696 HEPOET— 1886. 



Author proposed to illustrate recent accumulation of facts and variations by- 

 reference to prominent instances of distribution, &c., from one of the smallest and 

 most inaccessible rocks of the group. 



Physical Characters of Dezertas Origin. — Foundation on a narrow ledge, 

 dimensions not much changed, no evidence of contact or union, not survivals 

 of an ancient continent. Islands in a Miocene sea, deriving their colonists from 

 Miocene Europe. 



Description of Bugio. — Dimensions, formation, central volcanic dike, difficulty 

 of access, large proportion of tufas ; no sections of old river-beds or surface 

 obliterations. 



Summit showed deep clay-beds and surface deposits of calcareous earth and 

 sands, with ' fossils,' so called, of Madeira. 



Flora. — Relation to Bladeiran, arbitrary distribution, absence of easily wafted 

 forms. 



Senecio inerassatus, form of, how related to Madeira and Canary Islands. 



Echium fastuosum, maritime form of; relations to other Madeiran Echia. 

 Hybrid with E. simplex, deriving perennial characters and change of colour and 

 habit. 



Jasminum oderatissimum, Mesembrianthema. as instances of fitful distribution. 



Chrysanthemum hrematominmata, a distinct and only species, deacription of, 

 and remarks on cognate Madeira forms. 



Monizia edulis, Dezertan, Salvagic and Madeiran examples and varieties. 

 Description of, IMiocene origin of. 



Fauna. — Mischievous presence of goat and rabbit. 



Feral character of rabbit, reference to Darwin's description of, identical witli 

 that of Porto-santo, description of 



Sea JBirds.—Stevium hirundo. Thallassidroma Bulwerii and many other Petrels ; 

 existing confusion of species in Loudon. Procellaria Anglorum dominant at 

 Bugio, excluding P. major and P. obscura. Influence of, on migration of plant- 

 species; size of egg and form. 



Testacea. — Helix crystallina, affinities ; H. leonina, distribution ; H. erubescens, 

 distribution ; II. punctata, modification of ; H. vulgata, dwarfed sub-fossil ; 

 H. polymorpha, Bugian form ; H. coronata, description of, and affinities to 

 H. Grabhami and others. 



Coleopterous Deucalion, species of, how related to Salvagic form. 



Short Smnmnrj/. — The above instances show the difficulties attending studies of 

 the presence, origin, and variation of fauna and flora from a single point, to be 

 equally great locally as between the archipelago itself and an ancient continent. 



Agency of Man, ancient and modern. Destruction of cover and food in vegeta- 

 tion ; contaminating introductions. Man obvious chiefly in extinction ; instances 

 from St. Helena as well as Madeira. 



Ravages of Eupatoria and Phylloxera in Madeira, and of other species. 



Surviving vigour of Miocene forms of plants. 



Author's paper only meant to be indicative, and does not pursue any branch in 

 detail, though the history of any variety would profitably occupy the time of the 

 Section. 



8. On some new Points in the Physiologn of the Tortoise. 

 By Professor Hatcraft. 



9. Preliminary Account of the Parasite Larva of Halcampa. 

 By Professor Haddon. 



10. Notes on Dredging off South-West of Ireland. By Professor Haddon. 



