520 

ridged appearance is more conspicuous on the under surface of 
the marginal plates, while the rounded tuberculous condition is 
more obvious above. In two marginal plates, conspicuously tu- 
perculated above, the lower surfaces are perfectly smooth. These 
probably pertain to a different species. None of the plates ex- 
hibit scute impressions, generally so evident in the emydes. 
Anosteira ornata was almost the size of the palm or middle 
hand. A pygal plate measures about eleven lines in length and 
breadth ; and its height or thickness in front is sevenlines. An- 
other plate from a younger animal measures about seven lines 
long, eight broad, and four lines thick in front.—‘* Hybemys 
arenarius.” The second turtle, almost as large as our common 
Emys picta, is founded on two specimens obtained by Prof. 
Hayden from a tertiary formation on Little Sandy Creek. They 
consist of a marginal plate and the portion of a costal plate. The 
bones are proportionately thicker than in our common emydes, 
but hke them are smooth and deeply impressed by the scutes. 
The marginal plates appear to be the ninth of the series. From 
the groove of the costal scute impression it is directed quite as 
abruptly outwardly as in any recent emys. Its peculiarity, upon 
which I have founded the genus, isa striking charac'er. The 
surfaces, separated by the groove of the marginal scute impres- 
sions, present each a half circular boss at the fore and aft borders 
of the bone. Thus from this specimen we may infer that the 
margin of the carapace was ornamented with a series of &emi- 
spherical bosses, each of which was situated in the position of 
and divided, by the sutures of the marginal plates. The breadth 
of the specimen fore and aft and transversely is half an inch. 
April 25.—‘‘ Morphology of Carpellary Scales in Larix, by 
Thomas Meehan. ‘The facts which I have from time to time 
contributed, verbally or in papers, to the Acalemy, in regard to 
longitudinal series of axillary buds, and adnated and free leaves 
in coniferous plants, will, [£ believe explain something of the 
structure of the flowers of coniferze, which, if not quite distinct 
from any view before taken, will at least have reached the con- 
clusion by an original line of argument. I have shown that in 
the cases where there are longitudinal series of buds, one of the 
buds, and generally the upper supra-axillary one, is the largest. 
So far as this longitudinal series of buds is concerned, I find by ex- 
tensive observation that there are very few of our American trees 
orshrubs which do not produce them under some circumstances, 
although they are more generally apparent in some than in other. 
In many cases they do not break quite through the cortical layer, 
but continue to grow from year to year, just as the wood grows, 
always remaining just under the outer bark. It is from thyse 
concealed but living buds that the flowers of the Cercis, or the 
spines of Gleditschia, will often appear from tranks many years 
old. In Magnolia and Liriodendron these concealed buds are 
easily detected by a thin shave of the outer bark with a sharp 
knife. In very vigorous shoots of the latter, a series of two— 
one supra-axillary—is not rarely found prominently above the 
bark. In many cases one of these buds, usually the lower, and 
really axillary one, never pushes into growth. In Gymmnocladus 
neither upper nor lower woud probably ever push, only for the 
fact that it matures no terminal bud, and thus the laterals have 
to renew the next season’s growth. But for this, Gymnocladus 
would go up like a palm, or, more familiarly, as Avalia spinosa, 
does, without a single branch. Failing in the terminal, but two 
laterals push, giving the branches their dichotomous character. 
The two which push are always the upper ones in the series of 
2, 3, or 4, which appear in this species. The purpose of this 
duplication of axillary buds will interest all who study this part 
of botany. I find that they are not for the duplication of parts, 
but are separately organised from one another. Thus in 
Crategus and Gleaitschia, the upper bud produces a spine, the 
lower is Organised to grow as an axillary shoot the next season. 
But the best illustration of the distinctive organisation is in those 
cases where both upper and lower buds sometimes push the same 
season, asin /fea, Lonicera, Caprifolium, or Halesia. Here we 
find that one is organised for floral organs, and the other for 
axillary prolongation. The upper bud always has the same 
function, and the lower its own, in the same species. A flower 
being a-modified branch, in which the bract is the leaf and the 
peduncle the axillary bud, it follows that the laws of axillary 
_“Stem-production will be more or less reproduced in the in- 
florescence. What I have proposed to myself in this paper is 
simply to show that the scales in the male caikin of Zav7x are 
modified true leaves ; while in the female they arise from buds 
of another organisation, being the morphologised secondary 
leaves, or phylloidal shoots, as I term them, of other coniferous 
genera, 
Se 
NATURE 


