214 
Geologists’ Association, Jan. 3, 1873.—The Rev. J. 
Wiltshire, F.R.S., president, in the chair. ‘‘On the Cambrian 
Rocks of Ramsey Island, St. David’s ;” Henry Hicks, In an 
exposed coast section which occurs at the north end of Ramsey 
Island, the three important groups of strata known under the 
names Lingula Flags, Tremadoc, and Arenig groups are seen 
resting on one another in the order of their succession, and are 
probably better exhibited than at any other place in Wales. 
The two first groups are those now usually recognised as forming 
the upper part of the Cambrian, and the latter as the lowest 
group of the Silurian system. This section is therefore at con- 
siderable importance bearing on classification, as it shows clearly 
the relation of the groups toeach other. The Lingula Flags occur 
as hard siliceous sandstones with grey flaky slate, and dip under 
the others at an angle of about 60°. They contain the usual 
Lingulella Davisii, in great abundance ; also a trilobite of the 
genus Nesuretus, Sophyton, a supposed land-plant, and numerous 
worm tracks. The beds are frequently ripple-marked, and give 
indications of having been shore or shallow water accumulations. 
The Tremadoc group rests quite comfortably on the Lingula 
Flags, and at first the beds are much like those of the latter 
in their lithological characters, but afterwards they gradually 
assume a darker and more flaggy appearance. Fossils are 
very plentiful in these beds, and numerous new forms come 
in. _ Amongst these may be mentioned the Lamellibranchs, 
Starfishes, and Encrinites. The tribolites belong to the genera 
Niob2 and Nesuretus. A gentle and gradual depression of the 
sea-bottom was evidently taking place during the deposition of 
this group. Resting upon the last-mentioned is the Arenig 
group, a series of black, iron-stained slates and flags, and with 
a fauna wholly distinct from that of the Tremadoc group. The 
Graptolites come in here for the first time, as well as the genera 
/Bglina, Trinucleus, and Ogygia. In many respects the fauna 
resemble that of the Quebec group of Canada. Jor the depo- 
sition of these beds a deep and decided depression of the sea- 
bottom must have taken place, and if the succession here is 
broken, this must have been sudden. It is probable, however, 
that a fault has passed along the strike of the beds, and that this 
has removed the series which should have intervened to connect 
them more closely, lithologically and palzontologically. As far 
ascan be made ont by the section, the boundary line between 
Cambrian and Silurian should certainly be placed above the 
Tremadoc group as exhibited at St. David’s (the upper part of 
the Tremadoc group of North Wales will doubtless have to be 
included in the Arenig group) and below the Arenig group. 
LEEDS 
Naturalists’ Field Club and Scientific Association, 
Dec. 10.—A paper was read by Mr. W. D. Roebuck upon the 
habitations constructed by hymenopterous insects, with a few 
remarks upon so-called parasitism, as observable among the 
British bees. This subject furnishes some noteworthy evidence 
bearing upon the question of ‘‘ protective resemblance.” When 
the bee infested by a parasite is social in its economy, and the 
nest is consequently never entirely deserted, the parasite assumes 
the colouring of its host, and is thus enabled to deceive and 
elude the sentries. On the other hand, if the bee attacked is of 
solitary habits, the female is consequently and necessarily absent 
when collecting her pollen and honey. This temporary absence 
is taken Advantage of by her parasite, which does not therefore 
need any protection ; and we accordingly find that in every case 
the solitary bee and her parasite are most strikingly dissimilar in 
appearane>, 
EDINBURGH 
Botanical Society.—Nov. 14, 1872. The President, Prof. 
Wyville Thomson, delivered an address, giving biographical 
sketches of several of the deceased members. He then gave an 
address on “‘ Fermentation and Putrefaction,” which appeared in 
NATUuRE, vol. vii. p. 61. Mr. Adam Smith, Melbourne, sent 
a notice regarding the native bread fungus of Australia, It 
grows in large tubers, clusters of which are found connected 
tagether by small fibrous roots. The largest in a cluster is fully 
as big as a man’s head, the others of smaller sizes. When cut 
they present the appearance of rice pudding, but although es- 
teemed as a great delicacy by the Aborigines, they are too 
tasteless and insipid to become valuable for fuod.—Mr. John 
Sim noticed the occurrence of Buplenrum rotundifolium asa 
weed in a cottage garden near. Perth.—Mr. Sadler exhibited 
specimens of a species of Lupinus, resembling Z. /ufews, which 
he found growing ina turnip-field near Blackshields, about 16 
' NATURE 
[ Fan. 16, 1895, 
miles from Edinburgh, the seeds having probably been intro- 
duced with guano. ie 
December 12.—Alexander Buchan, M.A., Vice- President, in 
the chair.—Mr. James M‘Nab, Curator of the Royal Botanie 
Garden, took the chair as president, in room of Professor 
Wyville Thomson. ‘‘ On the Organisation of Equisetums and 
Calamites,” by William Ramsay M‘Nab, M.D., Professor of 
Botany, Royal College of Science, Dublin. The general con: 
clusions arrived at by the author were :—1. The stem of Equi- 
setum differs but little in construction from that of Calamtites. 
