I860.] FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 181 



confluent by the union of two or more peridia. It is excellently 

 figured by Greville. 



^THALIUM. 



Peridium indeterminate^ falling away^ covered with the floccose 

 bark^ within divided by flocci into cells. 



-^THALiuM sEPTicuM, L. Common j^thalium. Effused or 

 roundish^ yellow, cinnamon, or pallid. Spores at length black. 

 —Grev. Sc. Crypt. FL t. 272. 



On tan in hothouses, on twigs and mosses in woods, etc. ; 

 common. 



Very variable, often spreading in irregular masses to nearly a 

 foot in breadth, and an inch or more in thickness. The general 

 colour of the exterior is a bright yellow, though there is a variety 

 of a violet colour. When mature the whole plant is a crumb- 

 ling mass of dark-brown spores. 



A curious plant, well known as a pest in hothouses and tan- 

 pits, where it is often injurious from the rapidity of its growth. 



Mosshurnford, May 5, 1860. 



FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 



In our last report of this Society the following omissions oc- 

 curred : — After the report of Mr. Carruthers' paper on " Palse- 

 ontological Botany " (Feb. 21st), in reference to the two papers 

 on Geology following it, insert — " 2. On the economic value of 

 the Old Red Sandstone of Caithness. 3. Notes on the shell- 

 banks of Huna, on the shores of the Pentland Frith, illustrative 

 of the formation of lime in the ancient seas; by Mr. Robert 

 Brown. Both papers were the result of observations made dur- 

 ing a visit in the past autumn, and were illustrated by specimens 

 and sketches taken on the spot." It was Mr, C. W. Peach, of 

 Wick, who found Corynactes viridis near the coast of Stroma, 

 Caithness, and communicated it in a private note to Mr. Brown, 

 who noticed it to the Society. 



