LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 580. G LP ms/4& '"»^ ^^'^ ^^'^ * '"• ^ l'"- The stormy petrel is feathered just to the basal joint ; but in Wilson's petrel the feathers only approach within 4 lines of it. In the former the tarsus is in length 1 line short of an inch, in the latter 1 inch 4 lines, and equally slender with the former ; and the hinder toe is so minute that it might escape any but attentive exa- mination. In the bill the markings are more strongly defined, with the terminal hook longer and sharper. The prominence of the fore- head is less than in the more common species. Colour of the head black with a hoary tint, lighter on the throat. The back, belly, wings, and tail are ferruginous, lighter on the wing coverts ; the rump white, and a little of the same at the vent. Tarsi and feet black, with a longitudinal stripe of sulphur-yellow, more of a golden at the bor- ders or the web between each toe. The stouter configuration of this species enabling it better to escape the violence of a storm may be ascribed perhaps as a reason why it is not more often found on our coasts. On examining the stomach of a stormy petrel Mr. Couch found about half an inch of a common tallow candle, of a size so dispro- tionate to the bill and gullet of the bird, that it seems wonderful how it could have been able to swallow it. November 20. Edward Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. Read, " Description of a new Genus of Plants belonging to the Natural Family Bignoniacea." By D. Don, Esq., Libr. L.S., Prof. Bot. King's College. The subject of this paper was collected by Capt. Sir James Ed- ward Alexander, during a journey through the interior of Southern Africa to the western coast. The plant was discovered by that en- terprising traveller in the open desert, called the Kei Kaap, in Great Namaqua Land, in 25° S. latitude and 17° E. longitude. It is a thorny bush, about six feet high, with small simple, hoary, wrinkled, serrated leaves and large white flowers. There can be no doubt that the plant belongs to the Bignoniacece, although in habit it bears a stronger resemblance to Verbenacece, especially to Dwrflw^a and Gmelina. In its spathaceous calyx and regular funnel-shaped corolla the genus comes near to Spathodea, but is abundantly distinguished from it by the cells of the anthers being parallel and connate from the middle upwards. Its regular funnel-shaped corolla, spathaceous calyx, equal stamina, and serrated leaves essentially distinguish it from Burchell's curious genus Rhigozum, with which it agrees in habit. On the specimen were two expanded flowers and a bud. The calyx in all three had six teeth, and both the expanded flowers and the bud had a six-cleft limb ; one of these had seven stamens, and the other, as well as the bud, six, so that this last may be regarded as the normal number. The following are the name and characters of this new genus. Catophractes. Calyx spathaceus, hinc fissus, inde 6-dentatus. Corolla infundibuliformis : limbo 6-lobo, patenti, aequali. Stamina 6, raro 7. subasqualia, exserta. Anther arum loculi paralleli, e medio sursum con- nati. Ovarium abbreviatum, conicum, biloculare 2 Frutex (namaquensis) erectus, spinosus. Folia fasciculata, simplicia, serrata. Flores laterales, suhsessiles, speciosi, albi. Sp. 1 . C. Alexandri. Read, " An Account of a species of Lepidosperma, from Tasman's Peninsula, Van Diemen's Land." By Dr. Lhotsky. Communicated by Prof. Don, Libr. L.S. This species is nearly allied to the Lepidosperma elatior of Labil- lardiere, and is remarkable for the great length of its leaves, varying from 10 to 15 and even 20 feet. A specimen exhibited to the meet- ing had the leaf upwards of 13 feet long. It was discovered by Dr. Lhotsky in Tasman's Peninsula, Van Diemen's Land, growing in a dense jungle, through which its long slender leaves contrive to penetrate. It is termed " Cutting Grass," and like the other spe- cies of this Cyperaceous genus is characterized by the sharp edges of its leaves, whicli inflict wounds on the unwary traveller who happens to pass the plant hastily. December 4. Edward Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. G. E. Dennes, Esq., Vine Street, Golden Square ; R. G. Holland, Esq., Surgeon, Sheffield; and Henry Laxton, Esq., Parliament Street, were elected Fellows of the Society. Read, " Observations on the Anatomical and Physiological Na- ture of Ergot in certain Grasses." By E. J. Queckett, Esq., F.L.S. Having had the opportunity of examining the formation of the ergot in several grasses, the author has endeavoured to trace the cause and origin of this singular formation on them, and particularly on Elymus sabulosus. It was found, that when a grain of the grass was to be replaced by an ergot, it presented before the period of expansion of the flower a singular mildewed appearance. This, when examined microsco- pically, was seen to consist of filaments, at whose base were myriads of particles of exceedingly diminutive size, forming a complete coating to the young grain, so that no part of its body was visible through it. From this state the increase of the young ergot, but not of the filaments and particles, was very rapid ; for in a short time after, when the ergot began to appear between the paleae of the flower, its violet black colour was then visible, on account of the mildewed appear- ance not keeping pace in development with the ergot*. After the ergot begins to appear beyond the palese, it in a short time attains its full size, and loses almost entirely its mildewed covering, presenting now its perfect violet black surface, and mea- sures in different specimens from half an inch to one inch and half. If the ergot be examined carefully at this period, in such speci- mens as have not been subjected to injury or displacement on the plant, it will be found that at its base are the two scales which are observable in the same place in the healthy grain, and that it is ar- ticulated to the receptacle, and separates from it as readily as the grain when ripe does from the same spot, and at the apex of it is a small body, frequently hairy, on which can be observed the remains of the stigmas. From the relations of the ergot to these parts, and compared with those of the healthy grain, it is found that it is placed between and upon the same organs as the grain, and there cannot be a doubt but that this singular body is not an independent fungus, but a grain diseased from causes presently to be mentioned. When the particles before mentioned, which occur on the surfacfr of the ergot, and which are also found in a viscid fluid that hangs about the paleae of the infected grass, are examined by the micro- scope, their size is found to be 4-dVd- part of an inch in length, and Wo-o- part of an inch in diameter in the generality of instances, and their number is countless, probably 20 millions on each ergot. When magnified from 500 to 800 times, it then can be observed that their interior contains several well-defined green dots or granules, two or three being the most common numbers. If these particles, which are no doubt the cause of the ergot, as they are found on every ergotized grass and are the sporidia of a cer- tain fungus, be kept moistened on any convenient surface, as between a plate of glass and talc, they soon commence germinating (if recent) • The growth of the ergot is very rapid when compared with that of the grain. Philippar, in his ' Traite Organographique et Physiologico-agricole sur I'Ergot, &c., dans les Cereales', observed some particular plants of rye, whilst passing by a certain corn-field, which had no appearance of ergot, but ten or twelve days after these same plants had full-sized ergots upon them. in various ways ; sometimes by emitting a tube or tubes containing green granules, similar to those in the interior of the sporidia, and which probably separate finally into as many perfect reproductive atoms ; in other instances one sporidium gives off a minute process from its side, which goes on increasing and ultimately becomes like its parent, and then separates from it. Often several sporidia so ge- nerated, remain united to each other for a short time, forming a mo- niliform filament, composed frequently of seven or eight joints. The next and last method is the most perfect when it is found that the sporidia have their cavity divided by a septum, which is formed by a green granule of the interior extending itself laterally ; each half of each sporidium being again subdivided, and by endless repetitions of this process a radiated plant is produced, which, when arrived at a certain size and age, bears upon its branchlets sporidia similar to that one from which it was first produced. From these observations, it is proved that the sporidia, found on the surface of the diseased grain, can germinate and ultimately develope the means of their reproduction, without forming any body analo- gous in shape or structure to an ergot, which fact is conclusive that the filaments and sporidia are no part of that body, because they are found to flourish unconnected with it, and even grow on many parts of the same grass, as seen in the anthers by Mr. Smith, of Kew Gar- dens, and observed by Mr. Queckett on the paleae, glumes and ra- chis ; therefore the ergot, Mr. Queckett conceives, originates by the grain of the respective grass becoming diseased, from the presence of a parasite, which occasions such alteration in its developement as to cause it to assume the well-known form, and to possess also the sin- gular properties manifested in that of rye. If the ergot be sliced into thin transverse sections, and these ex- amifl.ed with a very high magnifying power, it will be seen that nu- merous particles escape from