The Scottish Naturalist. jy 



I found by the Cree side a form of pratense which is described on p. 35 (1884) of 

 The Naturalist, and which differs from other forms of pratense by its deep yellow 

 corolla and open lips with the palate so low ns not to close entrance to tube. This 

 variety has since been found in Westmoreland and Cumberland. The Rev. 

 H. P. Reader has this year discovered it in Northumberland. It will probably 

 be found in many counties of Scotland if looked for. This plant may be the 

 cause of the frequent mistakes in naming M. pratense as sylvaticum. 



On a New Variety of Carex pilulifera found in Forfar, South Aber- 

 deen, and East Perth.— While searching Corrie Ceannmor or Ceannder, in 

 Glen Callater, South Aberdeen, in 1878, I found, at an elevation of about 

 2800 feet, a sedge which puzzled me a good deal, but which I referred to 

 pilulifera. I sent it to Mr. H. S, Watson for his opinion, but he simply 

 marked it C. pilulifera var. Four years after I found the same form in Glen 

 Phee ; and the next year (1873) met Wltn ^ m Canlochan, and on Cairn of 

 Daimh, E. Perth. Previous to this, Dr. Lees had described a var. saxumbra 

 of pilulifera from Yorkshire, and Prof. Babington had recorded it also from 

 Glen Callater. Thinking this might be connected with my plants, I sent them 

 to Mr. H. Ridley, who marked them C. LeesiifC. saxumbra Lees.) Later on 

 Dr. Lees came to see me, and I showed him the specimens, but he refused to 

 acknowledge them as his saxumbra, from which they differed in the shape of 

 perigynia, and shorter leaves and bracts. 



In the report of the Botanical Record Club for 1883, page 52, Dr. Lees has 

 described this alpine form of pilulifera under the name C. pilulifera var. 

 adusta Lees. 



It differs from the type in its smaller size, and more rigid and stout habit. 

 The spikelets are " scorched-looking purple brown," the bracts are short and 

 stiff, " The glumes are lanceolate acute, dark purple-brown in colour, with a 

 paler, stout dorsal rib, which is prolonged into a strongly serrate awn wanting 

 the paler membranous border of true pilulifera.'''' The perigynia are greenish 

 brown, sparsely asperous, ovate, gradually prolonged into a rather long, rough 

 bifid beak (not obonic and short-beaked as in type. )" 



As Dr. Lees says, it is probably an alpine form educed by harsh stational 

 and climatic influences. 



On the Oxfordshire chalk downs I found a form with the lanceolate glumes 

 of the above, but in other respects it did not vary from the type, 



Phleum Michelii All.— On p. 267 of the October No. (1884) of TheScottish 

 Naturalist, I referred to the above as being represented in Miss Palmer's 

 collection by Alopecurus alpinus, and suggested that Lady Aylesford might have 

 mislabelled it. During the last week I have received from Miss Palmer the 

 plants labelled Alopecurus alpinus, which I see are specimens of Phleum 

 Michelii, so that a transposition of labels has probably taken place. 



BEYOLOGICAL NOTES ER0M GLENDEVON AND STEATHEAEN. 

 By W. MARTIN. 



At one period, interesting accounts of " moss-trooping" expeditions appeared 

 in the pages of The Scottish Naturalist ; but such are now conspicuous by their 



