306 [Proc. B.N.F.C, 



Avens, and among the extinct animals the Reindeer and 

 Mammoth. The Eastern or Germanic types followed, when 

 animals such as the " Irish Elk," the Bear, Swallowtail Butterfly, 

 and Roman Snail were touched on. A few interesting cases of 

 very restricted distribution, and references to the glaciation of the 

 Brandon mountain range in Kerry closed the address. 



At the conclusion of the address an animated and interesting 

 discussion took place, in which the following took part : — Messrs. 

 N. H. Foster, W. J. C. Tomlinson, F. Balfour Browne, H. 

 Lamont Orr, and William Swanston. 



The election of Mr. R. H. Whitehouse, M.Sc, to member- 

 ship concluded the meeting. 



PLANT LIFE IN A WOOD. 



The first meeting for the Winter of the Botanical Section was 

 held in the Museum on 19th November. Rev. C. H. Waddell, 

 B.D., in continuation of the subject of the Ecology of Plants, 

 which had been commenced the previous season, gave an account 

 of plant life in the woodlands. 



Trees were of course the dominant species, but dependent 

 upon them and associated with them was a community of shrubs, 

 herbaceous plants, mosses, and fungi. He shewed how the 

 character of the association depended to a large extent upon the 

 species of trees which formed the wood. Beech, oak, and fir 

 woods all had their special associations. Our deciduous forest 

 trees are mesophytes in contrast to pines which are xerophytes. 



The character of the association depends upon environment, 

 soil, light, temperature, shelter, and other factors. Perhaps light 

 is the most important, and there is continual competition for 

 it. Some trees such as birch require more light than others 

 (heliophytes), others like beech are sciophytes or shade plants and 

 can do with less, as the leaves are adapted to use all that is 

 available. A mosaic of leaves is formed to catch the light. In 

 beech woods the shade is so dense that little underwood can exist. 



