102 THE LATE JOHN SMITH, A.L.S. 



and abnormal forms of A. Kittoni. The chief abnormality arises 

 from variations in their distance from the circumference. In an 

 abnormal Chinese specimen of A. ajftnis with a diameter of 14 mm., 

 the unsymmetrical processes are inserted at distances varying from 

 one-fourth to one-ninth of the radius from the circumference. 



It may further be pointed out that in the flat forms of A, sits- 

 pectus, A. Beeveri®, A. Comberi, and other species, in the absence of 

 primary rays in specimens of A. Kittoni, and of processes in this as 

 well as in A. suspectus and A. apedicellatus , this genus approaches 

 Coscinoducus. The affinity of the two is still further shown by the 

 occurrence of, a, a central rosette in Coscinodisciis si/mmetriciis Grev., 

 C. aster omphalus Ehrb., and 0. omphalanthus Ehrb. ; b 9 a central 

 space in C. gigas Ehrb. and C. diorama Sch. ; c, compartments on 

 the valves resulting from fasciculate arrangement of the markings 

 in C. denarius Sch. and C. curvatulus Grun. ; d, distinct but single 

 radial rows of markings representing primary rays in C. denarius 

 Sch. and 0. extravayans Sch. ; e, marginal processes in C. extrava- 

 gam Sch. and C. tuberculatus Grev. ; /, clear spaces near the border, 

 corresponding to those at the base of the processes in Aidacodiscns, in 

 C. armatus Grev., var. Sch.; //, occasional interspaces between the 

 outer ends of the radial rows of markings and the border in C. 

 biradiatus Grev. ; /t, irregularities of surface in C. excavatus Grev. 

 The markings are often similar in the two genera. 



Explanation of Plate 281.— Figs. 1—8, Abnormal valves of A. Kittoni 

 Arnott, showing variations in the arrangement of the primary rays, and central 

 spaces or central rosettes. Fig. 9, Normal valve viewed in its girdle aspect. 



THE LATE JOHN SMITH, A.L.S. 



I should like to see a biography of John Smith, written in 

 detail from the same point of view as that of his fellow Scotchmen, 

 Eobert Dick and Thomas Edward. He was born at Aberdour, in 

 Fifeshire, where his father was a gentleman's gardener, on the 

 5th of October, 1798. The story of his early life and of his 

 struggles to educate himself in the rudiments of Botany will be 

 found, told by himself and accompanied by an excellent portrait, m 

 Gard. Chron. n. s. vol. v. p. 363 (1876). His whole school education 

 did not cost more than five pounds. When he was employed as a 



journeyman 



thorn lived together in a one-rooined bothy, and his wages were 

 nine shillings a week, out of which he saved money to bay ma 

 drying-paper and a copy of Sir J. E. Smith's • Compendium,' j" 

 1820 he came to London, and on the recommendation of the 

 younger Aiton was appointed to a place in the Boyal Garden at 



Kensington. 



In 1822 he was removed to the propagating-pits at Kew. The 

 Botanic Garden then was the private property of the Crown, ana 

 consisted of nine acres, enclosed by a wall, the wages of the youn; 

 gardeners being twelve shilliugs a week. At the age of twenty-nve 



