xevi The Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society 
botanist resident at Komgha, during a brief visit here. The exact 
place of its occurrence was near the plantation on the first plateau, not 
far from the ranger’s cottage. Collectors would render a service to 
science by keeping a look-out for this rare plant. 
The SECRETARY read Dr. Schénland’s paper on ‘ The Nesting Habits 
of Tockus melanoleucus, Licht.’ 
The PRESIDENT then read his paper on ‘ The Origin of Nitrates in 
Griqualand West.’ 
ORDINARY MONTHLY MEETING. 
Wednesday, May 29, 1895. 
Mr. R. Marios, Ph.D., M.A, President, in the Chair. 
The undermentioned presents were announced, and the thanks of the 
Society voted to the donors : 
Results of Rain, River, and Evaporation Observations in N. S. 
Wales, 1893. 
Feuille des Jeunes Naturalistes, Nos. 294, 295, and 296. 
Memoirs and Proceedings of Manchester Literary and Philosophical 
Society, Vol. IX., No. 2. | 
Revista del Museo de la Plata, Tome VI., Part 1. 
Vierteljahrsschrift der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zurich, 
Vierzigster Jahrgang—Erstes Heft. 
Bulletin du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, 1895, No. 2. 
Bulletin de la Sociétié Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou, 1894, 
No. 4. 
Bulletin de Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg, 
Tome II., No. 2. 
Herr EBERLEIN then read his paper on ‘Voice Production upon a 
Scientific Basis.’ 
Dr. MARLOTH exhibited two ripe seed-vessels of Disa unijlora, Berg., 
gathered lately on the banks of the stream in the plantation on Table 
Mountain. Each capsule contained hundreds of tiny seeds, which 
differed somewhat in their structure from those of other species of Disa. 
The testa, which in all orchids surrounds the minute embryo like an 
inflated net, is generally formed of flat polygonal cells. In this species, 
however, the cells are much branched, and the branches are interlaced 
with each other. 
Dr. Ross, of Wynberg, gave the results of his experiments with 
formic aldehyde as a preservative agent instead of spirits of wine. He 
found a 10 per cent. solution very effective, both in preserving colour 
and shape. 
