PROCEEDINGS OE THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 
435 
network, and gave a strong confirmation to the theory of the formation of wood 
of Du PETIT ThOUARS. 
Mr. Gray then made some remarks on a few rare Mammalia in the Liverpool 
Philosophical Museum. 1. A new species of Otter from Brazil, intermediate 
between the genera Liitra and JLnhydra. It possessed broad flat feet and tail, 
and fiat head, but not so marked as in the marine Otter, and much more so than 
the land Otter. 2. A young specimen of the Hyaena of New Holland {Thyla- 
cinus cynocephaliis)^ perhaps the only one in Great Britain. 3. Two specimens 
of the Antelope Philantomba^ which had only been described from a young speci¬ 
men in the British Museum, and on this account the size had been un¬ 
known. One of these specimens, being fully grown, determined that point. 
4>. Viverra Linsans^ a rare animal, only known in this country through a bad 
specimen brought from Java, and called Felis Javanensis. 5. Phoca lemura^ 
12 feet long, being a very fine specimen, and probably one of the largest Seals in 
a preserved state in this country.—Mr. Gray observed that all these animals 
were acquisitions to science, and would be valued as such by the zoologists pre¬ 
sent. He also observed on the inducement it offered for further exertions on the 
part of local museums. 
Professor Bindley then read a paper on a new plant, belonging to the natural 
order NymphceacecE^ that had lately been introduced to the attention of botanists 
by M. ScHOMBURGH, agent of the Geographical Society of London; but, he was 
sorry to say, only drawings of the plant had at present been obtained. He read 
an account given by M. Schomburgh of his discovery of it. (See report of Bo¬ 
tanical Society, in our current number.) He also made some observations on the 
structure of this plant, and proposed to give it the name Victoria regalis. He 
concluded by stating that he hoped the opportunities afforded by the trade of 
Liverpool with America would soon be the means of introducing this truly splen¬ 
did exotic to our shores. 
Wednesday. —Some papers -were read, and subjects discussed arising out of 
questions which had occupied the meetings on preceding days, before the room 
was opened for the [reception of visitors. As our pages are intended for general 
perusal we shall not give an account of this portion of the business of the sec¬ 
tion. 
The Rev. James Yates was requested to read the Report of Dr. Daubeny on 
the cultivation of plants under glasses without ventilation. 
In the latter end of last April, the Doctor introduced into globular glasses, co¬ 
vered over with bladder, three several sets of plants. In the first were Salum^ 
Lobelia^ &c.; in the second. Primula^ Alchemilla^ &c.; in the third, Armeria, 
Sempervivnm, &c. At the end of ten days the plants were healthy, and had 
grown. The air in the jars was examined, when it was found that the first and 
