196 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



of Climbing Plants,' both works of the highest botanical value. 

 In 18G8, ' The Variations of Plants and Animals under Domesti- 

 cation,' and in 1871 'The Descent of Man' revived the con- 

 troversy regarding the character of tbe Darwinian doctrines which 

 had been occasioned by the appearance of ' The Origin of Species.' 

 ' The Expression of the Emotions in Men and Animals' did not 

 do much to allay this, though none could deny that the author 

 had enriched knowledge with a marvellous series of curious 

 observations. In 1875, ' Insectivorous Plants,' describing the 

 carnivorous propensities of certain plants, Drosera, Dioncea, &c, 

 contained another excellent series of botanical observations. ' The 

 Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation' (1876), 'The Different 

 Form of Flowers on Plants of the same Species' (1*77), and ' The 

 Movements of Plants' (1880), at once proved Mr. Darwin not only 

 to be an ingenious theorist, but the first physiological botanist of 

 his age. Finally, in 1881, his now familiar treatise on the Earth- 

 worm and its ways has only served to enhance his reputation. 



Whether his now well-known theory of evolution will meet the 

 fate of others which have preceded it, or become more enduring 

 amongst scientific doctrines than the views of Lamarck and the 

 author of ' The Vestiges of Creation,' it is of course impossible 

 to say ; but the impetus which his various works have given to 

 modern thought and research, and the extraordinary number of 

 biological facts which have been collected and brought to light 

 by his untiring industry, will cause naturalists of every nation to 

 be for ever indebted to him. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 



Linn kan Society of London. 



March 1(5, 1882. — Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., F.R.S., President, 

 in the cliair. 



Messrs. H. M. Brewer, V. I. Chamberlain, and A. P. Withiel Thomas 

 were elected Fellows of the Society. 



Mr. Worthington G. Smith called attention to certain very destructive 

 Australian Fungi new to England, viz., Capnodium australe, fatal to 

 conifers, especially Thuyas and haria Jiicifonnin, a great pest to grass in 

 Kent and Sussex. The latter plaut is popularly supposed to induce a 



