Linncean Society. 69 



structure. It appears to be referrible to the inferior pharyngeal 

 bone of a gigantic species of Scarus. 



The exhibition of Mr. Cuming's Shells was resumed, the following 

 new species among them being characterized by Mr. Broderip and 

 Mr. G. B. Sowerby ; the former premising that the innumerable 

 varieties presented by the genus described, render the conclusive 

 establishment of new species in it a task of great difficulty. Conus 

 tiaratus, tornatus, nivifer (one variety possibly Lamarck's Con. ni- 

 vosus), nanus, luteus, concinnus, recurvus (its markings sometimes 

 resembling Con. Amadis), Nux (may be a variety of Con. sponsalis), 

 monilifer, Archon (approaches some varieties of Con. Cedo-nulli in 

 contour and markings), Musivum (allied to Con. Textile) , purpu- 

 rascens, Gladiator, Orion, geographus, and Princeps. 



In further illustration of his Paper " On the Laws that regulate 

 the Changes of Plumage in Birds," Mr. Yarrell exhibited several 

 varieties of British species, which possessed in part only the plumage 

 common to the race. In some of these the feathers assumed at the 

 moult were of the natural colour, and distinct from those previously 

 borne ; from which it was inferred, that, as the bird increased in 

 age and strength, the plumage would assume entirely the colours 

 peculiar to the species. Mr. Yarrell also referred to some newly- 

 collected series of feathers, which were shown. 



LINNiEAN SOCIETY. 



May 7. — A paper was read, entitled, " Observations on the De- 

 velopment of the Theca, and on the Sexes of Mosses." By William 

 Valentine, Esq. F.L.S. 



May 24. — This day the Anniversary Meeting was held. 



The President read the list of Members deceased and withdrawn 

 from the Society during the year elapsed since the last Anniversary. 

 The list of the former, containing twelve names, included those of 

 Joshua Brookes, Esq. j Samuel Galton, Esq. ; the Rev. J. Harriman, 

 a zealous British botanist, and a frequent contributor to the earlier 

 volumes of English Botany ; Sir E. Home ; John Shaw, Esq. F.A.S. j 

 Arthur Tyton, Esq. ; and W. Withering, Esq., who edited the later 

 editions of a popular work on British Plants by his father, the late 

 Dr. Withering. The list of Foreign Members deceased comprised 

 the distinguished names of Latreille, Rudolphi, Scarpa, and Sprengel. 

 One Associate has also died since the last; Anniversary, Andrew 

 Duncan, M.D., Professor of Materia Medica in the University of 

 Edinburgh. 



Twenty-eight Fellows, seven Foreign Members, and four Associates 

 have been elected into the Society during the past year. 



The Society then proceeded to the election of the Council and Of- 

 ficers for the ensuing year, when the following were chosen : — 



Council :— Edward Lord Stanley; Francis Boott, M.D. ; Robert 

 Brown, Esq., D.C.L. } John Curtis, Esq.; C. G. B.Daubeny, M.D.; 

 L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. M.P. ; Edward Forster, Esq. j Major-Gen. 

 Thomas Hardwicke, Esq. ; Thomas Horsfield, M.D. j A. B. Lambert, 



