Miscellaneous Contributions and Exhibitions. 281 



January 8, 1885. 



A note was communicated from Miss Owen, Gorey, Ireland, " On 

 the Occurrence oi Pythium de Baryanum on the Roots of Dahlias." 

 The fungus at first appeared as brown patches, which gradually 

 spread into the substance of the tuber. When microscopically 

 examined, it was identified by Mr Worthington Smith as the above 

 form. It was noticed that the cells invaded by the fungus hyphse 

 were filled with bodies exactly resembling sphere crystals of inulin, 

 while those in the normal condition had liquid contents. 



SajJrolegnia. — Dr Macfarlane exhibited and described specimens of 

 a Saprolegnia from the body of a blackbird found floating in a water- 

 cistern. The fungoid growth on the submerged part of the body 

 was wholly zoogonidial, while the portion immediately above water 

 was oogonidial. From several experiments subsequently made, he 

 considered that the presence of the two generations under the above 

 conditions was frequent. He drew attention also to the excellent 

 results obtained by preserving such fungi in chrom-acotic acid, the 

 microscopic appearances remaining as in the fresh state. 



Nepenthes, ^'C. — Dr Macfarlane exhibited pitchers of Nepenthes 

 and Heliampliora nutans, received from Messrs Burbidge and Veitch. 

 The Nepenthes included N. villosa, Edwardslana, Harryana, Rajah, 

 sauguinea, Northiana, cincta, Luicii, and hicalcarata. He men- 

 tioned that in N. Lowii the digestive glands at the bottom of the 

 pitcher were so large and densely arranged as to resemble a piece of 

 shagreen. In Heliamphora nutans he pointed out a very striking 

 resemblance in the young state to pitchers of Sarracenia ruhra, this 

 being departed from more and more as the pitchers became older. 



March 12. 



A report was submitted by Mr S. Grieve, as convener of the 

 Camp Committee, in which it was proposed that the Society should 

 institute a Botanical Camp this year. The report was approved. 



Mr E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., sent for exhibition specimens of two 

 rare British Mosses, identified by him as Pottia ccespitosa and 

 Thuidium ahietinum. 



Specimens of white and parti-coloured ling {Calluna vidgaris) 

 Avere exhibited from Mr Wolfe Murray of Cringletie, and Mr 

 "Watson, Snaip. 



Dr Macfarlane exhibited and remarked upon the inflorescence and 

 pitchers of various species of Nepenthes received from Messrs 

 Courtauld and Yeitch. 



A2Jril 9. 



The following motion, which had been intimated by Dr Craig at 

 a previous meeting, was unanimously agreed to by the Fellows : — 

 " That in the rules relating to the election of Office-Bearers, the 

 word November be substituted for December." 



