4 
29 
bud has beep developed, and from the number of small scales on this 
bud, it is evident that, under still more favorable conditions, a spike 
of several flowers might result. It wo'^ld be worth while to look for 
similar manifestations in Cypripedmm acatile. It would further be 
interesting to attempt to expose the law by which suppression is ac- 
complished in these one-floAvered species. 
ThOiMAS Meehan. 
Mimicry in a Fungus. 
—We- are indebted to the courtesy of the 
Scientific American for the accompanying cut, which illustrates 
a curious form of Polyporus Incidus, Fr., a fungus that not unfre- 
quently assumes odd shapes. '* Its likeness to a profile view of 
the Duke of Wellington is striking. It was tound growing from the 
side of a partially decayed hemlock log, with the face side up, which 
now has the seamed and wrinkled appearance shown in the illustra- 
tion of the face of the Iron Duke in his later years. The shrunken 
^outh and lips and the prominent nose are all plainly indicated." 
Humulus. — In all botanical works that give the etymons of 
generic names it is either asserted or suggested that Humulus is a 
derivative iiom humus, 'moist earth,' the allusion being to the plant's 
