IV PROCEEDIKGS OF THE 



higlximis, L.^ J. triglnmis, L., etc.; also Woodsia hyperborca^ 

 R.Br., collected by Mr. P. Ewing on the Breadalbane range. 



Mr. Johnston Shearer exhibited a specimen of Silaus pratensiSy 

 Bess., gathered at Millport. 



Mr. D. A. Boyd exhibited a large specimen of Ranunculus 

 arvensie, L., found in a gai-den at Seamill, West Kilbride. 

 This species is remarkable for the structure of its seed-vessels^ 

 which are large and covered with prickles. While common in 

 England, it is rare in Scotland, occurring chiefly in the Eastern 

 Counties from Perth southwards ; and in the West of Scotland 

 it has no claim to be regarded as native, although specimens 

 introduced with seeds front England occasionally make their 

 appearance in gardens. 



Mr. Boyd also showed some branches from a Rose-bush, 

 having the leaves much mutilated by the operations of the 

 leaf-cutting Bee (Megachile). He referred to the habits of this 

 insect, which are well-described by Messrs. Kirby and Spence.* 

 The bee excavates a horizontal cylindrical hole, eight or ten 

 inches long, either in the ground or in rotten wood, and fills 

 the cavity with six or seven consecutive cells, each constructed 

 of four or five layers of oval portions cut from the leaves of 

 the rose. At one end of each cell the portions of leaves ar& 

 bent so as to form a convex termination. The cell is nearly filled 

 with a rose-coloured mixture of honey and pollen gathered 

 from the flowers of the thistle, and an egg is deposited therein. 

 The lid or stopper of each cell is composed of a closely-fitting 

 circular portion of leaf of the most exact dimensions, and is 

 placed a little way inside the mouth so as to leave sufficient 

 space for the insertion of the rounded base of the next cell, 

 which is coustrvicted in a similar manner. 



The Chairman (Mr. King) exhibited the following species of 

 Fungi, gathered at Innellan, viz. : Agaricus (Hypholoma) appendi- 

 culatus. Bull., A. (Clitocybe) infundihuUformis, Schaeff., var. 

 Tuevibranaceus, Fl. Dan., Goinphidius glutinosus, Schaff., Hygro- 

 phorus conicus. Scop., Lactarius deliciosus, L., and Boletus 

 flavvLS, With. 



14th August, 1888. 



Mr. Peter Ewing, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The Chairman reported on an excursion made to Ben Lawers 

 and other mountains of the Breadalbane range, on 13th-16th 

 July. 



Mr. James Steel exhibited some living specimens of the Blind- 

 worm, A7iguis fragilis, L., from Ailsa Craig, where this reptile 



• Kirby and Spence. An Introduction to Entomology (7th Edition, 1856), p. 251. 



