THE EDINBURGH FIELD NATURALISTS’ AND MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. COUNG [Er vtor2- 913. President. A. B. Steene, 29 Warriston Crescent. Vice-PHresidents, Georce Mackay. | GerorGe CLELAND, | GrorGE M. BrotHerstTon. Gditor of ‘ Grunsactions.’ JAMES B. Stewart, M.A. Secretary. ALLAN A. PINKERTON, Solicitor, 19 Shandwick Place. Crewsurer. Joun C. Dovetas, 21 St Andrew Square. Ordinary Berbers of Gountil, Miss JANET Kemp. J. Gorpon Munro. Miss Mapcr DrysDALe. | JAMES BUNCLE. T. H. GILueEspie. Mrs HAtt. D. C. M‘Intosu, D.Sc. Miss ATKINSON. Miss Susan Y. Macpualt. | W. W. Smitu, M.A. Miss Jessin GRAHAM. | M. J. Ras. Auditors. R. C. Minnar, C.A.; CHARLES CAMPBELL. PAST «PRESIDENTS. Dr Rogert Brown Mr Symineton Grieve, 1885-1888. (deceased), F F 1869. | Dr WiLLt1AmM WATSON Mr R. Scor Sxrrvine | (deceased), 1888-1891. (deceased), ° 5 1869-1874. Dr of 1 B. Sena oont Mr WIiLtiam GoRRIE F.F.A., 1891-1895. “Se seeeagaa Careet 1874-1877. | Dr A. E. vena! . 1895-1898. (decense:) : 1877-1879. | Mr W.° C. Crawrorp, 1898-1901. eerie Wander "| Mr Arcuipatp Hewat, - tee), aesigse| FPA, PLA, \) 4900-1904 Mr A. B. HERBERT Mr James RvSSELL, (deceased), - . 1882-1885. 8.0... - . 1904-1907. ad List of Members. LIST OF MEMBERS as at October 2, 1913. Bonorarp Members. CLARKE, Wm. Hacue, The Royal Scottish Museum. Davies, A. E., Ph.D., F.L.8., Tweedbank, West Savile Road. HENDERSON, Prof. JoHn R., M.B., F.L.S., Government Museum, Madras. Macrarnane, Prof. J. M., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S.A. Scorr, THos., LL.D., F.L.8., 2 Devanha Terrace, Aberdeen. Watts, FRANK, 3 Wolseley Terrace. Corresponding Aembers. ARCHIBALD, STEWART, Tomatin, Inverness. Bennett, Artuur, F.L.S., 143 High Street, Croydon. Boyp, D. A., St Clair, Caledonia Road, Saltcoats. Boyp, W. B., Faldonside, Melrose. CRUICKSHANK, T. M., South Ronaldshay. Duntor, JoHn, Clyde-View House, Lanark. Epwarps, Prof. ArtHuR M., 423 Fourth Avenue, Newark, N.J. Macvicar, Symers M., Invermoidart, Acharacle, Argyllshire. Norman, Capt., Cheviot House, Berwick-on-Tweed. Scorr, ANDREW, A.L.S., Marine Laboratory, Villa Marina, Piel, Barrow. Soar, Cuas. D., F.R.M.S., 37 Dryburgh Road, Putney, London. Ordinary Members. 1904 Adam, Robert M., 17 W. Brighton Crescent, Portobello. 1887 Adams, James, Comely Park, Dunfermline. 1913 Addis, Miss, 69 Comiston Drive. 1909 Aitken, William, 29 Muirpark, Dalkeith. 1911 Aitken, William, 9 Regent Place. 1903 Allan, Miss Margaret L., Public School, Currie. 1903 Allan, Miss Mary N., 22 E. Preston Street. 1912 Anderson, P. J., LL.B., Librarian to the University, Aberdeen. 1913 Anton, John, M.A., B.L., c/o Tyrie, 99 Lothian Road. 10 1908 Arrighi, Louis J., Harrison View, Watson Crescent. 1912 Atkinson, Miss Helen, 140 Marchmont Road. 1909 Atkinson, Miss Joanna C., 140 Marchmont Road. 1910 Baillie, Miss, 24 Woodburn Terrace. 1911 Balmain, Mrs, 76 Strathearn Road. 1907 Barclay, James, 16 Roxburgh Street, Kelvinside, Glasgow. 1901 Bell, A., 188 Dalkeith Road. 1908 Binnie, Wm., State Bank of Montana, Fallon, Montana, U.S.A. 1878 Bird, George, Woodlea, 109 Trinity Road. 1910 Bird, Mrs George, Woodlea, 109 Trinity Road. 20 1911 Black, William, S.S8.C., 95 Hanover Street. 1901 Bogie, D., M.A., 55 Arden Street. 1882 Bonnar, William, 51 Braid Avenue. 1896 Brotherston, George M., 13 Corrennie Drive. 1912 Bryden, Miss Janet J., 2 Telford Cottages, Penicuik. 1889 1913 1895 1905 1894 30 1894 1913 1912 1902 1913 1913 1904 1891 1886 1904 40 1899 1881 1911 1911 1879 1907 1896 1898 1883 1907 50 1911 1912 1911 1893 1911 1887 1911 1893 1912 1909 60 1911 1885 1885 1903 1911 1907 1894 1905 1895 1901 70 1906 1899 1884 1912 1913 1899 1909 1909 1913 1905 80 1881 List of Members. xi Buncle, James, 938 Shandwick Place. Burton, Dr M. Bernard, M.B., C.M., B.Sc., 10 Cobden Crescent. Calder, A. R., 2 James St., Portobello. Cameron, Miss Annie D., 13 Panmure Place. Campbell, Bruce, British Linen Company Bank, St Andrew Square. Campbell, Charles, North British and Mercantile Insurance Com- pany, 64 Princes Street. Campbell, C. Mathew, 3 Glenogle Terrace. Chisholm, Miss Annie A., 62 Thirlestane Road. Clark, Prof. A. B., M.A., University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. Clark, Miss’Frances A. 8., 31 Scotland Street. Clark, Thomas, 52 Marchmont Crescent. Cleland, Miss Bryden, 15 Braid Crescent. Cleland, George, Bank of Scotland, 61 Leith Walk. Coats, William, 10 Duddingston Crescent, Portobello. Couston, Thos., Headmaster, Liberton Public School. Cowan, Alex., Valleyfield, Penicuik. Cowan, Charles Wm., Dalhousie Castle, Bonnyrigg. Cowan, Robert Craig, Esk Hill, Inveresk. Cowan, Mrs R. Craig, Esk Hill, Inveresk. Craig, Arch., 38 Fountainhall Road. Cran, J. Duncan, Blackhill House, Musselburgh. Crawford, Miss Jane C., 1 Lockharton Gardens, Colinton Road. Crawford, Mrs, 1 Lockharton Gardens, Colinton Road. Crawford, W. C., 1 Lockharton Gardens, Colinton Road. Dallas, Miss Jane, 117 Warrender Park Road. Davidson, John, 89 Leith Walk, Leith. Davidson, Miss Susan, 5 Thirlestane Road. Day, Miss Esther Hope, 1 Cluny Terrace. Day, T. Cuthbert, 36 Hillside Crescent. Deas, Joseph, 11 Mayfield Terrace. Denson, E., 83 Comiston Road. Dickie, Miss Ella F., c/o Wilson, 75 Montpelier Park. Dickie, James, 4 Stanley Street, Portobello. Douglas, Miss Janet, 6 Malta Terrace. Douglas, John C., 21 St Andrew Square— Treasurer. Doull, Miss Lizzie, 6 Ardmillan Terrace. Dowell, Miss, 13 Palmerston Place. Dowell, Mrs, 13 Palmerston Place. Drummond, W. J. A., C.A., 37 George Street. Drysdale, David, C.A., 122 Braid Road. Drysdale, Miss Madge, 122 Braid Road. Duncan, James Patrick, 3 Cobden Road. Duncan, Mrs, 62 Craigmillar Park. Durham, Frederick W., 2 Argyle Crescent, Portobello. Edward, John, 109 Newbigging, Musselburgh. Elgin, Alex., 2 Albert Terrace. Forgan, John, S.8.C., 20 George Street. Forgan, William, 3 Warriston Crescent. Forsyth, William, M.A., Daniel Stewart’s College. Fortune, Miss Effie, 3 Gloucester Place. Fraser, James, 18 Park Road, Leith. Gavin, Alex. G., 80 Mid Street, Fraserburgh. Gerrett, Robert, Learmont, Leven. Gibb, John Philip, 29 Ladysmith Road. Gillespie, T. H., Scottish Zoological Park, Corstorphine. Gloag, David, 9 Barnton Terrace. xii 90 100 110 120 130 1911 1909 1912 1903 1911 1883 1886 1908 1907 1911 1894 1904 1893 1912 1912 1897 1913 1898 1912 1906 1909 1911 1894 1907 1912 1912 1909 1908 1892 1912 1911 1911 1903 1912 1912 1882 1911 1912 1878 1902 1912 1912 1903 1890 1913 1902 1904 1911 1906 1904 1907 1907 1902 1906 1908 List of Members. Graham, Miss Helen W., Swanston, Colinton. Graham, Miss Jessie, 63 Comely Bank Avenue. Graham-Yooll, R. W., 45 Stirling Road, Trinity. Gray, James L., Elginhaugh, Dalkeith. Gray, William, 45 Charlotte Street, Leith. Grieve, Sommerville, 21 Queen’s Crescent. Grieve, Symington, 11 Lauder Road. Grieve, Mrs Symington, 11 Lauder Road. Hall, Mrs, 20 London Street. Hamilton, Ferguson, M.A.,31 Warrender Park Terrace, Harley, Andrew, Blinkbonny, Kirkcaldy. Harvie-Brown, J. A., Dunipace, Larbert. Hetherton, Miss, 64 Findhorn Place. Hewat, Arch., F.F.A., F.I.A., 13 Eton Terrace. Hopekirk, Miss Janet Cleghorn, 15 Bright’s Crescent. Howison, Andrew, M.A., 47 Queen’s Avenue, Blackhall. Huie, Miss Lily H., Hollywood, Colinton Road. Hunter, James, 1 Dudley Avenue, Leith. Hunter, John, c/o Dawson, 13 Roseneath Terrace. Hurry, Miss A. M., 18 Joppa Terrace, Joppa. Ingles, Miss A. J., 1 Lord Russell Place. Jack, Thomas, 37 Queen’s Avenue, Blackhall. Jenkins, Miss Margaret, 44 Leamington Terrace. Johnson, W. H., Tweed Villa, Relugas Road. Johnston, Alex., C.A., Aros, Colinton. Kay, Robert, Temple School House, Gorebridge. Kemp, Miss Annie, Sciennes School. Kemp, Miss Janet, 28 East Preston Street. Kerr, Miss Agatha, 19 Melville Street, Portobello. Kerr, Thos., 15 Gilmour Road. King, Miss Elizabeth Smart, c/o Mrs Coutts, 8 Roxburgh Street. King, Miss Margaret P., Osborne Nursery House, Murrayfield. Kinvig, Harold J., c/o R. Hartley, Manor Farm, Milton-under- Wychwood, Oxford. Laidlaw, John, 3 Park Avenue, Portobello. Lamont, Miss Elizabeth, 17 Lutton Place. Laurie, William H., Darenthvale Cottage, Penicuik. Law, Mrs, 41 Heriot Row. Lawson, Miss Christina, 25 Angle Park Terrace. Lawson, Miss Henrietta, 24 Westhall Gardens. Lindsay, John, 24 Montgomery Street. M‘Andrew, James, 69 Spottiswoode Street. M‘Beath, John J., 74 Blackford Avenue. Macbeth, Alexander D., 12 Oxford Street. M‘Call, James, 7 James Place, Penicuik. Macdonald, J. J., Commercial Bank, Comrie. Macfarlane, Miss Margaret, 102 East Claremont Street. M‘Intosh, Donald Cameron, D.Sc., 3 Glenisla Gardens. Mackay, George, 16 Eyre Crescent. Mackay, Mrs George, 16 Eyre Crescent. M‘Keever, F. L., General Delivery, Penticton, British Columbia. M‘Kenzie, John, 90 Gorgie Road. Mackenzie, Donald, 23 Rutland Square. Mackenzie, John, Lauder Villa, Bonnyrigg. Mackenzie, Mrs, 13 Mentone Terrace. M‘Lean, John, Room 39, Sasine Office, Register House. M‘Nair, Miss Jeanie, 5 Bright’s Crescent. 1906 1911 1902 140 1912 1913 1912 1887 1909 1912 1898 1892 1900 1911 150 1906 1902 1913 1908 1898 1904 1913 1898 1897 1911 160 1905 1902 1911 1910 1909 1883 1894 1895 1908 1911 170 1895 1913 1912 1897 1907 1893 1913 1913 1912 1912 180 1897 1889 1887 1904 1912 1907 1898 1886 1881 1909 190 1898 List of Members. Xiil Macphail, Miss Susan Y., 16 Thirlestane Road. Macpherson, A. Dalrymple, Cluny, 46 Dick Place. Macpherson, Alex., 1 Roseneath Place. M‘Pherson, Miss Elizabeth, 2 Albert Place, Leith Walk. Mathie, Miss, 66 Great King Street. Martin, Miss Isa, M.A., 1 Hampton Place. Millar, R. C., C.A., 6 Regent Terrace. Moran, James B., White Den, Sea View Gardens, Roker, Sunder- land. Morison, Miss Mary, c/o Gerrard, 56 Montgomery Street. Morrison, Hew, LL.D., Librarian, Public Library, George IV. Bridge. Muir, John, 24 Barnton Terrace. Munro, John Gordon, 7 Howe Street. Murray, Miss Lizzie, 71 Comiston Road. Nichol, Alfred, St Mary’s, Rosefield, Portobello. Nisbet, Wm., 36 Elm Row. Park, Miss R., Inchview, Levenhall, Musselburgh. Paterson, Rev. T. Whyte, U.F. Manse, Mid-Calder. Paton, John, 57 Cromwell Street, Glasgow. Pearce, Henry J., The Manse, Forth, by Lanark. Pearson, A. L., M.A., B.Sc., 9 W. Stanhope Place. Pierce, W. J., 16 Forrest Road. Pinkerton, Allan A., 19 Shandwick Place—Secretary. Pinkerton, Mrs Allan A., Adele Cottage, Loanhead. Purdie, Miss Elizabeth S., 22 St Clair Terrace. Pursell, John, Rhynd Lodge, Seafield Avenue, Leith. Rae, Matthew John, 8 Dalhousie Terrace. Ramage, Herbert, 14 Dean Terrace. Ramage, Mrs, 14 Dean Terrace. Ranken, William, 11 Spence Street. Richardson, A. D., 6 Dalkeith Street, Joppa. Richardson, Mrs Ralph, 10 Magdala Place. Richardson, Wm. J., 8 Union Street, Leith. Ritchie, Charles, 38 Strathearn Road. Robertson, Dr W. G. Aitchison, 2 Mayfield Gardens. Ross, Miss Margaret L., 24 Bonaly Road. Ross, Miss Mary D., 24 Bonaly Road. Russell, James, 16 Blacket Place. Saunders, James, 29 Bruntsfield Place. Sconce, Colonel, 18 Belgrave Crescent. Scott, Robert, 8 Upper Coltbridge Terrace. Scott, Mrs Robert, 8 Upper Coltbridge Terrace. Sharpe, Miss Ann B., 35 Marchmont Crescent. Sharpe, Miss Margaret J., 35 Marchmont Crescent. Sime, David, 27 Dundas Street. Smith, Harry W., 23 Nelson Street. Smith, Rupert, 38 Greenhill Gardens. Smith, W. W., M.A., 8 Dudley Terrace, Leith. Snow, Miss Alice E., 11 Warrender Park Terrace. Somerville, Miss E. B., 2 Randolph Crescent. Speedie, M. H., 2 Alfred Pl., Mayfield Terrace. Speedy, Tom, The Inch, Liberton. Sprague, Dr T. B., 29 Buckingham Terrace. Sprague, Mrs, 29 Buckingham Terrace. Sprague, Thomas Archibald, B.Sc., F.L.S., The Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Xiv 1883 1898 1906 1903 1894 1904 1904 1907 1913 200 1882 1909 1907 1908 1909 1912 1911 1911 1882 1897 210 1896 1899 1904 1910 1901 1913 1912 1896 1885 220 1905 1913 1896 1900 1912 1913 1910 1910 1913 1911 230 1882 1912 1884 1885 234 1911 List of Members. Steele, A. B., 29 Warriston Crescent— President. Steele, Mrs, 29 Warriston Crescent. Steele, Miss Marion, 12 East Mayfield. Stenhouse, A. G., Whitelee, 191 Newhaven Road. Stevens, Dr John, 78 Polwarth Terrace. Stewart, Jas. Bell, M.A., 11 Bellevue Terrace — Hditor of ‘ Trans- actions.’ Stewart, Mrs J. B., 11 Bellevue Terrace, Stewart, Geo. D., C.A., 96 Marchmont Road. Stewart, Dr Ian Struthers, 13 Castle Terrace. Stewart, Robert, 8.8.C., 7 East Claremont Street. Stewart, W. D., C.A., Titwood, 19 Cumin Place. Stewart, Wm. A., 36 Joppa Road, Portobello. Stoddart, Thomas, 27 Jessfield Terrace, Leith. Sutherland, Miss Christina G., 23 Bellevue Road. Syme, George P., 8 Mayville Gardens, Trinity. Tait, Miss, 51 Briar Bank Terrace. Templeman, Andrew, c/o Wilson, 1 Lochrin Place. Terras, James A., B.Sc., 21 Teviot Place. Thacker, T. Lindsay, Post Office, Little Mountain, Hope, British Columbia. Thacker, Mrs T. Lindsay, Post Office, Little Mountain, Hope, British Columbia. Thomson, John, 21 St Ninian’s Terrace. Turnbull, J. M., Craigcrook Road, Blackhall. Turnbull, Mrs J. M., Craigcrook Road, Blackhall. Waddell, James Alexander, of Leadloch, 12 Kew ‘Terrace, Glasgow. Waldron, Major, Rosehill, North Berwick. Walls, T. J., 12 Forrest Road. Wardlaw, George, 14 St John’s Hill. Watson, Robert, M.A., 21 Thirlestane Road. Watson, Mrs, 12 Regent Terrace. Watson, William, 6 Barnton Terrace. Watson, William, M.A., B.Sc., 23 Brandon Terrace. Williamson, William, 9 Plewlands Terrace. Wilson, Rev. D. W., M.A., Stobhill Manse, Gorebridge. Wilson, Miss M., Sciennes School. Wilson, W. J., 7 Bonnington Terrace. Winkler, Richard, 9 Ettrick Road. Winkler, Mrs, 9 Ettrick Road. Wood, Miss Chrissy, 12 Viewforth. Wood, Miss Isabella M., 25 Royal Park Terrace. Wood, T. A. D., Viewforth, Brunstane Road, Joppa. Wright, Andrew, 55 Dudley Avenue, Leith. Wright, Thomas, 12 Brunton Terrace. Young, David E., 60-62 High Street. 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[Lindsay C. Steele. Photo. by] Joby 8%, SIMBIBILIE, JESO). SECRETARY, EDIN. FIELD NAT. AND MICRO. SOG, 1894-180. PRESIDENT, 1907-1013. TRANSACTIONS. SESSION 1912-1913. IL—EDINBURGH’S PARK AND OTHER TREES. By Mr A. D. RICHARDSON, Assoc. Bot. Soc., Ep1n. (Read Nov. 27, 1912.) EXcEPT in some of the private gardens, Edinburgh, compared with many other cities, is not well provided with fine park trees, and still less so with good street trees. In fact, system- atic street planting has been almost wholly neglected in the city, and, with a few exceptions, what has been done in this way is very poor. Nevertheless, there is a considerable variety of interesting trees in the parks and gardens, both public and private, and, considering how well many of them have suc- ceeded there, one marvels that more use has not been made of some of them for street planting. This remark applies more especially to the so-called London plane (Platanus acertfolia) (Plate II.), which, both under the most favourable conditions and in the most exposed parts of the city, grows quite as vigorously as almost any of the other broad-leaved species. As is well known, there is no other tree which will compare with the London plane in its ability to resist injury from soot and other noxious matters which generally occur in a town atmosphere, although, owing to the comparatively pure state VOT. HVE A 2 Edinburgh's Park and other Trees. [Sess. of the air, this is not of such vital importance in a city like Edinburgh as it is in large industrial cities generally. Another tree which succeeds well in the city is the English elm (U/mus campestris) (Plate II.), but it has been very little used in the public parks. There the Scots or Wych elm (U. montana) is the species which has found most favour, but it has not the elegance of the English elm, nor, on account of its more widespreading head, is it so well adapted to street and avenue planting as that species. Moreover, it is a much more difficult plant to train into shape in the young state, and in this respect also compares very unfavourably with the London plane and the English elm, both of which naturally require much less pruning than this species. The Scots plane (Acer Pseudo-platanus) is the only one of the maples which is much in evidence; but in the more central parts of the city it is somewhat disappointing, as soon after foliation its leaves become soiled, and not in- frequently old trees are completely defoliated in September. In the outlying parts of the city, however, it is more at home, and it has been successfully used as a street tree in Braid Avenue, in the southern suburbs. But, as may be seen in Murrayfield Avenue, in the western suburbs, where it has been planted in combination with that species, even though the air is almost as pure as in the open country, as a street tree the Scots plane does not compare favourably with the London plane, either as regards vigour of growth or otherwise, and its tendency to form a much wider-spreading head than the latter tree unsuits it to any but the wider thoroughfares. A near ally to the maples is the horse -chestnut (Asculus hippocastanwm), but there are very few fine specimens of this tree in the city, and these are mostly in private gardens. It is not a tree which is well adapted to street planting in the city, but as a subject for avenues in parks, where sufficient width can be got be- tween the lines, it has much to recommend it for planting in the outlying parts. Both the common and the red-flowered species (4%. carnea) are excellent park trees, but the latter does not produce such an imposing effect as the former. Either as an avenue or a park subject, there is no more elegant tree than the lime or linden. The common species PLATE |I.—EDINBURGH’S PARK AND OTHER TREES. THE LONDON PLANE (PLATAWUS ACERIFOLIA), MURRAYFIELD AVENUE. ENGLISH ELMS (ULMUS CAMPESTRIS), COATES CRESCENT. 7 : “ay ‘ard cea Rae pee an re es ; : Py 1912-1913.] Edinburgh's Park and other Trees. 3 (Tilia vulgaris) occurs pretty frequently all over the city, and in some of the private gardens and grounds in the southern suburbs there are trees of very considerable age. But the same objection applies to the lime which applies to the Scots plane: its foliage becomes soiled soon after it expands, and it is about the first tree to shed its leaves in autumn, this frequently occurring about the beginning of September in the more central parts of the city. Another thing which tends to cause deterioration of its foliage is that its flowers produce a very copious supply of nectar, for which they are visited by myriads of bees; and as this gets spread over the leaves it causes dust, soot, and other matter to adhere to them, and this interferes with their functions and makes them unsightly. It thrives best in a cool, pure atmosphere, and given this and a sufficiently good soil, it is not easily surpassed as a park or avenue tree. A much better tree for town planting is the small-leaved lime (7. cordata), of which specimens occur here and there in the city. Its leaves are smaller, but its leafage is denser, ‘and it forms a fine symmetrical tree when properly attended to. In many of the Swedish towns it is the principal tree of the streets and avenues, and also of the public parks. It comes into leaf only a little later than the common lime, and it defoliates somewhat later in autumn. The common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is met with all over the city, and in the Meadows, on the south side of the city, there still remain some healthy old specimens with boles over 9 feet in girth at a height of 5 feet from the ground. Itisa tree which will grow almost anywhere provided it gets sufficiently good soil, on which it levies a heavy toll, and on that account it is not a desirable tree to plant in mixture with other kinds for ornamental purposes. Like the London plane, it comes late into leaf, and it retains its foliage, fresh and green, till well into autumn, and sometimes till it is caught by frost. It has been used in a few instances as a street tree, but it has not proved a success. The variety in which the leaf consists of a single leaflet (F. excelsior, mono- phylla), and the so-called “staghorn” ash (/. eacelsior, monstrosa), are occasionally met with, and its weeping form (F. excelsior, pendula) is also fairly common. Its near ally, 4 Edinburgh's Park and other Trees. [Sess. the manna or flowering ash (Ff. Ornus), also grows fairly well in the city, but its occurrence is very rare. The beech (Fagus sylvatica) is gradually disappearing from the more central parts of the city, and as building operations extend it will be driven farther and farther out. Among the broad-leaved trees there is none more sensitive to poisonous matters in the atmosphere than the beech, and it is impatient even of air polluted with ordinary domestic smoke and. soot. There are still some fine old specimens of the tree in the Meadows district (Plate III.) and some of the suburbs, but with the disappearance of the former the last of the beech will be seen in the more central parts of the city, and it will be impossible to replace it with the same kind of tree. The nearest allies to the beech are the birch, oak, and alder, but none of the British species of these, all of which occur in the city, adapt themselves well to town conditions. The common birch (Betula alba) occurs fairly frequently, but it is only in its younger stages that it is at all attractive. When it does reach maturity (it is a short-lived tree even in its natural habitat) it becomes very thin-foliaged, and there are very few really good specimens of the tree after they have reached about middle age. Like the birch, the common alder (Alnus glutinosa) is only useful for town planting in the young state. Long before it reaches middle age it becomes unsightly, and even under the most favourable conditions it does not take well to city life. The white alder (A. incana), which, like the common alder, occurs here and there in the city, is a species which is more likely to adapt itself to town conditions, as it prefers drier ground than the common alder; but whether or not it will be a success can only be proved by experiment. The British oak (Quercus Robur) is of com- paratively rare occurrence in the city, and there are very few specimens of it which are even fairly good. The Turkey oak (Q. Cerris) thrives fairly well in some of the more central parts, but it is not a tree which can be recommended for town planting. The only oak which is at all likely to succeed as a town tree is the Hungarian species (Q. conferta), which, moreover; is probably the finest of the European kinds. The white or Huntingdon willow (Salix alba) is by far the best of the genus for town planting, and in Edinburgh it has PLATE lIIl.—EDINBURGH’S PARK AND OTHER TREES. OLD BEECH TREES, SOUTH SIDE OF MEADOWS. ee — PYRUS INTERMEDTIA, EAST PRINCES STREET GARDENS. 1912-1913.] Edinburgh's Park and other Trees. 5 been pretty extensively used in the public parks within the last thirty years or so. It is a vigorous grower and it forms a handsome tree, but it resents interference from other trees, and is therefore only seen at its best when it has ample growing space. The only other willow which may be noted as occurring in the city is the crack willow (S. fragilis), of which there are several old specimens, but it is not such an elegant tree as the white willow. Of the poplars, which are very closely related to the willows, only a few species are well adapted to town planting. About thirty years ago the Ontario poplar (Populus balsamifera, var. candicans) was largely planted in the public parks, but, fortunately, it has mostly disappeared. It is a tree which should never be planted where permanent effect is aimed at, as it soon cankers and becomes very unsightly, and it has few good qualities to recommend it at the best. The black poplars, too, seem to become affected by canker in most parts of the city before they reach middle age, although they are largely used for town planting in London and many of the Continental cities ; but possibly the plants which have been used in Edinburgh are not of the same kind. The most elegant of the more common species is undoubtedly P. alba, the white poplar, and as healthy old specimens of the tree occur in the city, it seems to be a kind which would give better results than any of the others. In all cities conifers are disappointing trees, and few succeed well even in the more open parts. In Edinburgh it is only in the suburbs that they occur to any extent, and even there the number of kinds which succeed is very limited. The black Austrian pine and the yew (of the latter of which there are some fine old specimens in Saughton Park) are the two which seem to be best able to hold their own, but the former is the one which thrives best, and it is found all over the less central parts of the city, though none of the trees are of any great age. Of the smaller trees, a considerable number of kinds succeed well in Edinburgh, and, strange to say, some of those which succeed best are species which grow naturally in alpine or sub-alpine districts. For the most part, they belong to the families Rosacee and Leguminose, and are chiefly represented 6 Edinburgh's Park and other Trees. [Sess. by the genera Pyrus, Crategus, and Laburnum. Pyrus pinnatifida, a tree which grows wild in Arran, has in some cases reached large dimensions,:and in Royal Terrace Gardens there are specimens with stems over 7 feet in girth at a height of 5 feet from the ground. Another species (which also grows wild in Arran) which thrives extremely well in Edinburgh is P. intermedia (Plate III.) It has been extensively planted, especially in the public parks, and it seems to be practically proof against atmospheric impurities which operate so pre- judicially on some of the other kinds. It is a very beautiful tree when in flower, and as it does not grow to a greater size than the common thorn, it is an exceedingly useful subject for planting in squares and open spaces of limited area where larger-growing kinds would be out of place. The white beam (P. Aria) occurs in various shapes, from a scrubby bush on the face of the Calton Craig to a beautiful symmetrical tree in Charlotte Square Gardens, but it is not plentiful. Its Himalayan representative, P. vestita, which differs from P. Aria in having much larger foliage, has been planted in some of the public parks, and it seems, so far, to be thriving well, but, of course, it is on its trial, and it remains to be seen whether it will continue to do so. VP. rotundifolia, a near relative of the white beam, also thrives well, but it is much less frequently seen than any of the other pyruses. It is a very beautiful tree when well grown, and deserves particular attention as a subject for town planting. These belong to the Avia section of the genus. The only other species of Pyrus which need be noted is the mountain ash (P. aucuparia), which belongs to the Sorbus or true service-tree section. It is fairly common and generally succeeds well, although in the more central parts of the city it does not seem to make such good progress as P. intermedia. The genus Prunus is represented by the common gean (Prunus Aviwm) and its double-flowered form, but neither is very much in evidence, and, except in private gardens, the double-flowered form is far too rarely met with. The common hawthorn (Crategus Oxyacantha) and some of its varieties occur very frequently, and both in the central and the suburban parts of the city they grow well; in fact, the thorn is one of the best of the smaller trees for town planting, (‘2085 7 *740F7 +7095 ay2 fo uorssimsag LZ) ‘duVNOS MAYANY LS “dNOT FPTACNYd ‘IVA “HLIM PANE LNOW SAWTA ‘Ya -¥i [42 07047 =| IV.