NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 95 



destruction, and dismissing the idea of wound or puncture, 

 how does the question rest 1 



Assuming that disease and destruction of j)aTts had taken 

 place, arising from an overstrain caused by forced flexion, or 

 from idiopathic causes; nature would adopt the fittest and 

 safest means to avoid, if possible, a fatal result; and that seems, 

 by the study of these specimens, to have been gradual and 

 partial enlargement or increased size of the walls of the column 

 (a process of time), by local and special deposition of con- 

 structive materials — providing thus a safeguard to sustain the 

 column while under active disease, till the morbid parts were 

 eliminated and restoration effected. By direct and instantaneous 

 injury of an organism so flexible, such as puncture or laceration, 

 to the extent indicated, the column would have been hopelessly 

 destroyed. 



Something strictly analogous takes place in the vegetable world. 

 A larch is observed to dwine, a dark spot appears, which seems as 

 if caused by puncture, from which, in time, issues abundantly a 

 resinous substance. The tree swells or increases in size for a space 

 above and below the injured part, except on the side of the 

 aperture, and after a struggle the tree dies, or may regain new 

 powers, and grow vigorously. Trees are found with the remains 

 of two or sometimes three such efforts at destruction by disease. 

 In a plantation of any considerable extent where there are the 

 usual proportion of larch trees, hundreds of examples of this 

 morbid process may be seen. This disease is considered to be 

 constitutional or hereditary. 



The deduction adopted seems to be a fair and reasonable 

 inference from the phenomena presented, in the examples given 

 of partial or local enlargement, and relative conditions of the 

 Crinoidea. 



Addendum to Monograph on Phaeniisa. By Mr Peter Cameron. 



{See page 5 of y resent Volume). 



Since my paper on Phaenusct was written, I have seen two 

 British examples of P. hortulana — one in Stephens' collection in the 

 British Museum, and another in the collection of the Eev. T. A. 

 Marshall, F.L.S., this last specimen having probably been taken 

 by that gentleman's father. I do not know the locality where 

 either of them was taken. 



