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PROCEEDINGS OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 
BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 
Sept. 7. —C. Johnson, Esq., V.-P., in the chair.—The Secretary read a paper 
from the Curator, being “Observations on a New Principle of Fencing, constructed 
by Mr. Breese, formed according to the Laws of Vegetable Physiology.” It is, 
in fact, a natural living fence, and consists simply of growing and planting for the 
purpose trees, or shoots of the same species, or species of the same genus, and 
causing them to unite by means of the process of “ grafting by approach or 
inarching.” A trench being made around the ground intended to be inclosed, 
the young trees or shoots are then planted in two directions a foot from each 
other, one set, for example, pointing or sloping towards the north, the other 
set sloping towards the south; where they cross each other, the bark is re¬ 
moved on both stems, and the two stems are then tied together; in the course 
of a few weeks they unite, and a natural living fence is formed, acquiring 
additional strength every year by the deposition of new wood sent down from the 
upper portion of the shoot bearing leaves, &c.-—A paper was also read from the 
Curator, being observations on a variety of Polygonan avicvlare called P. mari- 
num of Hudson, specimens of which were exhibited, collected in Kent. 
Oct. 5 .—A specimen of Matricaria chamomilla (differing from the common 
state of the species in the florets of the ray being very short, and rather fewer 
than in the common one) was exhibited by Mr. W. Baxter. A specimen of 
Arenaria Norvegica , from Unst, Shetland, was also exhibited.—Mr. Breese 
exhibited a portion of his living fence, and further remarks were made, by Mr. 
Daniel Cooper, on its utility.—Mr. J. Kich communicated a paper, translated 
from the French, “ On the Formation of Crystals in the Cellules of Plants,” which 
led to some discussion. 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Oct. 9. —Rev, F. W. Hope in the chair.—The reading of an elaborate paper, 
descriptive of the osteology of Marsupialia , was commenced by Mr. Owen, 
who remarked upon the great value of an acquaintance with the structure of the 
skeleton in determining the genera and species of this group of animals, and 
proposed a new genus, Thylacomys , for certain species presenting a peculiar 
conformation of the cranium. In treating of the maxillary bones, Mr. Owen 
said he was induced to enter more largely into details, from the great interest 
attached to the fossil jaw found in the Oolitic strata at Stonesfield, and the 
doubts which had lately been expressed by M. de Blainvillb as to its true 