2. In both Equisetums and Calamites the fibro-vascular bundles 
are but poorly developed. 3. The mass of tissue (woody wec 
of Williamson) forming the most important part of tee 
consists of the small fibro-vascular bundles with the addition of — 
a large quantity of thickened parenchyma and prosenchyma (scler- 
enchyma Mettenius). 4. The sclerenchyma (Mettenius) is part 
of the cortical tissues, and not a particle of the fibro-vascular 
bundles. 5. There is no evidence of any growth having taken 
place in the fibro-yascular bundles comparable to that observed 
in the dicotyledons. 6. If the stems of Calamites increased in 
diameter, it was by large additions to the cortical tissues and fot 
to those of the fibro-vascular bundles. The President, Mr. 
James M‘Nab, read a communication on the Disfigurement of 
Hedge-row Trees by telegraph wires. He thought the cropping 
of trees for telezraph purposes should be entrusted to some éx- 
perienced gardener or forester, and not left to the mercy of men to 
cut and clear away as if paid by contract on the mile of clear- 
ance done.—“ Notice of the occurrence in England of Psamma 
baltica, R. et Sch.” By Philip Maclagan, M.D. The addition 
of Psamma baltica to the British Flora is due to Mr. Williath 
Richardson, of Alnwick. Returning one evening in Augtst 
1871 from the Holy Island towards Belford, and finding thé 
sand wet, he betook himself to the ‘‘ bents,” not to botanizé bit 
to get firmer footing. He had not proceeded far when he met 
with the stranger growing side by side with Psamma arenaria. 
Afterwards he found it growing in patches at intervals along the 
coast for upwards of three miles—Dr. John Kirk, Zanzibar, 
presented to the University Herbarium a collection of dried 
plants from the highest zone of vegetation in the Kilimanjaro, 
below the line of perpetual snow that crowns the summit, The 
Kilimanjaro is about 20,000 ft. high, in the country of; Jagga, 
East Africa, 
Boston, U.A.S. 
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Nov. 24, 
1872.—Dr. Henry J. Bowditch alluded to a case of aortic 
aneurism, in which he had with the assistance of Dr, 
. C. Warren, and Dr. J. Putnam, used electricii 
for the treatment of this usually fatal disease. The pale 
an adult man, had a pulsation distinctly felt in the secor 
right intercostal space, which last,]with the parts adjacent, 
was slightly prominent, but not effaced. The respira’ 
murmur was free throughout both lungs, save in this party an 
there it was bronchial to the extent of two or three inches; d 
percussion in the same. 
Two operations were made, viz. on November 12 and 17, 
1872. Three needles coated with vulcanite were used at — 
each operation. They were introduced about an inch from the 
first, and from an inch anda quarter to an inch anda half at 
the second operation, They evidently were introduced into a 
freely moving current at the first—as seen by the widely moving 
needle ends—but into a more solid mass at the second. e 
positive pole of the battery a/one was applied to them, the 
negative resting on the right breast on a level with the tumour. 
The number of cells used (Stone’s battery) was gradually raisec 
from two up to sixteen at the first, and to twenty-eight at the 
second, The operations lasted 144 and 14 minutes. little 
faintness and pulselessness were noticed at the termination of 
each. They soon passed away. The result of the two opera- 
tions has been a great solidity of tle tumour, with considerable 
swelling of the parts adjacent, which swelling is now (November 
26) subsiding. No superficial redness or sloughing of the skin 
occurred. No air appeared in the tumour, as noticed often in 
Europe where needles attached to both poles are usually intro- 
duced (viz. Cinzselli Annali di Medicina, November, 1870, 
Frazer’s Edin. Med. and Surg. Fournal, August 1867). The 
patient has suffered not at all from the operations. It is im- 
possible as yet to say what influence they will have towards his 
radical cure, but he is now more comfortable than before the 
first operation. 