them when they are placed in water. These have been taken by Philippar for sporidia, from which cir- cumstance he considered the ergot as the reproductive apparatus of a fungus ; but such particles are only those of a fatty oil, which escape from the divided cells, and collect on the surface of the water, in which the sections are immersed, and differ from the sporidia of the exterior by floating on the surface, whilst the latter always sub- side to the bottom of the vessel containing the water. The appli- cation of heat to these supposed sporidia fuses them into irregular masses of different sizes ; and ether or turpentine, if allowed to eva- porate after being added to them, leaves similar appearances. The internal structure of the ergot looks extremely irregular, there being no equally formed cells, but a confused jumble, out ot which can scarcely be traced the true cells, on account of iheir boundaries being exceedingly sinuous, which structure is very like the centre of the fungus produced during the germination of the sporidia, an-l appears to be occasioned by fungoid matter having grown in the in- terior of the grain. From these observations, which have been followed up in many ergotized grasses, Mr. Queckett is inclined to believe that the ergot is a grain diseased by a particular parasitic fungus developing in or about it, whose sporidia find the young state of the grain a matrix suitable for their growth, and quickly run their race, not entirely depriving it of its natality, but communicating to it such impressions, which pervert its regular growth, and likewise the healthy formation of its constituents, being at last composed of its diseased mate- rials, which are mixed up with fungic matter, which has developed within it. The fungus caused to germinate in the way described is quite in- visible to the naked eye, seldom measuring beyond the one or two hundredth part of an inch ; and from comparisons with British and foreign genera of Fungacese, it has not been found that it belongs satisfactorily to any as at present constituted ; the author therefore proposes a new genus, with the title Ergoteetea, to represent this minute fungus, which wUl belong to the sub-order Coniomycetes of Fries, and to its division Mucedines, very near to the genus Sepe- donium. After repeated experiments with the sporidia of the ergot of rye, of Elymus, and other grasses, the author has always succeeded in making them germinate, and has not discovered such differences as would lead him to consider that the parasite in each case was not the same, therefore he has applied the term abortans, as the specific name of Ergotatea, to the plant found on the ergot of rye, and be- lieves the parasites, on the other grasses which have been examined, to be of the same species. December 18. Edward Forster, Esq.. V. P., in the Chair. Read, " A notice of Cereus tetragonus," by Edward Rudge, Esq., F.R. & L.S. This plant has blossomed during the three past years in Mr. Rudge's collection at Abbey Manor House near Evesham. The flowers expand in the evening like those of C. grandiflorus, which they resemble, but are not above half the size. The number of the angles of the stem is variable. The species is an old inhabitant of our stoves, but has rarely flowered. Read, " Descriptions of the Indian species of Iris," by D. Don, Esq., Libr. L.S., Prof. Bot. King's College. The number of species of this beautiful genus belonging to the Indian Flora is five, three of which have not been previously de- scribed : one of the species is from Cashmere, another from Ludak, a country situated beyond the Himalaya, and the remaining three are natives of Nepal and Kamaon, and of the country to the west- ward. The following are the characters of the undescribed species : 1. /. kamaonensis (Wall. Cat. n. 5052.), barbata; scapo brevissimo uni- floro, tubo perianthii longissimo subfiliformi, sepalis interioribus bilo- bis longe uiiguiculatis, ovario turbinate 3-gono. 2. /. longifolia (Royle 111. t. 91. f. 2.), imberbis ; fobis margine scabris, scapo brevissimo unifloro, sepalis sublanceolatis integerrimis, tubo pe- rianthii vix ullo, ovario elongate triquetro scapum adsequante, stigma- tis lobis integerrimis. 3. /. Moorcroftiana {Vfa\\. Cat. n. 5051.), imberbis; scapo bifloro pedun- culis breviore, spathis glumaceis tubum perianthii superantibus, sepalis lanceolatis acutiusculis, ovario 6-sulcato. Read, " Additional observations on the Spongilla fluviatilis " By John Hogg, Esq., M.A., F.L.S. The author's views of the vegetable nature of the river sponge were given in a paper read before the Society on the 5th of June, 1838, a report of Avhich was inserted in the August number of the ' Annals of Natural History.' The present paper contains additional observations in confirmation of those views, derived from a more accurate examination of the seed-like bodies, which are found adhering in abundance to the walls of the cells or cavities of the sponge, and are also frequently free and endowed with the faculty of locomotion ; and which have been regarded by some authors as the ova of the Spongilla, and by others as those of the Plumatella. Mr. Hogg has determined the identity of these bodies, having succeeded in raising young Spongilla from both kinds ; and he has also ascertained that they are destitute of cilia, being merely studded with minute granular papiUae. The mo- tions of the unattached bodies resemble those observed by Unger in the sporules of Ectospora clavata, and Mr. Hogg considers the cur- rents to be due to the same causes, which affect the circulation of the fluids in the cells of vegetables. Jan. 15, 1839.] Linnean Society. 9 January 15, 1839. Edward Forster, Esq., V. P., in the Chair. Major Thomas Best Jervis, E. I. C. Engineer Sendee ; Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq., Bath ; J. C. Hall, Esq., Kensington ; R. M. Lingwood, Esq., B.A., Uckfield, Sussex ; and F. J. White, M.D., Wcirminster, were elected Fellows of the Society. Read, " A notice of the Encephalartos horridus, which flowered at Kinmel Park." By Mr. Thomas Forrest. Communicated by the Secretary. This brief notice was accompanied by the male spadix, which had flowered at Kinmel Park, the seat of Lord Dinorben, and was sent for exhibition to the meeting by command of His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex. The plant had been sent to Lord Dinorben from the Cape of Good Hope about six years ago by Lord John Spencer Churchill, Capt. R.N. The spadix was of unusual size, and bore a strong resemblance to a gigantic pine cone. The most remarkable peculiarity observable was, that several scales, less developed than the others, bore only a single unilateral mass of anthers, whilst in others the two masses were scarcely confluent. Read, " An account of the Indian Species of Juncus and Luzula." ByD. Don, Esq., Libr.L.S., Prof. Bot. King's College. The species described in this paper are all from Northern India, and were mostly collected by Dr. Royle in the range of the Hima- laya, included between the Ganges and Sutlej. Of the eight spe- cies described, seven belong to Juncus, and only one to Luzula. Three of the former genus are entirely new, two had been previously gathered by Dr. Wallich's collectors in Nepal, and of the two others, one (/. bufonius) is common throughout the northern hemisphere, and the other (/. glaucus) is abundant in northern and central Europe. The Luzula is spicata, which occurs on the mountains of the north of England, Scotland, and throughout Europe, reaching as high as 71" north latitude, and which is likewise found on the Caucasus and Altai mountains in northern 'Asia. The present va-r riety is from Lippa in Kunawur, a country situated beyond the Himalaya, in about 31° 33' north latitude, being about 11° more to the south than any station previously recorded for Luzula spicata. The variety differs in its broader sepals, blunt capsule, with obovate valves, and in the seeds not being above half the size. No. II. — Proceedings of the Linnean Society^ 10 Linnean Society. [Feb. 5, We subjoin the characters of the new species. 1. /. leucanthus (Royle), culmo bifolio tereti, foliis margine involutis filiformibus culmum subsequantibus, capitulo terminali solitario 6 — 10- floro, involucro 5-phyllo glumaceo floribus longiore, sepalis acutius- culis, antheris acutis filamentis duplo longioribus, ovario incluso, stig- matibus stylo ter brevioribus. This species is nearly allied to /. triglumis. 2. J. leucomelas (Royle), culmo enodi filiformi aphyllo, foliis subulatis canaliculatis, capitulo terminali 3 — 5-floro involucro 3-phyllo acuto breviore, sepalis obtusis, antheris filamentorum fere longitudine, capsula acuminata perianthio longiore, 3. /. memhranaceus (Royle), culmo tereti subdiphyllo, foliis subfiliformi- bus obtusis, capitulo terminali solitario 4 — 8-floro bractea communi membranacea breviore, sepalis obtusis capsula acuta longioribus, stami- nibus inclusis, antheris filamentis dilatatis ter brevioribus. 4. J. concinnus (Don. Prodr. Fl. Nepal, p. 44), culmo tereti subdiphyllo, foliis planiusculis obtusis, capitulis 3 — 6-floris corymbosis, bractea communi elongata foliacea, sepalis acutis capsula acuta longioribus, staminibus longe exsertis, antheris filamentis simplicibus 6-pl6 brevi- oribus. 