168 NATORATE SCIENCE: Marcu, 
That of annuals and biennials is much prompter than of perennials, 
while a much larger percentage of the former germinate, giving larger 
and hardier seedlings. 
The percentage of germination was found to be greatest in 
‘‘ persistent field weeds,” only two of which, however, were studied ; 
the Burdock and Dandelion; that of wayside and fence-row weeds 
like Elecampane (Inula Helenium) comes next, while in those which 
cannot ke characterised as weeds it is considerably less, the general 
averages being 49, 33, and 8 respectively. This is taken as direct 
evidence that the vitality of seeds of a species is a factor in determin- 
ing its abundance and ability to become a weed. Twenty-five seeds of 
each species studied were sown with the upper (pappus) end down- 
wards, and a similar number erect ; 149 of the former germinated, 
and 178 of the latter. The radicle emerges from the lower end, and 
these numbers show that it is a disadvantage for this end to be upper- 
most, a position, moreover, which the fruit would not naturally take, 
since the pappus, acting like the feathers on an arrow, tend to keep it 
erect. 
THE HIDDEN COAL-FIELDS IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND. 
GEOLoGIsTs who are interested in the study of the hidden coal- 
fields in the South of England will find some exceedingly suggestive 
remarks in two papers published by M. Marcel Bertrand. The 
earlier one, though entitled ‘“‘Sur la Continuité du Phénoméne de 
Plissement dans le Bassin de Paris” (Bull. Soc. géol. de France, ser. 3, 
vol. xx., p. 118), relates largely to the anticlinal and synclinal folds 
which cross the English Channel and North Sea. We are unable, 
however, altogether to follow the author when he accepts the present 
irregularities of the sea-bottom as corresponding to ancient undula- 
tions in the strata beneath. It is so rare in our seas to find an 
undisturbed rocky bottom, except near the Straits of Dover, and 
shifting sand-banks are so common, that it seems more reasonable to 
suppose that the irregularities of the sea-bed are mainly due to the 
scour of the tide. Yet some of these irregularities are undoubtedly 
ancient hills and valleys, or lines of escarpment. 
M. Bertrand’s second paper, ‘‘ Sur le Raccordement des Bassins 
Houillers du Nord de la France et du Sud de |’Angleterre”’ (Amn. 
des Mines, Jan., 1893), deals mainly with the hidden coal-fields, their 
probable position, and their extent. The maps published with these 
papers are excellent, and ought to throw a great deal of light on the 
trend of the Coal-measures in our southern counties. 
We would also direct attention to Mr. Brady’s report on the 
Dover Coal Boring, reviewed elsewhere. 
PREHISTORIC ARCHAOLOGY. 
Tue ‘“Congrés International d’Archéologie Préhistorique,” 
which met last year at Moscow, has led to the publication of an in- 
