XX Proceedings. [January 2^th, i8g8,. 



common source, distinguishing wheat from other cereals as that 

 grain which, when ripened, detaches itself from the husk readily. 

 He subdivides this species into 



{a) Common Wheat. Triticum vulgare Vill. 



{b) Turgid Wheat. T. turgidum and compositum L. 



{c) Hard Wheat. T. durum Desf. 



{d) Polish Wheat. T. polonicum L. 



He points out that Alsfeld {Botan. Zeitung, 1865), having 

 examined carefully («), {b) and {c) growing together, was able to 

 give their common origin. He considers T. monococcum L. more 

 allied to the Spelt, T. Spelta L., these being wheats whose seeds 

 when ripe are closely contained in the husk, and not easily detach- 

 able from it. As regards Mummy Wheat, De Candolle points out 

 that no grains found in the Egyptian tombs have ever been known 

 to germinate, and that it is a popular fallacy to suppose that they 

 have done so. 



The President aferwards communicated a paper by Mr. 

 Peter Cameron, entitled *' Hymenoptera Orientalia, or 

 Contributions to a knowledge of the Hymenoptera of 

 the Oriental Zoological Region," Part VII. 



The paper will be printed in full in the -Memoirs. 