5. /. indicus, triandrus ; capitulis multifloris squarrosis trichotome cy- mosis, sepalis lineari-lanceolatis apice mucronatis recurvis capsulse mu- ticae longitudine, stigmatibus sessilibus. February 5. Edward Forster, Esq., V. P., in the Chair. J. J. Adams Esq., Surgeon, Finsbury Square, was elected a Fel- low of the Society. Read, a paper entitled " A Note upon the Anatomy of the Roots of OphrydecB." By John Lindley, Ph. D., F.R. and L.S., Prof. Bot. University College. The object of the author in this paper was to show that salep, the prepared roots of certain Ophrydece, is not a substance consisting principally of starch, as is the common opinion among writers of the present day, but is composed of a bassorine-like matter, organized in a peculiar manner. After stating the opinions of recent authorities, the author gives the results of his own microscopical examination of the tissue of re- cent and prepared roots, by which it appears that the tubercles of Ophryde separately. From a good sized specimen nearly half an ounce of fluid has been obtained. The following chemical experiments among others were made : — 1. Two drachms of the fluid added to ^ 1 of hydrate gave a clear brown transparent solution, to which in separate glasses was added 2. Nitrate of Silver : no effect at first, but in a few minutes dark, brown flocculi subsided, leaving a transparent fluid above. 3. Muriate of Barytes : no effect at first, finally a subsidence of dark brown flocculi. 4. Acetate of Lead. Immediate dark brown flocculi, leaving a clear liquid above. 5. Carbonate of Potash. Transparency destroyed j a trifling brown deposit in a few hours. 6. Alcohol. No apparent change from it. 7. Solution of Corrosive Sublimate. An apparent diffusion of brown- ish hue, gradually subsiding in dirty brown flocculi. 8. Dilute Muriatic Acid. The same, but much smaller in amount. 10. Lime Water. Light brown flocculi in a few hours. 11. Liquor Ammonia. No effect. 12. Succinate of Ammonia. Deep brown deposit in a few hours. 13. Prussiate of Potash. No effect. 14. Oxalate of Ammonia. Clouds form and settle in a dirty brown sediment. From these experiments Dr. Coxe is disposed to think that an ex- cellent India Ink might be prepared for drawing ; perhaps its dried deposit mixed with oil might answer for engravings; and as an ink, indestructible from any common agents, it might be well to try it m the filling up of bank notes and other papers of consequence, as he believes it cannot be extracted by any means without destroying the paper itself. The Fungus described, and on which the above experiments were tried, is referred with some hesitation to Agaricus ovatus, Schseffer, ' Icones Fungorum,' fig. 7. A. cylindricus, fig. 8. A. porcellaneus, fig.46. and 47. The drawings are named Agaricus ovatus*. * The drawings evidently represent Agaricus fimetarius, Linn, and Curtis ; A. comatus, Mull, and Berkeley ; A. cylindricus, Sowerby ; to which A. cy- lindricus, SchsefF. f. 8. and A. porcellaneus, figs. 46 & 47. belong; it is not so clear that A. ovatus, fig. 7. (the name adopted by Dr. Coxe) does. In the subgenus named by Berkeley Coprinus every species is deliquescent. Curtis observes, under his A. ovatus, which is A. atramentariits. Bull, and Berk., that the seeds may be seen in the black liquor if magnified. 1839,] Linnean Society. 21 March 19. Edward Forster, Esq., V. P., in the Chair. Robert John Ashton, Esq., Bromptoni Patrick Leigh Strachan, Esq., of the Civil Service, Sierra Leone; and Alfred White, Esq., IsHngton, were elected Fellows of the Society. Read, " A Notice of the Birds of Iceland, accompanied by speci- mens." By George Townshend Fox, Esq., F.L.S. It is perhaps not generally known that the Durham University has estabhshed a Museum as one of the necessary appendages of an academical institution ; the subcurator of which, Mr. Wm. Proctor, requested and obtained permission to go out to Iceland in the summer of 1837 to procure a collection of the birds of that island. Three months were passed on the most northern part of Iceland, this local- ity being chosen by Mr. Proctor as one least visited by naturalists, and therefore the most likely to repay his labours by the number or rarity of the specimens to be obtained. Skins of fifty-two species of birds were brought home, besides skins of six Rein Deer, three spe- cies of Seals, two large Fishes (Anun-hicas), and a Porpoise. Frederick Faber in his Ornithology of Iceland, published at Copen- hagen in 1822, enumerates eighty-four species of birds; of which about twenty are land birds, and sixty water birds. Faber adopted the nomenclature of Linnaeus, but an examination of the skins brought home by Mr. Proctor has led to the belief that several of Faber's birds are not identical with the Linnean species. The Iceland Falcon is considered by Mr. Hancock* as distinct from the whiter falcon of Greenland. The Iceland Grouse is correctly considered by Faber as peculiar to that island. The Bridled Guillemot, Uria lacrymans, Lapyl., is for various reasons believed to be a species distinct from the Common Guillemot, Uria Troile, Lath. Clangula Barrovii w^as found breeding on the ground in a nest formed of its own down, and placed among aquatic plants a little above high- water mark. Some rare eggs were also obtained, namely, those of the Iceland Falcon, Little Auk, Bridled Guillemot, and Sclavonian Grebe. Read also a paper, " On the Structure and Development of the Reproductive organs of Pilularia globulifera." In a letter to * See Mr. Hancock's paper on this subject in the * Annals of Natural History,' voh ii. p. 241. 22 Linnean Society. [March 19, R. H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S. and L.S. By William Valentine, Esq., F.L.S. The author observes, that the involucrum of Pilularia globulifera contains two kinds of bodies, which, however, occupy distinct sacs ; one kind are round, very numerous, and minute, not larger than the 460th part of an inch -, they are found principally in the upper part of the involucrum, and are about forty in each sac. The other kind are of an oblong pyriform shape, a little constricted near the middle, with a conical projection at one extremity, and are much less nu- merous, about sixty, and occur singly in each sac ; they are about the 80th part of an inch broad, and have the power of germination, which the former kind do not appear to possess. Both kinds are loose in their sacs, and have an opake, pure white, minutely granular, testaceous covering, and are imbedded in a kind of gelatin, which softens and expands by the action of water, but is not completely dissolved. The larger bodies, the undoubted sporules, after a very slight maceration in water, (less than a minute is sufficient,) are en- veloped by a well-defined covering of gelatinous matter, which be- fore the maceration existed in a concrete state. Further macera- tion does not appear to affect this gelatinous covering, as it remains unchanged long after germination, and gives to the sporule the ap- pearance of having a very delicate transparent border, whose breadth is about the 4th part of the diameter of the sporule. The sporule consists of three coats, the outer of which is white, opake, somewhat brittle, more or less incomplete at the conical ex- tremity, but much thickened about the upper third of the sporule, where it exhibits traces of cellularity. The middle coat is mem- branous, elastic, of a light yellowish brown colour, and perforated at the apex of the conical projection which is essentially formed by this coat, the outer coat being gradually lost upon its surface, or in some instances being scarcely continued on to it, in which case the sporule appears truncated, the middle membrane not having sufficient firmness of itself to support the conical form. This conical projec- tion is more or less plicated, and in those instances in which the outer coat is very deficient the middle membrane exhibits lines radiating from the aperture. The third coat, or internal membrane, is similar in colour to the middle, differing from it however in being inelastic, and not being continued into the cone, but forming a short cavity, by passing directly across the base of the cone, at which point it is not in contact with either of the other membranes, and is marked by three lines, which radiate from the centre of the unsupported portion, and indicate a valvular structure to allow of the protrusion 1839.] Linnean Society. 23 of the growing matter in germination. The cavity of the sporule is occupied by a quantity of grumous fluid and particles, which are of various sizes, the larger ones being mostly of an ovcid shape, but altering by pressure. I found many of these sporules in a genninating state, the major- ity having escaped from the involucrum, but in several instances I found them considerably advanced in germination before the rupture of the involucrum and whilst they were yet inclosed in their sacs. The first external sign of germination is either the appearance of four cells projecting through the apex of the conical projection or a general swelling of that j)art. By dissection, however, we can observe this process at an earlier period, and I find upon re- moving the conical projection that the first evidence of germination having commenced is an appearance of cellularity within the unsup- ported or valved portion of the internal membrane, which is transpa- rent ; and I now find for the first time a very delicate pellucid mem- brane lining the whole cavity of the sporule, and having the cells which give the appearance just mentioned either lying on its exter- nal surface or forming that jDortion of it which lies beneath the valves. From the appearances and impossibility of separating the cells from the membrane 1 am inclined to believe that the cavity formed by this membrane is completed by the cells, or, in other words, that the sac is partly membranous and partly cellular. It is possible that this last described membrane may exist before germination begins, not^withstanding the numerous unsuccessful dissections which I have made to discover it, the failure being owing to its extreme de- licacy ; but I am pretty well satisfied that it is a product