PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 527 
that he agrees with Mr. Gould that the birds in question are distinct and 
well-marked species. 
The second paper was on Crustaceans, by Mr. EK. J. Miers, of the British 
Museum—*“ A Revision of the Hippidea.” The determination of the species 
of this small and peculiar group of Anomourous Crustacea, and their identifi- 
cation with the brief descriptions of the earlier authors, is both difficult and 
uncertain. Mr. Miers gave a resumé of the literature on the subject, and, 
in opposition to the views of the American naturalist, Mr. Dana, supported 
the older view of the affinities of the group. He remarked that, “ Although 
in their elongated carapace and antenne the Hippidea have a considerable 
resemblance to certain of the Corystoidea, as will be seen, e.g. by comparing 
the Chilian Blepharopoda spinimana and Pseudocorystes sicarius, their true 
affinities are with the Oxystomatous Brachyura, through the Raninide. As 
regards their geographical distribution, they inhabit all the warmer tempera- 
ture and tropical seas of the globe. Until recently little has been known of 
their life-history and habits, but Mr. 8. I. Smith, of Connecticut, has lately 
furnished a detailed account of the development of the common species of 
the eastern shores of the United States. H. talpoidea lives gregariously, 
burrowing in the loose shifting sands near low-water mark.  Albunea 
Guérinii and Blepharopoda spinimana have been obtained from deep water, 
the former in the Gulf of Algiers and the latter in the Bay of Valparaiso.” 
Mr. Miers concluded by giving a descriptive list of the species of Hippidea, 
showing the geographical range of each. 
A series of interesting botanical specimens were exhibited by different 
Fellows, and remarks made thereon:—Among others the late Mr. Hanbury’s 
collection of Cardamoms, and a fungus in a sugar cane, by Mr. Holmes, of 
the Pharmaceutical Society; grape within grape, 7. e., adventitious fruit in 
place of seed, by Dr. Masters; Australian gum trees grown in this country, 
exhibited by Mr. Alfred O. Walker; and examples of the curious South 
American genus Colletia, by the Rev. 'T. H. Sotheby. 
Two botanical papers were read :—One “ On the Source of the Winged 
Cardamon of Nepal,” by Dr. G. King; the other “ On the Self-fertilization 
of Plants,” by the Rev. G. Henslow, wherein the author arrives at. conclu- 
sions opposed to those expressed by Mr. Charles Darwin in his well-known 
work on the subject.—J. Mure. 
ZooLoeicaL Society oF Lonpon. 
November 6, 1877.—A. Grove, Esq., Vice-President, in the chair. 
The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to 
the Society’s Menagerie during the months of June, July, August and 
September, 1877. 
A letter was read from Mr. kh. Trimen, containing remarks on the 
African species of Sarcidiornis. 
