TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 85 



long ago brouglit from America to Europe in order to furnish a represcutative of tlie 

 section to which it belongs, and as afterwards lost froniits original habitat, or as the 

 last species of the section remaining in Europe after all its allits had been destroyed. 

 But whatever happened in early ages, the present geogTaphical distribution of Aster 

 saliffnus is not inconsistent with its extending to Britain, where it might be expected 

 to occur in such a locality as "Wicken Een. Professor Balfour exhibited in 1665 

 specimens of a Scotch Aster, apparently Aster saUgnus (saUcifvlhis), before the Bota- 

 nical Society of Edinburgh. 



Kote. — A specimen of this plant was found by Mr. Brown of Cambridge, on 

 Wicken Fen in 18(54, and given to the Professor of Botany ; but it remained un- 

 named imtil after the reading of this paper. 



On the Boring of Limestones hj certain Annelids. By E, Eay Laneestee. 



The author drew attention to the boring of Suhella cakarca (already noticed by 

 Spence Bate and by De Quatrefages), and also to the more interesting case of 

 Lmcodore, which was new. Leircodore is very abundant on some shores, where 

 boulders and pebbles may be found worm-eaten and riddled by these worms. Only 

 stones composed of carbonate of lime are bored by them. On coasts where such 

 stones are rare thev are selected, and all others are left. The worms are quite soft, 

 and armed only with horny bristles. IIow, then, do they bore ? The author main- 

 tained that it "was by the carbonic acid and other acid excretions of their bodies, 

 aided by the mechanical action of their bristles. The selection of a material soluble 

 in these acids is most noticeable, since the softest chalk and the liardcst limestone 

 are bored witli the same facility. Tliis can only be by chemical action. If, then, 

 we have a case of chemical boring in these worms, is it not probable that many 

 mollusks are similarly assisted in their excavations ? The author did nut deny the 

 mechanical action in the F/wlas and other shells, but maintained that in many cases 

 the cooperation of acid excreta was probable. The truthwas to be found in a 

 theory which combined the chemical and the mechanical view. 



On the 'Anatomy of tJie Limpet. By E. Eay Lankestee. 

 The author drew attention to several points in the anatomy of this interesting 

 mollusk which had escaped previous obseners, and wliich he had ascertained. 

 Prof. RoUeston, of Oxford, had assisted the author in contirming his results and 

 otferinc suggestions. The points noted were : 1st. The existence of a large yellow 

 salivary gland with four ducts. 2nd. The absence of an oviduct. 3rd. The pre- 

 sence of two capito-pedal orifices, perhaps the exits of the ova and seed. 4th. The 

 structure of the large renal sac, which has two external apertures on either side of 

 the anus, and a minute orifice communicating with the pericardium. The water ex- 

 uded by the limpet when surprised on its rock probably is squeezed from this organ. 



On ilie Conserviiiion of Forests in our Colonies. 

 By W. Lauder Lindsay, M.D., F.li.S.E., F.L.S. 

 The main object of this paper is to urge the establishment of Boards of Commis- 

 sioners or Inspectors of Woods and Forests in all the British colonies which are, 

 or admit of being, more or less forest-clad — in_ order to the 



(1) Preservation and improvement of the primitive forests; and 



(2) The systematic rearing of new forests by way of substitution or replacement as 

 and before the old ones disappear. 



The author enters fully on the grounds which lead to the conclusion that a 

 necessity exists for the establishment of such Boards, and that properly cultivated 

 forests a're of primary importance to the progress of all countries, young or old. The 

 autlior's attention was strongly drawn to the subject while travelling in New Zea- 

 land in 1801. The observations he records were principally made in that colony ; 

 but subsequent or prior investigation in Australia and various countries or islands 

 of F.urope, in C( nnexion with a .study of the literature of the subject, lead him to 

 believe that his suggestions will be' found to apply mvfatis mutandis to all our 

 forest-clad colonies in at least the earlier stages of their settlement. 



