Jan. 21, 1851.] Linnean Society. 109 



racters in the flower of Casearia in which it approaches Monotropa, 

 Drosera, and especially Francoa. In Thymelea he finds considerable 

 variation in the position of the carpellum, and states that the rela- 

 tive position of carpellum and segments of perianthium is the reverse 

 of what takes place in Proteacece, the carpellum being always 

 opposite to one of the segments of the perianthium. The tendency 

 to the suppression of stamens in ThymeletB is also the reverse of that 

 of Proteacece, being on the side opposite to the carpellum. In 

 Pimelea and LachntBa he states that the carpella are all posterior, 

 while in Daphne the carpella of the two-flow'ered axillae stand with 

 their backs to each other, or more or less turned towards the stem : 

 Dais is a mixture of these. Lastly, he notices various peculiarities 

 in the ovary of Sassafras officinale, in Sanguisorbece, in Combretum, 

 in Aucuba Japonica and in Marlea. 



The memoir was illustrated by a large tabular view of the pro- 

 posed arrangement, a series of diagrams, and numerous figures. 



January 21, 1851 

 William Yarrell, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



James William Bryans, Esq., was elected a Fellow. 



Mr. Gould, F.L.S., exhibited a specimen and drawing of a new 

 and very extraordinary genus and species of Bird, to which he has 

 given the name of Balceniceps Rex, and entered into some details 

 with regard to its structure and affinities. 



Read a memoir " On the various forms of Salicornia." By Joseph 

 Woods, Esq., F.L.S. : with some additional remarks by Richard 

 Kippist, Esq., Libr. L.S. 



The paper relates almost exclusively to the British species of Sali- 

 cornia, and more particularly to those which occur on the coasts of 

 Sussex and Hampshire. 



The author begins by noticing what he considers as the typical 

 form of -S. herbacea. This he describes as always erect, except 

 that late in the autumn, the branches, usually spreading or ascending, 



