PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 208 



The number of members amounts to sixty-five, of which th« new members 

 elected for the ensuing session far exceeds the expectations of the Council, who 

 are at the same time happy to state that they have received but ten notices of 

 secession of members. The Council refer with pleasure to the list of donors to 

 the library, herbarium, and museum, and hope that the several donors will not 

 cease either their favours or their exertions. 



The number of British plants received amounts to 4,819 specimens, including 

 Ferns; 767 species, including 1,313 specimens, have been arranged in the 

 herbarium, according to the system of De Candolle. The remaining 3,506 

 duplicates, including 515 species, will be distributed to those persons who have 

 favoured the Curator with lists of desiderata for that purpose. This distribution 

 will take place under the direction of the Council, in the months of January and 

 December every year, when each member will receive such of his desiderata as 

 may be contained among the duplicates in the herbarium, in proportion to his 

 contributions; those gentlemen who have not contributed to the herbarium 

 receiving their duplicates after the distribution to the contributors has taken 

 place. The Council beg also to inform the members, that in order to afford every 

 facility for examining the herbarium and library, the Rooms of the Society will 

 be open one hour and a half previous to the ordinary meetings of the Society, 

 when the Curator and Secretary will attend to render any assistance that may be 

 required, and to circulate the books. In addition to the extensive and valuable 

 collection of British plants, the Council beg to announce the receipt of a large 

 collection of French plants, supposed to be a portion of the herbarium of Jean 

 Jacques Rousseau, together with some plants from Mahon, Minorca, presented 

 by the Secretary. Another collection of foreign plants from America, collected 

 by the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, has been presented by Mr. Joseph 

 Freeman. Also specimens of Lycopodium cireinnatum, from the President, sent 

 by Dr. Forbes, of Chichester. Specimens of three new British plants have been 

 received, viz. Claytonia alsinoides, from Mr. W. Baxter, of Oxford ; a Moss new 

 to Britain, Cinclidium stygium, from Mr. Leyland, of Halifax ; and specimens, 

 of which there are many duplicates, of Spartina alternifolia, from Itchin Ferry, 

 Southampton, presented by Dr. Macreight, V.P. 



The Society have also received, from Mr. R. H. Schomburgh — now travelling 

 in British Guiana — papers, accompanied by drawings, on the two following 

 interesting plants, which were read before the Society, viz. Victoria regina and 

 Loranthus Smyihii. Likewise donations of seeds from the Cape of Good Hope, 

 presented by M. Schmidt. 



The Society is much indebted to the following gentlemen for their interesting 

 communications : — Dr. Bossey, Dr. Mac Intirb, Messrs. Schomburgh, G. E. 



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