84 



plants found under peculiar conditions, such as those referred to. On 

 a farther examination of the peat, Mr. Matthews detected numerous 

 species of Diatou)acesB, belonging to genera which were considered 

 by Ehrenberg as referrible to the animal kingdom, and figured by him 

 as such in his splendid work on Infusoria. Mr. Cobbold aided Mr. 

 Matthews in these researches, and their combined labours have de- 

 tected numerous species, belonging to the following genera : — Navi- 

 cula, Cocconema, Gallionella, Campylodiscus, Fragillaria, Diatoraa, 

 Euastrum, Gomphonema, &c., along with some spiculae of sponges. 

 The leaves found in the peat having been examined by Dr. Voelcker, 

 give the following result: — Ash from leaves dried at 210,° — 32"46. 

 Ash of a reddish colour, apparently from the presence of oxide of 

 iron ; resembles ordinary peat-ashes in many respects. Dr. Balfour, 

 in conclusion, alluded to the occurrence of Diatomacese in immense 

 quantities at the bottom of the ocean, in northern and southern polar 

 regions, as well as at the mouths of rivers ; and gave some of the 

 observations of Ehrenberg and others on the Infusoria occurring in 

 Iceland, Spitzbergen, North and South America, Africa, and the 

 Falkland Islands. He also remarked on the specific identity of the 

 Diatomaceae found in different regions. 



3. ' Notice of a Lepidodendron found in Craigleith Quarrj', and of 

 a species of Dadoxylon discovered in the sandstone of Arthur's Seat;' 

 by Mr. A. Bryson. Mr. B. exhibited a very fine section, measuring 

 six by five inches, of Lepidodendron obovatum from Craigleith, which 

 is apparently allied to L. Harcourtii, iJ/'o;///;?., and in which the struc- 

 ture is distinctly shown. He also exhibited a section of Dadoxylon 

 from sandstone under the trap of Salisbury Crags, showing disk-bear- 

 ing woody tissue : this plant Mr. B. supposes to be allied to Dadoxy- 

 lon (Pinites) Withami, which is found at Craigleith. Mr. Bryson 

 stated his opinion that Lepidodendron would be found closely allied 

 to the tree-ferns of the present day. 



In allusion to the beautiful sections exhibited by Mi*. Bryson, Dr. 

 Balfour took the opportunity to call attention to the labours of Mr. 

 Wm. Nicol, who had been the first to prepare such specimens, and 

 whose great exertions had been too much neglected. 



4. ' Notice of several new Indian plants ;' by Dr. Cleghorn, 

 H.E.I.C.S. Dr. C. stated that he was indebted to Dr. Wight for 

 publishing some of his drawings of Mysore plants in that great work, 

 the * IconesPlantarum InditB Orientalis,' now in progress; and which, 

 while it will form a lasting monument to the industry and labours of 



