120 EIGHTH REPORT — 1838. 



One of Mr. Sowerby's specimens was presented to him by Mr. 

 Cuming, who gave an equal weight in gold for the specimen which he 

 furnished to Sir W. Jackson Hooker. 



Ort Vegetable Monstrosities. By the Rev. W. Hixcks. 



The author made some introductory remarks on the importance of 

 the study of monstrosities, and concluded by a distribution of them 

 into five classes: — 1. Cases of coherence and adherence of parts not 

 usually united, or of separation of those which are ordinarily connected. 

 2. Anomalies depending on the comparative development of parts of 

 one circle. 3. Anomalous transformations of organs. 4. Monstrous 

 exuberances of growth, by which the number of parts is altered, inde- 

 pendently of transformation, the number of circles of parts is increased, 

 or the axis irregularly extended. 5. Anomalous abortions or suppi-es- 

 sions of parts usually present in the species. Among the monstrosities 

 produced belonging to the first class, were a specimen of Convallaria 

 multi flora, in Avhich the two lowermost leaves cohered by their edges 

 into \ sort of bag, which considerably obstructed the growth of the 

 stem ; a specimen of Tulipa Gesneriana, in m Inch the leaf on the 

 stem, folding round it, had cohered by its edges, so as completely to 

 inclose the flower-bud, which, as it enlarged, cai-ried up the upper part 

 of the leaf, like the calyptra of a moss, or tlie calyx of Escholzia, and 

 some adherent floAvers, of which a specimen of Saljnglossis straminea 

 ■was remarkable for the complete union of two flowers, so as to have 

 but one calyx and corolla each, witli a double number of parts. In 

 the third class, a specimen Avas exhibited of Campamila rapuncidus, 

 with the bell-shaped corolla transformed into five additional stamens ; 

 and one of Lilium longijlorum, Avitli the stamens partially transformed 

 into pistils, a stigma being produced at the extremity of each, whilst 

 an imperfect anther was borne lower on the filament. Various other 

 examples were produced in the several classes, Avhich cannot be parti- 

 cularly noticed. 



An Accovnt of an Inosculation observed in itco Trees. By 3Ir. 

 Wallace. 



MEDICAL SCIENCE. 



Observations en Plague and Qvarantine, made dvring a j-esidence in the 

 Hast. By Dr. Bowring. 



The opinions and practices of the people of eastern regions much 

 exposed to the ravages of the plague were narrated by Dr. EoAvring, 

 who drew from his observations the conclusion that plague aa as not 



