432 
POPULAR SCIENCE REYIEW. 
caducous forest trees. The cause he attributed to the action of similar 
chemical agents on the structure of plants, so that those growing on the arid 
soil of the sea-coast might, from deriving nourishment from similar 
substances, come to have a similar form to plants of a totally different 
species, whose chosen habitat was high sandy regions. In the discussion 
which followed the reading of the paper, Professor Lawson demurred to the 
term mimicry being in any case applied to the resemblance observed in 
plants, that term inferring the existence of an intelligence which was the 
attribute of animal life alone ; while Dr. Lankester protested against the 
supposition that the mimetic changes and resemblances observed in animals 
were the results of an exertion of the intelligence of the animal itself, or of 
anything but the peculiar conditions under which it was placed. 
The earliest Coniferous Tree. Dr. Dawson and Mr. Carruthers. — Dr. 
Dawson has addressed a short note to the “American Naturalist ” for June, 
stating, with reference to a notice copied in the May number of the 
“Naturalist” from the “ Academy,” that the opinion respecting the plant 
above named attributed to Mr. Carruthers is an entire mistake. “ Prototaxites 
Logani is an exogenous tree, with bark, rings of growth, medullary rays, and 
well-developed, though peculiar, woody tissue; and, if Mr. Carruthers has 
made such a blunder as that attributed to him, this can only be excused by 
defective observations or imperfect specimens.” 
Darivin’s Theory applied to Plants. — An excellent paper on this subject has 
been reproduced from the German in the “ American Naturalist ” for J uly. 
It is a very lengthy paper, and is abundantly supplied with notes. It is 
translated by Mr. Packard, jun., whose name is so well known here and in 
America. The original authors are Dr. E. Muller and Professor F. Delpino. 
It is the most important botanical contribution which has appeared for 
years. 
Fungi within the Thorax of Birds. — At the British Association at Edin- 
burgh, Dr. Murie referred to the circumstance of lowly organised vegetable 
structures being not unfrequently found growing in animals and man, both 
externally and internally. For the most part these affected the skin, giving 
rise to several cutaneous diseases. They also flourished in the alimentary 
canal; and among others, one peculiar form ( Sarcina ) had been described 
by the late Professor Goodsir from the human stomach. In nearly though 
not all instances where vegetable organisms flourished within the living 
body, it was in organs where a certain amount of air had free access. It 
was more difficult, though, to account for the cases where vegetable para- 
sites arose in, so to speak, closed cavities. The instances which he (Dr. 
Murie) brought forward as coming under his own observation were three in 
number — viz., a fungus-like growth in the abdomino-pleural membrane of a 
kittiwake gull, a great white-crested cockatoo, and a rough-legged buzzard. 
After a general description of the specimens in question, the author referred 
to them as in some ways bearing upon those doctrines whereby living 
organisms were supposed to originate out of the tissues themselves. Other 
weighty reasons undoubtedly might be given to the contrary, but as every 
fact, either furnishing doubtful evidence of, or opposed to the spontaneous 
generation theory, might be useful at the present juncture, he (Dr. Murie) 
thought a record of such worthy of being brought before the Association. 
