OBSERVATIONS ON FI.OKAL CHANGES. lO 



Sir J. E. Smith, in his "English Flora/' long ago pointed out that these 

 berries might be eaten without danger; yet we find many of our scientific 

 botanists of a different opinion. Now, on this subject, we can only say, that 

 we are particularly fond of them, and have frequently (and no doubt many 

 others have done the same thing,) swallowed the stones or seeds, without expe- 

 riencing the slightest ill effects; and from repeated observations, we can assert 

 that Blackbirds and ThrusJies, and also the Redbreast, eat them greedily. As 

 these are points on which some of our would be 'knowing ones' are at 

 variance, I hope they may stumble over these few lines, and record their 

 observations in the pages of "The Natm*alist." 



J. Mc'Intosh. 

 Cha7ininster, Dorset. 



We can confirm the above statement of the innocuous properties of the 

 Yew fruit, having in our school-boy days eaten the berries with impunity, 

 and seen many others do the same. The leaves of the Yew, are, we have 

 always understood, poisonous to cattle. — B. B. M. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE 

 FLORAL CHANGES OF THE PRESENT DAY. 



BY GEOROE LAWSON, ESQ., F. R. P. S., F. B. S. E. 

 Read before the Geologioal Society of Edinbm-gh, April 17th., 18-51. 



The intimate relation which Geology bears to the sciences of Zoology and 

 Botany, does not, I presume, require to be urged upon the members of this 

 Society, although on the present occasion I venture to refer to that connection, 

 by way of apology, for occupying the attention of a body engaged in a field 

 of research, which I, as yet, only feel a desire to enter. 



It is the peculiar province of Geology to investigate the past history of our 

 globe, and the changes which have influenced its animal and ^vegetable 

 inhabitants; but the geologist finds it useful for the elucidation of the earth's 

 former history, to refer to changes at present going on around us, and 

 thus intimately connects the past with the present, and exhibits a harmony 

 of action in the operations of nature, which leads to correct views in the 

 explanation of otherwise unaccountable facts and phenomena. It will, therefore,. 

 I think, not be altogether out of place to draw your attention shortly to a 

 subject, which, although I can only venture to bring it before you in its 

 botanical bearings, has some geological relations, which I trust may be brought 

 into notice by some of our members. Geology and Botany have mutually 

 benefited each other, and I would fain hope that the former would help the 

 Floral science out of this difficulty. 



The geologist is well aware of the numerous important and remote changes 

 which have taken place in the Flora of the globe; and although the obser- 

 vations I have to make, relate to the British Flora alone, I need not refer 

 particularly to the remarkable changes which that Flora has suffered frouk 



