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8. Anthers of Parnassia.—In the Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. xi, Mr. A. W. Bennett published, two or three years ago, an interesting article upon Parnassia, its structure, affinities, and its mode of fertilization. I am now to remark only upon its anthers, which are generally described as extrorse. Mr. Bennett, observing that the present writer, in the Genera of North American Plants Illustrated, describes the anthers as introrse, and gives a drawing of P. Caroliniana as an illustration, proceeds to say: "I do not, however, find any other observer to agree with Professor Gray's observation in this respect, except two American botanists, Dr. Torrey and Mr. Chapman, who have probably borrowed their descriptions from him; nor do any specimens which I have been able to examine of this species confirm any departure in this respect from the ordinary type of the genus."

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It is easy to show that Dr. Torrey's observation, at least, is independent and original. In his Flora of Northern and Middle States, published in 1824, p. 326, he described the anthers of P. Caroliniana as "incumbent;" in his New York State Flora, 1843, "fixed by the base, introrse." The first volume of the Genera N. Amer. Illustrated appeared in 1848. This season I have, for the first time, had the good fortune to see both P. palustris and P. Caroliniana in flower, in the Botanic Garden of Harvard University, the former blossoming at the beginning, the latter at the close of August. The difference between the two species "in this respect" is obvious.

In P. palustris, the anthers are certainly extrorse as to insertion; but the line of dehiscence lateral, with introrse rather than extrorse tendency.

In P. Caroliniana, the anthers are quite as much introrse as extrorse as to insertion, and truly introrse for dehiscence. A transverse section removes all doubt, showing the connective or solid part to be posterior, and the anther to be as truly introrse as possible.

A. G.

9. Journal of the Linnean Society (Botany), No. 65, commencing the 13th volume, contains several papers of some interest. Dr. Hance, of Canton, has discovered and describes the plant the root of which is the Lesser Galingal, an export from southern China. He makes it a new species of Alpinia, A. officinarum Hance, but very near Roxburgh's A. calcarata. It appears that the export of it is increasing: 112,000 pounds, valued at £478, left China in the year 1867; nearly 178,000 pounds in 1868; and 370,800 pounds, valued at £3047, in 1869. Dr. Hance also contributes an article on the Chinese Silk-worm Oaks: he concludes that all circumstances would seem to conspire to render the culture of the oak silk-worm in Europe a sure matter of success, if properly set on foot and fostered." Mr. Hanbury contributes Historical Notes on the Radix Galange of Pharmacy; from which it appears that its introduction into Europe was due to the Arabs. Although the drug has lost the important place which it once held in medicine, being merely an aromatic stimulant, which might take the place of ginger, yet it is still largely consumed,

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specially in Russia, where it is used for flavoring the liqueur called nastvika, as a cattle-medicine, and by the Tartars it is taken with tea.

· Dr. Masters gives a Note on the Genus Byrsanthus Guill., and its floral conformation, suggesting an explanation of the singular arrangement of the glands and stamens, and indicating that two species have been confounded.

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Rev. S. Matier discourses on Tamil Popular Names of Plants. The brothers Tulasne contribute New Notes upon the Tremellineous Fungi and their Analogues, dating from the Western Coast of France in December last.

Mr. Neale contributes from S. Africa four papers, three of them upon certain Orchids and their Fertilization, and one upon the mode in which certain Asclepiade are fertilized. The details are curious, but can hardly be condensed into an abstract. Mr. Bentham, President of the Society, concludes the number with his paper on the styles of Australian Proteacea; illustrated by two plates. The flowers, seemingly arranged for self-fertilization, are really adapted for crossing, in some by a sort of dichogamy, the stigma being immature at the time when the pullen is deposited just around it; in others the stigma is curiously and variously protected or kept out of the way of the anthers (sometimes through the agency of a castrated stamen) until after the pallen of that flower is all shed.

III. MISCELLANEOUS SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

A. G.

1. Twentieth Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, held at Indianapolis, Indiana, August 16-21, 1871.-The satisfactory result of the Chicago meeting of the American Association in 1868, had, no doubt, its influence in deciding the choice of Indianapolis as the place for holding the recent session. The result seems on the whole to have justified the expectations of those who advocated the claims of the capital of the State of Indiana for this annual Congress of Science. The number in attendance is stated to have been about 200, or about the same as at Troy, Salem, and Chicago. The titles of papers entered are fewer, having been 78, against 143 at Troy, and 150 each at Salem and Chicago.

The Indianapolis meeting, under the presidency of Dr. Asa GRAY of Cambridge, appears to have given much satisfaction to those present, among whom were many distinguished workers in science. His Excellency Governor BAKER welcomed the Association to the hospitalities of Indianapolis and of the State of Indiana in a cordial opening speech, to which the retiring President, Dr. T. STERRY HUNT, replied in his usual appropriate and grace

ful manner.

The formal address of the retiring President was delivered on the evening of the first day, before a large audience. Its subject, "The Geognosy of the Appalachians and the origin of Crystalline Rocks," and its general scope, are stated on page 205.

