179 
side by side with Lastrea dilatata, but I nowhere observed Athyrium 
Filix-femina associated with, or at the same elevation as Polypodium 
alpestre.” This statement was not in accordance with what was 
observed by Dr. Balfour and his party during their trip to Clova at 
the beginning of August last. They found Athyrium Filix-femina and 
- Polypodium alpestre growing together, both in Glen Fiadh and 
in Glen Dole. In many instances it was necessary to look at the 
fructification, in order to avoid picking the one for the other. At the 
head of Glen Dole, and above the path called Jock’s Road, both ferns 
grew luxurianily. Polypodium alpestre descends much lower than 
has been supposed. I¢ was found at little more than fifty feet above 
the Dole, on the bank below the Astragalus alpinus cliff. 
Mr. G. Lawson remarked that a statement similar to that of Mr. 
Croall had been made to him last summer, and he was thus led to pay 
particular attention to the point when he visited Clova as one of Pro- 
fessor Balfour’s party. Such statements were quite at variance with 
obvious facts, the Athyrium being a frequent associate of Polypodium 
alpestre. This circumstance, together with the variability of both 
plants (whose respective varieties are in some cases very similar 
to each other), rendered it often difficult to distinguish the one from 
the other, without inspecting the sori; and a collector who allowed 
himself to be guided by the fancy that Athyrium ceases at the eleva- 
tion where Polypodium alpestre begins, would be certain to col- 
lect a mixture ; it was therefore important that the error should be 
corrected. 
The following papers were read :— 
Dyeing Properties of Lichens. 
‘Experiments on the Dyeing Properties of the Lichens;’ by W. 
Lauder’ Lindsay, M.D., Assistant-Physician, Royal Crichton Institu- 
tion, Dumfries. 
The author presented to the Society the tabulated results of between 
500 and 600 experiments made two or three years ago ; the chief ob- 
ject of which was to endeavour to call attention to the fact, that we 
possess, in our own island, lichens capable of furnishing dyes nearly, 
if not quite, equal in beauty to orchil, cudbear, and litmus. He had 
so fully occupied the time of the Society on previous occasions with 
detailed views on this subject, and with various papers on general 
points in the natural history of the lichens, that on the present occa- 
sion he confined himself to a few facts explanatory of the tables :— 
