lxiv Journal of Proceedings.
We must therefore conclude, from such examples, few as they are in
comparison with what might be further adduced, that however many
flowers may bear a relative proportion in the number of their organs,
when taken in the aggregate it is impossible to obtain a mean average
upon which an absolute rule may be established.*
Prof. Boulger made some observations on the specimens, and drew
Mr. White's attention to Dr. Masters' 'Vegetable Teratology,' in which
similar examples were, he thought, described.
Mr. F. W. Cory read a paper entitled "The use of the Hygro-spectro-
scope (or Bain-band Spectroscope) in Meteorology," prefacing it with
some general remarks on the scientific principles of the spectroscope
(Trans. vol. iv., p. 123), illustrated by a series of diagrams.
In connection with the paper Mr. Meldola spoke of the recent brilliant
sunsets, and expressed his concurrence in the belief that these were
attributable to the presence of finely-suspended dust projected into the
higher regions of the atmosphere by the eruption of Krakatoa in August,
1883, the dust in question causing the condensation and precipitation of
aqueous vapour at unusual heights in the earth's atmosphere.
The Secretary read the following note :—
A Note on the occurrence of the Marten in Epping Forest.†
By James L. English.
On the morning of the 29th of July, 1883, the day after the pleasant
trip with our Club across the rural meadows and lanes to Lambourne,
having no object in view beyond a quiet stroll through the forest glades,
I was walking at a point about a furlong from and on the "Wake
any explanation of analogous occurrences, though they must be fairly well known. But,
while he observes that numerical proportion "appears to be more steadfast, and con-
sequently more important, the more scanty the number is" (p. 132), and that " the
number of petals has a fixed proportion to the number of the parts of the calyx, [1] when
each of these systems has but one row of parts," and less so "when they stand in
several rows" (p. 184), he concludes that the relative number of parts is of more
consequence than the absolute number. "It is," he says, "of more importance, in
particular tribes, to know that the number of the filaments is twice, or three times, the
number of the parts of the corolla and the calyx, than to be able to state the precise
number," &c. (p. 133). This, it must be said, is rather a matter for still further
investigation, as the statement does not appear to be borne out in the case of the
Fuchsia, even if it is by other plants, which is somewhat questionable.
* While this page was passing through the press, a very interesting case of staminody
in the petals of Fuchsia was recorded by Mr. J. C. Gosterus, of Amsterdam, in ' Nature,'
(vol. 32, p. 53) which appears to have been very similar to the examples forming the
subject of Mr. White's notes, although, perhaps, the staminoid character of the modified
petals was more decided.—Ed.
† We hesitate to give the name "Beech-Marten" (Martes foina) applied by Mr.
English to the animal seen by him. Many capable British Faunists are of opinion that
we only possess one species of Martes (the M. sylvatica or " Pine Marten "),and that the
pale-chested individuals to which the name M. foina has been erroneously applied are in
reality merely aged or faded examples of the yellow-throated M. sylvatica, A better and
structural difference between the two species is found in the teeth ; in M. sylvatica the
external margin of the upper molar is convex, but in M. foina it is distinctly emarginate.
The late Mr. Alston examined a large number of specimens of Martens from various
parts of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland; every one proved to be the true Pine-
Marten (M. sylvatica), and he expressed an opinion that M. foina was not, and never
had heen, a member of the British fauna. See Proc. Zool. Soc, 1879.—Ed.