—EDINBURGH’S PARK AND OTHER TREES. PLATE Pop ape sean tr are + at a a Se} = Pett Mts ie % Hin S Def N Ye Reh Rinse i ‘ 1912-1913.]| Eainburgh’s Park and other Trees. ii and, like the pyruses and laburnums, it gives a distinct note of colour when in flower in early summer. In Queen Street Gardens there are some interesting exotic species, chiefly European, which have grown into good specimens, and in the Meadows the North American C. Douglas has been freely planted; but although these exotic species grow well, and some of them are very ornamental, none of them surpasses the common thorn in beauty when in flower. The two laburnums are the only trees belonging to the order Leguminose which have been planted to any great extent in Edinburgh. The North American locust tree (Robinia Pseudacacia) occurs here and there, but, although it is a common town tree both in more southern and more northern latitudes, it does not get a sufficiently high summer temperature in Edinburgh to ripen its growth properly, con- sequently it rarely flowers. Both the common laburnum (Laburnum vulgare) and the alpine laburnum (LZ. alpinum) thrive well in the city, and even in the more densely built parts of it specimens of considerable age are to be found. Like the thorns and pyruses, they are useful subjects for planting in open spaces where the area is restricted. In this brief survey of the trees growing within the boundaries of the city of Edinburgh, it is only to those kinds which occur in the parks and gardens belonging to the Corporation and to property owners jointly, such as those of Queen Street, St Andrew Square, &c., that attention has been directed. Other kinds might have been noted as occur- ring in the gardens of individual owners, but when those which have been mentioned here are compared with a complete list of the trees hardy in the Edinburgh district, it will be found that, with the exception of about half a dozen, all the genera are represented. [This paper was also read this session to the Scottish Horticultural Association, It was illustrated by a large number of lantern slides of photographs specially taken for the purpose. Plate IV. shows a photograph of Ulmus montana, var. pendula. | 8 . Some Aspects of Plant-Life. [Sess. IlL—SOME ASPECTS OF PLANT-LIFE. By Mr WM. C. DOUGLAS, M.A., B.Sc. (Communicated, Dec. 18, 1912.) ' Ir does not need a very extensive study of plants to show us that among plants as among animals there are well- marked communities or associations. I would invite you to look at some of the most typical of these plant communities, to notice the chief features they present, and to consider the explanation most commonly accepted of the chief cause that is at work modifying firstly the form of the plant (deciding whether it shall be herb or bush or tree), and secondly, the formation to which the plant belongs (7.¢., the general aspect of the plant community,— desert community, grassland, or woodland). From the primeval sea all existing forms of life are believed to have been originally derived. Leaving the sea and examining the rocky shore region, one can hardly help noticing a sort of zonal arrangement of plant-life. On the rocks rarely uncovered by the tide are anchored the long laminarias or tangles, bladder-wrack, and Fucus serratus: on the rocks alternately covered and uncovered flourishes the dark-purplish Ohondrus crispus; and above this zone, and oftener uncovered than covered, are green filamentous and unicellular alge. A view of the east side of Granton breakwater seems to support this statement. I have noticed that bathers find on the middle zone of short crisp weed a secure and tolerably dry footing, while the bladder-wrack and other weeds lower down are slippery and insecure. ) The sea-shore gives us a good idea of a typical desert region. It is true that we do not have in our latitudes the hot and dazzling sunshine of the tropics, but the appearance of our sea-shore plants is quite desert-like; the vegetation of the sparsest kind, coarse couch-grass, fleshy-leaved plants like stonecrops and sea-kale, glassworts, and prickly-leaved sea- hollies, all showing adaptation to dry arid conditions in their reduced leaf-surfaces, or thick fleshy leaves and stems. Here 1912-1913.] Some Aspects of Plant-Life. 9 also we find the tussock formations so well adapted to with- stand exposure to drying winds. Shrubs and trees, when they occur, present a peculiar and characteristic appearance. They are stunted, gnarled, and bent away from the prevailing wind, and the height of the trees in a wood adjoining the shore rises as we leave the margin of the wood and go inland. Many of these sea-shore belts are not devoid of beauty either in the plant-formations or in the individual plants, and one may spend many a pleasant spring and summer day admiring alternately the tawny or silvery glow of the sand, the bright hardy flowers, the blue vault overhead, and the deeper blue of the sea beneath. Passing inland, we may next consider an intermediate type of region—moorland. Here are to be found a great variety of plants characterised by reduced leaf-surfaces, such as grasses and heaths. The larger growth-forms, shrubs and trees, are represented sparsely or not at all. The humus acid in the soil is unfavourable to the growth of seedlings, and unless this acidity is artificially neutralised, an area which has long been a moorland is apt to offer very effective resist- ance to afforestation. In the glens, where lie the mountain-tracks of burns, we often find adjoining the rather barren moorlands a surprising wealth of vegetation. Sphagnums and other mosses, ferns, liverworts, shrubs and trees, are often found crowded in a way that reminds one of the tropics. Bleak and barren as many moorlands are, they have a strange and subtle charm for those who have been reared amid their free, open, breezy spaces and scented gales, and who have trod their springy turf in childhood. Nor are the moorlands by any means destitute of beautiful forms, all the dearer because we do not meet them very often. Here and there at intervals one comes on a group of willows, vocal in springtime with the hum of bees among the rich snowy catkins; or we may see the broom and the gorse afire with blossom, the fragrant bog-myrtle, the beautiful grass of Parnassus, the broad cups and heart-shaped leaves of the marsh-mallow, and banks of the scented thyme, best of pillows for the tired wayfarer. There is plenty of life and colour on a moor for any one who knows it well. 10 Some Aspects of Plant-Life. [Sess. On upland moors one often comes across quiet little tarns. These are not uncommonly undergoing a process of gradual ‘drying up. The vegetation creeps in from the shore, and in course of time the loch, if shallow, must dry up and disappear. Some of these mountain lochs are very beautiful,—beautiful in calm or storm, by day or by night. Who has not heard of the fairy loughs of Ireland ?— “‘ Loughareema, Loughareema lies so high among the heather, A little lough, a dark lough, the wather’s black an’ deep ; Ould herons go a-fishin’ there, an’ seagulls altogether Float round the one green island on the fairy lough asleep.” One of the greatest of our Scottish classical teachers thought that the fable of Acteon surprising Diana and her nymphs might well have arisen from some hunter suddenly coming on such a secluded tarn in whose quiet deep-blue depths were mirrored “meek Dian’s crest” and the silvery stars around her. Between the valleys and the hill-tops one finds in many parts of Scotland well-marked zones of vegetation. Willows, alders, and other deciduous trees fringe the streams; higher up flourish birch woods; above these conifers, dwarf birch, and oak scrub, with heather and moss; but the carpet of vegetation is practically continuous, save where the moorland rises into the loftier mountain-summits. Hardy conifers hold their own even among the snow. True, they are rather a sorry-looking community, hard-bitten and ill-nourished, but there are few places on the earth’s surface where some form of plant-life cannot find a footing. On the upper slopes of the New Zealand Alps one finds those strange tussock formations called “vegetable sheep,” with their surface branches and leaves forming a close, woolly- like protection to the plant; and on our own rocky mountain- tops we find grey and orange and yellow lichens spreading over rocks and stones. With the moorlands of our own country we might compare the cactus-grown desert regions of South America, the S. United States, and other parts of the tropics, or the bush-veldt and karoos of South Africa, with their “ wait-a-bit” thorns and heaths, their tussock formations and plants, with thick- 1912-1913. | Some Aspects of Plant-Life. II skinned, fleshy leaves and stems well adapted to conserve the little moisture that is available. Or we might compare the similar arid stretches of the Australian bush, the “never- never” land with its salt brush and sweet-briar, the latter blossoming and scenting the waterless desert as freely as it adorns our hedgerows at home. Leaving the wind-swept and rather bleak moorlands, and coming to scenes where plants flourish among more genial conditions, we may take as a good example one of those beautiful daisy-meadows where the turf is as bejewelled and thickly sown with flowers as the sky overhead is with stars, and where even the lightest footfall raises fragrance from the rich pasture. Equally beautiful to the Highlander is the meadow-land of the Western Isles of Scotland, where the graceful cannach, the cotton- grass, sways in the breeze like Wordsworth’s daffodils. In sheltered creeks of lakes or rivers one may find an astonishing richness and variety of vegetation. Thick cypress trees overhang rhododendrons ; herbaceous plants, sedges, and reeds grow down into the very water, and around and beyond them are anchored the fair chalices of water-primroses and lilies. In slow-flowing rivers mare’s-tails grow freely, while aroids and bulrushes clothe the banks. Even on the rocky beds of our streams long, ribbon-like weeds flourish, their thick coating of slime protecting them against the drag of the current. Leaving the river-banks and loch-sides and coming into the woods, one is struck by the closeness with which some kinds of vegetation can cover the soil. There is little space for other plants to grow up in the ferny undergrowth that fringes many of our woods. I hope it is not prejudice on my part, but I can imagine no fairer type of landscape than our meadow- lands and woodlands. Our deciduous woodlands, with “the mighty oak, the patriarch of trees,” the beech that so well blends strength and beauty, the graceful birch, “the lady of the woods,” the elm, ash, horse-chestnut, lime, and hazel present a variety of colour and form through the changing seasons that other and sunnier 12 Some Aspects of Plant-Life. [ Sess. lands might well envy; and many a stranger from warmer lands envies us the rich verdure of our turf, so different from the sere and brown slopes seen even in early summer in countries like Greece and Asia Minor. Coniferous trees offer a pleasing variety of colour and form in our woodlands. They relieve the nakedness of winter, and contrast well with the massive outlines of oaks, beeches, elms, and plane-trees; but they do not show the variety of under- growth that we meet with in a deciduous wood. A few scanty ferns, heathbells, foxgloves, and coarse grasses are among the few plants one sees under closely-planted coni- fers. Sometimes there is practically nothing under them except the thick covering of fallen pine-needles. Birch-woods are among the most beautiful of our wood- lands, and are found at greater altitudes than most deciduous trees. The characteristic methods of branching of our various trees are well brought out in winter. I wonder how many people ask themselves the reason of this peculiar stripping of the trees that comes every year. We are far too apt to leave behind us the inquiring mind of childhood, and to drop the attitude of healthy curiosity which is the source of all progress. Perhaps it is because modern education tells us too much and crushes out independent thinking with the very load of its information. I know I never asked myself why the trees were stripped in late autumn and early winter, leav- ing the skeleton trunks in all their hard nakedness. The explanation of the change lies in the fact that winter is to the tree a time of drought; for, owing to the coldness of the soil, the activity of the plant is at a minimum. Hence, if trans- piration went on through the leaves as usual, the tree would soon use up the scanty water-supply afforded by the roots in winter and would perish of drought. Deciduous trees have solved the problem of existence under these conditions by casting their leafy garments, and so conserving their reduced water-supply. I suppose that to the Persian or the Arab a grove of date- palms looks as the birks of Aberfeldy look to a Scotsman. On such a “strip with herbage grown, That just divides the desert from the sown,” was Omar Khayyam wont to muse. 1912-1913. | Some Aspects of Plant-Life. 13 ‘“‘Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough, A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse—and Thou Beside me singing in the Wilderness— And Wilderness is Paradise enow.” In these date- palms the shape of the leaves is worth noting. They are long and narrow, well adapted to withstand wind without injury. Among rather curious adaptations found in tropical forests are the branch props of rubber-trees and banyans. In our botanic gardens we may by artificial warmth and moisture simulate tropical conditions so well that, if we could only hide the glass and formal walks and piping and supports, we might fancy ourselves in a tropical garden. But, of course, in such glass-houses we can scarcely have the wild abundance of a New Zealand creek or Fijian “bush.” Nor can we let many trees flourish unchecked, like the pandanus or screw- pine of these islands, with its curious root-props and grassy leaves, so well adapted to withstand the boisterous winds of such latitudes. Still less can the hothouse gardener allow the rank luxuriance of the central tropical forest, where the heavy miasmas rise from a carpet of mosses, ferns, grasses, and flowers—often so deep that the traveller can scarce make his way; where even the trees that rise amid this riot of life are clad with epiphytes, blossoming in varied hues and wonderful shapes, and bamboos, palms, and tree-ferns are tied to each other in an almost impenetrable tangle of woody lianes. Passing in review some of the adaptations already spoken of, and taking up other cases, we may recall the reduced leaf- surface characteristic of heaths, the thick fleshy stems and spinous leaves of the cacti. It may be remarked that the cactus frequently shows in the young leaves a reversion to a soft, oval, and more primitive type than the later spinous leaves present, and a similar fact may be noted about the seedlings of the gorse. A curious adaptation found in some water-plants is seen in the pneumatophores—long stems which the plant sends up above the surface of the water, and which are furnished with pneumathodes or special breathing-apertures. The ordinary land-plant when potted and plunged in water wilts and withers, just as it does when subjected to extreme 14 Some Aspects of Plant-Life. [Sess. drought, the reason being that plunging the pot in water excludes air from the soil, and the normal activities of the plant cannot go on, transpiration amongst others. Hence the plant is in the position of the mariners who had “ Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.” Among adaptations to rather dry situations one may notice water-receptacles formed by the leaves of teasels and silphiums, Some bromeliads have similar water-cups, but in their case the water gathered forms a trap for the bodies of insects, and so affords an extra food-supply to the plant by means of the nitrogenous material absorbed from the insects’ bodies. Some plants suffer from lack of water, others have too copious a supply. In the latter case deeply sunken midribs with “drip tips” may help to run off the surplus, or holes more or less regularly placed along the leaf may let much of the continually dripping moisture run through. Some leaves reduce their transpiration surface by rolling up and drooping together. This was well seen in rhododendrons during the frost of the winter of 1894-95. Many a gardener’s summer is spoiled by brilliant sunshine in spring while the ground is still cold or even frozen. Coming to a closer study of the adaptations we have been considering, we recall the reduced leaf-surface of such plants as the broom and gorse, with the lessened transpiration that such reduction entails, the long leafless internodes still further reducing transpiring surfaces, the thickened epidermis, and deeply-sunk stomata or breathing-pores. In some cases these stomata are fringed with interlacing hairs, thus enclosing a layer of still and moist air, and guard-cells surrounding the stomata automatically close the outlets when turgescence is lessened owing to drought, and so stop transpiration altogether or reduce it to a minimum. Mistletoe, holly, and oleander present good examples of the thickened and stratified cuticle found in plants adapted to withstand drought well. Other adaptations similarly useful are the placing of the stomata in pit-like depressions, and the presence of hairs of peculiar shape, which cover the epidermis of the leaf with a protective layer, enclosing in its meshes a body of moist still air not readily removed. Such hairs may be floccose or 1912-1913. | Social Meeting. 15 branched, tufted, mushroom-shaped, actinia-like, scutiform or parasol-shaped, or stellate—z.e., star-shaped,—a truly wonder- ful variety. How close such a covering may be is shown when with lens or microscope we try to see a part of the epidermis proper of a leaf that is guarded in this way. Not even with the point of a fine needle can we penetrate the dense matting of hairs covering certain leaves, and touch the leaf - surface, without putting aside several of these curious surface-growths. The conclusion to which such studies in plant-life lead us is that the water-supply is the most important factor in modifying both the structure of the individual plant and the general aspect of the plant community. [Nearly seventy lantern-slides were shown to illustrate the above. In addition to this, Mr Douglas read a brief paper on “Seed Dispersal,” pointing out the necessity for such dispersal, the methods employed by nature, and the various adaptations of fruits and seeds to suit these agencies. ] At this meeting of January 22 the President referred to the late Mr D. S. Fish (see p. 48); and Mr T. Cuthbert Day showed numerous lantern slides descriptive of a visit to Cockburnspath. IIl—SOCIAL MEETING. On Wednesday, February 26, a Social Meeting was held in the Goold Hall, 5 St Andrew Square. Mr A. B. Steele, President, was in the chair. An enjoyable entertainment was provided by Misses Douglas, Ida C. Douglas, Ida Edgar, Jane G. Mackay, and Amy T. Pulsford, and Messrs David Bell, Peter Foggo, and Percy L. Pulsford. The following exhibits were on view in a side-room :— By Mr Ricuarp Exmurrst, Marine Biological Station, Millport. Marine Invertebrates, including live specimens. By Dr W. 8S. Bruce. Exhibition of Specimens from the Antarctic. By Mr T. H. Giuespie. Some living Reptiles. 16 Heather and other Allied Plants. [Sess. By Mr J. M. Turnsutt. Case of Butterflies and Insects. By Mr W. J. Ricwarpson. Specimens of Marine Flora and Fauna found round the shores of the Firth of Forth. Case of Foreign Moths. By Mr Gezo. M. BrorueErston. Long-tailed Grass Finches (Poephila acuticauda). One Goldfinch (male), Russian. One Diamond Sparrow (Steganophora guttata). Pair Pekin Robins (Liothrix luteus). Several Avadavats (Sporeginthus amadava). One Zebra Waxbill (Sporeginthus minatus). One pair Blue-breasted Waxbills. One Yellow-winged Sugar Bird (male), (Careba cyanea). Virginian Cardinal (Cardinalis Virginianus). Case of Stuffed Foreign Birds. By Members of the Society. Exhibits under the Microscope. There was also shown a selection of lantern slides by Mr T. CurHsErr Day, Mr Gro. CieLtanp, Mr KE. Denson, Mr T. H. Giuuespin, and Mr James BuNCLE. IV.—HEATHER, NATIVE AND EXOTIC, AND OTHER ALLIED PLANTS. By Mr MUNGO CHAPMAN. (Communicated, March 26, 1913.) Erica is said to be the largest genus of plants in existence, consisting as it does of over 400 species, the majority of which are natives of the Cape. They were introduced into this country in the reign of George III. (1760). When the Cape fell into the hands of the British, collectors were sent out, and to their surprise they soon discovered new species by the hundred. Most of the species were gathered by Mr Francis Masson, and as a tribute to merit, one was named Erica Masson. In their day Cape Heaths were popular greenhouse plants. Healthy, well-grown specimens were a 1912-1913.| Heather and other Allied Plants. 17 pleasing sight, as they had an elegance and beauty all their own, and well-grown plants indicated high culture skill on the part of the gardener. An authority writing in the early part of last century says: “ Under the judicious management of William M‘Nab, of the Botanic Garden, there is on view one of the finest collections of Cape heaths to be found in Britain.” In the Cape they are (like our own natives) found on the tops and sides of mountains, and in the crevices of the rocks, in great abundance. These were the hard-wooded species, and it took many years to get up specimens in this country, and choice decorative plants though they were, yet they began to lose favour with the public, and are now almost out of cultivation, a number of soft-wooded kinds having taken their place. Although the three kingdoms may be said to be clad with heather from end to end, yet it is somewhat remark- able that there are only five species——with the common ling, six. The species and their varieties may be briefly stated :— Erica ciliaris, with one hybrid, found in Cornwall and Galway. Erica cinerea, with 12 varieties, found in Scottish High- lands. Erica mediterranea, with 7 varieties, Mayo and Galway. Erica Tetraliz, or cross-leaved, 4 varieties, Scottish Highlands. Erica vagans, with 4 varieties, Cornwall. Calluna vulgaris, about 30 varieties, everywhere from north to south. We have also Menziesia polifolia, with 2 varieties, Mayo; and Menziesia cerulea, Sow of Athol, Perthshire, rare. Commonly grown are Erica carnea, Erica carnea hybrida, Germany, and Erica herbacea alba, Germany. Asa Gray, an American writer on horticulture, states: “ Up till the year 1860 it was generally supposed there was no heather in the United States. It had been found before this in Newfoundland, but from the States it was thought to be entirely absent. Although discoveries had been made in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, still there was a suspicion. However, all doubt was soon afterwards set at rest by the VOL. VII. B 18 Heather and other Allied Plants. [Sess. discovery by a Scots gardener named Mr Pickard, who found heather in a restricted station in Maine, on Cape Elizabeth, near Portland. We have now the further satisfaction of recording another station, not far from the former; the finder is also a Scots gardener named James Mitchell, and the station is in the western part of Andover, five miles north of the first station. Finding the heather in so many different stations is thought to confirm the idea that it is indigenous, and has not in any way been introduced through human agency.” Why are our native heaths not more frequently grown in grounds kept and arranged for pleasure? Why not have a “heathery ” as well as a rosary, rockery, or a fernery? There are spots in every garden of moderate dimensions where heaths would be an ornament, growing as they do where many things will not succeed. They are sufficiently varied in their growth, structure, colour, and time of flowering to fit them for many different places and purposes. How to cover that bare and ugly bank is often a matter of concern to those who possess such places, and if the bank is sloping upwards and open, heaths would be the right plants in the right place. Being mountain and moor plants, they enjoy plenty of air and sun- shine, and thrive well in soil of a peaty nature: when once established they hold their own. A bank of heaths in flower, with rocks jutting out here and there to give natural effect, would be a sight which would invariably command attention. To see plants in character is the best of all flower-shows, and affords a pleasure which our dazzling terrace gardens do not possess. I have looked through many gardening periodicals, and can find no traces of heaths being cultivated otherwise than as edgings to beds or walks. The era of the natural style of gardening commenced in the early sixties, and when William Robinson started ‘The Garden’ in 1872, he gave an impetus to the natural arrangement which it had not had before, and popularised hardy plants of all kinds. No one up to that time had ever dreamt of imitating nature by making a mound of earth and placing stones thereon, and so forming different elevations and aspects for various classes of mountain plants, encouraging those plants to assume their natural habits, and the giving of plenty of moisture (without 1912-1913.] Heather and other Allied Plants. 