72 Linncean Society, 



observations on recent specimens gathered in Sussex, in company 

 with Mr. Bower, confirm the statement of Mr. Brown as to the ex- 

 istence of scales in the tube of the corolla, a fact denied both by 

 Sir J. E. Smith and Sir W. Hooker, who, however, appear to have 

 examined dried specimens. These scales are transparent, closely 

 pressed to the corolla, and very minute, so that they are easily over- 

 looked, even in recent specimens, and in dried ones it is scarcely 

 possible to discern them. They are bicuspidate, erect, and situated 

 at the inner base of the filaments, which they partially inclose. 

 Their form and position appear to have been first accurately described 

 by Raymond, as recorded by Romer and Schultes. Reichenbach 

 describes and figures them as palmate, and as situated at the base of 

 the tube, so that it is probable his plant is different from ours, as 

 Mr.Babington suggests. The nature of these scales is not well under- 

 stood : by most botanists they are regarded as a vorticil of abortive 

 stamens, and by Reichenbach as petals ; but their situation always 

 within the stamens, and opposite to them, appears to refute both these 

 opinions. Analogous scales occur in Hydrophyllece. The following 

 characters are given by Mr. Babington of our British species : 



C. europcea, florum glomerulis bracteatis sessilibus, squamis bifidis erectis, 

 tubo corollae per anthesiu cylindrico, fructiferse ventricoso, adpressis. 



C. Epithymum, florum glomerulis bracteatis sessilibus, squamis palmato- 

 sectis conniventibus, tubo corollae cylindrico limbo campanulato. 



A third species of this curious genus has very lately been added 

 to our Flora by Mr. J. E. Bowman, F.L.S., namely the C. Epilinum 

 of Weihe. (Reich. Ic. t. 500./. 693.) 



Feb. 6, Mr. Forster, V.P., in the Chair.— Mr. Newman, F.L.S., 

 exhibited a specimen of a variety of Nephrodium dilatatum gathered 

 in Ireland, and remarkable for the great size of its sori. 



Mr. Henry Doubleday exhibited a specimen of Lav at era Olbia, from 

 the banks of a road lately cut through Epping Forest, where the plant 

 was growing in abundance, and apparently naturalized. 



Read the commencement of a paper by John Hogg, Esq., M.A., 

 F.L.S., on the classification of Amphibia. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



September 12th, — Dr. Bostock in the Chair. — Some observations 

 were made by Dr. Andrew Smith, Corresp. Member, on the necessity 

 for a revision of the groups included in the Linnsean genus Squalus. 



Dr. Smith commenced with stating that in the course of his ex- 

 amination of the Sharks which he had obtained while at the Cape, 



