Linnceaii Society. — Horticulhn-al Society. "07 



pendulums, at the mine of Dolcoath in Cornwall, by Mr. Whewell, 

 M.A. F.Il.S., and G. B. Airey, M.A. F.R.S., Lucasian Professor of 

 Mathematics iu the University of Cambridge. 



March 22. — The reading of the above paper was concluded, and 

 an Appendix to it by Professor Airey, was read. We intend giving 

 some account of these two communications in our next Number. 



LINN.EAN SOCIETY. 



March 6. — Read a paper by Thos. Bell, Esq. F.L.S. On two new 

 genera of land tortoises. — These genera possess a peculiar interest 

 as exhibiting the affinities by which the freshwater tortoises are 

 connected with those inhabiting the land. Mr. Bell has named 

 them Pyxis, and Kinyxis ; and both are distinguished by a moveable 

 joint, one in the sternum, and the other in the hinder part of the 

 back, by means of which the shell can be completely closed. The 

 species described are Pyxis arachnoides, a perfect land tortoise, 

 with the anterior lobe of the sternum moveable, and capable of as 

 accurately closing the shell as in any species of the freshwater box 

 tortoises: Kinyxis castanea: and Kinyxis Ho7niana, a species forming 

 a passage from the group of Testudinidce to that of the Emydidce. 



March 20. Aniongst the presents announced, was a collection of 

 birds from New Holland sent by Alex. MacLeay, Esq., Secretary 

 of the Colony, and formerly the much-respected Secretary of the 

 Society. — A further portion was read of Mr. W. S. MacLeay's 

 paper on the Birds of Cuba, in the introductory part of which the 

 principles of arrangement adopted by Aristotle in the Animal King- 

 dom are investigated. 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 Feb. 6. — The following papers were read : Upon destroying the 

 mildew on peach trees ; by Mr. John Mearns, F.H.S. — Upon the 

 best mode of obtaining late crops of melons ; by Mr. William Green- 

 shields, F.H.S. — Upon pruning and managing standard apple and 

 pear trees ; by the same. — On the progress of Horticulture in the 

 north of Europe, particularly in and around Riga; by Mr. F. H. 

 Zigra. — On the cultivation of the Heliotrope and other tender 

 plants in open borders ; byMr. John Mearns, F.H.S. — On pruning 

 plum trees when trained to walls ; by the same. — An account of 

 the mode of managing peach trees in an early peach-house ; by 

 Mr. Walter Henderson, C.M.H.S. — On the phaenomena of the 

 rose of Jericho; by Mr. John Murray, F.H.S. — Some remarkably 

 cheap woollen netting for protecting fruit trees, which had been 

 manufactured in Wales, was laid upon the table. — Various fruits of 

 the .season, and flowers of .several kinds of Camellias, were exhibited 

 by different Fellows; and a variety of articles were sent from the 

 Society's Garden for inspection. 



Feb. 20. — The following papers were read: An account of jome 



remarkable holly hedges and trees in Scotland ; by Joseph Sabine, 



Esq., F.R.S. (Secretary).— On the culture of the pine-apple; byMr. 



James Dall, gardener to the earl of Hardwicke. — On forcing aspa- 



2 R 2 ragus ; 



