Embryology of the Pill-bugs. — An addition of much value to 

 our knowledge of the mode of growth of Crustacea is afforded by 

 a Russian embryologist, Dr. Bobretzky in Siebold and Kolliker's 

 " Zeitschrift." He figures the early stages of the pill-bug, or Onis- 

 cus murarius, of Europe. 



The Entomostuaca.— An extended and beautifully illustrated 

 memoir by Prof. A. "Weissmann, on the structure of Leptodora hy- 

 alina, a little European Entomostracan, or water-flea, appears in 

 the last number received of Siebold and Kolliker's "Zeitschrift." 



BOTANY. 



A New Material for Paper.— Considerable attention has re- 

 cently been called in England to the capabilities of the Zizania 

 aquatica as a material for paper. This grass grows in large quan- 

 tities in swamps on the Canadian shores of Lakes Ontario and 

 Erie, and is known to the native Indians under the name of "Tus- 

 carora," the grains affording an article of diet which is both highly 

 nutritious and palatable, and furnishing 'food to enormous flocks of 

 wild swans. The culm grows to the height of eight or ten feet, 

 and is of great strength and tenacity. It is said to possess all the 

 good qualities of the " esparto " from the shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean, now so largely used for paper making in England, and 

 besides, to contain less silex, to require fewer chemicals for its 

 purification, and to make a paper which takes printers' ink with 

 greater sharpness. The great obstacle to its exportation is the 

 heavy freight in consequence of its great bulk ; but there is little 

 doubt that if it could be at least partially prepared on this side 

 the water, it might become an important article of commerce. It 

 is stated that a company has been formed for the purpose of ob- 

 taining a concession of the land from the Canadian government. 

 The grass is nearly allied to the rice belonging to the tribe 

 Oryzes. — A. W. B. 



The Movement of Water in Plants. — Dr. W. R. McNab 

 of Dublin has performed a fresh series of experiments on the 

 rate of motion of the sap in plants, and the transpiration of 

 water from the leaves. The plants selected were the cherry- 



