ON THE EPISTE-RXAL APPAEATUS OF MAT^IMALS, 5G7 



since tliey cannot be regarded as symmetrical and lateral appendages 

 of the median portion of the episternal bone which is here absent, 

 nothing remains but to acknowledge in them the rudimentary sternal 

 extremities of a second pair of clavicles, that is to say, of the so- 

 called coracoids. The part of the sternum to which they are attached 

 is in complete accordance with this view. The structural arrange- 

 ments which exist in Crocidura appear to me to be of importance 

 in the determination of the several parts already described in the 

 Mouse, and if these are somewhat different, it must be remembered 

 that we are dealing with two very different classes of the animal 

 kingdom. 



It is perhaps reserved for later researches to acquire a better and 

 more extended knowledge of those fragmentary portions of the 

 skeleton which are homologous with similar parts in lower animals ; 

 and by the discovery of transitional forms, to acquire positive infor- 

 mation upon the various points which are only rendered highly 

 probable by the observations I have here recorded. 



L. — Note ois Htbeidism in Vegetables. By C. Naudin, 

 Member of the Institute of France. 



[As coming from the most distinguished experimental fertilizer on 

 the Continent, and one whose ever conscientious labours have been of 

 very considerable service to science, and will be of greater value to 

 future theorists, we gladly make room for the following communica- 

 tion. 



It was transmitted, with the information, " that it forms a supple- 

 mentary chapter to M. Naudin' s ' New Memoir on Hybridism in 

 Vegetables,' which obtained the prize offered by the French Academy 

 for the best solution of certain questions respecting the important 

 subject of hybridization. As, however, it was considered to have no 

 very immediate bearing on the recent questions proposed, the 

 Academy did not print it." Whatever may have been the motives 

 which ruled the French Academy in rejecting this chapter, we need 

 hardly point out to the readers of The Natural History Eeview, that 

 its author is in error in supposing that his views would have presented 

 any novelty to English Naturalists, even had they appeared before Mr. 

 Darwin's work, or still less that they involve, as he imagines they do, 



