224 LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



zur Kenntniss der Flora von Slid-Hercegovina ' (Celtis betulcBfolia, 

 sp. n.). 



Science Gossip (June).— W. Roberts, Biography of John Ralfs. 



LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



June 6, 1889.— Mr. Carruthers, F.R.S., President, in the chair. 

 — Dr. John Anderson, Mr. J. G. Baker, Dr. Braithwaite, and Mr. 

 F. Crisp were nominated Vice-Presidents. Mr. Digby S. W. NichoU 

 was admitted a Fellow, and the following were elected : The Rt. 

 Hon. the Marquis of Lothian, Messrs. W. Wilhams, C. S. Wild, 

 and W. Schaus. — Mr. Narracott exhibited a singular fasciated 

 growth of Ranunculus aciis, found at Castlebar Hill, Ealing. — Dr. 

 Cogswell showed some examples of Jerusalem Artichoke and Potatoe 

 to illustrate the spiral development of the shoots from right to left. 

 — Mr. Clement Reid exhibited several specimens of fossil plants 

 from a newly-discovered Pleistocene Deposit at South Cross, 

 Southelmham, near Harleston. — Mr. D. Morris exhibited specimens 

 of the fruit of Sideroxylon dulciferum, the so-called " miraculous 

 berry " of West Africa, belonging to the Sapotacece. Covered 

 externally with a soft sweet pulp, it imparts to the palate a 

 sensation which renders it possible to partake of sour substances, 

 and even of tartaric acid, lime-juice, and vinegar, and to give them 

 a flavour of absolute sweetness. The fruit of Thaumatococcus 

 [Phnjnium DanieUi), possessing similar properties, was also shown, 

 and living plants of both had lately been received at Kew from 

 Lagos, through Governor Moloney. — Mr. Thomas Christy exhibited 

 growing plants of Antiaris toxicaria (the Upas tree) and Strophanthus 

 Komhe, both of them poisonous, to show the similarity of the foliage. 

 — On behalf of Dr. Buchanan White, a paper was then read by Mr. 

 B. D. Jackson, entitled 'A Revision of the British Willows.' 



June 20. — Mr. Carruthers, F.R.S., President, in the chair. — 

 Messrs. A. Denny, R. Miller Christy, and John Fraser were elected 

 Fellows. — Dr. H. Trimen exhibited specimens and drawings of the 

 Tuberculated Lime of Ceylon. — Governor Moloney, of the Colony of 

 Lagos, W. Africa, exhibited a remarkably large block of resinous 

 gum, which, in the opinion of Prof. Oliver, was referable to some 

 species of Daniellia, and which had been found in Ijo country. As 

 an article of commerce it possessed the advantage of requiring a 

 heat of 600° F. to "run" it so as to unite with linseed oil m the 

 manufacture of varnish. — A communication was read from Mr. 

 Charles Packe on a remarkable case of prolonged vitality in a 

 Fritillary bulb. 



We note with pleasure that Mr. G. C. Druce has received the 

 degree of M.A. from the University of Oxford, and Mr. F. W. 

 Burbidge the same honour from Trinity College, Dublin ; and that 

 Mr. W. B. Hemsley has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. 



