igii- COLGAN. — Lcaf-blotchings in Ai'um 7>iacu/ahivi. 217 



Monstrosities were of rather frequent occurrence, the 

 most noteworthy being a double -spathecl inflorescence from 

 Gort, one spathe being closely furled within the other. Leaf- 

 like processes, apparently degraded pistils, occurred occas- 

 ionally in the pistil-bearing region of the spadix and once 

 amongst the pistillodes ; coalesced pistils, fused two to- 

 gether, occurred in 5 instances ; and in one case a perfect 

 anther was found amongst the staminodes. 



A marked tendency to pass from the monoecious to the 

 hermaphrodite type of inflorescence was exhibited in a 

 curious monstrous spadix sent me by Canon Lett from 

 Loughbrickland. In this the usual group of pistils or 

 female flowers appeared at the base of the spadix, their 

 withered stigmas and depressed crowns showing that 

 fertilization had already taken place ; above these, in their 

 normal position, came a group of pistillodes ; next came a 

 confused mixture of pistils and anthers occupying the region 

 of the male flowers, the stigmas just matured and shining 

 with the glutinous stigmatic secretion, while the intermixed 

 anthers were burst so as to display the ripe pollen. Many 

 of the pistils here bore seated on their summits a half anther, 

 most of them were burst open and exposed to view the 

 included ovules, and here and there an anther appeared 

 bearing attached to it a couple of naked ovules. The stami- 

 nodes forming the fourth member of the inflorescence in 

 this monstrous spadix were quite normal both in form 

 and position. 



Sandvcove, Co. Dublin. 



NEWS GLE AIRINGS. 



Biological Appointments in Dublin. 



We have to record that R. Southern, B.Sc , who has worked for several 

 years past m the Natural History division of the National Museum, Dublin, 

 has been recently transferred to the Fisheries Office as assistant naturalist. 

 His place on the Museum staff has been filled by the appointment of 

 C. M. Selbie, M.A., from Aberdeen University. 



