Botanical Section^, Jan. 19, 1865. — Mr. A. Leipner, 
president, in the chair. The accounts for the nreceding 
year were read and passed, and the sectional officers re- 
elected for the ensuing year, with thanks to them for their 
services in the past. Mr Lobb read a oaper on Hintialayan 
ferns, illustrated by an extremely beautiful and varied 
collection of these elegant plants, obtained during: the 
ilndian mutiny at a statioM in 35^ degrees north latitude. 
They varied very much in characteristics and in the 
I temperature under which they lived, some being known in 
England, and others requiring a much greater heat, and ' 
scarcely known here, even in collections. Since the 
collection bad come into his hands the author had endea- 
voured to identify several of the species, with the help of 
]Mr. Lowe's descriptions, the details of which he read to the 
jsection, while the members compared the plant with them. In 
some iostaaces there was some doubt as to the correctness 
of the names, dried specimens being difficult to identify. 
The follwwing, however, were ascertained with tolerable 
certainty: — Polypodium iriodes, not uncommon. P. 
subpetiolatum, not well-known. ?. hemionitideam, a rare 
land delicate fern. P. lepidopodum, a handsome and un- 
common fern. Adiantum candatum, requiring much heat, 
and unknown in England. Aspidium tnucronatum, scarce. 
lAlsophila ferox, woodwardia radicaus, remarkable for its 
[tendency to form buds ; and lastly a nothochlaena, probably 
N. argentea, a very rare fern, with a beautiful snow- 
white powder on the under surface of the pinnae At 
the conclusion of the paper, Mr. Yabbicom exhibited a 
series of microscopic preparations of the fructification of 
these ferns. 
Sectional Secretaries. 
WM. LANT CARPENTER, 
Honorary Reporting Secretary. \ 
