294 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OP GLASGOW. 



to rot. They were flying very low, and were extremely diflficult 

 to capture. The insect is not uncommon in England, but all 

 Verrall's localities are south of the Midlands, except one, based 

 on a single specimen taken in Warwickshire. Wingate does 

 not record it from Northumberland or Durham. In the West 

 of Scotland it has only been recorded for Possil Marsh, where 

 it was taken by the late Mr. George W. Ord, Mr. Robert 

 Henderson, and Mr. Ross. Reference was made to the 

 characteristic features which distinguish this fly from E. 

 ceneus, Scop., its nearest ally. 



Mr. Ross also showed several botanical specimens, including 

 Eucalyptus rostrata, Schlecht., in fruit; Acacia melanoxylon, 

 R. Br., with phyllodes and true leaves; and Camellia theifera, 

 Griff., var. assamica, the Indian Tea-plant, in flower. 



On behalf of Mr. John Smith, Corresponding Member, Mr. 

 Ross submitted several zoological and botanical specimens from 

 Ayrshire. These included cocoons of Meta menardi (Latr.), 

 a Spider which haunts the dark recesses of caves on the Carrick 

 Coast, where its nests, spun of a fine, white, gossamer fabric, 

 may be found hanging from the roof by an attachment of 

 about a score of threads. Besides frequenting caves, this 

 species sometimes occurs in the vaults under old castles. 



Mr. Smith also sent a specimen of Rock-Samphire 

 (CrithmuTn maritimum, L.) from the Carrick Coast, where it 

 grows in certain of the more inaccesible places; a plant of 

 Wild Beet {Beta maritima, L.), with fasciated stem, from the 

 same district; and Ahnfeltia plicata, Fries, a marine alga 

 also obtained on the Carrick shore. It was stated that the two 

 last-mentioned specimens had respectively been submitted to 

 Messrs. Arthur Bennett, F.L.S., and A Gepp, M.A., F.L.S., 

 for identification. 



Mr. William Stewart showed a specimen of Auricitlaria 

 mesenterica, Fr., from Olton, near Birmingham, and described 

 the distinctive features of the genus and species. 



Mr. D. A. Boyd read a paper entitled " With the Crypto- 

 gamic Society of Scotland at Inveraray " (page 143). 



Mr. Peter Macnair, F.R.S.E., F.G.S., gave a short address 

 on " The Present Position of the Local Collections in the 

 Kelvingrove Museum," with special reference to natural 



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