REPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 127 



of the largest of the pinnate-leaved kind. Ptychosperma Gunning- 

 hamiana, K. Wendl., were regarded with interest, the former being 

 in fruit and the latter in flower. In the Stoves a great variety 

 of plants were in flower, including the peculiar Pelican Plant, 

 Aristolochia gigas, Lindl., Costus speciosus, Sm., a handsome plant 

 belonging to the Zingiberacese, and several Aroids with brilliant 

 spathes. Ficus Cooj^eri, Hort., and F. edulis, Bur., were 

 observed in fruit. Amongst ferns, Acrostichum criniticm, Linn., 

 and A. spathulatum, Bory, seemed to excite the interest of those 

 present, as they are so unlike other more familiar members of the 

 family in all particulars. After a short visit to the Moss House, 

 the company dispersed, leaving the inspection of the Herbaceous 

 Ground to a future occasion. 



Largs, 14th August, 1897, — On the afternoon of this date, 

 Halksbill, Largs, was visited. The weather was unfavourable, 

 and the party numbered only six. Some time was spent in the 

 garden at Halkshill, which is finely sheltered from the east and 

 north winds, and has a good southern exposure. Along the walls 

 the Ivy-leaved Toad-flax (Linaria Cymhalaria^ Mill.) occurred in 

 profusion, while numerous climbing plants were observed, notably 

 Jasminum revoluticm, Sims, a species with yellow flowers and 

 elegant dark-green foliage ; J. officinale, Linn., with white and 

 sweet-scented flowers ; Wistaria chinensis, DC, <fec. The collec- 

 tions of herbaceous plants and ornamental shrubs are extensive. 

 After passing the mansion-house, the party proceeded up the glen, 

 but did not go far, owing to the wet condition of the ground. 

 The following micro-fungi were observed in the garden and 

 policies : — Peronospora trifoliorum, De Bary — on Lotus cornicu- 

 latus, Linn. ; Puccinia pulverulenta, Grev. — uredospores and 

 teleutospores on Epilohium alpinum, Linn.; P. Baryi (B. k Br.), 

 Winter. — uredospores on Brachypodium sylvaticum, R. & S.; 

 Phragmidium fragariastri (DC), Schrot. — uredospores on Poten- 

 tilla Fragariastrum, Ehrh.; Melampsora circcece (Schum.), Winter. 

 — uredospores on Ciy^coia Lutetiana, Linn.; Trochila craferium, 

 Fr. — on dead leaves of Hedera Helix, Linn.; T. huxi, Capron. — 

 on dead leaves of Buxus semper vir ens, Linn.; T. laurocerasi 

 (Desm.), Fr. — on dead leaves of Prunus Laurocerasiis, Linn.; 



