252 



NA TURE 



[July 12, 190b 



osmotic permeability at the two ends, does it seem possible 

 to obtain pressure by this method. . . . The pith-ray cells 

 seem the only ones in the wood in position to fulfil the 

 above requirements. The most probable explanation at 

 present is that the pith-ray cells, stimulated by the rising 

 temperature, become unequally permeable, thus setting up 

 a current and accompanying pressure from the pith towards 

 the bark." Two shorter articles, one by Mr. R. C. 

 Osburn and the other by Mr. A. S. Pearse, respectively 

 deal with the existence of dragon-fly larva" in brackish 

 water and with the reactions to chemical and other stimuli 

 of the hydroid polyps of the genus Tubularia. 



The June issue (vol. vii.. No. 3) of the Journal of the 

 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom opens 

 with an obituary notice of the late Prof. Weldon, who was 

 one of the oldest workers at the laboratories, and one of 

 the most earnest and enthusiastic supporters of that institu- 

 tion. This is followed by an illustrated paper on certain 

 British nudibranchiatc molluscs h report is appended on 

 the work of the council in connection with the International 

 Fishery Investigations. In order to carry out efficiently 

 the work in the North Sea, it was found advisable to 

 establish a laboratory at Lowestoft. The experiments 

 with marked plaice have proved the occurrence of ex- 

 tensive migrations on the part of that species. Very 

 noteworthy are some of the hydrographical results, especi- 

 ally in relation to the fact that the waters of the North 

 Sea and the English Channel have, respectivelv, different 

 origins, according to the season of the year. It would 

 appear, for instance, that during the summer and early 

 autumn of 1903, the Channel waters were largely de- 

 rived from the Irish Sea, while during the remainder 

 of the year they were chiefly drawn from the Bay of 

 Biscay, as indicated by their excessive saltness. The issue 

 closes with the report of the working of the laboratory, 

 &c., during 1904-5. 



An important communication oil the morphology of fishes 

 appears in the June issue of the Quarterly Joiinwl of 

 Microscopical Science, in which Mr. E. S. Goodrich dis- 

 cusses the development, structure, and origin of the median 

 and paired fins. It is shown that the mode of development 

 of the dorsal fins is essentially the same as that of the paired 

 fins, both arising as longitudinal folds, into which grow 

 buds from the myotomes, these being subsequently affected 

 by concentration and fusion. The careful and detailed 

 observations of the author practically give the death-blow 

 to the theory that the paired fins of fishes (and con- 

 sequently the limbs of vertebrates generally) are derived 

 from modified gill-arches, for, as is mentioned in the text, 

 that theory gives no explanation of this remarkable struc- 

 tural resemblance of the paired to the median fins. On 

 such a theory the resemblance is in truth absolutely in- 

 explicable, whereas on the lateral (and median) fold-theory 

 such a resemblance is not only easy of explanation, but is 

 precisely what we should expect to occur. Mr. Goodrich 

 has done good service in brushing aside collateral issues 

 and putting the crux of the problem plainly before his 

 readers, and it may be hoped that his efforts will result 

 in the general acceptance of the lateral fold-theory. The 

 contents of the above-named issue of the Quarterly Journal 

 of Microscopical Science also include a continuation of Dr. 

 Woodcock's review of the haemoflagellates, and a pre- 

 liminary account, by Miss R. M. Harrison, of a newly- 

 discovered organ (consisting of a glandular body between 

 the fifth and sixth abdominal ganglia) in the lockroach. 



Not for the first time American botanists are extending 

 their sphere of operations to British colonies in under- 

 O. 1915, VUL. 74] 



taking an investigation of plants in the Bahama Islands. 

 The collections gathered hitherto by various American 

 botanists have been of a somewhat meagre character, so 

 that Drs. N. L. Britton and C. F. Millspaugh, with the 

 consent of the British botanists concerned, have planned a 

 botanical survey of the group. Under the title " Prsenuncias 

 Bahamenses," Dr. Millspaugh, in vol. ii.. No. 3, of the 

 botanical series of the Publications of the Field Columbian 

 Museum, Chicago, treats the orders Amarantacese, 

 Euphorbiacese, Rubiacete, and Verbenaceae. Under the 

 Verbenacea2 two new genera, Nashia, allied to I-antana, 

 and Pseudocarpidium, allied to Vitex, are founded. 



The systematic articles in the recent part of the Kew 

 Bulletin, No. 4, include a decade of new orchids described 

 by Mr. R. A. Rolfc, and a series of " Diagnoses Africanae " 

 contributed by Mr. N. E. Brown, among which are several 

 plants collected by the Hon. Mrs. E. Cecil in Rhodesia 

 and Portuguese East Africa. The nature and uses of 

 Chinese wood oil, generally known as t'ung oil, are dis- 

 cussed by Mr. J. M. Hillier, and the tree yielding it is 

 referred by Mr. Botting Hemsley to Aleurites Fordii. A 

 number of new species of Indian fungi are recorded by 

 Mr. Massee, who also writes a note wherein he advances 

 arguments proving that potato-disease and potato leaf- 

 curl are more often perpetuated by hibernating mycelium 

 than by diffusion of spores. 



The exhibit organised by the Meteorological Office for 

 the International Exhibition, Christchurch, N.Z., 1906-7, 

 was, by permission of Dr. Shaw, viewed on July 6 by many 

 persons interested in meteorology. The exhibits were 

 intended to illustrate the methods adopted by the Office and 

 by the institutions associated with it, and the results 

 obtained on land and sea. For this purpose instruments, 

 published works, and specially prepared diagrams were 

 arranged according to the branches into which the opera- 

 tions of the Office are divided. Perhaps the most imposmg 

 display was in connection with maritime meteorology ; 

 many beautiful specimen sheets of monthly charts for the 

 various oceans testified to the care and skill bestowed on 

 this important part of the work of the Office. Among the 

 many objects of interest was a meteorological log contri- 

 buted by the Prince of Wales when in command of H.M.S. 

 Thrush. The details connected with the preparation of 

 weather forecasts and the issue of storm warnings were 

 well represented. Among the most attractive charts may 

 be mentioned one showing the portions of the globe for 

 which daily weather reports are published, with isobaric 

 lines drawn for December 21, 1905, from the charts 

 received ; maps showing passages of cyclonic depressions 

 across the British Isles and the prevalence of gales on our 

 coasts. In the section dealing with climatological statistics 

 maps were exhibited showing the stations under the control 

 of the English and Scottish Meteorological Societies and 

 the British Rainfall Organisation. Dr. Shaw contributed 

 some carefully drawn diagrams showing the apparent rela- 

 tion between the yield of wheat and rainfall ; meteoro- 

 logical sequences — dry autumn followed by wet spring and 

 vice versd — and the meteorological relations of widely dis- 

 tant regions. Although somewhat of a tentative character, 

 the results were very striking, and led to the conviction 

 that a great step in the right direction had been made in 

 grappling with the multitudinous details at the disposal of 

 the Office. The department dealing with automatic record- 

 ing apparatus took also a prominent position in the exhibit ; 

 some excellent drawings were shown illustrating the 

 mounting and working of the instruments at the first 

 order observatories. Among the instruments exhibited by 



