121 Annual Report of I he Natural History Society 



Papaw-trcc, which had borne fruit, "and which Commerson hud observed 

 .a hia residence of Palma. Mr. Bouton has recently road to the Society, 

 Home interesting details in regard to this anomaly ; and has particularly 

 investigated the genus Carica, which different Botanists had arranged in 

 various families, and of which they have lately constituted a family 

 under the appellation of Cariceae. This phenomenon, already remarked 

 bj the inhabitants, had never been satisfactorily explained. Several 

 quarters of the Island furnished disicions plants, which produced fruit. 

 Those which Mr. Bouton described, came from La Baie du Tombeau, 

 Mr. J. Newman, director of the Royal Garden at Pamplemousses, ex- 

 hibited some from Monplaiser, and Mr. J. Desjardina procured at Lc 

 Camp de Masque, ooe fruit, or rather three so attached together that 

 they composed but one, which hung at a peduncle more than two feet in 

 length. 



Mr. Bouton has read, at our last sitting, the descriptions of three 

 plants, which he has gathered in various localities of our island. They 

 belong to known genera, but the species were nondescript. He has 

 named them, Ainmania Cniciata, Cerastium Mauritianuni, and Ammania 

 Striata. This last is offered with hesitation, he having seen only its 

 seeds. 



The I'anicum granulans (Lamarck er.c.) has been long known to 

 Botanists, and our island was pointed out as one of its localities. Our 

 colleague Mr. Dupouy, having found its description not sufliciently de- 

 tailed, h>is undertaken to complete it. 



ZOOLOGY. 



It is especially in this great division of Natural History, that our- 

 members have, at different periods of the year, furnished a multitude ol 

 object! Which liaTC originated verbal discussions of great interest. 

 Strangers also have presented us with anatomical preparations, which 

 have been deposited in the Museum of the Society. We are particularly 

 railed upon to ackm IT ledge the kindness of Captain l'ayrer and Mr. S. 

 Parlby, both from India, who have geuerously imparted to us, a portion 

 of their collections, 



MAMMIFEROTJS ANIMALS. 



Those of this order which inhabit the Mauritius, have been the sub- 

 ject of a memoir by Mr. J. Desjardina. lie has pointed out with some 

 details, the twenty-si\ species which inhabit the island, of which, twelve 



only are in a wild state,— these are, 



Macaque Aigrette, (Simia aggula. Lin.) 



Boussitle of Bull on, (Pteropus vulgaris.) 



Roussitle, (Pteropus rubicollis. GeolT.) 



Nyctonome of Port Louis, (Nietonomus acelabulosus, Geoff.) 



Taphien of the Isle of France, (Taphozoiis Maurilianus. Geoff.) 



Tanreo, (Erinaceus setosus. Lin.) 



Mursanigne Musquee, (Sorex Indicus. Geoff.) 



Rat, (Mus Rattus. Lin.} 



Mouse, (Mus Musculus. Lin.) 



Black-necked Hare, (Lepus Nigricollis.) 



Wild Pig, (Sus ■cropha. Lin.) 



Stag, (Cerrui FJaphus. Lin.) , 



