Abstract
LONDON Linnean Society, April 3.—Sir J. Lubbock, Bart., president, in the chair.-Mr. W. Brockbank exhibited a series of double daffodils, wild forms of Narcissus pseudo Narcissus, which were gathered in a Welsh meadow from among many of both the single and double forms occurring there in every stage of growth. Sections invariably revealed stamens and pistils, and in two of the most double forms ovaries filled with seeds were present. With this evidence he therefore contended against the current notion of cultivation and root-growths having produced a heterogeneous multiplication of the perianth segments, split-up crown, and conversion of stamens into petal-growths, his belief being that the plants in question were propagated in the ordinary seed-bearing manner.—Mr. R. M. Middleton showed a jackdaw with albinism of the wing feathers, causing considerable resemblance in the bird to a magpie.—Prof. P. M. Duncan gave a revision of the families and genera of the Sclerodermic Zooan-iharia, the Rugosa excepted. Since MM. Milne-Edwards and Haimes' work, 1857-60, no systematic revision of the Madrepo-raria has appeared, while since then a great number of new genera have been founded; hence the necessity for a revision has arisen, and more especially in consequence of the morphological researches of Dana, Agassiz, Verrill, and Moseley. Prof. Duncan explained that the old sections of the Zooantharire required modification and addition. In his present revision the sections Aporosa and Perforata remain shorn of some genera, the old family Fungidse becomes a section with three families, two of which are transitional between the sections just mentioned. The section Tabulata disappears, some genera being placed in the Aporosa, and the others are relegated to the Hydrozoa according to Moseley. The Tubulosa cease to be; Madreporarian. Hence the sections treated, are Madreporia- Aporosa, M.—Fungida, and M.—Perforata. The nature of the hard and soft parts of these forms is considered in relation to classification, and an appeal is made to naturalists to agree to the abolition of many genera, the author having sacrificed many of his own founding. The criticism of 467 genera permits 336 to remain good, and as a moderate number (36) of sub-genera are allowed to continue, the diminution is altogether about loo. The genera are grouped in alliances, the numbers in families being unequal. Simplicity is aimed at, and old artificial divisions dispensed with. There is a great destruction of genera amongst the simple forms of Aporosa, and a most important addition to the Fungida. The genera Siderastretr. and Tiamnasttre are types of the family Plesiofungidas, as are Microsolenia and Cyclolites of the family PlcsioporiticUe. The families Fun-gidte and Lophoserida; add many genera to the great section Fungida. There is not much alteration in respect of the Madreporaria-Perforata, but the sub-family Eusamminffi are promoted to a family position as the Eusammidse.-Mr. Chas. F. White thereafter read a note on some pollen from funereal garlands found in an Egyptian tomb circa B.C. 1000. It appears that from among the dried flowers of Papaver RJiceas the pollen obtained freely absorbed water, became swollen, and in other respects the grains were barely able to be differentiated by the microscope from the pollen grains of the recent poppy. —A paper was read by Mr. F. J. Briant, on the anatomy and functions of the tongue of the honey bee. Authorities, it seems, are yet divided in opinion as to how the organ in question acts. Kirby and Spcnce, Newport and Huxley, aver the bee laps its food; while Hermann Muller and others attribute a full share to the terminal whorl of hairs to which the honey adheres, and therefrom is withdrawn. Mr. Briant, on the other hand, from experiment and study of the structures, is inclined to the view that the honey is drawn into the mouth through the inside of the tongue by means of a complicated pumping action of the organ, aided by the closely contiguous parts.
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Societies and Academies . Nature 29, 591–592 (1884). https://doi.org/10.1038/029591a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/029591a0