22 
The PresipENT promised his assistance, and there is no 
doubt that others will come forward as well. 
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Club: 
Messrs. W. Mosse Robinson, H. Turner, George Smithers, 
jun., F. Gibbes, and H. Martin. 
October 19th, 1872.—Paper read by Mr. E. F. Jonzs on the ‘* Vot- 
vox Guopator.’—In this paper Mr. Jones propounded a new 
theory regarding the origin of the earth, and the other bodies 
of the solar system. 
Another paper, by Mr. D. E. Gopparp, of Dorking, 
was read by Mr. M’Kzan, on the ‘‘SiipE KNown as Roxt- 
ING Stones, AND THE Mopz or Preparine It.’’—The paper 
described the various experiments by which the writer pur- 
sued the investigation, till at last he achieved an entire success. 
November 20th, 1872.—Paper on ‘‘Tue Disperston oF SEEDS,” 
by Mr. Grorcr Prerry.—The writer commenced by de- 
scribing the mode in which the seeds of the mushroom are 
spread, beginning with one spore, which produces a single 
mushroom. This ripens and produces a number of seeds, 
which drop in a ring round the single plant. These again 
produce their spores, and thus the ring increases until we 
see the dark green rings known as fairy-rings. Amongst 
others, Mr. Perry described the burdock, with hooked seeds, 
which attach themselves to any passing body; and some 
with winged appendages, with feathered appendages, seeds 
with pods, and those of ferns, with many others were 
described. The lecturer concluded with some remarks on the 
great value of the study of Botany. 
The Presivent followed up the paper by stating that in 
examining skins of the Coypu, of South America, he had 
often found the prickly burrs, or seed pods of a plant, thus 
showing that the animals have been the unconscious means 
of spreading the seeds. In the discussion which ensued, 
Dr. Srrone referred to the extraordinary vitality in some 
seeds, as shown by those seeds of wheat which are found 
in the mummy cases of Egypt. 
Mr. Beeby exhibited specimens of Juncus capitatus and 
Juncus pygmeus, two plants new to British Flora, which 
he found in Cornwall last June. He also showed a specimen 
of Ainanthe lachlenalii, a plant common in salt marshes, but 
hitherto unknown as an island plant. 
