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physiognomy was produced by the cylindric prolongation of the premaxillary hone beyond the teeth, and a similar flat prolongation of the extremity of the dentary. He referred the species to Macrasanrrus Owen, wider the name of AZ. priviger. The speci- nen le stated belonged to Prof. Agassiz, who obtained it from Western Kansas, probably from the No. 3 of the Upper Cretaceous of Nayden. The following paper was presented for publication :—‘*‘ Description of new Carboniferous }ossils from the United States”; by F. B, Meck and A. IL Worthen.

Joue 8.—The following paper was presented for publication :

• Un the production of Bracte: m Lazvix” ; by Thos. Mechan.

June 22.—The following paper was presented for publica- tion: ‘Notice of certain obscurely known species of American Liirds, based on specimens in ihe muserm ef the Smithsonian Institution” > by Robert Ridgway.

June 29.—The report of the Biological and Miscroseopical Section was presented, aml referred to the Publication Com- niittee. On permission being granted, Mr. Warner spoke upon the mathematical representation of organic forms. Such litmita- tions, he said, might seem to narrow the fichl of research into the physical causes of organic forms, and perhaps furnish: the suggestion of a rational theory of these causes. If no uther advantage were desivable from investigations of this kind, they might, he thought, be useful for description and classificatton. lle exhibited a representation of the longitudinal section of an veg by a curve whicli be called the oe cles and of the sec- tion of an embryo by another curve, which he tenned a deformed lemniseate. Of the egg curve he said that it very closely re- sembled au ideal section of an egg, taken from a standard modem work. Of the curve representing the embryo be said that it not improbably marked the Loundary of matter lying widhin 1¢ in a different state of temperature, density, or tension trom the matter lying without. These represeutations were verified by the mem- bers preset. The speaker expressed the iIncuiion of making these representations the subject of a fiture paper, hy which he would mve drawings and forrauda:

July 18.—Mr. Thos, Mechan presented Ieaves of the peach and cherry, and said ir had fallen to him to point out that the leaf blades of plants were developed in proportion as vigorous vitality was released, and that they were adherent or decurrent in propor- tion as vigorous vilality was thorurghly developed in the central axis or stem, By following out the same line of observation he had discoycred the Jaw which governed the production of sexes in plants, and he now wished to call attention to the operation of the same cause in the production af glands on the Jeaf-stalks of the peach and cherry, A carefiil examination of the gland- bearing variety of either of these would show that these glands were simply germs of the cellular matter which formed the leaf- blade, They might be seen in every stage of development, from dense full globes on the petioles to very small dots on the apex of the tolerably well-cxpaniled matter, and it would be further seen that in proportion as vitality was weak were these germs and glands developed. Leaves from the shaded centre of the iree, or from shoots weak or enfecbled from any other cause, produced glandless Icaves, while the strouger the shoat the stronger and more numerous were the glands or undeveloped parts. Ke- membering that these glands were but undeveloped leaf-blades, and thatit had been previously proved by the author that plants de- yeloped these less freely in propertion to a vigorens axial or stem growth, it should necessarily follow that a weakened vilalily would lic indicated by an absence cf glands, That this was so ju the cases referred to, the weak and glandless leaves showed, The author had had a very remarkable coufirmacion of these recent physiclogical discoveries. Many varictics of peaches have no glands, anil these had been found by the growers of southerm Mlinots, as he was informer by Dr. Ilull, of Alton, in all eases to be the first (o seccumb to diseases or unfavourable circumstances. 1t was very seldom that the developments of science and untutored observa- tions went along together, and so (horouzhly accorded, To the author it was one of the most interesting facts he had met with in support ofhis theory, that the degree of separation of the Jeaf-blade from (he main stenis was whellya question of vitality. — Mr. Meehan exhibited some fibre obtained from Mr. Roezel, of Vera Cruz, which was finer and stronger than {hat furnished by the “ Kamie.” Mr. Roczet obtained it lrom a plant which be lad found in the Alleghanies, and which he believed to be a new species of FBoehmeria. Mr, Meehan had, bewevyer, since fouml jt abuu- dantly along the Missouri Rivey, and it proves to be only Urtica purpurascens, Nultall.

English.—Dictionary of Scientific Terms: Dr. Nuttall (Strahan and Co.) Dr. Buckland's Bridgwater Treatise: Geology and Mineralogy as exhibiting the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God, fourth edition: edited by Francis T. Buckland (Bell and Daldy).—The Development of the Idea of Chemical Composition: Prof. A. Crum Brown (Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas).—Country Walks of a Naturalist with his Children: Rev. W. Haughton (Groombridge and Sons.)—Hereditary Genius; and Inquiry into its Laws and Consequences: Francis Galton, F.R.S. (Macmillan).—The Origin of the Seasons considered from a Geological Point of View: Samuel Mossman (Blackwood and Sons).—As regards Protoplasm in relation to Prof. Huxley's Essay on the Physical Basis of Life: James Hutchinson Stirling (Blackwood and Sons).

Foreign.—Manuel de Chimie Médicale et Pharmaceutique: Alfred Riche.—Des Bases Organiques, naturelles et artificielles, au point de vue chimique, physiologique et médicale: Dr. A. Lacote.—Ein Jahr auf den Sandwich-Inseln: Dr. J. Bechtinger.—Bryologica Silesiaca: Dr. Julius Milde.—Lehrbuch der Chemie: A. Geuther.—Leçons de Chimie: A. Riche.—Neue Probleme der vergleichenden Erdkunde als versuch einer Morphologie der Erdoberfläche: Oscar Peschél.—Etude sur la Physique du Globe: R. Bruck.—Die Abhängigkeit der Pflanzengestalt von Klima und Boden. (Through Williams and Norgate.)