[Oct 26, 1871 

BOOKS RECEIVED 
Enotisu.—A Systematic Handbook of Volumetric Analysis, 2nd edition: 
F. Sutton (Churchill).—lext-book of Geometry, Part 1: J. S. Aldis 
(Deighton and Bell).—{ntroductory Notes on Lying in Hospitals: F. 
Nightingale (Longm-ns)—Notes of a Naturalist in the Nile Valley and 
Malta: A. L. Adams (Edmonston and Douglas).—he Science of Arith- 
metic; Cornwell and Fitch (>impkin and Marshall).—The School Arith- 
metic: Cornwell ani Fitch (Simpkin and Marshall).—Partial Differential 
Kquations; an Essay: S. Earnshaw (Macmillan and Co.).—Thoughts on 
Life Science : E. Thring (Macmillan and Co.). 
American.—FEarthquakes, Volcanoes, and Mountain Building: J. D. 
Whitney (Cambridge, University Press). : 
Foreign —Physique Socia'e. ou essai sur le développ2nent des facultes 
de homme: A. Quetelec (Brussels, Muquardt) —Anthro ométrie, ow 
mesure des différentes facultés de I'homme: A. Quetelet (Brussels, Mu- 
quardt).—Medizinische Jahrbiicher: S. Stricker. 

DIARY 
MONDAY, OctToBEr 30. 
Lonpon InstiTuTION, at 4.—On Elementary Physiology (I.): Pruf, 
Huxley, LL.D., F.R.S. 
THURSDAY, NovemMBer 2. 
Lowpon InstiTuTION, at 7.30.—On Micha’l Faraday ; the Story of his Life: 
Dr. J. H. Gladstone, F R.5. 
Cuemicat Society, at 8.— On Anthraplavic Acid: W. H. Perkin. 
Linnean Society, at 8 —On the Origin of Insects: Sir John Lubbo-k, 
Bart., #.R.S.—Notes on the Natural History of the Ilying Fish; Capt. 
Chimmo —On a Chinese Gall, allied tothe Europeau Artichoke Gail: 
A. Miiller, F.L.S. 
CONTENTS Pace 
ScigNGE IN-AMERICAS 2 “lM” 5. 5 qeeneemtoey tate eres one 
Our’ Book SHELF = . ies Meuse jo’ (8 yiemp fyererehe enka mnt 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
The Sun's Parallax.—Tue Gost oF JOHN FLAWSTEED, M.R. . 503 
The Marseilles Meteorite—Prof. A. S. Herscuer. (With 
WOT Ts Cte) ee ee Pree Ch euieece Ge cur ol oe og 
Exogenous Structure in Coal-Plants.—Prof. W. T. THIsELTON 
Divers Prof eW., Ri N Abate ycenal ai ta: cel ali icte ie ted ins Sore 
Blood-Spectrum.—H. C. Sorsy, F.R.S. re tcp = ak 505 
Are Auroras Periodical ?—Prof. DanieL KirKwoop . . . - ~ 505 
Forms of Cloud —Ropert H. ScoTT . - . » « «© 2 «© « » 505 
Elementary Geometry ).. .-.. ~.« a se Su) (eeeteeeels & olen 505 
The Beef Tapeworm.—Dr. T. S. Coppotp, F.R.S. . . . « « 506 
Winter Fertilisation. —ALFrep W. Bennett, F,L.S. . . . +. +. 50 
Velocity of Sottadian) Coals sc) “)igauean ual ofoiss ten Ue) co gate 
Changes in the Habits of Animals.—J. SHAw . ee nh + 506 
A Plane’s Aspect.—J. M. Wirson; RicHArp A. Procror, 
Re AC Sate) | sete c Sree eee SOM 
Sea-water Aquaria.—Dr. MArsHAatt Hatt 
Fn CoM cine 
On Homoptastic AGREEMENTS IN PLAnTs. By Prof. W. TutseL- 
TONODYER\. 0) Jc) Seo) oe V5) OR Gaite tie Le se) inf tne et ee mC Ca 
On THE DiscoveRY OF STEPHANURUS IN THE UNITED STATES AND 
IN AUSTRALIA, By Dr. T. 5. Coppotv, F.R.S. . . . . 508 
Bact on Mecuanics. By Rev. J. S. Lwispen. (With Jilustrations.) 510 
On THE Best Form or Comrounp PRISM FOR THE SPECTRUM 
IMIGROSCOFE. “By, HiC, Sorsy, FSRSS.0) <0 ce) cen) ae) (ee 
D0 SO e ee ie See POISON GTLGMShG ooo E07 
THOUGHTS ON THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WomeEN. By Principal 
DAWSON, EAR Sete. she co ret ie ere) ee) eect ire eS 
Recenrt RESEARCHES ON FLIGHT. By Dr. J. Murte, F.Z.S.. . . 516 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBSERVERS AT THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT 
Ecxipse ExprgpiTion, 1871 1) Phe Ree . 516 
HistotoGy: Lhe Auditory Organ of Gasteropoda . . . 518 
SCIENTIFIC) SERTALS ae ie ic) lac @ eae Q 518 
SocteTIES AND ACADEMIES . 519 
Books RECEIVED. ° + 520 
Diary . : 520 

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