19 stagnation), all being points essential to the healthy conditions of the plants,—conditions which the level ground does not afford. In this connection, I may say in passing that the present most elaborate rockery in the Botanic Garden in this city is the outcome of this small beginning, when the idea was young and the material scarce. I have in my mind at this moment a place in Stirlingshire where hundreds of heaths have been recently planted. They are set to measurement on the level ground, and look so formal that they might well be taken for a culinary or nursery crop. The first heathers to flower in early spring, displaying their floral beauties amongst the snows of retiring winter and advancing spring, are Erica carnea, EL. carnea hybrida, and £. herbacea. Although not British, they are pretty and per- fectly hardy. The next in order to flower is Erica medi- terranea, found on the hills of Mayo and Galway: it is represented by seven varieties, distinct in colour, time of flowering, and more dwarf in habit than the original species from the shores of the “ Great Sea.” Of our true Scottish bell- — heathers, the first to flower is Hrica cinerea, the badge of the clan M‘Alastair, a universal favourite, with twelve varieties, prized for their fine dwarf habit, including a lovely double-flowering variety, flowers of many shades, and abundantly produced. All are well suited for dry banks. Next in order comes Lrica Tetraliz, or cross-leaved heath of the Scottish Highlands, the badge of the clans M‘Donald and M‘Dougal (it is also known as the Carlin or range heather), with four varieties, in shades of a paler colour with white,—favourites in the making of small bouquets. They may be gathered from July to October. In August comes Calluna vulgaris or common ling, with its numerous varieties, probably thirty. Of all crops, this is the one nature has given with the most bounteous hand, the variety being ample for all who have eyes to see. It does much to relieve the monotony of those who wander on the hills—for who has not enjoyed the pastime of hunting on the hills for the precious sprig of white heather? The type is the badge of the clans M‘Donell, M‘Intyre, and M‘Nab. Two varieties are alba and Hammond’s white, both under cultivation. They are the finest of all heathers, being the true souvenirs to send to the Scot abroad. The sight of the 20 Fleather and other Allied Plants. [Sess. heather warms the heart of the exile and checks the microbes of home-sickness. The double-flowering ling, Calluna vulgaris flore-pleno, is a choice plant, and was found many years ago in Cornwall, and has more recently been found in quantity at Invercauld. Of all the heathers, none are so useful for lines or edgings to beds as the varieties of common ling, all flowering nearly at the same time. rica vagans (Welsh Heath), has four varieties: all are distinct and pretty; the varieties grandt- jiora and vubra, being stronger growers, are well suited for the back or centre in any arrangement. Hrica ciliaris, or Fringed- leaved Heath, a lovely small-growing species, is found in Cornwall and Galway. A hybrid known as Z#. ciliaris, var. Watsoni, is found in Cornwall only. Menzvesia polrfolia, or St Dabeoc’s Heath, two varieties, is found in Connemara and Mayo. These are choice late-flowering ‘plants, all of which associate well with the heather, and hang out their bells till the end of the year. Menziesia cwrulea, the Menzies’ badge, is a rare Scottish plant, found only on the Sow of Athol. Tradition hands down to us many stories connected with the finding of this rare plant. In the planting of heaths, it may be as well to say there is no short cut to making an immediate display, as in the case of soft-wooded plants. However, with the ground pre- pared for the reception of the plants, the planting may be undertaken in the early autumn, when the plants will be established before winter. Small plants with nice balls of earth attached, lifted from where they have been thriving and planted firmly in their new quarters, will never look back, and will flower the first year. If the autumn-flowering heaths are clipped over in the early spring they soon start into growth, make bushy plants, and flower abundantly, while the spring- and summer-flowering kinds should be cut over as soon as done flowering. The beauty belonging to clumps of heather as seen on the mountain-side, some of them of great age, is due to their being eaten over annually by sheep, which causes them to branch out and flower in dense round heads, and under cultivation clipping has exactly the same effect. For those who have a desire to take up the cultivation of 1g12-1913.| Heather and other Allied Plants. 21 select, dwarf, shade-loving evergreen plants, there are many which can be highly recommended, having rich - coloured foliage and fruit in mid-winter. If planted in rockwork, let the spaces be lower at the back than the front, so as to retain moisture, whether natural or artificial. Suitable plants for this arrangement are: The Alpine rhododendrons, with the rare L. chamecistus, Bryanthus erectus, Gaultheria procumbens, fruit bright scarlet, with bronze foliage; Ledwm palustre, flower white ; Ledwm Lyont, flower pink; Menziesia polifolia, three colours, purple, white, and bicolour; Menziesia empetri- Jormis, pink, an American species; Arbutus californica, rich Cape-heath-like flower; Polygala chamebuzxus, two varieties ; Galax aphylla, bronze foliage; Andromeda tetragona, white ; Daphne cneorum (Garland Flower); Daphne Blagyana, not evergreen, but early and sweet-scented ; Rubus arcticus (Arctic bramble) is a choice plant, and its near relative, Rubus Chame- morus or Cloudberry (being the M‘Farlane badge), is a native of our own mountains. Both species are at home in British gar- dens. Further historical British plants which formed the clan badges of Scotland are: Azalea procumbens, the badge of the clan M‘Naughton ; Arbutus alpina, the badge of the clan Ross ; Pyrola, two species, and Linnea borealis (named in honour of the great botanist). The Buchanan badge is the Bilberry ; the M‘Lean is the Crowberry; and the M‘Intosh is the Box- wood, the oldest badge amongst the clans. Dr Samuel Johnson, who travelled in Scotland, was sceptical as to whether there were shrubs enough in Scotland to form badges for all the clans. Although the plants were plentiful, yet the fact remains that seven clans—viz., the M‘Bean, M‘Duff, M‘Leod, M‘Pherson, M‘Gillivray, Shaw, and Davidson—have each adopted the Whortleberry. The best of all backgrounds for shade-loving plants is undoubtedly the species and varieties of rhododendrons, Ghent azaleas in variety, including a few other free- flowering shrubs, such as Pieris japonica and japonica var. Pieris floribunda, Kalmia latifolia, Kalmia angustifolia {Pipe-stem-wood of America), foliage rich bronze ; Gaultheria Shallon, bronze foliage and black fruit; Skimmia japonica, fruit bright red; and Pernettya, a free-fruiting plant in various shades of colour. In days gone by it has been said of the Highlander that 22 Heather and other Allied Plants. [Sess. as he ascended his heath-clad hills his patriotism waxed stronger, and that Scottish independence was proclaimed from the mountain-top long before Bannockburn. To many a child of the Highlands the purple hillside is the only flower- garden he knows, but what a garden, reaching from horizon to horizon !—the heather, the best of all bedding-plants, requir- ing no care or expenditure, the greener after the worst of storms or when the summer suns beat most fiercely upon it. After the kings of the forest have been dwarfed to insignifi- cance by the force of the elements, Calluna vulgaris then becomes king in the upper zone. Since writing this para- eraph, however, I have visited a moor in the level carse, and have had the experience of seeing a seedling crop of birch getting up all over the moor, which will ultimately kill out the heather. But the carse is probably more favourable to the self-breeding of the birch than the hillside would be. I am pleased to say I revisited this same heather moor recently to refresh my memory, when I saw the blooming heather in all its glory. I saw numerous varieties, from bright red to nearly white, with both early flowering and late. All-I can say is, words fail me to describe this glorious sight. The “natural flower-garden” is, without doubt, a reality. Where would the bee-men be without the heather? They could not produce the genuine article. The local smuggler who produced a drop of the mountain- | dew by the side of the running stream was indebted to the heather for providing him with a secluded spot. The hardy Highlander acts on the sound principle of taking what he has got, when he never wants, so he makes use of the heather#in thatching his cabin (even the wealthy use it for thatching their summer-houses), he makes his bed of it, and with it dyes his yarn to a rich golden yellow. In the Western Isles they tanned their leather with it, and in the days of the Picts they used the young tops of heather for brewing ale. Even the gipsies have reason to bless the heather, as it helps them to a livelihood in the making of brooms. The gentle shepherd and his sheep monopolise a large share of the use- fulness of the heather; it is also the home of, and affords shelter to, a considerable amount of other live-stock, which 1912-1913.] Heather and other Allied Plants. 23 meet their fate at the hands of the sportsman. The favourite bird of the sportsman is the grouse. While it is natural that mountain birds should feed on various mountain plants, it is proved that the staple food of the grouse is the young shoots, flowers, and seed-heads of Calluna vulgaris. It is this feeding on the heather which give the grouse their much-prized flavour when cooked. Naturally, no one could have a keener eye to the picturesque than the Highlander himself, as he does not consider he is dressed for “a gathering of the clans” without having a sprig of heather aloft in his bonnet. Finally, when Calluna vulgaris has served its day and generation (old heather being useless for any purpose), and a young crop of ling is wanted, the hills are set on fire, when the old crop is reduced to ashes, and science teaches us the ashes contain the fertilising elements for the nourishment of the future crop. The great gift of a “natural flower-garden” is indeed a priceless blessing to man. He cannot ascend the mountains without gaining fresh inspiration in theory as well as in practice, and may well meditate on the fact that he is viewing the heath-clad hills in their primitive condition—a thousand years, more or less, making little difference. When the artist paints his landscape, it is meant to be viewed from one side only. Nature presents no such half-measures; she displays her beauties all around, even to the live carpet under foot. In further proof of the accommodating nature of heather, I propose to give you the life-history of one plant, grown in a window in the dwelling-house of a friend in “ Auld Reekie.” In the grower’s own words, he says: “ Nine years ago (1903) a rhododendron was repotted in peaty soil from the West Highlands. In the following spring a tiny seedling plant of heather made its appearance. I gave the little stranger a hearty welcome, as I was interested to see how it would behave so far away from its native heath, and in a dwelling- house in the heart of the city. It grew and prospered so well that the idea occurred to me to try an experiment, and prove the ‘survival of the fittest, so I left the heather in the same pot with the rhododendron, which was two feet high when the baby Highlander came into this mysterious world. It is now 24 Feather and other Allied Plants. [Sess. over three feet, overtopping the rhododendron, with most of the shoots showing flowers at this time last year, and to all appearance will ultimately become the victor in the struggle for existence.” Mrs Grant provides us with appropriate verses on heather :— **Gem of our hills ! whose modest bloom Sheds beauty o’er the lonely moor ; Though thou disperse no rich perfume, Nor yet with splendid tints allure, Both valour’s crest and beauty’s bower Oft hast thou deck’d, a favourite flower. Flower of the wild! whose purple glow Adorns the dusky mountain’s side, Not the gay hues of Iris’ bow Nor garden’s artful, varied pride, With all its wealth of sweets, could cheer, Like thee, the hardy mountaineer.” In the vernacular we have— “‘T’ve pu’ed the broom and foxglove, And rowan-berry fine, But they hav’na half the charm O’ the heather o’ lang syne.” The latest innovation is “ Heather Day,’ when a consider- able amount of revenue (for charitable purposes) is derived from the “sale of the sprig.” [At the same meeting an interesting lantern lecture, entitled “A Tour in the East Himalaya,” was given by Mr W. W. Smith, M.A.] 1912-1913.] Votes on Muicrofungi from the Forth Area. 25 V.—NOTES ON MICROFUNGI FROM THE FORTH AREA. By Mr D. A. BOYD, Corresponpine MEMBER. (Read April 23, 1913.) THE Microfungi referred to in the following notes have all been obtained by myself in the respective localities mentioned, and are either additions to the list for the Forth Area, or otherwise sufficiently interesting to be worthy of notice. Protomyces bellidis Krieger.—In March last I observed on the roadside near Kilmahog, Callander, some living plants of the common Daisy (Bellis perennis) with pale spots on their leaves. When examined microscopically, the affected portions of the leaves were found to contain resting-spores of the type of Protomyces. This species was added to the British list from specimens obtained in 1899 in Ayrshire." When occurring on wild plants, it seems usually to cause less disfigurement of the affected leaves than when growing on cultivated daisies in gardens. Sclerotinia Curreyana (Berk.) Karst.—The sclerotia of this species appear to be very common in dead culms of the Common Rush (Juncus conglomeratus) in many parts of Scot- land. Being usually wholly hidden within the culms, they are very liable to be overlooked, but their presence may be suspected when the rushes are of a very pale-yellow colour. If the pale-coloured culms are lightly drawn between the thumb and forefinger, one or more of the hard sclerotia may generally be detected within. These are irregularly elliptical, black externally, but of a pale-pink colour within, and were formerly described as a distinct fungus under the name of Sclerotium roseum Kneiff. Each sclerotium remains quiescent in the decaying culm until spring, when it is capable, under favourable circumstances, of producing one or more cups. These are stipitate, of a brown colour, and burst through the external tissue of the rush. The late Mr F. Currey found as 1 «Transactions of the British Mycological Society,’ vol. i. p. 115. 26 Notes on Microfungi from the Forth Area. [Sess. many as thirteen cups springing from one sclerotium, but so great a number is very seldom met with. The fully-developed cups are considered rather rare, but would doubtless be found more frequently if searched for at the right time and place. The sclerotia occurred in plenty in dead rushes at Roslin last October. Ephelina prunelie Phil.—This interesting Discomycete is more particularly referred to in another communication to the Society. Some well-developed specimens were recently © obtained at Loch Lubnaig, along with the immature form known as Asteroma prunelle Purt. Gnomoniella tubiformis (Tode) Sace.—Abundant on fallen leaves of Alder in the Pass of Leny and at Loch Lubnaig. This species is easily recognised by the comparative thickness of its beak, and by its broad, undivided spores. Although abundant in the localities mentioned, it appears to be less frequent in Western Scotland, and has not yet come under my notice in the Clyde Area, Cytispora Curreyi Sacc.—Common on bark of dead branches of Larch in Roslin Glen. Septoria prunelle Trail—On living leaves of Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) at Loch Lubnaig. The minute pyenidia were produced in abundance on the surface of withered spots. Leptothyrium periclyment (Desm.) Sacc.—On living leaves of Honeysuckle; Roslin Glen. This pretty species, formerly known as L. pictum B. & Br., is easily recognised by the pale- yellow or rufous spots on which the thin, black pycnidia are produced. Oidium alphitoides Griff. & Maulb.—Occurring as mildew on living oak-leaves in Roslin Glen. This species is easily known by its large, barrel-shaped conidia. Ramularia sambucina Sace.—On living leaves of Elder at Roslin. This parasitic mould produces discoloured spots, on the lower surface of which is developed a thin coating of conidiophores. Rt. knautie (Massal.) Bub.—On black spots on living leaves of Devil’s-bit Scabious (Scabiosa succisa) near Bridge-of-Allan, Stirlingshire, that being the first British record. The speci- men obtained by me was named &. succise; but Miss A. 1912-1913.] Votes on Parasitic Ascomycetes.—ITT. 27 Lorrain Smith, F.L.S., to whom it was submitted, has kindly pointed out that it belongs rather to F&. knautiw. She states that the latter was first described by Massalongo as a variety of #. succise, but “differs from that species in the much darker leaf-spots and the smaller spores.” * VI.—NOTES ON PARASITIC ASCOM YCETES.—Part III? By Mr D. A. BOYD, Corresponpinc MEMBER. (Read April 23, 1913.) THE fungi grouped under the Hysteriacee may be said to occupy a position intermediate between the Pyrenomycetes and Discomycetes. They resemble the Pyrenomycetes in the hard or leathery consistence of the outer integument or wall of the perithecium, but differ in the manner by which the spores are emitted. In ‘the Hysteriacee there is no apical pore, but the perithecium usually opens by a narrow slit ex- tending longitudinally, the position of which is often marked by a conspicuous furrow. The vast majority of the Hysteriaceee are saprophytes, and grow on dead branches, stems, leaves, fir-cones, &c. Several species, however, are saprophytic in their fully matured or ascigerous state, but are reputed to be parasitic at an earlier stage of development. Of these an example is afforded by Lophodermium pinastri (Schrad.) Chey., common on dead pine leaves, but also said to occasion serious damage to seedling conifers by causing them to cast their foliage, and not unfre- quently killing them outright. To this group is also usually assigned Dichena quercina (Pers.) Fr., which, in its undeveloped or pycnidial state, is exceedingly common on the bark of living oak-trees, occurring on almost every branch. It forms black patches, rough or rugulose on the surface, and often of considerable extent. The asci, however, are rarely produced. They contain eight broadly 1 ‘Trans. Brit. Myc. Soc.,’ vol. iii. p. 370. * See ‘Transactions,’ vol. vi., Pt. iv., p. 333, and vol. vi., Pt. v., p. 431. 28 Notes on Parasitic Ascomycetes—ITI. [Sess. elliptical, hyaline spores, which become divided into four or more cells at maturity. Another but less common species— D. faginea (Pers.) Fr.—resembles considerably D. quercina in general appearance, but occurs on living bark of beech- branches ; while others are reported to grow on bark of hazel and sallow. The last group to be noticed is the Discomycetes, which contain a very large number of species, most of which occur only on dead branches, stems, leaves, or other decaying veget- able matter. Some, however, are true parasites; while others are mainly saprophytic, but have the reputation of occasion- ally varying their diet by attacking the living tissues of trees or plants. In the Discomycetes the asci or spore-bags are not enclosed within perithecia, but are merely embedded in the substance of the ascophore itself, the hymenium or fertile surface of which is fully exposed at maturity. When an ascus is ripe, it ruptures at the apex, and the spores are thus liberated, In some of the larger species this process of spore-ejection may actually be witnessed when the fungus is placed in bright sunshine. As the asci discharge their contents in rapid suc- cession, the liberated spores are seen to rise into the air in the form of a cloud of minute particles. The numerous species of Discomycetes differ widely in size, shape, and other external characteristics; but in the great majority the spore - bearing surface (otherwise known as the “ hymenium ”’) is expanded in the form of a cup or disc. Another type, however, is afforded by the Phacidiacez, in which the hymenium is at first covered by the upper surface of the ascophore, but is finally exposed by the splitting of the covering, which is usually effected in a radiate manner. Of this type several illustrative examples may be referred to. One of the most interesting is Keithia tetraspora (Phil. & Keith) Sacc., discovered many years ago in the north-east of Scotland by the late Rev. James Keith, LL.D., Forres. It occurs on brownish-yellow spots on the upper surface of green leaves of Juniper. As each specimen becomes mature, the surface of the spot splits irregularly into three or four laciniz or teeth, and discloses a hymenium which is black at the surface but brownish-yellow within. At this stage it is said 1912-1913.| Votes on Parasitic Ascomycetes —II1I. 29 to bear considerable resemblance to a Puccinia in habit. As the specific name implies, each ascus contains only four spores ; and these are brown, and divided near the lower end by a cross septum into two very unequal cells. An allied species, named Phacidiwm infestans Karst., is rare in Britain, but reported to be very destructive to fir-trees in Finland. It attacks the living leaves, and forms small, rounded, blackish spots. When the ascophore is ripe, the affected epiderm of the leaf splits from the centre into several teeth, and exposes the pale disc in which the asci are em- bedded. Each ascus contains eight spindle-shaped spores. Living leaves and stems of Sneezewort (Achillea Piarmica) are sometimes attacked by Schizothyrium ptarmice Desm., a parasitic fungus allied to Phacidiwm. It produces small, rounded, or elliptical black spots, which are often very numerous on the leaves, especially when the host-plant is severely attacked and stunted in growth by the parasite. In the early or pycnidial condition, known as Leptothyriwm ptarmice Desm., the spots are almost plane, and contain ovate-oblong sporidia; but as the spots ripen they become more convex, and finally open by a longitudinal or stellately radiating slit, The number of spores in each ascus is variable, being sometimes eight and sometimes only two. Another parasite belonging to the same group occurs not unfrequently on the leaves and stems of Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris). Black spots are produced on the upper surface of the leaves. These consist of fascicles of encrusting fibrils which radiate outwards from a central tubercle. This was formerly regarded as an independent species, and described under the name of Asteroma prunelle Purt.; but specimens obtained by myself in various parts of the West of Scotland have shown the Asteroma to be merely an immature form of a parasitic Discomycete, which has been described under the name of EHphelina pruneliw Phil. In its fully matured con- dition, the thickened central portion becomes a stroma on which are developed small groups of blackish-brown asco- phores. The asci contain hyaline, undivided spores, which are oblong, and either straight or slightly bent.! 1 See ‘Transactions of the British Mycological Society, vol. iii. p. 114; Plate 6, figs. 2, a, b, ¢, d, é, f. 30 Notes on Parasitic A scomycetes.