SUMMARY. 329 
LVIIL—SUMMAR Y. 
1 DECEMBER, 1863. 
Тлттге worthy of record has occurred since the issue of the last (the 
July) number of these ** Proceedings,” thus approving the resolution of the 
Council to discontinue their publication during the autumn months, when 
there is not much doing, and when most of the Fellows are abroad or out 
ot town. 
The most noteworthy incidents which have occurred during the interval 
are,—first in importance, although last in order of date— 
described by Mr. Miers in these “ Proceedings. 
It was thought by the Council that as Mr. Weir must touch at Rio on 
his way home, it would be advisable that he should take advantage of the 
opportunity to go a short way into the interior, in order to bring some of 
the valuable orchids of that country home with him—a trip that could be 
easily made, as a railway from Rio now runs for a considerable distance 
into the interior. Мг. Weir accordingly made this excursion, and secured 
some plants; but, as he observes in his Journal, he found that 
Some of the most interesting of his new discoveries have already been 
g ” 
„ ате to be found. Some of the capeiras, or young forests on the ашудын 
plantations, are already of large growth, but it is vain to look for any of these beautiful 
epiphytes there. In fact, they are becoming scarcer and scarcer every year with the 
successive das, and burnings of their native woods, in which no doubt thou- 
sands of fine plants have perished." 
The localities of the fine orchids for which this district was celebrated will 
thus apparently soon be confined to the most inaccessible parts of the 
Organ Mountains. 
Оп Mr. Weir's return to this country it was a matter of some difficulty 
to determine to what country he should next be sent. Things are very much 
changed since this Society first began to send out collectors. At that time 
one could scarcely go wrong in sending a collector anywhere; in fact, almost 
every part of the globe, except Europe and the Eastern coasts of North 
America, was sure to be productive of novelties possessing interest and 
value. Tt is not so now. With one or two exceptional districts, which are 
surrounded with difficulties which have had the effect of preserving them 
from the intrusion of the naturalist, almost every country е" well 
vo 
