202 



the fruit held the first place, so that Ferns were accordingly classed with 

 reference to the positions of the sori. It generally happened that when 

 specimens were sent from abroad to be examined and named at Kew, they 

 only got a portion of the frond, and this was enongh, but in future, if this 

 plan were adopted, they would have to write and say to correspondents 

 abroad, " It is of no use to send us your oak leaf or acorn, we can do nothing 

 with them. You must send us a section of the stem of the tree on which 

 they grew." He had known many other instances in which similar sug- 

 gestions had been made, and he knew also how they appeared to practical 

 men. This suggestion had itself been mooted before, but they had come to 

 the conclusion that however useful it might be to have an acquaintance 

 with these features of structure, they were not of any use as a means of 

 classification. Then, if they were to adopt the idea of classifying according 

 to these "spread eagles" found in cross sections, it must be remembered 

 that they differed in appearance in different portions of the stem; which 

 portion, then, were they to adopt ? Should it be 6in. high ? or half way 

 up ? or where ? And in the face of this difficulty he thought that what was 

 uncertain could hardly be relied upon as a method of classification. They 

 were, nevertheless, much indebted to the author of the paper for many of 

 the suggestions which it contained, and certainly for the very excellent 

 sections and figures with which he had illustrated the subject. 



The thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Nelson and Mr. Morris for 

 their communications, and to Mr. Curties for reading the paper. 



Announcements of Meetings for the ensuing month were then made, and 

 the proceedings terminated with the usual Conversazione, at which the 

 following objects were exhibited : — 



Stellate hairs from leaf of Olive Mr. F. W. Andrew. 



Sections of Fern-stems, showing fibro-vascular ^ 

 bundles, in illustration of Mr. Morris's > Mr. T. Curties. 



• ** ••■ ... ••• * 



paper.. 

 othrus 

 carrying the cast dorsal skins 



Nothrus theleproctus, showing the mode of") i\r • A D Michael 



... j 



Carboniferous Limestone, from Microzoa Bed, ) -^ ^ j g m ^h 

 Clifton ... ... ... ... ... j 



Attendance — Members, 56; Visitor, 1. 



