Bibliographical Notices. 



51 



volumes closely printed, and containing, under the classification pro- 

 posed by the lamented DeCandolle, a full description of the external 

 structure of each natural order, and all the genera of European 

 plants. Under the order are given its characters, peculiarities, ano- 

 malies and affinities, the mode in which it is divided into suborders 

 or sections, and the opinions concerning it that have been held by 

 those writers who have more peculiarly made it an object of study. 

 Each genus is then taken separately, its distinctive characters pointed 

 out, its several sectional divisions examined in detail, and the more 

 remarkable European species commented upon. Then follows a 

 statement of the mode in which each organ has been observed to 

 vary in the several species, and the points from which the specific 

 characters are derived, with observations as may appear requi- 

 site. 



At the conclusion of this work the author states that he considers 

 it to have been now proved, that the nectariferous fluid which is se- 

 creted by manifest organs in many plants, and which he believes to 

 exist in all (its origin in numerous instances being a gland under 

 the germen), is the agent by means of which fecundation is effected. 

 He believes that this fluid spreads itself over the stigma, and in some 

 cases over the whole interior of the flower, at the time when the 

 pollen is ripe and the pistil is in a fit state to receive its influence ; 

 that the pollen grains fall upon it and are ruptured by its agency, 

 and give out their contents (emanations) upon the stigma. He also 

 states that the extrorse or introrse opening of the anthers is regu- 

 lated by the position of the nectaries, so that the pollen may fall 

 upon them and be conveyed, by some mode which we do not per- 

 ceive that he has explained, to the stigma. This idea certainly ap- 

 pears to be well deserving of the attention of botanists, but we are 

 not prepared to subscribe fully to it without more observation. In 

 conclusion we beg to recommend this work most strongly to our 

 readers. 



Transactions of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club. 



In a former number (vol. v. p. 129) we noticed with cordial ap- 

 probation the pleasing and useful proceedings of this Society, to 

 which we not merely wish prosperity, but trust that it may serve as 

 a model for similar associations in every part of the country. We 

 have just been favoured with a copy of the proceedings of the Club 

 for 1841, containing the address of Dr. Francis Douglas at the an- 

 niversary held at Kelso, Sept. 15> in which an account is given of the 

 preceding anniversary at Holy Island, then selected as the scene of 

 one of the periodical excursions of the members. Here we are in- 

 formed — " The walk of the Club was directed towards the Coves, 

 where an hour or two was busily devoted in searching out and noting 

 the various marine animals which lurk beneath the flat stones in 

 ' Coveshaven.' The Coves are excavated in a very picturesque sand- 

 stone cliff, of about 200 yards in length, and 35 feet in height: 

 three of them are of considerable size and interest ; their walls are 

 covered with a dense coat of the Polysiphonia stricta, which gives 



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