Feb. 1895.] BOTAXICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 353 



:meetixg of the society. 



Thursday, February 5, 1895. 



William Oliphant Gibe was elected Eesident Fellow 

 of the Society. 



The death of Fr. Sciimitz, Professor of Botany in the 

 University and Director of the Botanic Garden, Greit'swald, 

 was intimated. 



Twigs of Erica australis, showing frost-crack, were 

 exhibited from the Eoyal Botanic Garden. 



The following papers were read : — 



PiEPORT ox THE FLOEA OF THE OUTLYIXG ISLAXDS IX 



Mahebourg Bay, Mauritius. By Surgeon-Major H. H. 

 JoHXSTOX, Army Medical Staff, D.Sc, F.E.S.E., F.L.S. 



On the south-east side of Mauritius there is a wide 

 inlet of the Indian Ocean named Mahebourg Bay, which is 

 protected by a broad coral reef from the surf caused by the 

 prevalent south-east trade wind. This reef extends 13 

 miles, in a north-easterly direction, from Pointe Yacoas, 

 in Grand Port, to a point 2 miles distant from the mouth 

 of the Grand Eiver South-East in Flacq. Between the 

 reef and the south-east coast of Mauritius there is a 

 shallow sea 3—20 fathoms deep. The reef itself is from 

 f-2 miles wide, and a considerable part of it is uncovered 

 by the sea at low spring tides. Towards the south-west 

 end of the reef there is a broad gap, 600 yards wide and 

 3-4 fathoms deep, called the South Entrance to Grand Port. 

 At the outer margin of the reef, extending in a north- 

 easterly direction from the South Entrance, there is a 

 linear group of six small islands, lying between 20"^ 22' 



TKAXS. BOT. SOC. EDIX. VOL. XX. Z 



Issued XoTember 1895. 



