106 



when polished, proved to be more reflective (at least I 

 thought so) than speculum metal. The two objects which 

 I sought were— first to have a polished surface unattackable 

 by sulphuretted hydrogen (this, for example, is not injured 

 by packing with lucifer matches), and secondly, for large 

 specula, doing most of the work by the turning-tool and 

 lathe. I really think a large, say 3 feet, mirror, coated with 

 nickel, but cast of iron, and finished mostly in the lathe, 

 while it would not cost the tenth of a similar sized specu- 

 lum metal, would be almost equal to silvered glass of 

 the same size, and vastly more enduring as to polish. 



Professor Williamson, F.RS,, referring to Mr. Binney's 

 remarks at the meeting of March 4th, said that Mr. Binney, 

 after pointing out that I had identified a certain type of 

 stem-structure v/ith Aster ophylUles, and that Professor 

 Renault had discovered the same structure in Sphenophyl- 

 lum, Mr, Binney proceeds to say, '' I am not in possession 

 of the facts from which the two learned professors came to 

 such different conclusions, but I am inclined to consider the 

 singular little stem as belonging to a new genus until the 

 leaves of Sphenophyllum or Asterophyllites are found 

 attached to it. When this comes to pass of course there can 

 be no doubt of the matter." I have italicised the two 

 important points in the preceding quotation. In the first 

 place I cannot understand how Mr. Binney has overlooked 

 my statement, made primarily in the Proceedings of the 

 Royal Society, and repeated in the last number of the Pro- 

 ceedings of your meeting of February 4th, that I had "got 

 a number of exquisite examples showing not only the nodes, 

 hut verticils of the linear leaves so characteristic of the 

 plant r These leaves I have obtained attached to the stems 

 in question in at least a dozen examples. Secondly, Mr. 

 Binney considers that my conclusions and those of my 

 friend Professor Renault are different, whereas they mutually 



