313 



got there the only things worth notice. Among these were Aira alpina, Poa glauca, 

 Alchemilla alpina, Galium boreale, Saxifraga oppositifolia, S. stellaris, S. nivalis (three 

 or four specimens only), S. aizoides, Cochlearia officinalis, Carex rigida (very little in 

 fruit), C. pallescens, Luzula spicata, Salix herbacea, Saussurea alpina (on one spot 

 only), Aspidium spinulosum in various forms, Asplenium viride, Hymenophyllum 

 Wilsoni in abundance, and in moist pasture, some way up the mountain, Carum ver- 

 ticillatum." — p. 24. 



The last excursion mentioned is that by Messrs. Brand and Camp- 

 bell in September, from Edinburgh by Perth and Dunkeld to Blair 

 Athol, thence to Cawdor Castle in Nairnshire. On Craig-y-Barns, a 

 hill north of the park at Dunkeld, Saxifraga umbrosa was observed 

 covering acres of ground, and in some places forming the entire turf 

 to the exclusion of everything else, with every appearance of being 

 native ; but the presence of Hypericum calycinum and other certain- 

 ly introduced plants, induced our travellers to believe that the Saxi- 

 fraga had been planted there, though at a remote period. From the 

 Sow of Athol Menziesia caerulea has been nearly eradicated, only two 

 plants having been found after a long search : at the foot of the moun- 

 tain Carex pauciflora was abundant. In one place by the roadside 

 between Dalnacardoch and Blair occuiTed what was considered to be 

 the true Arctium Bardana, a plant so distinct from A. Lappa, that the 

 propriety of sinking it as a species is questioned. But while an old 

 specific distinction might thus be restored, the travellers seem disposed 

 to discard a new one : for Rumex aquaticus, found frequently near 

 Cawdor Castle, on being examined in different situations, was thought 

 to " shade away towards, if not into, Rumex crispus." Among other 

 good plants abounding in the Cawdor woods were Rubus saxatilis, 

 Goodyera repens and Trientalis europaea ; the latter is sometimes of 

 " remarkable size ; Mr. Stables having one plant whose branches, 

 spread out, measured about one foot square." Lapsana pusilla and 

 Loliura temulentum were observed near Elgin, usually among wheat. 



" Mr. Gorrie has been the first to discover Orobus niger in the Pass of Killiecran- 

 kie, scattered over a piece of ground in the coppice wood, at least twenty yards across, 

 and far removed from any cultivated ground." — p. 26. 



III. Observations on a Metamorphosed Variety of Antirrhinum majus. By 

 Herbert Giraud, M.D., Member of the Council of the Botanical So- 

 ciety. 



" The general growth and habit of this plant corresponded with its normal condi- 

 tion, and the stems, leaves and sepals answered to their specific characters. But the 

 petals, with the other parts of fructification, existed in a state of very singular trans- 

 formation, — affording a striking illustration of the great doctrine of morphology, — 



