8 Transactions. 
wheat to have forty heads, and the oats as many as thirty, on the 
one plant 
COMMUNICATIONS. 
I. First Blossoming of Wild Flowers in Tynron during the 
Summer Months of 1882 and 1883. By Mr James SHAw. 
This paper was read by Mr Wilson. The writer stated that the 
area included in his observations was at an elevation of from 300 
to 1400 feet above sea level. The soil of the district is thin, well 
adapted for sheep pasture, and the geological formation is 
Silurian and conglomerate. There are no fields of wheat, barley, 
or rye; but oats, turnips, ryegrass, and potatoes are grown. Mr 
Shaw’s list of plants recorded the dates when first noticed during 
the two seasons, from which it appeared that the year 1883 was 
much later than 1882. The month of February, 1883, was 
exceedingly mild, and induced the Coltsfoot (Z'ussilago farfara) 
to blossom. March, however, was cold and backward, with 
cutting frosty winds, so that in the beginning of April plants of 
Tussilago might be seen surrounded by the withered petals of the 
first crop. In his concluding remarks, Mr Shaw says “ that the 
marsh marigold, the stitch-wort, and the common broom are thus 
found a week behind in 1883; the spring blue-bell (scil/a nutans ) 
and the marsh violet (V. Palustris) are noticed a fortnight later 
in 1883. The early orchis plants (O. mascula) were in blossom 
in April, 1882, but not noticed until the third week of May, 
1883. Geum rivale is equally behind. Some of the flowers 
noticed in blossom in the first week of June, 1882, are not noticed 
until the third week of June, 1883. Generally speaking, the 
vanguard of any given species came to the front a fortnight later 
in 1883.” 
II. Notes on the National Collection of Antiquities in the 
Museum at Edinburgh. By Mr G. F. Buacx. 
In this communication, which was read by the Secretary, the 
writer briefly described the foreign section of the museum, and 
promised to contribute a paper on the Scottish Antiquities at a 
future meeting. 
IIT. Notes on the Natwral History of Southport. By Dr J. 
Gitcurist, President. 
In the course of this paper, Dr Gilchrist mentioned that 
