432 



not apparently have arisen through human instrumentality ; and he observed that the 

 investigation of this subject vi^ould be attended with great interest, besides being of 

 importance in a national point of view. 



Dr. Neill said, that in his opinion the peat mosses of Scotland have generally been 

 formed at an earlier period than is usually supposed — ' some of them containing trees 

 which do not now exist in the country ; and he suggested that means should be taken 

 to ascertain the particular species of which the mosses consist, by taking specimens of 

 wood and seeds, or cones &c. from the successive layers, and duly noting their relative 

 position, with all such circumstances as might tend to establish a correct theory respect- 

 ing our aboriginal forest vegetation ; indeed he had once proposed that a prize should 

 be offered by the Highland Society for the best essay on, this subject ; but his propo- 

 sal had not been carried into effect.' 



Mr. Brand remarked that in this country, as in America, the forests in many places 

 appear to have been destroyed by fire ; and he instanced some oak trees in Dalkeith 

 Park, which seem to have been burnt down at an early period, and to have thrown out 

 new trunks from the stumps at a later date. 



Mr. Goodsir supposed that the increase of the peat might gradually render the soil 

 unfit for the support of trees ; and stated, in reference to a remark made by Professor 

 Graham, on the approach of the alpine plants in Shetland to the sea-edge, that this pe- 

 culiarity coincided with the elevation of the deep-sea invertebrate animals, to the high- 

 water mark in the same locality. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETy OF LONDON. 



November 4:, 1841. — Hewett Cottrell Watson, Esq., F.L.S., V^P., in the chair. 

 Donations to the library were announced from the American Academy of Sciences, 

 Philadelphia, the Horticultural Society of Berlin, and Mr. S. P. Woodward. British 

 plants had been received from Mr. G. W. Francis, Mr. S. P. Woodward, Mr. D. 

 Stock, Mr. B. D. Wardale, Mr. E. Ranking and Mr. S. Gibson. The Chairman pre- 

 sented a specimen of Cnicus Forsteri, which he said corresponded exactly with the cul- 

 tivated specimen of the same species preserved in Smith's herbarium. The specimen 

 exhibited by Mr. Watson was also a cultivated one ; the root having been found near 

 Whitemoor pond, in Surrey, in Jvine, 1841, and flowering specimens of it exhibited 

 before the Society last year. 



The wild specimens had from two to four flowers only on each stem ; whilst the 

 cultivated specimens had ten or a dozen each. Mr. W. exhibited the specimens for 

 the purpose of pointing out the differences between Cnicus Forsteri and C. pratensis ; 

 branched specimens of the latter species having been in several instances mistaken for 

 the former. 



Mr. Robert Ranking, F.L.S., presented a specimen of Plantago Coronopus, col- 

 lected at Hastings, showing the easy and natural transition from a spike to a raceme; 

 also a specimen of Dactylis glomerata, in which the glumes were become foliaceous. 



The commencement of a paper was read from Mr. George Clarke, of the island of 

 Mahe (communicated by Mr. H. W. Martin), " On Lodoicea Sechellarum,'^ which will 

 be concluded at the next meeting, when a copious report will be given. — G.E.D. 



