NOTES FROM THE SOCIETY'S NOTE-BOOKS. 281 



not polarise, while the rest of the epiderm does. In Osmunda 

 the stomata are the only parts of the epidermis that do polarise. 



H. F. Parsons. 



Stangeria paradoxa. — Dr. Parsons is correct in supposing this 

 plant to be a Cycad. It is most nearly allied to Zamia. Its 

 specific name was probably given to it because, although having 

 leaves like a Cycad, the venation of them is more like a fern. It 

 is a native of South Africa, was first brought to England in 1861, 

 and named after Dr. wStanger, of Natal. One would desire every 

 reasonable honour and credit to distinguished and worthy natural- 

 ists other than giving their names in a quasi-Latinised form to 

 plants. The practice is objectionable when such names are 

 merely the specific ones, but still more so when given as generic 

 names. Washington Teasdale. 



Coccus cataphractus (PI. XIX., Figs, i, 2, 3). — I happen to have 

 Shaw's book with the plate of Coccus cataphractus, and have 

 traced it for the benefit of those who have not access to the book. 

 The 'drawing showing the 'underside has some of the armour 

 removed near the anus to show- the wrinkled appearance of the 

 abdomen ; an egg is also represented on the plate. 



C. F. George. 



Tracheae of Insects. — Can any member suggest a means of 

 colouring the tracheae of insects so as to show their ramifications 

 through an insect? If this can be done and the insect mounted 

 " solid," the slide would be a very instructive one. C. Elcock. 



Fronds of Ferns.— In defence of the term " frond " applied to 

 the leaves of ferns, I must say that as it means " a combination of 

 leaf and stem," it appears to me more appropriate to ferns than to 

 liverworts, lichens, or alg^. hX. the same time, I know that the 

 term has been objected to by some botanists, who do not, I think, 

 sufficiently consider the association of organs that in other plants 

 are simply conservative, with the reproductive functions in ferns, 

 which is a feature sufficiently remarkable to justify the distinctive 

 term, and has thus been almost universally adopted. 



E. E. Jarrett. 



Stangeria paradoxa, though rightly included in the Cycadea- 

 cece^ is a genus quite distinct from any other of the order in its 

 fern-like foliage. It is a Natal plant, with a thick napiform trunk, 

 a few coarse pinnate leaves, the perina of which resemble a 

 Tomaria in being traversed by parallel forked veins. The fructi- 

 fication is in cones, male and female on separate plants. Only 

 this one species is known. E. E. Jarrett. 



