1S4 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 



a uniform direction from left to right throughout their whole length. 

 During the drying of the stems numerous fissures or rents are formed 

 in a spiral manner from one-eighth to half an inch in width, about 

 4 inches deep, and generally from 4 to 10 inches distant at the bottom, 

 presenting a ragged edge and narrowing upwards, causing the bark 

 to fall off in large flakes. When dead, they are hewn down, piled 

 in heaps, and set fire to. The quantity of splendid timber annually 

 consumed in this way was described as being very great ; but owing 

 to the distance from water communication it is rendered comparatively 

 worthless. Many of the road-sides, through the wooded districts for 

 miles together, were richly adorned with Lobelia cardinalis and si- 

 philitica, and Monarda didyma. Sambucus canadensis also presented 

 a striking feature, being very abundant and densely covered with 

 fruit. The only tree notpreviously seen was the Tamarack or black 

 American larch (Lariat pendula). In an extensive forest on the 

 banks of the Thames river near New London this tree was generally 

 of straggling growth, and never exceeded three feet in circumference. 



Dr. Balfour read an account of a botanical trip to Ben Voirlich at 

 the head of Loch Lomond, and Ben Nevis in August last. He gave 

 description of the general features of the district, and noticed the 

 occurrence of moraines and large angular boulders near the upper 

 part of Loch Lomond, and smooth rounded rocks, with distinct 

 groovings, near the waterfall of Glen Nevis ; both being probably in- 

 dicative of the former existence of glaciers. He also gave an account 

 of the flora, and noticed the occurrence of Carex irrigua near Loch 

 Sloy ; of Isoetes lacustris, Carex saxatilis, and Poa Bal/ourii, in large 

 quantities on Ben Voirlich ; and of Lysimachia vulgaris, Carex vesi- 

 caria, Rubus nitidus, suberectus, sylvaticus, Radula d. foliosus, and 

 humifusus, near Inverarnan. After noticing the varieties of Qucrcus 

 pedunculata and sessiliflora which occur in Glen Falloch, he proceeded 

 to give a detailed account of the botany of Ben Nevis. Besides the 

 usual alpine plants, he gathered Saxifraga rivularis, Stellaria ceras- 

 toides, Poa alpina vivipara, P. laxa, and montana^ Cornus suecica, Cis- 

 topteris dentata, Carex saxatilis, and various forms of Hieracium. , 



Specimens of the plants were exhibited to the meeting. 



At this meeting the election of office-bearers for the ensuing year 

 took place, when Professor Balfour was chosen President ; and Drs. 

 Greville, Seller, A. Inglis, and Douglas Maclagan, Vice-Presidents. 



' "' Jan. 8, 1846. — Professor Balfour, President, in the Chair. 



.The Treasurer read a letter from Mrs. Graham, presenting to the 

 Society some valuable botanical manuscripts by the late Professor 

 (^r^ham. 

 .,,/pie following communications were read: — 



1. " Notice regarding some species of Plants recently observed as 

 natives of Britain," by Mr. Evans. Among the species referred to in 

 this notice were Alsine stricta, Carduus arvensis, /3. setosus, Glyceria 

 plicata, Barkhausia setosa, &c. ; specimens of these, and of Silene 

 italica, from two Scotch stations, were exhibited to the meeting. 



2. Dr. R. C. Alexander on the Flora of Sicily. Dr. Alexander re- 



