270 Notices and Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 



Scientific individuals wlio propose to attend, or to become members of 

 the association, are requested to communicate their intention to John 

 Robison, Esq. Secretary to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, who has 

 undertaken to act as secretuiy till the association be constituted. Such 

 commtuiications will of course be post paid. 



Meeting of Naturalists at Hamburgh, in September, 1830. — (Proceedings of 

 the Botanical Section.) — Dr Mertens of Bremen was appointed President, 

 Dr Siemers of Hamburgh, Secretary. Discourses were held by Count Stem- 

 berg of Prague, Baron Jacquin of Vienna, Professors Mertens of Bremen, 

 Fischer of St Petersburgh, Agardh of Lund, Reum of Tharand, Runge of 

 Breslaw, Hornschuch of Greifswald, Lehmann of Hamburgh, Horkel of 

 Berlin, Wickstrtim of Stockholm, Dr Berendt of Dantzic, Dr Siemers of 

 Hamburgh, Messrs Booth and Staudinger of Flottbeck, and Mr Oldendorf 

 of Hamburgh. Treatises and memoirs were given in by Professor Hunefeld, 

 of Greifswald, and Dr Gaertner from Calw, in Wurtemberg, which were 

 discussed in the sittings. Many specimens of dried plants were exhibited, 

 A new Syringa from Siebenbiirgen was described, and drawings of it 

 exhibited by Baron Jacquin, under the name of Syringa Josikcea, from the 

 Baroness Josicka, by whom it was discovered. Dr Steinheim, of Altona, 

 exhibited a new arborescent Polyporus from Surinam, which was named by 

 the section Polyporus Agardhii, in honour of Professor Agardh. Dr Henry 

 Mertens had sent in several remarkable new Fuci, being prevented by ill 

 health from attending the meeting personally. Count Sternberg exhibited 

 as a supplement to his Primitive Flora, (Flora der Vorwelt,) drawings of 

 vegetable impressions on stones, which belong to the newer as well as to the 

 older epochs of the world. Among these were the remarkable impressions 

 found on the Styrian Alps, at the height of 6000 or 7000 feet above the 

 level of the sea. Among impressions belonging to the oldest periods of 

 the earth, were many/er«s and plants resembling/?^ci, also palms, and a fruit 

 resembling that of the Magnolia. Dr Berendt of Dantzic exhibited vegetable 

 remains imbedded in amber, by which some light was thrown on the ancient 

 flora as well as on the origin of this interesting substance. Baron Jacquin 

 exhibited a beautiful microscope, made by Plossel, of Vienna, which exhi- 

 bited the entire field of view with the greatest clearness, under a magnifying 

 power of 20, as well as with a power of 300 or 400 times. Professor Lehmann 

 exhibited two living hybrids, — the one a hybrid Potentilla, the other a 

 hybrid Cactus. Mr Booth shewed a plant sent from England belonging to 

 the family of the Dryandrce and JBanksice. Professor Lehmann shewed also 

 the Lindenbergia urticarfolia, and Mr Booth some remarkable varieties of 

 shrubs and trees from that part of Germany, — all of which were much 

 admired. Professor Hornschuch brought before the section the important 

 researches of Ehrenberg on infusorial animals ; many of which had formerly 

 been classed among plants. By a magnifying power of 400 times, these 

 animals are shewn to possess organs formerly seen only in the higher 

 animals, so that all these zoophytes must now be ranked amongst animals. 

 (See p. 1 12 of the present Vol.) Professor Runge laid before the meeting 

 the results of his experiments on chemical botany, shewing the importance 

 of chemistry in directing to a true classification of plants. In reference to 

 the physiology of plants, Professor Reum detailed some interesting facts 

 and views concerning the course of the sap, the nourishment, and the freez- 

 ing of plants. Professor Agardh gave a short outline of his views on the 

 unity of vegetable forms, a contribution to botanical physiology. Professor 

 Mertens gave an outline of the present state of algology. Professor Fischer 

 exhibited the plan and arrangement of the Imperial Botanic Garden at St 

 Petersburgh. Mr Oldendorf, of the Hamburgh Botanic Garden, explained 

 what he found the most successful method of propagating some of the more 



