232 Proceedings of Pyovincial Scientific Societies. 



and perplexing appearance. Equally bewildering is the aspect 

 of male Enidia hituherculata Wid., in the stage immediately 

 preceding the final moult, when though the palpal organs and 

 tibial apophysis are faintly and imperfectly traceable beneath 

 the enveloping membrane, it nevertheless shows little signs, 

 beyond a slight convexity, of the great bilid.lobe which will 

 soon surmount the caput of the adult. Other species which 

 are similarly ornamented at the same period of development, 

 present unmistakeable tokens of the near advent of these 

 peculiar adult sexual structures. 



Abnormality in the sense in which it has been treated in this 

 paper is of no benefit either to the individual or the race. It 

 partakes more of the nature of a sport, inexplicable, a mere 

 curiosity, and, though instances frequently occur both in the 

 animal and vegetable kingdoms, it has not, it is thought by 

 evolutionists, taken any part in the origin of species. Never- 

 theless it constitutes an interesting study. To the student it 

 is one of the mysteries of nature, revealing eccentricities in the 

 vital processes of the germs, and to the nature lover would 

 probably, if he could by any means attain to a more explicit 

 knowledge, tell of vicissitudes endured and perils past in the 

 lives of the humbler creation. 



The Seventy-Sixth Annual Report of Bootham School (York), Natural 

 History, Literary and Polytechnic Society (35 pp.), has been recently issued, 

 and contains particulars of the work accomplished in the various sections. 

 There are notes on almost every important branch of natural science but 

 geology. 



The Report of the Castle Museum Committee to the Town Council 

 [of Norwich] includes a good record of work during 1909. Suitable refer- 

 ence is also made to the late Thomas Southwell, who took a great interest 

 in the institution. One illustration is entitled ' Monkey Eating Eagle,' 

 though it seems to represent an eagle that has eaten a monkey. Anyway, 

 we have failed to find the monkey ! 



The four parts forming Volume XXV. of The Journal of the Northants 

 Natural History Society and Field Club for 1909 contain numerous valuable 

 papers on various archaeological and natural history subjects. Amongst 

 those of more particular interest to our readers we notice ' The Birds of the 

 Neighbourhood,' ; ' Report for 1908 ' ; ' Vertigo antervertigo [? antivertigo] 

 in Northants ' ; ' The Lepidoptera of Northamptonshire ' ; ' An Addition 

 to the Northants Woodlice ' ; ' Botanical Report ' ; ' Anglo-Saxon 

 Cemetery at Haldenby ' ; ' The Botany of the Northants Fenland ' ; 

 ' A New British Species [of plant, Zannichellia gibberosa] ' ; 'A History of 

 the Water Supply of Northampton' ; and ' Northamptonshire Botanologia, 

 Eighteenth Century.' There are some useful Meteorological Notes, and 

 an obituary notice of the late V. D. H. Cary-Elwes (with portrait). There 

 are several illustrations. Amongst the authors are Messrs. W. A. Shaw, 

 C. E. Wright, E. F. Wallis, C. A. Markham, Rev. R. M. Serjeantson, E. T. 

 Leeds, G. C. Druce, H. N. Dixon, and Beeby Thompson. 



