143 
When Mr. Dowker discovered it thirty years ago, he could not 
obtain any information about it, though applying to good authority. 
It now is more easily identified through the Editor of the “Journal 
of Botany.” The plant is perennial, and has a deep penetrating 
tap-root, as Mr. Dowker found when removing specimens for his 
garden, where it still flourishes. He mentioned another foreign 
umbelliferous plant, Ammi majus, which he found a few years ago, 
near Sandwich, but had not heard of its appearance since. Mr. 
Dowker mentioned, his having met with the following umbelliferss 
in East Kent :—Trydrocotyle vulgaris, Sanicula Europza, Astrantia 
major (garden specimen), Eryngium maritinum, Apium graveolens, 
Helosciadium nodiflorum and inundatum, Petroselinum sativum 
(cultivated land) and segetum, (Egopodium podagraria (in gardens), 
Carum carui (probably escaped from cultivated ground), Sium 
latifolium and augustifolium, Pimpinella saxifraga and magna, 
Bupleurum tenuissimum, but not rotundifolium, Cnanthe fistulosa 
and crocata, (Ethusa cynapium, Feniculum vulgare, Silaus 
pratensis, Crithmum maritimum, Angelica sylvestris, Peucedanum 
officinale, Pastinaca sativa, Heracleum sphondylium, Scandix 
pecten, Bunium flexuosum, Cheerophyllum sylvestre and temulum, 
Caucalis anthriscus, infesta and nodosa, Daucus carota, Conium 
maculatum, Coriandrum sativum, Smyrnium olusatrum. Cicuta 
virosa had not been met with. 
At the same time, other exhibits were made by Mr. Sidney 
Harvey, of the Spectrum of the Electric Spark obtained from a 
Wimshurst machine; by Mr. W. P. Mann, two forms of Polaris- 
cope and accessory objects; by R. E. Thomson, Esq., Kenfield 
Hall, amongst other objects, the matured male and female plants 
of the Japanese Hop (an annual), and specimen of a cultivated 
grass, Triticum, said to be the sire of our wheat; by Miss Kings- 
ford, seeds of the Lemon germinating in sound fruit. 
XXX.—The Progressive Development of the Ear through the Animal 
Series up to Aves. 
By J. Ren, F.R.C.S., Eng., (illustrated by Diagrams and 
Drawings). 
NOVEMBER I0, 1887. 
Mr. J. Reid made a communication on the structural character 
of the organ of hearing as developed in the animal series so far as 
seems at present to be determined. The course of observation 
extended from the group czlenterata to aves, comprehending a range 
in which the simpler qualities of sound are conjectured to be chiefly 
concerned, though finally reaching the margin where the compound 
and finer qualities were beginning to be discriminated. The 
character of the auditory organ as an apparatus, receiving, 
