142 REPORT— 1876. 



tliat sucli researches are not incompatible "with those spu'itual ideas, matters of 

 faith and not of science, which are the basis of our most clierished hopes. They 

 demand, however, caution in the scrutiny of facts, and judgment in drawing con- 

 chisions from them. More than in any other kind of scientific labour, perhaps, it 

 is of the utmost importance here to keep the mind unbiassed — a task by no means 

 easy. To maintain a calm unprejudiced attitude to inquiries which seem to demand 

 a change of opinion regarding what was supposed to be final, requires an effort 

 which varies in different persons. Some find it comparatively easy to do so, while 

 others succeed only after a severe struggle. Still it is the state of mind which a 

 man true to science ought to aspire to, so that while he wiU not be blown about 

 by every wind of doctrine, he may be ready to accept what is apparently true when 

 he has had it clearly put before him. 



In conclusion, let me observe that it would sa\e not a little heart-burning, and 

 might possibly remote acrimony from ^•arious scientific and social controversies, 

 could we only remember that it is not ^^ery probable that we, in this nineteenth 

 century, have arrived at the final solution of many problems which have puzzled 

 wise men from the earhest times. Probably we ha^e got nearer the truth ; but it 

 is presumptuous to suppose that we have reached the ultimate truth. Many hypo- 

 theses much in favour at present ma}^ turn out to be inadequate. Still if they 

 serve as stepping-stones to somethmg better, and to more rational conceptions of 

 the mysterious phenomena about us, they will have done good service. In the 

 mean time it is our duty vigorously to prosecute research in all departments, push- 

 ing ahead fearlessly and with that enthusiasm which is the prime mover in all 

 great deeds, so that we may be able to transmit our depaitment of knowledge to 

 posterity not only less burdened with error, but with many additions of truth. 



Botany and Zoology. 



[For Professor Newton's Address, see page 119.] 



Notes on the Pandanece of (lie Mascarene and Seychelles Islands. 

 By I. B.iYLET Balfoue, Sc.D. 



The genus Pandanvs (screw-pine) was shown to have a general distribution 

 throughout the tropics of the Old World, and to reach its western limit on the east 

 coast of Africa. It is very abundantly represented in the islands of the Indian 

 Ocean, and more especially in the Mascarene and Seychelles Islands. 



Altogether 19 species are deiinitelj' known from these islands ; and it is possible 

 that more may exist. Of these species Mauritius includes 11, which are all 

 endemic ; Heuniou has 3 peculiar species, and perhaps a fourth one may be recog- 

 nized ; in Rodriguez only two species, both endemic, are found ; whilst the Sey- 

 chelles group possesses three such species. In addition to those which are endemic, 

 a Madagascar species, P. utilis, is generally cultivated for the sake of its leaves, and 

 P. odoratissimus, of Eastern origin, is also found. 



The difficulties in the way of the diagnosis of species were pointed out from the 

 scantiness and imperfection of the material as yet sent to this country. The leaves 

 afford very little character, and it is from the fruit that specific distinctions are 

 mainly obtained. Hitherto the slignias have aftbrded the chief characters ; but the 

 author showed that many important diagnostic marks might be obtained from the 

 endocarp and its relations to the mesocarp. 



I 



On the Evolution of Sex in the Veyetahle Kingdom, By G. S. Bottlger. 



This paper was an attempt to illustrate Mr. Herbert Spencer's law of increasing 

 heterogeneity by the various sexual processes in the vegetable kingdom. Mention 



