I70 NATURAL SCIENCE. "^l^^/ 



He came to the conclusion that the laws which govern the fluctua- 

 tions are, apparently, of general application, and must be sought 

 for in some cause, yet unknown, but yet common to the whole world. 

 The facts he had tabulated showed that when the mean rainfall 

 exceeded 20 inches, the geographical position of stations had little 

 to do with the variations. 



The first number of a new botanical work, Phycological Memoirs, 

 edited by Mr. George Murray, has just been issued by Messrs. 

 Dulau & Co. The object of the publication is to keep "within the 

 limits of one book the results of researches on Algae in the Depart- 

 ment of Botany of the British Museum." Further parts are promised 

 at about half-yearly intervals, and will in time complete a volume 

 containing about 50 plates. " In addition to the promotion of re- 

 search, the authors of the memoirs have the object of making better 

 known the treasures of the Museum which they have received facilities 

 to investigate." The new venture promises well, judging from Part I. 

 In the first paper, Miss Mitchell and Miss Whitting describe the 

 type of a new Natural Order of Algse, allied to the Fucaceae and 

 Laminariaceae. Next follows the description of a fossil alga from the 

 Oolite, by Mr. Murray. The third paper, also by Mr. Murray, deals 

 with the structure of Dictyosphcrria ; and there are important 

 contributions by Miss Barton and Mr. E. A. Batters. 