—ITT, [ Sess. A second species of Hphelina is named £. radicalis (Cooke) ‘Mass., and produces blackish gouty swellings at the base of the stems of Yellow-rattle (Rhinanthus Crista -galli). It attacks the living plant, but the mature ascophores do not appear to be fully developed until winter, when the affected stems have become dead. This species seems to be not uncommon on roadsides, &., but is only to be found after careful search by pulling up the dead stems of the host- plant. Among the parasitic fungi to be mentioned in connection with this group are several species of Rhytisma, of which the most familiar is RA. acervnum (Pers.) Fr., common everywhere on leaves of sycamore (Acer I’seudo-platanus). In its early stage, known as Melasmia acerina Lév., it forms on the living leaves in summer conspicuous black spots resembling blotches of pitch, and rather thicker than the substance of the leaf. Each spot is actually a stroma containing numerous small cavities, in which are produced in autumn innumerable minute spore - like bodies or spermatia. These are said to be in- capable of promoting infection, and their precise function is not yet clearly understood. After the fallen leaves have lain on the ground during the winter until the following spring, the stroma becomes swollen, and ridges are formed on the upper surface, which ultimately split longitudinally and reveal the pale disc. The spores are very long, needle-shaped, hyaline, and arranged in a parallel fascicle in the ascus. Although very disfiguring to the trees ou which it occurs, and apt to cause injury by inducing untimely defoliation, the Rhytisma can be easily got rid of by the exercise of a little care. As the ripe spores are shed in spring, just at the period when the young leaves are expanding, fresh infection readily takes place at that time; and this may be prevented if the affected leaves are gathered and destroyed when they fall in autumn, before the asci and spores have been developed. Among the other species of Rhytisma may be noted Fh. punctatum (Pers.) Fr., also occurring on living leaves of sycamore, and closely allied to Rh. acerinuwm. It is readily distinguished by the black spots being broken up into smaller portions and crowded on a yellowish blotch. 1912-1913.] Votes on Parasitic Ascomycetes.—ILI. 31 Rh. salicinum (Pers.) Fr. produces shining black blotches on living leaves of various species of Willow, and Lh. andromeda (Pers.) Fr. on living leaves of Andromeda polifolia. Among species usually assigned to Rhytisma, but requiring further investigation, may be noted Rh. empetra B. White, and Rh. urticw (Pers.) Fr. The former occurs on living stems of Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), and forms a thick, black, smooth, glossy crust: it is locally abundant on the Breadalbane Mountains in Perthshire, and has also occurred on the Largs Hills, Ayrshire. The latter species is not uncommon on dead stems of Nettle (Urtica dioica), on which it forms a thin, shining, black crust. Another parasite belonging to this group is Cryptomyces aureus (Sow.) Mass., which forms large, black, blister-like patches on living branches of Willow. The margin of the patch is-well defined, and is frequently lobed. At maturity the black surface becomes cracked so as to expose the disk, and often falls away. The ascophores are immersed in a white stroma covered by the blackened epidermis; and the asci contain eight hyaline, elliptical, continuous spores. This species was known to Greville, and was described by him in the ‘Scottish Cryptogamic Flora’ under the name of Crypto- myces Wauchir. The parasitic species of the genus Pseudopeziza may be said to form a connecting link between the two types of Discomy- cetes represented by Phacidiuwm and Peziza respectively. This relation is best seen in Ps. ¢rafolit (Bern.) Fckl., formerly assigned to the genus Phacidiwm. It occurs abundantly on living leaves of various species of clover, especially Trifolium repens, and produces dark spots, on the surface of which are developed one or more minute, yellowish, pustular discs or cups. These burst through the epiderm, which usually forms a toothed fringe surrounding each cup. Other parasitic species of this genus, tending more or less towards the pezizeform or cup-like type of ascophore, are Ps. ranunculi (Wallr.) Fckl., which produces blackish cups on the under surface of conspicuous dark-brown spots on leaves of Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens); Ps. repanda (Fr.) Karst., on various species of Rubiacee, especially Sherardia arvensis and Galium saxatile ; Ps. cerastiorwm (Wallr.) Fckl., on Cerastiwm 32 Notes on Parasitic Ascomycetes —ITI. [Sess. trwviale ; Ps. radians (Rob.) Sacc., on various species of Cam- panula ; Ps. medicaginis (Lib.) Sacc., on various species of Medicago ; Ps. calthe (Phil.) Mass., on dark spots, especially on the lower surface, of leaves of Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris); and Ps. alismatis (Phil. & Trail) Sace., on fading leaves of Water Plantain (Alisma Plantago-aquatica). In many parts of the country the Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) is attacked by Sclerotinia tuberosa (Hedw.) Fckl., a parasitic Discomycete. It appears to affect the underground rhizomes of the host-plant, some of which are converted into sclerotia closely resembling rhizomes themselves in size and colour. ach of the ascophores developed from the sclerotia grows upward, and pushes its way to the surface of the ground by means of a long slender stem, surmounted by a dark-brown cup. The latter is at first top-shaped and closed, but becomes funnel-shaped, and at length is so fully expanded as to appear almost flat. This fungus also occasionally occurs as a destructive parasite on other species of Anemone culti- vated in gardens. Among forms parasitic on cryptogamic plants, the only species to be noticed is Helotiwm marchantie (Berk.) Fr., recorded as growing in England on fading specimens of Marchantia polymorpha, one of the Liverworts. In Scotland it is apparently represented by the var. conocephali Boyd, which has been reported from various parts of the country. The Scottish variety occurs on Conocephalum conicum, and produces somewhat thick, pale yellowish-brown ascophores, seated on faded pallid or brownish spots on the living thallus of the host. It is distinguished from the type by its larger spores and different habitat. This may probably be the same as the H. marchantie Berk., reported many years ago by the late Mr A. Jerdon as growing on fading Marchantia conica at Jedburgh.” Several species of Sclerotinia, &c., are truly parasitic in their earliest stages, and occur as destructive moulds, &c., on various living plants. These, however, are not particularly noticed here, as they lhe beyond the limits to which our brief survey was restricted in the first paper of the present series. 1 “Trans. Brit. Myc. Soc.,’ vol. iii. p. 118. 2 “Mycologia Scotica,’ No, 1718. I912-1913.| Notes on the Solan-Goose. 33 VIIL—NOTES ON THE SOLAN-GOOSE AND ON THE STOCKDOVE. By Mr TOM SPEEDY. (Read April 23, 1913.) In view of the recent correspondence in ‘The Scotsman’ re- garding solan-geese sitting on chimney-pots on the tops of houses in Edinburgh, it occurred to me that a short paper and an exhibition of a pet bird might not be uninteresting to the members of this Society. I am afraid, however, that I have little to say in regard to the habits of this bird that is not already known to every member. Though rarely seen flying over land, except perhaps small islands, a number of instances are recorded of their being shot inland at a con- siderable distance from the sea. Many of us have visited the Bass Rock during the breeding season, and have seen the numbers that nest there. Some years ago the members of this Society made a pilgrimage to the Bass, which was both edifying and instructive, and which I think should be repeated. Among the finest sights in nature, to my mind, is to watch, with a pair of binoculars, the habits of the gannet when hunt- ing for its prey. A greater source of admiration and interest to naturalists can hardly be conceived. Sometimes skimming, or rather sailing along, at other times beating its wings quickly, it courses over the water at a considerable altitude till it spies a fish. Partly closing its wings, like a whirlwind from heaven it dashes down on its victim, causing the white foam to splash as it plunges into the deep. I have noticed that it sometimes reappears a good many yards from where it went under. I regret never having timed the immersion, but it seemed about a quarter of a minute before it reascended with its prey. I once, at North Berwick, saw a device which seemed a heartless and unnecessary one for capturing gannets when in search of food. A piece of board, painted blue to resemble as nearly as possibie the colour of the water, and on which a VOL. VII. Cc 34 | Notes on the Solan-Goose. [Sess. fish was secured, was sunk a little below the surface. As will be understood, owing to the force with which the bird descends when plunging into the water, the impact against the board must inevitably prove fatal. I have never seen it used, and I hope that such a meaningless murdering device does not often prove successful. Possibly some of the members may have seen it used, and can give us information. Several naturalists, including Selby and Morris, state that the gannet is a long-lived bird, seeing that some, “recognised from particular marks, have been observed to return to the same stations for forty-eight years.” How far this may be accurate is of course difficult to say, but most large birds are long-lived. J can remember, when a boy, of a swan being shot on the Hirsel Loch for being tyrannical to others: it was forty years old, and had always been characterised as “the young one.” This bird was set up by the late Mr Belloe, taxidermist, Coldstream, and in the arrogance of youth its great age surprised me much at the time. It is now, I think, over a quarter of a century since I took a young eagle from an eyrie in Strathconan Forest, which on more than one occasion I exhibited at meetings of this Society. The bird is still in beautiful plumage and exceedingly healthy. My friend Mr Dewar some years ago possessed a large cockatoo, and had proof when he got it that it was a hundred and seven years of age, and it lived other seven years with him. It may therefore be safely assumed that gannets are long-lived birds. Gannets lay but one egg, which though white has a bluish tinge. Naturalists, including the Rev. Mr Morris, say that _ the period of incubation is “ about six weeks.” This, however, is difficult to believe, as the common goose, a much larger bird, does not incubate for nearly that time. When hatched, the young bird is a dark - bluish indescribable colour, but quickly assumes a dress of white down. At a year old it is not the least like an adult bird [a noticeable feature of the specimen which Mr Speedy exhibited]. The light colour in- creases with every moult, but adult plumage is not attained till the fourth year. A two-year-old bird may be seen on the pond at the base of Blackford Hill, having been placed there, along with a 1912-1913. | Notes on the Solan-Goose. 35 variety of waterfowl, by Mr M‘Hattie, our city gardener. It is gratifying to observe this being done, creating as it does an interest in bird-life, and tending to cultivate a habit of observa- tion in natural history among the young. The thousands of people and the number of nurses with children who visit the pond demonstrate this. The thanks of all naturalists are therefore due to Mr M‘Hattie for the opportunities thus afforded for studying nature at our own doors. The gannet is a bird of passage, migrating southward on the approach of winter and returning north again in the spring. As the swallow and cuckoo are generally regarded as the harbingers of summer, so the gannet is looked upon by fishermen as the forerunner of shoals of herring, which, except during the nesting season, determine the migrations of these birds. It is, I think, unfortunate that the writer of the “ Nature Note” in ‘The Scotsman’ who saw the gannets on the chimney-pots of the Caledonian Station Hotel should not have given us his name. As, however, the note was well written, and as it is inconceivable that any one could have merely imagined such a thing, it has been by many accepted as accurate. On the other hand, there are several with whom I have discussed the matter who affirm that the birds must have been black-backed or herring gulls. A writer signing himself “A Lover of Wild Birds” stated he saw a gannet “sitting on the chimney-pot of a house in the row of tenements in Falcon Avenue.” “The bird,’ he said, “ was apparently the size of the domestic goose.” As all of you, I presume, have seen a domestic goose, it will require a long stretch of the imagination to accept the statement that “the great white bird” was a gannet. As you are all aware, after the Nature Note appeared in ‘The Scotsman’ that gannets had been seen sitting on chimney- pots of the Caledonian Station Hotel, I wrote and asked if any others had seen this wonderful sight, as with the thousands of people constantly passing and repassing, surely some others must have seen them. There was not a single reply to my letter in ‘The Scotsman,’ though, as already said, “ A Lover of Wild Birds” wrote that he saw one sitting on the top of a house in Falcon Avenue. I had, however, a private letter 36 Notes on the Stockdove. [ Sess. from a friend of my own, a professional gentleman in Rutland Square, whose veracity I regard as unimpeachable, saying that he and his assistant both saw the birds on the chimney opposite their window. Calling for him, I first saw the assistant, a young lady typist. Knowing that young gannets are nearly black and adult birds nearly white, I asked her if the birds she saw were old ones or young ones. She replied she didn’t know, they were just grey birds. I then had a conversation with my friend, and putting the same question to him, he said, “ They were back again, and I learned they were lesser black-backed gulls.” When anyone writes he saw such a thing, however wonderful it may be, no one can reply that it is a falsehood, but many statements are asserted that will not stand the light of searching investigation. The assertion, therefore, that gannets sit on chimney-pots may be included in the same category as the observation of fieldfares nesting in this country or nightingales singing in Scotland. That these birds, which are seldom seen overland, should be found on chimneys in the midst of a large centre of popu- lation is certainly very remarkable, but there are many wonderful things in nature. There is a very remarkable peculiarity pertaining to the gannet, namely, that it has no apparent nostrils. The reason of this is obvious, as with the terrific dash into the sea, water would be forced up the nostrils, to the injury of the bird; and here we discover “the magic of an unseen hand, the design of a great designer, the wonderful creation of a wonderful Creator.” THE STOCKDOVE. The stockdove is found in most of the countries of Europe. It used to be a rare bird in this country, and in my young days on the Borders I do not remember ever seeing one. Nowadays, however, they are common everywhere, breeding in rabbit-burrows, suitable holes in old trees, and also among thick foliage. An amusing incident came under my notice one day when ferreting rabbits. A ferret was put into a burrow, and in a short time a stockdove bolted and flew off, when it was stopped by a shot. Immediately afterwards the ferret came out, and in its mouth was a quantity of blue 1912-1913. | Notes on the Stockdove. 37 feathers, indicating that the bird must have had a narrow escape in its undergroud nesting-place. As already said, the stockdove used to be rare in this country, and not till within the last twenty-five or thirty years have I observed any. Mr Muirhead, in ‘The Birds of Berwickshire,’ records that it made its appearance at Paxton in 1887. In the ‘ Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society’ for 1881-1883, p. 251, it is stated, “This bird does not appear to have been observed in Scotland before 1874 or 1875, when it was seen in Perthshire.” It is a fact, however, that birds come and go without any apparent reason, and it is beyond question that on previous occasions they frequented this country. The Rev. F. O. Morris, in his ‘ British Birds, published long before the date mentioned, refers to it in both England and Scotland. Again, who does not know that beautiful song “ Afton Water,’ written by Burns in 1789, in which we find the lines— “Thou stockdove whose echo resounds through the glen, Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den ; Thou green crested lapwing, thy screaming forbear, I charge you disturb not my slumbering fair.” It is not conceivable that such a close observer of nature as Burns should have included in this beautiful song the habits of the stockdove if no such bird existed. Our pigeons, it was at one time asserted, are descended from one common progenitor, namely, the stockdove, so called because of its building its nest in the stock or stem of trees. Others, however, hold that all have their origin in the rock-pigeon. It is difficult to believe, in view of the diversity of the breeds, that either theory can be correct. From the difference in the shape of the cushet, the pouter, the homer, the tumbler, the jacobine, the fantail, and others, it has been suggested that several species come from different aboriginal stocks, and many treatises in various languages have been published on the subject, some of which are of considerable antiquity. Darwin, in his ‘Origin of Species, however, maintains that all are descended from the rock- pigeon, and, after long and patient experiments, he advances arguments in support of this contention. 38 Some Astronomical Problems. [Sess. The stockdove, we are informed by the Rev. Mr Morris, “becomes easily tamed in confinement, and attached to its companions and its adopted home.” As my son keeps some pigeons, I purpose transferring their eggs to the nest of a stockdove and vice versd. I hope by this exchange to rear some tame ones, in order that they may adorn our Scottish Zoological Park. One bird [which Mr Speedy exhibited] had fallen out of a nest in the park at Oxenfoord belonging to the Earl of Stair. It was picked up by a gentleman staying at The Inch, who brought it home and handed it over to me. It is now nearly two years old, and has been confined in an aviary beside common blue pigeons, not unlike itself, but there has been no appearance of it mating. Several turtle- doves are also beside it. The aviary is close to my bedroom window, and I am often awakened in the early morning by the goo-o0-00 of the stockdove. At the meeting of April 23 there was also read a brief paper entitled “ Note on the Bracken (Pteris aquilina),’ from the pen of Mr Stewart Archibald. VIIL—SOME ASTRONOMICAL PROBLEMS. By Mr T. CUTHBERT DAY, F.CS. (Wotes of a Paper read Oct. 22, 1913.) THE science of Astronomy may be justly regarded as the most advanced and the most exact of all the departments of human knowledge. At this present time we have arrived, as far as our finite minds will admit, at a fairly comprehensive concep- tion, as a whole, of the universe in the midst of which we tind ourselves. It is but a broad outline—having, however, many definite and exact details—which we possess ; and though the advance has been enormous within the last 300 years, yet how many things there are still beyond our comprehension, 1912-1913. | Some Astronomical Problems. 39 and our ability to solve. The past study of the heavens, while making so much clear to us, has now presented for our contemplation problems of greater difficulty than ever. Nevertheless, the mind of man is nothing if not speculative, and there is quite an eager readiness to forestall the results of definite scientific research, making use of the meagre evi- dence that we have ready to hand. It is curious, too, with what positive assertions theories so based are put forward, and oftentimes the more positive in an inverse ratio to the soundness of the premises, This little paper is only intended to draw our attention to a few astronomical problems awaiting solution, and to discuss from a common-sense standpoint the current theories regarding them. One problem that has taxed the ingenuity of the scientific mind for a long time is centred in the Sun, the great central power-house of our system and our only source of energy. Whence come the immense supplies of light and heat that he is constantly pouring forth ? Till lately there were two solutions of the ee put forward. First, that the supply of heat and light is main- tained by the fall of meteoric matter into the sun itself, the kinetic energy of the falling bodies being transformed into the energy of light and heat. A careful consideration of this theory shows that it is quite inadequate to afford a solution. Many geologists maintain that the sun’s light and heat in long past geological ages was probably much about the same as at present. If that is so, then we have to reckon with many millions of years instead of hundreds of thousands for a steady and not a variable supply of light and heat. The astronomical result of this theory, if true, would be to increase materially, in such long ages, the mass of the sun, and consequently to shorten the year. A second and better theory was based on the very probable supposition that no part of the sun is solid or even fluid, but gaseous throughout. There is good ground for this idea, because the density of our luminary is only one-fourth that of the earth. The theory supposes, then, that the sun being gaseous, his immense bulk and gravitational force have already compressed these gases to the consistence of a treacly fluid. 40 Some Astronomical Problems. [ Sess. But the immense dissipation of energy must reduce the ex- pansive power of these highly heated gases, and the body of the sun must shrink. It can readily be shown that a body of gas shrinking under these conditions produces a large amount of heat, and it is suggested that a supply of heat will be maintained through continual shrinkage without much alteration until the physical condition of the interior of the sun undergoes alteration,—in other words, till it begins to solidify. It is a captivating theory, and has held the ground for a long time. It is probably true in a measure, but many have felt that it would break down under the stress of the enor- mously long periods of time demanded by the insatiable evol- utionist. It is difficult to get away from the fact that a shrinking sun must be a continually cooling sun. Within the last few years the unexpected has happened, and in the discovery of that remarkable element, radium, the scientific mind has found a sedative for its perplexities, and a kind of elixir of life for our apparently fast-dying sun. He can go on now for untold ages, and we can heave a sigh of relief at the thought that the calamity of extinction will not happen in our day. The element radium is undergoing a process peculiar (at least in any measure) to itself, but which is acquiring a prominent place in modern politics, namely, devolution. Radium has a very high atomic weight; its atom, or molecule, appears to be unstable; and it is slowly breaking down, and producing in the process elements of a less atomic weight than its own. This wonderful process is attended by the liberation of an enormous amount of energy,—enormous when compared with the exceedingly small amount of matter transformed in a given period of time. It is estimated that radium will give out in one hour sufficient heat to raise its own weight of water from the freezing- to the boiling-point. This emission of energy by the radium atom is very fixed and persistent in amount, and does not appear to vary in the smallest degree even under the most extreme conditions. The presence of radium, then, in the sun is now the great factor in the main- tenance of his supply of energy. I do not know that the spectroscope has revealed the presence of radium in the sun, 1912-1913.] Some Astronomical Problems. 4I but it certainly has demonstrated the presence of large quantities of helium, a derivative of radium, having an atomic weight of 4. Radium holds the field in the scientific arena, and is the most doughty champion that has appeared there for a long time. Old and apparently well-established theories, and even generalisations, have either gone down before him or suffered considerable metamorphism. It is easy to see the cosmic importance of a discovery of this kind. If radium affords the key to the problem of our sun, then why not give it also a free hand among the fixed stars, all distant suns, and then radium will soon have the universe on his shoulders, making Atlas of old a pigmy of utter insignificance ? Taking all things into consideration, we may allow that the radium theory gives us a provisional solution of the solar problem, but all the same the unexpected may happen once more, and some new and profound secret of nature be revealed which yet again may entirely alter our interpretation of the facts. It is curious to observe, before leaving this subject, that while the earth is entirely dependent on the sun for every form of energy displayed here, yet we, the inhabitants of the earth, can only apply a comparatively very small part of the daily supply of that energy to the uses and wants of our now vast and complicated civilisation, apart of course from the annual gift of the fruits of the earth. Our age is an age of energy, derived from the mineral coal, and human society is almost entirely dependent.upon it. Now the vast stores of energy locked up in coal were derived from the sun many millions of years ago, and the whole of it came to us, through the fathom- less void of space which separates us from the sun, travelling along those mysterious intangible rays of light. We are in very deed living on the past, and spending a vast inheritance of wealth out of capital, the supply of which, it is needless to remark, is not limitless. We may draw our own conclusion, but it seems as if a time of anxiety will come at last, and science must cast about for some new source of energy. Perhaps before the coal is all gone, or become too dear, men may have found a way to harness the energy locked up in the elementary atoms. The planets that revolve about the sun in company with 42 Some Astronomical Problems. [Sess. the earth have afforded a host of speculative theories as to their being the seat of life in any form, but more particularly of reasonable beings. We have a good store of fairly well ascertained facts relating to the planets, enough perhaps to guide us to some just conclusion on this point. When the genius of Copernicus moved the centre of our system from the earth to the sun, our world became a planet, a heavenly body. Now as we in our study of the fixed stars make great use of the knowledge we have of our own sun to determine their nature, so in the study of the planets and their physical con- dition the intimate knowledge we have of our own earth may give us very valuable help. I am inclined to believe that in connection with this always fascinating problem of the habita- bility of the planets, sufficient attention to the condition of the earth as one of the planets has not been applied as fully as it might have been. The earth, then, is a globe nearly 8000 miles in diameter, distant from the sun about 93 millions of . miles, possessing a fairly dense atmosphere, and with three- quarters of its surface covered by water, the visible proportion of land to water being 1:3. But when we consider the volume of that water, then we find that the bulk of the land standing above sea-level, when compared with the bulk of the water filling the great ocean basins, the ratio becomes 1:14. Water has a high specific heat, and on this account is able to absorb an immense amount of heat radiated from the sun, and part with it afterwards slowly. Our water envelope thus becomes a vast accumulator and distributer of heat, while the atmosphere enfolds the whole like a blanket, the two together forming a great protection against the intense cold of space. In spite of this safeguard, however, both poles of the earth are frozen ; the line of eternal snow comes down to sea-level at a variable point, due to seasonal changes, within the north and south arctic circles. Sufficiently high mountains, even at the equator, will partly pierce this protective covering of air, and have their heads crowned with everlasting snow, the snow-line in these regions reaching an altitude of 15,000 to 16,000 feet : the barometric pressure is about 15 inches, indicating about one half that experienced at sea-level. This is an important point, as it shows how rapidly the reduction of atmospheric density increases terrestrial radiation of heat, to such an 1912-1913.] ~ Some Astrononucal Problems. 