OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 99 



little more than an hour had elapsed, it was found to be straight again. 

 The contact was repeated, timing the result by the second-hand of a 

 watch. The coiling began within four seconds, and made one circle 

 and a quarter in about four seconds. 



" It had straightened again in an hour and five minutes (perhaps 

 sooner, but it was then observed) ; and it coiled the third time on 

 being touched rather firmly, but not so quickly as before, viz. 1^ turns 

 in half a minute. 



" I have indications of the same movement in the tendrils of the 

 Grape-vine ; but a favorable day has not occurred for the experiment 

 since my attention was accidentally directed to the subject. 



" I have reason to think that the movement is caused by a contrac- 

 tion of the cells on the concave side of the coil, but I have not had an 

 opportunity for making a decisive experiment." 



Professor Gray read a paper upon a new genus of plants 

 of the Order Rosacecs, recently discovered in Alabama, near 

 Tuscaloosa, by the Rev. R. D. Nevius. The discoverer had 

 proposed to dedicate the genus to the memory of the late 

 Professor Tuomey, of Alabama, — an appropriate tribute to 

 one who was so assiduously and successfully developing the 

 natural history as well as the geology of his adopted State. 

 But in this it now appears that Mr. Nevius has been antici- 

 pated by Dr. Harvey, who, in the third part of his Nereis 

 Boreali-Americani, just published, has dedicated a new genus 

 of fresh-water Alg-ce to Professor Tuomey. Professor Gray 

 therefore proposes to name the present plant in honor of its 

 discoverer, Neviusia, deriving the specific name from the State 

 in which alone the plant is known to grow. 



Neviusia Alahamensis is a shrub, with somewhat the habit of 

 Kerria Japonica. In structure, likewise, it approaches Kerria, 

 and also Stephanandra. It is especially interesting to botanists ; 

 first, because its nearest allies are all found in Japan, — add- 

 ing another to the numerous links of connection between the 

 Flora of our own country and that of Japan (a matter which 

 Professor Gray proposes to illustrate upon another occasion) ; 

 and, secondly, because it so connects the characters of Kerria 

 and Rhodotypos with Stephanandra and Neillia as to show 



