J 20 I. H. Bin-kill — Flower of Ranunculus arvensis. [No. 2, 



constancy for the defining of orders, and stamens to be by number 

 the least serviceable in the making of a classification of Phanerogams, 

 so do we find sepals to have the greatest tendency to be constant in 

 Ranunculus arvensis, petals next so, carpels in the third place and 

 stamens last, ie., what we see in a broad view of the whole Phanero- 

 gamic Sub-Kingdom, we see again in the variation of the flower of this 

 little weed. 



I had intended to deal with variation in Nigella saliva and Delphi- 

 nium Ajacis, when writing on Ranunculus arvensis but my facts, are 

 insufficient. They may, however, be said to be indicative of a reduction 

 in number of all parts with age. For the present I withhold them. 



My thanks are cordially given to the Cambridge Botanic Garden 

 Syndicate for the facilities afforded to me in the University Garden, 

 and to all who have helped me. The tedious operation of casting my 

 figures into tables has in Calcutta occupied the time for several months 

 of a clerk, Babu Kauai Lall Das. 



