176 
The fact is, that I had never either seen or heard of a native specimen 
until the appearance of that number; and Messrs. Hooker and Arnott 
seem to be in the same position. Smith’s remark led me to believe that 
it was only some accidental variation that was intended by him; and 
Fries’s note upon B. rutaceum seemed to show that such was also the 
fact in other countries. Is the figure upon page 135 taken from a 
British specimen? Ray and Dillenius do not appear to have known 
so much about itas Mr. Newman supposes ; for we learn from the 
2nd edition of Ray’s ‘Synopsis’ that the part of the quotation enclosed 
in brackets () is not a remark of either Ray or Dillenius, but of 
Doody, with the exception of the sentence beginning ‘ Est’ and 
ending with ‘288,’ which Dillenius added. In the present state of 
the question I shall not venture to give any opinion. — Charles C. 
Babington. 
Carex Meenchiana. 
“It is many years since I received a considerable number of speci- 
mens of Carices from the late Mr. S. Gibson, who was well known for 
his acuteness in detecting and discriminating plants. Amongst them 
I find two specimens of the plant named by him C. Meenchiana, on 
the authority, as he supposed, of Dr. Boott. Since receiving the 
plant, I have submitted it to the examination of that eminent bota- 
nist, and find, from the note written upon the paper, that he thinks 
it is— 
‘Vulgaris forma. F. B.’ 
The specimens are very young, having the anthers only just bursting ; 
and I do not see any reason to doubt the correctness of Dr. Boott’s 
last determination. The true C. Menchiana is probably a form of 
C. acuta.” —Id. 
BoTanicaL Society oF EDINBURGH. 
April 13, 1854.—Professor Balfour, President, in the chair. 
Donations. 
To the Library:—From the Liverpool Philosophical Institution, 
their ‘ Proceedings ;’ from Arthur Henfrey, F.L.S., his papers on the 
Reproduction of Ferns from their Spores, and on the Development of 
Marcbantia polymorpha; from Dr. Johnstone, Berwick-on-Tweed, his 
‘ Natural History of the Eastern Borders.’ 
Sa" 
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