[06 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 



1 Osprey Pandion. 



4 Falcons Faleo. 



3 Hawka Astur and Accipiter. 



3 Kites 2 Milvus and 1 FAamis. 



1 New form allied to Pernis. 



1 I [arrier Circus. 



8 Owla Sfrt* and Noctua or Athene." 



I'.oTANICAL 80C1ETT C)F EDINBURGH. 



February 8th, 1838. — Professor Graham, President, in the Chair. 



A letter from Dr. Tyacke was read, containing an account of a 

 botanical excursion in the spring of 1837 to the Channel Islands and 

 the coast of France, with remarks on several of the species collected. 



Observations by Dr. Graham on Plants collected in Scotland in 1 837 

 by Dr. M'Nab were read. He noticed particularly the following : 



Arenaria norvegica, first seen on Serpentine Hills to the northward 

 of Balta Sound, Shetland, by a son of Dr. Edmonstone, and after- 

 wards found by Dr. M'Nab in the same place. Specimens collected 

 by Dr. Pollexfen in 1835, were shown to the Society. 



Ccrastium latifolium, var. With dense csespitose habit, orbicular 

 leaves, profusely glandular pubescence, and straight cylindrical cap- 

 sule, scarcely longer than the calyx. Hab. Shetland. 



Lychnis dioica, var. With pale rose-coloured flowers, and stem 

 rarely three inches high. Seen by Mr. James M'Nab some years ago, 

 and found to retain its peculiar habit in cultivation. Hab. Near 

 Newton Stewart, Galloway. 



Ayrostis canina, var. is perhaps Trichodium alpinum or rupestre. 

 Dr. Graham thinks the absence of the inner valve of the perianth, 

 though not a generic, is a good specific character. Plant first no- 

 ticed by Dr. Graham in Sutherlandshire some years ago, and after- 

 wards by Mr. Wm. M'Nab in a viviparous state in the same county. 

 Hab. On the top of Goatfel, Arran. 



Fedia mixta, Vahl, Specimens were gathered along with this, 

 showing the transition from F. dentata. Hab. Near Whithorn. 



Mr. R. Falconer read a paper containing an account of the most 

 celebrated gardens of antiquit)^, with observations on the hortulan 

 taste which they exhibit. After some introductory remarks upon the 

 probable origin of gardens, he proceeded to give a detailed account 

 of the gardens of Alcinous mentioned by Homer ; the Hanging Gar- 

 dens of Babylon ; the parks or gardens of the Persians mentioned by 

 Xenophon ; the gardens of Daphne in Syria, and the gardens of the 

 Hesperides. He then gave an account of the gardens celebrated by 

 the ancient Greeks and Romans ; among the latter those of Lucullus 



