| Miscellaneous. 427 
spinosa; Anemone nemorosa, Keir woods ; Montia fontana; Geranium 
molle; Equisetum arvense, in fructification ; Viola canina ; Mercurialis 
perennis ; Corylus avellana; Luzula campestris; Luzula_ sylvatica, 
flowers beginning to expand; Chrysosplenium oppositifolium ; Cerasus 
avium, Kippenross; Cheiranthus Cheiri, Dunblane Cathedral; Salix 
caprea; Salix cinerea. 
Besides these, he noticed the occurrence of Valeriana pyrenaica, 
Sedum Telephium, and Convallaria majalis in the same district, but 
not in flower. 
7. Dr. Balfour exhibited a flowering specimen of Quassia amara, 
from the Botanic Garden, and gave a description of the various parts 
of the flower. He alsoshowed a specimen of Cinnamomum nitidum, 
which was in flower in the Botanic Garden, and made remarks on 
the distinctions betwixt it and C. eucalyptoides, with which it has 
been confounded. ‘The plant figured as C. nitidum in Hooker’s 
‘Exotic Flora’ and in Hayne’s Plates is C. eucalyptoides. A de- 
scription of these plants will appear in the ‘ Edinburgh New Philoso- 
phical Journal.’ 
8. Dr. Balfour exhibited a fine specimen of dry rot (Merulius 
lachrymans) on a plank several feet in length, taken from a cellar at 
Holyrood Palace. 
_ 9. Mr. Stark exhibited specimens of the following woods, and 
made some short remarks upon them, viz. :— 
Kydia calycina, used in clarifying sugar ; Myrica cerifera, Candle- 
berry Myrtle; Ficus indica, Banyan tree; Achras bullata, remark- 
able for its rapid growth and the density of its wood ; Paulownia im- 
perialis, Nerium Oleander, Rhododendron arboreum, Araucaria bra- 
ziliensis, Citrus vulgaris. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
_ Observations on the Geology and Natural History of Mevico. 
By W. H. Prasz. ? 
Havine noticed among the published correspondence from the 
army in Mexico but little information respecting the natural features 
of that country, I take the liberty of presenting to the Academy the 
result of a few hasty observations made on a part of the route from 
Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. But few opportunities for scien- 
tific investigations were afforded to those connected with the army, 
on account of the active operations they were incessantly engaged 
in, from the time of leaving the coast until the return of the army. 
I was enabled however, principally in company with scouting parties, 
to visit that part of the country between the range of volcanos, 
bounding the plains of Perote and Puebla on the east, and the Gulf 
of Mexico, comprising the greater part of the State of Vera Cruz, and 
to make some collections in natural history. 
The general outlines of the country I presume it is unnecessary for 
me to detail. The plains of Cuetlachlan, or the tierra caliente, as 
they are more usually called, comprise that region of country bor- 
