THE STUDY OF A LICHEN FROM ORAN. 
273 
THE STUDY OF A LICHEN FROM OBAN. 
( me A SOLI A A MPLJSSIMA *) 
BY W. H. WILKINSON, 
HONORARY SECRETARY OE THE BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND 
MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
The rapid increase in commercial pressure and in mental 
activity during the last twenty years renders it most desirable 
to break away from the busy hum of town life and to seek rest 
and quiet and new mental and physical vigour by a visit to 
the country. Nor will such time be lost if wisely spent, for 
health will continue longer under the increasing strain if ever 
and anon eased of its pressure for a brief season. 
In selecting a place to visit the sea side is to be chosen 
as offering at once the combined charms of land and water, 
the shore and the fields ; and of all the lovely spots on earth 
perhaps few accessible to us surpass Oban, the scene of some 
of the most successful excursions of the Birmingham Natural 
History Society. Here Nature seems to reign undisturbed, 
and whatever be the taste of the visitor he may find abundant 
material for its gratification. The sea with its charming 
islands and the mysterious treasures of its mighty depths, the 
rising cliff and cloud-capped mountain, the forest and the 
valley, the gurgling stream and glassy lake—all offer their 
treasures of knowledge to the skilful student. In such a spot 
every object seems illumined by a glory all its own, beauty 
and peace seem enthroned, and the heart is irresistibly drawn 
to worship the unseen Creator and Sustamer of all. Nor do 
the larger forms of life absorb our whole attention, for we 
find “ The Infinite equally in the minute as in the vast,” and 
by the aid of the instruments which modern science has 
placed at our command we can for ourselves unfold some of 
the wonders of creation. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE V. 
Eig. 1 .—Ricasolia amplissivia, natural size. 
Fig. 2.—Green gonidia. 
Fig. 3.—Spores. 
Fig. 4.—Paraphyses. 
Fig. 5.—Asci, young and mature. 
Fig. 6.—Medullary layer. 
Fig. 7.—Section of glomerulus. 
Fig. 8.—Mature apotliecium. 
Fig. 9.—Section of thallus. 
All the drawings are magnified, except Fig. 1. 
* Transactions of the Birmingham Natural History and Micro¬ 
scopical Society. Read April 8th, 1884. 
