72 [July 1898 



CORRESPONDENCE 



CORRIGENDA 



May I ask those who have copies of my paper " Pentacrinus : a name and its 

 history," either in vol. xii. of Natural Science or in its separate form, to correct the 

 following misprints ? 



On p. 248, throughout the second paragraph, for C and D read B and C respectively. 

 Through this misprint I appear to maintain the very proposition that the paper was 

 written to disprove. I am indebted to the Rev. G. F. Whidborne for its discovery. 



On page 253, second line from bottom, for 1897 read 1877. 



7th June 1898. F. A. Bather. 



THE STUDY OF VARIATIONS 



I do not wish to trouble your readers with a prolonged and unedifying controversy, but 

 I would only say that there is no question of rival theories, as Mr Tayler states, for 

 when one sees plants rapidly changing their forms under one's very eyes, it is no more a 

 theory to describe the process than to say trees put on their leaves in spring. 



Mr Tayler's article is headed as above. Had Mr Baker of Kew written an article upon 

 this subject, one would expect a treatise on roses or some such variable genus, for a 

 scientific man would at first procure his variations in nature, and then study them. Mr 

 Tayler reverses this process. He proposes a new system of classification, and when 

 asked for examples, makes the astounding reply: — "I believe none are to be found in 

 the present state of our knowledge on this question " ! After such a confession it would 

 be quite unprofitable to discuss his d priori assumptions, which he thus confesses have 

 no bases in facts. George Henslow. 



FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS 



In the business relations of the Concilium Bibliographicum with its English sub- 

 scribers we have had frequent occasion to note a very widespread misapprehension in 

 regard to the foreign money order service which must seriously hamper those desirous of 

 purchasing books or specimens abroad. It is really astounding how many letters we 

 have received with the query, " But how can we remit such small sums ? " To such we 

 have replied by a simple statement of the procedure necessary, and, judging from the 

 surprise manifested, I fancy such a statement may interest many of your readers. All 

 that is necessary is to fill out an international money order-blank, to be had at any 

 money order post-office, at a commission of 6d. for sums under £2. Such blanks call 

 for the name and address of the sender and of the person to whom the money is to 

 be paid, the amount, and the date. No further steps are necessary, the money being 

 delivered by the letter carriers, who at the same time leave a statement showing the 

 sum sent, the date, and the name and address of the sender. The issuing office gives 

 a receipt to the sender showing to whom the money is payable. Thus, without even 

 writing to the person to whom the money is to be paid, a foreign account may be paid 

 and a receipt for payment received. Herbert Haviland Field. 



[We must believe Dr Field's statement as to the ignorance of the British scientific 

 public ; but we agree with him that it is astounding. — Ed. Nat. Sci.] 



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