492 DE. M. T. MASTERS OK THE STBXJCTUUE OF THE 



ing occupation and competency to thousands, is surely a worthy 

 object for acclimatization societies, the efforts of which are too 

 often directed to chimerical, unpromising, or futile projects 



" arenas arantes." 



On the Structure of the Plower in tKe Genus JVapoIeona^ &c. 



By Maxwell T. Mast^^s, M.D., F.L.S. 



[Head Jane 18, 1868.] 



The genus ITapoleona is one that possesses much interest, on ac- 

 count of its peculiar structure, the history attaching to it, the 

 differences of opinion concerning its position in the natural system? 

 its affinities, the number of species referable to it, &c. It has in 

 consequence attracted the attention of botanists in no ordinary 

 degree ; and among the more eminent naturalists who have studied 

 the genus are P. de Beauvois, A. de Jussien, Desfontaines, Sir 

 W- Hooker, Bentham, Lindley, Decaisne, and Plancbon, not to 

 speak of others less widely known. The discrepancies in the 

 statements and opinions of these botanists are very great ; scarcely 

 two of them describe the plant in the same way, and even the 

 representations that have been made of specimens supposed to 



at daybreak below zero does not exceed ten ; and it rarely is below zero for 

 more than two mornings in succession. In the coldest winter afternoon it 

 always rises above zero. 



"Ill a cool room, with Venetian blinds, the temperature does not rise above 

 80^ except for a few hours during some twentj-five to thirty-five afternoons in 

 each summer ; and these comparatively hot days do not occur together, but are 

 distributed, with cool intervals, in groups of three to five throughout June, 

 July, and August. In these months the temperature always falls below 80^ 

 during the nights. In exceptionally hot siunmers, as in that of 1862, the ther- 

 mometer may stand at daybreak at 75° to 79^ for some twenty days ; in cool 

 summers it rarely stands above 70^^ at daybreak. As to the highest tempera- 

 ture of the Table, that of 85*^, it has only once been attained in my library 

 during five years ; that was on the 31st July, 1862. 



** All the preceding remarks refer to the climate of the port of ITewchwang. 

 The northern portions of the Consular District of Newchwang are very much 

 colder in winter, and have shorter and cooler summers." 



The mean temperature of Peking, as deduced by Kuppfer from 13 years 

 observations, is, spring 51°*8, summer 68"^ "0, autumn 50°"4, winter 29°*4. A 

 comparison of the temperatures of various European cities, as given in Mahl- 

 mann's elaborate Tables, in the third volume of Humboldt's *Asic Centrale 

 will, I believe, prove my assertion. 



