Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 349 



00. Ibis cethiopica. 



101. W. Glottis canescens (Gm.). (6r. chloropus, Nilss.) 



102. W. Totanus hypoleucus (Linn.). 



103. W. Pelidna minuta, Leisl, 



104. "W. Pelidna subarquata (Gm.). 



105. Machetes pugnax (Linn.). 



106. Crex pratensis, Bechst. 



107. W. Sar/cidiomis africana, Eyton. 



108. Chenalopex cegyptiacus. 



109. W. Dendrocygna viduata (Linn.). We have the authority of 

 Jacquin, Azara, and other authors, for the occurrence of this bird in 

 S. America. If this be the case, it will form the only known instance 

 of a non-marine bird being indigenous to both the African and South 

 American continents, without occurring in Europe, Asia, or North 

 America. Before, however, admitting this remarkable exception to 

 the laws of geographical distribution, the absolute specific identity of 

 the African and American specimens should be established by careful 

 comparison, which, as far as I am aware, has not yet been done. 



110. Sterna anglica, Mont. 



111. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linn.). 



112. W. Pelecanus rvfescens. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



Feb. 12, 1852. — Professor Balfour, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Dr. Greville presented an additional collection of Fungi to the 

 Society's Herbarium. Among them were some very good species 

 from Jamaica, communicated and determined by Kunze ; others from 

 Schweinitz, of North Carolina, which are authentic for many of his 

 published species. 



The following papers were read : — 



1 . "On the Uses of Stillingia sebifera, the Tallow Tree of China, 

 being the substance of a communication made to the Agricultural 

 and Horticultural Society of India," by D. J. Macgowan, M.D. 

 Communicated by Dr. Coldstream. The botanical characters of this 

 Euphorbiaceous plant are too well known to require description, but 

 hitherto no accurate account has been published of its varied uses, 

 and although it has become a common tree in some parts of India 

 and America, its value is appreciated only in China, where alone its 

 products are properly elaborated. Dr. Macgowan remarks : — 



" The Stillingia sebifera is prized for the fatty matter which it 

 yields ; its leaves are employed as a black dye ; its wood, being hard 

 and durable, is used for printing blocks and various other articles ; and 

 finally, the refuse of the nut is employed as fuel and manure. 



" It is chiefly cultivated in the provinces of Kiangsi, Kongnain, and 

 Chehkiang. In some districts near Hangchan, the inhabitants defray 

 all their taxes with its produce. It grows alike on low alluvial plains 

 and on granite hills, on the rich mould at the margin of canals, and 

 on the sandy sea-beach. The sandy estuary of Hangchan yields 

 "little else Some of the trees at this place are known to be several 



