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STUDIES IN CRITICAIv PLANTS. 



Botanical Exchangee CIuK) of the British Isles : Report for 

 1894: Manchester, 1895. 



Eleventh Annual Report of the Watson Botanical Exchange 

 Cluto, i894-95: York, 1S95. 



The) work of the two British Botanical Exchange Chibs, at first con- 

 cerned with the greater part of the British flora, is year by year becoming 

 narrowed into a study of critical species and varieties, owing, no doubt, 

 to the filling up of gaps in the herbaria of the members. The latest 

 reports of these Clubs, both of which are edited by Rev. W. R. Linton, 

 M.A., afford interesting food for reflection to both "splitters" and 

 "lumpers" on the vexed question of specific and varietal values. The 

 close scrutiny and careful comparison that is now being made of our 

 critical forms and those of the continent, will surely tend to an under- 

 standing of their relative importance, and a general agreement among 

 botanists as to how they are to be treated in systematic works. These 

 Exchange Club reports year by year furnish valuable contributions to 

 our knowledge of plant-distribution, and in this respect the present 

 issues are npt behind those that preceded them. Irish plants do not 

 figure very largely, but in the Watson report there is a fair sprinkling 

 of them, thanks chiefly to the energy of Mr. H. C. Levinge. Mr. 

 O'Kelly's find of Ajuga pyramidalis at Ballyryan, Co. Clare, furni.shes a 

 second station in Ireland for this very rare plant, and is decidedly the 

 most interesting record that catches our eye. The most remarkable 

 feature of the Watson Club's report is the atrociol^s typographical 

 errors, to which attention has already been called in the Journal of Botany. 

 The Irish records have not escaped ; and the strange forms that some 

 of the place-names have taken may puzzle some of our readers. 

 " Magheradin," "Anieath," and " Grashill" should evidently read 

 '* Magheralin," ''Omeath" and " Geashill" respectively. We presume 

 that " Lough Beichan" stands for "Lough Brickland," more correctly 

 "Lough Bricland," and "Castle Taly" for "Castle Taylor' "Ferry 

 Noogan near Scarver" would furnish a pretty puzzle for future botanists, 

 were the plant recorded therefrom of any value. R. LI. P. 



NATURAL SCIENCE IN SCHOOLS. 



Thirty-ninth Annual Report of the Newton School Literary 

 and Scientific Association, 1895. 



At the Galway Conference of the Irish Field Club Union a resolution 

 calling for the recognition of Natural Science in Irish Intermediate 

 Schools was unanimously passed. We trust this will bear fruit some day. 

 Meanwhile the Report before us shows that at the Newton School, 

 Waterford, the pupils thems2lves realise the value of a love for natural 

 objects. We find that work has been done during the year in the 

 practical study of birds, insects, and plants. The Waterford district is 

 highly promising for natural history research, and we look forward with 

 confidence to much good work by this Society. One of its members, H. 

 G. Tempest, was one of the most active naturalists on the Galway excur- 

 sion and several of his discoveries are here duly chronicled. 



