“I 
- Linnean Society. 20 
November 21.—Edward Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 
Mr. A. Adams, F.L.S., presented specimens of the habitations of 
a species of Spider, collected by Captain Sir E. Belcher on the north- 
west side of Majambo Bay, in the Island of Madagascar, and com- 
municated by him to Mr. Adams, with the particulars of their history. 
It appears that on this coast the north-east wind blows so constantly 
and to such a degree, that it would effectually destroy the more usual 
forms of web; to remedy which, the spiders of the locality collect 
together a number of small even-sized grains of quartz-sand, of which 
they fabricate a tolerably firm horn-shaped habitaculum, uniting them 
together by means of a fine loose web, which they hang from the low 
shrubs that grow upon the sand, and thus suspended defy the breeze 
and ride out the gale in safety. 
Mr. J. Clarke exhibited specimens of Filago Jussiai and Melilotus 
arvensis, found near Saffron Walden, Essex. 
Mr. J. Hogg, F.R.S., F.L.S., exhibited dried specimens of a plant 
which he regarded as a double variety of Matricaria Chamomilla, L., 
found by himself on the sandy road-side near Whitburn, Durham, to- 
gether with a coloured drawing of the natural size. He stated, ina 
communication accompanying the exhibition, that he had never before 
observed any similar variety of the species above named, nor could 
he find any account of its having been known to vary with a double 
flower. Sir J. E. Smith, however, in his ‘ English Flora,’ states of 
Anthemis nobilis, that ‘‘ varieties with double flowers are common 
in gardens ;”’ and in Smith’s own herbarium, in the Museum of the 
Society, are two specimens of Pyrethrum inodorum, var. flore pleno, 
the flowers of which very strongly resemble those exhibited. ‘These 
were found in Norfolk by Mr. Crowe in 1799, and are mentioned in 
the ‘ English Flora’ as ‘‘a double variety, having a multiplied ra- 
dius and an obliterated contracted disk.” In the present example 
Mr. Hogg states that ‘‘ the external white petals, or rather the florets 
of the radius, are altogether larger and stronger; they are much 
elongated, strap-shaped, less narrow, with their margins somewhat 
folded inwards, and are rather more numerous than those in the ordi- 
nary single flower, from which they also differ by being sometimes 
bilabiate ; whilst the disk itself is greatly contracted and reduced, 
and its tubular florets appear to have become very small and abor- 
tive; thus apparently indicating that the florets of the radius have 
become lengthened and enlarged at the expense of those of the disk.” 
Mr. Hogg adds, that in general appearance these large double flowers 
of Matr. Chamomilla resemble the common white double flowers of 
the genus Chrysanthemum. 
December 5.—E. Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 
Read the conclusion of Mr. Huxley’s memoir on Physalia, com- 
menced at the last Meeting. 
The specimens of Physalia on which Mr. Huxley’s observations 
were made, were collected on board the Rattlesnake, between the 
25th of February and the 3rd of March, between lat. 25° and 37° S. 
