Morren maintains, be strange did animals digest starch, albumen, and other matters, in order to assimilate them, whilst vegetables assimilate these same substances by some different though unknown process. Morren then goes on to illustrate the digestive power of vegetable protoplasm, and the action of chlorophyll in elaborating the principles of digestion. And then he shows that in nutrition there are three successive processes, Elaboration, Digestion, and Assimilation.

Elaboration consists in the formation of a hydrocarbon out of carbonic acid and water, by means of chlorophyll, under the influence of light, and the product is in general starch.

Digestion consists in a hydration along with a molecular change, by which the digestible matter is dissolved, diffused, and rendered fluid, carbonic acid is evolved, and starch becomes glucose.

Assimilation is the application of this matter to the organism, cellulose is produced, the glucose losing water. These three phenomena constitute the digestive process in all plants, even though unicellular.

There is then no difference between nutrition in plants and in animals, and this, Morren maintains, explains how so many products of digestion in the two kingdoms. are the same, citing as instances the occurrence of formic acid in the ant and in the nettle, butyric acid in the sweat and in the tamarind, palmitic acid in the fat and in palm oil, oxalic acid in the renal tissue and in many vegetables, &c.

Referring to the phenomena observed in carnivorous plants, he says, we have in them an example of a pepsin ferment in a liquid secretion on the surface of the plant, and whether the product of this external digestive action is absorbed and used for nutrition or not, it is not more peculiar than the occurrence of a ferment in the saliva of man.

In conclusion, digestion is a phase of nutrition which precedes intersusception in all living things; it is manifested and localised in the intestinal tract of animals, but it is not localised in plants.

VI. Peziza at Inverleith House.

By M. C. Cooke, M.A.,

LL.D. (Plate III.)

(Read 14th June 1877.)

It is by no means an unparalleled circumstance for a Peziza to appear on damp walls; on the .contrary, some species seem really to prefer so unpromising a situation. The little red Peziza hæmastigma is only found upon bare plastered walls, and Peziza domestica of Sowerby flourishes in large dense patches on bare walls, and wall paper when very damp. Both these, however, are very minute, scarcely larger than the head of a moderate-sized pin. Examples are not wanting of larger forms affecting similar situations. There is, for instance, Peziza viridaria, which has been found on damp walls of a scullery, and also on water-butts. It seldom exceeds half an inch in diameter, whereas Peziza tectoria attains nearly two inches, and was found by Mr Phillips of Shrewsbury more than once on a wet plastered wall, and by other persons since.

The specimens from Inverleith House are of two distinct species, as Mr Sadler has recognised. The one which occurred most sparingly is thicker and coarser in appearance, and far less beautiful, is undoubtedly the Peziza tectoria just alluded to, which was figured in Mycographia (263). Although the specimens vary from the figure in colour and form, yet in all essential particulars they agree.

The other species has not yet been described, and for this I at first proposed the name of Peziza domiciliana. More than twelve years ago a single specimen was found in a garden at Hackney, and was sent to me in a fresh state; I made a drawing of it at the time, but would not name and describe it on the faith of a single specimen. I was glad, therefore, to see the same thing again in the specimens sent to me from Inverleith House, since I can with more confidence declare it a distinct and good species when its essential characters are maintained under two different conditions, and at such remote intervals of time. This species is an excellent example of the section Cochleatæ, although some of the younger specimens are quite regular. The beautiful roseate and violet shades of colour are by no means common in the genus Peziza. The flesh is very

thin, delicate, and rather brittle, the sporidia rather small. It is allied to Peziza cochleata, Peziza onotica, Peziza leporina, and Peziza auricula, but a glance at the figures of these species in the third part of the Mycographia will convince the most sceptical that the new Peziza is quite distinct. from any of them, and a most beautiful and interesting addition to the British Flora.

After I had inserted a brief notice of this fungus in the Gardeners' Chronicle, under the name of Peziza domiciliana, I became aware that Mr Sadler had applied to it the manuscript name of Peziza Adæ, in honour of the daughter of Professor Balfour, who was the first to discover this new visitor. Under these circumstances I have determined upon the withdrawal of the name proposed by me in favour of that of Mr Sadler, and although this course is somewhat unusual, I feel that I am justified by the circumstances, and shall be supported by all who have the good fortune to know the learned Edinburgh Professor.

Subsequent to the collection of the above, another small and interesting Peziza was found by Mr Sadler on the ceiling in one of the rooms of Inverleith House, which also cannot be referred to any existing species. It is small, not exceeding a quarter of an inch in diameter, and fringed at the margin with erect hairs, some of which also are scattered over the external surface of the cup, which is brownish, whilst the disc is livid or white. The nearest species to which this small Peziza approximates is P. albo-spadicea, but from this it differs most distinctly in the character of the external hairs and the fructification. Under the name of Peziza cretea it is hereafter described. The unusual conditions presented by this roofless house have led to unusual results, and two new species of plants inaugurate the appropriation of a new residence for the Keeper of the Gardens.

