1 908-1909.] An Account of the Excursions (1909). 177 



hall were botanised. The special feature was the ferns, of 

 which the number and variety were remarkable, and the 

 elegance of their foliage attracted much interest. Mr Alex- 

 ander Cowan pointed out some of their prominent characters, 

 and Lastrea spinulosa and Polystichuvi angular e were noted 

 among the rare native species. Various sedges and grasses 

 were collected. A pretty and uncommon discomycete was 

 gathered by Mrs Mackenzie ; and Mr Eraser found the rare 

 grass, Poa chaixii, in a secluded spot in the woods. After 

 being entertained by Mr Menzies, the party visited the 

 gardens and hothouses. Some good work was done at this 

 meeting, and the members are indebted to the Treasurer for 

 one of the most interesting and enjoyable outings of the season. 



This finished the field meetings except two, and it was not 

 until the afternoon of Saturday, 1st October, that the field 

 excursions were resumed. Under the leadership of Mr Rupert 

 Smith, a fungus foray was held in Humbie Woods, Aberdour. 

 Permission was granted by the Factor of the Earl of Morton 

 to botanise these woods. The members, numbering thirty-three, 

 seemed all to take an interest in gathering fungi, and with the 

 help of so many a large collection was soon made. Among 

 the rarer species collected were Amanita pantherina, Polyporus 

 giganteus, Tremella albicla, and a singularly beautiful fungus 

 found by Mr Douglas — Tremellodon gelatinosum. Several myx- 

 omycetes or slime-fungi, which show greater affinities with the 

 animal than the vegetable kingdom, were also found. 



The last excursion of the season was to Bedford Woods 

 and Bavelaw Castle. Mr Scott Tait, a member of the Society, 

 kindly granted the members permission to botanise the woods, 

 and under the leadership of Dr Watson, and with an attend- 

 ance of thirty-two, a large number of fungi was soon col- 

 lected. Mr D. A. Boyd, from the Natural History Society of 

 Glasgow, accompanied the members on this excursion and 

 collected a number of micro-fungi. He was successful in 

 finding on the leaves of the crowberry plant the micro-fungus 

 recently discovered,^ and which was declared to be new to 

 science. Mr Macandrew found by the roadside Jitncus tenuis, 

 a new station for this alien ; and among the less common 

 fungi gathered were Polyporus perennis, Sygrophorus hypo- 

 thejus, Cantharellus tuhceformis, and Sphceroholus stellatus, 



^ Pseudophacidium Smithianum. 



