150 Scientific Intelligence. 
radual. The study of the Tertiary floras, as pursued by M. de 
Baperta, following in the footsteps of Heer, furnishes abundant 
proofs of a slow and continual substitution ‘of analogous forms, 
which is quite contrary to the hypothesis of pide #8 renewals at 
long intervals, through unknown causes, as maintained by the 
eminent Zurich professor. But I need not now discuss the Dar- 
winian hypothesis. At least we may wait until some other dis- 
cussable hypothesis is pay errant 
information comes to this country that 
M. DeCandolle has “i distinguished honor of being elected one 
of the eight foreign members of the Institute of France (Acad 
of Sciences), to fill the vacancy made by the death of Aceaie 
(2.) W.C. Witttamson: Primeval Vegetution in its relation to 
the Doctrines of Natural Selection and Evolution.—This is one of 
g 
pages. Professor Williamson’s lecture fills fifty-five a5 with a 
sketch of what isknown ae the yea pevs of the p smainly of 
edge on oe. question i ‘>. It opens with a reference to 
the “wide-spread commotion in the scientific world” caused by 
“the allied doctrines of Darwin and Herbert Spencer in relation 
to the origin of species.” The popular ee of these names 
is natural enough, and Mr. Darwin has elf to some extent 
furthered it. But scientific men, it is to be ho et} keep up a dis- 
tinction Neato natural history pare eae pursued by evolu- 
t and 
tionary h eses the a priori deductive natural history 
developed by Mr. ncer. the ormer brings new aids 
research and —_— dane to be attempted: of the latter it 
is unnecessary n speak, and we could not well speak 
of it so highly as  Pteoe Willia amson doés. On the other 
hand Professor Williamson alludes to “the advocates of the new 
views” as “ eipers! ipa ill- sir gaceaginy contempt any one a ong- 
some measure to trace its upward prog propositions which, 
, are open to serious doubt he extinct vege- 
table kingdom has been comparatively neglected in connexion 
with this subject” may be t es but a singular idea of what h 
been done and a is convey en Dr, Dawson’s name 
