38 EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS. 



Vigors and other members having expressed their satisfaction at the inten- 

 tions of the council, and several new members having been elected and 

 proposed, the meeting adjourned. 



The ordinary meeting was held Nov. 14, Mr. T.Bell, F.R.S., in the chair. — 

 Prince Lucien Bonapabte read a paper on his new arrangement of fishes, esta- 

 blished on characters which he considered preferable to the ordinary distinctions, 

 arranging them in three great classes according to the form of the branchiae, in 

 five sub-divisions and twelve orders. Mr. Gray made some observations on the 

 different species of Sorex (Shrews), premising them with some remarks on the 

 importance of paying attention to the external characters of mammalia, which he 

 considered would form better objects of distinction even than the teeth, the form 

 and appearance of which were modified by circumstances. Mr. Blyth made 

 some remarks on different distinctions of birds ; and Mr. Gould exhibited two 

 small collections of birds from Mr. Abbott, of Trebizond, and Mr. Hearne, of 

 Haiti. Mr. Yarrell exhibited a large specimen of Whitebait, about six inches 

 long, remarking that, although this fish was considered to be confined to the 

 Thames, it was found in many of the other rivers of Great Britain, and that, 

 although more seldom, this was to be ascribed to the mode adopted for catching 

 it. A Latin description was read from Mr. Westwood of a collection of insects 

 sent over by Mr. Cumming ; after which the meeting adjourned. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 



The ordinary meeting was held Nov. 16, at the new rooms of the Society, 75, 

 Newman-street, Oxford- street, J. E. Gray, Esq., president, in the chair. A 

 paper was read from Dr. Bossey, on the Fungi which produce the ergot in the 

 Rye and other cereal grains, of which many specimens were exhibited. The pre- 

 sident announced various presents, among which were specimens of Goodyera 

 albida, from Mr. Robert Leyland, of Halifax, and of Claytonia alsinoides, 

 from Mr. Baxter, of Oxford, found wild in a wood near Chatsworth ; after 

 which the meeting adjourned till the anniversary the 29th of November. 



EXTRACTS FROM THE FOREIGN PERIODICALS. 



BOTANY. 



1. Introduction of the Culture of Rice in the Centre of France. — 

 We have already (Bib. de Gen., Nov. 1836, p. 193) incidentally announced 

 this circumstance in an article relative to the naturalization of certain plants in 



