565 



larger and more hairy than the common sweet violets (blue) of the 

 same neighbourhood, and showed, besides, the constant difference of 

 having its sepals fringed with short hairs or cilia. In respect to this 

 latter character, the author stated that in all the white sweet violets 

 he had had opportunities of examining, he had found similarly cili- 

 ated sepals ; whilst in the blue sweet violets, and in another form with 

 flowers of a reddish purple hue, he had as uniformly found the sepals 

 to be quite entire. From these observations, the author suggested 

 that the white sweet violet, usually regarded as a mere variation of 

 colour, might perhaps prove a bond fide variety, assuming the blue 

 sweet violet with entire sepals to be the typical form of Viola odorata. 

 In this view of the relations of the native sweet violets, the white and 

 the lilac flowered, fringed-sepalled plants would be considered as 

 forms of a variety to which the name ciliata would be appropriate ; 

 whilst the blue, entire-sepalled plant would be regarded as the type 

 of the species. It was mentioned that the white sweet violet had 

 been set up by some botanists as a species distinct from V. odorata. 

 Specimens of both forms were exhibited. — G. E. D. 



Notice of ' A Paper on the Study of Natural History. By W. D. 

 King. Read at the Mechanics' Institution at Sudbury, March 

 16,1849. Sudbury: Wright. 1849.' 



We never recollect meeting with a paper of this kind that so com- 

 pletely fulfilled the conditions required in an address to the Members 

 of a Mechanics' Institution. To assume that the members of such 

 an institution are stolidly ignorant of the most commonplace infor- 

 mation ; to address them as persons of weak intellect ; to withhold 

 all that is useful, and parade before them only that which is puerile, 

 showy, glaring or wonderful : these are errors of every-day occur- 

 rence. On the other hand, how often do we not see hired lecturers 

 from London touring the provinces, after cramming themselves with 

 hard names and high-sounding paragraphs, neither of which they 

 comprehend, but which they think are sure to enhance their own re- 

 putation, when retailed among those who understand still less ! Mr. 

 King's address is perfectly free from both errors : it is extremely sim- 

 ple, clear and intelligible, yet full of information. The style is that of 

 a true philosopher; of one who is so familiar with knowledge that he 

 feels its possession a matter of course : he communicates his infor- 



