Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. 99 



Transactions and Periodicals. — British. 



The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. Conducted by Pro- 

 fessor Jameson. — January to April 1836. Edinburgh : A. & C. 

 Black. (Part 2d of Vol. xx.) 8vo. 



I. Zoology. 



P. J. Selby, Esq. " On the Quadrupeds and Birds inhabiting the county of 

 Sutherland, observed there during an excursion in the summerof 1834, p. 286." — 

 Contains a notice of the birds which were observed during the above-mentioned 

 excursion, a similar notice of the Mammalia having been communicated in a 

 preceding Number. The most worthy of remark are : — the occasional occur- 

 rence of the jerfalcon, (F. Islandicus,) the skin of a recently killed bird being 

 procured at Keoldale. Muscicapa grisola was seen on the confines of the county, 

 its most northern observed station in Scotland. SaUcaria phragmites, Curruca 

 cinerea, Sylvia trochilus were observed to the northern extremity of the county. 

 Linaria montium takes the place which L. cannabina does in the lowlands, and is 

 abundant. A bird considered to be Tetrao rupestris was shot on the Benmore 

 range. Totanus glottis was found breeding. Also Anser segetum, Mareca 

 penelope and Fuligula marilla. Colymbus arcticus was frequent, breeding on the 



more retired lochs J. V. Thomson, Deputy- Inspector of Hospitals. " Memoir 



on the star-fish of the genus Comatula, demonstrative of the Pentacrinus Eu- 



ropseus, being the young of our indigenous species," p. 295, with a plate 



An interesting memoir, detailing some very curious information regarding the 

 supposed states of the above-mentioned animal. The evidence, however, though 

 good, and most probable to be hereafter proved, is more circumstantial than di- 

 rect. 



II. Botany. 



Sir Edward French Bromhead, Bart — Remarks on the arrangement of 

 the natural botanical families, p. 245 — The author's object in the arrangement 

 which he proposes is, " to bring together the greatest possible number of admitted 



affinities, and if possible in continuous succession." Dr Graham, list of new 



and rare plants which have lately flowered in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, 

 chiefly in the Royal Botanic Garden, p. 412 — " Poinsettia — Involucrum mono- 

 phyllum, androgynum, basi 5-loculare, extus appendiculatum, nectariferum ; 

 flores pedicellati, nudi, masculi bifariam in singulis loculis, ordonati, monandri ; 

 feminei solitarii,germentrilobum, ovulum solitarium singulis lobis." — Formed by 

 Dr Graham from the Euphorbia pulcherrima of Willd. Rediscovered in Mexico 

 by Mr Poinsette, and sent by him to Charleston in 1828, afterwards to Mr 

 Buist of Philadelphia, whence it was brought to the Royal Botanic Garden of Edin- 

 burgh, by Mr J. Macnab in 1834 Sceptranthes — " Tubus clavatus erectus; 



limbus suberectus ; filamenta tubo adherentia, alternatim breviora ; antherae line- 

 ares, erectse prope faucem tubi subsessiles ; stigma trifidum, erectum; germen 

 capitatum." S. Drummondii, ( Zephyranthes Drummondii, Cooperia Drummon- 

 dii.) " The length of the tube, and especially the adhering filaments, seem to 

 me to remove the plant from the genus Zephyranthes ; the greater shortness 

 of the tube, the less flattened limb, and the stipitate germen, prevent me from 



