266 



ture ; but the Council are convinced that no farther material reduction can be made, 

 without greatly impairing the efficiency of the Society, and they desire to avoid, as far 

 as possible, the necessity of calling upon the Fellows to agree to a small charge being 

 placed upon the Society's publications, that appearing to be the most obvious means 

 of supplying the deficiency in the annual receipts. With this view they propose a 

 general subscription, which they trust may reach such an amount as to meet the pre- 

 sent liabilities, and to relieve the funds of the Society from the burthen of debt and 

 interest. They, therefore, earnestly recommend the subscription to the members of the 

 Society." The names of subscribers to the amount of £600 were appended to this 

 statement, which was circulated among the members present at the meeting. 



The following members have died during the past year : — J. Ausley, Sir W. Beat- 

 ty. Sir Charles Bell, Rev. I. Bell, J. E. Bowman, Rev. T. Butt, W. Cattley, Dr. E. 

 J. Clarke, Geo. Coles, R. Goolden, W. Harrison, Robert Higgin, Philip Hurd, Dr. J. 

 R. Johnson, A. B. Lambert, C. Lane, Richard Leigh, Robt. Maughan, Archibald 

 Menzies, and David Pennant ; Fellows. Of Foreign Members, Auguste Pyrame De 

 Candolle and Janus Wilken Hornemann. Of Associates, the Rev. R. F. Bree, Pro- 

 fessor Don, and Mr. C. E. Sowerby. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



June 9, 1842. — Dr. Neill in the chair. Donations to the library and herbarium 

 were announced from the Worcestershire Natural-History Society, Dr. Miguel, M. 

 Parlatore and Mr. Sowerby. 



Professor Graham communicated the agreeable intelligence, that the late Mr. Ar- 

 chibald Menzies had bequeathed to the Botanic Garden his interesting and valuable 

 herbarium, which was chiefly formed in the course of his voyages round the world with 

 Vancouver and other circumnavigators. Mr. Menzies was the last survivor of Van- 

 couver's companions, having lived to the age of eighty-eight. He was a native of 

 Perthshire, and studied at this University, towards which he continued throughout life 

 to entertain the warmest feelings of attachment. 



The chairman adverted, with deep regret, to the loss which the Society, in common 

 with the botanical world, had sustained by the death of Mr. Falconar of Carlowrie, who 

 was a most zealous and successful cultivator of the science, and who enjoyed, in a high 

 degree, the esteem and respect of his friends. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Notice of the discovery of Phascum alternifolium (Bruch &c.) in Dumfriesshire, 

 and of Arenaria verna, on the west coast of Scotland : communicated by Mr. James 

 Cruickshank. This Phascum is not the plant of Hooker, which is the Archidium 

 phascoides of continental botanists. The present plant was formerly discovered in Bri- 

 tain, but long ago and in very smaU quantity. It is, in the opinion of Mr. Wilson, a 

 good species. Arenaria verna was found at Drumlanrig, by Mr. Cruickshank. It is 

 very rare, if existing at all, on the west coast of Scotland.* 



2. Notice on the occurrence of Avena alpina and Saxifraga umbrosa in Yorkshire : 

 by Mr. J. Tatham, jun.f Mr. Tatham says, — " Avena alpina grows here (Settle) at an 



* There is a discrepancy between the Pv,eport and Mr. Cruickshank's note, Phytol. 263. 

 I See also a note by Mr. Simpson, Phytol. 75. 



