]24 BOTANICAL NEWS. 
touted by the death of the distinguished professor of anatomy. This melan- 
cboly event took place on 6th March, at South Cottage, Wardie, the same 
cottage in which Professor Edward Forbes died in 1854. Professor Uoodsir 
was born at Anstruther in 1814. He studied first at St. Andrew's, and then 
at Edinburgh. He was an apprentice of Mr. Nasmyth, the eminent dentist, 
and studied anatomy under Dr. Knox, natural history under Professor 
Jameson, and veterinary surgery under Professor Dick. He occupied for some 
y< ars the office of Conservator of the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, 
and he then became Demonstrator of Anatomy in the University, succeeding 
Dr. Monro as Professor of Anatomy in 1846. Since that time he has devoted 
himself assiduously and successfully to the duties of the chair. He embraced, 
in his researches, anatomy and physiology in all their brandies, both animal 
and vegetable. He joined the Botanical Society in 1841, and acted as secretary 
from 1842 to 1848, when he was chosen vice-president. He was an active 
member of the Wernerian Society, and, along with his brother Harry (who 
perished in the Franklin expedition) and Edward Forbes, he read many valu- 
able zoological papers to the Society. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society 
of Edinburgh in 1842, and of the Royal Society of London in 1846, after com- 
municating, through Professor Owen, a paper on the suprarenal thymus an 
thyroid bodies. He was one of the first comparative anatomists of the day, 
and he took a deep interest in veterinary matters. Goodsir was a sound ana- 
tomist, and totally differed from the modern views of science relative to the 
origin of man. His special lectures on man are well worthy of being pubhshe , 
and it is hoped that sufficient notes are left to enable some one to prepare them 
for the press. By the death of Professor Goodsir, science has been deprived o 
an original thinker, a most zealous and successful worker and discoverer, a 
his pupils have lost a warm and devoted friend and teacher. With a 
learning he was modest and unassuming, and he was always ready to aid o iers 
who were labouring in the cause of science. His lectures were not merey 
descriptive— they brought before the mind of the hearer philosophic views o 
anatomy of a highly suggestive nature. They will bear fruit in after years. 
His naturally robust frame suffered much from his continued and pressing 
anatomical labours. He was attacked with partial paralysis of the lower e 
tremities, which, after many years, ended in his death — the disease depen 
on atrophy of the spinal cord. 4. Report on the State of Open- Air V ege a- 
tion in the Royal Botanic Garden. By Mr. M'Nab. Since the last meeting 
of the Botanical Society (14th February, 1867), the weather has been very 
variable, and of such a nature as greatly to retard the progress of P en ' a ^ 
vegetation. The plants noted in bloom are Crocus vernus and Orobus vernu , 
on 15th February ; Scilla hifolia and Rhododendron atrovirens, on the 1 W 
Doronicum Caucasicu wand Symplocarpus faztidus, on the the 18th; I , 
cerasiformis, on the 20th ; Omphalodes verna, Arabis albida, on the -- » 
Sisynnchium grandiflorum alb urn," Scilla Sibirica, and Aubretia gram]) 1 > 
on the 23rd ; Iris reticulata, on the 2nd of March ; Narcissus pumil«$, on ^ 
4th; Narcissus minimus, on the 5th ; Scilla bifol/a major, on the 10 i, 
Tussilago Farfara, on the 13th. 5. Mr. John Sadler reported ihQ ^^ 
of Buxbaumia indusiata, in Ross-shire, by Mrs. Captain Clarke, ot 
This is the firot time that this mow has been met with in Scotland. 
