The Scottish Naturalist. 93 



Practical Observations on Agricultural Grasses, by Wm. 



Wilson, jun., Alford, is a pamphlet dealing with a very important subject from 

 one who has devoted much attention to it in the field, and who is thus able to 

 contribute the results of his own experience towards the solution of questions 

 that have not in past years excited the interest they deserve. Mr Wilson ex- 

 tends the term Agricultural Grasses, for practical purposes, to include all 

 plants suited to form the pasture and hay of a farm, and discusses the kinds that 

 his observations have led him to believe most suitable for such a climate and 

 such soils as exist in Aberdeenshire. We commend the subject to the con- 

 sideration of farmers, to whom it is, indeed, of the utmost importance. 



ARENARIA NORVEGICA IN SUTHERLANDSHIRF. 



It may interest the readers of the Scottish Naturalist to learn that a very rare 

 plant, Arenaria norvegica, was gathered by me on the 7th August last near 

 .Inchnadamph in Sutherlandshire. This plant has never before been detected 

 on the Scottish mainland ; and I am glad to add that I found it in some 

 quantity. The habitat is about 12 miles inland, and not more than 200 feet 

 above the level of the sea. 



21st December, 1886. Archibald Gray, Edinburgh. 



(Mr. Gray's discovery of A. norvegica on the mainland of Scotland is of very 

 great interest, and extends the known range of this plant very considerably 

 in Britain. The only certain locality for it in our islands has previously 

 been Balta Sound in Shetland, as the reported discovery in North Ronald- 

 shay, Orkney, has never been confirmed. Mr. Gray's plant, if we may 

 judge from a specimen kindly communicated by him, is entirely similar to 

 the Shetland form. Ed. Scot. Nat.) 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS' CLUB- 



These well-known " Proceedings " show no sign of falling off in interest in the 

 volume published in 1886 ; though they contain a rather larger share, than in 

 former years, of devotion to antiquarian researches, a change largely due to the 

 veteran Secretary of the Club having of late years transferred his labour in 

 great measure to these, from zoology. Long may he be spared to pursue his 

 productive studies ; but may we express the hope that he has not wholly given 

 up his old love for the new. The short Anniversary Address, by Rev. T. 

 Leishman, D. D., is followed by very full reports, by the Secretary, Mr. J. 

 Hardy, of the excursions undertaken during 1885. These were from Jedburgh 

 to Oxnam on May 27th ; to Rothbury on June 24th ; to Haughton Castle and 

 neighbourhood on 30th July ; to Westruther and Wedderlie on August 26th ; 

 to Aikengall from Cockburnspath on September 30th (list of plants given) ; 

 to Kelso on October 14th. There are numerous remarks of interest in these 

 reports, but our space will not permit of quotations from them. 



The subsequent papers relate largely to matters of antiquarian or local in- 

 ter est ; and we cannot discuss these here ; but they will be found well worthy 



