xiv Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 



Mr. W. A. Caldecott was elected an Ordinary Member. 



Professor H. H. W. Pearson gave a short account of the trend of 

 modern morphological research on the surviving members of the 

 ancient group, the Cycads. The relationship of the group to the 

 Pteridophyta was discussed and microscopic slides showing (a) pollen 

 tubes, (b) the ciliated spermatozooid, (c) the Karyokinesis of the 

 nucleus of the central cell of the archegonium prior to the formation 

 of the canal-cell nucleus, of Encephalartos Alstensteinii were 

 exhibited. A specimen of Stangeria paradoxa with an apogeotropic 

 root and a microscopic section showing the endophytic " Nostoc " 

 were also shown. The specimens exhibited, and those from which 

 the microscopic preparations were made were presented by Miss 

 Alice Pegler, Miss A. W. Tucker, and Mr. J. Chalwin, to whom 

 acknowledgments were expressed. 



Mr. G. H. H. Fincham read a communication " On the Nature of 

 Effect of the Sun-spot Frequency on the Variation of the Magnetic 

 Elements at the Cape of Good Hope." By a consideration of Sabine's 

 observations at the Cape of Good Hope obtained in 1842-46, it is 

 shown that the sum of the sun-spot effect on the declination is a 

 maximum in winter ; the same result was found for the horizontal 

 intensity. 



Ordinary Monthly Meeting. 

 April 25, 1906. 

 Dr. J. C. Beattie, President, in the Chair. 



Mr. W. T. Saxton, Cape Town, was nominated as Ordinary 

 Member by Professor H. W. W. Pearson and Dr. J. C. Beattie, 

 and Messrs. W. A. Humphrey, Pretoria, E. Jorissen and G. 

 Sandberg, Johannesburg, by Dr. S. L. Corstorphine and L. 

 Peringuey. 



Mr. E. T. Mellor, of Pretoria, was elected an Ordinary Member. 



Mr. L. Peringuey read a paper " On the Eound Perforated Stones 

 (Tikoe), alleged to have been made by Bushmen for the purpose of 

 giving weight to the 'Kibi' or Digging Stick." That some aborigines, 

 Bushmen or Hottentots, made use of these stones for the aforesaid 

 purpose was now proved. Although Kolben did mention the digging 

 stick as a part of the Hottentot household utensils, he never said 

 anything about the perforated stone being used. Sparrmann, how- 

 ever, does so. Then follows Burchell, who figures the Tikoe and 

 the Kibi. Livingstone, in his last Journal, gives evidence on the 

 subject, but quotes from memory. In the figures given by him the 



