* 
] 
Geology and Natural History. 391 
color of these somatia becomes blue; but this tint is marked only 
im the central portion, while the outer part remains clear. The 
author does not venture to give any theory in regard to the office 
of the somatia. 
10. C 
North America, by Horio C. Woon, Jr ., etc. Washing- 
? i Hf ? 
ton, January, 1873’; published by the Smithsonian Institution.— 
arranged and described; they are illustrated by twenty-one col- 
ored lithographic plates, which appear to be excellent. sup 
m . . . * 
‘ton; also for the elaborate bibliography appended to the volume, 
This fills thirteen pages in double columns, and is an almost 
11. Botanical Necrology, 1872-3.—Our record begins and closes 
with the names of eminent botanists who have been taken from 
our own home circle.—The following brief biographical notice of 
the Rev. Dr. Curtis is taken from the Council’s Report to the 
American Academy of Arts and Sciences (Proceedings, vol. viii, p. 
1) :— 
Mosrs Asutey Curtis was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 
on the 11th of May, 1808. His father was the Rev. Jared Curtis, 
of Stockbridge, afterward for many years chaplain of the State 
Prison at Charlestown. His mother was a daughter of General 
Moses Ashley. He was fitted for college chiefly under his father’s 
