34 PRF.<5IPEyT's ADrtT^ESS, 



Much light was doubtless shed upon the higliei- forms by re- 

 searches into the lower, but it was sometimes forgotten that the 

 converse was also true, and that much light respecting the sig- 

 nificance or potentiality of the lower forms was shed upon them 

 by observations of liigher types. In spite of all that has been 

 recently said on the subject, the segmental or vertebral theory 

 of the skull is one of the most assured of moqihological views. 

 It is impossible to make even a cursory examination of the mam- 

 malian skull without being conraced, with Goethe, that it was 

 a continuation of the vertebral series, and that in its anterior or 

 trabecular part it was like the rest of the skeleton, planned in 

 conformity with the principle of transverse segmentation. The 

 divergence of the trabecular, caused apparently by the presence 

 of the structure from which the pituitary body is formed, led to 

 the view of their appertaining to the visceral arch or appendi- 

 cular elements, but their horizontal position and relation to the 

 cranial cavity pointed to their axial character. At any rate, 

 there cannot be a doubt that the osseous centres formed for 

 them or in connection with them, the basi-sphenoid, the basi 

 prc-sphonoidal, and the basi-ethmoidal, are axial elements. The 

 trabecular, possibly, may be both axial and appendicular ele- 

 ments forming the bases of the axial segments, and being con- 

 tinued forwards and downwards in the median plane as a visceral 

 structure constituting the septum narium. 



The event of greatest practical importance in Botany, during 

 the year 1870, has been the publication of De Bary's observations 

 on the life histoi-y of the potato fungus {Peronspora i}[feftfa)nt). 

 The ground on which it can be claimed as part of Kugland's share 

 of progress is that the observations were undertaken at the re- 

 quest of the Royal Agricultural Society, funds for the purpose 

 were fumislied by the Society, and the report appears in its 

 Jounial. As the habits of this uncontrolable pest are better 

 known, it may fairly be hoped that the proper means for lessen- 

 ing its ravages will be put into practice, and that potato disease 

 will not again be the terrible scourge it has ]>vvn. 



Mr. O. Benthnm's paper, communicated to the T.inna^nn Society, 



