1897] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 185 
excellent monographs as to knowledge of the plants, are evad- 
ing the bibliographical difficulties, taking little or no care to 
ascertain whether the form which they publish for a new one be 
not in reality the old type, thus taking continual risk of adding 
to that nomenclatorial confusion which they are endeavoring to 
disentangle. 
Wiciiam Fawcett: The botanic gardens of Jamaica. 
Mr. Fawcett expected to be present, but was unable to 
obtain leave of absence, and forwarded the paper, with lantern 
illustrations, to the president, Professor J. M. Coulter. Unfor- 
tunately the paper did not reach its destination, and it was there- 
fore read by title only. The council had invited Drs. D. T. 
MacDougal and D. H. Campbell to address the society in 
connection with this paper, giving an account of their investiga- 
tion this summer of Jamaica as a site for the proposed tropical 
laboratory. 
Professor MacDougal discussed the physical features and 
climate of the island, while Professor Campbell summarized 
the botanical features. These accounts were listened to with 
greatest interest, and many questions were asked, which showed 
the eagerness with which American botanists are looking for- 
ward to the foundation of this laboratory. All the facts will be 
presented later when the other commissioners visit this and 
other islands in the course of the coming winter. 
HERBERT J. WEBBER: Researches upon Zamia. 
By invitation of the council, Mr. Herbert J. Webber 
addressed the society upon his recent researches upon Zamia, 
which have brought to light the remarkable results, some of 
which have already been published in this journal, and of which 
a complete account will appear herein later. Mr. Webber traced 
the development of the megaspore and microspore, the torma- 
tion of the spermatozoids, their movements and union with the 
egg nucleus. He also called attention to the two forms of 
Zamia which he has observed, and showed cones of both sorts, 
which he thinks are entitled to separation, varietal, or possibly 
specific. The existence of these gigantic spermatozoids (visible 
