Botanical Section, March 16th. — The last evening; 
meeting of the session, the walKs commencing next month. 
Mr. Leipner presided. On the motion of the Secretary, it 
was resolved that an annual subscription of half-a-guinea 
should be paid by the section to the library fund. Mr. 
G. Harding gave a short paper on the ferns of New 
Zealand, which he illustrated with an extensive and 
well preserved collection of these interesting plants, 
gathered in the Auckland district about twelve months 
before, consisting of 23 genera and 52 species, many showing 
very singular forms, and comparatively unknown in this coun- 
try. Two species of Trichomanes were remarkable, T. reni- 
forme having the sori contained in urn-shaped involucres. 
Lygodium articulatum was a climbing fern, and Asplenium 
bulbiferum produced young plants on the surface of the 
frond, some being attached to the specimen shown. A. 
flabellifolium had the apex of the frond provided with ten- 
drils. Of the six Adiantums, a pretty form was seen ia 
JEthiopecum. Davallia N'ovae Zealandiae was very elegant. 
Nephobolus rupestris bad a creeping stem, and the fertile 
fronds of the four species of Lomaria were covered with 
abundant sori. All the species of Hymenophyllum were 
beautiful, the pennae being cut into hair-like segments. 
Among the tree-ferns were two species of Cyathea— both 
handsome, C. dealbata having the under surface of the frond 
of a pale grayish green, and the upper a dark olive. Mr. 
Harding also exhibited an interesting series of microscopic 
preparations illustrative of the fructification of some of 
! these ferns. 
Mr. B. N". Lobb then brought forward the remainder of 
the Himalayan ferns, continuing the communication made 
at the previous meeting upon them. The forms were very 
, beautiful, but mostly unknown in this country, and they 
could not be named with certainty. 
F. ASHMEAD. -n 
S. H. SWAYNE, / 
A. NOBLE, > Sectional Secretaries, 
J. BARBER. V 
I T. H. YABBICOM,J 
WM. LANT CARPENTER, 
Honorary Reporting Secretary. 
