80 Botanical Society of Montreal. 



torily proved tliat some at least of the species are casts of the 

 pith of trees of the pine family, — the Coniferous trees of the coal 

 period having differed from our modern pines in possessing large 

 medullary cylinders. He then described some interesting speci- 

 mens from Nova Scotia, shewing the structure not only of the 

 wood, but of the transverse septa, and remains of the external bark 

 of the tree. He compared these specimens with recent woods 

 shewing a similar modification of the pith, and stated some facts 

 indicating that pith casts of this kind may have been furnished by 

 other plants as well as conifers. He concluded by drawing atten- 

 tion to the circumstance, that in very many cases the only remains 

 of large trees are these casts of the medullary cavities. Professor 

 Dawson is preparing for publication his recent observations on 

 this subject. 



At a subsequent monthly meeting of the Society, held March 

 6th, a very interesting paper was read by the Eev. A. F. Kemp 

 upon the " Algce of the Bermudas," which was illustrated by 

 numerous very beautiful and well-preserved specimens. This 

 paper will appear in the next number of the journal. 



(Signed,) J. G. BARNSTON, 



Secretary. 



