322 



July 30. Read, Notice of Recent Excursions in the Neighbour- 

 hood of Edinburgh; by Dr. Graham. 



" Dr. Graham stated that Epilobium alsinifolium, said to have been found on the 

 Ochil Hills, appeared to him to be only a variety of E. tetragonum ; that Salix her- 

 bacea and Gnaphalium supinum had been found sparingly on Ben Clach, a mountain 

 of that range ; and that Galium pusillum, Rubus Chamaemorus, Polygonum vivipa- 

 rum, Lycopodium Selago and selaginoides, had been gathered in the same locality. 



" Dr. Graham also mentioned that he had found several fine specimens of Oroban- 

 che rubra on the cliffs below St. David's, Fife, and one specimen of Anthemis tinctoria 

 on ballast-heaps near the same place. Epipactis ensifolia he stated to have been found 

 near Dunfermline by a lady." — p. 63. 



Dr. Herbert Giraud read a paper " On the Existence of Nitrogen 

 in Plants, considered with reference to their development, and to their 

 serving as food for animals." The author first pointed out the rela- 

 tions of nitrogen in the constitution of organized beings, and that it 

 " appears to be the most essential element of organization." That all 

 the tissues of plants contain nitrogen, is shown by the experiments of 

 the author, as well as by those of Boussignault, Pay en and Rigg; 

 who have also proved " that vegetables have the power of deriving 

 that element from the atmosphere." The proportion of nitrogen 

 varies from about three to five per cent. Speaking of M. Boussig- 

 nault's researches the author remarks : — 



" The results of his experiments have shown, that the proportion of nitrogen in any 

 vegetable tissue or organ, bears an intimate relation to the activity of the vital func- 

 tions with which the tissue or organ is endowed. Thus, in that part of the seed in 

 which germination commences, nitrogen predominates. Seeds also, which germinate 

 most readily and most rapidly, contain the largest quantity of nitrogen. With regard 

 to woody structures, it appears that the alburnum, which greatly exceeds the heart- 

 wood in the activity of its functions, contains by far the largest proportion of nitrogen. 

 Those timbers also, which grow most rapidly, contain the largest proportion of nitro- 

 gen." — p. 64. 



(To be continued). 



Art. LXXXI V. — Notice of the * Transactions of the Microscopical 

 Society of London.^ Vol. i. pt. i. London : Van Voorst. 1842. 



This part, containing 86 pages Royal 8vo. and illustrated with 8 

 plates, has just been laid before the public, and affords ample evi- 

 dence of the active and industrious spirit which animates this young 

 but prosperous Society. The papers are twelve in number ; seven of 

 these are zoological, four botanical and one geological. We give a 

 short analysis of the botanical papers in the order in which they occur. 



