river, which in a very short time overflowed its banks and converted the lower part of the valley into a lake. After tea the rain ceased, and a short walk enabled us to get a view of the landscape, and caused most of us to resolve to revisit the district under happier conditions.

On 5th October took place the last excursion of the season, when, under the guidance of Mr. Menzies, we went in quest of fungi. Journeying to Comrie by train, we walked along the road towards Crieff for a short distance, where we met some members who had cycled from Perth, and who were proceeding up Glen Lednock to beyond Spout Rollo. Their object was to study the plutonic rocks, granites and diorites, which are well exposed in that part of the glen. The results of their trip will be embodied in the paper which we are to have from Mr. Bates towards the end of the present session. Wishing these geologists good speed, we turned up to the left by the side of a little stream. Soon we found ourselves in a narrow gorge cut in the hillside. Here I was able to show the party a find which I had made about a month before, a new station for Carex levigata, a sedge which is rare in Perthshire, and which has rather a curious distribution. Its occurrence here in plenty explains why it also occurs on the bank of the Earn itself, above and below Crieff. Taking our way up the gorge amidst bracken and tall ferns, we did not meet with very many fungi. On emerging from the gorge we found ourselves at the top of the Comrie golf course. From this point we followed a road which led up through open moorland, separated by a ridge from Glen Lednock. This part of the walk was specially pleasant as the day was bright and fine, and the air pure and bracing. Here we picked up a good many species, chiefly of pasture-loving fungi, among which were many finely-coloured Hygrophori. From the base of an ash stump jutted a specimen of the common Polyporus squamosus, a foot and a half in breadth, a good fair size, though it sometimes grows much bigger. The road led us at length into Glen Lednock, and we came back through that fine glen, descending at the Deil's Cauldron, and thence following the course of the river. On the shady banks of the Lednock we met with many wood-loving species, but none of special rarity. The best find of the day was got by Miss Thomas in a wood a short distance from Comrie. It was a scaly, mouse-coloured toad-stool, Inocybe hystrix, which Mr. Menzies said is rare in Eastern Perthshire. On the whole we did much better than we had expected, for the season has been a poor one for fungi.

It must not be supposed that these excursions comprise the whole or even the chief part of the scientific work done by members of the Society during the past season. The workers in each department pursue their own researches as often as they can find time and opportunity. Some of them are to give us the studies during the course of the present session. have been busy, and the ornithologists have not several other departments good work has been done.

results of their The geologists been idle. In The study of

microscopic fungi has been pursued with zeal by several members, and in particular by Mr. Menzies and by the veteran Mr. Charles M'Intosh of Inver. They have discovered many species new to Perthshire, and several new to Britain. Of these discoveries I expect that we shall have some account before a long time elapses. To spend an afternoon in the woods, or an hour indoors at the microscope with Mr. Charles M'Intosh is a treat of no ordinary kind. His enthusiastic love for his favourite study is beautiful to see. It makes the evening of his life, not a time of rusting and weariness, but a time of usefulness and happiness. Long may he be spared to find delight in searching out the structure and life history of some puzzling parasite on rotting leaf or decaying bough.

SEASONAL NOTES FOR THE SIX MONTHS, MAY TO OCTOBER, 1907.
BY HENRY COATES, F.R.S.E.

The mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures of the summer six months of 1907, as compared with the same months of 1906, were as follows:

The mean temperature for the six months was thus 518° F., as compared with 53'15° F. in 1904, 530° F. in 1905, and 53°2° F. in 1906. It was therefore 13° F. less than the mean of these three preceding years, which was 53'1° F. The highest temperature recorded during 1907 was 83° F., on Tuesday, 16th July, as compared with 82.5° F., on 1st September, 1906, which was the maximum for that year. The thermometer reached 80° F. on three occasions, namely, 80° F. on Sunday, 14th July; 83° F. on Tuesday, 16th July; and 81° F. on Wednesday, 17th July. During 1906, 80° F. was reached on three occasions also, namely, one in June, and two in September. The lowest temperature recorded during the six months of 1907, was 26° F. on Tuesday, 8th October, as compared with 28.5° F. on 30th October, 1906. The thermometer fell to or below the freezing point (32° F.) on seven occasions during the summer six months of 1907, namely, two in May, one in September, and four in October. In 1906 the corresponding figures were almost the same, namely, two in May, one in September, and five in October, making a total of eight.

From the above figures it will be seen that the summer, as a whole, has been rather colder than usual, especially during May, June, and August, while the only spell of hot weather occurred during the latter half of July.

The following table shows the comparative figures of the rainfall during the summer six months of 1906 and 1907 :

A measurable

Taking 15 inches as the mean rainfall for the six months, we find that this has been exceeded by 4'23, or 28 per cent. amount of rain was recorded on 93 days, which was one day more than 50 per cent. of the whole period (184 days). In other words, there were more days with an appreciable amount of rain during the past summer than there were without, namely, 93 as against 91. October was the wettest month of the season, both as regards total rainfall, and number of days, and also as regards maximum fall in 24 hours. The latter was 131 inch on Tuesday, 15th October. During the latter half of the month, from the 17th to the 30th inclusive, rain fell every day except on the 25th and 26th. September, on the other hand, was by far the driest month of the season, as regards total rainfall, number of days, and maximum. It also contained the longest spell of dry weather. During the seventeen days from the 12th to the 28th inclusive, no rain was recorded; while during the twenty-six days from the 6th to the 31st inclusive, a total of 12 inch was recorded on two days, namely, 10 inch on the 11th, and 02 inch on the 29th. It is not often that such a long spell of dry weather is experienced in this district, but the absence of rainfall was partly compensated for by the abundance of the dew.

