X Transactions of the Boyal Society of South Africa. 
from the Angiosperms, perhaps none is of greater importance than the 
origin of the Endosperm. In the former group the Endosperm is a 
prothallus homologous with that of the ferns. In the Angiosperms, on 
the contrary, the Endosperm is derived from a fusion-nucleus — the 
primary Endosperm nucleus. In Weliuitschia, probably the highest 
living Gymnosperm, the Endosperm arises from the fusion of a large 
number of potentially sexual nuclei. This method of Endosperm forma- 
tion appears to be characteristic also of the allied genus Gnetum, and to 
occur in no other Gymnosperm. It is suggested that the Endosperm of 
the Angiosperm is derived by a series of reductions and degrees of speciali- 
sation from a primitive type, essentially similar to that now found in 
Welwitschia. This hypothesis is strengthened by the fact that stages in 
this process can be identified in living Angiosperms. If these views are 
sustained, there is established an important link between the Gymno- 
sperms and the Angiosperms, groups whose inter-relationships are obscure. 
The President announced the election of Sir David Gill as Honorary 
Fellow of the Society. 
Mr. A. F. Williams, of Kimberley, was elected Ordinary member. 
Ordinary Monthly Meeting. 
October 21, 1908. 
Mr. S. S. Hough, F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 
The President read the list of the newly elected Fellows of the Eoyal 
Society of South Africa: A. J. Anderson, M.A., M.B., &c., Cape Town ; 
H. C. Behr, M.I.C.E., Johannesburg; H. Bohle, M.I.C.E., Cape Town; 
W. A. Caldecott, B.A., Johannesburg; L. Crawford, M.A., D.Sc, Cape 
Town; J. Burtt-Davy, F.L.S., Pretoria; P. D. Hahn, Ph.D., Cape 
Town; J. K. E. Halm, Ph.D., Cape Town; H. C. Schunke Hollway, 
F.E.S.E., Paarl; H. Ingle, B.A., F.C.S., Pretoria; E. T. A. Innes, 
F.E.M.S., Johannesburg; H. Kynaston, B.A., Pretoria; E. A. Lehfeldt, 
D.Sc, Johannesburg; C. P. Lounsbury, B.A., Cape Town; E. Marloth, 
Ph.D., Cape Town; J. Moir, D.Sc, Johannesburg; J. T. Morrison, 
M.A., B.Sc, Stellenbosch ; E. Neville, F.E.S., Durban; A. Ogg, M.A., 
Ph.D., Grahamstown; H. H. W. Pearson, M.A., ScD., Cape Town; 
W. F. PuRCELL, B.A., Ph.D., Cape Town; A. W. Egberts, D.Sc, Love- 
dale; W. Eobertson, M.E.C.S., Cape Town ; A. W. Eogers, M.A., D.Sc, 
Cape Town; S. Schonland, Ph.D., M.A., Grahamstown; E. H. L. 
Schwarz, A.E.C.S., Grahamstown ; J. E. Sutton, D.Sc, M.A., Kim- 
berley ; E. Warren, D.Sc, Pietermaritzburg ; and F. J. Way, M.I.C.E., 
Johannesburg. 
