392 WIGHT ON THE FRUIT OF THE CUCURBITACE.^. 



1 atn equally unprepared to say to what extent this un- 

 looked-for structure may influence our views in regard to 

 other anomalous orders, especially those with solitary carpels, 

 since, having established the fact that the usual structure may 

 be inverted, it will naturally lead to new investigations, which 

 may prove, that the solitary carpels of leguminosae are not as 

 now supposed, necessarily the result of constant abortion of 

 one of two carpella, but may be explained on some other 

 theory more consonant with the, almost invariably observed, 

 structure in that large and interesting order; which, like 

 CucurbitaccEe, stands an isolated family in the system of 

 plants, through this one remarkable peculiarity: a peculiarity 

 so constant in this tribe, that it goes far to prove the existence 

 of that botanical nonentity — a terminal leaf. But being un- 

 prepared to offer any matured opinions on these points, I 

 forbear further speculation, trusting however, ere long, to be 

 able to re-enter more at large on the consideration of this 

 interesting inquiry. 



Madras, Idth January, 1S41. 



XXVII. — Enumeratio FiLicuM Philippinarum; or a 

 Systematic Arrangement of the Ferns collected by H. Cum- 

 ing, Esq., F.L.S., in the Philippine Islands and the 

 Peninsula of Malacca, between the years 1836 and 1840. 

 By J. Smith, A.L.S. 



Having obtained an early set of the splendid collection of 

 Ferns brought from the Philippine Islands by Mr Cuming, 

 I have examined and collated them with my general collec- 

 tion, and have drawn up a list of the species, noting their 

 localities, and the number attached to each presumed species, 

 as given out by Mr Cuming, thinking that such may be use- 

 ful to those who have obtained similar sets. 



In determining the species, I have carefully compared them 

 with the descriptions and figures of authors, and also with 

 specimens in my herbarium, which, besides containing many 

 East Indian species, likewise contains a select-named collec- 



