244 Notes and Comments. 
forms possessing, in varying degrees, the character of both. 
These plants are commonly called “ oxlips,” but they must 
not be confused with the true oxlip (Primula elatior), if such 
exists as a fixed species. There is no fixity about these variant 
forms. Every gradation of intermediate characters between 
the two species may be found, from a primrose-like flower 
borne on a single stalk, but showing cowslip parentage in a 
slightly deeper tinge of yellow, to umbel-bearing flowers, 
varying in colour and form through every possible gradation of 
the two characters. The hybrid origin of these flowers is 
probable from many considerations. There is little structural 
difference between the flowers of primrose and cowslip, and 
there is every likelihood that occasionally pollen should be 
conveyed from one to the other by insects. It is noticeable 
too that the intermediate forms are very commonly met with 
in a belt between a primrose and a cowslip habitat. In order, 
however, to put the matter to a definite test, Mr. Highfield 
made a number of crosses, and he gives the results with photo- 
graphs of the flowers and leaves of the hybrids. 
ROCK STRUCTURES AND PRIORITY. 
A correspondent who signs himself ‘ R.H.R.’ in Knowledge 
for June, in speaking of ‘ Structures in Sedimentary Rocks,’ 
states, ‘ one of the pioneers in this kind of work was Professor 
Bonney, who was President of the Geological Section of the 
British Association at Birmingham in 1886. In his presi- 
dential address he gave a most interesting summary of the then 
state of our knowledge on the subject, chiefly based on a study 
of thin slices of the rocks. The late Dr. Sorby, of Sheffield, 
also did a good deal of work on the sedimentary rocks.’ With 
all. due respect to Professor Bonney we think that even that 
gentleman will consider that this correspondent has put the 
cart before the horse, to use an expression familiar to Professor 
Bonney. Surely the late Dr. Sorby was the pioneer in these 
matters. In the very address by Professor Bonney, referred 
to, this would appear to be borne out, judging by the following 
extract :—' Once for all, I ask you to bear in mind that this 
address is mainly a recital of other men’s work, so that I shall 
not need to interrupt its continuity by remarks as to the 
original observers. The subject is, indeed, one to which I 
have paid some attention, but I can only call myself a humble 
follower of such good men as Godwin-Austin, “ the physical 
geographer of bygone periods,’ and Sorby, who was the first 
to apply the mucroscope to similar problems, and to whom in 
this class of investigation, we need only apply the well known 
saying, Nihil tetigit quod non ornavit.’ 


Naturalist, 
