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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



Robertson, and Mr. Robert Henderson. Mr. Robert Kidston, F.R.S.E., 

 F.G.S., delivered a very interesting lecture on "The Generic Relationship of 

 Carboniferous Ferns to those of existing genera, with special reference to 

 British species." "Mr. Kidston, in the introduction to his lecture, gave a 

 short and succinct account of the researches made by the early workers in 

 palaeontology, and the importance of their discoveries when, viewed in the 

 light of our more complete knowledge of the subject at the present day. It 

 is a study which demands patient collecting and research, for it is quite the 

 exception to find a specimen showing the complete structure of the organism ; 

 its life history and organisation have therefore to be made out, bit by bit, 

 and pieced together, from specimens often brought from the four quarters of 

 the globe. For the better appreciation of the points of agreement and 

 difference between recent and fossil genera. Mr. Kidston gave a most instruc- 

 tive description of the structure and classification of those existing forms to 

 which the fossils he intended referring to were most closely related. Ferns 

 are classified in accordance with the manner in which the sporangia are 

 developed. Looked at from this structural point ferns fall naturally into two 

 divisions, Lepto-sporangiate fiiicacece and Eu-sphorangiate filicacece, which are 

 further divided in lesser groups, according to the structure of the sporangia. 

 The development and arrangement of the parts of the fern also present many 

 interesting sources of investigation. The fern found may be simple, as in 

 the common Hart's Tongue (Scolopendriuni vulgarej, or variously divided. 

 In regard to the ramification of the frond, we find that the same laws which 

 regulate the development of the fronds of existing species also controlled the 

 growth of those of carboniferous times. A dichotomus ramification of the 

 frond appears to have been much more frequent then than at present. The 

 latter part of Mr. Kidston' s lecture was mainly occupied with a description 

 of the fructification of carboniferous ferns, which he divided into three groups, 

 according to the structure of the sporangia. The genus Cyclotheca (Kidston, 

 1888) was founded on a single specimen, collected by Mr. Peter Jack, at 

 Ellismuir, Baillieston, from shales above the Kiltongue coal, and it is believed 

 that this district is perhaps as fine as any in Britain as a collecting field for 

 these interesting forms. Mr. John Trotter, of Messrs. Geo. Mason & Co., 

 Sauchiehall Street, very kindly provided a large number of powerful micros- 

 copes, which proved most serviceable in examining the fine specimens ex- 

 hibited. Mr. Kidston also expresses his indebtedness to the following 

 gentlemen for services rendered him in connection with his lecture : Mr. Win. 

 Cosh, Halifax ; Mr. Alex. Somerville, B.Sc, 34, Granby Terrace, Hillhead ; 

 and Mr. A. D. Richardson, Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. — John Mackay, 

 Hon. Sec, 



