that account, withhold his contribution, for he might supply us with an epitome of some recent botanical work, or sketch the life of some of those who, in former days, gave such an impulse to phytology; or, if he has a philological turn of mind, it might find a befitting outlet in an attempt to discover what were really the plants which Dioscorides meant, and thus help to wipe away the opprobrium which is contained in the statement that, out of the 700 plants which he mentions in his Materia Medica, only 400 are correctly ascertained. But many other methods of being useful to the Society must suggest themselves to your own minds. If I have not altogether failed in my attempt to stimulate and encourage the younger members to lend a helping hand at our monthly meetings, I shall feel that my object has been attained; at the same time, I must apologise to the Society for the desultory nature of the remarks which I have just submitted. I had intended pointing out some of the fallacies which underlie so many of the scientific theories, or rather hypotheses, which are so popular in our day, and to show you the false analogies and illogical reasonings as a strong ground for your training, not only your eye to observe accurately, but also your mind to reason. correctly; but time forbids my entering on such a theme.

XVIII. Notes of a Continental Tour in August and September 1877. By Professor BALFOUR. Plate VII.

(Read at the Meetings of the Society 10th January, 11th April, and 9th

May 1878.)

1. SWEDEN (Stockholm, Upsala, and Lund).

The four hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the University of Upsala induced members of Universities and of learned societies in various parts of Europe, who had been invited by the Swedish University, to be present at its celebration from 4th to 8th September 1877. The delegates from Edinburgh were Professor Sir Wyville Thomson, Professor Maclagan, and myself as representing the University of Edinburgh, and also as representing the Royal Society of Edinburgh, along with Mr Buchan, Mr T. B. Sprague, and Dr Crichton Browne. Professor Maclagan and Dr Crichton Browne were unfortunately prevented by official duties from joining the deputation.

Leaving Edinburgh on Friday 17th August, we proceeded to Hull, and thence by steamer to Gothenburg, which we reached on the morning of the 20th, after a tolerably good passage (a whale between forty and fifty feet long being the only object of special interest seen on the voyage), The entrance to the harbour of Gothenburg is most remarkable. At some distance from shore we began to pass small islands, merely rocks without a sign of vegetation. As we approached the mainland these rocks became more numerous, and a few of them had lighthouses, cairns, and fishermen's huts erected on them. The shore of the mainland partook of the same bleak character, with a background of round green hills, and here and there a few trees. Entering the Gota River, we soon landed at Gothenburg, a large flourishing mercantile town, plentifully interspersed with canals. At the door of our hotel stood a long row of plants of Laurus nobilis, well grown and healthy. These are taken indoors during the winter, and we found them very common in most of the towns. The large gardens belonging to Mr Dickson are of world-wide celebrity, but I was unable to visit them, as in the afternoon I was invited to Kolboryd, the country residence of Mr James Dickson. The scenery between Gothenburg and the station of Jönsered was beautiful and varied,-the hills, though small compared to our Scotch mountains, partaking of a good deal of the same character. Kolboryd, a charming summer residence built of wood, commands fine views of a lake surrounded with pine-clad hills, and a wander through the woods was most enjoyable.

The principal plants found were—

Linnæa borealis, Potentilla argentea, Pyrola media, Rhamnus Frangula, Vaccinium uliginosum, V. Vitis Idea, V. Myrtillus, Trientalis europæa, Epilobium angustifolium, Sambucus racemosa, Hieracium boreale, Melampyrum pratense var., Salix repens, Convallaria majalis, Polygonatum bifolium, Goodyera repens, Lycopodium annotinum, Polypodium vulgare, P. Phegopteris, Polytrichum commune.

In the lakes Nymphæa alba, Nuphar lutea, and several species of Potamogeton abounded.

Mr Dickson pointed out one very fine old specimen of a Silver Fir. Close to the house I observed in a bed, and in

full flower, Lobelia fulgens, Canna indica, Ricinus communis, and Nicotiana Tabacum.

After a most kind and hospitable entertainment, we returned to Gothenburg for the night, and early on the morning of the 21st started in a river boat for Trollhätten. The banks of the Gota river are very varied, in some places low and very marshy, and at others steep rocks rise many feet almost perpendicularly, and are covered with fir trees. The windings and long stretches of water were very beautiful, though our view was unfortunately much interfered with by a Scotch mist which enveloped the distant scenery.

On reaching Trollhätten, we proceeded by the grand falls or rather rapids to the hotel, which was very crowded. Here we partook of our first "sexa" or Swedish supper.

