Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 419 
some account of the habits and circumstances of its growth. It 
occurs in the body of the Sphinz larva and in the pupa from August 
to the following April, at which time it changes to a nymph, and 
remains in this state for a month to six weeks and comes forth in 
June. The anatomy of the larva was then described and shown to 
be in every particular in strict accordance with the condition of life 
under which this parasite exists, and confirmatory of the view of the 
author that the habits of different species are invariably in accord- 
ance with peculiarities of function, and that these are dependent 
mainly on differences of detail of structure. 
BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 
March 14, 1850.—Professor Fleming, President, in the Chair. 
Mr. M‘Nab exhibited a specimen of Stenocarpus Cunninghami in 
flower ; a flowering spadix of Areca triandra, a palm which perfected 
its fruit in the Botanic Garden last season; and a cluster of male 
flowers of Chamerops humilis. 
Dr. M‘Donald exhibited a specimen of the leaf of Phormium tena 
grown in Argyllshire. The leaf was 6 feet 3 inches long, and 54 
inches broad. He stated that the plant thrives well in that part of 
Scotland, without any protection during winter. He also mentioned 
that in many places on the Mull of Cantyre, myrtles, hydrangeas, 
fuchsias, and other delicate plants, succeed admirably, without pro- 
tection. 
Mr. M‘Nab exhibited a specimen of Potentilla tridentata, sent by 
Mr. Westwood as a part of the plant picked by him and Mr. C. Stew- 
art, on Ben Wyvis, Ross-shire, about ten years since. Mr. M‘Nab 
undertook to investigate the Ben Wyvis station for this plant during 
the ensuing season. 
Mr. M‘Nab also exhibited from Mr. Ramsay a specimen of red 
fibrous matter attached to wood, taken from the wooden water-house 
of the Water Company on the Pentland Hills. The substance ap- 
peared to be very peculiar, and was remitted to Dr. Greville for ex- 
amination. 
Specimens of plants from the Quitinian Andes were presented from 
W. Jameson, Esq., of Quito, arranged according to their localities, as 
follows :— 
I. Specimens of the Flora of Pomasqui and San Antonio, lat. 0° 0’: 
height above the level of the sea 8697 feet. 
If. Plants from the level of Quito, lat. 0° 13'8.: altitude 9524 
feet above the level of the sea. 
III. Plants from the Region of Shrubs, from 11,000 to 13,000 
feet above the sea level. 
IV. Those of the lofty range of the Andes, as Pichincha, Chim- 
borazo and Antisana, from 13,000 to 15,500 feet above the level of 
the sea. 
Specimens of plants from Simla were exhibited from Lieut. R. 
Maclagan. Simla is in lat, 31° 6’ N.; long. 77° 13! 22" EK. Alti- 
tude, 7040 feet. 
27% 
