78 - The Scottish Naturalist. 



were observed. The mosses were moi"e important, but those which were 

 so seemed crowded into about an acre of ground. First, Dicraiiella varia, var. 

 tejmifolia — D. fallax Wilson — far above the limits at which I had previously 

 observed it. Then came in rapid succession Cavipylopiis SchimpeH and 

 Mniuni spinosum, both vei-y rare British species, and confined almost ex- 

 clusively to the Ben Lawers district. Then came a prize — Dicranella 

 Grrc'illeana^ and in abundance, too, but unfortunately the capsules were 

 only just beginning to form at the apex of the abundant fruit-stalks. Old 

 capsules were plentiful enough, but were without lids. Finally came Avi' 

 blyodon dealbattis, Cmclidium, which I don't quite understand, and other 

 things which I have neither time nor space to mention. 



Next morning I started to survey the upper reaches of Glentatnich, and 

 to collect fresh water algoe. Glentatnich looks well at a distance, 

 especially that grand Corrie at its head on the south side, but the rocks 

 look hard, quartzose in fact. In the afternoon I left Glenshee, resolving 

 to visit it again as soon as I could. J. Fergusson. 



Fern, by Brechin. 



Notes on Cryptogams.— On tlie distribution of Buxbaumia ap- 

 bylla in the West of Scotland.— This most singular moss may often be 

 found in places where botanists are not in the habit of looking for it. * Al- 

 though generally found among fir trees, it occurs in places where there are 

 none in the neighbourhood, e.g., in Fin Glen. Owing to its small size it 

 has no doubt often been overlooked, and hence is considered pretty rare. 

 It will be seen, however, from the following, that it is widely distributed in 

 the West of Scotland. It has been found in the following stations, viz., — 

 Fin Glen, on an open space of ground, ten capsules ; Campsie Glen, 

 among fir trees, found by Mr. Lyon ; Bowling, among fir trees near the 

 top of Drumbuck, found by Mr. Lyon ; Helensburgh, I gathered nearly 

 forty capsules in a fir wood near the skating pond ; Rowardennan, Loch 

 Lomond side, occurs here and there in a fir wood at the foot of Ben Lo- 

 mond ; Kilfinan, Loch Fyne, I gathered eighteen capsules in Otter Wood 

 there, while in search for fungi, to which class of plants it bears a strong 

 resemblance. — R. H. Paterson, Glasgow. 



Exotic Fungri from the Botanic Gardens, Glasgow.— Although the 

 past year was on the whole very unfavourable to the Fungologist, during the 

 months of May, July, and August, several species of Fungi made their ap- 

 pearance on the plants in the new range of hot-houses in the Glasgow 

 Botanic Gardens. None of them, however, can be consideied as British 

 Fungi, as they belong in the most part to tropical countries. Among those 

 that have already been determined may be mentioned the following : — 



* We have twice found it in rather unusual places — once on ledges of 

 rock on a bare hill, and another lime on the top of a turf-coped wall,— 

 E^. Hcot. Nat. 



