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92 BOTANICAL NEWS.
fi'equentlj happens that a most pi'omising Roccella even proves worthless, and
is, as such, cast aside. 5. Colour-reaction, though interestuig in itself in con-
nection with the general suhjeet of lichen colorific or colouring matters, affords
no aid that can be depended on, either {a) to the SA'steniatist in defining species,
or {h) to the dye manufacturer in determining the value of his " orchella weed."
II. Notice of a Journey from Dcyrah Dhoon to Jumnotri. Part 1. By Mr.
William Bell. III. Remarks on some Deep-Sea Dredguirrg, transmitted by
Captain William Chimmo. By Professor Dickie. The dredgings, which were
taken by Captain Chimmo from great depths in the Atlantic, immediately
under the Gulf stream, at 2000 fathoms, in lat. 47° 3' N. ; long. 23° 21' W.,
and at 600 fathoms in lat. 45° 42' N., and long. 47° 39' W., had been minutely
examiued by Professor Dickie. He found that in the matter from 2000 fathoms
there were two Diatoms, one identical with Coscinodiscus minor, and the other
a species of Cocconeis, which he had not yet determined. lie had treated
some of the material with weak acid, in order to judge, from the amount of
sarcode left, whether the forauiinifera (which were abundant) were living, or
merely the shells after death and decay. He had come to the conclusion that
they were living, but whether the Diatoms mentioned were so he could not
say. Among the material he found several species of Poli/ci/s/ida. Specimens
of the dredgings were shown under the microscope. IV. Notice of the Occurrence
o? Amhlystegimn confervoides, Bruch and Scliimper, in Westmoreland, by
Mr. J. M. Barnes. Communicated by Mr. P. N. Fraser. Mr. Barnes gathered
this moss in 1867, in considerable abundance on loose stones in damp wood
near Levens. He has gathered it in many ditferent places since. It always
occurs on limestone, and is apt to be overlooked for a small form of A. serpens.
Specimens were exhibited and presented by Mr. Barnes to the herb:irium. V.
Report on the Open Air Vegetation, at the Royal Botanic Garden. By Mr.
M'Nab. VI. Miscellaneous Communications. 1. Aster sal/gnus.—A note
was read from Miss Becver, recording the occurrence of Aster salignus on the
shore of Derwentwater, where it was collected by Miss Edmonds, in 1868, in
flower. This plant also occurs near Cambridge, and in several places on the
banks of the Tay, between Dalguise and Seggieden. In one locality below
Perth, Dr. White remarks that it is associated with several introduced plants,
such as Linaria repens, Petasites alba, Sanguisorba Canadensis, Mimulus
luteus. Crocus vernus, and Karcissus Pseudo-narcissus, which are all more or
less common, and well established along the banks of the river. In France,
Aster Novi-Belffi seems to ho^d the same place as A. salignus does in Britain —
that of an exotic plant, well established on the banks of several rivers, as near
Strasbourg, Laugre, and Lyons. 2. Rare British Mosses.—A note was read
from Mr. James Hardy, Old Cambus, enclosing specimens of Dicramim elon-
galv.m, which he collected near the summit of Hedgeiiope, Nortlumiberland,
in July last ; and recording the occurrence of Bicranodontium, aristatum, in
Roxburghshire, where it was first gathered by Mr. Jerdon in 1864, and Orimviia
contorta, on the Cheviots, collected by himself in May, 1868. Mr. Hardy
is at present engaged in drawing up a list of the Berwickshu-e Mosses, which
will shortly be published.