Linmean Society. 411 



pierced with numerous minute pores ; star irregular, compressed or 

 sinuous ; laminae narrow, then cribellated on the surface, and with an 

 oblong, elongated, convex, cribellated centre. 



Var. star more or less contracted in the centre, forming two more 

 or less distinct roundish stars. 



Hab. Chinese Seas. 



This species is immediately known from the former by the pecu- 

 liarity of the surface, which is like that of Cmyophyllea ramea, and 

 by the convex elongated form of the centre of the star. 



I have described these three species together on account of their 

 having the same form and habit, but the structure of the surface and 

 the great difference in the form and conformation of the stars induce 

 me to believe that they probably belong to three very distinct families 

 of corals. 



Since I described these corals I have shown the two latter species 

 to M. Milne-Edwards, who states that they had not before come 

 under his observation. 



LINNvEAN SOCIETY. 



May 24, 1849.— The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. 



This day, the anniversary of the birth of Linnaeus, and that ap- 

 pointed by the Charter for the Election of Council and Officers, the 

 President opened the business of the day, and the Secretary read 

 the following- notices of those Members of the Society with whose 

 decease he had become acquainted during the year. 



Sir John Barrow, Bart. 



George Bennett, Esq. 



Edwin Charles Charlton, Esq. 



Edward For ster, Esq., the late lamented Treasurer of the Society, 

 was the third son of Edward Forster, Esq., for fifty-two years 

 Governor of the Russia Company of London, and w^as born at 

 Walthamstow in the county of Essex on the 12th of October 1765. 

 He passed the greater part of his childhood in the neighbourhood 

 of Epping Forest, and from the age of fifteen became particularly 

 attached to the study of English botany, which he ardently culti- 

 vated through a long and active life. He was a partner in the 

 eminent banking-house of Lubbock, Forster and Company, and to 

 within a few hours of his death took a leading part in the business 

 of the bank. In 1800 he was elected a Fellow of the Linnsean 

 Society, of which he became Treasurer in 1816, and one of the 

 Vice-Presidents in 1828; and his kindliness of disposition, unre- 

 mitting attention to his duties, and zeal for the interests of the 

 Society, will long endear his memory to all its members. He was a 

 man of very active habits ; rising daily at 6 o'clock, usually si)ending 

 an hour before breakfast in hisgnrden, in which he cultivated many 

 of the rarer and more obscure British species, and taking a great 

 deal of bodily exercise, which, together with his extreme temperance, 

 probably contributed greatly to the prolongation of his life. His 

 death, which took place in the 84th year of his age, at his residence, 



