materials collected by Professor H. Pittier at 'Quebrado de Potrero Grande,' in southern Costa Rica,* is quite distinct from the Belize tunu. The branches, leaves and fruits are only slightly hairy, the fruits, fruit-clusters and seeds are smaller, and the individual fruits are distinct to near the base. Professor Pittier also informs me that the habit of the tree is different from that of C. costaricana, and that the fruits do not become fleshy and soft with maturity, but simply dry up. The milk does not yield an elastic gum, but hardens into a substance which the natives call 'gutta-percha.' Since Hemsley refers to previous figures and descriptions by Hooker and himself as representing the Belize tunu, and places British Honduras as the first locality, it seems that the name Castilla tunu belongs to the more northern tree; for that of southern Costa Rica the name Castilla fallax is suggested.† 1900. * Icones Plantarum, 7: pl. 2651. †The diagnostic characters of the several species of Castilla are summarized in the following analytical key: Pistillate inflorescence with a thick stipe 18-25 mm. long; stigmas short, cushion-shaped; pistils distinct to base. Castilla australis Hemsley; Peru. Pistillate inflorescence sessile; stigmas slender; pistils coadnate, at least at base. Primary male inflorescence with a distinct slender stipe 15-20 mm. long; deeply bilobed and opening widely with maturity. Castilla nicoyensis sp. n.; Nicoya Peninsula. Primary male inflorescence broadly flabellate, gradually narrowed to the short stipe; not bilobed, opening only by a longitudinal slit. Complemental inflorescence flabellate, broad and flattened like the primary, and with a broad longitudinal opening. Castilla lactiflua sp. n.; Soconusco, Mexico. Complemental inflorescence obconic or pyriform, with a central aperture. Ripe fruits very large and prominent, with numerous deep vertical grooves. Castilla elastica Cervantes; eastern Mexico. Ripe fruits less prominent, the grooves shallow or wanting. Some of Hooker's figures* ascribed to Castilla elastica may possibly represent C. fallax, but not those called tunu by Hooker and Hemsley. It seems, then, that the flat-fruited C. tunu Hemsley, from Belize, may be merely a subspecies under the older name costaricana. The Panama Castilla is also obviously related to costaricana, but the sharply pointed fruits. may characterize a second subspecies, C. panamensis, of which Hooker published an elaborate plate based on drawings made in Ceylon.† Four other specific names have been used under Castilla. C. markhamiana Collins has been assigned by Hooker and Hemsley to the allied genus Perebea. Koschny's C. alba, C. rubra and C. nigra, from northeastern Costa Rica, seem likely to prove synonyms of C. costaricana. The bark characters relied upon by Herr Koschny as diagnostic are explainable on other grounds than that they constitute specific or even varietal differences. The existence of numerous species and varieties of Castilla shows that careful discrimination will be necessary in selecting the type best adapted for cultivation in Porto Rico and the other tropical islands of the United States. It shows, too, that the rather ad Leaves not cordate at base; leaves, branches and fruits nearly glabrous; fruits becoming tough and dry with maturity; seeds round, 6-7 mm. in diameter, male flowers with two stamens adnate at base. Castilla fallax sp. n.; southwestern boundary of Costa Rica. Leaves distinctly cordate at base; leaves, Ripe fruits with prominent acute tips. * Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 2d series, 2: 209, pl. 28, figs. 4-6. 1885. † Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 2d series, 2: 209, -pl. 27. 1885. 'Beihefte zum Tropenpflanzer,' 2: 124. 1901. verse results of the East Indian experiments with C. panamensis may not apply to the whole genus. Moreover, during the present study of the subject many reasons have been found for believing that the conditions under which Castilla has been tested in the East Indies are not really favorable to the production of rubber; the current idea that a continuously humid climate is required is erroneous. In short, it appears that we are still at the beginning of a scientific comprehension of the factors which determine the practicability and profitability of rubber culture. It has been ascertained that rubber can be produced agriculturally, but where, how and what to plant, and how, how much and how long we shall harvest, are questions largely answered, as yet, by speculation rather than by experiment. O. F. COOK. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THE NAME OF THE BREADFRUIT. THE genus Artocarpus was first described in 1776 by G. and G. J. R. Forster in the 'Characteres Generum Plantarum,' a work written as a result of their botanical studies made during Captain Cook's second voyage into the Pacific and round the world between 1772 and 1775. The combination Artocarpus communis was given in this work for the breadfruit tree, a name which, according to nomenclatorial rules, must replace the generally accepted Artocarpus incisa, which was not published by the younger Linnæus until 1781.