Si Proceedings of Philosophical Societies, [July, 



tuting; a new genus, under the name of TJymenostachys, Mr. 

 Salisbury, however, insists, that M. Bory's assertions are devoid 

 of any K)undation, and he attributes his criticisms to an igno- 

 fance of the Latin language. In confinnation of this opinion, 

 Mr. S. exhibited the specimen itself from which the figure had 

 been drawn, that he might afford ocular demonstration that it 

 consisted of one individual. 



'* To corroborate this opinion, he adduces the testimony of 

 Professor Hooker, who, in his 52d plate of his Exotic Flora y 

 refers to Mr. Rudge's figure, and gives a coloured one of 2'. 

 eleganSy the involucrum of which contained ripe capsules. 



" The question bein^ a matter of reference to the Society, the 

 Vice President named Mr. Edward Forster, Mr. Bicheno, and 

 Mr. Menzies, to investigate the matter, and report thereon, in 

 pursuance of a bye-law of the Society." 



April 5. — A valuable present of stuffed birds and fishes was 

 received from Capt. King, collected by him in his late expedi- 

 tion to explore the north-west coast of New Holland. 



" The committee appointed at the preceding meeting made 

 their report relative to Mr. Salisbury's paper on Trichomanes 

 elegans ; and stated that the plant was represented to have been 

 gathered in Guiana, by M. Martin, and to have been purchased 

 by Mr. Rudge. It belongs to the genus Trichomanes of Smith. 

 M. Bory asserts that the spike described as the mature fructifi- 

 cation, is of a totally different structure from the others, which 

 are regarded as immature. It appears that Hooker did not 

 doubt the fidelity of Mr. Rudge's plant, though his own figure 

 supports M. Bory's opinion, inasmuch as the fronds there deli- 

 neated differ from those in Mr. Rudge's figure. 



M. Poiret has described, and M. Desveaux has both described 

 and figured, the plant which corresponds with the fructification 

 supposed to be mature. Weber and Mohr have also the same 

 species. 



In the Banksian and Mr. Brown's collection, were found 

 several specimens of each of the two plants, alleged by the 

 French author to be confounded in all stages of fructification. 

 In every instance the Committee found the barren frond of 

 Mr. Rudge's specimen combined with the fructification which 

 he calls the young ; and as constantly the frond, figured by 

 Hooker, with the spike which is said to be mature. 

 . The specimen itself was also subject to their inspection ; and 

 upon, a minute examination of it, they were satisfied that it was 

 composed of two individuals. They therefore reported that M. 

 Bory appeared to them to be justified in his conclusions 

 It was added, that they thought it but justice to Mr. Brown to. 

 sajr, \h^\. Mr. Salisbury was correct in stating that M. Bory 

 had fallen jnto the error of making Mr. Brown adopt Willde^ 