of germi- nation, because I have not the slightest difiiculty in demonstrating it after that has commenced, nor is there the sUghtest trace of it in any stage of the development of the sporule. However this may be, it is quite certain that fresh cells are gradually formed on the external surface of the cellular part of the sac, and that the valves of the third membrane are very soon ruptured and gradually turned back by the growth and protrusion of this button-like cellular germ. The enlarging cellular mass then distends the conical projection, unfolding the plicae of that body, and at length appears externally, with four of its cells projecting beyond the general mass and com- pressed into a quadrangular form, I fancy by the pressure of the apex of the cone, the aperture in which is quadrangular. These projecting cells soon harden and acquire a reddish brown hue, and iu the ad- vanced stage of germination ajjpear like a brown quadrangular space, which I should have little hesitation in referring to the above cause 24 Linnean Society. [March 19, did I not find several similar spaces on the germinating sporules of Isoetes lacustris, which I could not refer to such an origin : it must be observed however that I have not seen the earlier stages of germi- nation in Isoetes. Soon after the exposure of the entire germ, which is effected by the reflexion of the valves and conical membrane over the side of the sporule, where they lie quite concealed by the germ, little fibrillse or rootlets begin to shoot from one side. They are simply articulated tubes or elongated cells applied end to end wdth frequently a bulbous extremity, and each is produced from one of the cells of the germ. They differ much in length in different sporules ; in some they are not longer than the sporule, whilst in others they are three or four times that length, and, in common with the cells of the germ, contain granules which in these are colourless but in the germ green. The cluster-like appearance of the cells which form the germ, soon after the appearance of these fibrillse be- gin to change, the cells becoming flatter and more intimately con- nected with each other. At the same time an internal change is taking place, for by a gradual arching or receding upwards of that part of the germ which closes the cavity of the sporule the germ becomes hollow, the hollow communicating with the cavity of the sporule, which is of course proportionably enlarged. The germ now gra- dually points in two places, which are by no means fixed, but occur in various situations according to the position of the sporule in rela- tion to the light. The direction of the first leaf is generally in the direction of the axis of the sporule, or rather a little inclined, and that of the first root at right angles or lateral, but very soon chan- ghig to an opposite direction to that of the leaf. This would be the constant direction if the sporules were always left to themselves free from entanglements, on account of the peculiar structure of their outer coats ; the spongy fibro-cellular texture of the superior third of which, causing that end to be the most buoyant in the water, ex- poses the superior surface of the germ to the direct action of the light ; but as it cannot always happen that the sporules should be free, the direction of the leaf and root is sometimes quite the reverse, and at others both leaf and root are lateral, but proceeding from opposite sides of the germ. These two points gradually lengthen, and if dissected each will be found to consist of a closed sheath, con- taining in one instance the leaf, in the other the root in the form of a conical process like a finger in a glove. The young leaf, which is taper and its cells crowded with green granules, being in advance of the root, which is obtuse and destitute of green granules, bursts through the summit of its sheath when it has become rather longer 1839.] Linnean Society. 25 than the sporule, whilst the root, although more backward in its de- velopment, pierces its sheath before it is as long as the sporule. The sheaths are not distinct, but communicate with each other ; and the only point of connexion between the sheath (there being in fact but one) and the germ is around its base close to the sporule, so that nearly the whole of the germ is inclosed in this sheath. Besides this sheath wliich embraces the upper part of the root, there is an exceedingly delicate expansion, which so closely embraces the ex- tremity of the root like a cap, that it is only by a careful examina- tion that it can be discovered. I am not aware that this has ever had any connexion with the sheath through which the root bursts, but, on the contrary, I believe it to be a distinct formation. After the leaf has grown many times the length of the sporule, or about 2 lines long, another leaf grows from the germ close to the first, to which it is in all respects similar, and then a bud begins to be de- veloped from some indefinite part of the germ, but like the leaves and root from within the sheath, which is now frequently much lace- rated. This bud is covered by a peculiar kind of jointed hairs, whose attachments are lateral, at a short distance from their bases, and they contain a few colourless granules. This bud sometimes appears after the first leaf, in which case there is no second primordial leaf formed, and is the rudimentary stem, the first growth from it being a leaf which exhibits, although in a small degree, the first evidence of gyration, and shortly after a root which is furnished with its own sheath. As I have not seen more advanced specimens, I am unable to describe the succeeding steps; but as, up to this j^oint, my obser- vations were made upon several hundred examples, I may safely affirm that the instances were sufficiently numerous for my purpose. All the leaves after the primordial ones, or those which grow direct from the germ, are developed in a similar manner to ferns, and even the running stem partakes in a slight degree of the same gyrate evo- lution. The roots are all formed in sheaths, through the apices of which they ultimately burst ; the sheath continuing to embrace the base of the root, whilst a distinct and far more delicate sheath closely embraces its point. Transverse sections of the stem, root, and leaves show them all to be hollow with the cavity divided longi- tudinally into separate channels. In the stem these longitudinal par- titions are about fifteen or sixteen in number, and in the leaf and root they are about ten or twelve, which in the latter are arranged in pairs. These partitions radiate from a central column of enlarged cells which surround a bundle of minutely dotted ducts that may be unrolled spirally, and the channels between these partitions are fre- 26 Linnean Society. [March 19, quently divided by transverse partitions or diaphragms. The cells which form these partitions are curiously arranged — they are flat- tened on t^o opposite sides, and connected vrith each other by their narrow sides and extremities, but only at intervals, so that tl\ere are numerous holes formed which afford a free communication between all the channels. In the partitions of the root the intervening holes are so large in proportion to the breadth of the cells that these have the appearance of a string of beads. Another peculiarity of the root is, that, in addition to the diaphragms formed of this tissue, which are also found in the stem and leaf, a peculiar body is fre- quently met with occupying a similar position to the diaphragms. These bodies (for they are sometimes numerous) are each formed of one or more cylindrical cells coiled up in a gyrate manner. They grow from the angle formed by the partition and the cuticle, and are developed subsequent to the other tissue, for they may be found in various stages of advancement in the same root. Their nature I have not been able to ascertain. The author then proceeds to describe the development of the spo- rules. A transverse section of the involucrum when about the size of a small pin's head shows it to consist of four integuments, con- tainins' a mass of very delicate spongy compressible cellular tissue, subdivided into four equal triangular portions by four lines radiating from the centre. In the centre of each of these portions is a cavity, and projecting into each of these cavities are a number of nipple- like processes which are attached in each cavity to a common recep- tacle, whUst this again is connected with an open rigid cellular tissue that lies between the spongy tissue before described and the involucrum, and serves as a connexion between the two. As the involucrum advances, the spongy tissue recedes all round the four cavities, which consequently become larger and afford more space for the growth of the nipple-like processes. This recession of the spongy tissue is not caused by the pressure of the growing pro- cesses, for it is frequentiy in advance of them ; but it is produced by a gradual condensation inherent to the tissue around the cavities and along the radiating dividing lines, which, in fact, are nothing more than this condensation, which at maturity is so complete that the whole of the spongy tissue is condensed into four dissepiments, dividing the cavity of the involucrum into four equal loculi. The nipple-like processes are found upon a careful examination to be hollow sacs with obscurely cellular walls — those which occupy the lowest part of the involucrum being considerably in advance of the upper ones. These sacs contain a quantity of grumous matter, and 1S39.] Linnean Society. 