406 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 1 Osprey Pandion. 4 Falcons Falco. 3 Hawks Astur and Accipiter. 3 Kites 2 Milvus and 1 Elanus. 1 New form allied to Pernis. 1 Harrier Circus. 8 Owls Strix and Noctua or Athene." BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. February 8th, 1838. — Professor Graham, President, in the Chair. A letter from Dr. Tyacke was read, containing an account of a botanical excursion in the spring of 1837 to the Channel Islands and the coast of France, with remarks on several of the species collected. Observations by Dr. Graham on Plants collected in Scotland in 1 837 by Dr. M'Nab were read. He noticed particularly the following : Arenaria norvegica, first seen on Serpentine Hills to the northward of Balta Sound, Shetland, by a son of Dr. Edmonstone, and after-wards found by Dr. M'Nab in the same place. Specimens collected by Dr. Pollexfen in 1835, were shown to the Society. Cerastium latrfolium, var. With dense caespitose habit, orbicular leaves, profusely glandular pubescence, and straight cylindrical cap-sule, scarcely longer than the calyx. Hab. Shetland. Lychnis dioica, var. With pale rose-coloured flowers, and stem rarely three inches high. Seen by Mr. James M'Nab some years ago, and found to retain its peculiar habit in cultivation. Hab. Near Newton Stewart, Galloway. Agrostis canina, var. is perhaps Trichodium alpinum or rupestre. Dr. Graham thinks the absence of the inner valve of the perianth, though not a generic, is a good specific character. Plant first no-ticed by Dr. Graham in Sutherlandshire some years ago, and after-wards by Mr. Wm. M'Nab in a viviparous state in the same county. Hab. On the top of Goatfel, Arran. Fedia mixta, Vahl. Specimens were gathered along with this, showing the transition from F. dentata. Hab. Near Whithorn. Mr. R. Falconer read a paper containing an account of the most celebrated gardens of antiquity, with observations on the hortulan taste which they exhibit. After some introductory remarks upon the probable origin of gardens, he proceeded to give a detailed account of the gardens of Alcinous mentioned by Homer ; the Hanging Gar-dens of Babylon ; the parks or gardens of the Persians mentioned by Xenophon ; the gardens of Daphne in Syria, and the gardens of the Hesperides. He then gave an account of the gardens celebrated by the ancient Greeks and Romans ; among the latter those of Lucullus
BioStor