An interesting feature of the Indianapolis meeting was an excursion on a grand scale to the coal fields of Indiana. The excursionists, numbering over four hundred, were carried in eight coaches. They visited at Knightsville the iron furnaces of the Watson Brothers, where they were sumptuously entertained at luncheon; also three other iron furnaces and several coal mines or the way to the town of Brazil, where they were welcomed by the citizens at Masonic Hall and dined with the usual complimentary addresses on both sides. The recent development of the cos known as block coal, due largely to the intelligent zeal of Prof. E. T. Cox, the State Geologist of Indiana, was the object of greatest scientific interest in the excursion. This coal is used in the raw state in the iron furnaces, and is said to be remarkably free from both sulphur and phosphorus. The excursion rested at Terre Haute, a town of 20,000 inhabitants, which seems to have exhausted every means to render the visit of the Association delightful and profitable. Here they passed the night, holding an evening general session at the Opera House. A popular lecture on the Winged Reptiles was delivered by Mr. A. Waterhouse Hawkins. On the following morning Dr. Gray delivered a lecture on the Fertilization of Flowers by Insects to a delighted audience; and after an early dinner, the party returned by special train to Indianapolis.

An excursion to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky was the closing act of the Association, after the adjournment of the Indianapolis meeting.

The Association, after enjoying the public and private hospitalities of Indianapolis and of the sections of the State included in the excursions, adjourned on the 21st, having voted conditionally to meet in San Francisco, California, in July, 1872, the final decision having been left with the Standing Committee.

The officers chosen for the next meeting are: President, Dr. J. LAWRENCE SMITH, of Louisville, Ky.; Vice-President, Prof. ALEX. WINCHELL, of Ann Arbor, Mich.; Permanent Sec'y, Prof. JOSEPH LOVERING, of Cambridge, Mass.; General Sec'y, Prof. E. S. MORSE, of Salem, Mass.; Treasurer, WILLIAM S. VAUX, of Philadelphia.

The following are the subjects of the papers presented, and of the public lectures:

1. IN GENERAL SESSION.

1. On Pterosauria; by B. Waterhouse Hawkins.

2. Fertilization of Flowers by Insect Agency; by Asa Gray.

3. On true Musical Intonation; by J. D. Tillman.

4. The Earthquake of October, 1870; by Charles Whittlesey.

5. On the Iron and Coal Interest of Indiana; by T. Sterry Hunt.

6. An Examination into the Laws of Development of Organic Types; by E. D. Cope.

2. IN SECTION A.-Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.

1. The Daily Motion of a Brick Tower caused by Solar Heat; by C. G. Rockwood.

2. On the use of the Zenith Telescope for determination of Time; by J. E. Hilgard.

3. On the construction and verification of Metric Standards for the United tates; by J. E. Hilgard.

4. Organic Identity of the Albumen and Endopleura of Seeds; by T. C. Hilgard 5. The Influence of the Moon on the Crust of the Earth; by Clinton Roosevelt. 6. On Chemical Equivalents; by S. D. Tillman.

7. On the Transmission of Heat; by S. D. Tillman.

8. The Relation between the Distances and proper Motions of the Stars; by T. I. Safford.

9. On the Earthquake of October, 1870; by Charles Whittlesey.

10. An inquiry concerning the Physical Relations between the Masses and Mean Distances of the Minor Planets; by Daniel Kirkwood.

11. On the Distribution of the Mean Distances of the Minor Planets; by Daniel Kirkwood.

12. Note on the Periodicity of the Solar Spots; by Daniel Kirkwood.

13. On the probable age of Halley's Comet; by Daniel Kirkwood.

14. Longitude Determination across the Continent; by George W. Dean.

15. On the Mutual Action of Electric Currents; by E. B. Elliott.

16. Radiation; by H. F. Walling.

17. The Chemical Equivalent of Ether; by H. F. Walling.

18. The co-relation of Electricity and Chemical Force; by H. F. Walling

19. On a form of Boomerang in use among the Mogni Puebla Indians of North America; by C. C. Parry.

20. An improvement of Eggertz's Method of determining Carbon in Steel; by E. R. Taylor.

21. The Four Great Eras in Modern Astronomy; by Jacob Ennis.

22. Meteors; by Jacob Ennis.

23. The cause of Stellar Heat and Light; by Jacob Ennis.

24. The Character and Chemical Composition of the Meteorite that fell on May 21, near Searsmont, Maine; by J. Lawrence Smith.

25. A description of the exact locality of the immense masses of Meteoric Iron in Cohahuila, Mexico, with the analysis of one recently discovered; by J. Lawrence Smith.

26. A convenient and certain method of regulating a constant level of Water in the water baths of a Laboratory; by J. Lawrence Smith.

27. Remarks on the Cinnabar and other Minerals from California; by J. Lawrence Smith.

28. A new and ready method of making Platinum black; by J. Lawrence Smith. 29. A ready method of separating the Alkalies, on a large scale, from Lepidolite; by J. Lawrence Smith.

