xxiv Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa. 
The object of the paper is to show the effect of bi-prisms on the Lane 
spots. Experiments carried out with prisms of NaCl show that the spots 
are " fluted," and that the central spot is elliptic instead of circular. 
Sixty degrees and 179 degrees bi-prisms show this phenomenon, especially 
when they are rotated through a small angle. 
" On the * Lines ' within Eontgen Interference Photographs," by J. S. 
V. D. LiNGEN. 
The author holds that these lines are due to the ruptured surface, which 
will most probably resemble an echelon grating. Sodium Chloride, Quartz, 
Silicon, and Magnesium Hydroxide photographs are described. These show 
" irregular spots " under certain conditions. 
Ordinary Meeting. 
June 16, 1915. 
The President, Dr. L. Peringuey, was in the Chair. 
The Minutes of the previous Meeting were confirmed. 
The following nominations for membership were intimated : Mr. L. 
Simons, B.Sc, Mr. P. Brinsley, M.Sc, and Mr. C. S. GtRObbelaar, M.A. 
Proposed by Dr. E. J. Goddard, seconded by Dr. B. St. J. v. d. Eiet. 
Miss E. M. Doidge, D.Sc, P.L.S, and Mr. J. A. v. d. Bijl, M.A., P.L.S. 
Proposed by Sir A. Theiler, seconded by Dr. C. F. Juritz. 
Mr. R. Ray, B.Sc, was elected a member. 
The following communications were made : 
" Osteology of Palaeornis, with other notes on the genus." By E. W. 
Shttfeldt. Communicated by Dr. L. P^ringuey. 
A description is given of one of the most abundant parrots of India — 
Palaeornis torquatus, or the Eing-parrot — so named for the reason that in 
the adult a ring or collar forms a part of the plumage of the neck. It is a 
species long known to many in the Indian Empire, where it is represented 
as the vahana or vehicle " of Kama, one of the gods of the Hindus. Kama 
corresponds to our Cupid, or rather the classic Eros, symbolising Love 
These birds, for there are several species of them, are supposed to have been 
known to the Grreeks and Eomans, but they were not considered as a sub- 
family of parrots until so founded in 1825 by Vigors, who gave them the 
name of Palaeornithinae. 
" Note on apparent Apogamy in Pterygodium Newdigatae.'" By Miss 
A. y. DUTHIE. 
This paper deals with a cleistogamous variety of the South African 
Orchid Pterygodium Newdigatae and is of special interest because 
cleistogamy, rare enough among Orchids, appears here to be accompanied 
by apogamy. 
