1 PEOCEEDIXOS OF THE 



November 20tli, 1879. 

 Prof. G. J. Allmax, M.D., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 

 The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and signed, 



Mr. AVinslow Jones and Mr. William AVickham were elected 

 Fellows. 



Sir Joseph D. Hooker, C.B., exhibited a specimen of a Cedar 

 from llic Island of Cyprus, to which, from the shortness of its 

 leaves and smallncss of the female cones, the name Cedrits Lihani 

 var. hrevifolia is applicable. In a paper accompanying the exhi- 

 bition. Sir J. D. Hooker mentioned tliat the discovery of this 

 variety of the Cedar of Libanus was due to 8ir Samuel Baker, 

 P.E.S., a letter from whom was read. The monks of "Troodi- 

 tissa " informed tlie latter of its existence in the mountains, and 

 believed it to be the "Chiftim woocV of Scripture. 



In comparison with the above, the President laid on the table 

 specimens of Ccdrus Deodara from the garden of Mrs. Ciciopieri 

 St. Clair, Parkstone, Dorset, and showing cones produced this 

 summer. 



Mr. E. M. Holmes, in exhibiting a series of slides under the 

 microscope of rare British Lichens, Hepatica^, and Freshwater 

 Alga^, mentioned that JBlacod'mm Cesatii of Leighton's ' Lichen 

 Flora ' is, according to Dr. Nylander, but a form of P. can- 

 dicans. The Alga choking up the filter-beds at Bradgate, Leicester, 

 was shown to be, as yet, uudescribed, and resembling Zoogloea, 

 though the Eev. M. J. Bei'keley had stated it to be probably the 

 common Ecliinella articulata. 



Mr. Holmes likewise exhibited the Leaves, Flowers, and por- 

 tion of the Trunk of the tree {Andira Araroha) yielding Groa- 

 powder. Quite recently it has been found that the Cane comes 

 from Bahia by way of Lisbon, and thence is exported to the East. 

 The secretion appears to corrode and destroy the woody tissue, 

 and ultimately itself becomes deposited, and fills the cavities of 

 the heart-wood. It is stated to be a specific for Eiugworm. 



Mr. Christy exhibited a bottle of Chrysophanic Acid also ob- 

 tained from the above-mentioned tree. He likewise called attention 

 to two skulls of Australian Natives forwarded by Dr. Bancroft 

 which had occi])ital thickening, supposed to be induced by blows 

 of the knobkerries. 



The following papers were read: — 



1. " Development of the Embryo-snc in Phanerogams." By 

 Marshall "Ward, Esq. Communicated by W. T. Tliiselton D^cr, 

 F.L.S. 



2. ." Extinct Land-Tortoises of Mauritius and Eodriguez." By 

 Alfred C. Haddou, B.A. Communicated by Prof A. Newton, 

 F.E.S., F.L.S. 



3. " On a Collection of Greenland Crustacea." By E. J. 

 Miers, F.L.S. 



