1 8 Polyporus gigantens. [Sess. 



spection, that the gentleman was in fine form for being operated 

 upon, seeing that he was lying in a helpless condition, with 

 outspread arms, upon the counter. Enter first conspirator, 

 followed by an admiring but select few as assistants. " Fine 

 day, laird." One eye opens partially, but never a word spake 

 he. "We thought you might like to buy a partridge," and the 

 corn-crake is thrust invitingly before his view. The eye gradu- 

 ally closes, while a quiet humorous voice gently says, " Ou ay, 

 Eobbie, get awa' wi' your sparra." 



Ul.—POZYFOEUS GIGANTEUS, Fr. {GIANT 

 SAP-BALL). 



Exhibited by Mr A. B. STEELE. 



{Nov. 2Jf, 1886.) 



The specimen exhibited was gathered from a splendid group 

 growing in the policies of the Marquis of Lothian at Mount 

 Teviot, near the entrance-gate at Penielhengh. The enormous 

 size and beauty of the plants attracted the notice of the 

 Marquis, who takes an interest in Natural History, and orders 

 were issued that they were not to be removed. Application 

 being made to his lordship personally for a specimen, permis- 

 sion was at once courteously granted. The specimen was un- 

 fortunately gathered during the wet weather in September last, 

 and was not in a favourable condition to be permanently pre- 

 served. When fresh it weighed nearly 20 lb., and measured 

 2 feet across. 



The species is not common. It grows in tufts on under- 

 ground roots and stumps of trees. It is formed of imbricated, 

 dimidiate pilei, covered with a rigid velvet pile, and springs 

 from a common root. The surface is irregularly zoned, and the 

 colour various. In the Mount Teviot group the colour varied 

 from a pale yellow to a date-brown. The flesh, when torn 

 longitudinally, comes away in white cotton-like fibres, termin- 

 ating in tubes which are sometimes half an inch in depth. The 

 spores are pale yellow, and may be seen lying on the ground 

 under the ripe plant like a mass of gold-dust. 



