LINNE.VN SOCTETT OP LONDON. IIQ 



of which, however, fell off early ; but a considerable number of 

 apples which grew to maturity were good examples of syncarpy. 

 (See Masters's ' Vegetable Teratology,' p. 47.) 



The Secretary afterwards read a letteV from the Rev. Leonard 

 Blomefield (Jeuyus) intimating his presentation to the Society 

 of a large framed photograph of himself, he having been elected 

 a Fellow on the 19th November, 1822, viz, exactly 63 years 

 ago. The Secretary recox'ded the fact of his being the oldest 

 living Member of the Society ; and, furthermore, that while a 

 student at Cambridge, Mr. Blomefield was offered the post of 

 Naturalist to the exploring-expedition of the ' Beagle,' which 

 he declining was ultimately accepted by Mr. Charles Darwin. 

 The Chairman proposed that a special vote of thanks be accorded 

 to Mr. Blomefield for his donation, which resolution was uua- 

 nimously agreed to by the Fellows present. 



The digestive glands of the Pitcher-plant and section of imma- 

 ture pollen-sacs of the Yew were shown under the microscope 

 for Mr. Arthur Cole. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " On the Perignathic Qirdle of the Echinoidea." By Prof. 

 P. Martin Duncan, F.L.S. 



2. " On the Anatomy of Sphcey-otherium.'" By Mr. Gr. C. 

 Bourne. (Communicated by Professor Moseley, F.L.S.) 



3. " Contributions to South-African Botany. — Orchidese." 

 Part II. By Harry Bolus, Esq., F.L.S. ; with Additional Notes 

 by N. E. Brown, A.L.S. 



Professor Moseley then read the following extracts from a 

 letter by Mr. Gr. C. Bourne, who is now investigating the natural 

 history of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. 



" Diego Garcia, 18th Sept. 1885 Arrived here on the 



15th. The climate is at present very wet, but the rainy season 

 is nearly over. The lagoon is fifteen miles long by about five 

 miles across, with three islands. The main one is densely 

 covered with cocoa-nut trees and other vegetation. Judging by 

 the fragments thrown up on shore, there is a great variety of 

 Corals, Tuhipom being abundant, though Madrepora, Forites, and 

 Meanclrina are the common sorts ; but Fimyiu and Lohactls are 

 also plentiful. As yet I have seen but one Lepidopterou and 

 a few Beetles. Birds consist chiefly of Noddies and Terns. 



" Of Crabs, Ocypoda, Gecarcinas, and various Hermit-Crabs 

 are in swarms. Birgus latro does not occur on our islet. 

 Periophthalmus is in great quantity on the outer shores. I have 

 found a peculiar Bryozoon growing on one of the buoys in the 

 lagoon ; also a remarkable-looking sea-Plauarian of a rich purple- 

 black colour, with a narrow band of bright yellow running round 

 the margin of its body. Large black Holothurians aro abun- 

 dant." .... 



Z2 