43 extent that even the blaze of an equatorial sun is not able to make good the loss. We see, then, that efficiently as the earth is protected, as a whole, from the great cold of space, we nevertheless have ereat extremes of climate, and we are able to learn also that under these extreme conditions hfe can be well maintained. The most energetic forms of life are found in the temperate parts of the earth, life in the torrid zone being distinctly more languid; but the severe conditions found in the arctic regions do not forbid the existence of many varied forms. This fact should be taken into consideration when dealing with the problem of life in other planets. At the same time, the immense importance of an atmosphere, the density of which must not be less than half that of ours, and a large expanse of ocean, to make possible any forin of life such as we know, even of the lowliest kind, must.not be lost sight of. Now there are three planets besides our earth which may be called terrestrial, as having a certain likeness to our world. They all lie within the great gap which separates Mars and Jupiter,— Mercury, Venus, and Mars. To some people the great question of astronomy pedis to be, Is Mars inhabited? Venus is really a world much more like our own than is Mars. She is nearly the same size, and without doubt has a sufficiently dense atmosphere, but her greater proximity to the sun gives her a supply of light and heat about double what we receive. Supposing that Venus revolves on her axis in twenty-four hours or so, she might very well be the seat of life as far as favourable conditions are concerned. There is a doubtful point, however, about this planet. The time of rotation on the axis has not yet been determined; observers have given times varying from 22 hours to 227 days. No definite markings on the disc can be observed by which the rotation can be fixed, but the balance of opinion seems to be that Venus turns always one face to the sun, and revolves once only on her axis during her whole period of revolution. If this should be an estab- lished fact, it would of course prove fatal to the thought that life of any kind could be found there. Mercury is in a hopeless condition, being so much nearer the sun than Venus, and, moreover, in all probability turning 44 Some Astronomical Problems. [Sess. always the same face to the central luminary, making it rotate on its axis once in 88 days, the period of revolution. Mars remains for consideration. The amount of sunlight and heat received by this planet is about one-half as com- pared with our earth. It rotates on its axis in 24% hours. Its volume is only 0°15 and its mass 0:103 that of the earth; and here it may be observed, as a point of much importance, that some astronomers and mathematicians assert that unless a planet or satellite has a mass approaching one- quarter that of the earth, it is not capable of holding an atmosphere of its own, but that all gases will escape into space. We may note that our moon, 4, of the mass of the earth, certainly does not possess a trace of atmosphere. Even in connection with our own earth, with its composite atmo- sphere, the two lightest of the gases, hydrogen and helium, are wanting. Now, during long ages hydrogen has been pro- duced by volcanic agencies, and helium by the degradation of radio-active substances. While these two gases are lost, the other much heavier gases, argon, krypton, neon, &c., produced at the same time and in the same way as helium, remain as constituents of our atmosphere in measurable quantities. If Mars, then, possesses an atmosphere at all, it must be of very great rarity, and this seems to be substantiated by the fact that on exceptionally good nights, when the air here at the best-situated observatories allows for the finest seeing, then all the detail which can be observed on the surface of Mars comes out crisp and clean, and the much-discussed “canals” can be observed to the best advantage. Whatever this remarkable feature on Mars may be, a little consideration enables us to banish the idea that they can be the work of beings of any kind having life. Our own engineering undertakings are easily circumscribed by com- paratively small natural obstructions, yet we are asked to believe that on Mars, where the so-called canals mark out nearly mathematically straight lines over the surface, that the Martians have apparently overcome all difficulties of that sort with an ease that is perfectly surprising. We cannot approach Mars, even at the most favourable opposition, within 34 millions of miles. Our -best telescopes, using even as high a . power as 2000 diameters, only bring us within 17,000 miles 1912-1913. | Some Astronomical Problems. 45 of the planet. These fine markings called canals could not be seen at all under these circumstances unless they were about 200 miles in width. I think the idea of an artificial origin for these markings may be dismissed without further comment. Mars presents for our observation two polar caps which increase and diminish in size according to seasonal changes, but, curious to relate, at a much greater rate and more ex- tensively than the polar caps of the earth. They exhibit other peculiarities difficult to account for, being beyond our experience here. With so much less heat received from the sun, these remarkable variations in the polar caps of Mars suggest that perhaps they are not composed of snow and ice, as we know them, but of frozen gases. With an atmosphere of the extreme tenuity in Mars which we have indicated, we can hardly avoid the conclusion that even at the equator, in the best of times, the cold must be excessive and much below the freezing-point of water, if we bear in mind what was said above in connection with the altitude of the snow-line on the earth. Our earth, indeed, with all its advantages of atmosphere and ocean, is frost-bitten at the poles. On the highest mountains above the snow-line, where the air is very rare and the cold intense, there is no sign of life, and yet these extremely unfavourable conditions might be considered advantageous when compared with the best that can be found on Mars. I think we may be justified in concluding on fairly reasonable grounds that Mars is not the seat of life. In setting out on this speculative inquiry we may note, and give due weight to the observation, that our nearest neighbour in space, the moon, is without doubt lifeless. Though our best telescopes bring us only within 200 miles of our satellite, —and what can we expect to see at 200 miles range ?—-we have no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that the moon is an arid waste, absolutely lifeless. Having now reviewed the terrestrial planets, we may glance at the major planets,—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. No one dreams nowadays of inhabitants of any kind for these worlds, vastly greater though they be compared with our own. Their very small density, compared with their great bulk, puts them out of court. In each case it is but the 46 The Late Ramsay Heatley Traquair. [Sess. cloudy envelope we observe: there may be a solid interior part, but the very fact that they have cloudy envelopes, when their enormous distance from the sun precludes any notion that they can be caused by heat received from him, proves that in each case the nucleus of the planet possesses a con- siderable store of heat, enough at least to maintain an immense atmosphere of vapour against the intense cold of space. In a short paper of this kind it is of course impossible to do justice to such an inquiry from the scientific point of view. On this subject, indeed, there is no end to the making of books, and we may well say in connection with such specula- tions, “@uot homines tot sententie.” I have tried to set forth shortly the two problems under discussion, as they present themselves to me from a fairly reasonable stand- point. [A large number of slides were shown in illustration of this paper:] THE LATE RAMSAY HEATLEY TRAQUAIR, FRS., MD., LL.D. By THE PRESIDENT. THE Society has this year suffered a great loss by the death of Dr Traquair, who has been one of its members for many years. Although the lifework of this eminent ichthyologist has been already published, it behoves us to say a word about his con- nection with this Society and of his work as a field naturalist. Dr Traquair was a geologist and botanist as well as a zoologist, and acquired his world-wide fame as an interpreter of fossil- fish remains. He has received the highest honours for his works on this subject. Like Darwin, he began his career as a field naturalist. When only ten years of age he was collecting butterflies, moths, and shells. While a schoolboy at the Edinburgh Institution he was a frequent visitor to “Luckie ” Somerville’s, an old woman who kept a small shop in Register 1912-1913.| Zhe Late Ramsay Heatley Traquair. 47 Street for the sale of birds’ eggs, minerals, fossils, &e. The sight of the fossils in her shop first gave him an interest in that subject. He began to collect all the fossils he could come across in the neighbourhood. He made his first “ find” of a fossil fish among the ironstone nodules in the shales exposed on the shore at Wardie. During his career as a medical student at Edinburgh University he devoted all his leisure time to the collecting of fossils. He was a good all- round naturalist, but his favourite study was fishes, especially fossil fishes. He took for the subject of his thesis at his medical examination “The Asymmetry of the Flat Fishes,” for which he was awarded a gold medal. The thesis was afterwards published in the ‘Transactions’ of the Linnean Society. In 1866 he was appointed Professor of Natural History in the Agricultural College, Cirencester, where lie taught botany to agricultural students. Here he published his first paper on fossil fishes, founded on the specimens which he had collected around Edinburgh. He was shortly afterwards appointed Professor of Zoology in the Royal College of Science at Dublin, and in 1873 he was transferred to Edinburgh as keeper of the natural history collection in the Royal Scottish Museum. In 1878 he was awarded the Neill medal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1881,and received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the Edinburgh University in 1893. He was awarded both the Lyell medal of the Geological Society of London and the MakDougall-Brisbane medal of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1901. He received the Royal medal of the Royal Society in 1907. A list of his scientific papers, which are numerous, is published in the ‘ Geological Magazine’ of June 1909. He joined this Society in 1894, and was made an honorary member in 1905. The Society is indebted to him for several papers. In 1896 he delivered a lecture on “ Popular Delusions in Natural History,’ which was greatly appreciated by the members, and is published in the ‘ Trans- actions’ of the Society. His last paper to the Society was on “ Snake-like Forms among Vertebrata,” and was delivered in 1902. 48 The Late David Sydney Fish, Botantst. [Sess. THE LATE DAVID SYDNEY FISH, BOTANIST. By THE PRESIDENT. By the death of Mr Fish, Secretary and Garden Superin- tendent to the Horticultural Society at Alexandria, in Egypt, this Society has lost an esteemed friend as well as a valuable member. He died at Alexandria on the 13th November 1912, at the early age of thirty-one. Mr Fish came to Edin- burgh when quite a boy, and before leaving school had botanised pretty carefully the surrounding district of the town. He joined this Society in 1901, and soon became one of its most enthusiastic members. Of a kindly and genial disposition, he made many friends among the members of this Society. At our meeting in January 1904 Mr Fish read an interesting paper on “The Rarer Woodland Plants of Scotland,” and in December of the following year another on “Some Features of Interest in Scottish Mountain Plants.” Both are published in our ‘Transactions, with illustrations reproduced from the author’s own negatives. Mr Fish was an artist as well as a botanist, and had the gift of making a photographic print that could stand the examination of an expert. He was not only a keen and interested observer of plants, but he had the power of writing about them. When quite a youth he contributed to various botanic and gardening magazines, and read papers to the Royal and Scottish Horti- cultural Societies. His literary talent was inherited from his father, Mr D. T. Fish, editor of ‘Popular Gardening’; and no one who has seen the exquisite drawings of flowers and fruits by his mother can doubt that he derived his artistic taste from her. Mr Fish was trained as a scientific horticulturist at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and in 1906 was appointed Secretary and Garden Superintendent to the Horti- cultural Society at Alexandria, in Egypt. There he soon made great improvements by importing new trees and plants, and introducing new methods in the growth of flowers and vegetables. He also wrote various papers describing features of Egyptian cultivation, which are published in the ‘Trans- actions’ of the Royal Horticultural Society. Mr Fish is the 1912-1913.| An Account of the Excursions (1913). 49 author of ‘The Book of the Winter Garden,’ and a contributor to the work on ‘Trees and Shrubs.’ Up to his last illness he was busy writing a book on ‘The Cultivation of Egyptian Plants, but unfortunately only one part is published. Mr Fish was a specialist in orchids, of which he had a large collection of dried specimens. AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXCURSIONS (1913). By THe PRESIDENT. THE first field meeting this season—April 26—was a geological one to North Berwick, under the leadership of Mr T. C. Day. Owing to the unfavourable condition of the weather, only fifteen members were present. ‘The party were shown first a small intrusive boss, called the Yellow Craig, on the shore. The rock is termed an analcite basalt. It is one of many intrusive bosses and silts connected with the volcanic centre, but later than the lavas and ashes with which they are intruded. The intrusive nature of this small boss, the leader pointed out, was indicated by the intense contact-hardening of the sediments in which it is found. Blocks of the detached sedimentary rocks are seen well inside the basalt, and partly dissolved by it just before cooling took place. The extensive beds of volcanic ash carrying numerous fragments and blocks, some of very large size, were next examined. It was once supposed that these large blocks imbedded in the ash indi- cated the proximity of a volcanic neck, and that they were blown into their present position. It is now suggested, how- ever, that it is more likely they were carried by mud- streams and gently deposited where they are at present found. Several of these large blocks were examined, and in most it was seen that the strata (stratified ash) below the blocks were but slightly, if at all, disturbed,—a circumstance which appears to favour the latter theory. “The Yellow Man,” a curious branching dyke of igneous rock cutting the volcanic ash, and VOL. VIL. D 50 An Account of the Excursions (1913). [Sess. situated near the Leithies, was also seen, and its peculiar flagey structure pointed out. On the following Saturday another geological excursion, with Mr Day as leader, took place at Kinghorn. Although the weather was extremely unfavourable, the rain never ceas- ing, a large number of the members were present. It was not possible to do much, but a few features of interest on the shore were visited. In the first place, a lava (carboniferous) carrying a large number of quartzite pebbles and various fragments of sedimentary strata belonging to the Old Red Sandstone was examined. Mr Day pointed out that though these fragments were considerably hardened by the containing lava, they did not in any case shows signs of beine tncorpor- ated with the magma, their outlines being unbroken. A walk was then taken to the east, past the old shipyard along the shore, with its fine examples of vesicular lavas, &. At the point where the Abden limestone is exposed the very good example of a strike-fault was carefully noted. The phenom- enon of the repetition of the beds in a fault of this nature was observed, also the effect of a vertical cliff section, with a little spring of water exactly at the line of fault. At this point the weather became so unfavourable that the excursionists had to seek shelter. On Saturday, May 10, the members travelled to Hadding- ton, under the leadership of Mr Geo. Cleland, Vice-President. The party walked along the banks of the Tyne to East Linton, a distance of seven miles. The plants collected along the banks of the Tyne included Doronicum Pardalianches, Sedum Telephium, Symphytum officinale, var. patens, S. pere- grinum, Impatiens parviflora, and Hypericum quadrangulum. Near Hailes Castle Mr Templeman discovered Potentilla argentea, a plant not hitherto recorded from this locality. © On the following Saturday there was a joint excursion with the Dunfermline Naturalists to Dunfermline and Pittencrieff Glen, under the leadership of Mr John Edward. The leader conducted the party over the Abbey, pointing out the most interesting parts of the venerable pile, which has stood the wear and tear of time for 800 years. In 1075 so much of the building was finished that it was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and a party from Iona opened the worship, thirteen 1912-1913.]| Az Account of the Excursions (1913). I 3 5 Culdees being translated to officiate in the church. It was afterwards made a Benedictine Abbey by David I, who brought to it thirteen monks from Canterbury. Up to 1560 Dunfermline Abbey had thirty-nine Abbots: the first was appointed in 1128, and the last was. George Durie, who fled to France during the Reformation. The most interesting feature of the Abbey, however, is the burial-place of the great patriot, King Robert the Bruce, His grave is in the centre of the eastern church, below the pulpit. It is marked by a simple memorial brass, plainly indicating to the visitor the final resting-place of Scotland’s greatest king. The leader then drew the attention of the members to the library, chapter-house, and scriptorium where the monks patiently and laboriously transcribed the missals and illuminated manuscripts which are still the admiration of all lovers of art. He also pointed out the Fraters’ Hall, where was placed the desk or pulpit of the monk whose duty it was to read aloud to the brethren at meals assembled. A portion of Scripture or a homily from the Fathers was read, so that both the minds and bodies of the listeners might be simultaneously cheered. Beneath the Fraters’ Hall are two storeys of crypts or cells, probably dormitories or sleeping- apartments of the monks. The cells in the clerestory were dormitories also. At the end of the Fraters’ Hall is a stair in the tower leading to a well, which provided the water-supply for meals. A subterranean passage leads from this stair to the Palace. A chamber at the bottom of the tower is said to have been used as the quarters of the Royal Guard. The party were afterwards conducted to the Palace, where Charles I. was born on 19th November 1600. A short distance from the Palace stood three mills—one for flour, one for oatmeal, and the third for snuff; and adjoining these mills were the bow-butts, where archery was practised. The Glen at Pittencrieff was then visited, and afterwards Mr Sommer- ville conducted the party over other interesting parts of the town. On Victoria Day a large number of members went to Earlston, under the leadership of Mr Geo. Cleland, Vice- President. The party visited Cowdenknowes, Gladswood, Bemersyde, and Dryburgh Abbey. During the walk the 52 An Account of the Excursions (1913). [Sess. leader pointed out the various features of the country, with particular reference to Sir Walter Scott. On Saturday, 24th May, the excursion was to Balerno. It was intended, on arriving at Balerno, to proceed by Johnsburn Cottage and Todholes to the moors at the west of Threipmuir reservoir, but owing to the absence of the leader, Mr M. J. Rae, through indisposition, the route was altered. The party went straight to the moor, under the direction of the Secretary. On the way Pyrola minor and Habenaria chlorantha were seen. On the moor the usual plants were observed, but few were in bloom. Great quantities of the marsh fungus, Mi- rula paludosa, were gathered, and within the grounds of Marchbank Symphytum peregrinum was observed. Mr Fraser returned later and found it in bloom outside on the moor. It has been seen in several other localities since. He also noticed Chrysanthemum macrophyllum in quantity near Juniper Green Station. On 31st May the second-largest excursion of the season was to Newbattle Abbey. Under the leadership of Mr James L. Gray the party were shown the Parish Church, the Old Monkland Wall, the crypts and staircase of the old Abbey, the Maiden Bridge, the fine old yew trees, and the famous beech. For the last fifty years a record of the measurements of this tree has been kept. The girth of this huge tree is nearly 44 feet at the ground and 20 feet at 6 feet above the ground. The circumference of the foliage is fully 400 feet; its diameter averages 130 to 140 feet, and its total height reaches 112 feet. The branches hanging down to the ground have taken root, and are growing upwards. One of the main branches has a girth of 2 feet 4 inches, with five branches springing up from it, varying in eirth from 1 foot 11 inches to 4 feet 4 inches. Another of the main branches has a girth of 1 foot 8 inches, with three branches springing up from it, one of which is the largest of all the branches, and is 5 feet 5 inches in girth. The first evening excursion took place on 4th June to Currie. Under the leadership of Miss Helen W. Graham, the party walked by Hill Road to Clubbiedean and Torduff. It was a botanical excursion, but no very rare plants were found. On Saturday, 7th June, the members visited North 1912-1913.] Ax Account of the Excursions (1913). 53 Berwick, and under the leadership of Miss Janet Kemp the party botanised along the shore to Tantallon Castle. Among the less common plants found were Symphytum peregrinum, Petasites fragrans, Marrubwum vulgare, Hyoscyamus niger, Anchusa arvensis, Cheiranthus Cheiri, Conium maculatum, Peucedanum sativum, and Poa Charxi. On 11th June there was an evening excursion to Cramond, under the leadership of Mr James Fraser. The party walked from Barnton Station by Cramond Old Bridge to Cramond village. Among the plants found were Valeriana pyrenaica, Humulus lupulus, Geum rivale, G. intermedium, G. urbanum, Origanum vulgare, Lamium maculatum, Symphytum officinale, var. patens, and S. peregrinum in several places. The next excursion was a joint one with the Natural History Society of Glasgow to Douglas, under the leadership of Mr Jobn Cairns. The party visited Douglas Castle and gardens. A nesting-site of the common heron was visited. The nests numbered over half a dozen,—fewer than in former years. On one of the ponds a mallard and a tufted duck were followed by broods of young; and in front of the castle a pheasant’s nest was seen in a heather patch. Among other birds seen or heard were the mistle-thrush, song thrush, willow wren, wood wren, great tit, blue tit, pied wagtail, grey wagtail, tree-pipit, meadow-pipit, greenfinch, jackdaw, rook, sparrow-hawk, moorhen, common snipe, common sand- piper, redshank, curlew, black-headed gull, herring gull, little grebe, and spotted flycatcher. Among flies seen were: Tipulide—Limnobia nebeculosa Meg., L. flavipes F., L. tripunctata F., Dicranomyia modesta Mg., D. moria F., Rhipidia maculata Mg., Empeda nubila Schum., Goniomyia tenella Me., Molophilus propinquus Ege., M. bifilatus Verr., Rhypholophus nodulosus Mcq., Erioptera trivialis Mg., Limnophila lineolella Verr., L. nemoralis Mg., Ula pilosa Schum., Amalopis wnmaculata Mg. Tipula hortulana Mg., T. lateralis Mg., T. montium Ege. Syrphide—WMelanostoma mellinum L., M. scalare F., Platy- chirus albimanus Mg., P. peltatus Mg., Eristalis rupium F., Syrphus cinctellus Ztt. Leptidee—Leptis scolopacea L. Empede—Hmypis stercorea L., E. bilineata Lw. 54 f An Account of the Excursions (1913). [Sess. Among the Mosses collected were— Tortula levipila, Schwer. Orthotrichum affine, Schrad. Orthotrichum rupestre, Schl. Bryum inclinatum, Bland. O. anomalum, Hedw., var. saxa- Neckera pumila, Hedw. tile, Milde. Eurhynchium murale, Milde. O. Lyelli, H. & T. Numerous microfungi were also noted, of which the most interesting species were the following :-— Peronospora rumicis, Corda.