346 Miscellaneous. 



has been rarely noticed in Scotland. It appears, however, that in 

 Germany it often causes great destruction in the forests. 



6. *' On the Occurrence of the Seeds of Bearded Darnel in inferior 

 samples of Wheat," by George S. Lawson, Esq. 



7. " Notes on Pinus Cephalonica and other Coniferse, at Craigo 

 House, Montrose," by Mr. P. S. Robertson. 



Mr. Robertson read a notice of a large number of plants of Pinus 

 Cephalonica^ which are growing at Craigo House, about three miles 

 from the sea, on dry sandy soil which overlies soft freestone rock, 

 and in the vicinity of limestone. The trees had been raised from 

 seed and planted about eighteen years ago. They appeared to be in 

 perfect health, making growths of 12 to 15 inches each year; a good 

 many having now attained to 12 and 15 feet in height. 



Mr. Lowe made some verbal remarks on the effects of lightning 

 upon Larch-trees. During the violent storm which occurred on the 

 7th of August last, a larch-tree, standing in a field at the west end 

 of the village of Fortingal, was struck by lightning. Commencing 

 about a yard from the summit, the electric fluid passed in a spiral 

 direction down the trunk, making five-and-a-half coils in its descent, 

 and peeling off the bark to the breadth of five or six inches. Half- 

 way down the tree the current appears to have been divided by an 

 intervening branch, and from this point the spiral coil is double, 

 diverging as it nears the base, where one of the currents has passed 

 into the earth to the west and the other to the east side, after having 

 thrown down a portion of stone wall which opposed its progress. 

 At the point of entrance of this current the earth was torn up, and 

 a large opening left. Another larch, about a mile to the east of 

 Fortingal, was struck in a similar manner and on the same evening. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Observations on the Pteropus of Australia.. 

 By J. K. E. Fairholme. 



The acquisition of a Flying Fox to the Gardens of the Society,, 

 induces me to bring before your notice a few observations I have 

 made on the habits of this animal in the country about Moreton Bay, 

 on the east coast of Australia, about lat. 27° south. 



The flying fox is well known even in the southern parts of Au- 

 stralia in the summer months ; but by far the largest flights are seen 

 in the warmer latitudes. The attention is generally attracted to them 

 (just as daylight disappears) by the heavy flajjping sound of their 

 wings, as they fly in great numbers overhead; all in the same direc- 

 tion. These flights often continue to pass for many hours together on 

 the way to their feeding-places, generally about the banks of rivers, 

 where the tree known as the Flooded-gum grows, on the leaves of 

 which they feed. Though scattered over a large extent of country 

 while feeding at night, they all contrive to assemble again to spend 

 the heat of the day together, and when the flight is large, the scene 



