GENERAL NOTES. 43 
and even more rapidly if the irritation is continuous, as when 
they are touched repeatedly with a fine brush. All the flowers 
were very fragrant. In the most abnormal flower examined, at 
least two flowers had become merged together, forming an irre- 
gularly cup-shaped flower about 34 inchin diameter. The calyx 
was hemispherical, and had 14 lobes of irregular sizes; the corolla 
showed 10 lobes, readily distinguishable as the two white lower 
lips, each irregularly 3-lobed and facing one another, and provided 
with the usual bands of hairs; and the 2 upper lips, one purple 
and entire, the other 3-lobed, the large central lobe being white, 
but without a honey guide. The stamens were 12 in number, 
arranged without any regularity round the base of the corolla, 
while the stigmas were 2 in number, facing one another, and 
opposite the upper lips. Lastly, the two bracts on the somewhat 
flattened peduncle showed that apparently only two flowers had 
become aggregated. The most surprising feature of all the 
flowers was that not one was strictly normal in form, while most 
were absolutely monstrous. 
“ KNOWLEDGE.’ —This is the title of a new weekly magazine 
devoted to science, and brought out under the editorship of Mr. 
R. A. Proctor. The aim of the publication is professedly “to 
bring the truths, discoveries, and inventions of science before the 
public in simple but correct terms—to be, in fact, the minister 
and interpreter of science for those who have not time to master 
technicalities.” In addition to the articles, papers and reviews 
which constitute the usual pabulum furnished by science peric- 
dicals, the new magazine is to contain a mathematical section, 
and columns for whist and chess, regarded as scientific games. 
Judging from the opening number, the physical sciences will be 
chiefly represented, and no doubt astronomical subjects will re- 
ceive a very full share of attention. The magazine is on quite a 
different footing from any other scientific publication, and its 
low price ought to ensure it a wide circulation, while the name 
of its eminent editor is a guarantee of the quality and accuracy 
of the information which it is intended to disseminate. 
RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE CRUSTACEAN FAUNA.—It is 
gratifying to be able to record the advent of a new worker in 
this branch of science, Mr. Chas. Chilton, B.A., of Canterbury 
College. This gentleman has contributed two valuable papers to 
the Canterbury Philosophical Society, of which short abstracts 
are appended. The occurence of subterranean Crustacea is very 
remarkable, and would lead to the conclusion that there must be 
_ areas of water at no great depth in the Canterbury 
ains 
Mr Geo. M. Thomson has also been doing further work in the 
same line, and at a meeting of the Otago Institute on 22nd. 
November, read a paper describing several new species. An 
abstract of these papers is appended :— 
