NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 229 



whether this was owing to the great number of confervae which 

 were attached to them I cannot say, but, one circumstance I noticed 

 was, that a specimen brought home in a bottle continued to grow 

 for a time, but latterly vanished, while some of the confervae, which 

 could not be disengaged from the plant when collected, continued 

 to grow with increasing vigour till the whole space was filled. 

 When the water was examined about this time, a number of animal- 

 cules were seen disporting themselves, and appeared as if feeding 

 on the algae; whether that was the case or not, the quantity of 

 confervae began to show signs of diminution, and continued to do so 

 till scarcely a fragment remained; but the animalcules increased in 

 numbers and now have usurped the place formerly held by the two 

 vegetable organisms. May we call this a practical example of 

 evolution? I have not been able to make out the species, the plants 

 not being in very good condition — could they have been specimens 

 of Utricularia minor? Besides the above-named station, I also 

 noticed some plants of the same genus in a pool by the side of the 

 road between Aranagour and Acha, but they seemed to be different 

 from the last-mentioned, having the utricles on separate branches, 

 while the latter had them on the leaves. They seem therefore to 

 partake more of the character of Utricularia intermedia, but, mean- 

 while, not having sufficient knowledge of the genus to enable me to 

 determine their species without the aid of the flowers, I leave them 

 without particularizing the species till I know more about them. 

 Anagallis tenella was common by ditch sides, &c. Alisma ranun- 

 culoides was also of frequent occurrence. Another plant, some- 

 what rare in Scotland, which I found in the small loch behind 

 the overseer's new house, was Cladium mariscus. Hooker 

 says of this plant: — ''found in Sutherland, Wigtown, Berwick, 

 only, in Scotland," but its number (35), in the London Catalogue, 

 would indicate a wider range in the other divisions of the British 

 Islands. Its long-pointed, rigid, and saw-edged leaves, form a very 

 good distinctive character. Koeleria cristata was common in many 

 places. 



The next plant to which I wish to draw your attention I 

 was rather surprised to find on the island, though that might be 

 accounted for because of my imperfect knowledge. I refer 

 to Scleroclrfoa loliacea. Hooker speaks of its distribution 

 "from Fife southwards, and in Ireland," thus indicating that, so far 

 as Great Britain is concerned, it is decidedly an east country plant. 



