196 Dr. D. Prain— ^ Case of Pleiofaxy of the Gynsecium. [Dec 



His exceptional qualities as a controversialist are well known and 

 were often called forth in defence of the evolution hypothesis and in 

 theological disputes ; while as a writer of English, no one of his time 

 has surpassed Huxley, Clearness of writing was his especial aim, — an 

 aim which all must admit he has w^orthily attained. Perhaps, indeed, 

 his greatest fame will hereafter rest on his qualities as a teacher. The 

 extension of scientific knowledge was to him as important an object as 

 its acqusition, and he fully recognized the extreme difficulty of, as he 

 himself said, "the task of putting the trutlis learned in the field, the 

 laboratory, and the museum, into language, which, without bating a jot of 

 scientific accuracy shall be generally intelligible. His desire for the ex- 

 tension of scientific knowledge and methods, according to his own state- 

 ment, rested on the conviction that there is no alleviation for the sufferings 

 of mankind except veracity of thought and action. With the intent of pro- 

 moting these objects he was content to subordinate any ambition he p(?)S- 

 sessed for scientific fame to otiier ends, and he would have been content to 

 be remembered, or even nob remembered, as one of many who had worked 

 for the popularization of science, the development and organization of 

 scientific education, and the maintenance of opposition to clericalism of 

 whatever denomination. That he will meet with the former alternative, 

 of remembrance, and of remembrance as an ideal lieroof science, will be 

 the opinion of all who have paid even the slightest attention to his work 

 and writings. 



Dr. D. Prain exhibited a monstrous Papaya and made the following 

 remarks. 



A Case of Pleiotaxy of the Gyndecmm. — By D. Pijain. 



(With Plates IV and V.) 



Pleiotaxy of the gynoecium, or an increase in tlie number of whorls 

 of which the pistil consists, occurs so infrequently that an undoubted 

 instance is not unworthy of record. The present example, which occur- 

 red in a Papaya fruit that came to table in the ordinary way as dessert, 

 was sent to the Royal Botanic Garden by Mr. J. S. Gladstone. It is 

 an excellent instance of the condition spoken of as " a fruit within a 

 fruit."' Of this condition there may be two explanations. An adventi- 

 tious fruit may occur within the ovary so as to occupy the position 

 usually occupied by a seed. This is by no means an uncommon occur- 

 rence and, among recorded instances, is well-figured by Dr. Masters 

 (^Veg. Teratol. p. 182, f. 94, 95) from an example in Wall-flower pods, 



I Gardener's Chronicle, i. (1882) p. 11 and p. GOl. 



