750 



be naturally described as species, but which, as they were all gathered in Ireland, he 

 had no hesitation in calling varieties. It was no proof that a plant was a species be- 

 cause it remained the same in cultivation for a great length of time, for many varieties 

 did that. He had paid great attention to the Saxifrages, and of those belonging to the 

 London Pride tribe, he believed that only S. umbrosa, elegans, Gemn, and hirsuta, were 

 species. The variety, S. u. of Mr. Mackay, was not the London Pride of the Eng- 

 lish gardens, which was identical with the London Pride of the Pyrenees. Prof. 

 Forbes said, that the difference between botanists, with regard to species and varieties, 

 could only be reconciled by ascertaining from each writer an estimate of the value he 

 attached to particular characters. For the want of this there was much confusion even 

 in Botany, but the evil was much greater in Zoology. The vague manner in which 

 the characters of animals were drawn up by Britisb zoologists, was a constant cause 

 of complaint among continental naturalists. 



The Kev. W. Hincks then called attention to two living specimens of Neottia gem- 

 mipara of Smith. This very rare plant had been discovered by Mr. J. Drummond in a 

 salt marsh near Castleton, Bearhaven, in the county of Cork, in 1810. From an im- 

 perfect specimen, Sir J. E. Smith had described and figured it, and it had not been 

 seen again till 1841, when it was re-found by Dr. Sharkey. Only one specimen was 

 again obtained, and it was with difficulty identified with the original specimen in the 

 Linnean Herbarium in London. Dr. Wood and Dr. Harvey had, during the past 

 week, both gathered living specimens, which were now on the table. The original 

 plant was not a Neottia, as had been supposed by Smith, but was now referred to Spi- 

 ranthes. Mr. Babington stated, that he had carefully examined the plant on the ta- 

 ble, and believed that is was a genuine Spiranthes. It was a matter of great interest, 

 as probably this plant was one of the rarest in the world. There was no record of its 

 having been found anywhere but in the locality from whence these specimens were 

 brought. Mr. Hincks stated, that among some Californian plants received in Lon- 

 don, had been found what appeared to be a Spiranthes gemmipara. 



Dr. Allman exhibited specimens of a Linaria which he had gathered in Ireland. 

 He believed it to be a new species, and had described it at a meeting of the Royal 

 Irish Academy. It had been supposed to be the Linaria Italica of Treviranus, which 

 had also been found in England, but this plant differed in many respects from L. Ita- 

 lica. Mr. Babington thought the plant of Dr. Allman differed from the English L. 

 Italica. Should this Linaria be a new species, it will probably be new to the Europe- 

 an Flora. Dr. Allman stated that botanists in London had pronounced his plant a 

 hybrid, and Mr. Mackay concurred in this opinion. Dr. Allman then exhibited spe- 

 cimens of the very rare Trichomanes speciosum, and also of one discovered by Mr. 

 Andrews of Dublin, which differed from it in many points, and which might probably 

 turn out a new species. The principal features of difference that this fern presented 

 were, the possession of bipinnate fronds, long bristles, and the triangular form of its 

 fronds : in all these points it differed from T. speciosum. Mr. Mackay had cultivated 

 the plant in question since Mr. Andrews discovered it, and it was his conviction that 

 it was a new species. 



Friday, August 18. Section E. — Medical Science. Dr. Pickells read a paper ' On 

 the deleterious effects of (Enanthe Crocata.' — This plant, he observed, was known to 

 be one of the [most] virulent poisons of the indigenous British Flora, but was stated 

 to be veiy rare in Great Britain by Dr. Smith, in the letter-press of Sowerby's ' Eng- 

 lish Botany ; ' this was by no means true as regarded Ireland, particularly in Cork, 



