lyo The Scottish Naitiralisi. 



one or more orange larvae of Cecidomyia, among the 

 swollen fleshy internal organs of the flower. Near 

 Aberdeen, on the Links, in August. 



Veronica serpyllifolia L. — Galls of Cecidomyia. Like those 

 just described, these consist of dilated and abortive flower- 

 buds, several on each spike, reaching a size of Yio to Y 

 inch in diameter, without other very noticeable change 

 save that the colour is paler green than usual. On sec- 

 tion each bud is found to contain one or two orange- 

 red larvae among the fleshy representatives of stamens 

 and pistil. I found the galls in a shady spot in Rubislaw 

 Den, near Aberdeen, in August. 



10 



Berteroa incana D.C.— Recently I have found a few specimens of this 

 rare casual growing in a grass field in my glebe. The grass seed was 

 home-grown, and sown wiih oats, also home-grown, so I cannot suggest 

 how the plant can have been introduced. I may mention that Mr. A. 

 Sturrock has recently found Allium oleraceum in this neighbourhood. — W. 

 Herdman, Rattray, September, 1877. 



BOG-MOSSES. 



It is with much pleasure that I have spent some time over Dr. Braithwaite's 

 very interesting " iSphagnacecs Britannkce Exsiccata;.^^ 



The Sphagna or Bog-mosses, which beautify our marshes and moorlands, 

 are a peculiar and interesting class of plants, and though to the 

 utilitarian mind they may be regarded as merely the principal 

 producers of peat banks, which supply fuel to so many households 

 in rural districts, to the microscopist the leaves, cortical cells, and 

 infloresence form objects of great beauty as well as scientific interest. To 

 the common observer, the great variety ofcoloui, from the deepest green or 

 yellow, to the brightest red or purple, and the beauty of form and structure, 

 from the tiniest stem, with its fascicles of drooping branches, to the densest 

 masses spread out like great cushions on the moor, or the fine contorted 

 stems straggling in the little streamlet or filling up the shallow pools, 

 there is very much to attract the eye and interest the mind. 



The scientific botanist finds in the Sphagna many peculiarities. Unlike 

 most other plants they are not attached to their place of growth by rootlets, 

 nor is their nutriment drawn in by such, but part of each fascicle of branches 

 is disposed in a drooping manner and closely applied to the stem, by which 

 the sap is supposed to be carried upwards through a set of curiously curved 



