39 



It will doubtless be regretted by some that Lord Avebury did 

 not adopt a systematic sequence from the lowest forms to the 

 highest and enter upon the principles of classification sufficiently 

 to show the correlation of the increasing complexity of the 

 structures and functions described with the higher position 

 accorded the plant in the scheme. This, however, might intro- 

 duce much debatable matter, and is not included in the scope of 

 the book. 



Upon another much-debated subject his opinion is of interest 

 in view of recent discussions. " In fact, it is becoming more and 

 more a surprise how the older botanists can have regarded species 

 as fixed and invariable. ... It may almost be said that, as a 

 rule, when plants are studied under dissimilar conditions, or in 

 various parts of their area, they will be found to present con- 

 siderable differences, so that, as our knowledge advances, the 

 definition and limits of species become, not more easy and definite, 

 as might perhaps have been expected, but more and more difficult 

 and debatable. " This conclusion will hardly be conceded by 

 those who believe that a wide range of individual differences is 

 by no means inconsistent with sharply defined specific limits, nor 

 will it be too favorably received by the believers in the new 

 doctrine of mutation. 



The work will be hailed as a valuable contribution to a branch 

 of botanical investigation which receives a smaller share of 

 attention than its fascinations would lead one to expect. 



C. B. Robinson. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE CLUB 



January 9, 1906 



The meeting was called to order at 8:30 P. M., at the Amer- 

 ican Museum of Natural History, with President Rusby in the 

 chair. Sixteen persons were present. After the minutes of De- 

 cember 12 were read and approved, the following names were 

 proposed for membership : 



