on PEAT MOSS DEPOSITS. 431 



clay occurt; in adiixe places on the banks of and partly under the River 

 Tees at about 2,000 feet, crowded with well-preserved leaves of /Salix 

 reticulata and aS". Arhuscula. The stems and frequently the leaves of these 

 plants are abundant at the base of the peat over the whole of this 

 district. 



The complete correlation of these beds with similar ones described 

 from various districts in the Highlands ^ is not possible until the peat at 

 lower levels has been examined and the position of either one or both of 

 the forest beds determined. 



For this purpose I request permision to retain the balance of the grant, 

 11. 5s. Id., now in my hands, so that the Caithness and Cross Fell Districts 

 should be finished during the present year. 



Research on South African Gycads. — Interim Report of the Committee, 

 consisthuj of Mr. A. C. Seward {Chairman), Mr. R. P. Gregory 

 {Secretary), Dr. D. H. Scott, and Dr. "W. H. Lang. 



A. Professor Pearson has made two journeys into the Cycad region, 

 viz. : — 



1. September 20-27, 1905. To Queenstown, the centre of the area of 

 a species of Encephalartos known as E. ci/cadifolius. 



2. April 26 to May 7, 1906. To East London and the surrounding 

 country. Here are found Enceijhalartos Altensteinii, ' Encephalartos 

 nillosus,' and a Stangeria. He also paid a second visit to E. cijcadifolius 

 at Queenstown on his return. 



The biology and conditions of life of these species have also been 

 studied, and a small paper on the subject is communicated to the Asso- 

 ciation at the present meeting. Hei'barium specimens have also been 

 collected with a view to a systematic revision of the group, and material 

 has been fixed for reasearch on their life-histories. 



B. Professor Pearson has also been able to interest in these investiga- 

 tions certain forest officers and private persons residing in the cycad 

 districts, from whom he has been constantly receiving cones and hei'barium 

 material. 



C. Professor Pearson has almost concluded an investigation into the 

 development of the microspore of Stangeria, a stage which Dr. Lang's 

 material did not enable him to follow out. The preparations are all made 

 and some of the figures drawn. The author is disappointed that he can 

 only communicate a preliminary note on the subject to this meeting of 

 the Association, as unforeseen circumstances have prevented him from 

 completing the work in time. 



D. A large number of preparations of various stages of the archegonium 

 and of the germinating pollen of Encej^halartos Altensteinii has also been 

 made : a large amount of fixed material of this and other species is awaiting 



' Francis J. Lewis, ' The Plant Rem.ains in the Scottish Peat Mosses. Part 1.: 

 The Scottish Southern Uplands,' Trans. Royal Soc. Bdin., vol, xli., No. 28, 1905, 

 24 pp., 7 plates and diagrams. ' The Plant Remains in the Scottish Peat IMosses. 

 Part ir. : The Scottish Highlands,' Trans. Royal Soc. Edin., June 18, 1906, 30 pp., 

 6 plates and diagrams. 