On the morning of the 22d we enjoyed a view of the falls, and proceeded again in a lake-steamer through the green waters of the Lake Wenern, the blue waters of the Wettern, and the Gota Canal,-passing on the way, among other interesting places, Brummo, a small island where glass is manufactured, and Wreta Cloister, the burying-place of the Swedish family of Douglas. The locks on the canal are very numerous, and show a wonderful triumph of engineering skill. On the night of the 23d, the total eclipse of the moon was remarkably well seen.

We reached Stockholm on the morning of Friday 24th August, after a charming sail through beautiful scenery. The numerous islands in the Baltic are very striking, and it seemed wonderful how the steamer could be navigated. We spent some time in Stockholm, and thoroughly explored the neighbourhood, which abounds in beautiful drives and pine trees. I was much struck with the large fields of tobacco, and heard afterwards that there is a manufactory at Stockholm. The plants were very vigorous, about four feet high.

I called on Professor Andersson, but found he was laid up in bed, and unable to see any one. The Natural History Museum is a very fine one, and I am much indebted to Professor Lovén, Dr Nyman, Mr Mosen, and Mr Lindstrom for their kindness in showing me all that could be seen. The Royal Herbarium is on a very extensive scale, and I was much pleased with the Cases and general arrangements for

dried plants. There is no regular Botanic Garden connected with the Institution.

The Ethnographical Museums in Stockholm, which are due to the public spirit of a private individual, are most interesting.

The following are notes on the Natural History Museum by Dr C. F. Nyman:

"The botanical collections in the Natural History Museum at Stockholm consist of Herbaria and specimens of the productions of the vegetable kingdom. The Herbaria are -a. The general Herbarium; b. The Scandinavian; c. The European; d. The Brazilian; e. The Cape of Good Hope; f. The Arctic; g. Plants cultivated in Sweden.

"The general Herbarium contains almost all known genera of Phanerogams and Cryptogams. As to species, the number naturally varies according to the family. Excepting in a few Orders, such as Palma, Orchidacea, Cactaceæ, &c., I think that as a rule at least 3, 3, and in some cases even more of the species of each family are there represented. Almost all regions and countries have contributed a share, and from some there are also fine collections of dried plants, as for example from Abyssinia by Schimper, froin the Cape of Good Hope by Drege, and by Ecklon and Zeyher from New Holland; the 'Plantæ Preissiana' from the Herbarium of Lehmann, and the collections of de Heldreich and Orphauides from Greece.

"Amongst the best represented genera is that of Salix. The collection is most valuable, and unique on account of types and determinations in the learned monograph of Mr Andersson.

"Amongst Cryptogams we find the Ferns and the Mosses of Swartz, the Hepatica of Lehmann, as well as a large series of dried specimens collected either at home or abroad. Of newly added plants, I would mention only those of M. Berggren from New Zealand, and a splendid addition to the collection made last century by Forster and Sparrman, which have been for some time in the Museum.

"The Scandinavian Herbarium (from Sweden and Norway), to which almost all the botanists of this country have contributed, is most complete both in Phanerogams and Cryptogams (excepting Fungi). Amongst others it con

tains the Herbarium of Lestadius, acquired after his death.

"The European Herbarium is taken from the large and fine collection of Mr Beurling, which was presented by his heirs to the Museum a few years ago, and which contains the collections of Hoppe, &c., in an admirable state of preservation. To these I have myself made some additions.

"The Brazilian Herbarium, containing about 1000 species of Phanerogams and Cryptogams, consists principally of plants collected during several years by Swedish botanists, principally in the province of Minas Geraes, where our fellowcountryman Doctor Bignell is established as a doctor. He has himself presented to the Museum a rich Brazilian Herbarium, principally from the neighbourhood of Caldos. This collection is very rich in extremely fine and complete specimens. Those collected lately by Dr Mosén (who travelled at the expense of Dr Bignell), are remarkable for their admirable beauty and freshness.

The Cape Herbarium, which belonged to Dr Sonder at Hamburg, contains specimens, in some cases numerous, of almost all species of that rich region, and from which Messrs Sonder and Harvey worked out their "Flora Capensis."

"The Arctic Herbarium consists of Spitzbergen and Greenland plants, collected by Messrs Malmgren, Th. Fries, Kjellman, and Berggren during the Swedish Arctic expeditions. These collections of both Phanerogams and Cryptogams are considered the finest which have as yet been collected in these countries.

"Swartz's West Indian collection (Jamaica, &c.), and the collections made by Mr Andersson in various countries during the Swedish expedition round the world, are preserved separately. Amongst these last is a Flora Insularum Galapagensium, described by Mr Andersson.

"In the rooms reserved for the productions of the vegetable kingdom are also preserved specimens of stems, plants, &c., a collection of fungi in papier-maché, and a Welwitschia given by Sir Joseph Hooker."

Upsala is an ancient town of about 12,000 inhabitants. At one time it was the political and ecclesiastical capital of