Report from the Botanical Section. 13 



The number is very great to be got out of six or seven handfuls of 

 sand. Mr. Bean said that it was the richest he had ever obtained, 

 except from Germany. 



Mr. Keddie road the following report from the Botanical Section: — 



29th April, 1844. — Dr. Balfour presented specimons of ferns from 

 tho Caraccas, aud of Fagus Antarctica and Fagus Forsteri (or Ever- 

 green Beech) from Cape Horn ; also several botanical publications. 

 Dr. Balfour road an account of several trips in the neighbourhood of 

 Glasgow, last summer, exhibiting specimens of the plants collected. 



28th May, 1844. — Mr. Balloch road an account of a botanical 

 excursion to Campsie Glen, on the 30th of April last In that glen 

 tho party gathered Lathrea squamaria. Large quantities of the roots 

 were dug up along with those of the elm, upon which the Lathrea 

 seemed to grow, with the view of investigating into the alleged para- 

 sitical nature of this plant, but without enabling the party to arrive 

 at a definite conclusion on the subject. The party thence proceeded 

 to Fin Glen, in the neighbourhood, where they were successful in 

 picking fertile specimens of Equisetum Drummondii. They also found 

 Paris quadrifolia, although not in flower, besides a number of other 

 plants of less note. 



25th June, 1844. — Mr. Gourlie read papers communicated by the 

 Rev. Mr. Landsborough, a corresponding member, on Gloiosiphonia 

 capillaris, and Polysiphonia parasitica, for which thanks were voted 

 to the author. Dr. Balfour presented specimens of plants gathered at 

 Lochwinnoch, Muirshiel, Rothsay, Dunoon, and Toward, for the 

 Herbarium. 



30th July, 1844. — Dr. Balfour exhibited a number of plants from 

 Ailsa Craig; also a specimen of the Bush rope of the West Indies, 

 from Dr. W. H. Campbell, Demerara. Mr. Gourlie exhibited a ball 

 of agglomerated leaves, from the hermitage near Killin. Mr. Keddie 

 read an account of a Botanical Excursion to the Bass Rock, &c, in 

 company with Professor Balfour, and a party of his summer class. 

 The Section adjourned till the next session of the Society. 



The Secretary was requested to acknowledge receipt of Vol. ii. Part 

 4, of Transactions of the Royal Society of Arts of Edinburgh. 



5th February, 1845. — The President in the Chair. 



The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society: — 

 Messrs. Robert Fleming, Michael Scott, John S. Miller, James Cald- 

 well, William Gardner. A paper was read — 



