Tue Loca FunNcI. 97 
GASTROMYCETES. 
Scleroderma vulgare. Lycoperdon bovista. 
Cyathus vernicosus. Geaster rufescens. Near tree 
Crucibulum vulgare. roots, Pearmount, Dalbeattie 
Nidularia pisiformis. Railway Road. 
sleepers, Gatelawbridge Ithyphallus impudicus. Con- 
Quarry line. huith Wood. 
Lycoperdon pyriforme. 
DISCOMYCETES. 
Gyromitra esculenta. Railway, Helvella crispa. Newabbey 
Thornhill to Gatelawbridge. Road, under beech trees. 
Sent to Kew for identifica- Leotia lubrica. Terraughtie 
tion. Only once before re- Glen. 
corded for Scotland. Peziza (Cochlearia) aurantia-. 
Dalskairth. 
NOTES ON THE LATE TRANSIT OF MERCURY: ON JUPITER AND 
SATURN. By Mr J. RUTHERFORD. 
MERCURY. 
In these notes Mr Rutherford detailed his observations of 
the Transit of Mercury on 14th November, 1907. In the early 
morning the sky was completely overcast with dense clouds. 
At 10 h. 23 m. 40 s., when the Transit was expected to begin, 
there was no appearance of the sun through the clouds, this 
continuing until a few minutes before noon, when a little break 
was noticed near the sun’s position. On directing the telescope 
to the spot he was rewarded by seeing the sun through a thin 
cloud. Through this his first view of Mercury on the sun’s disc 
was seen. In a few seconds the cloud was cleared off, and at 
noon this was seen for six or eight seconds. After this the sun 
was obscured until 1.35. Then glimpses of the planet were seer 
through thin cloud. 
During the short time of clear vision he directed his atten- 
tion to the border of the planet, which appeared to be quite 
sharp, and free from any luminous or penumbral appearance. 
The colour of the planet seemed a little grey. 
Mr Rutherford said:—I am sure that no one has any con- 
ception of the joy I felt at being privileged to see this transit, 
even for such a short time. Impressions of such sights are 
engraven on the mind in such an indelible way that they are 
