LINNEAX SOCIETV OF LONDON. ^T 



of the Speke and Grant Expedition (Trans, vol. xxix. 1875) is a 

 conspicuous example. 



I may here mention that the tw^enty-sixth volume of the 

 "Transiictions" (1S70) contains the first contributions of the Society 

 to the study of Fossil Botany, and they are notable. The one is 

 Williamson's paper on Zamia ( WWiamsonia) ;/iffas, establishing 

 the Cycadean affinities of the plant in question : the other, that of 

 Mr. Carruthers on 'Possil Cycadean (Stems from the Secondary 

 Rocks of Great Britain,* in which was first described the remarkable 

 plant Bennettites, the representative of a hitherto unknown family of 

 Gymnosperms. 



The structural side of the science is further represented, during 

 this period, by Griffith's papers, of which the most striking are 

 perhaps those on Dischidia, and on the ovules of various plants ; 

 and by the papers of Henfrey, the first fruits, it was vainly hoped, 

 of a long and brilliant career, which are of special interest in that 

 they mark the successful application in this country of the methods 

 of microscopical research which, at that time, were yielding such 

 marvellous results on the continent in the hands of Schleiden, 

 Naegeli, Mohl, and Hofmeister. Physiology pure and simple was 

 still neglected. I can point to only one early paper, that by 

 Daubeny on ' Selection exercised by Plants with regard to the 

 Earthy Constituents presented to their Absorbing Surfaces ' (Trans, 

 xvii. 1837). Later on came Darwin's work, at first rather biono- 

 mical than strictly physiological, introducing an epoch of increased 

 activity in physiological research. There is, to begin with, his 

 important paper on the ' Action of Sea-water on the Germination 

 of Seeds' (Proc. i. 1857); and later his paper on the 'Movements 

 and Habits of Climbing Plants,' which contained the germ of so 

 much of his subsequent physiological research, as also the series of 

 papers on polymorphism or heterostylism, which revived interest in 

 the forgotten discovery of Sprengel and opened a fruitful field for 

 investigation. His final contributions to our publications were two 

 papers — the last that he wrote — on the action of carbonate of 

 ammonia on chlorophyll-bodies, and on roots, which appeared in the 

 nineteenth volume of the Journal (188 1-2). 



In considering the Zoology of this period, we must bear in mind 

 that it immediately followed the foundation of the Zoological Society. 

 I must confess that I have been unable to discover any indication 

 that this event prejudicially affected the zoological prestige of our 

 Society. I find the same well-known names, such as those of 

 Blackwall, Yarrell, and Westwood, occurring as frequently in the 

 volumes that immediately succeed as in those which immediately 

 precede this event ; and they are soon reinforced by distinguished 

 recruits, such as Owen, with his paper on Lejndosiren annectens 

 (Trans, xviii. 1841), and Newport, with his Monograph of the 

 Chilopoda (Trans, xix. 1845). Volume xx. (1851) is of peculiar 

 interest in that it contains a paper by our oldest and most 

 disting'iished Foreign Member, Albert von Kolliker, announcing the 

 remarkable discovery that the so-called Hectocotyle of certain 

 Cephalopods is not, as was thought, a parasite, but is the male 



