SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 151 



The first paper of the evening was then read by Mr. E. G. Baker, on a 

 new genus of Cytiiiacea, from Madagascar. This curious plant, to which 

 the author has given the name of Botryocytinm, grows parasitically on the 

 trunk of a tree of the natural order Hamamelidem. Its nearest ally is 

 Cytiiius, of which the best-known species grows on the roots of the Cist uses 

 of the Mediterranean basin. The Madagascar plant is without any stem, 

 and the sessile flowers grow in clusters, surrounded by an involucre. Each 

 cluster is unisexual, and the ovary is uui-cellular, with about a dozen 

 parietal placenta?, and innumerable minute ovules. It was discovered 

 during a recent exploration of the Sakalava country by the Rev. R. Baron, 

 of the London Missionary Society. 



The next paper, by Mr. J. F. Cheeseman (communicated by Sir Joseph 

 Hookei), was entitled "Notes on the Fauna and Flora of the Kermadec 

 Islands," aud, as regards the flora, might be considered as supplementary 

 to a paper on the flora of these islands published by Sir Joseph Hooker 

 more than twenty years ago (Journ. Linn. Soc. 1856, p. 125). These 

 islands, situated about 450 miles N.E. of New Zealand, between that 

 country and Fiji, were shown to be of volcanic origin, with a fauna and flora 

 resembling to a great extent those of New Zealand. A few land birds were 

 noted as common to New Zealand; and to the list of plants drawn up by 

 Sir Joseph Hooker, from collections made by Macgillivray, several new 

 species were added by Mr. Cheeseman, chiefly ferns. A discussion followed, 

 and in illustration of Mr. Cheeseman's remarks Mr. J. G. Baker exhibited 

 specimens of a new endemic DuvaUia, closely allied to the well-known 

 D. canariensis of the Canary Islands and Madeira. The meeting then 

 adjourned to March 15th. 



March 15. — W. Carruthkrs, F.R.S., President, in the chair. 



On a ballot being taken, the following were elected Fellows of the 

 Society: — Messrs. J. W. Taylor, W.Gardiner, and David Sharp. The 

 following were admitted Fellows of the Society : — Mr. A G. Renshaw and 

 Mr. A. E. Shipley. 



Mr. J. E. Harting exhibited the frontal portion of the skull of a Red- 

 deer stag which had never possessed horns, although an adult animal, and 

 made some remarks upon the occasional occurrence of this abnormality. 

 The stag in question was one which had been shot some years ago by 

 the late Emperor of Germany in the royal forest of Gohrde, in Hanover. 

 A discussion followed in which the President, Mr. Seebohm, and Dr. 

 Hamilton took part. 



The first paper of the evening was then read by Mr. George Massee, 

 entitled "A Monograph of the Thelephorece," and drawings of several of 

 these Fungi were exhibited. The paper was criticised by Mr. A. W. 

 Bennett and Professor Marshall Ward. 



