2 The Scottish Naturalist. 



great number of fungi were collected and catalogued, though the 

 absence of the larger Hymenomycetes was very noticeable. 



On Friday and Saturday, October nth and 12th, the Society's 

 public show was held in the Royal Botanic Garden, and was 

 visited by large numbers of people. The show chiefly consisted 

 of fungi, though mosses and Hepaticie were not unrepresented, 

 Dr Parsons superintending the former and Dr Carrington the 

 latter. In the Herbarium Hall the fungi were arranged specially 

 with a view to scenic effect, though many of the specimens were 

 named. This part of the show was very popular with the public ; 

 and some of the English botanists, who had previously been 

 sceptical as to the desirability of arranging fungi in this manner, 

 admitted that it had its advantages in attracting the attention of 

 the public. In this hall also was a beautiful collection of named 

 specimens of Myxomycetes, shown by Dr I. B. Balfour. 



The other portion of the exhibition was held in the glass 

 structure known as the Winter Garden, and consisted of an 

 extensive array of named and classified specimens, due chiefly to 

 the labours of Messrs Phillips (Shrewsbury), Plowright (King's 

 I.ynn), Perceval (Bristol), and Rev. J. Stevenson (Glamis). At 

 our request Mr Stevenson has prepared a report upon this part 

 of the exhibition, which is given below. 



The meeting, altogether, was a memorable one,' which was due 

 in great measure to the efforts of the President and his son, Dr 

 I. B. Balfour, and to the energy shown by the Local Secretary, 

 Mr John Sadler, who, in his desire to make it successful, 

 unfortunately overworked himself, and, instead of enjoying the 

 sight of the happy termination of his labours, had to retire to bed 

 with a sharp attack of illness. The great hospitality shown to 

 members from a distance by the President and other members of 

 the Local Committee will always be remembered by their guests. 



KEPOET ON THE SOIENTIFIO POETION OF THE ORYPTO- 

 GAMIO SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION, 



At Edinburgh, on October ii, 1878. 

 By the Rev. J. STEVENSON. 



IN addition to the general collection, which was arranged in 

 groups with a view chiefly to artistic eftect, separate tables 

 were devoted to a scientific arrangement of species in tlie 

 sequence of genera; and, considering the l)rief time whicli could 