The comparative amount of sunshine is indicated by the following table of cumulus cloud observed each morning at nine o'clock. The total number of days under each category for 1906 are given at the foot, after the totals for 1907 :—

It will thus be seen that the past summer has been, on the whole, a comparatively sunless one. The brightest month of the year was September, with nine days of cloudless sky.

The record of wind during the six months shows a remarkably low average. Taking 12 as the maximum for a full gale, the highest figure recorded during the season was 3. The months with least wind were July, September and October. In July the intensity seldom exceeded 1. In September there were 14 days, and in October 10 days, with no perceptible wind What wind there was during the dry weather in September was mostly from the west; while during the wet weather in October it was mostly from the east and south-east.

During the season there has been no flooding of any consequence. Towards the close of the long dry spell in September the water of the Tay and its tributaries fell so low as to threaten a water famine, but the streams were soon replenished by the continuous rains of October. After the excessive rainfall of October 15th, the river rose rapidly, but not sufficiently to overflow its banks.

Thunder was heard on three occasions, namely, from 4 to 5 p.m. on 8th May, about 8 p.m. on 9th June, and 12 noon on 10th June, but on each occasion the storm was only of slight intensity. Sheet lightning was seen from 8 to 9.30 p.m. on 10th September.

The comparative Death Rates for the six months of 1906 and 1907 were as follows:

1906.

1907.

The mean death rate for the six months was thus the same in both years, namely, 15'3 per thousand of the population. The population at the middle of 1907 was estimated at 34,866.

In considering the effects of the seasonal conditions on plant life, note must be taken of the weather during the earlier months of the year. January, February, March and April each showed a rainfall considerably below the average, the shortage in January exceeding 50 per cent., and in February 40 per cent. The longest spell of dry weather, however, was during the last three weeks of April, when almost no rain fell, and when there were cloudless skies, with abundance of sunshine. The mean temperature was considerably above the average in March, although slightly below the average in April. During the latter part of January the barometrical pressure was abnormally high, reaching the most unusual figure of 30'936 inches on the 23rd.

The weather conditions of early spring were thus favourable, on the whole, to plant life. As a consequence, herbaceous vegetation of all kinds was abundantly developed, though late of coming to maturity. Grasses and flowering plants of all kinds were exceptionally

luxuriant. Owing, however, to the low temperatures and excessive rainfalls of May and June, they were generally from two or three weeks later than usual. The hay was an abundant crop, and was generally well got in, although considerably later than usual, July being well advanced before it was all cut. Small fruits, such as gooseberries and currants, were an abundant crop, while plums were even more prolific. Pears and apples were moderately abundant. The deciduous trees had an average amount of foliage, which remained on rather later than usual; while the new growth on the conifers was above the average. Potatoes were a good crop, although some disease showed itself towards the end of the season, and the sodden condition of the soil made them difficult to lift in good order. Turnips were also good, although those sown in the early part of the season were apt to go to seed. Those sown later fared better.

The most memorable results of the season, however, from an economic point of view, are to be seen in regard to the cereal crops. These, in common with other representatives of the Gramineæ, promised exceedingly well during the period of ripening. Indeed, at the beginning of September, although still far from ripe, the crops were regarded as the heaviest that had been seen for many years. If they had been sufficiently advanced to admit of harvesting operations being pretty well completed by the end of the month, all would have been well. Unfortunately, however, owing to the lateness of the season, this was not the case. During the latter half of September, although there was practically no rain, the heavy dews which saturated the atmosphere and the surface of the land morning after morning never evaporated, owing to the absence of drying winds. In October, however, the conditions became even more adverse, because, in addition to the continued absence of drying winds, rain fell on 21 out of the 31 days. Day after day, while these conditions lasted, harvesting operations became more and more difficult. The grain was too wet to gather in, and deteriorated steadily, whether cut or still standing. If cut, it either sprouted or rotted with the wet, and, if standing, the over-ripe corn fell out and was lost. The deterioration took place both in the straw and in the grain. Oats suffered more than wheat or barley. By the beginning of November a large proportion of the crops were still in the open fields, especially in cold and late districts of the county.

Animal life has not been affected by the season to any marked extent, except that winged insects, such as flies, butterflies, and dragonflies, have not been as abundant as usual. Wasps have also been scarce. Bird life, however, does not seem to have been affected. A corn-crake's nest with nine eggs was found in a hay field at Pitcullen in July. It is not usual for this shy bird to build its nest so near the town.

The following Report was submitted by Dr. H. R. Mill, F.R.G.S., the Society's Delegate to the meetings of the Corresponding Societies Committee of the British Association :

The Conference of Delegates met on two occasions, on the 1st