Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 1 23 



drier places, and is of a loose texture ; the different heaths, the Crow- 

 berry (Empetrum nigrum), various species of Car ex, as C. binervis, 

 C. pilulifera, Nardus stricta, and many grasses and others, all assist 

 in the formation of this variety. Our woods abound in Erica cine- 

 rea and E, tetralix, Trientalis europea, Galium saxatile, Goodyera 

 repens, many grasses and other plants, whose remains, mixed with 

 decayed leaves and branches of trees, all combine to form the forest 

 peat. Many of the plants enumerated, however insignificant they 

 may appear to be, have contributed, in no mean degree, to modify 

 the nature of the surface of the district, and perhaps also its climate, 

 by the filling up of lakes and marshes (by the formation of peat), a 

 process still going on. 



Mr. Dickie is known to botanists as the discoverer, in conjunction 

 with Mr. Templeton, of the rare northern Car ex rupestris (Brit. Fl. 

 ed.4. p. 331) at the top of Glen Callader. We heartily wish he 

 would publish a similar catalogue and with similar observations to 

 the present, of the alpine vegetation of Aberdeenshire and the ad- 

 joining counties. 



Commenfationes de Leguminosarum Generihus. Auctore Georgio 

 Beritham, Vienna. 



This work exhibits great talent and great research, as may be ex- 

 pected from the well-known character of the author, and it is to be 

 considered as the forerunner of a more elaborate publication on this 

 extensive and difficult family. The tribes here discussed are Poda- 

 lyriea, Sophorece, Dalbergiece, and Phaseolece. Many new genera are 

 given, and amended characters of previously established ones, and 

 numerous species are described. 



The same distinguished botanist is also engaged in a Monograph 

 of the Linnsean genus Erica for the forthcoming volume of DeCan- 

 dolle's Prodromus. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



November 8th, 1838. — Professor Christison, V.P., in the Chair. 

 The President was directed to convey to Mr. Christy, in the most 

 special manner, the thanks of the Society for his very splendid con- 

 tributions to the Herbarium and Library. 



1 . Professor Graham read an account of a visit which he along 

 with some friends had paid to the West of Ireland in August last, 

 to examine its botanical productions. It was stated that the moun- 

 tains of Cunnamara present very little of the alpine vegetation with 



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