120 TODMORDEN BOTANICAL SOCIETY. [April, 



As some readers of the ' Phytologist' may wish to join these 

 zealous Lancashire botanists^ we have much pleasure in giving 

 publicity to the foregoing appointments. 



The number of specimens laid on the table was limited, but 

 there were several very interesting forms of the Hart's-tongue, 

 Scolopendi'ium vulgare ; also some highly interesting varieties 

 of Polystichum angulare, gathered by the President in the course 

 of a recent ramble in the neighbourhood of Stainland; inter alia, 

 P. ang. cristatum, and P. ang. subtripinnatum. A large leaf of 

 the splendid ornamental-foliaged plant, Maranta zebrina, was 

 brought from Vale Nurseries ; also specimens, in flower, of the 

 beautiful Franciscea confertifolia, the very curious Rhipsalis sali- 

 cornoides, Centradenia floribunda, etc. Among hardy herbaceous 

 plants from the same place, Helleborus orientalis and H. olympicus 

 were remarkable. 



The choice of books was duly proceeded with. From the 

 eagerness with which almost every description of work was called 

 for, it was evident to us that there could not be many books 

 with uncut leaves in the Society's library; and we were most 

 agreeably surprised to find that such of the books even as contain 

 botanical mysteries, hidden under the guise of not very elegant 

 Latinity, and designated by clumsy and uncouth Latin names, 

 are not allowed to get dusty ; on calling for a work of this cha- 

 racter we found we had been forestalled. These are healthy 

 signs, and we are glad to report them. 



Our report would be very incomplete were we not to notice a 

 specimen of a fossil plant, from the Millstone Grit rock, brought 

 by T. E. Hammerton, Esq. The specimen in question was one of 

 those denominated " swords " by the quarry-men. It was from 

 eighteen inches to two feet in length, and much flatter than 

 ordinary, presenting no appearance of having been cylindrical, 

 except at the inferior end. It was difficult to say, from the con- 

 dition in which the specimen was brought, whether it had be- 

 longed to the endogenous or acrogenous plants ; if to the latter, 

 it would probably be of the genus Calamites of Lindley and 

 Hutton, but if so, it must have been an excorticated specimen, 

 for no distinct traces were observable of the longitudinal grooves 

 and cross-joints characterizing these plants ; if to the former, it 

 must have been a gigantic Reed : that such existed at the time 

 the Millstone Grit was deposited, is very probable. The Presi- 



