xliv PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



and Diphyschiin foUosum, W. and M., from Killin, and made 

 some remarks on the structure of the ]3eristome in these mosses. 



Mr. C. Sherry exhibited a fine specimen of Agave excelsa, 

 grown in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasgow, and he de- 

 scribed the peculiar inflorescence and fructification of this 

 plant. The genus Agave is one of the Ainaryllidacece—an 

 epigynous order, contrasting with the hypogynous Lillacece, 

 .and consisting chiefly of bulbous and scapigerous herbs, the 

 genera Agave and Fourcroya being fibrous-rooted. The well- 

 known Agave americana, sometimes erroneously named the 

 * 'American aloe," is the plant commonly supposed to flower 

 once in an hundred years. In cold climates, and with ordinary 

 culture, there are no doubt long intervals between the times of 

 flowering ; but when it receives a culture similar to that of the 

 pine-apple, it is found to flower more frequently. The flower- 

 stalks are developed with wonderful rapidity. Some of them 

 have been knowm to reach a height of 30 feet in as many days, 

 and the specimen shown attained its full height of 12 feet in 

 18 days. 



Mr. Thomas King exhibited a collection of Chilian Birds, on 

 which he made some interesting descriptive remarks. The 

 collection included the following species : 



Falco sparveriniis, L.— " Cernicalo," Sparrow-Hawk. 



Strix cunicidaria, MoL— " Pequen," Burrowing-Owl. 



Turdus Thillus, Mol.— "Trille" or "Chile," Yellow-winged 

 Blackbird. 



Shirnns inilifarls, L. — "Loica." 



Fringilla Diuca, Mol.— "Diuca." 



F. matutina, Licht.— "Chincol." 



Tcenioptera iW^'ope, Kittl. — "Diucon," Garnet-eyed Flycatcher. 



Muscisaxicola iiigfer.— " Animita," Flycatcher. 



ReguliLS omnicolor, Vicill.— '*Siete Colores." 



Trochilus galeritus, Mol. — "Picaflor," Fire-crested Humming- 

 B.rd. 



OreotvocMluR leucoplcurus, Gould. — White-sided Mountain 

 Humming-Bird. 



Fiisfephamis feimandensis. — Isle of Juan Fernandez Hum- 

 ming-Bird. 



Synallaxis a^githaloides, Kittl.—" Colelarga." 



Thinocorus rumicivorus, Esch. — " Perdizita," 



Ardea caiididissima, Gay. — " Garza chica," Lesser White Heron. 



V^anelhis cayennensis, Gmel. — " Quiltegue," South American 

 Lapwing. 



Mr. James J. F. X. King exhibited living specimens of Ca^cilius 

 Dalii, M'Lach., taken by him on Camellias in the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens, Glasgow; also specimens of Agrypnia Pagefana, Curt., 

 from the neighbourhood of Glasgow. 



