/ 



4 l^'^y'^^ LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 3 



i On behalf of the Eev. Prebendary Gordon, M.A., the Secretary 

 \ exhibited a specimen of Veronica salicifolia of New Zealand, 

 found growing in Langlands Bay, Mumbles, Swansea. 



The following paper was read : — 

 5^ " On the Origin of Plant-structure through Self-adaptation 

 ' to the Environment, exemplified by Desert and Xerophilous 

 > Plants." By the Eev. George Ilenslow, M.A., P.L.S. 



December 7th, 1893. 



Prof. Charles Stewaet, President, in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 



Mr. John Henry Cooke, Surgeon Captain Henry Cummins, 

 and Messrs. Eichard Ernest Leach, Charles Sharp, Albert Smith, 

 Frederick Charles Smith, Alexander Henwood Teague, and Henry 

 Lambert Thompson were elected Eellows 



Mr. C. T. Druery exhibited and made remarks upon a new 

 example of apospory in Scolopendrium vulgare, and Prof. Bower 

 brought forward a similar case in Tricliomanes Kaulfussii. 



Mr. George Brebner exhibited some new and rare British 

 Algje, including Haplospora glohosa, Tilopteris Meriensii, JEcto- 

 carpus tomentosoides, and Polysiphonia spinulosa, var. major. 



Mr. F. Enock, with the aid of the oxyhydrogen lantern, ex- 

 hibited the various stages of development of the Black-Currant 

 Mite, Phytopus Sibis, and gave an account of its life-history. 



Mr. Thomas Christy exhibited a gigantic reed-like stem from 

 the Zambesi, with drawings of sections. It appeared to be allied 

 to Sanseviera cylindrica, but diff'ered conspicuously in the greater 

 size of the leaves, which measured about 9 feet in length instead 

 of from 18 inches to 3 feet. The remarkably tough and strong 

 fibre which it produced is considered to be of great commercial 

 value, being equal to the best Sanseviera hemp. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " Catalogue of the described Neuroptera Odonata (Dragon- 

 flies) of Ceylon, with description of new species." By W. F . 

 Kirby, F.L.S. 



2. " On the Cause of the Fall of the Corolla in Verhascum" 

 By Signer U. Martelli. (Communicated by the President.) 



c2 



