1914-15.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 407 



of the seed impossible. The fact that home-collected seeds 

 in this country germinate freely renders it possible that 

 they were from German-grown trees. 



Abies nobilis seeds do not retain their power of germina- 

 tion for more than one winter, and they are sensitive to 

 drought. These facts would probably point to October 1913 

 as the date on which the seeds were collected. 



The record and the specimen are of interest as there are 

 at present no details of its biology : it is possible that it 

 may direct attention to the cause of the damage ; and 

 material and information which will help to complete the 

 life-history would be welcomed. 



Abies nobUis as a park tree is well known, and varieties 

 of it are highly valued on account of their very beautiful 

 appearance. In such trees the occurrence of the insect 

 named would be of comparatively small importance. The 

 tree in its own country is valued on account of the timber. 

 which is sometimes sold as larch : it is, for indoor work. 

 equally valuable, but dues not possess the durability <:>r 

 strength. In this country it is fairly common in small 

 plantations. It is possible that the yield of seed from 

 these might be seriously affected by the insect. A com- 

 parison of the area of distribution of the Douglas fir and 

 of Abies nobilis shows that a very considerable part of 

 the areas is common to both. It would be natural to con- 

 clude that the natural home of the Douglas fir is also the 

 home of its seed parasite, and both have adapted themselves 

 well to conditions in this country. The seed parasite of the 

 Douglas fir is now a well-known enemy : a similar adapta- 

 tion of host and parasite may result in the case of Abu :s 

 nobilis unless a suitable remedy can be procured and 

 applied. 



I desire to thank the Rev. James Waterston (Imperial 

 Bureau of Entomology) for kindly informing me of the 

 previous records, and Dr. Stewart MacDougall for directing 

 me in my search for the identity of the specimen. 



