5s. o,d. 

 The library now contains upwards of 460 volumes, of which 325 belong to the 

 lending department. The curator — Col. Drummond Hay — makes an appea 



