76 
Proceedings of the Royal Soeiety 
read through the night higher than 52°‘0, it was found this morning 
to have marked 61° -5. 
One consequence of this has been, that while the snow of last 
Saturday held its own very tenaciously all yesterday on the top of 
the Calton Hill, there is not the smallest particle of it visible this 
morning on any side, or in any nook and corner ; while the grass 
of the hill looks fresher, greener, healthier than it has done through 
several years past, at the same date. 
The present winter began indeed in a very threatening manner 
with its great snow-storm early in December. But, as I had the. 
opportunity of mentioning in the Eegistrar-General’s return for that 
month, the appearance would probably be found to be exceptional, 
rather than characteristic of the whole season : for we were too far 
advanced at the present time into the middle of a sun-spot cycle, to 
fear any of those thoroughly and throughout severe winters which, 
according to the Edinburgh Koyal Observatory observations, have 
never occurred but at, or near, the heginning of such a cycle. 
5. Diagnoses plantariim novarum Phanerogamarum Socotren- 
sium, ete. ; quas elaboravit Bayley Balfour, Scientise Doctor 
et in Universitate Glascuensi rermn botanicarum regius 
Professor. Pars Tertia. 
PLDMBAGINEH^. 
87. VoGELiA PENDULA, Balf. fit. \ fruticosa ramis pendulis; foliis 
plus minusve spathulatis; infiorescentia diffusa paniculata; sepal- 
orum marginibus membranaceis vix • bullatis intus glandulis 
instructis ; corollse lobis sinu non-mucronulato. 
Socotra, in montibus Haghier. B.C.S. No. 411. Schweinf. No. 
586. 
SAPOTACEiE. 
88. SiDEROXYLON FiMBRiATUM, Balf. fit. \ arboreum glabrescens 
ramis rugosis ; foliis petiolatis. exstipulatis ellipticis v. oblongo- 
ellipticis v. obovatis obtusis, basi subcuneatis, subtus pallidis ; fasci- 
culis sessilibus; pedicellis brevibus validisj calycis lobis suborbicul- 
aribus ; corolla calyce longiore ; staminum filamentis glabris ; 
staminodeis petaloideis obovatis fimbriatis ; fructu rostrato. 
Socotra, in convallibus prope Kadhab. B.C.S. No. 339. 
