282 



from tlio last four or five sun-spot cycles wliich have actually 

 varied from seven years to 14 years, " the data at present 

 available are insufficient to establish satisfactorily" "the 

 precise duration" of extended sun-spot periodicity, and 

 hence Mr. Biggs's argument against the supposed influence 

 of Jupiter, based upon the small differences of the mean of 

 sun-spot periodicity as compared with the period of Jupiter, 

 is not of much force, although in other respects his argu- 

 ment is well sustained and of considerable value. 



Although, with Mr. R. H. Scott, I am fully convinced that 

 as yet "it can scarcely be said that the close relation between 

 solar and terrestrial phenomena is ca^pable of accurate 

 demonstration," still, with Tyndall, I am impressed with the 

 feehng that " these guesses and conjectures are by no means 

 leaps in the dark, for knowledge once gained casts a faint 

 light beyond its own immediate boundaries. There is no 

 discovery so hmited as not to illuminate something beyond 

 itself." (Scientific Materialism, p. 77.) 



'deal island. 



The followino' census of the flora of Deal Island, in Kent's 

 Group, was laid on the table by Mr. Justice Dobson, vrho 

 had enlisted the services of the Superintendent of the Light- 

 house on the Island, Mr. Johnstone, to collect and send him 

 specimens of all plants growing there. These were forwarded 

 to Sir F. Von Mueller, wdio prepared the census. One plant, 

 an orchid, '^ PterostyUs vittata," is new to Tasmania, but is 

 common to the Continent of Australia : — 



Clematis microphylla, De Candolle. 



Bursaria spinosa, Cavandolle. 



Comesperma volubile, Libillardiere. 



Geranium pilosum, Forster. 



Zieria Smithii, Andrews. 



Correa speciosa, Andrew^s. 



Beyera opava, F. V. Mueller. 



Phyllanthus Gunnii, J. Hooker. 



Casuarina distyla. Vent. 



Tetragonia implexicoma, J. Hooker. 



Mesembrianthemum aequilaterale, Haworth. 



Stackhousia linarifolia, Cunninghaui. 



Poraaderris apetala, Labillardiere. 



Pnltena?a daphnoides. Smith. 



Goodia latifolia, Salisbury. 



