﻿1 82 FIELD AND FOREST. 



February iSth, {210th meeting.) 



Mr. Dodge read a paper on Insect Artisans, as anticipating and 

 applying many processes in the mechanic arts. 



A warm discussion followed upon hereditary development and im- 

 provement of instinct in animals, and the transmission by hereditary 

 descent of mechanical and artistic aptitudes in the human race, through 

 different families and nations. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Editor Field and Forest : 



I was much interested in the article in your February issue on 

 " Botany at the Centennial," and am glad ray friend Dr. Vasey has 

 made a record of the various botanical exhibits, for such a display 

 has never heretofore been made in this country ; a more detailed ac- 

 count would have been of great service to students and others. 



In regard to the Scandinavian herbarium which came into my pos- 

 session, it contains about fifteen hundred species, and is probably one 

 of the most complete representations of the flora of Sweden to be 

 found in this country. There are many points of interest in comparison 

 with our own flora, some genera having no representative here, whilst 

 in others the number of species is very largely increased ; for instance, 

 there are thirty species of the genus Hieracium while Gray's Manual 

 enumerates only six. The asters and solidagos so numerous here and 

 so puzzling to the young student of Botany, have each a single repre- 

 sentative, Aster Tripolium L. and Soli dago virga-aurae L. both 

 species common throughout Northern Europe. There are also thirty 

 one species of Salix, ninety species of Carex. and one hundred and six- 

 teen species of grasses. The Erigeron canxdense L. so abundant here, 

 I was informed by the Swedish commisioner is quite rare in that 

 country, and is represented in the collection by a very diminutive 

 specimen with but few flowers, the specimens are nicely mounted and 

 labled in illustration of the interest which is felt in the study of Na- 

 tural Science in that country. 



Camden, N. J. March ijth, i8~y. Isaac C. Matindale. 



