The Scottish Naturalist. 38 3 



Greenock, Vice-President, contributed a fine collection of the 

 Lichens of the district. Contributions of the larger fungi were 

 also received from Col. Harrington Stuart of Torrance; Mr. Heron 

 of Mount ; Mr. Thorburn of Castle Semple ; and Mr. J. Proctor 

 of (ilenfinnart, Ardentinny. 



The forenoon of the 12th Sept. was spent in examining and 

 naming the specimens on the tables. After entertaining the 

 members at luncheon, the Duke conducted them to his Museum, 

 where some time was spent in examining the various geological 

 and archaeological specimens that enrich it. A short excursion 

 was then made in the surrounding woods. 



In the evening, after the usual business of the Society had been 

 transacted, the noble President delivered his annual address to 

 the members, along with a large assemblage of the public. 

 Speaking on the Cryptogamic Flora he delighted the uninitiated 

 by the simple and lucid way in which he communicated informa- 

 tion, and the initiated by valuable suggestions on the work of the 

 Society. At the close of the address a very hearty vote of thanks 

 was accorded to his Grace for the honour which he had conferred 

 upon the Society by accepting the office of President, and for the 

 address with which he had closed his term of office. 



Various papers of interest were then submitted. Col. Harring- 

 ton Stuart gave a popular address on " Edible Fungi." Dr. 

 Macmillan contributed a paper on the " Lichens Of Inverary," 

 from which it appears that the foliaceous species abound, and 

 grow with great luxuriance, and that the Lichen-flora is of a 

 peculiarly western type. 



(It may be noted here that, during a ramble after the close of 

 the Conference, Mr. Phillips gathered on a single ash tree, within 

 eight feet from the ground, 15 distinct species of Lichens). Pro- 

 fessor Trail followed with papers on the Discomycetes of 



Scotland, and on the Peronosporeae of Orkney, which 



were held as read, and gave the audience some interesting in- 

 formation on the influence which the microscopic fungi exert as 

 parasites on flowering plants ; and dwelt on the importance 

 of a knowledge of the diseases which they produce with a view 

 to checking the ravages which they often cause among our field 



crops. ''Some Notes on the Cryptog-amic Flora of North- 

 West Ayrshire " were communicated by Mr. D. A. Boyd, 

 Glasgow. 