—On Sorrel. Synchytrium taraxaci, De Bary & Wor.—On Dandelion. Protomyces pachydermus, Thiim.—On Dandelion. Puccinia egopodii (Schum.) Mart.—On Goutweed. Chrysomyxa rhododendri (DC.) de Bary.—On leaves of Rhododendron hirsutum ; apparently unrecorded for Britain. Exoascus pruni, Fekl.—On young fruit of Prunus Padus. Ramularia heraclei, Sacc.—On leaves of Cow-Parsnip. R. taraxaci, Karst.—On Dandelion. An excursion to Arthur’s Seat took place on the evening of June 18, under the leadership of the President. Though the evening was wet a large number assembled at St Leonard’s Gate. The party botanised almost the whole of the south side of the hill, and a large number of plants were collected, among which were Potentilla verna, Arenaria verna, Trifolium striatum, Cerastium arvense, Pyrus rupicola, Pimpinella Saxifraga, Geranium sanguineum, G. pyrenaicum, G. molle, Astragalus hypoglottis, Echiwm vulgare, Vicia hirsuta, Alchemilla arvensis, Allium vineale, Lychnis viscaria, Senecio viscosa, Caucalis nodosa, Spirea filipendula, Antennaria dioica, and Avena pratensis, A great part of the rocks at Samson’s Ribs was white with the blossom of Digitalis purpurea, var. alba. On June 21 a joint excursion was held with the Tweeddale Club, Peebles, to Cowieslynn. Under the leadership of Mr Denson the party started from Leadburn along the private road to Redford House and Easter Deans, and thence to Cowieslynn ; then by a cross-road they joined the Noblehouse road by Spylaw to Eddleston. The most of the district lies above 800 feet from sea-level, and the weather being fine, the walk turned out to be an ideal one. The extensive peat- 1912-1913.) An Account of the Excursions (1913). 55 moss south of Leadburn was white with cotton-grass, a sedge which brightens the bleakness of moors for many weeks in early summer. Among other sedges found were Hleocharis palustris, Scirpus cceespitosus, and Carex muricata. Grasses were in great variety ; and among the higher plants collected were Montia fontana, Geum rivale, and Senecio aquaticus. A vote of thanks to Mr Denson was proposed; and on behalf of the Peebles Club, Mr James Watson thanked the Field Naturalists for their kindly guidance and for the genial and sociable way in which they had treated the Peebles con- tingent. On June 25 Mr John Russell met a large number of members at the Castle Hill joining the Esplanade, and conducted them down the Royal Mile as far as the Nether- gate. He referred to some Esplanade memories, and pointed out em route the mansions associated with historical events, such as the Cannon-ball, Gordon, Sempill, MacMorran, Lady Stair, Gladstone, Bothwell, and other houses. He drew attention to the places and buildings on the route associated with times of plague, pilgrimage, and persecution. He described some of the interesting architectural features of the old town, such as street arcading, timber fronts, traders’ marks, &. St Giles’ Cathedral, the Tolbooth, and city wells were also described by Mr Russell, and the walk finished with a visit to the houses of John Knox and Mowbray. Time did not permit of doing more, and Mr Russell kindly promised to conduct the members over the remaining half of the Royal Mile next session. On Saturday, June 28, the members went to Lanark to visit Lee grounds and policies, by permission of Sir Simon Macdonald Lockhart, Bart. Mr John Dunlop acted as leader, and passing through Lanark he pointed out some of its ancient residences,—those of Wallace, the Duke of Hamilton, and the Earl of Hyndford being on the route. On the way to the East Lodge one saw the river Clyde with its orchards and strawberry fields on both banks. A fine view was obtained of the old Roman bridge over the river Mouse, Cartland bridge spanning the Cartland Crags, and Wallace’s Cave. The policies of Lee Castle were then entered. Along an open valley with high well-wooded sides, an avenue two 56 An Account of the Excursions (1913). [Sess. miles in length leads to the castle—a large, handsome, quad- rangular building. In front is the Pease Tree, a venerable oak of great age and dimensions, with a hollow stem capable of holding six persons. Cromwell and a party of friends are said to have dined beneath its branches. Round the castle are several giant specimens of beech, plane, larch, and cedar. The party were conducted through the nursery for forest trees, and as they walked every one was’ struck with the splendid variety of trees, especially conifers. They botanised the fine glen leading to the gardens, which are very interesting. They were conducted into another fine glen with a- pretty waterfall, and followed the burn till they came to the public road to Lanark, which they reached in time to enjoy tea before leaving for home. On July 2 the members visited Duddingston Loch. Under the leadership of Mr Speedy the party walked through the policies of Prestonfield. On the margin of the loch many aquatic plants were found, and numbers. of water - fowl, including the pochard, were identified on the loch. On Saturday, July 5, the members visited Crichton Castle and the Pict’s House. Under the leadership of the Rev. D. W. Wilson they first inspected the Pict’s House at Longfaugh. This is an underground building accidentally discovered about forty years ago by a horse having slipped into the cavity while ploughing. Its general shape is that of a hunter’s horn, and it is about 50 feet in length by 6 feet in height, with a width varying from 5 to 9 feet. The floor throughout is formed by the natural rock, and the roof is covered with slabs of rough whinstone common to the district. One of the members, Mr M‘Beth, photographed the exterior and the interior of the old house. (Plate V.) The party afterwards visited the restored church of Crichton and the old castle, and Mr Wilson gave an interesting descriptive account of both. Among the more interesting plants gathered were Mimulus Langsdorfii, Briza media, Trifolium minus, Smyr- nium olusatrum, Anchusa sempervirens, Conium maculatum, Arabis hirsuta, Sambucus racemosa, and Calamintha acinos, which Miss Helen W. Graham found, making a new locality for this plant. On July 12 an excursion was made, in company with the PLATE V.—AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXCURSIONS (1913), EXTERIOR OF PICT’S HOUSE, LONGFAUGH. INTERIOR OF PICT’S HOUSE, LONGFAUGH. 1912-1913.| Ax Account of the Excurstons (1913). 57 Dunfermline Naturalists’ Society, and under the leadership of the Treasurer, to Otterstone Loch, Aberdour, by permission of Major Moubray. The ground at the upper portion of the loch is difficult to explore on account of the marsh, and the dense undergrowth along the shore where the woods are left untouched by the forester. At this part a large amount of fallen timber adds to the hazards which the explorer must be prepared to encounter. A very good object-lesson is given of what Nature can accomplish when a region is resigned to her sway ; and readers of Jefferies’ ‘ After London’ will recognise how faithfully that writer has described the probable appear- ance of Britain’s woods and lakes if man’s dominion were withdrawn. Owing to the conditions indicated, it is needless to say that the loch and its surroundings are exceptionally well adapted for the study of aquatic plants and animals, both of which flourish in great abundance. It is worthy of note that Otterstone has been in the possession of the Moubray family since the days of Robert the Bruce. Among the many interesting plants found were Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Cicuta virosa. On the following Saturday, July 19, the excursion was to Yester policies, by permission of the Marquis of Tweeddale, and under the leadership of the Secretary. Among the rarer plants found were Luzula albida, Myosotis sylvatica, Veronica montana, Poa Chaiziw, and Festuca heterophylla. [Earlier in the day Mr Templeman found WNeottia Nidus-avis, Silaus pratensis (a plant not hitherto recorded from this locality), Pyrola media, P. minor, Listera ovata, L. cordata, Epilobium angustifolium, and Linaria Cymbalaria. On July 26 an excursion was made to Binning Woods. Under the leadership of Mr George M. Brotherston a large party walked through the woods, which are eighty acres in extent. “This wood is one of the earliest examples of systematic arboriculture carried out in this country, and the place is famous for its wealth of sylvan scenery and for its radiating avenues of splendid specimens of forestal growth.” On Saturday, September 27, the first of the cryptogamic excursions was made, along with the Tweeddale Club, Peebles, to Dolphinton. Under the leadership of Mr Rupert Smith 58 An Account of the Excursions (1913). [ Sess. the party walked from Dolphinton to West Linton, and the following fungi were collected— Amanita rubescens. Amanitopsis vaginata. Lepiota procera. Clitocybe fragrans. Laccaria laccata. Collybia butyracea. Mycena pura. » sanguinolenta. » rugosa. Omphalia umbellifera. Inocybe geophylla. Flammula carbonaria. Naucoria semi-orbicularis. Galera tenera. Psaliota campestris. Stropharia zeruginosa. x semiglobata. Hypholoma fasciculare. s sublateritium. Psilocybe semilanceata. Paneolus separatus. Paxillus involutus. af giganteus. Hygrophorus virgineus. a ceraceus. psittacinus. Lactarius deliciosus. Russula drimeia. a ochroleuca. Cantharellus cibarius. Marasmius rotula. Boletus chrysenteron. Thelephora laciniata. Clavaria rugosa. Calocera viscosa. Tremella mesenterica. Scleroderma vulgare. Lycoperdon gemmatum. Lachnea scutellata. Peziza badia. Otidea aurantia. Rhizina inflata. Coprinus plicatilis. The last excursion of the season took place at Auchendinny on Saturday, October 4, under the leadership of Mr D. A. Boyd. The party, numbering 34, had permission from the proprietors to visit the grounds of Firth and Auchendinny. In the woods of Firth fungi were found so numerously that time was not left to visit the woods of Auchendinny. ‘The collection was a large and varied one. Very few species of Cortinarius, Lactarius, and Russula, generally so common in woods, were found, but those of Armillaria and Laccaria were in great abundance and unusually largein size. The brilliant vermilion-red Lachnea, found in profusion on a mound, was afterwards identified by Mr Boyd. About 150 species were observed, including the following :— Amanita rubescens. Mycena pura. Amanitopsis vaginata. » galericulata. Lepiota cristata. » polygramma. Armillaria mellea. » Yosella, Tricholoma nuda. » tenerrima. Hs terra. Omphalia umbellifera. Clitocybe fragrans. is fibula. a nebularis. Inocybe geophylla. 3 dealbata. Flammula carbonaria. Collybia confluens. » butyracea. Naucoria mellinoides.’ $5 semiorbicularis. Galera hypnorum. » btenera. Psaliota campestris. BS hzmorrhoidaria. Stropharia zeruginosa. “3 semiglobata. squamosa. Hypholoma fasciculare. = sublateritium. Psilocybe semilanceata. - foenisecii. a spadicea. Coprinus comatus. » atramentarius. micaceus. » _ Plicatilis. Bolbitius fragilis. Paxillus involutus. Hygrophorus pratensis. . virgineus. x conicus. 3 psittacinus. coccineus. Lactarius blennius. sp quietus. Russula fellea. 4 emetica. Me ochroleuca. 55 coerulea. » foetens. Nyctalis parasitica. Boletus luridus. “ chrysenteron. ve subtomentosus. 9. edulis, 2 versipellis. badius. Fistulina hepatica. 1912-1913.] Anz Account of the Excursions (1913). Polyporus annosus. vaporarius. Stereum sanguinolentum. Corticium sambuci. Clavaria rugosa. Aa fusiformis. 3 cinerea. Calocera viscosa. Dacrymyces stillatus. Crucibulum vulgare. Claudopus variabilis. Laccaria laccata. amethystina. Leptonia lazulina. Marasmius ramealis. i epiphyllus. erythropus. a rotula. androseecius. Tiphula erythropus. 5) phacorrhiza. Trogia crispa. Spheerobolus stellatus. Bovista plumbea. Lycoperdon gemmatum. Chlorosplenium zruginosum. Peziza vesiculosa. Lachnea umbrorum. Xylaria hypoxylon. Spinellus fusiger. Phyllosticta ulmi. Phoma cylindrospora. Septoria asperule. Gloeosporium tiliz. curvatum. Ramularia valerianze. plantaginis. Stilbum erythrocephalum. 59 The field meetings were again very successful, the average attendance being about 30. A greater interest seems to be taken in the cryptogamic excursions, and a suggestion has been made that more of them should be held at the end of the season. 60 Annual Business Meeting. [ Sess. EXHIBITS IN NATURAL HISTORY. In addition to the exhibits at the Social Meeting (see pp. 15, 16), the following objects were shown at the winter evening meetings :— A selection of Heaths—(Mr John Lindsay). Sirex gigas—(Mr J. Gordon Munro). Living specimens of Gannet and Stockdove—(Mr Tom Speedy). Specimen of Schistose Serpentine from New Zealand—(Mr Beckett). Graptolites—(Mr Andrew G. Stenhouse). Hematite from the Garleton Hills, Haddington—(The Secretary). ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. THE Annual Business Meeting of the Society was held in the Hall, 20 George Street, on the evening of Wednesday, October 22, 1913—Mr A. B. Steele, President, in the chair. Mr A. A. Pinkerton, Honorary Secretary, submitted his report for the year, as follows :— “The Society still continues to progress, and everything seems to be working harmoniously. During session 1912-13 there were six indoor meetings, including a social evening. The attendance at all of these was most encouraging. The outdoor meetings of the Society numbered 22, and the average attendance was 29. The Wednesday evening excursions were better attended than in the previous year. 1912-1913.] Annual Business Meeting. 61 “The Society has lost by death Mrs Carphin and Dr Traquair, two honorary members; and Miss Anderson, Mr J. M‘Donald, and Mr T. M. Pittendrigh, three ordinary members. “The membership at this date is 234, being an increase of 9. During the session 17 names have been withdrawn and 26 names added. “The Society is under obligation to Mr W. C. Crawford, as Convener of the Microscopical Section ; and to Mr T. Cuthbert Day, for operating the lantern.” The Statement of Income and Expenditure for the year, being already in print and in the hands of members, was held as read. This Statement showed the Income for the past year to have been £68, 13s. 5d., and the Expenditure £57, 19s. 6d., there being a balance in favour of the Society of £10, 13s. 11d. The following is the List of Office-bearers and Councillors for Session 1913-1914, as now elected, new names being in italics :-— President— Rupert Smith. Vice-Presidents—George Cleland, George M. Brotherston, and James fraser. Secretary—Allan A. Pinkerton. Treasurer—John C, Douglas. Editor of ‘ Transactions —James B. Stewart, M.A. Auditors—R. C. Millar, C.A., and Charles Campbell. Councillors—Miss Susan Y. Macphail, Miss Jessie Graham, J. Gordon Munro, James Buncle, Mrs Hall, Miss Atkinson, W. W. Smith, M.A., M. J. Rae, Miss Purdie, Miss Dickie, Andrew Templeman, and John J. M*Beath. In vacating the chair as President of the Society, Mr Steele thanked the office-bearers for their kindness to him during his six years of service in this capacity. For the last few years, he said, the evening meetings had been better attended, a greater interest had been shown in the field meetings, and, ia spite of losses, the Society was thriving. He begged to im- press upon the younger members the advantages of a know- ledge of the microscope in all scientific work, and he desired ree Cunt were held fortnightly re Lockharton Gardens. of ouedeae TRANSACTIONS OF, Ofe @dinturgh Field Maturalists’ and Wirroscopiral Sorietp SESSIONS 1913-1914, 1914-1915 * CONTENTS. as PAGE I. A Pair of Long-Eared Owls (with Two Plates and Map).—Mr J.C. Adam, 63 I. Ancient Monuments of the spares oe District.—Rev. D. W. ee M.A., j : 92 III. Plant Gee wie @lebiinin. Mtr R. ie Bobertion. baa R. 8. E., ¥; L 8., , 99 IV. Trees and Shrubs, &c., of British Columbia and Washington. — Mr F, R. 8. Balfour and Mr W. Balfour Gourlay, . A 104 V. Abnormal Growth in Fir and Spruce Trees.—Mr Stewart Archibald, 110 VI. The Common House Fly.—Dr W. G. Aitchison Robertson, D.Sc.,F.R.C.P., 111 VII. Hadrian’s Wall.—Mr Robert Lindsay, , , ; ; : : oy eekOn WII. The Olive Tree.—Mr A. B. Steele, . . . 158 IX. The Position of Pastoral Plants since 1885. __Mr William Wilson, . 159 X. Notes on the Geological History of Blackford Hill and its eer (with Two Plates)—Mr J. J. McBeath,. . . 161 XI. Notes on Wild-Fow] in the Outer Hebrides and in Midlothian, Mr Tom Speedy, . : ; ee YB! XII. Notes on the Microfungi of ‘the Forth Pian ur D. iA Boyd, 4 +44 £80 XIII. Notes on Microfungi observed in a OR La and Perthshire.—Mr i D. A. Boyd, . ¥ 3 - 186 XIV. The Story of the Constellations. Mr Tv: ¢. Day, F. C, s., ; } . 189 Fungus Forays (1915).—Mr A. B. Be ahigeord kee : Maa 198 In Memorviam,. . Y eA : 5 Sin 128, 199 Exhibits in Natural History, : : Sikes é Mee gi. 1G tk “129, 200 Annual Business Meetings,. . ay Tae Doe Ok Ace aie . 129, 200 List of Members, 1914-1915,. j 4 : ‘ Ue SF . xV MU: Published tor i “Soctete BY IAM BLACKWOOD & SONS MCMXV Price to Non-Members, Four Shillings THE EDINBURGH FIELD NATURALISTS’ AND MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY, COUNCIL, 1914-1915. *resident, RuPERT SmitTH, 38 Greenhill Gardens, Vice-Presidents. Grorce M. BrotHerston. | Gbvitor of ‘ @rawsuctions,’ James B. Stewart, M.A., 9 Primrose Bank Road, Trinity. JAMES FRASER, | JAMES BUNCLE. Secretary. ALLAN A. PINKERTON, Solicitor, 19 Shandwick Place. CTrensurer. Joun C. Doveras, 21 St Andrew Square. Ordinary Members of Council, ANDREW TEMPLEMAN. JoHN J. McBEatuH. Miss H. W. GrRawam. Miss IsA H. Martin, M.A. Davin E. Youna. A, L. PrEarson, M.A., D.Sc. Mrs Hatt. Miss ATKINSON. W. W. SmitH, M.A. M. J. Rag. Miss PURDIE. Miss DIckKIz. Auditors. R. C. Mitiar, C.A.; CHARLES CAMPBELL, PAST biive sD EN ES. Dr Rozsert Brown Dr WiLitiam Watson (deceased), F 1869. (deceased), - 1888-1891. Mr R. Scot Sxirvine Dr T. B. SPRAGUE, (deceased), . 1869-1874. HOW TAT o 2 . 1891-1895. Mr Witt1am GoRRIE Dr A. E. Davirs (deceased), A . 1874-1877. (deceased), 1895-1898. Rev. R. F. Cotvin Mr W. C. CRAWFoRD, 1898-1901. (deceased), . 1877-1879. | Mr ArcHiBpaLp Hewat, Mr Joun WALCoT deal Haete id thal WANs (de- (deceased), 1879-1882. ceased), 1901-1904. Mr A. B. Heine Mr JameEs RUSSELL, (deceased), . 1882-1885. SOs ae 1904-1907. Mr Symineton GRIEVE, 1885-1888. | Mr A. B. SrEExz, 1907-19138. Xvi List of Members. LIST OF MEMBERS as at October 14, 1915. Gonorary embers. CLARKE, Wm. Eacrir, The Royal Scottish Museum. HENDERSON, Prof. JoHn R., M.B., F.L.S., Government Museum, Madras. Macrar3ang, Prof. J. M., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S.A. Scorr, THos., LL.D., F.L.8., 2 Devanha Terrace, Aberdeen. Watts, FRANK, 3 Wolseley Terrace. Corresponding Members. ARCHIBALD, STEWART, Tomatin, Inverness. Bennett, Artur, F.L.S., 143 High Street, Croydon. Boyp, D. A., St Clair, Caledonia Road, Saltcoats. Boyp, W..B., Faldonside, Melrose. CruicksHank, T. M., South Ronaldshay. Dun top, JoHn, Clyde-View House, Lanark. Epwarops, Prof. ArtHuUR M., 423 Fourth Avenue, Newark, N.J. Macvicar, Symers M., Invermoidart, Acharacle, Argyllshire. Norman, Capt., Cheviot House, Berwick-on-Tweed. Scorr, ANDREW, A.L.S., Marine Laboratory, Villa Marina, Piel, Barrow. Soar, Cuas. D., F.R.M.S., 37 Dryburgh Road, Putney, London. Ordinary Members. 1904 Adam, Robert M., 17 W. Brighton Crescent, Portobello. 1887 Adams, James, Comely Park, Dunfermline. 1911 Aitken, William, 9 Regent Place. 1903 Allan, Miss Margaret L., Public School, Currie. 1903 Allan, Miss Mary N., 22 E. Preston Street. 1912 Anderson, P. J., LL.B., Librarian to the University, Aberdeen. 1913 Anton, John, M.A., B.L., c/o Dickson, 2 Lochrin Buildings. 1908 Arrighi, Louis J , Harrison View, Watson Crescent. 1909 Atkinson, Miss Joanna C., 140 Marchmont Road. 10 1910 Baillie, Miss, 24 Woodburn Terrace. 1911 Balmain, Mrs, 1907 Barclay, James, 16 Roxburgh Street, Kelvinside, Glasgow. 1915 Baxter, George, 12 Chancelot Terrace, Leith. 1908 Binnie, Wm., State Bank of Montana, Fallon, Montana, U.S.A. 1878 Bird, George, Woodlea, 109 Trinity Road. 1910 Bird, Mrs George, Woodlea, 109 Trinity Road. 1901 Bogie, D., M.A., 55 Arden Street. 1882 Bonnar, William, 51 Braid Avenue. 1896 Brotherston, George M., 13 Corrennie Drive. 20 1914 Brown, C. Kennington, J.P., Loanhead. 1914 Brown, Miss Elizabeth, 27 Viewforth. 1912 Bryden, Miss Janet J., 2 Telford Cottages, Penicuik. 1889 Buncle, James, 93 Bhanaincls Place. 1913 Burton, Dr M. Bernard, M.B., C.M., B.Se., 10 Cobden crane 1895 Calder, A. R., 2 James St., Partialeelias 40 50 60 70 80 1894 1894 1913 1913 1915 1902 1913 1913 1904 1891 1886 1904 1899 1881] 1911 1911 1879 1907 1896 1898 1883 1911 1912 1893 1887 1911 1909 1911 1885 1885 1903 1911 1907 1894 1895 1913 1899 1915 1909 1913 1905 1881 1913 1911 1909 1903 1911 1883 1886 1908 1907 1911 1894 1904 1912 List of Members. xvii Campbell, Bruce, British Linen Company Bank, St Andrew Square. Campbell, Charles, North British and Mercantile Insurance Com- pany, 64 Princes Street. Campbell, C. Mathew, Chalmers, William H., 39 Dudley Crescent, Leith. Chisholm, Miss Eliza H., 1 East Trinity Road, Clark, Prof. A. B., M.A., University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. Clark, Miss Frances A. S., 31 Scotland Street. Clark, Thomas, 52 Marchmont Crescent. Cleland, Miss Bryden, 15 Braid Crescent. Cleland, George, Bank of Scotland, 61 Leith Walk. Coats, William, 10 Duddingston Crescent, Portobello. Couston, Thos., Headmaster, Liberton Public School. Cowan, Alex., Valleyfield, Penicuik. Cowan, Charles Wm., Dalhousie Castle, Bonnyrigg. Cowan, Robert Craig, Esk Hill, Inveresk. Cowan, Mrs R. Craig, Esk Hill, Inveresk. Craig, Arch., 38 Fountainhall Road. Cran, J. Duncan, 13 Gladstone Place, Leith. Crawford, Miss Jane C., 1 Lockharton Gardens, Colinton Road. Crawford, Mrs, 1 Lockharton Gardens, Colinton Road. Crawford, W. C., 1 Lockharton Gardens, Colinton Road. Davidson, John, 89 Leith Walk, Leith. Davidson, Miss Susan, 5 Thirlestane Road. Day, T. Cuthbert, 36 Hillside Crescent. Denson, E., 83 Comiston Road. Dickie, Miss Ella F., c/o M‘Intyre, 21 Viewforth. ‘Douglas, John C., 35 St Andrew Square— Treasurer. Doull, Miss Lizzie, 6 Ardmillan Terrace. Dowell, Miss, 13 Palmerston Place. Dowell, Mrs, 13 Palmerston Place. Drummond, W. J. A., C.A., 37 George Street. Drysdale, David, C.A., 122 Braid Road. Drysdale, Miss Madge, 122 Braid Road. Dunean, James Patrick, 3 Cobden Road. Durham, Frederick W., 2 Argyle Crescent, Portobello, Fortune, Miss Effie, 3 Gloucester Place. Fraser, James, 18 Park Road, Leith. Gemmell, J. D., c/o Mrs Macpherson, 51 Lothian Road. Gerrett, Robert, Learmont, Leven. Gibb, John Philip, 29 Ladysmith Road. Gillespie, T. H., Scottish Zoological Park, Corstorphine. Gloag, David, 9 Barnton Terrace. Goldie, Miss Agnes, 9 Barclay Terrace. Graham, Miss Helen W., Swanston, Colinton. Graham, Miss Jessie, 63 Comely Bank Avenue, Gray, James L., Elginhaugh, Dalkeith. Gray, William, 45 Charlotte Street, Leith. Grieve, Sommerville, 21 Queen’s Crescent. Grieve, Symington, 11 Lauder Road. Grieve, Mrs Symington, 11 Lauder Road. Hall, Mrs, 18 London Street. Hamilton, Ferguson, M.A., 14 Spottiswoode Street. Harley, Andrew, Blinkbonny, Kirkcaldy. Harvie-Brown, J. A., Dunipace, Larbert. Hetherton, Miss, 64 Findhorn Place. ; Hopekirk, Miss Janet Cleghorn, Nurse’s Home, Royal Infirmary. XVili 90 100 110 120 130 1912 1897 1913 1898 1914 1912 1914 1909 1911 1894 1912 1909 1915 1912 191] HEMEL 1903 1914 1912 1912 1882 1911 1915 1902 OZ 1903 1890 1913 1902 1915 1904 1911 1906 1904 1915 1906 1908 1902 1912 1913 1912 1887 1909 1912 1898 1900 1906 1902 1913 1908 1904 1913 1897 1911 List of Members. Howison, Andrew, M.A., Huie, Miss Lily H., Hollywood, Colinton Road. Hunter, James, 1 Dudley Avenue, Leith. Hunter, John, c/o Dawson, 13 Roseneath Terrace. Hunter, Miss Jessie B., 46 Madeira Street, Leith. Hurry, Miss A. M., 18 Joppa Terrace, Joppa. Inglis, A. J., 4 Atholl Place. Jack, Thomas, 37 Queen’s Avenue, Blackhall. Jenkins, Miss Margaret, 44 Leamington Terrace. Johnson, W. H., Tweed Villa, Relugas Road. Kemp, Miss Annie, 37 Arden Street. Kemp, Miss Janet, 28 East Preston Street. Kennedy, William, South Craig, Craigmillar. King, Miss Elizabeth Smart, c/o Mrs Coutts, 8 Roxburgh Street. King, Miss Margaret P., Osborne Nursery House, Murrayfield. Kinvig, Harold J., 8 Duddingston Park, Portobello. Laidlaw, John, 3 Park Avenue, Portobello. Laing, James, 4 Merchiston Grove. Lamont, Miss Elizabeth, 17 Lutton Place. Laurie, William H., Darenthvale Cottage, Penicuik. Law, Mrs, 41 Heriot Row. Lawson, Miss Christina, 8 Daisy Terrace. Low, Miss Jane, 106 Ferry Road, Leith. M‘Andrew, James, 69 Spottiswoode Street. McBeath, John J., 74 Blackford Avenue. M‘Call, James, 7 James Place, Penicuik. Macdonald, J. J., Commercial Bank, Comrie. Macfarlane, Miss Margaret, 102 East Claremont Street. M‘Intosh, Donald Cameron, D.Sce., 3 Glenisla Gardens. M‘Kay, Miss Bessie M., 30 Mayfield Gardens. Mackay, George, 16 Eyre Crescent. Mackay, Mrs George, 16 Eyre Crescent. M‘Keever, F. L., General Delivery, Penticton, British Columbia. M ‘Kenzie, John, 90 Gorgie Road. M‘Keracher, Miss Catherine A., 75 Montgomery Street. M‘Lean, John, Room 39, Sasine Office, Register House. M‘Nair, Miss Jeanie, 5 Bright’s Crescent. Macpherson, Alex., 1 Roseneath Place. M‘Pherson, Miss Elizabeth, 2 Albert Place, Leith Walk. Mathie, Miss, 66 Great King Street. Martin, Miss Isa H., M.A., 1 Hampton Place. Millar, R. C., C.A., 6 Regent Terrace. Moran, James B., White Den, Sea View Gardens, Roker, Sunder- land. Morison, Miss Mary, c/o Gerrard, 56 Montgomery Street. Morrison, Hew, LL.D., Librarian, Public Library, George IV. Bridge. Munro, John Gordon, 7 Howe Street. Nichol, Alfred, St Mary’s, Rosefield, Portobello. Nisbet, Wm., 36 Elm Row. Park, Miss R., Inchview, Levenhall, Musselburgh. Paterson, Rev. T. Whyte, U.F. Manse, Midcalder. Pearce, Henry J., The Manse, Forth, by Lanark. Pearson, A. L., D.Sc., 9 W. Stanhope Place. Pinkerton, Allan A., 19 Shandwick Place—Secretary. Pinkerton, Mrs Allan A., Adele Cottage, Loanhead. 