24 
hepokts of societies. 
History Society, then read a paper upon his visit to Glen Clova and Callater, 
which appears at page 7. A discussion followed, in which Mr. Bagnall called 
to mind, the fact that in Don’s days all botanists were more careless as regards 
the specimens they distributed than would now be permitted, mentioning the 
names of Drummond and Bree, and expressed the belief that, though Don fell 
into occasional mistakes, yet he was not guilty of intentional imposition. Mr. 
Morley concurred, pointing out that, with regard to one reputed instance, 
i ijclinis alpina grows in the Lake district. 
OXFOEDSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETA'.—November 7th.—Professor 
Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., President, in the chair. . F. T. Richards, Esq , M.A., read 
a paper on “The Flora of Mullion Island,” a small islet lying off the south-west 
coast of Cornwall, interesting on account of the extreme poverty of its flora, 
only nine species of plants being found by Mr. Richards during his visit to the 
island. These included three grasses, i.e. two species of Agrostis and a form of 
Festuca ovinn, an Atriplex, the Tree Mallow (Lavatera arhorea), very fine, a 
dock {Biimex C)'is 2 }us), Sea Beet (Beta maritima), and Spergitlaria marina; no 
Composite plant was noticed. The paucity of species, considering the close 
contiguity to the mainland, on the cliffs of which were a large number of 
species, was very strikipg. Mr. Richards next drew attention to the bracts of 
the Cornish Lotus liispiidus, which he found reduced to one in number. In the 
discussion which followed, Mr. Bolton King remarked that manj’ of the Cornish 
plants were different from inland plants of the same species, as the variety of 
Broom, of Schoenus, and of Genista tinctoria, which were stunted and of different 
habit. Some species of the Lotus exhibitediby Mr. Druce showed the variability 
described by Mr. Richards. The Rev. A. Robertson, M.A., read a note on some 
specimens of Herniaria. Referring to the divergent characters which the 
leading writers on botany assign as marking off the British species, he 
attempted to verify them in detail by a minute characterisation of numerous 
specimens which were exhibited. He concluded with the hypothesis tliat the 
forms generally ranked as species in Britain may be the imperfectly differentiated 
descendants of a type most closely represented among existing forms by 
H. liirsuta. This was confirmed by the irregular but very general occurrence of 
a few cilicB or bristles on the glabrous organs of the other species. Mr. H. 
Boswell next gave some notes on the Sphagna, or Bog Mosses, noting their chief 
characteristics and their use in filling up morasses, etc. He exhibited a number 
of specimens in perfect condition, and described one which he lately found in 
Shropshire, S. Torreganum, for the first time recorded as a European variety, 
it previously having been found in America only. The locality was such a one 
as to leave no doubt as to its being indigenous. Mr. Bolton King gave a resume 
of his work in the New Forest, which resulted in his rediscovery to the British 
Flora of Eriopliorum gracile in three separate localities, over a range of about 
two miles. Isnardia 'p)alustris, and the splendid Gladiolus, the latter of which 
Mr. King thought was indigenous from its being widely spread in the forest, 
TJtricnlaria intermedia, Carex ILnosa, Malaxispaludosa, and Bhyncospora fusca 
were also met with. In the south and west of Ireland Mr. King found Viola 
Symei, and a fern which is probably Woodsia hyperborea; if so, it is an addition to 
the Irish Flora, as is also his discovery of Erythrceo littoralis, and Cerastium 
holosteoides, which he found had a wide range along the west coast. Besides the 
foregoing, he had collected many of the Saxifrages, which, with some Trefoils, 
etc., had still to be worked out. November 22nd.—Professor Westwood, M.A., 
F.L.S., in the chair. Professor Westwood exhibited for the Rev. — Elton, of 
Wheatley, a specimen of the Shearwater {Procellaria griseus), which had 
been shot at Bridlington by his nephew. This is one of the very few 
records of the occurrence of the bird in Great Britain. Mr. Druce exhibited for 
Mr. H. A. Macpherson a specimen of the Sandwich Tern, captured at Clifton 
Hampden a few years ago. The President then briefly introduced E. B. Poulton, 
Esq., M.A., who proceeded to give an account of the Natural History of 
Oxfordshire as studied in the seventeenth century, taking as the text for his 
lecture Plot’s book on the subject. 