30. A new and convenient Specific Gravity Flask; by J. Lawrence Smith. 31. On the Eharmonic Scale of 31 tones in the octave, and a new practical keyboard corresponding with the accepted musical notation; by P. H. Van der Weyde. 32. On Oblique Microscopic Examination, and a new, simple apparatus for the same; by P. H. Van der Weyde.

33. On the use of the Balance for determining the changes in Atmospheric Pressure, and the co-efficient of Barometric Correctness; by P. H. Van der Weyde. 34. On the Invisible Caloric Extreme of the Solar Spectrum, and the non-caloric lines or bands in the same; by P. H. Van der Weyde.

35. On a new and more perfect fire test of illuminating Petroleum, without the use of fire; by P. H. Van der Weyde.

36. An application of an exponential function; by J. E. Hilgard.

37. To find a general formula for the length of "Curves of Pursuit;" by Joseph Ficklin.

38. Steam boiler Water and Incrustation; by Jos. G. Rogers.

3. IN SECTION B.-Geology and Natural History.

1. The Monocotyledon the Universal Type of Seeds; by Thomas Meehan.

2. The Classification of Echinoderms from their Microscopic Structure; by Alexander Agassiz.

3. Mechanism of Flexion and Extension in Birds' Wings; by Elliot Coues.

4. On the Morphology of the Osseous System; by T. C. Hilgard.

5. On the Geological History of the Mexican Gulf; by E. W. Hilgard.

6. Observations on the Common Ground Worm; by James J. H. Gregory.

7. Observations on the Geology, Physical Features, and Retrocession of Niagare Falls; by George W. Holley.

8. Some Questions on Surface Geology; by Frank H. Bradley.

9. On the Entozooa peculiar to Swine; by William B. Fletcher.

10. On the Development of the Tarsal and Carpal Bones in Birds; by Edward S Morse.

11. On the Characteristics of the Primary Groups of the Class of Mammals; t¡ Theodore Gill.

12. On the Natural System of Fishes; by Edward D. Cope.

13. The Embryology of Chrysopa, and its bearings on the classification of the Neuroptera; by A. S. Packard, Jr.

14. On the Eozoon Canadense in the Crystalline Limestones of Massachusetts, by L. S. Burbank.

15. On the relation of Anomia; by Edward S. Morse.

16. Contributions to Physiographic and Dynamical Geology; by Richard Owen 17. On the apparently one-ranked phyllotaxis of Baptisia perfoliata, and on the phyllotaxis of Cucurbitacea; by Henry W. Ravenel.

18. On the Geology of Northwestern Massachusetts; by Sanborn Tenney.

19. Western Coal Measures and Indiana Coals; by E. T. Cox.

20. Remarks on the Geology of the Mississippi Bottom; E. A. Smith.

21. Account of a Dust Storm which occurred in Clinton county, Indiana, Dec. 24, 1870; by Joseph Tingley.

22. Remarks upon the Cattskill Red Sandstone Group as it occurs upon the borders of New York and Pennsylvania; by James Hall.

23. Views of Nature: of the Organizing Principle, and of Life and Intellect; by E. C. Seaman.

24. Vitalist, Spiritualism, and Materialism; by E. C. Seaman.

25. The Eozoon Limestone of Eastern Massachusetts; by J. B. Perry.

26. Remarks on the Geological Map and Section of Missouri Rocks; by G. C Swallow.

27. On the Extinct Tortoises of the New Jersey Cretaceons; by Edward D. Cope. 28. Remark on the Abies Douglassii, and a new species, or a peculiar variety of the Abies balsamifera, of the Rocky Mountains; by G. C. Swallow.

29. Remarks on the Snow Line in the Mountains of Montana; by G. C. Swallow. 30. On the Embryology of Amblystoma lurida of Sager; by P. R. Hoy.

IN SUBSECTION E.-Archeology and Ethnology.

1. A Theory on the Nature of the Difference in the Mental Capacity of High and Low Races of Men; by Renas Davis.

2. Note on the Distribution of Population in the United States; by J. E. Hilgard 3. Rock Inscriptions in Ohio; by Charles Whittlesey.

4. An Ancient Mount on the Etowah River, Georgia; by Charles Whittlesey. On the rates of interest realized to investors in the Securities of the United States; by E. B. Elliott.

Law: What is it, and what are its Functions and Limits; by E. C. Seaman.

IN SUBSECTION C.-Microscopy.

1. Report on Photographing Histological Preparations by Sunlight; by J. J. Woodward.

2. Remarks on a new form of Achromatic Condenser, applicable to low and me dium powers; by E. Bicknell.

3.

4.

6.

On a new form of Micro-Telescope; by R. H. Ward.

Remarks on recent improvements in Achromatic Condensers; by R. H. Ward. 5. On the use of the Microscope in Chemical Analysis; by P. H. Van der Weyde. On the observation of the Electric Induction Spark by the Micro-Spectroscope. 7. On Oblique Microscopic Illumination, and a new, simple Apparatus for the same; by P. H. Van der Weyde.

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