140 150 160 170 1380 List of Members. xix 1915 Pollitt, William Ingleby, Estate Duty Office, Waterloo Place. 1914 Porteous, Miss Mary, 16 Dalkeith Road. 1913 Proctor, Miss Mary Margaret, 60 Raeburn Place. 1905 Purdie, Miss Elizabeth 8., 22 St Clair Terrace. 1902 Pursell, John, Rhynd Lodge, Seafield Avenue, Leith. 1911 Rae, Matthew John, 8 Dalhousie Terrace. 1910 Ramage, Herbert, 14 Dean Terrace. 1909 Ramage, Mrs, 14 Dean Terrace. 1883 Ranken, William, 11 Spence Street. 1894 Richardson, A. D., 6 Dalkeith Street, Joppa. 1895 Bichardson, Mrs Ralph, 10 Magdala Place, 1908 Richardson, Wm. J., 8 Union Street, Leith. 1911 Ritchie, Charles, 38 Strathearn Road. 1895 Robertson, Dr W. G. Aitchison, 2 Mayfield Gardens. 1913 Ross, Miss Margaret L., 24 Bonaly Road. 1912 Ross, Miss Mary D., 24 Bonaly Road. 1897 Russell, James, 16 Blacket Place. 1907 Saunders, James, 29 Bruntsfield Place. 1893 Sconce, Colonel, 18 Belgrave Crescent, 1913 Scott, Robert, 8 Upper Coltbridge Terrace. 1913 Scott, Mrs Robert, 8 Upper Coltbridge Terrace. 1897 Sime, David, 27 Dundas Street. 1889 Smith, Harry W., 5 Lynedoch Place. 1887 Smith, Rupert, 38 Greenhill Gardens—President. 1914 Smith, Thomas A., c/o Mrs Nisbet, 1 Leven Terrace. 1904 Smith, W. W., M.A., 8 Dudley Terrace, Leith. 1912 Snow, Miss Alice E., 1907 Somerville, Miss E. B., 2 Randolph Crescent. 1886 Speedy, Tom, The Inch, Liberton. 1881 Sprague, Dr T. B., 29 Buckingham Terrace. 1909 Sprague, Mrs, 29 Buckingham Terrace. 1898 Sprague, Thomas Archibald, B.Sc., F.L.S., The Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 1883 Steele, A. B., 29 Warriston Crescent. 1898 Steele, Mrs, 29 Warriston Crescent. 1906 Steele, Miss Marion, 12 East Mayfield. 1903 Stenhouse, A. G., Whitelee, 191 Newhaven Road, 1894 Stevens, Dr John, 78 Polwarth Terrace. 1904 Stewart, Jas. Bell, M.A., 9 Primrose Bank Road, Trinity—Hditor of ‘ Transactions.’ 1904 Stewart, Mrs J. B., 9 Primrose Bank Road, Trinity. 1907 Stewart, Geo. D., C.A., 96 Marchmont Road. 1915 Stewart, Rey. George S., 72 Comiston Road. 1882 Stewart, Robert, S.S.C., Kaimes Lodge, Kaimes Road, Murrayfield. 1907 Stewart, Wm. A., 36 Joppa Road, Portobello. 1908 Stoddart, Thomas, 27 Jessfield Terrace, Leith. 1909 Sutherland, Miss Christina G., 23 Bellevue Road. 1912 Syme, George P., 8 Mayville Gardens, Trinity. 1911 Tait, Miss, 51 Briar Bank Terrace. 1911 Templeman, Andrew, 1882 Terras, James A., B.Sc., 1897 Thacker, T. Lindsay, Post Office, Little Mountain, Hope, British Columbia. 1896 Thacker, Mrs T. Lindsay, Post Office, Little Mountain, Hope, British Columbia. 1914 Thomson, James W., XX 1899 1901 190 1913 1914 1912 1896 1885 1913 1915 1915 1915 1915 200 1896 1900 1913 1913 1911 1914 1912 1884 208 1885 List of Members. Thomson, John, 21 St Ninian’s Terrace. Waddell, James Alexander, of Leadloch, 12 Kew Terrace, Glasgow. Waldron, Major, East Haugh, Pitlochry. Walker, Miss Marion, 63 Montgomery Street. Walls, T. J., 12 Forrest Road. Watson, Robert, M.A., 21 Thirlestane Road. Watson, Mrs, 12 Regent Terrace. Watson, William, M.A., B.Sc., 23 Brandon Terrace. Watt, John Temple, Rhysnant, 2 Mortonhall Road. Watt, Mrs John Temple, Rhysnant, 2 Mortonhall Road. Wedderspoon, George, 2 Blackford Road. Westwater, Robert M., St Ronans, Wardie Crescent. Williamson, William, 79 Morningside Drive. Wilson, Rev. D. W., M.A., Stobbill Manse, Gorebridge. Wilson, W. J., 7 Bonnington Terrace. Wood, Miss Chrissy, 12 Viewforth. Wood, Miss Isabella M., 25 Royal Park Terrace. Wotherspoon, Miss Marguerite, Silverdale, Craighall Road, Leith. Wright, Andrew, 7 Laverockbank Road, Trinity. Wright, Thomas, 12 Brunton Terrace. Young, David E., 60-62 High Street. 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Il—A PAIR OF LONG-EARED OWLS. By Mr J. C. ADAM. (Communicated, Nov. 26, 1913.) As a diurnal animal man is sadly handicapped in his deal- ings with creatures of the night, and I think it wise to bear witness at the outset to the personal deficiencies which my coadjutor—Mr §. E. Brock—and myself share with the rest of civilised mankind. In spite of our assiduity—and upon my coadjutor’s part it was tireless—we only had glimpses of this family of Long-eared Owls-—a few clear ones in the full light of day, but many dim shadowy ones caught by strained eyes and ears in the twilight or the dead of night. We were in the position of some crepuscular-living visitor from another planet who, bent upon a study of civilised man, con- centrated his attention upon a single family, and found his only profitable period of observation limited to the half-hour or so between dawn and daylight—that pregnant interval between bed and breakfast in the early months of the year. Picture this celestial student watching night after night while the family slumbered—how eagerly he would welcome a burglar or a hungry infant setting the household stirring in the small hours; how anxiously he would fasten upon his subjects from the first signs of wakening in the morning, noting and interpreting according to his lights every move- ment, every gesture—all the minutie# of pre - breakfast VOL. VII. E 64 A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. [Sess. behaviour; and then imagine him trying to build out of this hard-won material some coherent conception of the life-cycle of a civilised human, and you will have an inkling—if no more—of our relations to the Owls, the scope of our obser- vations, the probable adequacy and accuracy of our evidence, the probable truth of our theories. On the whole, I think, our fanciful student of man would have the easier task. He would be dealing with a creature of confirmed habit, and there would be plenty of evidence, for instance, which of the adult members of the house was the male and which the female. He could be fairly certain, one would think, that Homo sapiens var. Britannieus was monogamous, and that he frequently occupied the same domicile for several years. We devoted ourselves to the same wood for two successive years, but we cannot be certain that the pair of Long-eared Owls which inhabited the wood in 1910 were identical with the pair which inhabited it in 1911, and yet that is the pre- sumption upon which this study is based, upon which it largely depends for its coherence and interest. How far it is justified will be the burden of what follows, but some preliminary considerations may assist you to understand our point of view. The mere fact that the Owls occupied the same wood in both years is not, despite ornithological practice, sufficient evidence that they were the same birds. To our mind it is quite as much evidence that they were different pairs, and proves nothing but the eminent suitability of the wood for Long-eared Owls. Successive occupation of the same nesting haunt by a pair of the same species is a common phenomenon in bird-life. There are woods, for example, which hold Sparrow-hawks year after year; there are cliffs which have been used by Peregrine Falcons for generations. Most orni- thologists have ascribed such phenomena to hereditary attach- ment, assuming that successive occupants are descendants upon either the paternal or maternal side of some original pair of tenants—members of a long line of blood relations, comprising a kind of dynasty stretching back maybe for centuries, as in the famous case of Peregrines on a Connemara cliff which is believed to have been occupied more or less continuously since 1684. But hereditary attachment will 1913-1914. | A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. 65 hardly explain cases where reoccupation has taken place after a lapse of many years, as when a pair of Golden Eagles take possession of an old nesting site which has not been used for half a century, nor will it explain the choice of the original pair, the founders of the dynasty. Personally we believe that birds are far more sensitive to their breeding environ- ment than is generally supposed, and a nesting site or nest- ing haunt is chosen by a species because it meets certain instinctive requirements of that species, requirements, more- over, which only certain natural areas can supply, and the motives which determined the choice of the first pair might easily determine the choice of a second irrespective of blood relationship, We know that every cliff and every wood is not the same to a species, and the same distinctions are often recognised by the bird man himself. He may be neither a forester nor a botanist, and yet, upon entering a certain coniferous wood, say at once, “This is a wood for Sparrow- hawks.” He could not tell you why he thought it a wood for Sparrow-hawks, could not probably explain how it differed from half a dozen other coniferous woods where he would make no such pronouncement; he only knows that this is the kind of wood which a long experience has led him to asso- ciate with Sparrow-hawks; in a subconscious way he has begun to appreciate the Sparrow-hawk’s distinctions. The wood in which we watched the Long-eared Owls lies in the rich arable land of West Lothian, extends to about 26 acres, and comprised, at the time of our observations, roughly three zones of coniferous timber—first, an L-shaped belt of densely-planted Scots pine and spruce; secondly, occupying the larger part of the wood, and lying within the arms of the L, a fairly thick plantation of young firs; and lastly, in the north-west corner of the wood, a scattered group of old Scots pines. It was this Corner of old pines which the Long-eared Owls used as their nesting quarters. Apparently it possessed some quality or qualities which the rest of the wood lacked. It may have been the more open canopy, the easier access to the surrounding fields; it may have been the height and age of the trees; it may have been all or any of these things in which the Corner differed from the rest of the wood, things which can be tabulated as giving the Corner a distinctive 66 A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. [Sess. character; but it may have been something more, something subtle and indefinable by our blunted senses, but something which the Long-eared Owls recognised. We must remember that birds, so far as their nesting habits are concerned, are a highly specialised group, far more specialised in this respect than in their food habits; that they are fettered by a long racial experience of certain nesting sites and certain nesting environments—so fettered that the breeding distribution of many birds like the Swallow is limited, within the range of the species, by the distribution of suitable nesting sites and not by the distribution of food supply. In a man-changed country like this, artificial alteration has cleared the way and provided nesting sites for many birds which must have had a very precarious footing before the advent of civilised man ; but such alterations have just as effectively closed the door to many other species. Few of man’s plantations can prob- ably conform to the fragments of virgin forest which may have been the Long-eared Owl’s original home, but it is in those which do, or which approximate to the primeval haunts of his ancestors, that the Long-eared Owl will be found to-day. In his preference for this Corner of old pines we may have been witnessing a manifestation of a racial tradition stretching back into remote antiquity. We may likewise have been watching a dynasty. Once a pair of birds had proved the suitability of a wood and nested in it, they would, if a sedentary and monogamous species, make it their home throughout the year and so prevent usurpation by another pair. Even if, like the Sparrow-hawk, they did not live continuously in the nesting quarters during the winter, they would tend to return to the old haunt in the spring, and, as old birds acquainted with the site, the chances are they would reach it earlier than possible usurpers, who would be presumably young birds and therefore more tardy in looking for a breeding-place. A mishap to one of the pair would be made good by the survivor, and so a dynasty of successive pairs would be established. Long-eared Owls had nested in this Scots pine Corner to our knowledge in 1907 and 1908. In 1909 a single bird, whose vocal efforts proved him to be a male, turned up on February 7, and roosted regularly in a bushy Scots pine for 1913-1914. | A Pazr of Long-Eared Owls. 67 fully a month. Then he disappeared. His sojourn in the Corner for that brief period is the sole link of connection between the birds of 1908 and the birds of 1910; but it has perhaps an added significance when I point out that the bushy pine (Roost 1 on map) which he favoured for his slumbers was habitually used by one or both of the Owls in 1908, and that it was the tree in which the male first appeared in 1910. This bushy pine is perhaps a slender peg upon which to hang a dynasty, but it is all the evidence we have for our theory, which is briefly this—that the single bird of 1909 was the sole survivor of the pair which nested in 1908; that in 1909 he returned to the nesting quarters but failed to obtain a mate, as is evidenced by the fact that there was no nest that year; that in 1910 the same bird returned again, but this time with a mate, and that this pair were consequently in the true line of succession of a Long- eared Owl stock which had nested in the Corner in 1908, and probably for many years previously. It was with the appearance of the birds in 1910 that we commenced the two years’ observations and conjectures which I propose to present to you. For convenience of treatment I have gathered them under three divisions, roughly correspond- ing to three periods in the Long-eared Owl’s life :— J, Pre-NESTING PERIOD—covering the time from the first appearance of the birds in the Corner to the laying of the eggs. II. Nestinc PrRriop—covering the time from the first days of incubation to the fledging of the young. III. Post-nestinec PrRIoD—covering a time of which we are profoundly ignorant. Pre-nesting Period. In 1910 the two birds made their first appearance in the Corner on February 25; in 1911 they were first seen on February 5—a striking disparity of twenty days, to which I shall have reason to refer later. These dates may be con- sidered approximately the dates of the arrival of the birds in their nesting quarters in these two years. Of where and how 68 A Pair of Long-Eared Owts. [Sess. they passed the winter months which preceded their arrival in 1910 we know nothing. Of where and how the male secured his mate we are equally ignorant. And here I might emphasise the fact that none of the behaviour which I shall describe can be construed as courting displays in the strict sense of the phrase. The Long-eared Owls were obviously mated before we saw anything of them; all that we observed was either nuptial or post-nuptial, as you care to describe it. You may have your introduction to the pair as they appeared to us one day in March 1910—two strangely Map of the Corner of the wood, showing roosting trees of the Long-eared Ouls. attenuated brown figures, perched, wooden-like, fifty feet up under the thick crowns of two neighbouring Scots pines, ear-tufts erect and the whole body, as it seemed, drawn tightly together, motionless and inscrutable until the sudden snapping of a note-book clasp galvanised the nearer one into life. In an instant the woodenness and attenuation vanished, the body was shaken out, the face shaken out, and two great yellow orbs were turned down upon us, with that curious expression of astonishment which the Long-eared Owl wears all his waking life from his youth up, and which, 1913-1914. | A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. 69 after all, is hardly less inscrutable than the mask afforded by his contracted disc when asleep. They were not always easily found during the daytime—in some of the fir tops they could be quite invisible from the ground. In 1910 we made no serious effort to locate their diurnal positions, but in 1911 we attempted a daily record of their roosting-places during the pre-nesting period. The data thus gathered is unfortunately not very complete, but what there is of it gives no indication of any definite bias on the part of either bird: it rather shows how free this pair of Owls were from the tyranny of habit. The birds roosted as a rule on separate trees—once in 1910 they were observed perched Darby-and-Joan-like on the same branch, but such amiable relations were distinctly unusual. In 1911, after roosting regularly for a week on trees which I shall call Roosts 1 and 2 (see map), which were close together at the western side of the Corner, one of the birds suddenly began to use Roost 3, a tree some distance away. We could only be certain on a few occasions of the sex of the birds which occupied the various roosts, but in attempting to account for this sudden change you may have the benefit of the following: The bird which first used Roost 1 we know to be the male, but on February 11 it was the female, so that an exchange of roosts had obviously taken place. The reason and manner of the exchange we do not know, but is it not significant that two days later the male should be in Roost 3, fifty yards away, while the female is still in possession of Roost 1—that highly desirable patriarchal roost with its memories of former years? Roost 3 was used regularly for some time, then fitfully, and considerable irregularity ensued, when we frequently failed to find both birds. On February 24 Roost 5 was requisitioned, and on the 26th you have an opportunity of deducing very strained relations indeed—the female being in Roost 5, while the male was in Roost 3, trees fully 100 yards apart. On the following day, however, peace had evidently been restored, both birds having returned to Roosts 1 and 2. But it was only for the day; on the 28th one of the birds was back in Roost 5, and on March 2 both birds were noted in this quarter of the wood—the male in Roost 5, the female in 70 A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. [Sess. Roost 8. Except for an inexplicable jump back to Roosts 1 and 2 on March 5, the birds now slept regularly in the eastern trees—the male clinging to Roost 5, while the female alternated between Roosts 7 and 8. On the 17th the male changed to Roost 9, and there he remained until a tardy realisation of his duties to the nest took him to Roost 10 on April 1. For the manner of the awakening of our pair of Owls we may take a typical evening shortly after their arrival in 1910. About twenty-five minutes after sunset, or just after the noise of the last retiring Blackbirds had subsided, a faint nasal whee broke the stillness of the Corner. This note is really indescribable in syllables; it is a kind of lachrymation, within the compass, I believe, of a penny squeak, but not of the English language ; it is the regular spring call of the female Long-eared Owl. It was very low—barely audible—at first, but grew louder and, asit seemed, more insistent. Then froma neighbouring tree there came a louder note, oo—the response of the male. Oo syllables it as well as any bird note can be syllabled, but its length and depth varied greatly, so that sometimes it seemed to die away in 00 ugh, and again seemed to stop abruptly with a consonant so that it sounded oop. The female’s note resembles no other bird note with which I am acquainted, but the male’s suggests in some respects the soft coo of the Stock-dove. Both birds continued to call for some time—the male probably less frequently than the female, and not always, as it seemed, in direct response to the female. Then he ceased altogether, while the female continued very plaintively and at very regular intervals until, after a very loud and petulant whee, she too fell silent. The male was probably busy about his toilet, and we may presume that the female became engaged likewise. Whatever they did there was complete silence for five minutes. Then the male suddenly left his perch and dived headlong among the trees with loud repeated wing-claps. A few minutes later the female also vacated her couch and careered in the same wild wing-clapping flight through the trees. Both birds dis- appeared towards the fields on the north-western side of the wood and were not seen again. Similar procedure might have been witnessed almost any 1913-1914. ] A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. 71 evening during this period in 1910. There were, of course, variations ; no two nights, when we watched the pair, was their conduct precisely identical; but in principle, if not in detail, the awakening process in that year was the same right up to April 25, which was only four days before the first egg was laid. The hour of wakening, or rather the hour when the first whee or oo was heard, varied less than any other feature— the earliest record being twenty-two minutes after sunset, and the latest thirty-three minutes after sunset, so that they rose, as a rule, rather later than the Tawny Owl. The amount of time spent in calling was much more inconstant, but it was nearly always broken by a spell of silence when, as I have suggested, preening operations probably took place. The female was usually the more persistent speaker and the last to take wing. They did not always fly straight out of the wood. The male, particularly, frequently indulged in wing- clapping gyrations among the trees, and even betook himself to a new perch before finally departing. This wing-clapping antic resembles the well-known flight-play of the Wood- pigeon, and probably has the same sexual significance. It is performed, as I have described, by both sexes of the Long- eared Owl, and seems to differ from the Wood-pigeon’s method in the wing contact being below and not above the body. One episode in 1910 is probably worthy of special remark. On April 8, about six weeks after the arrival of the Owls in the Corner, the female, after leaving her roosting perch, flew into a thick mass of honeysuckle which festooned the bole of an old oak-tree, and remained hidden there for some time. We did not understand this visit at the time, but in the light of later knowledge we may well ask the ques- tion, Was she considering the possibilities of the honeysuckle as a nesting site? If so, her considerations came to naught, as she ultimately nested elsewhere; but it is rather strange, in view of what happened in 1911, that this solitary visit to the honeysuckled oak was the only sign of nest-prospecting we had in 1910. In 1911 a very different series of phenomena was presented for our delectation. For the first three weeks the Owls be- haved as in 1910, waking about twenty-five minutes after 72 A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. [Sess. sunset, calling for a longer or shorter interval, and then career- ing out of the wood with repeated wing-claps. On February 19 this was still their procedure, but on February 26 there was a new development, demanding detailed treatment. Febru- ary 26 finished in a fine quiet evening, and here, it may be noted, the Owls showed themselves strangely sensitive to weather conditions ; on stormy evenings the awakening display was invariably cut short, and, apart from the increased difficulty of observation, there was small profit in watching them upon such occasions. About half an hour after sunset the male began to call, and a few minutes later the female joined in. For ten minutes we listened to successive whee’s and oo’s, then the female took wing, and, clapping slightly as she flew, perched on a tree close to the position of the male. Almost immedi- ately the latter flew from his roosting-perch, clapping loudly, and settled on the ground out of sight. Here he was silent, but the female continued to call for some little time from her new perch. Then she took wing again, first following the direction of the male, then circling round with clapping wings in a more pronounced fashion than usual. In the dim light she was little more than a phantom, and it was guess-work rather than a clear perception which told us that she had ceased to fly and was perched some distance away. We crept forward cautiously with a great premonition in our minds, and found her, just as we had expected, perched beside the nest built by a pair of Carrion Crows in the previous year—(Plate I.). Here she remained for some minutes calling vigor- ously, while the male answered from some invisible spot behind us. Then she hopped into the Crow’s nest and became invisible, but faint awhee’s still reached and informed us of her whereabouts. After a few minutes—sufficient time maybe for an inspection—she came forth and flew off towards the north- west, followed immediately by the male, and the evening’s observations terminated. This was the first indication of a nest interest which we had seen, but an unfortunate hiatus in our observations prior to this event prevents us from knowing whether it was the first visit which either of the Owls had paid to this nest. ~It may at least be noted that upon this occasion only the female visited the nest, in striking contrast, as I shall make evident, to their PLATE |!.