Miscellaneous Intelligence. 159 



tains the Campanula cece, elaborated by Kanitz, along with the 

 Caprifoliacece, Valerianaceoe and Calyceracece by C. A. Mueller 

 of Berlin, altogether of little moment, and the Asclepiadacem by 

 the late Dr. Fournier of Paris. The latter is an important order 

 in the Brazilian empire, and is here amply illustrated by 51 plates. 

 Brazil would appear to be particularly rich in genera, for fifty-six 

 are characterized in the present work. Twenty-five of them are 

 here founded by Fournier, eighteen of them on single species, five 

 others have only two species each. There is one of six species 

 (Verlotia), and one of four, but the latter is dismembered from 

 Gonolobus. Dr. Fournier died in June, 1884, just when the 

 printing of this monograph began, as a note by the editor informs 

 us. The work therefore appears at a certain disadvantage. Proba- 

 bly many of the new genera may have to be 7'econsidered. a. g. 



10. Sketch of the Botanical Work of the Rev. Moses A. Curtis ; 

 by Thomas F. Wood. pp. 10-31, 8vo. Raleigh, N. Car., 1885. 

 —This pamphlet is stated to be an "Extract from the Journal of 

 the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society," and consists of a memoir 

 " read before that Society at the University of North Carolina, 

 May 22, 1885." It is pleasant to know that the University of 

 North Carolina has such a Society, which commemorates its 

 most distinguished scientific professor of former years, Professor 

 Mitchell, who sacrificed his life to his zeal for investigation, on 

 the high peak of the Black Mountain which bears his name, and 

 where his ashes repose. Dr. Wood has in this essay erected a 

 fitting and very interesting memorial of his old friend, the accom- 

 plished botanist, Mr. Curtis. It is full time that some such 

 tribute to his memory was paid in his adopted State ; and this 

 will be read with interest and gratification \>y the few botanical 

 companions of Mr. Curtis who still survive, and we hope also by 

 a younger generation as well. It is illustrated by an excellent 

 engraved portrait. a. g. 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. The apparent position of the Zodiacal Light; by Arthur 

 Searle. — The inquiry here undertaken by Mr. Searle was entered 

 upon with the hope of obtaining from the older observations sug- 

 gestions with regard to the apparent position of the zodiacal lio-ht 

 after correcting them roughly for the presumed effect of atmos- 

 pheric absorption. Any suggestion thus attainable will lend ad- 

 ditional interest to the work of future observers. The positive 

 results are however of decided value. The principal conclusions 

 are : — 



1. It is probable that atmospheric absorption largely affects the 

 apparent position of the zodiacal light. 



2. After allowance for the effect of absorption, there is reason 

 to think that the zodiacal light, as seen during the second half of 

 the nineteenth century, has had a more northern latitude near the 

 longitude 180° than near the longitude 0°. 