* He Forster's genus was, moreover, published as a monotype, and as his plants were from the Society Islands there can be no doubt but that he was dealing with the true breadfruit. did not publish, it is true, any specific description, leaving all for the genus, but he did make a good binomial combination and had two good plates which are generally considered sufficient to establish a name in good standing. Thunberg later in the same year (1776) published the names Radermachia incisa and integrifolia for the bread- and jak-fruits respectively from material collected in the * Suppl.' 411. 1781. East Indian Islands. Five years afterwards the younger Linnæus made his new nomenclatorial combinations on this material of Thunberg, adopting Forster's generic name and adding to it Thunberg's specific designations, and taking the credit to himself. Further complications are met with when it is found that in the subsequent works of the Forsters, when mention is made of the breadfruit, the specific name incisa is used. Why they should abandon their own name is rather difficult to understand unless it was a case in which the king can do no wrong.' Dr. A. Richter is fully alive to the injustice done Forster and has published a note* on the history of the name of the breadfruit which adequately states the facts in the case and further calls attention to the unfortunate revival by O. Kuntze of the pre-Linnæan name of Soccus, a relic of Rumphius, and of his combining with it Forster's specific name. Yet Rumphius published a specific name for the breadfruit which Kuntze has, for no apparent reason, seen fit to ignore. A. Engler, acting on this note, has corrected in the 'Nachtrag' to the 'Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien' the name of the breadfruit as it appears in the text of that work, and states that Artocarpus communis is the correct designation. HENRY E. BAUM. U. S. DEPT. AGRICULTURE. EUCALYPTS IN THE PHILIPPINES. THE eucalypts, of which but comparatively few species are familiarly known outside of their native home, include some one hundred and fifty species or more, nearly all restricted to Australia and Tasmania. Many of the forms may be classed as shrubs, others attain great size, surpassing in height, as has been stated on good authority, the giant Sequoias of California, though not equaling them in diameter or girth. A few species have been found elsewhere, viz., in New Britain, New Guinea and Timor, islands north of the Australian continent, between latitude 10° S., and the equator. It is not unlikely that sooner or later other species, at present unknown, will be detected on some of the multi* Botanisches Centralblatt 60: 169–170. 1894. tude of islands, large and small, that occur between latitude 10° S., and 20° N. and longitude 90° to 170° E. From New Britain in the Bismarck archipelago midway between latitude 10° S. and the equator, to Mindanao, the most southern of the Philippines between latitude 5° and 10° N., situated to the northwest of New Britain, is quite a leap, as will be perceived by a moment's thought. The occurrence of Eucalyptus in the Philippine island above named has recently been verified by Mr. Maiden, the director of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney, N. S. W., who has examined the specimen collected by William Rich, the botanist of the U. S. ship Relief of the famous Wilkes* Exploring Expedition, who collected the plant or example, near Caldero, Mindanao, some time between 1838 and 1842, and named it E. multiflora; it proves, however, to be identical with E. naudiniana F. v. Müller.† Rich's name being preoccupied explains the change of name. E. naudiniana occurs in New Pommern (New Britain) and is so common in the forests that two saw-mills have been started especially for the timber, which is not hard as the Australian Eucalyptus, but still good useful timber.'t LOS ANGELES, CAL., August 15, 1903. ROBT. E. C. STEARNS. QUOTATIONS. LORD SALISBURY AS A MAN OF SCIENCE. Ir is generally understood that the branch of science which Lord Salisbury loved best was chemistry, and the freedom with which he discussed chemical questions gives weight to the suggestion. Besides, it is well known that he spent much time in his laboratory in Hatfield House, where, however, he directed * Proc. U. 8. National Museum, Vol. XXVI., p. 691. † Id., p. 692. As Mr. Maiden says: "There are so few Eucalypti found outside of Australia that the question of the identity of one found beyond the limits of that continent is of interest, and the occurrence of the genus in the Philippines is now set at rest, and doubtless its range in that group will be ascertained by American botanists." his attention also to engineering and electrical problems. He conceived the idea of utilizing the flow of the River Lea for the electric lighting of the house, and the provision of a water supply to the town of Hatfield from the mains of Hatfield Park was due to his thought and kindliness. In many ways he showed that his love of science had