422 



„ i onto log veal So ciet y . 



of continental botanists would be desirable. We say this w ithout the 

 least wish to detract from the value of Mr. Gibson's papers, but 

 merely to avoid the introduction of additional synonyms into our al- 

 already encumbered science, of which an instance occurred in a late 

 number of the * Phytologist,' where a supposed new species of Mo- 

 notropa is named and described which had long since received several 

 denominations in botanical works.] — Analytical Notice of a Treatise 

 on the Growth of Plants in closely glazed cases ; by N. B. Ward, 

 F.L.S. — Notice of a History of British Forest Trees ; by P. J. Selby, 

 F.L.S. — Varieties. 



Novitiarum Flora Suecica Mantissa altera, additis plantis in Norveyid 

 recentius detectis. Scripsit Elias Fries. 8vo, pp. 64. Upsal, 1839. 



Through the kindness of our valued friend Mr. W. A. Leighton, 

 we are enabled to notice this interesting Appendix to the ' Novitiae 

 Florae Suecicae ;' and valuable as are all the works of Fries, this is 

 more particularly so to the British botanist, from its containing very 

 detailed observations on several genera that have of late attracted 

 much attention in this country. We refer more particularly to Gly- 

 ceria, Epilobium, Polygonum, Hieracium, Orchis and Carex. 



It is quite impossible to give extracts from such a work as the pre- 

 sent, every word of which is highly interesting to the European de- 

 scriptive botanist, but we must take this opportunity of calling atten- 

 tion to the peculiar difficulty that exists in obtaining Swedish publica- 

 tions. We have now for more than two years been endeavouring stre- 

 nuously to obtain this book, but have totally failed ; indeed, we be- 

 lieve that the copy which has been so kindly lent to us is the only 

 one existing in Britain. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL. SOCIETY. 



November 1, 1841.— W. W. Saunders, Esq., F.L.S., President, in 



the Chair. 



The Rev. F. W. Hope exhibited a fossil inclosed in a nodule of 

 ironstone from the coal- district near Wellington in Shropshire, col- 

 lected by Dr. Stevenson, having all the appearance of the caterpillar 

 of a large Bombyx, with two series of dorsal tubercles, and w T ith a 

 series of long, cylindrical, furcate appendages on each side of the 

 body. Fossil plants were not uncommon in this locality, but this 

 was the only instance of an insect having been discovered. Dr. 

 Stevenson had also found some specimens having the appearance of 

 the wings of insects, but these having been examined by several 

 botanists of eminence, were pronounced to be leaves of fossil plants 

 allied to Cyclopteris. 



Mr. Westwood exhibited portions of a very extensive collection of 

 insects formed by E. P. Coffin, Esq., during his residence in Mexico, 



