154 THE ZOOLOGIST. , 



the north of the Albert Edward Nyanza, gave an account of his journey 

 and of the results, geographical, botanical, and zoological, obtained by 

 him. The country lying north-east of the Victoria Nyanza was described 

 as a large rolling grassy plain, some 6000 feet above sea-level, and well 

 adapted for colonization. He went west from the Victoria Nyanza to Mount 

 Ruwenzori, which is said to have an altitude of 18,000 feet, and spent four 

 months in exploring that district, under the great disadvantage of a dense 

 cloud hanging over the mountain the greater part of the day, which often 

 prevented the party from seeing more than fifty feet ahead. The sides of the 

 mountain were clothed at the base with a thick growth of trees resembling 

 the laurel of the Canary Islands ; above that bamboos to the 1 0,000-feet 

 level ; and above that again what the explorer could only liken to a Scotch 

 peat-moss, in which the traveller sank at every step a foot or more. Large 

 trunks, like those of Erica arborea of the Canary Islands, but indicating 

 trees eighty feet high, were noticed. Amongst other plants found were a 

 Viola, a Cardamine, a gigantic Lobelia attaining a height of five or six feet, 

 and a species of Hypericum resembling that found in the Canaries ; indeed 

 the similarity of the flora to that of the Canary Islands was remarkable. 

 Mr. Scott Elliot ascended Mount Ruwenzori to the height of 13,000 feet, 

 finding evidence of animal life and numerous insects to a height of 7000 feet. 

 Above 10,000 feet his Swahili porters could not sleep without injury to 

 their health, and it was only with a reduced number of men that he was 

 able to ascend another 3000 feet. Amongst the animals specially mentioned 

 was a species of Water-buck (Cobus), a Baboon, two species of Monkey, one 

 black and white, the other with short slate-coloured fur, a new Chameleon, 

 a new snake, and several new insects. The commonest birds were Sun-birds 

 (Cinnyridoe), one species of which — green, yellow, and crimson— was found 

 at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet. The paper was criticised by Mr. 

 Carruthers and others. 



The Secretary then read an abstract of a paper by Dr. Maxwell T. 

 Masters on the genus Cupressus, illustrated by a number of plants and 

 cuttings which had been forwarded by Messrs. Veitch, Mr. Moore, of 

 Glasnevin, and Dr. Acton, of Kilmacurragh. 



Dealing with the zoological collections made during the recent expedition 

 of Mr. Theodore Bent to Southern Arabia, Messrs. Kirby, Gahan, and 

 Pocock communicated papers on the Insects and Arachnida which had been 

 obtained, and some of which were described as new. 



March %lst. — Mr. C. B. Clarke, F.R.S., President, in the chair. 



Messrs. Rudolf Beer and W. H. Heathcote were elected Fellows. 



Professor Stewart exhibited and made remarks upon a series of 

 Corals, dwelling upon certain characteristic features which illustrated their 

 structure. 



