180 
NATURE 
= - 7 « - Os ae ae, Te 

| Dec. 29, 1870 

that they fall unfertilised. The greater part of the second series 
also fall, and the crop of seeds is mainly made up of a few of 
the last opening ones of the series, and the comparatively 
few hermaphrodite ones which are found in those of the third 
class. It is a matter for curious speculation what special benefit 
it can be to the plant to spend so muth force on the produc- 
tion of female flowers too early to mature, and then producing 
such an immense mass of pollen to go utterly to waste. 
Examining the flowers of the allied European evergreen ivy, 
STedera Felix L., I find similar laws of distribution of the 
sexes as in Arvalia spinosa, with the addition of a somewhat 
different structure in the male from the female flowers. In 
Europe the plant is described as often having a single umbel as 
a flower spike. It is quite likely in these cases that the flowers are 
hermaphrodite. In all the cases I have met with here, the inflo- 
rescence is a compound of several umbels —a terminal one 
female, and the lateral ones male, as in Arvalia, But there are 
rudiments of stamens in the flower, and in occasional instances 
I find a filament developed ; but never, so far, with any polleni- 
ferous anthers. The flowers of the central female umbel have 
rather longer and stronger pedicels than the lateral male ones. 
The calyx is united with the ovarium for one-half its length, and 
the latter much developed in the unopened flower. In the male 
the segments of the calyx are two-thirds free, and the petals are 
much longer than in the female flowers. As in Ara/ia spinosa, 
the male flowers do not open until some time after the female 
ones; and not before some of the latter, impatient of delay, 
have fallen unfertilised, I have so often and in so many varied 
ways demonstrated to the Academy that in plants the male ele- 
ment is a later and inferior creation, that it seems almost 
supererogatory to point out that these plants illustrate the same 
principle. 
October 4.—Prof. Leidy made the following communications 
in palzontology. He directed attention to a collection of fossils 
from Sweet Water River, Wyoming Territory, recently received 
as part of the results of the geological exploration of Prof. 
Hayden. The most numerous and characteristic remains are 
those of a species of A/erycocharus, about two-thirds the size of 
MW. proprius, from the head-waters of the Niolorara river. The 
species was named JZ, rusticus. Other remains found in associa- 
tion with the former are referable to a species of Aipparion, 
to Canis vafér and Merycodus necatus. Two additional fossils, 
from a tertiary deposit near Fort Bridger, are referable to a small 
species of Lophiodon, which was named Z. modestus, and a 
small suilline pachyderm, which was named Hyopsodus paulus. 
October 18.—Prof. Leidy directed attention to a collection of 
fossils received from the Smithsonian Institution, from Rey. 
Thomas Condon, of Dalles City, Oregon. The specimens were 
obtained from a tertiary deposit in the valley of Bridge Creek, a 
tributary of John Day’s River, Oregon. The greater number 
and more striking remains belong to a species of Oreodon larger 
than any previously discovered. The skull is about fourteen 
inches in length, and is intermediate in character to that of OQ. 
major and Merycocherus proprius. The species was named 
Orecdon superbus. Among other remains of the collection are 
those of Oreodon Culbertsoni, Agriocherus antiquus, Leplomeryx 
L£vansi, and Anchither.um Bairdi. A fragment of an upper jaw 
with two true molars probably belongs to Lophiodon occidentalis. 
Other fossils indicate ten species of Rhinoceros, probably 2X. 
occidentalis and R. hesperius. Others probably indicate Z/o- 
therium superbum and £. ingens. A small fragment of an upper 
aw with a molar tooth apparently indicates a larger species than 
Anchitherium Bairdi, and was referred to a species with the 
ame of 4. Condoni. 
October 25.— Prof. Leidy stated that he had recently received 
several boxes of fossils collected during Prof. Hayden’s expe- 
dition in Wyoming Territory. Among the mammalian remains 
are those of a pachyderm about the size of an ox, and related to 
the Chalicotherium and Titanotherium. These were referred to 
a species with the name of Pa/zosyops paludosus. A fragment 
of a lower jaw, with true molars like those of the peccary, but 
with pointed lobes, was referred to a species with the name of 
Microsus cuspidatus. The animal was about the size of a rabbit. 
The remains of a lower jaw of an ursine animal, about the size 
of a raccoon, was referred to a species with the name of 
Notharclus tenebrosus. 
November 1.—Prof. Leidy exhibited the tooth of a mosasau- 
roid reptile from the miocene tertiary deposit of Gay Head, 
Martha's Vineyard. From the peculiar minutely-lettered appear- 
ance of the enamel, the tooth was referred to a species with the 
name of Graphiodon vinearius. He also referred to a now ex- 
tinct species of crocodile, indicated by portions of a skull collected 
in Prof. Hayden’s expedition, from a tertiary deposit of Big Sandy 
River, Wyoming. ‘The skull, when perfect, measured eighteen 
inches long. It has nearly the form of that of Crocodilus vul- 
garis, The upper jaw is deeply indented back of the fourth 
tooth, and a pair of deep pits occupy the front of the palate. The 
species was named Crocodi/us Elliotti. 


BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnGuisH.—The Truth of the Bible: B. W. Savile (Longmans).—Physical 
Geography: Mary Somerville, new edition (Murray).—Voyage round the 
World, 2 vols.: Marquis de Beauvoir (Murray).—Natural History of the 
Azores: F. C. Godman (Van Voorst).—New Zealand and the South-Sea 
Islands: Capt. Meade (Murray) —Body and Mind: H. Maudsley, M.D. 
(Macmillan).—A Manual of Zoology: H. A. Nicho son, M.D. (Blackwood). 

Foreicn.—(Through Williams and Norgate)—Plantarum noyarum Fase. r 
H. Van Heurck.—Synonymia botanica, © Halfte: Dr L. Pieiffer—Lehr- 
buch der Chemie, 1'© Lieferung: Dr. G. F. von Gorup-Besanez.—Die Bezie- 
hungea zwischen dem Atomgewichte und der Natur der chemischen Elemente: 
Dr. H. Baumhauer. 

—— 

DIARY 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29. 
Royat InstiruTiIon, at 3.—Burning and Unburning: Prof. Odling(Gjuven le 
lectures), 
SATURDAY, DeceMBER 31. 
Roya InstiTuTION, at 3.—Burning and Unburning : Prof. Odling. 
MONDAY, January 2, 1871. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SocIETY, at 7. 
TUESDAY, JANnvary 3. 
Royat InstiruTion, at 3.—Burning and Unburning: Prof. OWdling. 
ZooLocicaL SociETy, at g—.Notes on the breeding-places of Steatornis 
caripfensis: Hon. A. Gordon.—Descriptions of thirty-four new species of 
Sheils from Australia: Mr. George French Angas. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL SocIETY, al 8.—The Manx of the Isle of Man: Dr. 
Richard King.—The Anthropology of Lancashire; Dr, Beddoe, Pres. 
A.S.L.—On Forms of Ancient Intermeut in Antrim: Dr, Siaclair Holden. 
THURSDAY, January 5. 
Royat InstiruTion, at 3.—Burning and Unburning : Prof, Odling. 

CONTENTS Paces 
Scrmnce aT Scuoot Boarps. By Dr. E. LANKESTER, F.R.S.. . . 
THe LEARNED SOCIETIES AND THE PRESENT CONDITION OF SCIENCE 
AND LEARNING. By W.E. A. Axon, F.S.S. . . . 2. + «© ‘ 
Pror- Batrour STEWART’s ELEMENTARY Puysics. By Prof. P. G. 
TAIT, WRGGi oocyst. seit. bm) be Je pan belie koe 
Our: Book: SHELF jx s'est 5) Wee re ie) Ag ee ee 
r6r 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Mimicry versus Hybridity.—Arruur G. Butver, M.A., F.L.S. ; 
AvFrED R. Wa.tace, F.Z.S. ay 
The Difficulties of Natural Selection.— J. JENNER Weir, F.L.S . 
Butterflies and Birds \ yoy 2 Rs) AP iets! & bn eee 
Ceratodus Forsterii—Sir P. G. EGERTON, Bart. . . . . . » « 
Lumiére Cendrée.—Prof. H.G.S.Smirn,F.RS. ..,... 
Measurement of Mass.—Prof. J. D. Everett, F.R.S.. . . . . 
Wailstones:—J. J. MuUREHYyehG. Saw. | hale tee) en eee 
Darlingtonia Californica.— W. G. Smiru, F.L.S. ..... 
Aurora Arcs in the East.—Henry Reexs, F.L.S. . . . . s « 
The Milky Way.—Rev. D. Sitvan EvANS; JOHN JEREMIAH. 
Me eoric Shower.—Jonn C. WarD . ..... . 5 
Hereditary Deformities.—Prof. Cuas. M. WETHERILL .. . . 
Right-handedness.—=C.rJ. IR: uc) ee) tel usps dnbus ee 
Sun Stroke —Dr. R. A. JAMIESON . . .. e. * 
Giycertne ExTRAcTS oF PEepstN AND OTHER FERMENTS. 
M. FOSTER ..<: js0» a Painietysgde: Sse h 54s elite daa aa 
Nivro-GLyceRINE AND GuUN-COTTON. . . . » « + ss « « = 
ASSOCIATION FOR THE REFORM OF GEOMETRICAL TEACHING. . . . 
Narvurat Science at Oxrorp. By J. P. Earwaker, Scholar of 
Merton College, Oxford. (With Iilustration.). . . «s+. 
NOTES « . 
166 
107 
168 
169 
170 
17 
174 
© 49 cehe> eh roe 6 eh sc) as a wet ohare «eae 
By J. JEREMIAH. . 
Ill. By W. pe Fon- 
Earty MENTION OF THE AURORA BorEALis. 
BALLOON AScCENTs FOR MILITARY PuRPOSES. 
WIEDLE secre 06 Ghee alee on 
175 
176 
180 
180 
SOCIETIES ‘AND ACADEMIES~). % i- Ssieiiel G fe! ls |<) i) cE 
Books RECEIVED =" 39% > See eae se eee 
Diknve. 4's og ke eaten a eines ye © 6 eae e ee 

