122 
physiognomy was produced by the cylindric prolongation of the 
premaxillary bone beyond the teeth, and a similar flat prolongation 
of the extremity of the dentary. He referred the species to 
Macrasaurus Owen, under the name of JZ, priviger. ‘The speci- 
men he stated belonged to Prof. Agassiz, who obtained it from 
Western Kansas, probably from the No. 3 of the Upper 
Cretaceous of Hayden. The following paper was presented for 
ublication :—‘‘ Description of new Carboniferous Fossils from 
the United States” ; by F. B. Meek and A. H. Worthen. 
June 8.—The following paper was presented for publication : 
‘© On the production of Bracte in Larix” ; by Thos. Meehan. 
June 22.—The following paper was presented for publica- 
tion: ‘‘ Notice of certain obscurely known species of American 
Birds, based on specimens in the museum of the Smithsonian 
Institution” ; by Robert Ridgway. 
June 29.—The report of the Biological and Miscroscopical 
Section was presented, and referred to the Publication Com- 
mittee. On permission being granted, Mr. Warner spoke upon 
the mathematical representation of organic forms. Such limita- 
tions, he said, might seem to narrow the field of research into 
the physical causes of organic forms, and perhaps furnish the 
suggestion of a rational theory of these causes. If no other 
advantage were desirable from investigations of this kind, they 
might, he thought, be useful for description and_ classification. 
He exhibited a representation of the longitudinal section of an 
egg by a curve which he called the hyper-ellipse, and of the sec- 
tion of an embryo by another curve, which he termed a deformed 
lemniscate. Of the egg curve he said that it very closely re- 
sembled an ideal section of an egg, taken from a standard modern 
work. Of the curve representing the embryo he said that it not 
improbably marked the boundary of matter lying within it in a 
different state of temperature, density, or tension from the matter 
lying without. These representations were verified by the mem- 
bers present. The speaker expressed the iniyntion of making 
these representations the subject of a future paper, in which he 
would give drawings and formulz. 
July 18.—Mr. Thos. Meehan presented leaves of the peach and 
cherry, and said it had fallen to him to point out that the leaf- 
blades of plants were developed in proportion as vigorous vitality 
was released, and that they were adherent or decurrent in propor- 
tion as vigorous vitality was thoroughly developed in the central 
axis or stem. By following out the same line of observation he 
had discovered the law which governed the production of sexes 
in plants, and he now wished to call attention to the operation 
of the same cause in the production of glands on the leaf-stalks 
of the peach and cherry. A careful examination of the gland- 
bearing variety of either of these would show that these glands 
were simply germs of the cellular matter which formed the leaf- 
blade. They might be seen in every stage of development, 
from dense full globes on the petioles to very small dots on the 
apex of the tolerably well-expanded matter, and it would be 
further seen|that in proportion as vitality was weak,were thesegerms 
and glands developed. Leaves from the shaded centre of the 
tree, or from shoots weak or enfeebled from any other cause, 
produced glandless leaves, while the stronger the shoot the stronger 
and more numerous were the glands or undeveloped parts. Re- 
membering that these glands were but undeveloped leaf-blades, 
and thatit had been previously proved by the author that plants de- 
veloped these less freely in proportion to a vigorous axial or stem 
growth, it should necessarily follow that a weakened vitality would 
be indicated by an absence of glands. That this was so in the cases 
referred to, the weak and glandless leaves showed. The author had 
had a very remarkable confirmation of these recent physiological 
discoveries. Many varieties of peaches have no glands, and 
these had been found by the growers of southern Illinois, as he 
was informed by Dr. Hull, of Alton, in all cases to be the first 
to succumb to diseases or unfavourable circumstances. It was very 
seldom that the developments of science and untutored observa- 
tions went along together, and so thoroughly accorded. To the 
author it was one of the most interesting facts he had met with in 
support of his theory, that the degree of separation of the leaf-blade 
fromthe main stems was wholly a question of vitality. —Mr. Meehan 
exhibited some fibre obtained from Mr. Roezel, of Vera Cruz, 
which was finer and stronger than that furnished by the “ Ramie.” 
Mr. Roezel obtained it from a plant which he had found in the 
Alleghanies, and which he believed to be a new species of 
Boehmeria. Mr. Meehan had, however, since found it abun- 
dantly along the Missouri River, and it proves to be only Utica 
purpurascens, Nuttall. 
Epw. D. Corr, Correstonding Secretary. 
NATURE 
[Mov. 25, 1869 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, November 25. 
Roya Society, at 8.30.—Preliminary Report of the Scientific Exploration 
of the Deep Sea in H.M. surveying vessel Porcupine, during the summer 
of 1869, conducted by Dr. Carpenter, V.P.R.S., Mr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys, 
F.R.S., and Prof. Wyville Thompson, LL.D., F.R.S. (conclusion). 
Spectroscopic Observations of the Sun; No. 5: J. N. Lockyer, F.R.S. 
Researches on Gaseous Spectra in Relation to the Physical Constitution 
of the Sun, Stars, and Nebule. Note 3: Dr. Frankland, F.R.S., and 
J. N. Lockyer, F.R.S. And other papers. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—Ancient British Barrows of Wiltshire 
and the adjacent counties: J. Thurnam, M.D., F.S.A 
ZooLoGicaL Sociery, at 8.30—Notes on some Spiders and Scorpions from 
St. Helena, with descriptions of new Species: Rev. O. P. Cambridge. 
