546 



NA TURE 



[September 27, 1906 



museum. It is satisfactory to learn that the financial 

 condition of the institution has materially improved since 

 the date of the previous report. 



Prof. Hickson'.s letter on remarkable ccelenterates from 

 the west coast of Ireland in Nature of November 2, 1905 

 (vol. Ixxiii., p. s) is reprinted in a volume just issued on 

 Irish fisheries (Scientific Investigations, 1905, v.). This is 

 followed by a notice of a leach parasitic on torpedoes taken 

 on the Irish coast, and this, again, by ihe mention of a 

 mollusc of the genus Lamellaria captured in a trawl off 

 Cork. The particular species, which is common to both 

 sides of the Atlantic, is new to the Irish fauna. Finally, 

 Mr. S. W. Kemp adds ten species of long-tailed crustaceans 

 to the marine fauna of Ireland. 



The report of the Danish Biological Station for 1903 

 and 1904, recently issued at Copenhagen as a translation 

 from Fiskeri-Beretning, deals with the distribution and 

 dispersal of the young and eggs of fishes which at one 

 period or another are pelagic. From the study of the 

 Icelandic seas it has been found that three belts may be 

 distinguished in the neighbourhood of land, the first of 

 which is characterised by the presence of pelagic eggs and 

 the minute fry of species with demersal (deep sea) eggs, 

 while the second is inhabited by the young fry of species 

 with pelagic eggs and the older fry of those with demersal 

 ova. In Danish waters the conditions appear to be some- 

 what more complex, but, speaking generally, it may be 

 stated that the area within the Skaw approximates -in its 

 fauna to the first belt, and that outside the Skaw to the 

 second zone. 



We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the 

 first part of the " Bergen's Museum Aarbog " for the 

 current year. In the first paper Mr. J. Rekstad discusses 

 the terraces and raised beaches of western and northern 

 Norway. Among the more noteworthy remains are nodules, 

 from more than one locality, containing beautifully pre- 

 served specimens of the skeleton of young coal-fishes 

 (Gadus virens). In a second article Mr. C. F. Kolderup 

 records the occurrence in Norway during 1905 of twenty- 

 three earthquakes, all of which were, however, small and 

 local. The capture, in the middle of January, 1904, of 

 no less than forty-seven killer-whales (Orca gladiator) at 

 Blldostrommen is recorded by Mr. J. A. Grieg, who 

 furnishes an Illustration of the landing of one of these 

 cetaceans. Several skeletons were preserved, of some of 

 which the author gives measurements and descriptions. 

 In addition to papers by other authors, Prof. R. Collett 

 communicates notes on bottle-nosed whales (Hyperoodon) 

 and white whales (Delphinapterus). 



The sixth number of the Kew Bulletin for this year 

 contains the diagnoses of new plants, published under the 

 title " Decades Kewenses, xui.," of which one, de- 

 scribed by Dr. .Stapf, forms the type of a new genus 

 Diandrolyra, order Gramineae. Mr. J. M. Hillier con- 

 tributes articles on East Indian dragon's-blood, chiefly the 

 produce of species of DjEmonorops and Ogea gum obtained 

 from the genera Daniella and Cyanothyrsus. The account 

 by Mr. W. Watson of a visit to some well-known Irish 

 gardens makes special mention of the magnificent develop- 

 ment of the trees, showing how well the climate is suited 

 to forestry. A historical article on the Sydney Botanic 

 Gardens, written by Mr. J. H. Maiden, is reprinted from 

 the Sydney Morning Herald. 



The review of Mr. Luther Burbank's work written by 

 Prof. H. de Vrles in the Biologisches Centralblalt 

 NO. 1926, VOL. 74] 



(September i) gives the opinions of the foremost scientific 

 plant-breeder on the work of one of the most successful 

 practical plant-breeders. While fully recognising the re- 

 markable acumen of Burbank's judgment and the practical 

 value of his work. Prof, de Vries finds a marked contrast 

 between the aims and methods of the two types of worker. 

 Careful experiment in the cultivation and crossing on a 

 limited scale of pure types with definite characters is the 

 task of the scientific investigator ; the hope of the nursery- 

 man lies in the chance possibilities arising out of the pro- 

 duction and selection from a vast number of variations ; for 

 instance, Mr. Burbank selected his plums from 300,000 

 hybrids. One of the most Important features of Mr. Bur- 

 bank's work has been the cultivation of remote species 

 with possibilities that have escaped the consideration of 

 less conventional cultivators. The stoneless plum was 

 obtained from crossing some plants, "prunes sans noyau," 

 at one time cultivated in France. An intuitive genius for 

 selection of promising varieties Is the key to Mr. Burbank's 

 success. 



Two examples of " fluctuating variation " as met with 

 in certain New Zealand plants are noted by Dr. L. 

 Cockayne in vol. xxvlil. of the Transactions of the New 

 Zealand Institute. In the first case, two Celmislas were 

 found, one growing on the coast, the other in the alpine 

 region, both very similar, except in the proportions of the 

 leaf and general appearance. The question arises whether 

 they should be regarded as distinct species. This, Dr. 

 Cockayne points out, can best be determined by ascertain- 

 ing whether the two forms reproduce " true." The second 

 paper refers to leaf variation in Coprosma haueri. When 

 exposed to sun and wind, the plant bears glossy, recurved, 

 or rolled leaves, whereas in the shade they are thin, flat, 

 and much larger. There is no question of two species In 

 this case, as the two types of leaf may be observed on 

 the same plant, but it suggests a starting point for the 

 evolution of two distinct species. 



Although not far distant from the North Island of New 

 Zealand, ihe flora of the Poor Knights Islands had not 

 been explored until Dr. L. Cockayne was enabled to get 

 ashore for a very brief period last year. Distinguishing 

 three formations of cliff, tall scrub, and meadow. Dr. 

 Cockayne was particularly Impressed by the luxuriance of 

 the foliage of the arborescent plants In the scrub, and 

 especially of the dominant plants Suttonia divaricata and 

 Macropiper excelsum. Apart from the fertility of the soil 

 and the shelter afforded by the dense growth, it was not 

 apparent why such luxuriance should be developed. 

 Another ecological contribution by the same writer, de- 

 scribing the subalpine scrub of the seaward Kalkouras, In 

 the South Island, Is published with the former in the 

 Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, vol. xxviii. 

 The peculiarity of this formation, that lies between the 

 forest and the subalpine meadow, consists in the dominance 

 of the composite shrub, Cassinia albida, found only in the 

 Kalkoura Mountains, and in the occurrence of a 

 Ranunculus growing under the scrub that Dr. Cockayne 

 separates as a distmct species, Ranunculus lobatus. 



The third and final part of a series of papers on sands 

 and sediments, by Messrs. T. Mellard Reade and Philip 

 Holland, appears in the volume of the Proceedings of the 

 Liverpool Geological Society for 1905-6. The earlier parts 

 were published In the two preceding volumes. The papers 

 describe a number of experiments made upon modern and 

 ancient sediments to determine the behaviour of the par- 

 ticles when suspended In water and In various solutions ; 



