146 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
name Spencerites. The sporangia of the cones included in Lepido- 
strobus are attached to the upper surface of the pedicel of the bract, 
whereas in the cone he describes they are free from the pe cea 
and attached by a narrow base to the upper surface of the lamin 
he remaining yee is devoted to the minute structure of tlie 
stem, leaf-base rand roots of a singular fossil from the Lower 
Coal Measures of Stalybridge, Sona Helonging to the genus 
Medullosa, to which Dr. Scott gives the name of M. anglica. The 
specimens described are beantifully Seared. and are expounded 
by the author in full and careful detail, which add considerably to 
the knowledge of the genus. No fruit ‘has yet been detected that 
can be referred to any of the stems included in Medullosa. The 
as know 
and some other very different fossils, Potonié suggested the name 
Cycadofilices. They are set forth as representing a ae in the 
evolution of Cycads and Ferns. Is it not a new notion to find 
combined in a 
body into its constituent parts, so that the ‘‘Cycado” elements 
should belong to one group of offspring exclusively, and the 
* filices ’? elements should be handed over to another grou is 
is not the way that the genetic history of plants has hitherto been 
supposed to have proceeded. w. C 
Nore. 
Me. Witurams Hervey, whose Observations on the Colors of Flowers 
was reviewed on pp. 53, 54, writes to complain that we have altogether 
misunderstood him, and represented him as maintaining tlie ex act 
opposite of his actual doctrine by crediting him with the theory that 
the stimulation of insects produces new colours on a blossom, whereas 
‘‘Nature”; and, in proof that this is so, he cites various passages 
from the treatise in ques 
o far as we may haya Flideptabeitad him, we willingly express 
our regret; but, as another journal—the Gardeners’ Chronicle— 
apetrth his meaning in much the same fashion as ourselves, 
e cannot but capa the author failed to set forth his theses 
with seit perspic 
Mor ¥, \éokinie at his book afresh in the light of his recent 
éxplanations although we undoubtedly find various instances cited 
in which he claims that bees have perpetuated the original aes’ in 
vias parts, whilst ‘“‘ Nature”’ wate! x elsewhere—we 
some to which it is hard to suppose that such an account of is 
fiuatene is intended to apply; while certainly has style of language 
employed may not unnaturally lead e reful reader to gather 