practical as well as academic leanings, but he made no original communication on scientific subjects to the learned societies. He was elected to the fellowship of the Royal Society in 1869, and almost immediately became a member of the council. He took a keen and active interest in the internal affairs of the Royal Society, for he served on the council in 1882-3, and again in 1892-4. He was vice-president also in 1882-3, and in 18934. And almost his last public act was associated with science and not with politics, for on the occasion of the election of the Prince of Wales to the fellowship of the Royal Society in April last it was Lord Salisbury who introduced him to the president and fellows. Lord Salisbury's character as a man of science deservedly secured for him the particular respect and admiration of our profession, though it must be confessed that he made no bid whatever for our favor. Lord Salisbury's name is not associated with a singular popular measure of the kind that would be sure to win medical approbation. But medical men could see in his attitude toward life the trained and austere thinker. He did not speak if he did not know; he would not proceed to the next step till he had verified the one on which progress should depend; and, having convinced himself in which direction truth lay, he would hold firmly to his convictions.-The Lancet. CIVIL ENGINEERS OF THE NAVY. THE civil engineers of the navy seem to have a substantial grievance. The service has grown and with it the duties of these dockyard officials. Our navy repair shops do an infinitely larger business than at any time since the war for the union. The civil engineer at Norfolk, for instance, has under his charge public works involving an expenditure of $2,700,000, and is also responsible for the repairs to and preservation of property valued at $2,500,000. His brother officer at New York is supervising the investment of appropriations amounting to $4,500,000, and is responsible for property estimated to be worth $7,000,000. Yet his rank is only that of a lieutenant-commander, while the officer at Norfolk is merely a junior lieutenant. It is also a fact that there are but thirty-one officers in the corps, of whom one is Peary, who has been away from his regular duties, in the interest of science, for a number of years and who is about to go again. Promotion, too, is very slow. As the corps now stands, two of the junior lieutenants will not become full lieutenants until the age of fifty-nine, when they may, perhaps, be grandfathers. Altogether, it seems plain that if more rank and pay are to be bestowed anywhere in our rapidly expanding navy the civil engineers ought to be the first considered. Efficient men in this corps should mean better navy yards and docks, and so greater economies in the interest of the taxpayers.-New York Evening Post. GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN EGYPT.* Thanks to the munificence of Mr. W. E. de Winton, who generously undertook to defray the entire cost of carrying on for one or two seasons geological explorations in the Libyan Desert, the trustees of the British Museum have been enabled, as the result of the past season's operations, to enrich considerably the national collection of fossils in the Natural History Museum. Dr. C. W. Andrews, of the geological department, was again sent on this mission, and he received valuable assistance from Captain H. G. Lyons, director-general of the Egyptian Geological Survey, and other officers of the survey. Dr. Andrews proceeded to the Fayûm and began work in the district to the north of the lake Birket-elKerun; and here he secured a fairly large collection of vertebrate remains, including several new forms and some specimens of great scientific interest, nearly all the bones being of Upper Eocene age. *From the London Times. The most important object obtained is a very fine and almost complete skull and mandible of a large, heavily-built ungulate, the first specimen of which was discovered two years ago by Mr. H. J. L. Beadnell, of the Egyptian Geological Survey, who called the genus Arsinoitherium (after Arsinoë, a queen of the Fayûm in the 3d century B. C.), naming the species Zitteli, after Professor K. von Zittel, the distinguished paleontologist at the University of Munich, and a pioneer of geological exploration in the Libyan Desert. Arsinoitherium probably resembled in general appearance a big rhinoceros, though in no way related to that animal. The form of the bones of the feet and legs suggests that it was most nearly allied to the elephants and to the Dinocerata, a remarkable group of huge extinct herbivorous hoofed mammals, remains of which have been found in great abundance in the Eocene Tertiary strata of Wyoming, North America; but in the possession of a pair of great bony horns over the nose, together with a smaller pair over the eyes and in the peculiar form of the teeth Arsinoitherium stands quite apart from other mammals. Dr. Andrews also came across a very large mandible and a maxilla, both with well preserved teeth, which have characters indicating