236 ZOOLOGY. 
These are some of the thoughts suggested by Prof. Shaler’s 
paper. They are mere “ speculations ” it is true, but the imagi- 
nation, under proper control, is a great aid to investigation. If 
we suspect something we may be led to look for the evidence ; and 
thus learn long before those who wait to stumble on the truth.— 
T. Mersan. 
INFLUENCE OF ForerGN PoLLEN oN tae\ParenT PLANT :— Pro- 
fessor Gray adds (Amer. Journ. Science and Arts, Dec., 1872) 
another to the already numerous instances, says the it pondeae 
which have placed this mysterious phenomenon beyond dispute. 
An apple (Spitzbergen) produced a fruit half of which was (at 
least as to the surface) Spitzenberg, the other haif russet. A tree 
of the latter fruit stood about two hundred yards off. The division 
into two exactly equal parts is quite unexpected; as the styles and 
carpels were five, we should have expected the division to be into 
fifths. Moreover, the action of the pollen in this case is, morpho- 
logically, on the calyx, not on the pericarp. 
e have been told on excellent authority that apples have been 
raised in Hopkinton, Mass., which were half sweet and half sour, 
the line of demarcation being very distinct, so that the distinction 
` in this case was more than skin deep. 
[The apple in question was received from the Smithsonian 
Institution, with an account of its history, and a statement that — 
one or more similar apples had been already received at the Agri- 
cultural Department, Washington, and preserved in wax models. 
Although the external line of demarcation was perfectly distinct, 
we are bound to add that, on cutting it up and distributing por- 
tions among the members of our botanical class, about half the 
tasters pronounced the morsels to be russet which were taken from 
the Spitzenberg side of the apple, or vice versa. But the fruit was 
hardly ripe enough.— A. G.] 
ZOOLOGY. 
A New Srrcres or Srarrow.—Ornithologists will be interested 
to learn of the recent discovery of a sparrow belonging to the — 
genus Centronyx, a genus heretofore represented in collections only 
by the unique type of C. Bairdii collected in 1843 by Audubon. 
_ The epeo in question has been minutely examined and com- 
The abore mentioned type of C. Bairdii by Mr. Robert 
