452 Learned Societies. 
RovAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, REGENT’S PARK. — At 
a meeting of this society, held on the 6th ult. Professor 
Robert Bentley in the chair; the following were proposed 
and elected fellows of the society :—Charles Fowler, Esq., 
David John Davis, Esq., Mrs. Chas. A. Hibton, George 
Sims, Esq., Mrs. A. Kekewich, James Reynolds, Esq., Miss 
Mary Alice Lewin, Stephen George Holland, Esq., George 
Robarts, Esq., Samuel Heath, Esq., George Gilbert Tre- 
herne, Esq. Fine plants of the aucuba, commonly called 
variegated laurel, are now in fruit in the garden. Although 
this plant has been one of the commonest evergreens for 
more than fifty years, and is perfectly hardy, it has never 
fruited in the Society’s gardens before, and probably it is 
the first time it has been seen in fruit out of doors near 
London. The fruit is about ‘he size and shape of a small 
olive, growing in bunches of a vivid red colour. 
ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—At the fortnightly meeting 
on the 12th ult. J. Crawford Esq., F:R.S., president, in the 
chair, two papers of interest were read—one: “ On the Eth- 
nology of the Chinese,” by Dr. Lamprey, 69th Regiment ; 
and “An Account of some of the Tribes of Hindustan,’ 
by the Hon. George Campbell. Dr. Lamprey observed 
that the Chinese are generally supposed to be an homo- 
geneous race of marked Mongolian type. So far, this is, 
to some extent, correct, though the characters of the type 
are not so uniform in any one locality, any more than 
throughout the whole area of China, as is generally sup- 
posed. It did not take long, on visiting any part of China, 
to be convinced that all our preconceived notions of the 
Chinese type of countenance are very erroneous. It is only 
occasionally, and that after a stretch of imagination, that 
one can perhaps, detect a face having some resemblance to 
the ideal associated with the paintings on old China ware. 
The characteristics of the inhabitants of the main provinces 
were given in detail, and comments made upon their eth- 
nological origins. The second paper, by Mr. Justice Camp- 
bell, gave short characteristic accounts of the various races 
ia Hindustan, being a first contribution to this society of 
the labours he has begun on the great subject of Indian 
ethnology. The papers were ably and lucidly discussed 
by Dr. Lockhart, for many years medical missionary in 
China, Mr. D’Alveira, of Singapore, General Balfour, Dr. 
Campbell, Mr. Lamprey, the president, and others. 
INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.—At the monthly 
ballot the following candidates were balloted for and duly ~ 
