Transactions. 5 



4</t November, 1892. 



Mr James G. H. Stakke, M.A., V.P., in the chair. 



New Members. — Dr Samuel Brown, Victoria Road ; tlie Rev. 

 Robert M'lntosh, B.D., St. Alban's Villa ; and Mr Robert M. 

 Douglas, Alpin House. 



Donations. — A copy of the History of Sanquhar, presented by 

 the author, Mr James Brown ; a copy of his work on Insecta, 

 presented by the author, Dr David Sharp ; the Essex Naturalist, 

 September, 1892 ; Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 

 December, 1891 — May, 1892 ; Transactions of the New York 

 Academy of Science, 1890-92 ; Notes on the Records of Scotch 

 Plants for 1891, and the Nomenclature of Potamogetons, pre- 

 sented by the author, Mr Arthur Bennett ; a specimen of a new 

 British Alga, presented by Mr William Carruthers. This speci- 

 men was accompanied by the following letter from Mr Scott 

 Elliot : — "Mr W. Can-uthers, F.R.S., keeper of the Botanical 

 Department, British Natural History Museum, has brought to 

 my knowledge an Algal record which well deserves investigation 

 at the hands of our Botanical Members. In ' Fleming's History 

 of Bi'itish Animals,' p. 515, Halimeda Opuntia is placed on 

 record as British, with the following remark : — ' I jjossess a 

 specimen formerly belonging to the late Dr Walker, to which the 

 following note was annexed in his own handwriting : — ' Sub- 

 marine plant from the rocks at Satterness in Kirkbane. An 

 Bombycina. It covers the rocks with a close turf.' ' It would 

 be extremely interesting to know if it is really the case that this 

 Alga exists in Kirkcudbright. It is iiot considered to be British — 

 not growing, in fact, anywhere near the British Isles, though 

 specimens, presumably borne by the Gulf stream, have been 

 found, e.g., between Torbay and Dublin, by Mr W. Todhunter 

 (see Thompson's ' Additions to Fauna of Ireland,' p. 254). In 

 Johnston's 'British Sponges,' p. 228, there is a figure of Dr 

 Walker's specimen, which is unmistakably Halimeda Opuntia. 

 The plant has been variously classed as a sponge, as a polype, and 

 as an Alga, but it is now known to be one of the Coralline Algte. 

 I enclose a specimen kindly given to the Society by Mr Carruthers 

 in order to aid in its identification. The plant is, however, 

 bright green when alive." 