Peziza (Cochleata) Ada, Sadler. (Peziza domiciliana, Cooke, Gardeners' Chronicle, 1877).-Sessile, often cæspitose, cochleate, irregular, at length expanded, margin sometimes lobed or inflexed; disc white, pale rose, violet, or ochraceous. Substance rather thin and brittle, from half an inch to two inches in diameter. Asci cylindrical, sporidia elliptical, binucleate, 0125 by 007 mm. Paraphyses slender. On damp walls, Inverleith House. Plate III. figs. a to e, fig. f asci and sporidia x 500.

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Peziza (Cupulares) tectoria, Cooke, in Mycographia, Part IV. fig. 263. On damp walls, Inverleith House. Plate III. figs. g, h, fig. i asci and sporidia x 500.

Peziza (Sarcoscypha) cretea, Cooke.-Cups hemispherical, soon expanded, scattered, externally brown, clad as well as the margin with straight, erect, brown hairs; disc chalky white, from one line in diameter, asci cylindrical, sporidia elliptical, 012 to 0-18 by 008 mm. Paraphyses but slightly thickened upwards. On ceiling, Inverleith House. Plate III. fig. k, nat. size, figs. 1 m enlarged, fig. n hairs of cup x 500, fig. o ascì and sporidia x 500.

VII. On Fossil Plants from the Calciferous Sandstone around Edinburgh. By C. W. PEACH, A.L.S.

(Read 8th March 1871.)

A short time ago the Culm Flora of Stur (Vienna 1875) coming under my notice, I found that some of the figures in it resembled fossils I had collected near Edinburgh, which I had hitherto been unable to identify. Those thus named I shall lay before the Society.

1. Archæocalamites radiatus, of Stur.-Calamites transitionis, of Goeppert, is the Calamite of our calciferous sandstone, generally small and fragmentary, and seldom in masses. It is known by the ribs running in continuous longitudinal lines, not alternate at the joints as in other species. The foliage is long, often curled and branched. I have found it at Burntisland, Burdiehouse, Straiton, Currie new railway, Slateford, West-Calder, &c., both in limestone and shale.

2. Sphenopteris Falkenhani, Stur; Sphenopteris Hæninghausi, Brong.-Although a fragment, it is a beautiful one, somewhat disfigured by little crustacea; it must have been a graceful plant. Burdiehouse, in limestone.

3. Sphenopteris Kiowitzensis, Stur; Sphenopteris crassa, Lind. & Hutt., vol. iii. plate 160.-My specimens came from the same locality. It is known by the great disproportion of the rachis and pinnules, some of the latter being very short, while others are long; the stem is also remarkably speckled. All these characters are seen in the specimens. Wardie and Burdiehouse.

Staphylopteris, Etheridge Jr. & Balfour; "Fruch Stand,” Stur.-This is no doubt our Staphylopteris Peachii. Stur

Mr C. W. Peach on Fossil Plants around Edinburgh. 47

got only one small piece, about which he says little, probably it may turn out to be sporangia and spores of a Fern. Plentiful locally at West-Calder, rare at Straiton.

5. Adiantites antiquus, Stur, sp.; Adiantum antiquus, Ettingshausen.-This new and pretty species I found in the thin bed of limestone underlying the uppermost bed of hard sandstone in Grange Quarry, Burntisland. It may be known by its lax character, wedge-shaped leaves and rather thick rachis. It is rare; I have only one specimen.

6. Todea Lipoldi, Stur; Sphenopteris bifida, Lind. and Hutt., vol. i. fig. 53.—This is our old friend Sp. bifida. My specimens agree in every respect with Stur's figure and description. Lindley and Hutton's figure must have been drawn from a much-worn specimen—a portion of a pinna only, inducing them to remark, "So little has this the appearance of a Fern, that you would say it had surely been the root of some aquatic plant." Hugh Miller also figured a pinna in "The Testimony of the Rocks." Mine is a branched specimen. Localities, Burdiehouse and Grange Quarry, Burntisland.

7. Racopteris paniculifera, Stur.-This is new to British rocks. At first sight it might be taken for Adiantites Lindseaformis, Bunbury, found by Professor Geikie at Slateford, and figured Memoir 32 of the Geological Survey of Scotland, p. 151. On examination it will be seen that the rachis is more slender, the leaves. farther apart, and the nervation simple and fine, whereas in A. Lindseæformis the nerves are numerous, strong, close, and repeatedly dichotomous, rachis stout, and the plant more robust. This plant bears its fruit in a panicle on the upper part, something in the manner of Botrychium Lunaria, or Osmunda regalis. Localities, Slateford, West-Calder, &c. None of the specimens found in Scotch rocks show fruit. Stur gives only one Lepidodendron in the Culm Flora, L. Veltheimianum, but without description or figure. This species is not uncommon with us; the specimen which I exhibit is disfigured by the hosts of crustacea in which it is embedded, but enough is visible to show its beauty, about twenty cones attached to their branches are spread out in a fan-like form, showing how abundant the fruit must have been in ancient times. This came from the shales under the lowest bed of sand