106 : Transactions. 
some of the windows, such as Productus gigantewm and some 
others belonging to this formation—viz., the lower carboniferous. 
II. Wotes on the Genus Rosa in Nithsdale. 
By Mr James FINGLAND. 
A botanist of experience on a casual visit a few years ago to 
the neighbourhood of Sanquhar remarked that he had never seen 
a district so luxuriant in wild roses, and apparently so rich in 
variety of forms. Since then the result of examination of our 
local roses, though still imperfect, fully proves the truth of the 
observation which the visitor made. Only what applies to 
Sanquhar district still further applies to a large portion of Niths- 
dale. From below Auldgirth, following the river upwards on the 
alluvial soil and gravel beds, extending a considerable breadth in 
some parts, and on the banks and wooded sides of the more con- 
‘fined channel of the river in its higher reaches, the wild roses grow 
in great abundance, and afford ample opportunity for study. In 
early summer we admire the pure and delicate tints of the flowers, 
and in the first autumnal months we are no less attracted with 
the rich colouring of the hips or choups and the beautiful and 
varied foliage of the bushes, which then attains its highest 
development on the new and barren shoots of the year. 
Dr Anstruther Davidson in his last communication to the 
Society on local botany, reported the finding of eleven varieties of 
Rosa canina. We are much indebted to him for this excellent 
introduction to them. Since then, from a collectton which he 
made before leaving Sanquhar, some additional forms have to be 
recorded. And now, between us, other six varieties and three 
sub-forms are fresh records for Nithsdale. Prwinosa, incana, 
Kosinciana and uncinella (Besser), from Sanquhar, with ande- 
vagensis, Watsoni, Malmundariensis (Lej.) and platyphylla 
(Rau.) from Thornhill. Of the 32 forms of canina given in 
the 8th edition of the “London Catalogue,” 17 are now ascer- 
tained to occur in the district. So little has been done in this 
genus in the South of Scotland, at least so far as I am aware, 
that we have scarcely any means of making comparison with 
other districts. The Clydesdale Flora contains nine forms of 
canina. A more recent work, however, the “ Flora of West 
Yorkshire,” enumerates about twenty; these obtained from a 
