PllOCEEDITsGS OF SOCIETIES. 335 



racter of their lichenology. We find thai this comprises some 440 

 species, exclusive of mimerons varieties, which, making allowance for 

 the necessary absence of purely maritime species, bears a very fair 

 proportion to the number found in other continental regions of similar 

 extent. Anujngst them the Eritish lichenologist will find several 

 whicli do not reach our more northern latitudes, and miss not a few 

 with which he is familiar in varions parts of these islands. These 44-0 

 species are in addition to the principal divisions which we previously 

 noticed, arrayed under no less than 93 different genera. Dr. Ea- 

 benhorst has thus, in opposition to the system of Nylander, followed 

 that of the Massolongian School. How far, however, the spores are 

 entitled to be regarded as affording generic characters, is a question 

 upon whicli we do not enter. At the same time it seems to us that 

 even on Massolongian principles, Dr. Rabenhorst has, in several in- 

 stances, unnecessarily multiplied genera. This does not, of course, in 

 any way detract from the value of the work in other respects, though 

 it serves to show how far we still are from a generally accepted system 

 of classification of Lichens. 



Iproccctiinfis of torrefies. 



Botanical Society or Edinbitkgh. — July \Uh. — Sir Walter Elliot, Pre- 

 sident, in the chair. Tlie following communications were read : — " On Kasli- 

 mir Morels." Bj M. C. Cooke, M.A. " On the Nature, as regards Stamens 

 and Pistil, of Silene maritima and <S'. injlata." By Dr. F. Buchanan White. 

 (Sec p. 32.3.) "Notes of a Botanical Excursion to the Neiglibourhood of 

 Perth." By Mr. Sadler. The places visited were tlie North Inch, banks of 

 the Tay, the " Wooded Island," Bertha Woods, banks of the Ahnond, Pitcaii-n- 

 field, and Methven Bog. Some of the party visited Scone and Kiunoul. 

 Lists of the principal species collected were read. " Eesults obtained from the 

 Cutting and Transplanting of a Plaited Hornbeam Hedge," By Mr. James 

 M'Nab. (Illustrated by drawings.) " On some Striped Stones from Hayle, 

 Cornwall." By Mr. C. W. Peach. Professor Balfour stated that plants of 

 Mandragora vernalis were now fruiting in the Botanic Garden, aiid that lie 

 had tried the juice of the fruit on the eye, and found it to dilate the pupil in a 

 marked degree. The dilatation was as complete as that produced by Bella- 

 donna, but its elTects did not seem to continue so long. Professor Balfour also 

 exhibited a plant in full flower from the Botanic Garden, which had been sent 

 by Mr. Loft us from Persia, under the name of Dorema Asafce/ula. Mr. Sadler 

 reported, iu accordance with instructions received at last meeting of the Society, 



