j 28 The Scottish Naturalist 



Cerastium triviale Link., var. alpinum Koch.- -On a visit to little Kil- 

 rannoch (the station for Lychnis alpina) with Mr. Roy last August, we found 

 this variety not very uncommonly. It may be distinguished from the common 

 form by its fewer- flowered panicle, more elongated pedicels, and petals twice 

 the length of the sepals (Grenier & Godron say— Flore de France ; I., p. 271— 

 twice or thrice the length). It has not before, I think, been recorded as British. 

 I may here note that little Kilrannoch is in Forfarshire ; Dr. Hooker in the 

 "Student's Flora'' places it, by some mistake, in Perthshire.— F. Buchanan 

 White. 



Monstrosity of Scabiosa succisa.— I recently found a plant of this 

 species with double flowers, each stamen being degraded into a petal. This form 

 of S. succisa is not, I believe, very common. Scabiosa succisa affords a good 

 example of protandry. — Id. 



Local Plant-names. — I read with much interest the notes in your Journal 

 upon Scottish plant-names. Would you allow me a corner in which to say how 

 very glad my friend Mr. Holland (Moberly, Knutsford), and myself would be of 

 any lists, communicated through your pages or otherwise, towards our book on 

 plant-names, especially local ones, which is rapidly progressing. We very much 

 want more Scottish names than we have at present. --James Britten, Royal 

 Herbarium, Kew, July 10th, 1871. 



VARIOUS NOTES. 



At the meeting of the British Association, Sir Walter Elliot read an important 

 paper upon the " The advantage of systematic co-operation among Provincial 

 Natural History Societies," pointing out the evils of isolation, and suggesting 

 two modes of remedying the evil, and making available the useful information 

 often brought forward by such societies, and which, being published in the local 

 transactions, was lost to the great body of naturalists. We are now glad to 

 learn that an influential committee has been appointed to consider and report 

 upon the best means of rendering scientific organization more complete and 

 effectual. The committee are also instructed to enquire into the best means of 

 advancing science by means of lectures. These, we presume, are to be given in 

 localities destitute of such advantages as are afforded by the neighbourhood of 

 schools of science— such as university towns ; and we understand that the com- 

 mittee have power to act, with the approval of the Council, during the course of 

 the present year, if judged desirable. 



The Royal Society of Edinburgh, acting upon a suggestion of Mr. Milne 

 Home, have adopted a "Scheme for the Conservation of Remarkable Boulders 

 in Scotland, and the indications of their positions on Maps." We trust that all 

 who have it in their power will try to assist the Society in this matter. Papers 

 and schedules giving further information may be obtained from the Secretary of 

 the Royal Society, Edinburgh. We may possibly allude to this subject on a 

 future occasion. 



