338 Botanical Society of Edinburgh : — 



which it was agreed to make to its Ubrary. To the Transactions of 

 the Botanical Society he contributed an excellent paper on the 

 occurrence of Palms and Bamboos high on the Himalaya, and it is 

 to be hoped that the paper which was read from him at our last 

 meeting will be in such a state as to allow of its pubHcation. 



" I have also to report the death of Mr. WilUam Gourlie of Glas- 

 gow, who was connected with our Society from its commencement, 

 and aided it much by his exertions. He was a zealous naturalist, 

 and had made a large and valuable collection of plants, which it is 

 hoped will not be lost to science. From his mercantile position 

 in Glasgow, he was able to render important service to this Society 

 and to botanists on many occasions, and he was always ready and 

 willing to do everything in his power for the promotion of science. 

 He set an example of zeal to the mercantile men of the western 

 metropolis, and his labours promised to be instrumental in infusing 

 a taste for science among the community of Glasgow. When the 

 Meeting of the British Association took place in Glasgow in Sep- 

 tember 1855, he acted as local Secretary. The labour which he 

 underwent, not merely during the Meeting, but for months before, 

 was extraordinary. He spared no pains to render the Meeting 

 creditable to Glasgow, and the arrangements which he made called 

 forth commendation from all. About the time of the Meeting, 

 symptoms of disease of the bones in the face appeared. He endured 

 at first great suffering, which he bore with much fortitude and re- 

 signation ; and, after a protracted illness, he sunk in the course of last 

 week. He has been taken away in the midst of his usefulness, and 

 at the very time when he seemed to be gaining the highest eminence 

 in his native city. The place which he occupied will not be easily 

 supplied. Let us hope that his enthusiastic love of science, and his 

 noble exertions in the cause of botany, will be the means of stimulating 

 his townsmen to follow his steps ; and that, while they are prosecuting 

 their commercial speculations, they will not think it beneath their 

 notice to devote some of their time to science, which was to him in 

 his season of recreation a source of high enjoyment, and which secured 

 for him many friends in all parts of the world. Though dead, may 

 he yet speak to them !" 



Professor Balfour read a note from Mr. Babington in reference to 

 Mr. Cock's statement made at a recent meeting, that Hypericum 

 anglicum does not grow at Falmouth. Mr. BabingtOn has seen spe- 

 cimens at Falmouth, collected by Mr. Polwhele, and H. hircinum 

 grows there also. 



The following paper was read : — 



1. "A brief Account of the General Botanical Features of a Hill 

 District in Western India, with the results of a Series of Observations 

 in connection with Vegetable Climatology," by John Kenneth Wil- 

 son, Esq. 



The hill, or rather mountainous district, upon which I am about 

 to make a few observations, is situated upon an immense moun- 

 tain-chain which lies parallel with the coast of Western India, and 

 which extends from the Province of Candeish in the north, to Cape 



