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PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
forget to avail themselves. The Bean Goose is never seen near its nest except 
when laying, and it covers its eggs before leaving them, like a Duck. The nest 
is placed under a thick Box-bush, in a place similar to that which a Duck would 
choose. The eggs are very pure white, and of a large proportional size. A 
Canada Goose has a nest within half-a-dozen yards ; it is guarded at all hours 
by the two birds, which are noisy and fierce, contorting their necks singularly 
on the approach of any person. This species invariably selects an open, uncovered 
situation, merely scraping a slight hollow in the ground. The large China 
Goose, however—like the domestic breed—prefers an artificial box in which to 
retire. We are confident the Smew would breed if it had a. mate. It has a 
curious manner of throwing back the neck, uttering at the same time a very 
peculiar low rattling note, evidently expressive of its desires. The Shoveller 
raises and lowers its neck several times successively, accompanying the movement 
by a low thick sound; this it does particularly after driving a rival from its 
mate. We have often seen a pair of Shovellers with their bills quite immersed 
vertically downwards, sail round and round in a small circle for perhaps a quarter 
of an hour together, thus causing a small eddy, and straining floating particles 
from the water by means of their bill-laminse. 
Few spots are more interesting to the ornithologist than St. James’s Park. 
The superiority of its arrangements over those of most other collections of a similar 
nature is both striking and considerable. 
BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 
March 16. —J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., Pres., in the chair.—Mr. D. Cooper, 
A.L.S., delivered his second lecture on the practical part of Botany.—The 
Secretary announced a splendid donation of foreign plants found in different parts 
of Europe, comprising 1,000 species, presented by H. B. Fielding, Esq., Corresp. 
Memb. of the Soc., and Local Sec. for Lancashire.—Dr. Robert J. N. Stree- 
ton was elected a Corresponding Member.—A paper from J. Riley, Esq., 
was read, being remarks on a paper lately read before the Society by Mr. White, 
* 6 On Hybridity in Ferns,” translated from a paper by M. Martens, of the Royal 
Academy of Brussels.—Specimens of Gymnogramma colomelanos , G. chrysophilla , 
and G. sulphurea , were exhibited. 
April 6.—J. E. Gray, Esq., in the chair.—The Secretary announced donations 
of books from Mr. W. Baxter, A.L.S., and also of some plants from Mr. Edwin 
Lees, Corr. Memb., and Loc. Sec. for Worcestershire.—Mr. Cooper delivered his 
third lecture on practical Botany.—A leaf of Victoria regina , sent to the Society 
by Mr. Schomburgk, was exhibited. 
The Secretary read a paper from R. H. Schomburgk, Esq. (still in British 
Guiana), on Triplaris Americana , the Ant-tree of Guiana. The trunk is 
