Linnceaii Society. 93 



ranged under the sections Ungukulata\xi\i\ Ungulata; and the second 

 two orders, namely Sirenia and Hydranla, [We regret that our 

 limits will not admit of our following farther the details of the arrange- 

 ment of the learned author.] 



Read also, a paper communicated by the Secretary from Dr. Han- 

 cock, on the Angostura bark tree. 



Nov. 21 . — Specimens of Erica ciliarisy Statice spathulata, Spartina 

 allerni/lora, Rhynchosporafusca^ Isolepis Savii, and a remarkable va- 

 riety of Erica tetralix with broader leaves, and the axis of the inflores- 

 cence more elongated than usual, were presented by Mr. Joseph 

 Woods, F.L.S., by whom they were collected in the South and West of 

 England during the past summer- 

 Dried specimens of Cereus senilis, and of various species of Echi- 

 nocactus and Mammillaria gathered in Mexico by M. Deschamps, 

 were presented by Mr. George Charlwood, F.L.S. 



Read a notice on the discovery of Cucubalus baccifer in the Isle of 

 Dogs. By Mr. George Luxford, AL.S. 



Specimens of this remarkable plant were collected by Mr. Lux- 

 ford in August last, on the banks of a ditch near the road leading 

 from Blackvvall to the Ferry-house, where the plant was growing in 

 considerable plenty, and with every appearance of being truly wild ; 

 and Mr. Luxford suggests that it may have been overlooked in other 

 places for Cerastium aquaticum, which it very much resembles when 

 not in flower or fruit. 



The plant was introduced, but, as afterwards appeared, on very 

 slender grounds, into the third edition of Ray's Synopsis by Dillenius, 

 on the authority of a Mr. Foulkes, of Llanbeder, who had been in- 

 formed that some herbalist had met with it in Anglesea j but neither 

 Mr. Foulkes nor any one since has been fortunate enough to con- 

 firm its discovery in that island. Mr. Luxford's paper was accom- 

 panied by specimens. 



Read likewise " Observations on the family of FulgoridcB,'' with a 

 monograph of the genus Fulgora of Linnaeus. By John O. West- 

 wood, Esq., F.L.S. 



The Fulgoridce constitute a small but remarkable group of the class 

 Hemiptera, having their head often produced anteriorly in to a lengthen- 

 ed and frequently singularly dilated rostrum, which was supposed to 

 serve the creature as a lantern, from the phosphorescent light which it 

 was said to give forth in the dark ; but this appears to be a mere fable, 

 originating, like the taleofthe bird-catching spider, with Madame Me- 

 rian, who seems to have credulously registered all the strange stories 

 that were told her ; for none of the naturalists who have visited the 

 countries where the lantern-fly( Fu/gora /a/ernaria), abounds have wit- 

 nessed any phosphorescent property in the rostrum of that singular 

 insect, so that the real function of that organ remains still unknown. 



The FulgoridiB were originally included by Linnaeus with the grass- 

 hoppers in the genus Cicada j but he afterwards separated his Cicada 

 laternarin and some other species (agreeing in having an enlarged 

 snout,) into a distinct genus, which he named Fulgora, from the 

 phosphorescent property ascribed to the rostrum of the lantern-fly by 



