AucusT, 1914.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 227 
sentations: ‘‘ Great is the power of steady misrepresentation; but the 
history of science shows that, fortunately, this power does not long endure.” 
And the reviewer adds: ‘‘ It has lasted for fifty-five years (1859-1914).” 
We do not remember the precise connection of Darwin’s remark—and 
our notes are written far away from all books of reference—neither do we 
know whether the reviewer regards these addresses as a final and 
triumphant refutation of Darwin’s epoch-making work or whether it is 
that he cannot see the wood for the trees, but we recall the comment of a 
—possibly sarcastic—correspondent that there are no species now, every- 
thing is a hybrid between its parents. We have also been told that 
hybridisation introduces no new character; that hybrids are either 
intermediate or combine the characters of their parents, so that we are 
still left in doubt as to the origin of the two great original super-parents 
and their obviously multitudinous characters. The origin and development 
of Orchids becomes a mere trifling and subordinate detail. 
And if “‘‘species’ (if the term may be used without begging the question) 
faithfully reproduce their kind for ever, unless crossing intervene’’ we are 
left without a clue as to their “origin” before sexual reproduction took 
place. Again, if “inheritable variability does not exist,” and there is no 
such thing as inheritance of “acquired” characters, it is not clear how 
“definite variation leads to permanent modification of character.” 
Perhaps, after all, the last word has not been said upon the subject. 
MURDER OF A PLANT COLLECTOR.—The last issue of the Kew Bulletin 
gives (p. 192) some details of the murder by natives of Amboina, on 
December 13th, 1913, of Dr. C. B. Robinson, of the Bureau of Science, 
Manila, of which a short note appeared at page 37 of our February issue. 
Dr. Robinson had gone to Amboina in order to collect over the classic 
§tound visited by Rumphius, and to obtain as complete a collection as 
Possible of the species figured and described by the latter, which included a 
large number of Orchids, whose identity is still uncertain. Mr. E. D. Merrill, 
who proceeded to Amboina immediately on hearing the melancholy news, 
has fortunately recovered and taken to Manila the whole of the botanical 
collection made by Dr. Robinson, and intends to distribute them in two 
Sets, one of which will consist of the plants that can be definitely connected 
With the species figured and described by Rumphius, so that the result of 
the €xpedition will not be wholly lost. The true cause of the murder seems 
Somewhat obscure, for the body was thrown into the sea without anything 
having been stolen, and it seems possible that Dr. Robinson was the 
victim of superstitious fear caused among the natives by his sudden and 
