PROCEEDINGS OP SeCIETIES. 127 



Baker gave well-deserved praise to Mr. Salisbury's classification of the Order, 

 but, though always using his names when possible, has only adopted one of 

 his genera. 



Fei. nth. — G. Bentham, Esq., President, in the cliau*. The following papers 

 were read : — " On the CommelynacecB of Bengal." By Mr. C. B. Clarke, in 

 which a new mode of arrangement was proposed. " On the Tree-Ferns of British 

 Sikkim." By Mr. Scott. Elaborate details were given of the range and alti- 

 tude of the species, and on their economic uses and structure. The paper was 

 illustrated with nimierous figures of the structure of the stems of the twelve 

 species examined. Also, a note fi-om Dr. H. P. Hance to Dr. Hooker on 

 tlie vegetation of the Pakwan Hills, in the neighbourhood of Canton. 



March 3rd. — Dr. J. D. Hooker, Vice-President, in the chair. The fol- 

 lowing papers were read : — " On Hybridism in Chinchona." By Mr. J. 

 Broughton, chemist to the Madras Government ; communicated by Mr. J. E. 

 Howard. The author stated that in the Madras gardens young plants, appa- 

 rently hybrids, were common, as between C. succirubra and C. officinalis ; and 

 that the chemical nature of the bark was intermediate between that of the sup- 

 posed parents. In the discussion which followed. Dr. Anderson mentioned 

 that C. HassJcarliana of Miquel was a hybrid between C. officinalis and C. Pa- 

 hudiana, produced in the Java gardens ; and Dr. Hooker expressed his belief 

 that a very large number of plants considered by botanists as varieties or sub- 

 species would turn out to be of hybrid origin. The paper was illustrated by 

 living and dried specimens supplied by Mr. Howard. Also, a letter to Dr. 

 Hooker, from Sir H. Barkly, Governor of Mauritius, on the Flora and Fauna 

 of Round Island, one of a little group, and distant thirteen miles from Mauri- 

 tius. The island is three miles in circumference and about three-quarters of a 

 mile across, rocky, composed of tufa, and about 1000 feet at its highest point. 

 Sir Henry was but a few hours on the islet, but collected 29 species of plants, 

 of which half do not occur in Mauritius ; of these, the most interesting ia a 

 Palm entirely distinct from any yet known, with a remarkable bottle-shaped 

 stem. It is a singular fact that, though no snake is certainly known to inhabit 

 Mauritius, 4 species were collected on Round Island, besides many lizards, in- 

 cluding several new kinds of Scincus. 



March 11th. — G. Bentham, Esq., President, in the chair. Mr. Carru- 

 thers exhibited and shortly described the microscopic characters of the stem 

 of the fossil Fern Osniundites Bowkeri (see Report of Proceedings of Geological 

 Society), calling especial attention to the silicification of the cell-contents. Tlie 

 following paper was read by Dr. Hooker: — "On the Flora and Fauna of 

 Round Island, near Mauritius," by Sir Henry Barkly. This paper, which was 

 recently read before the Royal Society of Mam-itius by his Excellency, described 

 in considerable detail the geology and physical geography, vegetation and fauna, 

 of the island. Of the whole number of plants collected (29), three were Cryp- 

 togams, a Moss (Sphagnum?), Selaginella, n. sp., and Adiantum caudatum ; 

 the only grass determined was the common Indian Cymbopogon ScJicenanthns, 

 which is not Mauritian ; Cyperus maritimus represented tlie Cyperacece ; Fan- 

 danacecB form a prominent feature, besides P. utilis, which was probably 



