Miscellaneous. 133 



larger two originate rather before the other two, which they exceed 

 in length at every period of their development. Among other La- 

 biatce, Ajuga reptans, Scutellaria columnce and commutata, present us 

 with the same phenomena. In ^hlomis fruticosa the helmet is 

 formed of two segments of the corolla, as in Lamium. 



In the Scrophulariacece the segments of the nascent corolla are also 

 equal, but only at their origin. The inequality always manifests 

 itself very soon, and earlier in proportion to the subsequent irregu- 

 larity of the corolla (Antirrhinum majus, Linaria cymbalaria, Penste- 

 mon Scoulteri, Collinsia bicolor, Scrophularia verna). In the genera 

 which possess a fifth, supplemental stamen, this is formed at the same 

 time as the two smaller and in the spot which remains vacant in the 

 Labiate. The symmetry is then perfect. 



In the Aristolochiacea (Aristolochia Clematitis and Pistolochia), the 

 simple perigone composing the flower is, at its origin, a kind of tube, 

 very short, at first with an equal and as it were truncated border ; 

 but this state persists but a very short time. One side of the mouth 

 of the tube becomes much developed, so as to form the well-known 

 limb of the Aristolochias, while the other undergoes but slight ex- 

 pansion. 



In the Verbenacea ( Verbena urticcefolia) and in the Dipsaceee (Sea- 

 biosa ucranica and atropurpurea) , the irregular corolla follows the 

 same law of development. 



The petals of the Leguminosce are equal and alike at the origin of 

 the flower ; but a difference of form and size very soon becomes evi- 

 dent (Cytisus nigricans and laburnum, Vlex europceus, Erythrina crista- 

 galli). 



The case is the same in the Polygalaceae (Polygala austriaca and 

 chamcebuxus) . From all these circumstances we may conclude that 

 the irregularity of the corolla, at least in the families cited in this 

 note, is a condition arising after the first appearance of the flower, 

 and is a consequence of an inequality of development among the 

 different parts which compose the floral envelope. — Comptes Rendus, 

 June 8, 1846.— A. H. 



EXTRAORDINARY FLIGHT OF BUTTERFLIES. 



To Richard Taylor, Esq. 



Philosophical Hall, Leeds, July 20, 1846. 



Dear Sir, — As there is an account of a large flight of Butterflies, 

 in one of the Canterbury papers, which passed over from France to 

 England during the present month, without any precise statement as 

 to the species, it would be very desirable if some reader of the ' An- 

 nals ' could furnish that piece of information, so that a more complete 

 record of the circumstance might be preserved. Should the above 

 account have escaped your notice, I venture to send a copy of it, 

 taken from the Leeds Mercury of July 18th : — 



" Extraordinary Flight of Butterflies. — One of the largest flights of 

 Butterflies ever seen in this country crossed the Channel from France 

 to England on Sunday last. Such was the density and extent of the 



