is about four inches, in them the spike is usually very much shortened and most of the flowers abortive, but in others the spike has the usual form, and many of the flowers produce apparently perfect seeds. From the axil of some of these enlarged tracts there grows a peduncle supporting a spike which is nearer the natural structure as to length, size of bracts, and development of flowers. 3. Trifolium hybridum. This plant sometimes shows complete transformation of its ovary into a leaf resembling in miniature the ordinary leaves of the plant. Sometimes the change is incomplete, the leaf remaining conduplicate with edges partially adherent near the apex, with a gradual prolongation resembling styles and stigma. 4. "Descriptions of some new and remarkable species of Aristolochia from Western Tropical Africa." By J. D. Hooker, M.D., F.R.S., V.P.L.S., &c.-This paper contains descriptions of three new species of Aristolochia, called by the author A. Goldiana, A. triactina and A. Mannii. The first of these is remarkable from the number of its stamens which amounts to about 24, and the number of styles which is about 12, each being bifid. 5. "The Diatomacea of Otago, New Zealand," by W. Lauder Lindsay, M.D., F.R.S., Edin., &c.-This is a short list of Otago Diatoms, containing 110 species, 30 genera, and 12 families. It includes only three new species, called respectively Cymbella Lindsayana, Grev., Stauroneis scapuliformis, Grev., and S. rotundata, Grev. The collection was made in 1861 in the Green-island district of Otago, round the station of Fairfield, Saddlehill. It is confined to freshwater forms. 6. "Note of Observations and Experiments on Germination," by G. Dickie, M.D., F.L.S.-Dr. Dickie's attention having been drawn to Dr. Hooker's observations on the singular phenomena of the apparent persistence of the cotyledons in Welwitschia, and to Mr. Crocker's no less curious observations on the mode of germination in some species of Streptocarpus, he was induced to experiment upon germinating seeds, with the view of testing the nature of the primary axis, and the physiological value of the cotyledonary leaves, as organs of nutrition, &c. His results are very curious. In one species of Streptocarpus he found that the cotyledons, which were at first opposite and equal, became alternate, the lower decaying, and the upper being persistent,-he attributes this to the development of an internode between the two cotyledons. This leads him to the consideration of the descending axis, which has been regarded as the first internode of the plant. Experiments made with Castor oil seeds and those of a species of Ipomaa, showed that by removing the plumule after the expansion of the cotyledonary leaves, and pinching off all succeeding buds as they formed, a considerable accession of growth in all dimensions was induced in the cotyledonary leaves, and the descending axis became proportionately increased in length and diameter. In the case of the Ipomea the axis increased as much as that of another specimen in which the ascending axis was allowed to grow on till the flower-buds were formed. 4.-ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, (11, Hanover Square.) The Secretary called the attention of the meeting to the fine male example of the Mantchurian Deer (Cervus mantchuricus) in the Society's Gardens, which had been received from Mr. Swinhoe, and read an extract from a letter from Mr. Swinhoe, giving further details respecting this animal.-Dr. Crisp made some observations on the anatomy of the Water Ousel (Cinclus aquaticus), with reference to its mode of feeding, and to its power of remaining under water. Dr. Crisp also called attention to and exhibited specimens of the os penis of the Chimpanzee (Troglodytes niger), and of the Orang (Simia satyrus), remarking that the existence of this bone in these two species had not been before observed.-Mr. Francis Day read the first part of a Memoir on the Fishes of Cochin, on the Malabar coast of India. The present communication, which was devoted to the Ancanthoptergii, enumerated upwards of 120 species of this order as having been collected or observed by the author in Cochin, amongst which were several considered to be new to science. Mr. Day's notes embraced many particulars as to the times of the year at which the various species were met with on the coast of Cochin, and as to the uses to which they were put by the natives.Mr. St. George Mivart read some Notes of the myology of the Green Monkey (Cercopithecus sabæus), in which the conditions presented by some of those muscles which show such interesting variations in the Order Primates, were recorded.-Dr. Gray gave a notice of an apparently new form of whalebone Whale, proposed to be called Eschrichtius robustus, founded on a specimen stranded on the coast of Devonshire, in 1861, portions of the skeleton of which had been obtained for the British Museum by Mr. Pengelly.-Dr. Gray communicated a Revision of the family Mustelide, founded on the specimens contained in the collection of the British Museum. This group of carnivorous animals, according to Dr. Gray's arrangement, contained forty-seven species, divisible into twenty-three genera, ten of which were stated to be peculiar to the New World.-Mr. G. French Angas read descriptions of ten new species of Mollusks, chiefly from the Australian seas.-A paper was read by Messrs. H. Adams and G. F. Angas, entitled "Descriptions of Two New Species of Shells in the Collection of Mr. G. French Angas."-Two Communications were read from Mr. W. Harper Pease, Corr. Mem. The first of these consisted of a note "On the Synonymy of Sistrum cancellatum." The second contained descriptions of a new species of Mollusk of the genus Latirus, together with remarks on other species of the same genus inhabiting the Pacific Islands.