27 a number, j>erhaps about ten, of soft rather opake pulpy bodies, which are evidently compounded of four closely connected parts so placed on each other as to form a cone with a triangular base. April -2. The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. Henry Bingley, Esq., Queen's Assay Master, Royal Mint ; Joseph Dickinson, M.B., Lecturer on Botany at the Philosophical Institu- tion, Liverpool : George Everett, Esq., Clapham ; and John Miers, Esq., Chelsea, were elected Fellows of the Society. Mr. Owen read a Paper on a New Species of the genus Lepido- siren of Fitzinger and Natterer. The author commenced by advert- ing to the first announcement of that anomalous animal, the Lepido- siren paradoxa, as the type of a new genus of Perenmbr3.nchiate Reptiles by Fitzinger at the meeting of the German naturalists at Prague in 1S37, and to its subsequent description by its discoverer Dr. Natterer, the well-known South American traveller. With the generic characters assigned by these able German na- turalists to their Lepidosiren, the species described by Mr. Owen folly and closely agreed ; but it differed specifically in the greater relative length of the head and nidimental extremities, and its much smaller size. Mr. Owen observed, that since the time of the discovery of the Ontithorlit/nchus there had not been submitted to naturalists a spe- cies which proved more strongly the necessity of a knowledge of its whole organization, both external and internal, in order to arrive at a correct view of its real nature and affinities, than did the LepidosireA, and as he had felt a reluctance to bring before the Society an in- complete description, which might only have served to raise new doubts in the minds of naturalists vi-ith regard to this animal, he had deferred since June 1S37 the completion and communication of the present paper. He had however at that time prepared a brief descrip- tion of the specific characters of the specimen in question, under the name of Protopterus, and. had referred it in the Catalogue of the Museum of the CoUege of Surgeons to the Class of Fishes, on ac- count of its scaly covering and the condition of its nostrils as plicated sacs, and to the abdominal family of the Maiaeopterygian order of that class, in which it seemed to present an extreme modification 28 Linriean Society. [April 2, or rudimental condition of the fins indicative of a transition from the abdominal to the apodal families. The anatomical details which formed the principal part of the pre- sent communication, confirmed the propriety of referring the Lepi- dosiren to the class of fishes ; but they also led, Mr. Owen observed, to a considerable extension in his original views of its affinities in that class. A minute description was then given of the external characters and peculiarities of the present species, which differed from the Le- pidosiren paradox a in the greater relative length of the head and ru- dimental fins as compared with that of the trunk ; and in its general size, which is three-fourths smaller. The chief peculiarities of the skeleton consist in its imperfect, or rather partial ossification, and in the green colour of the ossified paits ; in which it resembles that of the gar-pike (Belone vulgaris) . The parts which continue permanently in the cartilaginous condition are the petrous elements of the temporal bones containing the acoustic labyrinth, a portion of the articular pedicle of the lower jaw, the branchial arches, and the bodies of the vertebrae : these, moreover, are not separated to correspond with the neurapophyses and ribs, as in Plagiostomous Cartilaginous Fishes, but retain their primitive con- fluent condition as around continuous chord, extending from the oc- ciput to the end of the tail : this vertebral chord consists of an ex- ternal firm, elastic, yellowish capsule, enveloping a softer subgelati- nous material, as in the Cyclostomous Fishes. The corresponding parts or basilar elements of the cranial vertebrae were ossified : and Mr. Owen then entered upon a detailed description of the skull. The ribs are thirty-six pairs, and consist of short, slightly curved, slender styles, encompassing, with the spine, about one-sixth part of the cavity of the abdomen. These ribs are attached to the lower part of the side of the fibrous sheath of the central vertebral chord ; their pointed free extremities are cemented to the intermuscular ligaments. The superior spines are throughout separated from the neurapo- physes, and these are not anchylosed together at their upper extre- mities. Haemapophyseal spines are developed in the caudal region, and both these and the neurapophyseal spines have articulated to them dermo-osseous spines, of equal length, with their distal extre- mities expanded, and supporting the transparent elastic horny raj^s of the caudal fin. The rudimental filiform pectoral and ventral fins were supported each by a single cartilaginous ray composed of many joints. The muscles of the head, jaws, hyoid and branchial apparatus 1839.] Linnean Society. were then described : the muscular system of the body caJnsists of subvertical layers of oblique fibres separated at brief inti^rvals by aponeurotic intersections. The following peculiarities of the Digestive system were then pointed out ; — two long, slightly curved, slender, sharp-pointed teeth project from the intermaxillary bones, which are moveable. The upper maxillary bones support each a single dental plate divi- ded into three cutting lobes, by two oblique notches entering from the outer side : the lower jaw is armed with a single dental plate si- milarly modified, the produced cutting edges fitting into the notches above : these maxillary teeth somewhat resemble the dental plate of the extinct Ceratodus of Agassiz. The fleshy and sensitive parts of the tongue are more developed than in fishes generally. The jaws are adapted to minutely divide and comminute alimentary substances; the pharyngeal opening is contracted ; the entrance to the pharynx guarded by a soft semicircular valvular process. Gullet short, straight, narrow, but longitudinally plicated. Stomach simple, straight, with thick walls, in capacity corresponding with the oesophagus ; termi- nating by a valvular pylorus projecting with a scalloped margin into the intestine. No pancreas or spleen. Liver well-developed, partly divided into two lobes. A gall-bladder, and large ductus choledochus, opening by a valvular termination close to the pylorus. Intestine round, straight, at first of equal diameter with the stomach, but gra- dually contracting to the vent, with thick parietes ; traversed inter- nally by a spiral valve describing six gyrations ; the first of which is the longest. The respiratory organs consist of branchiae, and a double elon- gated air-bladder, with the usual vascular and cellular structure of the lungs of a reptile. The branchice consist of elongated, sub-compressed, soft, pendu- lous filaments, attached to cartilaginous branchial arches ; these arches are not joined together, or to the os hyoides by an interme- diate chain of cartilages or bones below, nor are they articulated to the cranium above. There are six branchial arches on each side, and five intervals for the passage of the water from the mouth to the branchial sac. All the branchial arches do not support branchial filaments ; but only the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth. The first and last branchial arches each support a single row, the fourth and fifth each a double row of branchial filaments. The second and third branchial arches have their full proportions, but offer not the slight- est trace of gills. The branchial sac is pretty large, and opens ex- ternally by a small vertical fissure immediately anterior to the ru- dimental pectoral extremities. 30 L'mnean Society. [A])nl 2, The heart is situate below the oesophagus, in a strong pei-icardium ; it consists of a single auricle and ventricle and a contorted bulbus arteriosus, with a longitudinal valvular process as in the Siren. The two branchial arteries, which wind round the gill-less arches, after- wards unite together on each side, and give oif branches which form the pulmonary arteries, or those which go to the air-bladders. The apparatus for aerial respiration commences by a short, single, wide and membranous trachea, or ductus pneumaticvs, which com- mences by a longitudinal laryngeal slit, one line in extent, situated three lines behind the orifice of the pharynx : a single plate of car- tilage is continued from this laryngeal opening forwards to that of the pharynx : the plate is as broad as the floor of the pharynx, and its office seems to be to prevent the collapse of the parietes of that tube, and to keep a free passage for the air to the trachea. This tube dilates at its lower end into a sac with very thin parietes, which com- municates directly with each division or lobe of the air-bludder. These lobes or lungs are partially subdivided into small lobes at their anterior and broadest part ; and then continue simple and flattened, gradually diminishing to an obtuse point situated behind the poste- rior extremity of the cloaca. The whole of the parietes of the lungs is honey-combed : the cells are largest, deepest and most vascular and subdivided at the anterior and broader end of the lung. The lungs are situated behind the ovaria, the ladneys, and the perito- neum, which is in contact with merely that part of their ventral flattened surfaces, not covered by other viscera. The two kidneys are quite distinct, very long and narrow, but broadest towards the cloaca : the ureters communicate with the back part of the common termination of the oviducts. There were not any suprarenal bodies, nor any spleen. The ovaria are two long, flattened bodies, with ovisacs and ova of diflFerent sizes : many between 2 and 3 lines in diameter, scattered among clusters of other ova of smaller size. The oviducts are distinct tortuous tubes, which commence by a veiy wide and thin-coated portion, opening by a slit, 3 lines wide at their anterior extremity, and not communicating with each other before opening into the pe- ritoneal cavity, as in the Plagiostomes. The oviduct contracts and performs many short undulations, adhering to the ovarian capsule as it descends : its coats become thicker, and oblique spiral folds are developed from the inner surface ; the capacity of the oviduct in- creases before its termination, which is by a single prominent open- ing, common to the two oviducts in the posterior part of the cloaca. A small Allantois is situated between the oviduct and rectum. The cloaca receives the above parts in the following order,- — first, or 1839.] Linnean Society. 