Linnaan Society. 377 



ing that in its scalariforin vessels it agrees with all the fossil genera 

 supposed to be Acotyledonous ; and that in the structure of its spo- 

 rangia and sporules it approaches most nearly, among recent tribes, 

 to Ophioglossea and Lycopodiacece, and among fossils to Lepidostro- 

 bus, and consequently to Z<epzc?ot/ewc?row. The stem-structure of Le- 

 pldodendron, known only in Lepidodendron Harcourtii, offers no ob- 

 jection to this view, the vascular arrangement of the axis of its stem 

 bearing a considerable resemblance to that of Triplosporite. To this 

 argument, derived from the agreement between axis of stem and 

 axis of strobilus, Mr. Brown attaches considerable importance, as 

 an equal agreement exists both in recent and fossil ContfenE. . 



Mr. Brown adds, that Dr. J. D. Hooker has very recently de- 

 tected, in the sporangia of a species referred to Lepidostrobus, spo- 

 rules united in threes ; there still however remain, in the form and 

 arrangement of the sporangia of that species, characters sufficient to 

 distinguish it generically from the fossil here described. 



The paper w^as illustrated by drawings, both of the natural size 

 and microscopic. 



Read also a note " On the occurrence of the Potatoe Disease 

 independent of the Attacks of Insects." By J. O. Westwood, Esq., 

 F.L.S., Secretary of the Entomological Society, &c. &c. 



This note, in which the author maintained that the disease which 

 has of late years been so destructive to the potatoe is wholly inde- 

 pendent of the agency of insects, was illustrated by numerous recent 

 specimens of the potatoe-plant, in which the disease had made con- 

 siderable progress in the tuber, while the haulm appeared perfectly 

 healthy ; and on which the ravages of insects, and in particular of 

 the Aphis to which the devastation has been so confidently attri- 

 buted, were nowhere to be traced. 



November 2. — E. Forster, Esq , V.P., in the Chair. 

 Mr. Westwood exhibited the following cases of insect monstrosi- 

 ties : — 



1. Chiasognathus Grantii, with the left antenna deformed, furcate 

 at the base of the serrated portion ; one branch very short and appa- 

 rently composed of four clavate joints, the other branch shorter than 

 in the normal antenna and irregularly and shortly serrated ; the lower 

 division of the left mandible also shorter than that of the right side. 

 From Mr. Westvvood's collection. 



2. A new species of Elaterida from Ceylon, in Mr. TempJeton'j? 

 collection. The middle foot on the right side deformed ; the coxa 

 and trochanter normal, but with three femora conjoined at their bases, 

 and emitting three perfect tibise, and two perfect and one imperfect 

 tarsus. 



3. An Indian Copris allied to C. lunaris, from Col. Hearsey's col- 

 lection, in which the upper portion of the front of the head is want- 

 ing, exposing the parts of the mouth. 



Read a i)aper " On the Natural History, Anatomy, and Develop- 

 ment of Melo'e (Third Memoir — the Anatomv)." By George New- 

 port, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. 



Mr. Newport commenced this memoir by stating that having 



