568 
pared by Dr. Arthur Hollick, and presented 
by Professor D. T. MacDougal. 
Mrs. Britton gave a chronological record 
of the study of N. A. bryophytes since 1850, 
with tabulated lists of publications and ex- 
siccatze, illustrating more particularly with 
books and pamphlets the progress of the 
study of the mosses since the publication of 
Lesquereux’ and James’ Manual in 1884. 
Professor Kellerman showed a collection of 
mosses formerly the property of A. Schrader 
who made the drawings for Sullivant’s 
Icones. Most of the specimens are Euro- 
pean, collected or presented by Lesquereux, 
but there a few duplicate types of North 
American species accompanied by plates, 
among them the originals of Sullivant’s 
species from the Survey of the 35th par- 
allel. The collection was presented to the 
Ohio State University by Dr. Townshend. 
Professor Underwood gave a brief account 
of the progress of the study of the Hepatice, 
exhibiting his own publications and those of 
W.H. Pearson, A. W. Evans and M. A. 
Howe, and a set of plates from the last 
volume of the Memoirs of the Torrey Bot- 
anical Club , containing the enumeration of 
Californian Hepaticee and Anthocerotacez. 
Twelve new species were figured by Dr. 
Howe, the originals of which were exhibited 
for him by Professor F. E. Lloyd, who com- 
mended the morphological value of his 
work. 
An attempt was made to secure reports 
from all North American bryologists. This 
was only partially successful, as many were 
away and unable to be present. Dr. Barnes 
showed a set of the publications of Renauld 
and Cardot from the Botanical Gazette and 
of Roll from Hedwigia. Dr. George N. 
Best sent a set of his reprints and an ab- 
stract of his work. Dr. A. J. Grout sent a 
set of the Bryologist and his Revisions of 
some genera of pleurocarpous mosses with 
suggestions for a more satisfactory classi- 
fication. Dr. Charles Mohr sent some notes 
SCIENCE, 
[N.S. Vou. X. No. 251. 
on the moss-flora of Alabama, which were 
read by Professor F.S. Karle. Mrs. Britton 
exhibited a set of maps with regions marked 
where mosses have been collected, and lists 
of stations and collectors, compiled with the 
assistance of Dr. J. K. Small. Reports were 
received from the Sullivant Moss Chapter 
through its secretary, Mrs. Annie M. Smith, 
with a list of members and of the mosses 
named by Sullivant. The Philadelphia 
moss-chapter also made a report through 
its secretary, Mr. Mc. Elwee, with lists of 
the collections and publications available 
for studying the mosses at the Philadelphia 
Academy of Natural Sciences. 
At the conclusion of the exercises, Dr. C. 
E. Bessey spoke of the desirability of found- 
ing a bryological scholarship to be named 
for William S. Sullivant. This proposition 
was heartily commended by the chairman 
and the various members of the Sullivant 
family present. During the remainder of 
the day the exhibits were open to inspection 
and duplicate specimens of Orthotrichum 
Ohioense were distributed. 
EvizABetH G. BRITTON. 
SECTION D (ZOOLOGY) AT THE DOVER 
MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSO- 
CIATION. 
Tue president of this Section was Mr. 
Adam Sedgwick, of Cambridge, and his ad- 
dress dealt with such fundamental questions 
as reproduction, variation and heredity. 
He considers that one of the most important 
results of the evolutionary change has been 
the gradual increase and perfection of 
heredity as a function of organisms and a 
gradual elimination of variability. This 
would enable evolution to be effected much 
more rapidly in early periods than at 
present, and so may enable us to bring our 
requirements as to time within the limits 
granted by the physicists. 
As some of the other Sections were to re- 
ceive addresses of general biological interest, 
