LIlNNEAN society of LONDON. 3 



to raise the question whether these were acquired characters, aud 

 hereditary, having been impressed upon the offspring born after 

 the i.iarent shell had been injured and renewed by growth. 

 Mr. E. R. S\ kes and Mr. B. B. Woodward offered some criticism, 

 deprecating the suggestion of anything like " mimicry," aud 

 regarding the resemblances in question as purely accidental. 



Mr. T. H. Buffham exhibited lanteru-slides of a red marine 

 Al2:a, Bonnemaisonia hamifera, Hariot, found floating in the sea 

 at Falmouth. This species, recorded previously only from Japan, 

 bears thickened branches terminating in a hook (hence the specific 

 name), in this respect resembling B. caUfornica, Buffham, which 

 was also shown. Microscopic characters of each were described, 

 and compared with those of B. asparagoides, Ag. It was sug- 

 gested that if B. Iiamiferq had been introduced from Japan, 

 it could only have been from spores, or possibly the hamose 

 branches might develop into plants, since the Ealmouth specimens 

 were quite fresh aud must have been living near the place of 

 discovery. Remarks on the mode of distribution of Algae were 

 made by Mr. George Murray and Mr. E. A. Batters. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " On the Development of a Single Seed in the Emit of the 

 Coconut Palm, Cocos nuciferay By Dr. Daniel Morris, C.M.Gr., 

 E.L.S. 



2. " On Assimilation in Plants uuder Abnormal Conditions." 

 By A. J. Ewart, B.Sc. (Communicated by Prof. Harvey Gribson, 

 E.L.S.) 



3. " On a New Species oiBinites from the English Wealdeu." 

 By A. C. Seward. (Communicated by Prof. Reynolds Grreeu, 

 E.L.S.) 



December 5th, 1895. 



Mr. C. B. Clarke, E.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 



Messrs. Bernard Arnold and Rupert Yallentin were admitted; 

 and the following were elected Fellows of the Society : — William 

 Miller Christy, Rev. Henry Purefoy Fitzgerald, A. W. Greffcken, 

 Rev. E. Adrian Woodruffe-Peacock, Rev. Thomas Roscoe Rede 

 Stebbing, and William 0. Stenteford. 



The President called attention to a portrait of the late Prof. 

 C. C. Babington, of Cambridge, which had been lately presented by 

 his Widow to the Society. On the motion of Dr. Murie, seconded 

 by Mr. A. W. Bennett, a vote of thanks to Mrs. Babington 

 was unanimously accorded. 



Prof. C. Stewart offered some remarks on the types of the 

 axes of certain Gorgonaceas, in which he referred chiefly to the 

 importance or otherwise of the presence of spicules in the axes, 



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