NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 257 



definite number of fleshy filaments, not so long as either of 

 the other rows, reminding us of the same in Passifloraceae ; 

 while the next row is membranous, in the form of a cup with 

 the edge incurved and fringed. The stamens are monadelphous, 

 incurved, and the filaments of the same breadth as the other. 

 The stigma is in the form of a star five lobed, and, surrounding 

 the stj'le is a fleshy cup or disk. The fruit is a soft berry, 

 as large as a pomegranate, containing a mucilaginous pulp, 

 which is edible. The rind is so full of tannin, that the natives 

 make an ink from it. 



The first species, Napoleona imperialis, was discovered by Palisot 

 de Beauvois in 1786, in the neighbourhood of Benin. Other 

 three travellers have since met with it, viz., Vogel, on the banks 

 of the Niger; Heudelot, in High Senegambia; and Mr Whitfield, 

 at Sierra Leone ; these three have received the names of the 

 respective travellers, but only one is considered a good species, 

 that of the last mentioned. Two species are now admitted, one 

 having the exterior corolla of the colour of an apricot, the other 

 having the same part a fine blue or violet. iV. imperialis has pro- 

 duced flowers in Kew Gardens. 



Mr Coutts likewise brought forward a number of objects from 

 Africa, consisting of specimens of fresh-water molluscs, eggs of 

 reptiles of various species, and lizards ; and Mr John A. Craigie 

 showed a fine specimen of the egg of the Emu from Australia. 



Mr James Thomson, Kelvingrove Museum, exhibited a col- 

 lection of crocodile's eggs, from the banks of the river Quanza, 

 south-west coast of Africa, also a specimen of the reptile of the 

 age of seven days. 



Mr John Young, F.G.S., referred to the varied collection of 

 eggs on the table, and made some observations on the affinity 

 which the Emu and other wingless birds have to the higher class 

 of existing reptiles, as well as to the Pterodactyle and other 

 extinct species. 



Mr John Young, F.G.S., in the absence of the President, 

 exhibited a large and carefully prepared series of drawings, 

 illustrated by specimens, of the genus Glauconome and other 

 Carboniferous polyzoons, from the limestone strata of the Lanark- 

 shire coalfield. The drawings, he stated, were prepared by 

 Dr Young, to illustrate several new and undescribed species of 

 these organisms which it is their intention to figure and describe 



