288 Botanical. 



Mr Nicol read a paper on the microscopic structure of the wood of 

 various species of Rkamnus, showing that in variousinstances marked 

 peculiarities of internal structure bore reference to obvious external 

 characters. The species examined were the Rhamnus catharticus, hy- 

 hridus, infectorius, o/eoides, alpinus, Alaternas, latifolius and Fran- 

 gula; the first six of which have the vessels, as seen in transverse sec- 

 tions, arranged in a similar and very peculiar manner. The two last, 

 R. latifolius and Frangula, present a structure so strikingly different 

 from that of the other species, as to have suggested to Mr Nicol 

 the possibility of a difference in the botanical characters, the farther 

 investigation of which he said it was not for him, but for the bo- 

 tanist to undertake. 



The first part of a paper by Mr Shuttleworth was read, contain- 

 ing an account of a Botanical excursion to the Alps of the Valais 

 in Switzerland. In this paper Mr Shuttleworth gave an interesting 

 account of an unsuccessful attempt to cross the Glacier of Taesch, 

 where he was compelled to remain upon the ice during the night, 

 and had the danger of his return greatly increased by a fall of snow. 

 The remainder of the paper, giving an enumeration of the species 

 collected, with observations upon them, was postponed till next 

 meeting. 



April 13th — Dr Balfour in the chair. Mr Henry Melville and 

 Mr William Richardson were elected Resident Members. 



The remainder of the Countess of Dalhousie's East Indian Her- 

 barium was presented, accompanied by a letter from her Ladyship 

 to the President, authorizing the arrangement and disposal of the 

 specimens in whatever manner might be considered most useful, and 

 most conducive to the advancement of botanical knowledge. Se- 

 veral donations to the library from Dr Walker Arnott were pre- 

 sented. — The thanks of the Society were directed to be given to Lady 

 Dalhousie and Dr Walker Arnott for their respective donations. 



An abstract of the second part of Mr Shuttle worth's paper was 

 read by Dr Balfour. This portion of the paper contained an enu- 

 meration of 430 species of plants collected by Mr Shuttleworth in 

 the Canton of the Valais, with occasional remarks ; and of these Dr 

 Balfour had selected for his present purpose such as seemed to him 

 more immediately interesting to the British botanist. * 



Mr Carpenter made some remarks on the different forms of the 

 organs of respiration in different classes of plants, and at different 

 periods of their growth. After pointing out the analogy in ele- 

 mentary structure between the leaves of vegetables and the pulmo- 



* This paper will be found in the Mag. of Zool. and Bot — No. vii. et seq. 



