NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



625 



None of the ferns, excepting Polypodiaceae, showed signs of hybridi- 

 zation, but in that group there were numerous cases, e.g. Adiantum X 

 hybridum and Benedict's eleven Eastern U.S. hybrids. None was 

 found amongst Gnetales, Cycadales, Ginkgo, or any of the conifers 

 excepting one species of Abies. 



Amongst monocotyledons, garden species of Iris (not wild species), 

 Narcissus, TuHps, and Lachenalia Nelsoni showed evidence of hybridiza- 

 tion. 



Of dicotyledons, Rosa, Rubus, Sorbus, and Prunus showed in many 

 cases imperfect pollen. Pnmus serotina, which is isolated by its time 

 of flowering, and a Japanese Sorbus were the only two examined which 

 had perfect pollen. 



Nearly all common herbaceous garden plants, such as Carnations, 

 Petunias, Phloxes, Chrysanthemums, Calceolarias, certain Primroses, 

 &c., are hybridized. 



In Rhododendron catawbiense the pollen is uniform, but in two 

 hybrids it was not so. 



Amongst the Onagraceae, Epilobium angustifolium appears to be 

 a pure species, but E. hirsutum and the section Chamaenerion seem to 

 be hybridized. 



In Oenothera Lamarckiana and Oe. biennis the pollen is very far 

 from being normal ; that is also the case with the mutants of the 

 first-named species. 



Monotypic genera of Rosaceae, or those with few well-marked 

 species, such as Kerria, Rhodotypus, and Cydonia, have normal pollen. 



Hence, according to the author, no light is thrown on the actual 

 origin of the species by the case of Oenothera or by mutation pheno- 

 mena. They only reveal a multipUcation of species by hybridization. 



The author's views are perhaps best expressed by the title of 

 another of his papers, " The Mutation Myth." — G. F. S. E. 



Insects, Can they become Resistant to Sprays ? By A. L. Melander 

 (Jour. Econ. Entom. vii. pp. 167-173 ; April 1914). — The author 

 suggests that resistance to the poisonous effect of lime-sulphur may 

 become hereditar}^ in certain scale insects, and that immunity may be 

 secured by caterpillars after repeated small doses of arsenic. — F. J. C. 



Insects, Fungus Parasites on Living, By Roland Thaxter 

 [Bot. Gaz. Iviii. pp. 235-253, September 1914 ; 4 plates). — The author 

 describes four new genera and in all ten species of fungi obtained 

 from living insects. P^lost are from the tropics (Cameroons, Amazons, 

 Philippines, &c.). Three of these genera are allied to well-known 

 Hyphomycetes, which are often saprophytes or plant parasites ; a 

 fourth genus is also a Hyphomycete, and the fifth is nearest to 

 Chytridiales. — G. F. 5. E. 



Insects Harmful to Newly-budded Rose, Apple, and Plum 

 Stocks. By J. C. F. Fryer {Jour. Bd. Agr. vol. xxi. No. 7, pp. 636- 

 637). — In this attack the bu4 dies, even after it has become 