—A PAIR OF LONG-EARED OWLS. (Photo. R. MM. Adam.) THE CARRION CROWS’ NESTS USED BY THE PAIR CF LONG-EARED OWLS IN 1910 (ON RIGHT) AND torr (ON LEFT). (ndicated by the arrows.) I913-1914.] A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. We subsequent conduct in this matter. On the following day we climbed to the old Crow nest and found it partially relined with dry grass stems, mostly Phalaris arundinacea, which grew abundantly under the trees of the Corner. The same evening we were again in the Corner, but a heavy rain apparently provided unfavourable conditions for a Long-eared Owl ‘ per- formance. After some preliminary calling both birds flew straight out of the wood. Three nights later, on March 2, the weather was quiet, and at dusk we took up our customary stance in the Corner. Shortly after sunset, and earlier than usual, the male began to call. There was no response from the female, and he became silent. Ten minutes later both birds commenced calling. Then the male took wing and perched on another tree. Shortly after- wards the female left her perch and flew through the wood. The inale immediately danced attendance, and for a time resounding wing-claps told us that both birds were on the wing. Then the male settled on the ground, and a little later the female flew into the honeysuckle girding the old oak. Some minutes of very indefinite impressions passed, then we were aware that the male had perched on a branch close over our heads. A moment later he took wing and flew straight into the old Crow nest, and immediately the female followed, perching on the very edge of the nest and, probably, eyeing her mate inside it. The latter, maybe uneasy under this scrutiny, remained there only a few minutes. As soon as he had gone—we know not where, as our eyes failed to follow him more than a few yards -—the female took his place, and in the nest she continued for some time busy upon we know not what. Ultimately, and when it was almost too dark to be certain of anything, she left the nest, and, after some further calling and wing-clapping, both birds appeared to depart from the wood towards the north. Thus we saw the male visit the nest for the first time. That he may have visited it before seems extremely probable—he showed none of the hesitation which marked the first (to our knowledge) visit of the female; he flew straight into it with the most purposeful directness. The female might be sup- posed to be still vacillating; that excursion into the honey- suckle showed a hankering after other sites, and in the light 74 A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. [Sess. of subsequent observations it is easy to believe that it was the male’s example which took her to the Crow’s nest that night. The female certainly followed the male, and upon this occasion with remarkable celerity. Two nights later, on March 4, the male went even more directly about the business. He woke about the usual hour, twenty-five minutes after sunset, and a few minutes later flew into a tree very near to where we sat watching. After a short pause here, during which he may have examined your humble servants, but more probably performed the toilet he had pre- viously omitted, he flew straight to the old Crow nest and disappeared from view within its circumference. Almost immediately the female, hitherto silent, left her roost and fol- lowed him—but followed with the most exaggerated kind of flight imaginable, better perhaps described as a sort of aerial dance. It was no great distance from the roost to the nest, but the female’s zigzagging, wing-clapping course must have trebled it. As soon as she had settled on the edge the male abandoned the nest, flying down to a low bush quite near to us, where he was dimly visible in the fading light. Here he stayed while the female took possession of the nest. He seemed to be waiting for her, and at first he was very patient and silent, but when ten minutes had passed and the female showed no signs of movement, faint oo’s were audible, indi- cative perhaps of impatience and the need for breakfast, or only friendly signals of assurance of his continued presence. Faint calls came occasionally from the nest, but the male never directly responded to these. At length—to be exact, after quarter of an hour—the female left the nest and flew out of sight towards the north. The male immediately followed her, and we saw no more of them that evening. Again the male had led the way to the nest, but this time the female had been distinctly complaisant. The extent of her feminine dalliance had been reduced to those weird manceuvres of flight by which she travelled from her perch to the nest. The male might have flattered himself, as male things do, that his will was about to prevail; more probably, as a bird of at least one year’s experience (as we have assumed him to be), he made due allowance for the consti- tutional capriciousness of the sex, and in consequence was not 1913-1914. | A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. 75 disappointed when, on March 6, she still exhibited signs of wavering. Upon this evening the male flew into the nest very much in his previous manner, but the female did not seek to follow him. Instead, she roamed from one perch to another and visited the honeysuckle—she had a strange hankering after that honeysuckle—truly, the male might have thought, a very indifferent bird. Eventually she perched on a tree-top near the Crow’s nest, and the male, apparently satis- fied as to her intentions, flew off towards the north-west, clapping his wings. Some time after he had disappeared, the female changed her perch and entered the nest. She remained there only two or three minutes and then flew off in the same direction as the male. There was surely a truly feminine touch about that waiting until the male was gone before she entered the nest, and three nights later, on March 9, we had another illustration of her human-like vagaries. Both birds took wing about the same time, the male settling in a tree near the nest, the female in a tree some distance away. A few minutes later the female flew as if to join the male, but the latter immediately anticipated her by flying into the nest. The female, upset by this manceuvre, flew round for a moment and then perched on the edge of the nest. Shortly after, the male departed, gliding through the trees in the graceful skim- ming flight he sometimes adopted, to a pine not far distant. Meanwhile the female hesitated on the edge of the nest. We could see her head turning from side to side, in the direction of the nest and in the direction of the male, doubt seeming to divide the swift mind. Then she came to a decision and hopped into the nest. Two minutes later the male flew silently out of the Corner over the top of the young firs to the east—a course we had never observed him take before. After quarter of an hour in the nest the female betook herself to the neighbourhood of the roosting trees. Here she could be vaguely discerned flying from tree and tree. When flying she clapped her wings, when perched she uttered the whee note. Ten minutes or so passed, then she suddenly uttered the whee note several times in rapid succession, and the next moment the oo note of the male announced that he had returned. A little later we saw the male fly out of the wood 76 A Pair of Long-Eared Owls, [Sess. . towards the north-west. What passed between the two birds we cannot be certain; we peered fruitlessly into the murk, but the male probably brought in the result of his hunting— a propitiatory offering to his mate. The unusual utterance of the whee was plainly an expression ef some special emotion on the part of the female, while the fact that she had not gone out of the wood, as was her customary practice, indicated a kind of expectation that the male would return with food. She was still in the wood when we departed twenty minutes later. March 11 was stormy, and neither bird visited the nest while we watched that evening. The next night, however, was quiet, and as if to compensate for lost time, the male was already calling when we arrived in the wood a few minutes after sunset. This early rising, it may be noted, was a very important matter from our point of view; it meant that half an hour of good daylight was available for our observations. Ten minutes after our arrival both birds took wing and flew away eastwards. Two minutes later the male came right over our heads and pitched into the old Crow nest; the next moment we heard the call of the female from somewhere behind us. The bird in the nest was at first silent, but at last, thanks to the early rising, we had a glimpse of what he did there. Quite clearly we saw him working his body round in the nest; seven or eight times he described the circle and always from left to right. In the middle of these move- ments he began to call, and, to our amazement, the call was not the oo of the male but the whee of the female. It was repeated a dozen times, and for a moment we wondered if our eyes had failed to record a change of occupants in the nest, but the next second we were assured of our unimpaired vision by a whee from the bird behind us. The bird in the nest was undoubtedly the male; a little later he ceased calling, and when he resumed again he was uttering the characteristic oo. Why for that brief space he should have used the note of the female may be added to the insoluble problems. It has been flippantly suggested that his operations in the nest may have turned his head in more senses than one. After eighteen minutes in the old Crow structure he departed towards the east with great clapping of wings. The female \ 1913-1914.] A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. 1g immediately took wing and alighted near the nest, where she called repeatedly and clearly a whee that was practically identical with the whee of the male; if it differed at all it was slightly higher in pitch. Some time later she flew out of the wood without having entered the nest, and one might be left to conclude that upon this evening the male had per- formed for both himself and his mate. The male certainly seemed to have no doubts as to where the eggs should be laid. On March 16 the male again awoke early, and again we saw him working himself round in the nest in the same sinistrous manner. While he was doing so the female perched on a tree near the nest and called very regularly. When the male departed after ten minutes in the nest, she departed likewise but in the opposite direction, and we thought she had left the wood. A little later, however, she returned almost simultaneously with the male, and after a short pause on a neighbouring branch, entered the nest. In it she remained for nearly ten minutes, calling persistently, but giving no sign of the rotating exercises of the male. At 7.13—an hour after sunset—she flew off towards the north. In all this behaviour it is difficult to trace any definite progress towards the purpose which both birds may have been supposed to have had in view. We see the male very firmly attached to the old Crow structure, leading the way thither night after night, spending an increasingly longer time in these inexplicable circumvolutions from left to right. On the other hand, we have no further hint after March 10 of his bringing in food to the female. And then we have that erratic creature, the female herself, hot the one nicht, cold the next, moody or whimsical, which you will, never quite sure of herself—never, might I suggest, quite sure of either the male or the old Crow nest. She had ceased to visit the honeysuckle, and she certainly showed a tendency to linger longer in the neighbourhood of the roosting trees, but this was accompanied by a manifest slackening in her interest in the nest. On March 12 she had not gone to the nest at all; on March 16 she had only stayed a few minutes in it, and we were, I confess, considerably perplexed. Had she been an orthodox bird, proceeding on conventional lines, she 78 A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. [Sess. might have been expected to evince an increased interest in the nest as the season advanced, but a few nights later it became evident that the purport of this ostensible apathy had been obscured by our ornithological—perhaps also our masculine—bias. She was a Long-eared Owl, with a Long- eared Owl’s methods, and must not be judged by any other bird standard. On March 20 the male woke up at 6.30—twenty minutes after sunset—-and went and worked in the nest for several minutes. Then he left the nest and perched in a neighbour- ing tree. Then he did an unprecedented thing—he returned to the nest, but his second visit was almost as brief as his first, and at 6.45 we saw him fly rapidly westwards out of the wood. Meanwhile the female had been silent and invisible, but soon after the disappearance of the male she flew into a tree near the nest. She changed her position twice, but did not go to the nest. At 7.5 she suddenly called loudly—a clear note of welcome—and a moment later the male came in from the north and flew straight to where she was perched. Although the actual meeting between the two was obscured, we had no doubt that the male delivered over the product of his foraging. We heard a muffled whee, as if the female was speaking with a full mouth, then the male reappeared flying off towards the fields whence he had come, while the female dropped to the ground, presumably to devour in comfort the prey which she had just received. It was now plain to us that the female’s neglect of the nest foreshadowed the end of the pre-nesting period. She no longer went out to hunt; she had become dependent, wisely or un- wisely, upon the male’s exertions. What feelings lay behind this neglect, what apprehensions, what misgivings, we do not know; we must be content with the general inference. And that the latter was well founded was shown three days later, March 25, when we found her sitting on the old Crow nest in the middle of the day. On climbing to the nest we were not surprised to find it empty, and that no further additions had been made to the Phalaris material observed on February 27. We knew from previous experience that Long-eared Owls frequently brood their nest for several days before laying; one bird, as I have recorded elsewhere, sat on her nest for fully a 1913-1914.] A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. 79 week before the first ege was laid. In all our observations of the behaviour of the two birds, we had never seen any carriage of building material, and, judging from the condition of the nest, none had been carried since our last investigation of its contents. The main fact for us was that the female had now taken possession of the nest—all her scruples, all her queasiness had vanished. For good or ill the crucial step had been taken, and the importance of her action was manifest in the behaviour of the two birds that same evening. When we disturbed the female from the nest in the fore- noon, she had taken refuge among the young firs, and some time after the male began to call she flew into the Corner from that direction and settled on a tree near her mate. The latter immediately took wing and alighted on a branch near the nest, and here for the first time in a long six weeks we saw -him hesitate. He sat in full view of us, turning his head from side to side, first to the nest and then to his mate, just as we had seen the female do on a former occasion. We could imagine his dilemma. For weeks he had toiled to bring his mate to the point of decision, night after night he had worked in the old Crow nest, and that morning, perhaps just before he retired, success had crowned his efforts—his mate had begun to sit in the nest, and by that token made it hers, her sacred property into which he might no longer venture as of old. And yet now he finds the nest abandoned, his mate roosting Heaven knows where! He knows nothing of the human busybodies who had disturbed her that morning, so what does her conduct mean? Has he to begin his mighty task all over again, or, understanding so little of the reasons for his mate’s absence, will there be fearful consequences if he visits the nest at this juncture? He moved two or three trees nearer the nest and hesitated again. Would that draw her? he seemed to ask the world at large as he swung his big head round towards the female. She made no sign, and he plunged into the nest. He was always a trifle headlong in his method of entering the nest, but I think he was even more headlong than usual—almost reckless—that night. He com- menced his old spinning tactics, but they stopped abruptly with the arrival of the female on the edge of the nest, and he decamped hurriedly. The female debated a moment on the VOL. VII. F 80 A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. [Sess. edge, then settled down on the nest and remained motionless as far as we could see. For twenty minutes nothing hap- pened, then the male came in from the west with loud wing- claps and perched on a tree some distance from the nest. Simultaneously the female uttered a new and strange note— utt, utt, utt, followed by a faint whee. This combination was repeated several times, and was answered by the male with his regular oo. What this novel cry meant exactly it is hard to say; it was probably a cry of welcome to the male, but it may have been a demand for food, or an expression of irritation that none was brought, for, shortly after, the male flew out of the wood without having gone to the nest. Whatever its meaning, it was undoubtedly connected with the new phase of the nesting period. On one or other of the two following days, March 23 or 24, the first egg was laid, and the pre-nesting period, as I have named it, of 1911 came to a close. In 1910 the first egg was laid on April 30 or May 1— some thirty-six days later than in 1911. This striking difference in the laying dates of the two seasons, although not more remarkable than the difference in pre-nesting behaviour, is, upon one hypothesis, susceptible to explanation. We have long held a theory that young birds nest later in the season and lay smaller clutches than the average of their species— that is to say, that birds in their first adult year reach breed- ing condition more slowly than birds in their prime. At present I shall not trouble you with the growing body of very strong evidence in favour of this theory, but you may estimate its soundness by its application to this pair of Long-eared Owls, In 1910 they arrived relatively late in their nesting quarters, the female took sixty-six days to reach breeding condition, and laid her first egg some five weeks later than the average date for the species in West Lothian; in 1911 the birds arrived twenty days earlier in their nesting quarters, and there was a marked acceleration of the whole nesting business; the female took only forty-six days to reach breeding condition, and laid her first egg about the average date for the species in the dis- trict. There is also the additional evidence that in 1910 four eggs were laid, in 1911 five, which again is probably nearer the average clutch of the Long-eared Owl. The determining 1913-1914. | A Pair of Long-Eared Owls, 81 factor, to our minds, was the age of the female; in 1910 she was a young bird (the male, as I have suggested, was doubtless an old bird, but his age does not affect the problem); in 1911 she was a year older, with a relatively more rapid physiological development. Whether the differences of habit in the two periods can be accounted for on the same grounds is a more difficult question. It is not unlikely that birds develop certain traits as they grow older, and much of their conduct was doubtless indi- vidualistic; but some of their antics, like the male’s turning in the nest with its remarkable resemblance to the courting displays of other birds, were probably of a fundamental character and common to every Long-eared Owl every season. It may have been that this nest-visiting habit, so prominent in 1911, was less highly developed in 1910, and that in spite -of our numerous vigils we missed it. It is possible that it was performed during the night or in the early morning when we were not there to see it. That they did visit the nest in 1910 before the eggs were laid is clearly proved by the fact that the old Crow structure which they used was entirely relined with grass and mould before the female began to sit. In both seasons they used a nest built by Carrion Crows in the preceding year—unmistakably the latest and most desir- able residence the Corner afforded them each season. And in this connection it is rather interesting to note that in 1912, when there was no old Crow nest for them to use, the pair of Long-eared Owls in the Corner nested in an old ramshackle nest of a Pigeon in that honeysuckle-covered oak for which the female of 1910 and 1911 had shown such a partiality. Nesting Period, Contrary to the practice of many birds, but in accordance with the methods of most Owls, the female Long-eared Owl began the period of incubation with the laying of the first egg, but both in 1910 and 1911 there were indications of a certain amount of relaxation during the first few days. On March 28, 1911, for example, when three eggs had been laid, she left the nest about forty minutes after sunset and flew away westwards out of the wood. On the evening of May 82 A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. [ Sess. 2, 1910, when two eggs had been laid, she deserted the nest for some time but did not leave the wood. Once the full clutch had been laid, however, she was never seen voluntarily to quit the nest until the young were hatched. During: the day we could see the edge of her tail and the tips of her ear- tufts appearing over the rim of the nest, giving no sign of life, but in the evening we frequently saw her rouse herself in the nest, stretch her wings, and alter her position. The work of providing for her apparently devolved entirely upon the male, but we had very little evidence of him actually doing so. As a sample of the conduct of the two birds under the new conditions, you may take the little we saw on March 30, 1911. The male began to utter the vo note at seven minutes past sunset, and soon afterwards the female answered him from the nest with a very low, barely audible note which sounded like the oo of the male. Twenty minutes later the male left his tree, sailing out of the wood on outstretched motionless wings to the north-east. For fifteen minutes nothing happened, then we were suddenly startled by a loud repeated utterance—coo-coo-coo—from the nest, and at the same moment there was the sound of a bird settling on a tree behind us. It was too dark to see this bird, but we have no doubt it was the male. By this time it was also too dark to see the nest, and so, whether he ultimately went to the female or not we cannot state. The coo note, with its strong resemblance to the first note of a Wood-pigeon’s song, was an innovation, but its utterance was patently inspired by the return of the male, and had we not been in the wood we believe the latter would have gone straight to the nest. Our presence affected him—affected him as it had not done previously. With the laying of the eggs the nest had assumed a new aspect, a new place, as it were, in his mind, bringing a new wariness, a new timidity, into his dealings with it. So long as the nest was merely the scene of his nuptial antics, the presence of a human or two was of scant importance, but now that it contained his potential offspring extreme caution was necessary. Formerly a lover, he was now a parent, with a parent’s responsibilities. And this change in the male’s mental attitude was manifest 1913-1914.] A Pair of Long-Eared Owls. 83 in other ways. He roosted in trees close to the nest. In 1910 he used a big elder bush almost under the nest. He rose consistently earlier in the evening, as if he realised the needs of his mate, but he rarely flew out of the wood without exchanging a few words with her, and it was under these circumstances, both in 1910 and 1911, that we several times heard him use the whee note of the female. On May 8, 1910, he began calling the usual oo note shortly after sunset. Then he flew to a tree very near the nest. Here he called very loudly and regularly the same note, once uttering 00-00-00 in very rapid succession, while faint replies of whee came from the bird on the nest. Then he suddenly changed his perch to a tree close to where we stood and began uttering the whee note, to which the female responded as before. We were so near to the male upon this occasion that -there was no room for any doubt about the character of his speech. On April 22, 1911, practically the same thing occurred. He flew forward from his roost to a tree quite near to where we stood and uttered the unmistakable cry of the female. On this occasion, however, the female did not respond with her whee note but with the coo note, already de- scribed, which we never heard her use in 1910, but which became her regular call from the nest in 1911. Soon after uttering the whee the male reverted to the masculine oo, and he continued to use this note until he flew out of the wood. The exact meaning of these changes of utterance are, I am afraid, beyond even our powers of conjecture.