.178 The Scottish Naturalist. 



that had been found imbedded in Quartz at Wanlockhead was shown at 

 this Society. The specimen has been frequently inquired after. But, 

 owing to its having been lent for a special purpose, and not yet returned to 

 the Museum, many inquiring Visitors have not had an opportunity of 

 examining it, which is to be regretted." Dr. Grierson's regret at the non- 

 return of a Museum specimen of such public interest, borrowed two 

 years ago, is much too mild a criticism of the behaviour of the borrower, 

 whoever he may be. — W. Lauder Lindsay, Perth, August, 1875. 



PHYTOLOGY, 



Note on Merulius lachryrnans. — The following seems to me a re- 

 markable case of dissemination of the spores of Merulius lachryrnans : — 



In a closet, about seven feet in length and height, and four feet in 

 breadth, two small plants appeared recently at the level of the floor, and 

 soon began to shed their ferruginous spores. In die course of a fortnight I 

 was surprised to find the floor becoming tinted all over ; and shortly after- 

 wards, although I carefully guarded against disturbance, by excluding 

 •draught, a wooden shelf, some feet above the floor, and the sill of a win- 

 dow, still higher up, became quite coated with a layer of the same colour. 

 Near the roof, also, one or two cobwebs, which I had preserved for the 

 purpose of watching the habits of the spiders, assumed the same hue. On 

 submitting to the microscope portions of this layer of colour from the 

 different elevations, I found them to consist of the spores of Merulius 

 lachryrnans. I could not discover any source from which these could 

 proceed except the two small plants at the level of the floor. The whole 

 atmosphere in the place must have been charged with their spores, which 

 were in due time deposited. Such dissemination will help to explain the 

 extraordinary rapidity with which this fungus usually completes its work of 

 destruction. — J. Stevenson, Glamis, August 1875. 



New British Fungi.— I have recently found Ilydnum Icevigatum Fr. 

 and Labrella ptarniiciv, which, I believe, have not previously been recorded 

 as British. I am indebted to the Rev. M. J. Berkeley for verifying my 

 determination of the first, and for determining the second for me. — F. 

 Buchanan White, Rannoch, Sept., 1875. 



THE FUNGUS SHOW OF THE CRYPTOGAMIC SOCIETY 



OF SCOTLAND. 



We need hardly remind our readers that the first Annual Conference and 

 Show of the Cryptogamic Society of Scotland is to take place at Perth on 

 September 29th and 30th, and October 1st. 



We trust it will, as it promises to, be a great success. We under- 

 stand that several of the foremost English, and, of course, most of the 

 Scottish, cryptogamists will be present. The arrangements for the 

 conference will be found on the last page of the wrapper. 