On a small collection of Birds from the Tonga Islands: Dr, O. Finsch 
and Dr. G. Hartlaub. j 
MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
Lonpon InsTiTuTION, at 7.30.—Architecture: Prof. R. Kerr. 
PHILOSOPHICAL CLUB, at 6. 
FRIDAY, NoveMBER 26. 
QueEkeEeTT MicroscopicaL CLuvp, at 8. 
SATURDAY, NovEMBER 27. 
Royat Boranic Society, at 3.45. 
MONDAY, NoveMBER 29. 
INSTITUTE OF BriITISH ARCHITECTS, at 8. 
InsTITUTE oF ACTUARIES, at 7.—Translation by Mr. Bumsted of ‘‘ Sug- 
gestions for a Law to regulate the Calculation and Investment of the 
Reserve in Life Assurance Companies :” Herr Hopf. 
MepIcav Society, at 8. 
Roya AsIaTic SOCIETY, at 3. 
Lonpon InstITUTION, at 4.—Elementary Physics: Prof. Guthrie. 
TUESDAY, NovEMBER 30. 
Roya Society, at 4.—Anniversary. 
InstTiITUTE oF CiviL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Renewed Discussion upon Mr. 
Gandard’s paper on the Strength and Resistance of Materials. On the 
Public Works of the Province of Canterbury, New Zealand: Mr. Edwd, 
Dobson, Assoc. Inst. C.E. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—The Shina People (described for the 
first time): Dr. G. W. Leitner. 
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1. 
PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
OBSTETRICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2. 
LINNEAN SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
CHEMICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnGLisu.—Dictionary of Scientific Terms: Dr. Nuttall (Strahan and Co.) 
Dr. Buckland’s Bridgwater Treatise ; Geology and Mineralogy as exhibiting 
the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God, fourth edition, edited by Francis 
T. Buckland (Bell and Daldy).—The Development of the Idea of Chemical 
Composition : Prof. A. Crum Brown (Edinburgh : Edmonston and Douglas). 
—Country Walks of a Naturalist with his Children: Rev. W. Haughton 
(Groombridge and Sons).—Hereditary Genius ; and Inquiry into its Laws 
and Consequences: Francis Galton, F.R.S. (Macmillan).—The Origin of the 
Seasons considered from a Geological Point of View: Samuel Mossman 
(Blackwood and Sons).—As regards Protoplasm in relation to Prof. Huxley's 
aay, on the Physical Basis of Life: James Hutchinson Stirling (Blackwood 
and Sons). 
Forei1GN.— Manuel de Chimie Médicale et Pharmaceutique : Alfred Riche. 
—Des Bases Organiques, naturelles et artificielles, au point de vue chimique, 
physiologique et médicale: Dr. A. Lacote.—Ein Jahr auf den Sandwich- 
Inseln: Dr. J. Bechtinger.—Bryologia Silesiaca: Dr. Julius Milde.—Lehr- 
buch der Chemie: A. Geuther.—Lecons de Chimie: A. Riche.—Neue 
Probleme der vergleichenden Erdkunde als yersuch einer Morphologie der 
Erdoberfliiche : Oscar Peschél.—Etude sur la Physique du Globe: R. Bruck. 
—Die Abhingigkeit der Pflanzengestalt yon Klima und Boden. (Through 
Williams and Norgate.) # 
CONTENTS eee 
A Scientiric Census. By Prof. Leone Levi... .. 2. « 99 
DerTus OF THE SEA. By Davip Forses, F.R.S. . 100 
Puystcat METEOROLOGY. 
ofthe Kew: Observatory, bi ese ate ae ee ee 
Prenistoric Times. By E. B. Tytor. (With Illustrations.) . . . 103 
Tue ORIGIN OF Species Controversy. By A. R. WALLACE . . . 105 
Tue Prants or Mippresex. By W. CARRUTHERS . . . . . « 107 
By Batrour STEWART, FERS. Director 
QOuR BOOK ISHELE. Gea) gal eile foloe= Weta Os titolo) afay cians | aa Mista ote MRECCOSS 
Nores on Stavactites. By W. C. Rozerts, F.C.S. (With Idlus- 
tration.) . A eDa ouw LOMO ch meCOm yh brabyeolo: oF cc. .o- 9 BES) 
Tue SHARPEY PHYSIOLOGICAL SCHOLARSHIP . . . + + « « « « 109 
Tue IsrHmMian Way To InpiIA. (With Map.) . . . ... .» » ¥10 
LETTERS TO THE EpIToR :— 
The Meteor of November 6th.—Sir Wm. ARMSTRONG, F.R.S. . 112 
Lectures to Ladie.—M. .... . a te 
Mohy amen elo I One Sako iG dbo Ose BG op a eee 
SASTRONOMYS, (3 ie! cain. wee os) sie) ye lcn’ lea, tom Helle Mile) Mia ni> at ts Ute ath LED 
leon PASH? eG Pole Hr aCnate O O MEE Le Ua GO Soon 6 8 SP loe ey eee oS, 
GHEMISTRY 5-0 3) ce cel fos) eo) RE ee ee 
1g (CIA aoe DUONG, GOO ded oO Wo oe od logo > tS 
PHYSIOLOGY, AW =) -beuese agp Te, Nie. te) el Row sumone eae amt: tats ae EL) 
SOGIETIESUAND ACADEMIES! fo etic. islets rei iso eoec EEELEZ7] 
DIARY Ta Sect ew ke cs Gf Ot tke oOo 5 9 HOE 
BOOKS REGCRIVED! 0050.) foes ite) ve. eg ete tol da aire NY gn CER e 
