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 



