hinder toe is so minute that it might escape any but attentive exa- 

 mination. In the bill the markings are more strongly defined, with 

 the terminal hook longer and sharper. The prominence of the fore- 

 head is less than in the more common species. Colour of the head 

 black with a hoary tint, lighter on the throat. The back, belly, wings, 

 and tail are ferruginous, lighter on the wing coverts ; the rump white, 

 and a little of the same at the vent. Tarsi and feet black, with a 

 longitudinal stripe of sulphur-yellow, more of a golden at the bor- 

 ders or the web between each toe. 



The stouter configuration of this species enabling it better to 

 escape the violence of a storm may be ascribed perhaps as a reason 

 why it is not more often found on our coasts. 



On examining the stomach of a stormy petrel Mr. Couch found 

 about half an inch of a common tallow candle, of a size so dispro- 

 tionate to the bill and gullet of the bird, that it seems wonderful 

 how it could have been able to swallow it. 



November 20. 

 Edward Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



Read, " Description of a new Genus of Plants belonging to the 

 Natural Family Bignoniacea." By D. Don, Esq., Libr. L.S., Prof. 

 Bot. King's College. 



The subject of this paper was collected by Capt. Sir James Ed- 

 ward Alexander, during a journey through the interior of Southern 

 Africa to the western coast. The plant was discovered by that en- 

 terprising traveller in the open desert, called the Kei Kaap, in Great 

 Namaqua Land, in 25° S. latitude and 17° E. longitude. It is a 

 thorny bush, about six feet high, with small simple, hoary, wrinkled, 

 serrated leaves and large white flowers. There can be no doubt that 

 the plant belongs to the Bignoniacece, although in habit it bears a 

 stronger resemblance to Verbenacece, especially to Dwrflw^a and Gmelina. 

 In its spathaceous calyx and regular funnel-shaped corolla the genus 

 comes near to Spathodea, but is abundantly distinguished from it by 

 the cells of the anthers being parallel and connate from the middle 

 upwards. Its regular funnel-shaped corolla, spathaceous calyx, 

 equal stamina, and serrated leaves essentially distinguish it from 

 Burchell's curious genus Rhigozum, with which it agrees in habit. 

 On the specimen were two expanded flowers and a bud. The calyx 

 in all three had six teeth, and both the expanded flowers and the 

 bud had a six-cleft limb ; one of these had seven stamens, and the 



