274 Th& Scott is J i Naturalist. 



{Jan. 17, 188S). Notes on the excursions of the Society during the summer 

 of 1887 were communicated by several members. 



The Secretary then read two communications from Mr. W. Wilson, 

 Terpersie, of personal observations, the first relating to the situations in 

 which he had found Linnsea borealis growing in Aberdeenshire, and 

 stating that he had once found a ripe fruit upon the plant in that county ; the 

 other commenting upon the statement made in some manuals of British plants 

 that Cochlearia officinalis is an annual. Some discussion followed 

 both papers. 



(Feb. SI). This evening was devoted to the discussion of the natural 

 history of the Links. Prof. Trail, after a short descriptive notice of the 

 physical features of the tract in question, submitted lists of the flowering 

 plants and Vascular Cryptogams, and of the more interesting and uncommon 

 of the fungi that had been gathered there by himself; and he also submitted 

 lists of the larger Lepidoptera and of the Spiders found by him on the 

 Old Aberdeen and Murcar Links. These lists meanwhile are to be regarded 

 only as preliminary to a thorough investigation of the area, with a view to its 

 comparison with the similar coasts that border so great an extent of the con- 

 tinental shores of the German Ocean. 



Mr. A. Murray read a paper upon the Lichen-flora of the Links, which he 

 found to be monotonous, though rich in curious forms of the few species that 

 are met with there. The absence of rocks and trees, and the very uniform 

 nature of the soil are sufficient to account for the great uniformity of the 

 lichens. 



Montrose Natural History and Antiquarian Society. At 



a special meeting held on 27th February, the subject of increased accommodation 

 for the museum of the Society was under consideration ; and plans were 

 submitted of an extension of the present building, which was opened in 1842, 

 and has not been enlarged since that time. The proposed extension would 

 provide not only the desired accommodation for the valuable collections now 

 requiring it, but also a lecture room, where science classes and technical educa- 

 tion could be held, a small library, a reading-room, cloak-rooms, &c. The 

 total estimated cost is 1800, of which sum the Directors have already in 

 hand ^887. A special appeal is to be made to the public of Montrose, both 

 at home and abroad, to aid in carrying the scheme into execution. That it 

 shall be successful is, we feel certain, the wish of all interested in the welfare 

 of natural science in Scotland. 



South of Scotland Entomological and Natural History 

 Society (3rd December, 1887). The usual monthly meeting of the 

 members of this Society was held in the Committee-Room of the Good 

 Templar Hall, Galashiels, on the above date. The Secretary read an extract 

 from the Entomologist on a series of experiments by Mr. Poulton of London, 

 proving that the colour of the silk spun by larvae can be controlled by altering 

 the colour of their surroundings when spinning. An animated discussion 

 followed, in which several of the members stated they had had similar experi- 



