Queries. II9 
and soon. ‘The successive orders are found by taking the sum 
of 1, 2, 3... terms of the preceding order, and therefore the dif- 
ference between any term of such a series and the term before it 
is equal to the corresponding term of the preceding order. ‘The 
general expression for the wth term of the mth order of figurate 
numbers is— 
and is the same as the mth term of the th order. It may also 
be noted that the figurate numbers of the mth order are the 
co-efficients in the expansion (by the binomial theorem) of 
I + (1—x)™ in a series of ascending powers of x. 
G. H. Bryan, B.A., Cambridge. 
3868.—Spathe.—A spathe is simply a large bract, and a bract is 
the name given by botanists to the leaves of the flower region of 
the stem. ‘These are very varied in shape and position. Some 
are chaffy scales, as in the Grasses; others being quite leaf-like. 
In the Daffodil, Narcissus, and Flag, it is of a membranaceous 
texture ; while in the Arum it is very largely developed, and takes 
the form of a sheath, which partly envelopes the reproductive 
organs. This is the true spathe, and Is of a petaloid structure. In 
the Palms the spathe grows to an immense size, and resembles 
one of the leaves of the tree. As a general rule, the bracts are 
smaller than the leaves preceding them, are usually simple, and 
often mere scales. ‘The bract at the base of the Snowdrop flower 
is one example. Hig W Lever) MeAt 
Queries. 
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372.—Microscope.—I have intentions of purchasing a micro- 
scope, but not knowing much about the instrument, or the working 
of it. would like to ask any of your readers if they would be kind 
