" 58 



" The Penycuik Experiments," by Professor Ewart. Of 

 the subject of these experiments I shall have something to 

 say later on. 



" Catalogue of Lepidoptera of Northumberland, Durham, 

 and Newcastle-on-Tyne," Part I., by J. E. Robson. This is 

 not, as the title would suggest, a mere list of species found 

 in the districts named, but is full of observations on their 

 habits and life-history. 



" History of the European Fauna," by R. F. Sharff. 



" Flora of Kent," by F. J. Hanbury, F.L.S. 



" Romance of Wild Flowers," by E. Step, F.L.S. 



"The Flowering Plants and Ferns of Great Britain," by 

 Anne Pratt. A new edition, revised by E. Step. 



One cannot help noticing in going over these names how 

 large a proportion of the authors are members of this 

 Society, a fact on which we may congratulate ourselves, as 

 showing that we have amongst us our full share of the more 

 active naturalists of the day. 



Biologists owe a debt of gratitude to Professor Ewart for 

 the experiments he is conducting at Penycuik to endeavour 

 to throw some light on the vexed question of " telegony." 

 By telegony is meant the influence of a previous sire on 

 after-progeny from the same dam by other sires ; it is some- 

 times described by breeders as " throwing-back " to a 

 previous sire. The belief in telegony among naturalists 

 and breeders is wide-spread, and the evidence in support of 

 this belief appears at first sight most convincing. What 

 may be regarded as the classical instance is that known as 

 Lord Morton's experiment. The facts in this case were 

 described in a letter he wrote in 1820 to Dr. Wollaston, 

 then President of the Royal Society. Perhaps you will 

 forgive me if I quote some paragraphs from this letter. 



" Some years ago I was desirous of trying the experiment 

 of domesticating the quagga, and endeavoured to procure 

 some individuals of that species. I obtained a male, but, 

 being disappointed of a female, I tried to breed from the 

 male quagga and a young chestnut mare of seven eighths 

 Arabian blood, and which had never been bred from. The re- 

 sult was the production of a female hybrid, now five years old, 

 and bearing both in her form and in her colour very decided 

 indications of her mixed origin. I subsequently parted with 

 the seven eighths Arabian mare to Sir Gore Ouseley, who 

 has bred from her by a very fine black Arabian horse. 

 I yesterday morning examined the produce, viz. a two-year- 

 old filly and a year-old colt. They have the character of 



