160 
NATURE 
[Dec. 22, 1870 

found by him near Perth. Intimation was given that the first 
number of the Scottish Naturalist, a quarte ly magazine of natural 
history, published under the auspices of the Society, and sup- 
portel by most of the leading Scottish naturalists, would appear 
early in January.—Mr. J. Sadler, F.R.P.S.E, (of Edinburgh), 
read a paper “On the Geographical Distribution of Plants in 
Perthshire.” He traced the range of various characteristic 
plants from the sea-level up to the summit of Ben Lawers, the 
highest mountain in the county, and pointed out the distribution | 
of the rarer species in other parts of Britain. In reference to 
Saxifraga cernua, which in Britain has only been found on the 
summit of Ben Lawers, Mr. Sadler said that in the opinion of | 
some botanists the Ben Lawers plant was only an Alpine form | 
of Saxifraga granulata, but in his opinion it was a good species. 
The paper was illustrated by an interesting series of diagrams, 
formed of dried specimens of the plants. 
One of the-e diagrams | 
showed the altitude attained by the various plants found on Ben | 
Lawers from its base to its summit.—The President read a paper 
upon ‘‘ A Naturalist’s Work in Winter.” 
ject into two divisions, ‘Out-door Work” and ‘‘In-door Work,” 
and pointed out what could be and should be done in the various 
branches of natural history during the winter months. 
PHILADELPHIA 
Natural Sciences Society, July 5.—The president, Dr. 
Ruschenberger, in the chair. Mr. Meehan exhibited some speci- 
mens of Rumex obtusifolius, a naturalised dock from Europe. 
He said that so far as he could ascertain from European speci- 
mens, and the descriptions of Babington, Bromfield, and other 
English botanists, the plant was there hermaphrodite ; but here, 
as correctly stated by Dr. Asa Gray, it was monceciously pely- 
gamous. He thought the fact that plants hermaphrodite in one 
country becoming unisexual in another, was worthy of more atten- 
tion by those engaged in the study of the laws of sex than had 
been given to it. This Rumex did not stand alone ; A. crispus 
and 2. fatienta exhibited the same thing. /yvagarvia was another 
instance well known to horticulturists, although the fact scienti- 
fically had not received due weight. The average tendency of 
the strawberry in Europe was to hermaphrodism—here to pro- 
duce pistillate forms. He also called attention to the fact that 
in these American specimens unisexuality was in proportion to 
axial vigour. This law he had already explained in times past 
to the Academy, and new instances were scarcely necessary. 
Here, however, the moderately weak plant had more hermaphro- 
dite flowers than the strong one ; and in both classes of speci- 
mens the number of male flowers gradually increased with the 
weakening of the axis, until the ends of the raceme were almost 
wholly of male flowers. ‘The first flowers on the strong verticels 
were usually wholly pistillate. Prof. Leidy remarked that the 
interesting communication of Mr. Meehan had recalled to his 
mind a result of his experience, which he thought would accord 
with that of others, viz., that species viewed as common to both 
Europe and America frequently exhibit slight peculiarities, 
which are distinctive of those of the two countries. It is what 
might be inferred even if we admit the evolution of existing 
species from a common remote ancestry. A wide separation, 
with a considerable lapse of time and a modification of circum- 
stances, are sufficient to account for the slight and acquired 
differences. Even where differences are not observed in form 
and structure, they may exist in the habit of the species. 
the common wolf of Europe and America, viewed by many 
naturalists as of the same species, differs strikingly in character 
in the two countries. In the former it is a more fearless animal, 
not hesitating to attack man ; in the latter, it is said never to 
attack man. At an early period observers saw, or thought they 
saw, many of the same species of plants and animals indigenous 
to America that occur in Europe, and hence the common nam s 
of Luropean species were applied to those of America. 
Gradually the list of species common to the two countries was 
much reduced, and now is comparatively small. 
August 2.—Mr, Vaux, Vice-president,inthechair. Mr. Thomas 
Meehan called attention to the arrangements of some slants for 
preventing fertilisation through any other than insect agency, as 
discovered by Darwin. The Sa/via family of plants had the 
most elaborate arrangements for insect agency, but it had been 
objected to Darwin’s theory that insects made no use of them. 
Bees bore holes through the tube from the outside for the honey, 
and do not enter by the mouth of the flower, as they ought, In 
the same way, in the Petunia, bees bore for honey from the 
outside. He had discovered that in these cases, where day in- 
Thus | 
He divided his sub- | 

sects failed to make use of these apparatuses, fertilisation was 
carried on by night moths, so that the objections to Darwinism 
were removed. He also referred to the common sweet chest- 
nut, as bearing two classes of male flowers, only one of which 
probably aided in fertilisation. The first class appeared ten 
days before the other, and are those which give whiteness to the 
trees. They appear in the axils of the weak shoots. The female 
flowers appear on the apices of strong shoots, according to his 
theory of the laws of sex. The second class of male flowers 
appears at the ends of the vigorous shoots bearing the female 
flowers. Whatever affects the vigour of the tree interferes with 
the production of female but not of male flowers, and this was 
the reason_why some seasons had short crops. 


BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnGLIsH.—Text-books of Science ; Inorganic Chemistry: W. A. Milles, 
M.D. (Longmans and Co.).—Method and Medicine, an Essay: B. W. Foster 
(Churchill). —Science, Creeds, and Scripture, and the Mystery of God: 
(Blackwood and Sons) —A Laboratory Ye .t-book of Practical Chemistry : W. 
G. Valentin (Churchill). 
Foreicn.—(Through Williams and Norgate)—Theoretische Astronomie : 
a its nee der allgemeinen Himmelsbeschreibung : 
H. J. Klein. 

PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
The Education and Status of Civil Engineers (published by the Institution). 
—Spectrum Analysis: a Lecture by W. Huggins —Spectrum Analysis: a 
Lecture by Prof. Roscoe.—Coral and Coral-reefs: a Lecture by Prof. Hux- 
ley.—Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Natural History Society of 
Montreal.—Proceedings of the Cleveland Institution of Engineers.—Science 
Education abroad: a Lecture by Principal Dawson. —Description of New 
Fossil Shells of the Upper Amazon: T. A. Conrad,—On the Heat developed tn 
the combination of Acids and Bases : Dr. Thomas Andrews. —New Remedies: 
Dr. M’Elroy.—Provisional Catalogue of Transactions of Societies, Periodicals, 
and Memorrs in the Radcliffe Library.—Essay on the Comparative Efficiency 
of Spectroscopic Prisms of differe t Angles: E. C. Pickering.—Abstracts 
relating to the Preservation of Food: W. H. Archer.—Experiments on the 
‘Transpiration of Watery Fluid by Leaves: W. R. McNab, M.D.—Appli- 
cazione della teoria Darwiniana ai fiori ed agli insetti visita ori dei oe 
F. Delpino. 


DIARY 
THURSDAY, D&cEMBER 22. 
Royat, at 8.30 —Actinometrical Observatioas made at Dehra Dooa and 
Mussoorie, in India; Lieut. Hennessey.—On the Cen titution of the Solid 
Crust of the Earth: Archdeaco. Pratt, F.R.S.—On the Extension of the 
Coalfields of England beneath the Newer Formations, and the Successive 
Physical Changes whereby they have been reduced to their present Dimen- 
sons: E, Hull, F.R.S. : 
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23. 
QuEKETT Microscopicat Society, at 8. 
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27. 
Roya Institution, at 3.—Burning and Unburning: Prof. Odl'ng (juven le 
lectures). 
THURSDAY, DecEMBER 29. 
Royat InstiruTion, at 3.—Burning and Unburning : Prof, Odling. 


-CONTENTS Pack 
Narueat History Socirrigs. 00 5). sconce 14 
Tue PuysioLocicaL LaBporaTory AT Lerpzic. (With Plan.). . 142 
PALAONTOLOGY OF Man By W. Boyp Dawkins, F.R.S. . . - 144 
Cooke's CHEMICAL PHILOSOPHY <1. . 6 12 101) «a 0) 3p are etnteneen 
QuR' BooK SHELE'.9 SNe Soe St eo. 08> 2) lo ae 
LeErrers TO THE EDITOR :— 
Eozoén Canadense.—T. M. READE . . . «sw se + es G8 
The Difficulties of Natural Selection —A. W. Benner, F.L.S. 147 
Is Mimicry Advactageous?—S. H, ScupvEk . » tact ee 147 
Nepenthes.—Dr. J. D. Hooker, F.R S.; H. Pocktincron . 147 
Cockroaches.—Rev. Canon KINGSLEY . . . 2. + s+ «© 148 
EARED SEALS AND THE R Hapits By P. L. Scrater, F.R.S. . 148 
ScrenTiFic TEACHING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. . . 
SHAE By J. K. Jackson, ALLS. (With Ldlustrations.) .« 
OTES . ae . . . . . . ht gas . ie . . . 
Mimicry anv Hysrip.sarion. By A. Murray, F.L.S. 
SCIENTIFIC SERIAES, «5, oil's) =e de) eee . 
SocieTIES AND ACADEMIES. . . +. « « 
Books AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED. . . . . « 
IDIAR/G <i Sis’ « (a) sade iey eee . 
» 
+ 
Pe) 
rele, see 
. 


Erratum.—Page 94, first column, line 2 from bottom, for “‘ ayvefocus” 
read “‘aguaticus.” 