31 most anteriorly, the common opening of the peritoneal canals ; se- condly, the anus ; thirdly, the Allantoid bladder ; fourthly, the ovi- ducts, with the ureters, which open into the back part of the ovi- ducts. The brain consists of two elongated subcompressed distinct cere- bral hemispheres ; a single elliptical optic lobe, or representative of the bigeminal bodies ; a simple transverse cerebellar fold, not cover- ing the widely- open fourth ventricle ; largely developed pineal and pituitary glands ; and a single corpus mammillare. The nerves given off from the brain, were the olfactory ; the optic, which arose from the same point at the middle line between the crura cerebri, and did not decussate ; the fifth pair ; the acoustic ; the pneumogastric ; and lingual nerves : there were no traces of the third, fourth, or sixth nerves ; there being no muscles to the eyeballs. The eyes are very small, and adhere to the skin, Avhich passes over them without forming any projection ; they have a small spherical lens, and no choroid gland. The organ of hearing consists of a vestibule enclosed in a thick cartilaginous case, without external communication except for the foramina transmitting the poriio mollis : it consists of two large otolithic sacs, containing each a white chalky mass ; the external one being six times the size of the one next the brain : above these sacs are three small semicircular canals. No trace of tympanic cavity or Eustachian tube. The organ of smell consists of two oval membranous sacs, pli- cated internally, and having each a single external aperture upon the upper lip ; but without any communication with the mouth, — a structure which the author observed was perhaps the only single character which unexceptionably proved the Lepidosiren to be a true fish. The remaining evidence of its ichthyic nature reposed rather upon the concurrence of many less decisive characters. These characters were stated to be, its covering of large round scales ; the mucous ducts of the head and lateral line ; the many- jointed soft ray supporting the rudimental pectoral and ventral fins ; the gelatinous vertebral chord, united anteriorly to the whole of the basi- occipital, and not to two condyles as in Batrachia ; a prae- opercular bone, the intermaxillary bone being moveable ; the lower jaw having each ramus composed simply of a post-mandibular and dentary piece ; the double row of spinous processes, both above and below the vertebral chord ; the green colour of the ossified parts of the skeleton ; the straight intestine, with its spiral valve ; the absence of pancreas and spleen ; the single peritoneal outlet ; the position 32 Limiean Society. [April \Q, of the anus ; the single auricle of the heart ; the number of branchial arches, and the internal position of the gills ; a long lateral nerve ; acoustic labyrinth with large otolithes. These characters, with the nasal sacs opening only externally, prove satisfactorily the Lepido- siren to be a true Fish, and not a Perennibranchiate Reptile. In the class of fishes, Mr. Owen pointed out the interesting rela- tions of the Lepidosircn as a link connecting the Cartilaginous fishes with the Malacopterygians, and especially with the Sauroid genera, Polypterus and Lepidosteus, and at the same time making the near- est approach in the class of fishes to the Perennibranchiate Reptiles. For the species here described Mr. Owen proposed the name of Lepidosiren annectens. It is a native of the river Gambia, Africa. April 16. The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. Read, " Remarks on British Lichens and Fungi, principally on species or varieties new to our Flora." By Churchill Babington, Esq. The object of Mr. C. Babington in this paper is to give descrip- tions of some species or varieties of Lichens and Fungi hitherto un- published in any British Flora, and also to communicate observa- tions on the transit of monstrosities to their proper forms. The Lichens brought into notice as not yet introduced into the British Flora are, Lecanora elatina, Ach., from Rose Hall, Cumberland; Sterocaulon denudatum, Florke, (confounded with S. paschale) from Scotland ; Lecidea nitidula. Fries, also from Scotland ; Lecidea mis- cella, Ach., as distinct from L. miscella, Eng. Bot. ; Biatora Kro- ckiana, Hoppe, from Isles of Rum and Skye ; Biatora anomala, Fr., from Yoxall Lodge ; Opegrapha signata, Ach., from Herefordshire ; and Verrucaria margacea, Wahl., from Charnwood Forest. Among the Fungi are, Agaricus Maria, Klotsch ; A. serrulatus, Fr. ; The- lophora ferruginea, Pers. ; T. lactea, Fr. : T. Icevis, Pers. ; Peziza I,edi, Alb. and Schw. ; Stictis lichenicola, Mont. ; Sclerotium ro- seum, KneifF. ; Sphceria scoriadea, Fr. ; -S. mesiota, Bab. ; S. rhy- tismoides, Bab. ; S. arbuticola, Fr. ; S. alnea, Fr. ; S. ostruthii, Fr. ; iS. Depazea, Fr. ; Depazea pyricola, Desm. ; Dothidea choetomium, Kunze ; Stemonitis pulchella, Bab. ; Stilbum aurantiacum, Bab. ; Syzy- gitis megalocarpus, Ehrenb. ; Stibospora macrosperma, Pers. ; Conio- thecium amentaceum, Corda ; and Xenodochus carbonarius, Schl, 1839.] Linnean Society. 33 Read, " On a Gall gathered in Cuba, by W. S. Maclieay, Esq., on the leaf of a plant belonging to the order OchnacecB." By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S. The gall is remarkable for its very close resemblance in habit and form to some epiphytous Fungi, for possessing a distinct operculum, and, especially, for bursting through the cuticle, which surrounds it in the form of a few lacinise at the base. Mr. Berkeley pointed out various forms of galls and other productions of insects which have been described as Fungi, but in none is the resemblance so striking as in the present. He regretted that he was not able to throw any light upon the animal by which it is caused, though he was able to state positively that it is an animal production, as in most instances decayed exuviae were found in its cavity, and in one case a little im- perfect grub, which was however unfortunately lost. May 7. The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. John Hawkins, M.D., of St. Albans, was elected a Fellow ; and Carl Gustav Carus, M.D., of Dresden, Henri Dutrochet, M.D., and Henri Milne Edwards, M,D., Members of the French Institute, Stephen Endlicher, M.D., of Vienna, and John Torrey, M.D., of New York, were elected Foreign Members of the Society. Read, " Supplementary Observations on the Development of the Theca, and on the Sexes of Mosses." In a letter to R. H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S. & L.S. By William Valentine, Esq., F.L.S. The author commences his letter by stating that subsequent ob- servations have induced him to concur entirely with the views of Professor Mohl as to the sporules of Mosses being developed by four in a mother cell, a fact which he was led to doubt in his former com- munication printed in the 17th volume of the Society's Transactions. The present paper contains a detailed account of the development of the theca in CEdipodium Griffithianum, which exhibits a beau- tiful example of the tetrahedral union of the sporules. In this moss the four sporules in each mother cell are piled on each other so as to form a cone with a triangular base, and they appear to be connected with each other in the young state by a very minute stalk which is situated at the conjunction of three radiating lines. This connexion No. IV. — ^Pboceedings of the Linnean Society. 34 Linnean Society. [May 24 is perhaps in most instances dissolved at an early period, and the sporules recede a little from each other, but are still kept in the tri- angular form by the mother cell. It is not uncommon however to find the connexion unbroken after the sporules have arrived at ma- turity, and in these instances there seems to be a general adhesion at the opposing faces of the sporules. The author concludes his paper with some remarks on the analogy that exists between sporules and pollen, which he observes, is so re- markable, and the particulars so numerous, that the essential identity of the two can be scarcely a matter of opinion. May 24. The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. This day, the Anniversary of the birthday of Linnaeus, and that appointed in the charter for the election of Council and Officers, the President opened the business of the Meeting, and in stating the number of Members whom the Society had lost during the past year, gave the following notices of some of them : Samuel Brookes, Esq. — Mr. Brookes was devoted to the science of Conchology, and possessed a valuable collection of British and Fo- reign Testacea. He was the author of an Introduction to the Study of Conchology which appeared in 1815. The Rev. Martin Davy, D.D., F.R.S., Master of Caius College, Cambridge. The Rev. Richard Dreyer, LL.B. John Lord Farnham. Charles Holford, Esq. Lawrence Brock Hollinshead, Esq. John Hull, M.D. — Dr. Hull was ardently attached to the study of Botany, and in the midst of an extensive medical practice, he found occasional moments of leisure to devote to the cultivation of his favourite pursuit. "We are indebted to him for the publication of a British Flora in 1799, of which a second edition appeared in 1808 ; and the Elements of Botany, in 2 volumes, 8vo, in 1800. These works, highly creditable to their author, tended to increase the taste for botanical pursuits. 