212 Mr. A. Murray on the Homologies of 



including some of tlie most powerful springing beetles, namely 

 Cryptohypnus (circumscribed in the manner indicated below). 

 It is, however, clear that what is lost in firmness is gained in 

 freedom of movement, inasmuch as the articulation thus modi- 

 fied allows the animal to stretch the prosternum much further 

 back. Wc observe also that this bold feature in the structure 

 of Cryptohypnus is combined with and compensated by the 

 highest development of everything else which contributes to 

 the springing-process, such as the long prothorax, elytra with 

 raised ribs, &c., the small size (2 lines) of the animal being 

 also an important element in this respect. No doubt this 

 immense development of the springing-apparatus is calculated 

 to suit the habits of the animal, because, living in sandy soil, 

 they cannot depend either on firm support for the body in 

 springing, or on a firm footing while running. In such locali- 

 ties these small " clickers " skip with such power (nearly a foot 

 in height), with such rapidity, and so many times consecutively, 

 that it is often difficult to catch them. 



[To be continued.] 



XXX. — On the Homologies of the Male and Female Flowers of 

 Conifers. By Andrew Murray, F.L.S. 



[Plate X.] 

 Notwithstanding the numerous analyses to which the flowers 

 of Conifers have been subjected, the opinion of botanists regard- 

 ing the significance of their parts is by no means unanimous. 

 Any additional light upon the subject should therefore be wel- 

 come. 



The hot and long continued summer of 1865 seems, by ripen- 

 ing the wood, to have induced a more plentiful flowering of 

 Conifers this year than usual — many species which had not 

 previously flowered, or at least not previously produced male 

 flowers, having done so this summer. The study of some of 

 these has presented the relations of the diffierent parts to me in 

 a clearer light than any in which I have hitherto seen them 

 placed ; and I venture to submit them to the reader in the hope 

 that I may thus contribute to the clearing up of the difficulties 

 which surround them. 



If we take the male catkin of any Cypressine Conifer, say WeU 

 lingtonia, which is one of those which have produced male flowers 

 in Britain for the first time this year, we find that it consists of 

 a few scales (PI. X. fig. 1), with small rounded balls peeping out 

 between them. These scales are obviously a mere continuation 

 of the scales of the branch ; but on examining them minutely, 



