Miscellaneous. 397 
And, lastly, in some Orobanchee (Lathrea; not in Orobanche 
and Phelipea). 
The following families, also belonging to the Corolliflorze, appear 
to be destitute of placentoids:—the Gesneriacee, Polemoniacee, 
Apocynee, Convolvulacee, Primulacee, Plumbaginee, and Planta- 
ginee, 
It is remarkable that among the Corollifloree the orders with 
labiate flowers are most frequently provided with placentoids. 
The presence of placentoids appearing to be in relation with 
organographic characters, it will be easily understood that it may be 
made use of as a complementary character in the investigation of 
natural affinities. 
5. Philosophy of the placentoids.—Under this head we might 
consider the placentoids from several points of view, recurring to 
their biological part, &c.; but I cireumscribe the question to this 
single point, the appreciation of the existence of placentoids with 
regard to the measurement of the organic gradation of vegetable 
species. It may be said, by reference to the facts acquired by 
science, that to put the question is to solve it. 
In fact it is admitted (and the evidence is superabundant) that 
the Monocotyledons are less elevated in organization than the Dico- 
tyledons. Now the Monocotyledons have no placentoids. 
With regard to the Dicotyledons, the question of gradation among 
their classes, long under discussion, seems to have at last arrived at 
this solution :—-The gamopetalous plants are of a higher order than 
the dialypetalous species; and among the former the families with 
_ the ovary united to the calyx must occupy a place below those 
with the ovary free—that is to say, below the Corollifloree. Now we 
have proved the general existence of placentoids in the Corollifloree. 
Hence these organs are an attribute of the plants which are most 
elevated in organization.—Comptes Rendus, January 29, 1866, 
pp. 215-218. 
On the Method of Flight of the Flyingfish. 
By Horace Mann. [Ina letter to F. W. Putman.) 
I have been watching the flyingfish to-day. They are very abun- 
dant ; and though you may know all about them from persons more 
competent to see and describe than I, yet I venture to send you a 
few notes on them in my journal. I had supposed that they must 
acquire some considerable momentum below the surface before rising 
above it, and for that reason wished to see if the motion of the fish 
immediately after leaving the water was more accelerated than during 
the later portions of its flight (for it is obviously a true flight). I 
think that I have been able to discover some slight differences in the 
rates of motion immediately after leaving the water and later in their. 
course ; but I also think their motion is kept up by the fins, and also 
that the weight is sustained by them. They do not appear to leave 
the water at a large angle, but otherwise—as near as I have been 
able to judge, about 5° or 6°. They plainly have the power of altering 
