245, 
NOTES AND COMMENTS. . 
ABNORMAL WILD HYACINTHS. 
The Journal of the Northants Natural History Society and 
Field Club (No. 130) contains a record of a remarkable growth 
of the wild hyacinth. The specimens were gathered in a wood 
near Oxford. The stems of one or two specimens ‘ measured 
2 feet 3 inches in height, of which about six inches may have 
been below the surface of the ground. Two of these stems. 
were exceptionally stout, the lowest flowers (four in one case) 
on extremely long pedicels, the lowest pedicel being eight 
inches long in one case and five in the others. In each case 
the bracts about the base of the raceme were excessively long 
and leaflike, measuring six inches in length and three-seven- 
teenths of an inch in breadth, purplish only at the base and 
the rest green; these lower leaflike bracts merged gradually 
into the ordinary purple bracts upwards on the stems. The 
flowers were large and numerous—in one case forty-four on a 
stem.’ ” 
EVOLUTION OF THE BRONZE SPEAR. 
An unusually instructive paper on ‘ The Evolution of the 
Bronze Spear and Sword in Britain,’ by Mr. Parker Brewis, 
appears in the Proceedings of the University of Durham 
Philosophical Society, Part 1 of Vol. V.* By the aid of 
numerous illustrations of Bronze Age weapons found in various 
parts of Britain, he demonstrates how the relative age of a 
bronze spear may be ascertained, and at the same time shows 
very clearly the various advances made in the manufacture 
of the weapon, from the earliest examples which resembled 
the previous weapons of flint, to the most advanced types. 
A similar series illustrates the growth and evolution of the 
sword. 
THE CARBONIFEROUS LIMESTONE. 
An admirable example of the advantages to be derived 
from systematic investigations, backed up by a _ wealthy 
Society, is illustrated in the voluminous ‘ Report of the Com- 
mittee appointed to report upon the Carboniferous: Limestone 
Formation of the North of England, with specific reference 
to its Coal Resources.’ It contains 240 pages, is illustrated 
by maps and diagrams, and is largely the work of Mr. Stanley 
Smith. The Report is published by The North of England 
Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, under the 
auspices of which the work was carried out. The Report is 
in seven sections, and deals with the following types of rock :— 
Northumberland, Liddlesdale, Alston, North Yorkshire, Cum- 
* Andrew Reid & Co., Newcastle. 2s. 6d. 
Ig13 July 1. Ss 