-Mr. Alfred Newton communicated descriptions of two new species of birds from the Island of Rodriguez, which he proposed to call Foudia flavicans and Drymæca rodericana. These birds had been discovered by Mr. Edward Newton, during a recent visit to Rodriguez, and were stated to be the only two indigenous land birds existing in the island. Dr. Baird communicated the description of a new species of Entozoon of the genus Bothridium, of De Blainville, from the intestines of the Diamond Snake of Australia. January 24th, 1865. The Secretary read some extracts from a letter addressed to him by Dr. G. Bennett, of Sydney, N.S. W., relating to a specimen of the Lyre-Bird (Menura nova hollandia), now living in Sydney, in the aviaries of the Acclimatation Society of that city, and intended to be transmitted to this country for the Zoological Society by the first opportunity.-Mr. Sclater exhibited a specimen of the continental Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta), from the collection of the Bishop of Oxford, stated to have been obtained near Brighton, in the winter of 1859-60.-Dr. J. Murie read a memoir on the anatomy of a species of Whale (Physalus antiquorum), captured at Gravesend, the skeleton of which was now exhibited in Rosherville Gardens.-A communication was read from Dr. G. Hartlaub, For. Memb., entitled "Descriptions of seven new species of Birds col lected in Benguela by Mr. J. J. Monteiro." This was followed by a communication from Mr. J. J. Monteiro himself, containing notes on these and other specimens of birds which he had obtained in the littoral region of Benguela, in the years 1862-1863.-Mr. Sclater communicated a series of notes by the late Mr. W. Osburn on the Chiroptera of Jamaica, giving the observations made by that gentleman on twelve species of this order of Mammals met with during his residence in that island. Mr. Sclater also exhibited the original specimen of Galago monteiri described by Mr. Bartlett in 1862 from the living animal, and stated that he considered it to be scarcely more than a pale variety of Galago crassicaudata.-Mr. O. A. L. Mörch, of Copenhagen, communicated some supplementary notes to his review of the family Vermetide which had been published in the Society's Proceedings for 1861 and 1862.-The Secretary called attention to the specimen of the Pronghorned Antelope of America (Antilocapra americana) just added to the Society's collection, being the first instance of this animal having reached Europe alive.— Two papers were read by Mr. G. French Angas, Corr. Memb. The first of these was entitled "Descriptions of four new species of Marine Shells from South Australia." Mr. Angas' second paper was a general article on the Marine Molluscan Fauna of South Australia, in which a list of all the species at present known to inhabit the coast of that country was given, together with remarks on their localities and distribution. February 14th, 1865. A letter was read from Dr. H. Burmeister, of Buenos Ayres, For. Memb., describing a new species of Whale, proposed to be called Balanoptera patachonica, founded on a skeleton in the museum of Buenos Ayres, and giving particulars as to specimens of certain other Cetacea in the same museum. Dr. A. Günther gave an account of the present state of his researches into the British species of Salmonoid fishes, which he had undertaken whilst engaged in preparing the catalogue of the specimens of this family in the collection of the British Museum. Dr. Günther stated that the genus Salmo was essentially an arctic group, inhabiting the northern portions of both hemispheres, and becoming more abundant in species upon receding from sub-tropical into temperate latitudes. Dr. Günther was disposed to believe that the species of this genus to be found within British waters would be ultimately found to be much more numerous than had been hitherto suspected. From the materials at present at his command, he had already been able to distinguish what he believed would turn out to be four new species of the non-migratory group of true Salmo, besides identifying several others heretofore imperfectly distinguished. Dr. Günther requested the assistance of the Fellows of the Society and their friends in furnishing him with series of specimens of our native salmons and trouts from every part of the British Islands, stating that in this difficult group of fishes no certain conclusions could be arrived at. without a large number of specimens for comparison. -Mr. A. Newton exhibited a specimen of the Carolina Crake (Porzana Carolina), stated to have been recently obtained on the Kennett, near Newbury, being the first recorded instance of the occurrence of this bird in this country. Mr. Newton also exhibited and made some remarks upon three bones of a large species of Dodo (Didus), recently disinterred by his brother, Mr. E. Newton (Corr. Mem.), from a cave in the island of Rodriguez.-Dr. Gray gave a notice of the skull of a new species of Bush-Goat, proposed to be called Cephalophus longiceps, which had been sent to the British Museum by Mr. Du Chaillu.-Dr. P. P. Carpenter communicated the diagnoses of some new forms of mollusks from the Vancouver district of Western America.-A letter was read addressed to the Secretary by Professor J. J. Bianconi, of Bologna, relating to the systematic position of the extinct bird of Madagascar, pyornis maxima, which he was of opinion should be referred to the Vulturida.-Mr. Gould exhibited and pointed out the characters of two new species of Australian Birds (Artamus melanops and Malurus leuconotus), discovered during the recent expeditions into the interior of that country.—Mr. Fraser read a list of a collection of shells recently made by Mr. R. Swinhoe, F.Z.S., in Formosa, and forwarded by that gentleman to Mr. Cuming's collection. February 28th, 1865. Mr. F. Day read the second part of a Memoir on the Fishes of Cochin on the Malabar coast of India. In this and a former communication on the same subject Mr. Day had enumerated, as obtained by himself in this locality, 210 species of fishes, about one |