9G 
Donacia ; of Hemiptera, Xepa ciiierea -(ihe water 
scorpion), liitherto a doubtful native of Perthshire, 
and others. Of plants we gathered the marsh violet 
— Viola palustris, the cotton grass EriopTiorum vag¬ 
inal um, the dwarf whin Genista anglica^ the cran¬ 
berry Vaccinium oxycoccus, and several Carices. This 
-being the only Scottish station for ScTieuchzeria 
palustr'is a dilgent search was made for it, and a few 
plants seen, but not in flower. The nest of the 
common lark, Alauda arvensis, with four eggs, was 
the only thing the bog produced in ornithology. 
Crossing a paling to the north, where we gathered 
Montia fontana^ in a dwarfed form, and entering 
a straggling wood, a curious form of the dog violet 
was picked up, and is preserved for future in¬ 
spection. Specimens of the fern Lastrea spinulosa 
were seen growing in the hollow stools of trees, hav¬ 
ing all the appearance of potted plants. A long strip 
of wood led to the policies of Methven Castle, and to 
a low marsh or pool of no great extent, in which an 
inefFectua^l search was made for the “ water soldier,’^ 
Stratiotes aloldes, which we had reason to believe 
might be found there. Potamogeton natans, not in 
flower, floated on the surface, and several Carices, 
among others, Ca?'ex curia were gathered. Here two 
of the party were fortunate in discovering specimens 
of a beetle with beautiful green wing-cases tipped with 
red—name not yet ascertained. Hiding among the 
grass and rushes a number of young Lapwings, 
Vanellus crislalus^ were found, evidently not many 
days or hours burst the shell. Passing over a green 
meadow, and again entering the woods, the President 
pointed out the “ skull-cap,” Scutellaria galericulata, 
which he had found growing there some years before. 
Its labiate flower was not out. At this point one of 
our number narrowly escaped a ducking in a “ hobbl- 
dng bog ” to the great gratification of the company. 
The way now led through a great extent of beauti¬ 
ful copse, beneath which Ajuga replans, Endymion 
nutans, the “ Bluebells of Scotland, or wild hyacinth, 
the Primrose, Primula vulgaris, and the Anemone 
nemorosa, were very abundant. Here, also, were 
got [plants of the Birds’ ISTest Orchid, Neottia Nidus 