1839.] Linnean Society. 35 Matthew Martin, Esq. — Mr. Martin reached the advanced age of 90, He became a Fellow of this Society in 1791. George Milne, Esq. — Mr. Milne pursued with much ardour the study of Entomology for more than half a century, and his name is familiar to the cultivators of that branch of science in this country^ He possessed an extensive cabinet of insects, particularly rich in Bri- tish and Exotic Lepidoptera. He had retired from London for several years to his native place Johnshaven, Kincardineshire, where he died some months ago at an advanced age. The Rev. Robert Nixon, B.D., F.R.S. William Younge, M.D. — Dr. Younge was the early friend and a fellow student of our late distinguished President and Founder Sir J. E. Smith, and the companion of his tour on the continent in the years 1786 and 1787, of which an account appeared in three volumes 8vo, in 1793, and a second edition in 1807. Dr. Younge was elected a Fellow of this Society at its first institution in March 1788. Amongst the Foreign Members occur M. Frederic Cuvier, Mem- ber of the Academy of Sciences of the French Institute, the younger brother of the great Cuvier, and eminently distinguished as a system- atic zoologist. He was the author of a work on the value of the teeth as affording zoological characters in the class mammalia, and of a number of valuable papers on Descriptive Zoology in the An- nales and Memoires du Museum. He likewise wrote the principal part of the text to the Histoire Naturelle des Mammiferes, a work which he had undertaken in conjunction with Geoffroy St. Hilaire. Among his last productions may be noticed his Memoire sur les Ger- boises et les Gerbilles, printed in the second volume of the Transac- tions of the Zoological Society of London. He was distinguished, like his brother, for his candour and frankness of character, and a total freedom from those petty jealousies which too often beset men of science. M. Charles de Gimbernat. Gaspard Count Sternberg, Founder and President of the Royal Museum of Natural History at Prague, a distinguished patron of science, and author of a valuable original work on Fossil Plants, which were chiefly obtained from his own coal ndnes in Bohemia, and of an excellent Monograph of the genus Saxifraga, illustrated by coloured figures. To him we are indebted for the recovery of the vegetable treasures collected by Hsenke in Peru, Cochabamba, and in the Phihppines, whither he had accompanied the Spanish voyage of discovery under the celebrated, but unfortunate, Malaspina. ITiese interesting plants have been published by Presl, under the auspices 36 Linnean Society. [June 4, of Count Sternberg, in a work entitled ' Reliquiae Haenkeanse.' Count Sternberg was distinguished for his mrbanity, hospitality, and an eager desire to promote every useful work. He left his collections and books of Natural History to the Museum already mentioned. Among the Associates are the following : Mr. John Hunneman. — Mr. Hunneman having been long the me- dium of communication between the botanists of this country and those of Germany, Switzerland, and Russia, our collections have been enriched through his means with a vast variety of new and in- teresting plants, A curious Mexican genus, belonging to the natural family Papaveracea, bears his name, and commemorates the services rendered by him to science. Mr. George Penny. — He was well acquainted with the plants which he successfully cultivated, and was the author of the ' Hortus Epsomensis', and of several papers on Garden Botany in Mr. Loudon's Gardener's Magazine. Mr. William Weston Young made the drawings for Mr. Dillwyn's valuable work on British Confervse, and a series of drawings of Bri- tish birds now in the possession of Mr. Yarrell. The President also announced that twenty Fellows, five Foreign Members, and two Associates had been elected since the last An- niversary. At the election, which subsequently took place, the Lord Bishop of Norwich was re-elected President ; Edward Forster, Esq., Treasurer ; Francis Boott, M.D., Secretary; and Richard Taylor, Esq., Under- Secretary. The following five Fellows were elected into the Council in the room of others going out, viz. W. J. Burchell, Esq., J. W. Lubbock, Esq., Hugh Duke of Northumberland, John Forbes Royle, M.D., and William Yarrell, Esq. June 4. Edward Forster, Esq., V.P. in the Chair. Mr. George William Francis was elected a Fellow of the Society. Read, " Further Observations on the Spongillafluviatilis, with some remarks on the nature of the Spongia Marina." In a letter to the Secretary, by John Hogg, Esq., M.A., F.L.S. 1839.] Linnean Society. 37 In the latter portion of this letter the author endeavours (in addi- tion to what has been already stated at p, 8,) to demonstrate the ve- getability of the river sponge, from the following facts, which were obtained by many experiments made by him upon that substance during the last two summers. 1 . From the general resemblance of the membrane which invests the soft portion or jelly with the membrane or cuticle of the leaves of many plants. 2. From this gelatinous or soft portion being so similar to the parenchymatous substance of the more fleshy kinds of leaves, and being chiefly composed of numerous pellucid globules. 3. From the green colouring matter or chromule contained in those globules, on being pressed out, giving a permanent green or yellow- ish-green colour to white paper, as is the case with the chromule of leaves. 4. From strong acids having the same eff'ects on this sponge as they are seen to have upon plants when they are macerated in them. 5. From the mode in which numerous bubbles of gas, most pro- bably oxygen, are disengaged from the surface of the living mass of Spongilla, when exposed to the brightest solar light, being so ex- tremely analogous to that which is known to occur with the leaves of a plant when immersed in water and submitted to the direct ac- tion of the light of the sun. As to the currents of water which take place in the Spongilla flu- viatilis, and are so similar to those which have been noticed by Dr. Grant and other authors in the sea sponges, and relied upon by them as the best evidence of their supposed animal nature, Mr. Hogg has, after many careful experiments, never been able to witness them taking place in any specimens which have been entirely destitute of every parasitical insect or other animal ; he therefore concludes that these currents are caused by some insect, which is seen so generally to inhabit nearly every specimen of the Spongilla ; and by means of the animal's performing the function of respiration, the streams or currents of water are found to enter into and flow out from the pores or oscules of that structure. But if on future investigation it shall be proved that these currents do occur in such individual masses of the Spongilla fluviatilis as are quite free from every parasite, Mr. Hogg would then consider that they are effected by the same agents as cause the motions or circulation of the fluids in vegetables. The author has not perceived any trace of animal organization, or the least symptom of sensation, or any powers of contraction and di- latation in this species of sponge, although he has applied to it, when in a fresh and vigorous state, several sorts of powerful stimuli. 38 Linnean Society ^ [June 4, He next showed that no arguments in support of the fancied ani- mality of the Spongilla can be brought forward, either from its smell- ing like carrion or animal matter, or from numerous spiculae being present in its composition. And the manner in which he raised young Spongilla from the seed-like sporidia and locomotive sporules makes it perfectly conclusive that this freshwater sponge cannot be, as Montagu supposed, the nidus of some aquatic insect, although such an opinion might, without those successful experiments, have been somewhat confirmed by the author's discovery of an unknown and anomalous insect, which he has at present only observed inhabit- ing this production. Some specimens of this small insect were ex- hibited, and presented to the Society. Mr. Hogg concluded his letter with some general remarks on the nature of the Spongia marina. He stated that hitherto he had al- ways accounted these substances as being principally composed of an animate or live jelly, which was endowed, as some authors af- firmed, with a certain degree of sensation, and consequently had, fourteen years ago, instituted for them an order " Gelatinifera," which he arranged the last among the Polyparia Composita. That on becoming convinced by his late researches on the river sponge of its vegetability, he began in some measure to concur in the opinion of Montagu, that that substance might probably be quite distinct from the sea sponge, and to think that the latter might still be of an animal nature ; but, on a more recent examination and comparison of the Spongilla with many of the Spongia, he has found that there exist no real grounds for that opinion, and that there scarcely is even a generic difference between them. The author then compared the freshwater sponge with the sea sponge, and showed, among other extreme resemblances in their structure and composition, that many of the latter possess similar seed-like bodies or sporidia, as well as the locomotive germ-like bo- dies or sporules which have been described by Dr. Grant. Mr. Hogg concludes, if the currents of water do flow in and issue out from the sea sponge, independent of the function of respiration of any marine insect or parasitical animal nestling within it, that then they are caused by the same means which effect the motions of fluids in plants, and that these currents convey nutriment to the in- ner parts of the sponge, after the same manner as food is supplied to vegetables. He observed that neither the odours of the fresh, dried, and burnt sponges, nor the presence of ammonia in them, af- forded proofs of their animality, and that there really is no more pe- culiarity in their chemical composition than what likewise exists in that of certain plants. 