Miscellaneous. 427 



spinosa; Anemone nemorosa, Keir woods ; Montia fontana ; Geranium 

 molle ; Equisetum arvense, in fructification ; Viola canina ; Mercurialis 

 'perennis ; Corylus avellana ; Luzula campestris ; Luzula sylvatica, 

 flowers beginning to expand ; Chrysosplenium oppositifolium ; Cerasus 

 avium, Kippenross ; Cheirunthus Cheiri, Dunblane Cathedral ; Salix 

 capraa ; Salix cinerea. 



Besides these, he noticed the occurrence of Valeriana pyrenaica, 

 Sedum Telephium, and Convallaria majalis in the same district, but 

 not in flower. 



7. Dr. Balfour exhibited a flowering specimen of Quassia amara, 

 from the Botanic Garden, and gave a description of the various parts 

 of the flower. He also showed a specimen of Cinnumomum nitidum, 

 which was in flower in the Botanic Garden, and made remarks on 

 the distinctions betwixt it and C. eucalyptoides , with which it has 

 been confounded. The plant figured as C. nitidum in Hooker's 

 ' Exotic Flora ' and in Hayne's Plates is C. eucalyptoides. A de- 

 scription of these plants will appear in the ' Edinburgh New Philoso- 

 phical Journal.' 



8. Dr. Balfour exhibited a fine specimen of dry rot (Merulius 

 lachrymans) on a plank several feet in length, taken from a cellar at 

 Holyrood Palace. 



9. Mr. Stark exhibited specimens of the following woods, and 

 made some short remarks upon them, viz. : — 



Kydia calycina, used in clarifying sugar ; Myrica cerifera. Candle- 

 berry Myrtle ; Ficus indica, Banyan tree ; Achras bullata, remark- 

 able for its rapid growth and the density of its wood ; Paulownia im- 

 perialis, Nerium Oleander, Rhododendron arboreum, Araucaria bra- 

 ziliensis. Citrus vulgaris. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Observations on the Geology and Natural History of Mexico. 

 By W. H. Pease. 



Having noticed among the published correspondence from the 

 army in Mexico but little information respecting the natural features 

 of that country, I take the liberty of presenting to the Academy the 

 result of a few hasty observations made on a part of the route from 

 Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. But few opportunities for scien- 

 tific investigations were afl'orded to those connected with the army, 

 on account of the active operations they were incessantly engaged 

 in, from the time of leaving the coast until the return of the army. 

 I was enabled however, principally in company with scouting parties, 

 to visit that part of the country between the range of volcanos, 

 bounding the plains of Perote and Puebla on the east, and the Gulf 

 of Mexico, comprising the greater part of the State of Vera Cruz, and 

 to make some collections in natural history. 



The general outlines of the country I presume it is unnecessary for 

 me to detail. The plains of Cuetlachlan, or the tierra caliente, as 

 they are more usually called, comprise that region of country bor- 



