NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. Ixi 



corry rather more than half-way, however, a detached group 

 of schistose rocks was reached, where Dr. Stirton suddenly 

 came upon a number of alpine plants not previously observed 

 by him in the course of the ascent. These included Sagina 

 saxatilis, Wimm., Silene acaulis, L., Draba incana, L., Alche- 

 milla alpina, L., Aspidium Lonchitis, Sw., Aspleiiiuin Trlcho- 

 'nianes, L., A. viride, Huds., &c. At the very summit of this 

 corry he was delighted to find a perfect garden of alpine plants, 

 similar, but on a smaller scale, to those on Ben Lawers. The 

 two plants first seen, and conspicuous at a distance on account 

 of their abundance, were Trollius europceus, L., and Geranium 

 sylvaticum, L. Referring to the occurrence of these plants on 

 alpine rocks. Dr. Stirton remarked that he always regarded 

 their presence as auguring well for successful botanical research. 

 Although he could only afford to devote about twenty minutes 

 to the observation of the flowering plants, he was able to report 

 the following species, in addition to those already referred to, 

 viz. : Arahis pet7^cea, Lam., Cherleria sedoides, L., Saxlfraga 

 oppositifolia, L., Vacciniuin uliginosutn, L., in flower, Veronica 

 humifusa, Dicks., Bartsia alpina, L., Salix reticulata, L., and 

 several other species of that genus, Kohresia caricina, Willd., 

 Carex atrata, L., C. rigida. Good., C. pilulifera, L., and C. 

 pallescens, L. As the rocks extended in terrace over terrace, a 

 more prolonged search would doubtless have revealed many 

 additional species of rarity and interest. 



Mr. D. A. Boyd gave an account of a fortnight's visit to the 

 same district, and referred to some of the rare alpine plants he 

 had obtained during that period. 



Mr. Thomas King reported that Mr. George Horn and he had 

 recently visited the Cockle Shore, Bute. Among the plants 

 observed were Cardamine pratensis, L., abundant in fruit — a 

 rather rare occurrence, as in Scotland the seeds are seldom found 

 perfectly matured ; Hypericum Elodes, L., Peplis Portula, L., 

 Veronica Anagallis, L., and Alisma ranuncidoides, L. The 

 Fairy-ring Fungus, 3Iarasnilus oreadcs, Fr., was also found in 

 fine conditi(jn. About an hour's fruitless search was made 

 for Scutellaria minor, L., reported for Cockle Bay by Mr. 

 Kennedy, and also found since Kennedy's time by Mr. Korn. 



Mr. King exhibited specimens of Agaricus (Lepiota) cristatuSy 

 Fr., a fungus found growing in a hot-house at the Royal 

 Botanic Garden, and usually met with in gardens and cultivated 

 ground. 



Mr. William Stewart showed a magnificent Flower -Coral, 

 kindly lent for exhibition by Mr. James Longden, Sauchiehall 

 Street. The coral, which was obtained at Madagascar, measured 

 about 21 inches across the surface. 



