126 The Scottish Naturalist 



illosa, Hypnam vernicosum, Bryum neodamense, Szc, are some 

 of this class. Scotch collectors also have occasionally their 

 honours wrested from them. Instead of Crombie beinsr the 

 first to detect Seligeria tristicha in Britain, that plant so 

 minute and so interesting, was first gathered in this country 

 by Miss M'Inroy of Lude, a lady who has with much perse- 

 verance prosecuted the investigation of the mosses about Blair 

 Athole, and has there found such plants as Anodus, Scligeria 

 pusilla, Hypnum Sommcrfe/dtii, Tortilla princcps and Dicranum 

 Grevilleanum. 



The descriptions of species are very concise, and considering 

 their brevity, good. Occasionally one detects a slip, as when 

 Dicrafium lo?igifolium is described as having a sk?ider nerve. 

 Mielichhoferia ?iitida — the form of it which grows in this country 

 — is set down as the var. gracilis, but it should be referred to the 

 var. elo?igaia. Grimmia Ungeri is described as without an annu- 

 lus by Juratzka. The statement is taken without question by Dr. 

 Braithwaite and Mr. Hobkirk, but the plant has a very narrow 

 but distinct enough ring. In the descriptions, we think that a 

 great deal more attention should have been given to the in- 

 florescence and areolation — a diagnosis of the latter being now 

 often essential to the determination of species, and always 

 useful. Perhaps the great defect in the descriptions is that 

 they smack too much of the study of books, and too little of 

 the plants themselves. To hit upon the great distinguishing 

 characters of a moss under the microscope, or under the naked 

 eye, is a thing Mr. Hobkirk does not unfrequently, but not 

 quite so often as we could wish. 



However, he has given us a singularly handy book, containing 

 descriptions of about 120 species in addition to those given by 

 Wilson, and- he has therefore our sincerest thanks. 



John Fergusson. 



SCOTTISH GALLS. 



(Continued from p. 80. ) 

 By W. H. TRAILL, M.A. 



Quercus robur L. — (//) I last summer got " Oak-apples " 

 at Banchory and at Ballater, both on Deeside. When 

 fresh, they are soft, and covered with a reddish skin, and 

 can be readily cut with a knife, (i) Gall of Cynips ( Aphi- 



