8 rKoci;EDi>'Gs ov the 



and partly Asplenioid, From this combination of characters, the 

 exhibitor considered the plant to be a true hybrid between tne 

 species named. 



Air, C. H. Wright, A.L.S., exhibited, on the other hand, numerous 

 herbarium specimens of iScolopendnum vulgare, Ceterach officinarum, 

 Asj)Ieniu7n marinum; Asplenitim Meniionitis {palmatum), and iScolo- 

 jyendriuiyi nigripes, by which last three species it was demonstrated 

 that sori in laced pairs {Scolojjendrium type) may not only appear 

 en species classed as Asj)Unium, but that, on the other hand, simple 

 Asplenoid sori may exist on species classed as Scolojpendrmm (e. g., 

 iS. nigrijpes) and A. Hemioniiis as exhibited and shown in a drawing 

 (p. 7 ; by favour of the Kew authorities. !Mr. Wright therefore was 

 inclined to the opinion that the presumed hybrid was merely a form 

 of A. marinum, basing his opinion partly on the leathery nature of 

 both ^. vidgare and Ceterach Ironds as contrasted with the thin papery 

 texture of the exhibits. He entered at some length into the 

 various modes of attempting cross-fertilization in Ferns; but the 

 factors of uncertainty are so difficult to eliminate, that until some 

 delicate means have been devised lor the actual transference by 

 hand of individual antherozoids to alien archegonia, hybridity in 

 Ferns can hardly be scientitically proved. , 



Mr. A. W. Bennett remarked that, in view of the extremely wide 

 dilterence between the genera, very strong evidence indeed would 

 be required to establish the fact of hybridization between them. 



Mr. J. Fraser added some remarks bearing upon the indefinite 

 classification of genera, evidenced by the exhibits with respect to 

 fructification. 



Mr. Druery, in reply, considered that the Kew examples demon- 

 strated that a far closer alliance existed between Scol. vulgare and 

 the AsjiUnia than appeared on the surface, the presumed generic 

 line between the forms of fructification being broken through, and 

 hence the possibility of hybridizing. He alao pointed out that as 

 A. marinum had also very leathery fronds, this argument per contra 

 failed. One of the specimens of A. marinura exhibited with 

 Scolopendrioid sori in quantity, found in France, might also, he 

 considered, possibly be a natural hybrid with S. vulgare, especially 

 as its fronds and some pianae were peculiarly forked, dilated, and 

 irregularly abnormal ; while it is well known that the two species 

 are often closely associated in their habitats, so that their spores 

 might easily mix. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " On Tooth-genesis in the Caviidce." By Dr. H. W. Marett 

 Tims, F.L.S. 



'2. •' Some Piemarks on the Natural History and Experimental 

 Cultivation ot the Pearl Oyster." By Dr. H. L. Jameson. (Com- 

 municated by Prof. W. A. Herdman, F.L.S.) 



