SHORT NOTES. 



185 



With his assistants — or, as he always preferred to call them, his 

 colleagues — Mr. Carruthers's relations have always been most 

 cordial. During my twenty-four years' association with him, I can 

 remember no occasion in which the slightest friction of any kind 

 has arisen. In my own case this is the more noteworthy inasmuch 

 as there are matters upon which we differ very strongly ; but these 

 have never in the remotest degree affected our official relationship, 

 nor marred the friendship which has for so many years existed 

 between us. 



Our official relationship has now ceased ; the ties of friendship 

 are not hkely to be severed by his removal, though it is impossible 

 not to feel regret that the almost daily intercourse of so many years 

 should be interrupted. Yet it is no small satisfaction to know that 

 a change of companionship, seldom a pleasant thing to those in 

 middle life, will not result from Mr. Carruthers's withdrawal. In 

 the usual course of events, it might have been expected that I 

 should succeed Mr. Carruthers as Keeper, but for many years 

 I have felt that this would not be desirable. It is unnecessary 

 for me to enter into the personal reasons which led me to this 

 conclusion; but I may say that for many years past, matters 

 which have seemed to me of sufficient importance to demand 

 such attention as I could devote to them have occupied most 

 of my leisure time, and have prevented me from taking part in 

 scientific work, other than that connected with my official duties. 

 I have watched with interest the growing position which Mr. 

 Murray has secured for himself among workers in many directions, 

 and it has been impossible not to recognize in him one who from 

 his scientific attainments was admirably suited to succeed Mr. 

 Carruthers, and one with whom the cordial relations so long 

 existing in the Department will be maintained and strengthened. 

 Mr, Murray's appointment does much to mitigate the feelings of 

 regret with which Mr. Carruthers's retirement is accompanied. 

 His uniform brightness, his geniahty, his readiness to help, and 

 his unfailing courtesy, will secure for him the good wishes of 

 his numerous friends in his new post : and among those wishes 

 none are more hearty and sincere than my own. 



James Britten. 



SHOUT NOTES. 



MoNcEcious FORM OF Mercurialis pekennis. — I liave this spring 

 found three male plants of this species bearing one or two female 

 flowers, and one female bearing a male flower. Mr. W. E. Linton 

 tells me he also has found it, though decidedly scarce, about 

 Shirley. The first form is more easily noticed, at least late in 

 the season, when the fruit becomes conspicuous at the end of the 

 long male peduncle ; but, in spite of a good deal of careful search, 

 I have only discovered these four specimens. I do not see the 

 monoecious form mentioned in any books, and suspect it is merely 

 accidental. — A. H. Wolley Dod. 



