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PROCEEDINGS OF METROPOLITAN. SOCIETIES. 
LINN/AN SOCIETY. 
Novemser 6th.—The meetings of this society for the present 
session were resumed on this day. Numerous donations were an- 
nounced as having been made during the recess, the principal of 
which were an extensive collection of dried plants from Demarara, 
presented by Mr. Schomburgk, and about twelve thousand speci- 
mens of dried plants, also from South America, together with a 
collection of books, bequeathed by the late Mr. Winch, of Newcas- 
tle. A note was read, from Jonathan Couch, Esq., of a specimen of 
Wilson’s Petrel ( Thalassidroma Wilsonii) having been found in a 
field near Polpero, Cornwall, in August last. This species of Storm 
Petrel had long previously been suspected to occur upon the western 
coasts of Britain ; and Mr. Audubon had already obtained specimens 
of it within a day’s sail of Iceland: -it is the Storm Petrel described 
- in Wilson’s Ornithology. There were also read some interesting 
observations “ On the cause of Ergot,” by Mr. Smith, A.L.S. The 
author considers the Ergot to be a morbid growth of the albu- 
men, resulting from the attacks of a minute parasitic fungus, which 
consists of oblong transparent cells, resembling the sporules of other 
fungi, and either free or united together in the form of articulated 
filaments, in which state they constitute the crust of the Ergot. 
The anthers, as well as the ovarium, are subject to the attacks of 
this minute parasite ; and Mr. Smith supplied a list of a number of 
grasses which he had also observed to be occasionally affected by it. 
NovemsER 20th.—A number of drawings of the fishes of the 
Red Sea were exhibited by Capt. Meadows Taylor. Professor Doo 
then read a description of a new genus of plants from South Africa, 
belonging to the natural family Bignonacex: after which a com- 
munication was read, from Dr. Shotsky, ‘ On a new species of Le- 
pidosperma,” nearly allied to the L. elatior of Laballidiére, and 
which was discovered by the author in the thick jungles which cover 
part of Tasman’s Peninsula. The sharp edges of its long and slen- 
der leaves, which are from ten to fifteen and even twenty feet in 
length, were stated to inflict severe wounds on those who happen 
to pass through the places where this plant grows. Several paint- 
ings were exhibited, accurately representing the general aspect of 
vegetation in the above-named peninsula and New South Wales. 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Ocroser 9th.—The first portion of an elaborate paper on the os- 
teology of the Marsupiata was read by Professor Owen, treating 
