478 NATURAL SCIENCE. august. 



product of evolution on this eartli, we should judge it to be indefi- 

 nitely improbable that human beings, as such, have been evolved on 

 any one of those myriad planets" (p. 303). 



No one can speak with greater authority on those " enormously 

 complex influences " of evolution than Professor Morgan, but at the 

 same time no one ought, more than he, to recognise that these 

 complex influences have the value of fixed laws. 



He well knows that celestial matter seems to respond to the 

 same laws that govern terrestrial ; that there are many celestial 

 bodies of a similar constitution to our sun, and surely among their 

 satellites there must be some of a similar kind with our earth. 



Though we know nothing of life outside our planet, yet what we 

 know of it here is seen to exist under fixed laws, and surely, granting 

 life outside the earth, we would have it developing along those broad 

 principles we know a little of. That is, in an earthly type of planet, 

 accompanying a solar type of sun, we may expect to find a biological 

 development of, at least, a recognisable similarity to our own. What 

 marvels me most is, that Professor Pearson (the apostle of scientific 

 Nihilism) should have written the passage which Professor Morgan 

 attacks. — I am, yours obediently, J. Bell Findlay. 



Lewisham, S.E., June 26, 1892. 



Dear Sir, — I send you a copy of a notice which is posted in the 

 bridle-path which runs along the foot of White Hill, near Caterham. 

 W^hat will the poor London botanist do if this becomes the general 

 rule with South London landlords ? 



" £2 Reward to anyone giving information leading to conviction 

 of persons stealing Berberis or other things, damaging shrubs, trees, 

 fences, &c., gathering roots, flowers, or otherwise trespassing on the 

 Estate. Dogs tvill he used day or night, if necessary, to help the capture 

 of such offenders." 



Fancy the innocent botanist pursued by an infuriated landlord 

 and a pack of dogs. You will, I am sure, kindly warn all Rambling 

 Clubs to avoid picking buttercups and daisies in the neighbourhood 

 of Quarry Hangers, White Hill.— Yours truly, R. Paulson. 



Some Habits of Birds at the Zoological Gardens. 



It is unnecessary to point out at length the expediency of 

 paying a close attention to habits and movement in the study of a 

 group like the birds. The minor " tricks," as they may be called, 

 are often suggestive of affinities in a group where these are especially 

 hard to diagnose ; and again actions are often witnessed which afford 

 valuable indications of the way in which complete and important 

 changes of habit have been effected. The London Zoological Gardens 

 offer especially good opportunities to anyone desirous of acquainting 

 himself with the traits and manners of many groups of birds ; 

 and in many cases also departures from these may be noticed, 

 which for the reason above given are equally interesting. Gulls, for 

 instance, have been noticed, when at large, to not unfrequently perch 

 on trees ; and in the large netted inclosure known as the Night 

 Heron's Pond this may be often seen, the Common and Black- 

 Headed gulls there confined appearing to find the top branches of 



