SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 157 
phorically as “ floral units,” he explained how they can, as it were, givée rise 
to axes as well as to all kinds of floral appendages. Quoting Van Tieghem’s 
definitions of axial and foliar characters, the former was shown to be subject 
to exceptions. After describing the arrangements of the cords in peduncles 
and pedicels, in which endogens often have the cords as regularly placed 
as in exogens, the author explained the different ways by which pedicels of 
umbels are found in each class respectively. The ‘“chorism” and union 
of cords were illustrated and the effects produced. Considerable light was 
thrown upon the cohesion and adhesion of organs, and the interpretation of 
the “‘receptacular tube” and “inferior ovary” was shown to depend upon 
the undifferentiated state of the organs when in congenital union. The 
true nature of axile and free central placentas was revealed, so that in the 
case of the former, with scarcely any exception, the axis takes no part in 
the structure, all “carpophores,” “stylopods,” &c., being simply the coherent 
and hypertrophied margins of carpels. Similarly the free central placenta 
of Primula received its interpretation as consisting of the coherent and 
ovuliferous bases of fine carpels, which have the upper parts of their margins 
coherent in a parietal manner. Illustrative diagrams were exhibited of 
nearly seventy genera typical of about thirty orders. The paper was 
favourably criticised by Dr. D. H. Scott, Mr. A. W. Bennett, and Prof. 
Marshall Ward. 
The meeting then adjourned to March 21st. 

ZooLogicaL Society or Lonpon. 
February 19, 1889.—Dr. St. Gzorcr Mivart, F.R.S., Vice-President, 
in the chair. 
Mr. Sclater exhibited specimens of the eggs and chicks of the Hoatzin, 
Opisthocomus cristatus, from a series collected by Mr. R. Quelch in British 
Guiana, and called attention to the extraordinary development of the wings 
in the chick, in reference to the statement that these organs are used like 
hands for climbing purposes. 
Mr. Sclater exhibited heads and skins of a new Antelope obtained by 
Mr. H. C. V. Hunter in Eastern Africa, which he proposed to call Damalis 
hunteri, after its discoverer. 
Sir KE. G. Loder, Bart., exhibited and made some remarks on a skeleton 
of the Rocky Mountain Goat, Haplocerus montanus. 
Dr. Ginther exhibited a mounted specimen of Thomson’s Gazelle, 
Gazella thomsoni, and pointed out its complete distinctness from Grant’s 
Gazelle, G. granti. The specimen in question had been obtained in 
Masailand by Mr. H. C. V. Hunter. 
Mr. R. Lydekker read a paper on the skull of Lytoloma, an extinct 
genus of Chelonians allied to Chelone. 
