1061 



doubting if the CE. peucedanifolia of British authors is found in salt 

 marshes, and believing that it is QL. Lacheualii that inhabits them. 

 It is also not a little singular that so acute an observer and excellent 

 a botanist as the compiler of the London Catalogue, having, as we 

 now learn, specimens of both GE. pimpinelloides and CE. Lachenalii 

 before him, should have excluded from his list that which he will pro- 

 bably now allow to be the more common plant, and inserted one which 

 is very local in its distribution. — Charles C. Bahington ; Ross, Here- 

 fordshire, July 14, 1844. 



Art. CCXXXII. — Proceedings of Societies. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



Thursday, June 13, 1844. Professor Graham, President, in the chair. 



After a delightful walk through the garden and plant houses, ac- 

 companied by the learned President, who pointed out many of the 

 beautiful specimens which they contain, the meeting re-assembled in 

 the class-room, when the following papers were read. 



I. On four genera of Desmidieae ; by Mr. John Ralfs, Penzance. 

 The genera are Cosmarium, Pediastrum, Xanthidium and Scenedes- 

 mus, and the descriptions of them, which were accompanied by illus- 

 trative drawings, will shortly appear in the ' Annals and Magazine of 

 Natural History.' 



II. Continuation of Mr. James M'Nab's Journal of a Tour through 

 part of the United States and the Canadas. In the previous part of 

 this journal, Mr. M'Nab gave a brief outline of the principal botanical 

 and horticultural features observed in the neighbourhood of New York. 

 The part now read, embraced chiefly the appearance of the country 

 around Albany, with an account of the most interesting plants seen 

 during the journey thither. Among these the most remarkable were 

 several species of Lycopodium, with which the peaty soils on the road 

 sides around Albany were covered, consisting of L. complanatum, 

 clavatum and dendroides, the latter resembling at a distance young 

 spruce fir-trees — being similarly shaped and of a lively green colour. 

 In damp situations in the close forests, Adiantum pedatum and other 

 ferns covered large tracts, while Pyrola elliptica and rotundifolia, with 

 Chemophylla raaculata and umbellata were in full flower along the 

 drier parts. Satyrium herbiola and Neottia tortilis were also observ- 

 ed — the latter growing chiefly in pairs. The principal plants noticed 

 in the meadows or open grounds were Lilium Philadelphicum and 

 Canadense, Mimulus ringens, Verbena hastata and Urticae folia, and 



