250 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Nachrichten," Jahrg. xix. (1893), ^ have succeeded in satisfying 

 myself that the specimens are platyptera^ Ztt., first described in 

 the " Diptera Scandinavise," torn. viii. p. 3281. This species is dis- 

 tinguished by its entirely black legs, indistinctly three-striped thorax, 

 bristly hind tibiae (three rows of setae along the whole length), and 

 broad wings. These interesting specimens were reared from larvae 

 taken at Gorebridge, Midlothian. 



The second species concerned is Scatella ste?tha7?imari, Ztt., 

 taken by Mr. Waterston on the window of a house in Edinburgh. 

 I have examined this fly very carefully, and although the wings are 

 not quite like Becker's figure in the Berl. Ent. Zeitschrift for 1896, 

 yet the description fits fairly well, and the fly cannot well be anything 

 else. — Percy H. Grimshaw, Edinburgh. 



BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS. 



Additional Viee-eounty Records from West of Scotland. — 



During a few days spent in the latter part of August in a visit to 

 the west of Scotland 1 met with the following, not previously recorded 

 from the respective vice-counties : — 



Barbarea vulgaris^ R. Br. — One weak plant by a road in 

 Tobermory (Mid Ebudes, 103), perhaps a casual. 



Cfiicus arve?isis, Hoffm., var. setosus (Bess.). — Several examples 

 on the shore close to a boat-wharf, near Ballachulish Pier 

 (Argyll, 98). This form in recent years has occurred in 

 several places in the vicinity of Aberdeen, and appears to 

 be becoming more common, but always under conditions 

 that suggest an alien origin. It is probably not native in 

 Scotland. 



Atriplex Babi7igto?iii^ Woods, var. virescens, Lange. — On the 

 beach near Stornoway (Hebrides, no). 



Rimiex crispiis x obtusifolhts {acutics, L.). — Near Oban (Argyll, 

 98). — James W. H. Trail. 



Synchitrium aureum, Schroet., near Aberdeen. — Near the 

 end of June 1909 I found this fungus in abundance on AVild 

 Thyme {Thymus Serpjlhnn), on rather poor soil covering an old 

 bed of shingle on the north bank of the river Dee at Murtle, a few 

 miles west of Aberdeen. Though of frequent occurrence, on a 

 great variety of host-plants, in various countries of Europe and of 

 North America, I am not aware that it had been previously observed 

 in Scotland. It produces very characteristic effects on the stems 

 and leaves, which become thickened, and are more or less covered 

 with the small warty dull-red galls of the parasite. — James W. H. 

 Trail. 



