BOTANICAL SECTION. 13 
resting to start a collection of dried plants at the same time. It isa 
pursuit of which the interest never flags. New flowers are to be found 
in every part of England, and even when these are exhausted there is 
the joy of tramping through Swiss pastures with a pocket press in 
one’s knapsack. Mr. Wynne-Edwards shewed specimens that he had 
collected in this way during a Swiss walking tour. He then mentioned 
some of the wonderful things to be observed in the relation of flowers 
to insects. The common Primrose flowers are of two kinds,— those 
in which the stamens, and those in which the pistil blocks the corolla 
In each case the other member is found at the bottom of 
or throat. 
the tube, and by this simple arrangement insects effect cross fertiliza- 
tion as they thrust their tongues into one flower after another. 
Again in the common Pyramidal Orchid the pollen is borne on © 
pollinia which can be detached from the flower by the touch of the 
moth’s tongue, and attach themselves securely to the insect. As it 
flies to another flower they diverge considerably, so that when the new — 
flower is reached they should strike the sticky stigmatic surfaces. 
On March 18th, another Botanical meeting was held at Southwood 
House. It was wholly of a practical nature. All present were 
provided with specimens of some of the common flowers out 
at this time, and were able to identify them for themselves by the 
aid of the “School Flora.” With this help and the use of Sowerby’s 
Botany, which the Principal has so kindly placed at the members’ di 
posal, fellows ought to be able to get on next term. It is hoped that 
members will also freely avail themselves of the help to be got at the 
Museum. 
