6 PBOCEEDINGS OF THE 



of Phaseolus vulgaris, Savi, were obtained from a garden on the 

 Middle Coal-measures of North Derbyshire. In the simplest case 

 there is present on the posterior aspect of the normal carpel a second 

 smaller carpel with reversed orientation and without seeds. In 

 other cases the second carpel attains to at least one-half the size 

 of the normal anterior one, and is fused with the latter proximally 

 in such a manner as to give rise to a unilocular fruit with parietal 

 placentation, the carpels being free from one another in their 

 distal portion. In other cases the two carpels are of approxi- 

 mately the same size and both bear seeds. They are completely 

 fused below to form a unilocular ovary, while above they divaricate 

 from one another. 



It was pointed out that although the Leguminosse are typically 

 monocarpellary, certain members of the order are hi- or even 

 polycarpellary ; but in these cases the polycarpellary fruit is of an 

 apocarpous nature. It would appear, therefore, that the specimens 

 described in some sense revert to ancestral conditions in so far as 

 their bicarpellary nature is concerned, but that their syncarpous 

 nature is anomalous. Comparison with related orders, e. g. the 

 ConnaracesB, confirms this opinion. 



The Eev. R. Ashington Bullen, F.L.S., exhibited a finely 

 preserved female specimen of the Northern Stone-Crab, Litliodes 

 inaia (Linn.), from Aberdeen, and called attention to the various 

 organisms securely settled upon its carapace. A discussion followed 

 on the characters, systematic position, and distribution of this 

 anomalous macruran, in which Professor Poultou, P.R.S., 

 Mr. A. 0. Walker, V.P.L.S., and the Zoological Secretary took 

 part. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " Biscayan Plankton. — Part I. Methods and Data." By 

 Dr. G. H. Fowler P.Z.S. (Communicated by the Eev. Thomas 

 E. E. Stebbing, Sec.L.Soc.) 



2. " Biscayan Plankton. — Part II. Amphipoda and Cladocera. " 

 By the Eev. Thomas E. E. Stebbing, F.E.S., Sec.L.Soc. 



February 4th, 1904. 



Prof. Sydney H. Vines, F.E.S. , President, in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 



Mr. Leslie Beeching Hall Avas admitted a Fellow of the 

 Society. 



Mr. Chaeles Edgar Salmon, F.L.S., exhibited two specimens 

 of Einlohium collinum, C. C. Gmel., from Scotland, with a series 

 of E. montanum and E. lanccolatum for comparison, and read the 

 following note : — 



