23 
Dr. Balfour, in taking the chair, alluded to the value of the Society 
as a means of keeping upa friendly intercourse among those who 
were prosecuting the science of Botany. He alluded to the recent 
researches in regard to the class of plants called Diatomacee, which 
were now exciting the attention of botanists everywhere, more espe- 
cially since the publication of Mr. Smith’s work ; stated that a large 
microscopical collection had been made at the Botanic Garden, and 
that the specimens would be exhibited during the session ; and cons 
cluded by urging the young members to communicate their observa- 
tions, and by pointing out the importance of carefully examining even 
the commonest plants which they meet with in their walks. He 
announced several papers to be read during the session. 
A new part (concluding volume iv.) of the Society’s ‘ Transactions’ 
was placed on the table, containing papers by Professor Balfour, Mr. 
Babington, Professor M’Cosh, Dr. Greville, Major Madden, Dr. Wil- 
son, Dr. Macadam, and Dr. Macgowan. The Secretary stated that 
the price of the part had been fixed at 4s. 
Donations to the Society’s library and herbarium were announced, 
from the Smithsonian Institution, Washington ; the Cherbourg Natu- 
1al-History Society; the Natural-History Society of Switzerland ; 
Mr. Moore, of Chelsea; Dr. Beilschmied ; M. Auguste Le Jolis; Mr. 
Edwin Lees; Mr. Thomas, of Bristol; Dr. Philip Maclagan ; Lieut. 
Robert Maclagan; Professor Blytt, of Christiana; Mr. G. R. Tate ; 
Mr. A. G. More; Mr. John Sibbald; Mr. W. M. Ogilvie, of Dundee ; 
Mr. A. H. Balfour; Mr. John Smith, of Moffat; Messrs. Veitch & 
Son, of Exeter; Mr. Thomas Hay, of Prospect Bank, Leith; Mr. 
George Patton; Mr. George Wemyss Morison ; the Rev. Dr. Mitchell, 
of Whitburn; Mr. James Hunter, of Hafton; Mr. Baxter, of Riccar- 
ton; Mr. Thomas Cannan; Mr. Dumbreck; Professor Christison ; 
Dr. Lindsay ; Mr. W. H. Macfarlane ; and the Boston Natural-His- 
tory Society. 
Gamboge Plant. 
Dr. Balfour stated that a fine specimen of the gamboge-plant had 
been sent to the Botanic Garden by Dr. Christison. The specimen 
was about two feet in height, and had been sent by Mr. Robert Lit- 
tle, Surgeon, from Kampoot, the leading seaport town of Cambodia, 
in Siam. 
Diatomaceous Lorice of the Mull Deposit. 
* Dr. Balfour read a note from Professor Gregory, in which he stated 
that he had continued the examination of the Mull deposit of Diato- 
