‘PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
63 
tree on which they grew. Thus among our native 
Rosacece we meet with nine different adaptations for 
distribution of the seeds;—five specially suited for pas¬ 
sing through the bodies of animals, two for conveyance at¬ 
tached to fur or feathers, and two for distribution by wind. 
Similar facts may be elicited by an examination of other 
natural orders, but need not be dwelt on at present. 
In conclusion, it may not be amiss to point out that the 
various adaptations occur only under such conditions as 
are directly useful and beneficial to the plant in promoting 
the wide dispersion of its seeds, either alone, or still 
enclosed in the ovary. Modifications in the seeds them¬ 
selves occur only in such fruits as open to allow the escape 
of the seeds. It is only in these that we find loose seed-coats, 
or wings, or bair-tufts; very rarely are hooks or spines 
found on seeds, as they would apparently be in the way 
in the ovary. Again, modifications in the ovary, suiting 
it for conveyance by wind or attached to bodies of 
animals, are found only in ovaries that contain one or two 
seeds, and that do not open, but themselves break off from 
the parent plant, and are dispersed as if they were seeds. 
In like manner the parts eaten by animals, whether an 
arillus, or the ovary itself, or some outer part of flower or 
flower-stalk, always inclose the seed or seeds in such a 
way as to ensure the great likelihood of their being 
swallowed without injury. Modifications of the envelopes, 
of the flower-stalk, or of the bract, suited for dispersion by 
wind, or by attachment to the bodies of animals, are found 
only in those cases in which the part modified breaks off 
from the plant, and continues attached to the ovary. 
From an examination of the structures of plants in view of 
the dispersion of seeds, we are warranted in believing that 
we may succeed in understanding something of the way in 
which specialisation of parts to ends is brought about to 
meet the conditions of healthy vitality, while we find here 
as everywhere economy of force, and adaptations of means 
to ends ungrudgingly, but with no trace of waste of power. 
March 2nd, 1882. 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
Dr Gkikie, F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 
NEW MEMBERS. 
The following new members were unanimously elected : 
— Mr Wm. Mair, 13 Marshall Place; Mr David Marshall, 
Inch view Villa, Balhousie; Mr Wm. Martin, Aberuthven; 
Mr David M'Lagan, Burton Place, Nelson Street; Mr 
Robert M. Kippen, Marshall Place; Mr O. S. Leitch; Dr 
Morrison, Dunning; Mr David Macgregor; Mr A. David¬ 
son, York Place; Mr R. Hay Robertson, jun.; Mr Thos. 
Wyllie, 7 George Street; Mr James Fisher, 7 George 
Street; Mr John Henderson, sen.; Mr James M‘Nicoll, 
High Street; Mr Charles Grego; Mr W. A. Paterson, 
Croft House, Craigie; Mr J. Martin White (Spring Grove, 
Dundee) of Balruddery; Mr J. M. Kirk, Athole Street; 
Mr Wm. Robertson, High Street. 
The following were nominated for election at next meet¬ 
ing :—Captain D. M. Smythe, yr. of Methven; Mr Basil 
Brooke, Cardney, Dunkeld; Miss Stewart, Craigard; Mr 
Wm. Keillor, Lochton; Mr Wm. Honey, Bridgend; and 
Mr Alex. Macdonald, George Street. 
DONATIONS. 
The following donations were intimated :—From Mr 
Forbes, Kilgraston — one water rail; from Mr John 
Robertson, Auchterarder—one stoat; from Mr Stewart, 
Logiealmond—-one snow bunting; from Mr James 
Scott, Methven Castle—one teal duck; from Mr J. 
Nelson, 6 Wellington Street, Dundee—one scaup duck; 
from Sir Robert Menzies, Castle Menzies—two jays; 
from Mr James Dow, Gask—one ring ouzel; from Mr 
William Frazer, Innergeldie—one ptarmigan; from Mr 
W. M‘Lean, Murie House, Errol—one great black- 
backed gull; from Mr John M‘Donald, Rannoch Lodge- 
three stoats, three missel thrushes, three chaffinches, three 
greenfinches, three, blue tits, two coletits, two gold-crested 
wrens, one creeper, and one shrew; from Mr John 
M'Laren, Inchmartine—one pink-footed goose; from Col. 
Drummond Hay, Seggiedeu—three starlings; from Capt. 
M‘Dougali, Orchill — one long-eared owl, one stoat, 
three crossbills, two yellow-hammers, two cole-tits, one 
greenfinch, and one house-sparrow; from Mr M‘Lean, 
Murie House, Errol — one sparrow - hawk, and one 
speckled blackbird; from Mr James Keay, Murthly— 
two golden plovers; from Mr Cornwall, Pitcairns, Dun¬ 
ning—one dipper; from Mrs Robertson of Struan—one 
stoat; from Mr M'Donald, Rannoch Lodge—one common 
gull, two pairs bullfinches, one snow bunting, one 
creeper, and one pair crested wrens; from Mr Robertson, 
Blairhoyle—two stoats; from Mr Cuthill, Meigle—one 
sparrow-hawir, one curlew, one golden plover, and one 
common gull; from Mr Crerar, Faskally—two dippers, 
and one stoat; from Mrs Robertson of Struan--logs of 
Rannoch pine, birch, and aspen; from Sir Robert Mon- 
creiffe—section of wood of sweet chestnut. 
