XXU PROCEEDIN&S OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



it may have descended from a common ancestor. The wood, a 

 specimen of which was also exhibited, is very like that of the 

 Virginian Juniper, and is used for constructional purposes, being 

 hard and durable. The special interest attaching to the tree is 

 the fact that it is peculiar to the island, and the questions 

 naturally arise, whether it originated there spontaneously — an 

 hypothesis now considered untenable — or whether it was im- 

 ported, and, if so, whence. In any case, there is evidence of its 

 presence ages before the present time in soil now much below the 

 surface of the sea. The most probable explanation of its presence 

 in these coral islands is that fruits of the Virginian Juniper were 

 introduced by birds from the continent to the island, and that in 

 course of time the species has varied so greatly, owing to local 

 conditions, that it is now so different from its ancestral state as to 

 warrant being placed in a separate species. 



Variegation in Narcissus. — Mr. Wolley Dod showed leaves 

 of Narcissus incomparabilis marked with longitudinal stripes of 

 yellow. The condition was common this year, and independent 

 of variations in soil. Mr. Wilks had met with the same ex- 

 perience. 



Scientific Committee, April 24, 1894. 



E. McLachlan, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair, and eight members 



present. 



Precocious Flowering of Hawthorn. — The Chairman showed 

 sprays of the common Hawthorn in bloom on April 22. [The 

 earliest date given in Roberts's " Naturalist's Diary " is April 30, 

 the latest June 4, average May 13.] 



Cypripedium with Three Lips. — A specimen of C. niveum, 

 received by Messrs. Sander from M. Joly, of Vienna, was 

 exhibited. The peculiarity consisted in the fact that the lateral 

 petals had assumed the form ordinarily confined to the lip. The 

 plant was stated to produce such flowers regularly. 



Coccid on Ash. — The scale insect affecting Ash, and shown 

 at the last meeting, was ascertained to be Chionaspis salicis, 

 which, according to Mr. Douglas, is common on Ash, Lime, and 

 other trees. 



Diseased Lily Leaves. — Specimens of Lilium Harrisi were 