the existence of a species of. Arsinoitherium much bigger than the one named after Zittel. Of the early and primitive forms of Proboscidea a considerable series of specimens was acquired for the national collection at South Kensington. Mention may be specially made of a nearly complete skull of Paleomastodon, one of the early forms of the elephant family lately found in the Eocene beds of Egypt. It is of interest to note that most of the characters which give to the skull and teeth of the modern elephant their peculiar structure and appearance have in Paleomastodon only just begun to develop. Thus as regards the teeth, the grinders are much simpler than in later forms, and consist of three transverse ridges only. Moreover, all the cheek-teeth (premolars and molars) are in wear at once, as in ordinary mammals, while in the recent elephants the front cheek-teeth fall out before the hinder ones are cut. The shortening of the face and the swelling up of the hinder part of the skull are connected with the development of the heavy tusks and trunk of the present day elephant; but in Paleomastodon these structures were comparatvely small, and the animal must have presented much the appearance of a very large pig. Peculiar interest attaches to the discovery of bones of a large Hyracoid about the size of a tapir, belonging to a new genus. It is only within recent years that fossil remains of this group of mammals, whose affinities have long been a puzzle to zoologists, have been described. Dr. Andrews relates the occurrence in these beds of four other species of Hyraces; and this fact would seem to indicate that the comparatively few and insignificant modern members of the group are the degenerate descendants of a once numerous stock which must at that time have been an important factor in the Ethiopian fauna. The sands and clays in which these bones and fossilized trees are embedded in such abundance are evidence that in Eocene times this part of the Libyan Desert was the estuary of a great river, down which the carcasses of drowned animals, accompanied by big treetrunks, were swept, and then buried in mud and sand. Dr. Andrews also obtained a collection of specimens from the Pleistocene lake-beds of Birket-el-Kerun, including numerous flint implements and remains of an animal which he has identified as belonging to the African elephant (Elephas Africanus). The occurrence of elephant remains in this locality associated with flint implements is, as Dr. Andrews points out, very noteworthy, both as extending the known range of the African elephant and also as supplying a strong reason for regarding the implements as being of prehistoric age. Dr. Budge states that no representation of the elephant is met with on any of the early Egyptian monuments, which certainly would not be the case had the artists been familiar with the animal; and it is therefore probable that it became extinct in Egypt at some remote prehistoric period, when also the implements which were found with the remains must have been made. The imposing-looking skull of Arsinoitherium Zitteli and specimens of Paleomastodon are now exhibited in the Central Hall of the Natural History Museum. Mention may also be made here of other recent important additions to the exhibited collection in the gallery of fossil mammalia. These comprise a series of remains of mammals from the Lower Pliocene formation of Pikermi, near Athens, obtained during the excavations recently undertaken by the trustees at that place. The bones exhibited are only a small portion of the large collection secured by Dr. A. S. Woodward. They represent quadrupeds which were living in Greece in the Lower Pliocene period, when that country was connected by land with Asia and Africa, before the Mediterranean assumed its present form. Greece was then a land of forests, table-lands and lakes; and Pikermi is part of the bed of a silted-up lake, into which the bones of accidentally destroyed herds of quadrupeds were washed and buried. The remains shown at South Kensington belong to primitive elephants (Mastodon), rhinoceroses, three-toed horses (Hipparion), numerous antelopes, giraffes, pigs, hyenas and monkeys. Attention should be drawn to the instructive pieces of the bone-beds showing how the fossilized remains occur in the rock. THE ELIZABETH THOMPSON SCIENCE FUND. THIS fund, which was established by Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, of Stamford, Connecticut, for the advancement and prosecution of scientific research in its broadest sense,' now amounts to $26,000. As accumulated income will be available January next, the trustees desire to receive applications for appropriations in aid of scientific work. This endowment is not for the benefit of any one department of science, but it is the intention of the trustees to give the preference to those investigations which can not otherwise be provided for, which have for their object the advancement of human knowledge or the benefit of mankind in general, rather than to researches directed to the solution of questions of merely local importance. |