1 903-1904- J Notes on Mosses from West Kilbride. 97 



sea-shores, but is generally regarded as rather rarely to be 

 found in a fertile state. Fruiting specimens are abundant at 

 West Kilbride at present, and examples are submitted, along 

 with a few duplicates for distribution, in the hope that they may 

 prove interesting to bryologist members of the Society. There 

 are three types of Brachythecium — viz., first, those which have 

 the seta or fruit-stalk roughened with little external granules 

 throughout its entire length, as in the very common B. ruta- 

 bulum ; secondly, those which have the fruit-stalk smooth 

 below but rough above, as in the common B. populeum ; and, 

 thirdly, those which have the fruit-stalk smooth throughout its 

 entire length, as in the species under exhibition. The generic 

 name Brachythecium is descriptive of the shortness of the 

 capsule, as compared with that organ in other genera of 

 pleurocarpous mosses. 



At this meeting Mr Tom Speedy read a paper on " Vermin 

 and the Pole -Trap," in which he advocated the use of the 

 pole-trap in the interests of the game-preserver, and, while 

 admitting that he was taking the unpopular side of a specially 

 unpopular subject, maintained that " in its modern form the 

 pole-trap is the most humane of any kind of trap." He 

 endeavoured to show that " much more cruelty exists among 

 birds and beasts by their preying upon each other without let 

 or hindrance than when man interferes with the so-called 

 balance." He stated, however, " that a bill backed by five 

 members is to be brought before Parliament as follows — viz., 

 ' From acd after the passing of this Act every person who on 

 any pole, tree, wall, fence, or other position elevated from the 

 ground, shall affix, place, or set any spring-trap, gin, or other 

 similar instrument calculated to inflict bodily injury to any 

 wild bird coming in contact therewith, and every person who 

 shall knowingly permit or suffer or cause any such trap to be 

 so affixed, placed, or set, shall be guilty of an offence, and shall 

 be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding 

 forty shillings, and for a second or subsequent offence to a 

 penalty not exceeding five pounds.' " Mr Speedy continued, 

 " Such is the text of a bill which five pseudo-humanitarian 

 M.P.'s purpose introducing into the House of Commons with 



VOL. V. G 



