LTNNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 1 27 



Dr. Masters exhibited a specimen from the Duke of Devon- 

 shire's woods at Chatsworth, showing a large globular mass of 

 short densely branched shoots hanging from the end of a branch 

 of Finns sylvestris. Dr. Masters pointed out that such growths 

 were either the result of injury from Mites {Phytoptus) or from 

 other causes, or that in other cases they resulted from bud-varia- 

 tion. Seedling-variations also occasionally occurred. Such forms 

 were the origin of some of the curious dwarf Conifers met with 

 in gardens, such as the Chanbrassil Fir. A similar case of dimor- 

 phism in the foliage in a species of Leptospermum was also shown 

 by Dr. Masters, having been obtained from Baron Ferdinand 

 von Mueller of Melbourne. 



Mr. Fawcett showed, under the microscope, sections of the 

 fruit and rhizome of Thonnincjia onalagasica ; and Professor 

 Duncan exhibited Corals, both in illustration of tlieir papers. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " On new Species of Balanoplwra and Tlionningia, with a 

 Note on Brugmansia Lotoi.'' By "William Fawcett, F.L.S. 



2. " On the Madreporaria of the Mergui Archipelago." By 

 Professor P. M. Duncan, F.L.S. 



April 1st, 1886. 

 Sir John Lubbock, Bart., President, in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 



Mr. J. G. Baker exhibited a specimen of Scolopendrmm De- 

 valagi, a new species discovered by the Abbe Devalay in the 

 province of Yunnan. 



Dr. Day exhibited several photographs of the skulls of Sahno 

 salar and Sahno fario showing the great difference between the 

 two when adult. In 8. salar the premaxillaries and maxillaries 

 are expanded, thin, and shallow, whilst in S. fario quite the re- 

 verse obtains, namely they are shortened, thickened, and deep. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " Botanical Observations in the Naga Hills." By C. B. 

 Clarke, F.L.S. 



2. "Index Floe^ Sinensis. — An Enumeration of all the Plants 

 known from China proper, Formosa, Hainan, the Corea, the 

 Luchu Archipelago, and the Island of Hong Kong, together with 

 their Distribution and Synonymy." By Francis B. Forbes, 

 F.L.S., and W. Botting Hemsley, A.L.S. 



3. " On the Freshwater Hydrocharideas of Africa and its 

 Islands." By H. N. Eidley, FiL.S. 



4. " On the Vegetation of 'the Arctic Regions." By M. 

 Buysman. (Communicated by the Secretary.) 



