38 Varietäten, Descendenz, Hybriden. 



fauchees au mois de juin, juillet ou aoüt. Ce mode de reproduction 

 anormal doit avoir son influence sur la plante. Les mensurations 

 faites montrent que la plante se transforme en effet et passe ä l'he- 

 terostylie. On constate chez Narcissus angustifolius les caracteres 

 tres nets de la longueur inegale des styles et des filets d'une fleur 

 ä une autre. Cette plante se modine en vue d'arriver ä ce que la 

 fecondation soit crois^e. 



Les monstruosites chez ce Narcissus sont nombreuses. On ob- 

 serve souvent des perigones ayant plus de six parties: tantöt les 

 pieces supplementaires se trouvent sur le meme rang que les autres, 

 tantöt aussi elles forment un et meme deux rangs suivant leur 

 nombre. Lorsque ces pieces apparaissent dans une fleur, il en r€- 

 sulte le plus souvent une anomalie correspondante dans le nombre 

 des etamines; c'est ainsi que plusieurs exemplaires possedant 8, 9 

 et 10 parties accusaient un nombre correspondant d'etamines. 



Des antheres anormales se voient quelquefois sur le bord de 

 la corolle; le style, dans quelques cas, est devenu filamenteux, don- 

 nant ainsi ä toute la fleur un aspect particulier. M. Boubier. 



Seward, A.. C, Darwin and Modern Science: Essays in 

 Commemoration of the Centenary of the Birth of Char- 

 les Darwin and of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Pu- 

 blication ofthe Origin ofSpecies. (Cambridge Univ. Press. 

 1909. XVII, 595 pp. with 2 port. and 3 pl. 18 shill. nett.) 



This volume amply fulfils the hope expressed by the Editor 

 when he says "It was hoped that the publication of the essays would 

 serve the double purpose of illustrating the far-reaching influence 

 of Darwin's work on the progress of knowledge and the present 

 attitude of original investigators and thinkers towards the views 

 embodied in Darwin's works". It is indeed impossible not to be 

 impressed, in reading these essays, and more particularly those 

 which treat their respective subjects from the historical Standpoint, 

 with the change which was brought about by the enunciation of 

 the principle of evolution. 



The authors of the essays were asked to address themselves 

 primarily to the educated layman rather than to the expert; to the 

 specialist, therefore, the volume is the more attractive in that it 

 affords him an opportunity of obtaining a glimpse into fields of 

 enquiry other than those which he has made particularly his own. 



As the Editor remarks, the essays ränge themselves in two 

 groups — those which deal primarily with the results of Darwin's 

 own work, and those which review the progress of investigation on 

 lines undeveloped in Darwin's day, but the direct outcome of 

 Darwin's work. An interesting personal note is Struck in one or 

 two of the essays, notably in that of J. W. Judd and also in that 

 of Professor E. B. Poulton who prints two hitherto unpublished 

 letters of Darwin. 



Representing as they do the views of men of many schools of 

 thought, it is natural and stimulating that the essays reveal diver- 

 gences of opinion among biologists. Prof. Weismann, in his essay 

 "The Selection Theory" deals with the evidence of the selection and 

 augmentation of minute variations; he is followed by Prof. de Vries 

 who, on the other hand, Champions the cause of evolution through 

 saltatory variations or mutations. 



While these authors perhaps emphasise the importance they 





