of the Linnean Society. 257 
“ its length, which in fome of the greater quills amounts to fix 
* inches. Indeed a kind of fringe appears at the ends of moft of 
** the feathers ; and, on diffecting a feather, the fhaft is found 
* by no means deftitute of web, but the latter is confined 
** merely by the furrounding fheath. It can fcarcely have 
** efcaped the notice of an obferver, that when a new feather 
* firft makes its appearance on the body of a bird, a tender 
€ filmy fubftance environs and defends it, during its infant 
* ftate. But no fooner does the web increafe to any ftrength, 
= than the film gives way, and the feather continues to grow 
“to feét maturity. 
« That this difeafe did not occafion the bird’s death, I am 
* certain 5 as it appeared healthy and well during the time it 
« lived. | 
“ I fhall be happy if the above fhort hiftory and drawing 
e thould prove worthy the notice of the Linnean Society. —— 
st T am, &c. 
(Signed) € JOHN LATHAM. " 
| DARTFORD, 
November 4,.1788. os» 
March 2, 1790. The Prefident exhibited fome defcriptions in 
Italian, accompanied with rude drawings, of feveral rare 
plants found near Bologna in 1652, appearing to be an 
original manufcript of Zannoni, the property of Mr. Thomas 
F. Forfter, jun. of Threadneedle Street. 
E rF COP 9 
