Another paper not less remarkable, although of a different 
nature, viz. : A memoir on the “ Pou a poche blanche,” by 
Dr. leery, was presented by the author. It is accompanied 
with drawings from nature of the insect, magnified by a 
powerful instrument. It fully deserves the enconiums bes- 
tow r ed by the Society, both on the author and on Mr. Desjardins 
who executed the drawings under the direction of Dr. leery. 
The “ Pou h poche blanche” had already been the subject 
of examination by Mr. Westwood F. L. S., from specimens 
forwarded to him by the Secretary. Mr. Westw ood says it be- 
longs to the genus Coccus, of which the species are very nu- 
merous. Dr. leery proposed that it should form a new genus 
to be called G aster alphus, a name which indicates the protu- 
berance which constitutes the external form of the insect. 
The Society, through its President, thanked Dr. Guthrie 
and Dr. Icerv for their papers which were ordered to be prin- 
ted with the Transactions of the Society for the present year. 
The Secretary read extracts from a paper published by Dr. 
Hooker in a number of the “ Natural Historv Review, ” on a 
subject which is not new’, but to which he attaches great im- 
portance, viz : the replacing in countries and colonies which 
are in frequent communication with European or other coun- 
tries, of certain indigeneous plants by plants from the other 
countries. 
“ It must be long, “he says”, 1 efore facts enough to theorize 
“ upon can Ire collected. Meanwhile, the inquiry appears 
“ perhaps the most interesting and important in all Biology, 
“ and as such it is most earnestly to be desired that all that 
“ are favorably circumstanced to pursue it, will do so both 
“ systematically and very carefully:” 
It has been in the power of your Secretary, so far as -Mau- 
ritius is concerned, to test the correctness of these assertions. 
He has been able to point out several exotic plants which have 
taken possession of our soil, and which have grown in such 
profusion in retired spots, in the borders of our forests and on 
our mountains, that strangers to the Flora of Mauritius would 
believe them to be indigeneous. 
The Secretary has also pointed out the fruit trees, w hich 
adorn our orchards, some of which such as the guava, the 
mango, the custard apple, the strawberry and the raspberry 
are to be seen growing w ild in different parts of the island. 
On the other hand, several indigeneous plants have become 
extremely scarce, either through the destruction of the forests, 
or from other cause. The same remarks mav have suggested 
themselves to Your Excellency. There Avas formally, say, 
twenty or twenty-five years ago, to be found in the Kcduit 