1839.] Linnean Society. 39 Mr. Hogg therefore maintains it to be impossible to account the Spongilla as belonging to the vegetable kingdom and the Spongia to the animal ; and since he has become sure of the former, and since the Spongia is now known to possess neither one organ nor a single property peculiar to an animal, he has been at length forced to ac- knowledge the vegetable nature of the Spongia. Moreover, the fact of Dr. Grant having witnessed the locomotive sporules of some of the sea sponges germinating and developing themselves after the forms of their parent structures, at once decides that they cannot be the nidus or matrix, or the fabrication or produc- tion of any marine animal. Lastly, Mr. Hogg, considering to what order of plants the fresh- water and the sea sponges should be referred, proposed to classify them in a separate order " Spongiae," which ought to be placed between the orders Fungi and Algae. June 18. Mr. Forster, V.P., in the Chair. The Secretary read a letter addressed to him by the President no- minating the four following Members of the Council to be Vice-Pre- sidents for the year ensuing, commencing the 24th of last month, viz. Robert Brown, Esq. ; Edward Forster, Esq. ; Thomas Horsfield, M.D. ; Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq. The V. P., in the chair, read a notice, addressed to the Society from Upsal, announcing the death of Louisa von Linne, the third and last surviving daughter of Linnaeus, which took place at Upsal, on the 21st of March last, at the very advanced age of 90. Read " A Biographical Sketch of Ferdinand Bauer, Natural Hi- story Painter to the Expedition under Capt. Flinders." By Dr. John Lhotsky. Communicated by the Secretary. Ferdinand Bauer, the celebrated Natural History Painter and Tra- veller, was bom in the year 1760, at Feldsberg in Austria, where his father held the appointment of Painter to Prince Lichtenstein. In the year 1775 we find him employed by the Rev. Norbert 40 lAnnenn Society » [June 18, Boccius, of the same place, to make miniature paintings of plants from nature. In 1784, while still in the same employment, he was through the recommendation of the elder Jacquin engaged by Dr. Sibthorp to accompany him in his first Journey to Greece, and on his return he was for several years occupied in finishing the numerous drawings of plants made in that journey, and which prove him to have been, even at that period, a very accurate observer, as well as a highly ac- complished artist. In 1801 he was selected by Sir Joseph Banks as the Natural Hi- story Painter in the voyage of Capt. Flinders. From this expedition he returned to Europe in 1805, bringing with him no less than 1600 finished sketches of plants, besides numerous drawings of animals, of equal merit, and for several years was engaged in finishing a se- lection of his drawings of plants, which are deposited at the Admi- ralty, the board by which he was employed. After the Investigator was condemned as unfit for the prosecution of the voyage, and Capt. Flinders had left New Holland to return to Europe, Mr. Bauer, along with Mr. Brown, remained in New South Wales, chiefly at Port Jackson ; but he also visited and remained a considerable time in Norfolk Island, where he diligently collected and made drawings of all the plants of that remarkable island, and from his materials Dr. Endlicher has lately published his very interesting ' Prodromus Florae Norfolkiceae.' In 1813 Mr. Bauer commenced the publication of a work entitled ' Illustrationes Florae Novae HoUandiae,' which did not extend beyond three numbers, and of these the last was finished at Vienna, where he had returned in 1814. This work met with very little encou- ragement, either in this country or in his own. In the vicinity of Vienna he continued to reside, employing him- self in drawing the more remarkable plants that flowered in the im- perial gardens of that capital, and even in making occasional bota- nical excursions into the Austrian and Styrian Alps. Besides the works already noticed, during his stay in England he prepared the greater part of the drawings of the first volume of Mr. Lambert's work on the genus Pinus, and the plates of that work were chiefly coloured by him. He also prepared a series of drawings of the spe- cies of Digitalis, which have since been published by Dr. Lindley, in his ' Digitalium Monographia.' Mr. Bauer was seized with a severe illness in 1825, which termi- nated in his death on the 17th of March 1826, having attained the age of 66. 1839.] Linnean Society. 41 Read, " A Notice of a Plant which produces perfect Seeds without any apparent action of Pollen on the Stigma." By Mr. John Smith, A.L.S. The subject of the present notice belongs to the natural family of Euphorbiacea, and has been cultivated for several years in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, under the name of Saphim aquifoUum. It is a native of Moreton Bay, on the east coast of New Holland, where it was discovered by Mr. AUan Cunningham, who sent three plants of it to Kew in 1829. A short time after their introduction the plants flowered, and they proving to be all females, they were na- turally passed over as belonging to a dioecious })lant, until Mr. Smith's attention was particularly drawn to them by the fact of their producing perfect seeds. They have annually flowered and matured their seeds since, and notwithstanding the most diligent search and constant attention no male flowers or any pollen-bearing organs have been detected. Young plants have been raised at diff'erent times from the seeds, and they bear so close a resemblance to their parents that it is scarcely possible even to suspect the access of pollen from any other plant. Mr. Smith considers the plant as the type of a new genus, which he names Conlebogyne . It forms an irregularly branched, rigid, ever- green shrub, of about three feet in height, with alternate, petiolate, elliptical, mucronate, coriaceous leaves, having three large spinous teeth on each side, and furnished with two small subulate persistent stipules. The paper was accompanied by a young plant raised from seed produced at Kew, and by a beautiful drawing of the parts of fructification from the pencil of ]\Ir. Francis Bauer. Read also, " Descriptions of newly discovered Spiders." By John Blackwall, Esq., F.L.S. This paper comprises descriptions of new species of Spiders, re- cently discovered, and principally by the author himself, in the north of England and Wales, and it must be confessed that the success which has attended his labours in this department is greater than could have been anticipated, no fewer than fifty-three species having been added by him to the catalogue. Much of tliis success is to be attributed to the fact of his attention having been chiefly directed to those species which, on account of their diminutive size, require the aid of optical instruments, of a high magnifjing power, for their accurate examination. The genera to which the species chiefly belong are Drassus, CIu- biona,Lycosa,Agelena, Theridmn, JValckenaera, Neriene and Linyphia. No. V. — Proceedings of the Linneax Society. 42 Linnean Society. [Nov. 5, November 5. Edward Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. The Society assembled this evening for the Session. Beriah Botfield, Esq., of Norton Hall, Northampton, was elected a Fellow of the Society. The Rev. William Wood, B.D., F.L.S., exhibited specimens of a variety of Typha angustifolia, remarkable for its small size, and the shortness of its female catkins, collected by him in the extensive marshes situate between Sandwich and Deal. Read, " Descriptions of some new Insects collected in Assam, by William Griffith, Esq., Assistant Surgeon in the Madras Medical Service." By the Rev. F. W. Hope, M.A., F.R.S. & L.S. The insects described in this paper, some of which are remarkable for their size and splendid colours, were mostly collected in Assam by Mr. Griffith, during the stay of the late Scientific Mission from Calcutta, to which he was attached. They chiefly belong to the longicom beetles, and to the family of Lamiadce. The following are the characters of the new genera and species : LAMIA. 1. L. Horsfieldii. Long. lin. 26 ; lat. lin. S^. Corpus cinereum ; antennis corpore longioribus elytrisque flavo-creta- ceis maculisque ornatis, antennae articulis tribus priniis subscabris. This species, which has been named in compliment to Dr. Hors- field, is the largest of the family, and is nearly related to L. catenata of De Haan from Japan. G. N. EUOPLIA. Corpus subdepressum. Antennce lamiasformes, fere ut in OmacanthS. Thorax utrinque spinosus, dovso punctulatus. Elytra depressa, api- cibus 2-spinosis, spina suturali minora, lateraJibus majoribus. In re- liquis cum Lamia convenit. 1. E.polyspila. Besides the one enumerated, the author possesses five other species, all natives of India, and which are still undescribed. G. N. OPLOPHORA. Cfl;?M< fere quadratum. M andibulce iaXciiormes. ^w