SELECTED NOTES. 107 



best-known work. For at least half a century he has been the 

 highest authority, the practical dictator, of American botany. 



Few men have left this world leaving more friends and less 

 enemies. Always genial and courteous, he possessed the happy 

 talent of expressing a difference of opinion without giving offence, 

 much less making an enemy of his opponent, and that in a 

 country where acrimonious disputes are at least quite as common 

 as in Europe. An excellent teacher and writer of text-books — ■ 

 which are almost as much used in this country as on the other 

 side of the Atlantic— he was for many years on the professional 

 staff of Harvard College, at a time when such eminent teachers as 

 Agassiz, Wendell Holmes, Longfellow, and Lowell filled similar 

 positions in other departments. The Royal and Linnaean Societies 

 conferred on him the rare distinction of their Foreign Member- 

 ship. Few losses to science that have occurred within recent 

 years will be more felt than that of this truly excellent botanist. 

 His works will live in the recollection of many, and his indefati- 

 gable industry, ability, and generosity will, it is hoped, serve not 

 only to keep his memory " green," but to encourage others to 

 follow him in his peaceful and pleasant paths. 



Sclccteb 1Rotc0 from tbe Society's 

 1Rote^Book0. 



Plate XH. 



Aspidiotus Nerii.— These insects are very interesting. I 

 believe these scale insects are Aphides. If so, their being vivi- 

 parous is no matter for surprise,* since it is the usual manner in 

 which the 7c>ingless form of insects is reproduced. 



I have drawn one of the young specimens of Aspidiotus. All 

 its limbs are plainly seen — the antennae, the mouth, and the six 



* The contributor of this slide says : — " I add a slide, Aspidiotus Nerii, 

 from oleander leaf, mainly interesting for containing a young specimen, born, 

 as far as I could discover, while mounting in l^alsam. The legs are clearly 

 discoverable in the young specimen, but difficult to trace in the mature insect. 

 I presume they are viviparous." 



