The order Lentibulariaceæ is usually described in systematic works as exhibiting affinities, on the one hand with Scrophulariaceæ, which it resembles in the bilabiate corolla, partial suppression of the andrœcium, bilabiate stigma, and two-valved capsule; and, on the other, with Primulaceæ and its allies, with which it agrees in having a truly free central placenta.

Lindley places the order in his alliance of Bignoniales, along with Scrophulariaceæ, apparently following Mr Bentham, whom he quotes in support of the supposed affinity between the families. Others, again, more impressed with the importance of the placental character, place the family near Primulaceæ, as has been done by Payer.

“Boulder-clay” or “till,” abundant in Scotland, and occurring also in England, Ireland, and in some other parts of North-Western Europe, has long been, and still is, a puzzle to geologists.

Sir James Hall, about fifty years ago, in this Society, was the first to draw attention to the deposit, by describing its composition, and endeavouring to explain its origin. He saw that it could not be included in either of the two great classes into which rocks were then divided. It was a deposit sui generis, bearing no resemblance to anything known, except a heap of rubbish, there being in the arrangement of its ingredients no regard to specific gravity or size.

Atropia is a nitrile base, obtained from Atropa Belladonna. All we know of its constitution is, that by the action of strong acids and bases it is decomposed, in accordance with the equation—

So that atropia may be considered as tropia, in which one atom of hydrogen has been replaced by tropyl, the radical of tropic acid.

Atropia has a somewhat complicated physiological action, for it directly influences the functions of the cerebro-spinal and sympathetic nervous systems. The principal effects produced by it on the former system are paralysis of the sensory and motor nerves, and excitation of the spinal cord. By its action on the sympathetic nerves, it influences the contraction of the unstriped muscles; but as the mechanism of this action is by no means exactly defined, we shall merely allude to it in our comparison of the actions of the methyl and ethyl derivatives, with those of the alkaloid itself. In addition to these general actions, atropia influences, in a special manner, the functions of the vagi nerves and of the iris, suspending the cardiac inhibitory power of the former, and producing contraction of the latter.