English  Amber — Distinction  from  Baltic  Amber, — At  the  meeting  of
the  British  Association,  Professor  Conevintz  stated  some  interesting  facts
concerning  the  formation  of  amber  in  different  parts  of  the  world.  The
much-esteemed  variety  is  Baltic  amber — succinite.  English  amber,  which
is  also  succinite,  is  found  mostly  on  the  coasts  of  Norfolk,  SufTolk  and
Essex,  and  contains  insects,  wood,  flowers,  etc.,  which  indicate  the  oldest
Tertiary  formation.  Some  specimens  contain  fragments  of  magnolia  and
cinnamon,  which  makes  it  probable  that  the  flora  of  the  amber  period
was  entirely  different  from  that  of  modern  Europe. — Pharm.  Joum.,  Sept.
28,  1895,  263.
BOTANY   AND   VEGETABLE    PHYSIOLOGY.
Botanical  Nomenclature — Return  to  Earliest  Specific  Names, — Geo.  M.
Beringer  calls  attention  to  the  advanced  stand  taken  by  the  Botanical  Sec-
tion of  the  Amer.  Assoc,  for  the  Advancement  of  Science  in  adopting  in


METHOD   OB'   DRYING    FLOWERS.  5II

toto  the  rule  of  priority  in  botanical  nomenclature,  a  rule,  previously
adopted  that  the  earliest  specific  name  is  not  to  be  retained  if  it  is  iden-
tical with  the  generic  name,  having  been  repealed.  This  repeal  is  to  be
regretted,  as  it  has  rendered  possible  the  adoption  of  such  barbaric  spe-
cific names  as  Afios  Apios,  Hepatica  Hepatica^  Benzoin  Benzoiny  etc.,  etc.,
and  it  is  significant  that  the  views  of  the  most  progressive  of  the  nomen-
claturists  are  being  adopted  by  American  botanical  writers,  the  rule  being
strictly  followed,  for  instance,  in  such  a  classical  work  as  "  Sargent's  Silva
of  North  America."  Tne  author  cites  a  list  of  some  of  the  drug-yielding
plants  that  will  be  affected  by  the  proposed  change. — Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.,
Dec.  1895,  606-607.
