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III. Account of a Mkrofcopical hvoeJllgaUon of fever al Speck i cf Pollen ^ 

 ixith Renmrks and ^ejlions 01%. the Structure and Ufe of that Part of 

 Vegetabks, By Luke Howahd^ Efq, of Plaiflow in EJpx, 



Read March 4, 1800. 



IN" the Spring of 1795, having much leifure, I devoted a portion 

 of it to the examination of various minute productions of Nature in 

 a good compound microfeope. Thcfe refearchcs would probably 

 have terminated in prefent information and amufement only, but 

 that they were accidentally turned to the pollen of flowers, re- 

 fpe6ling which, as a botanifl, I found an inclination to inform my- 

 felf, by comparing the feverai fpecies together. 



I began my obfervations with the Hazel-tree, Corylus Avcllana. 

 On a. calm dry day I (hook off fomc of the pollen from the expanded 

 cr4tkins upon a clean piece of writing-paper. I alfo gathered fome 

 of the catkins and female buds, Thefe I viewed feparately on a 

 clear plate of glafs, ufually tranfmittingthe light through them from 

 a fpeculum below, and with different magnifying powers, prefer- 

 ring thofe which, without enormoufly enlarging the objecfs, gave 

 a clear view of the ftruclure and position of feverai at once* As I 

 purfued this method with the reft I examined, I mention this to fave 

 repetition, and fliall give the appearances from notes made at the 

 time. 



I. Corylus Avellana. Anthers furniflied with tranfparent horn- 

 like a'ppcndages. Pollen crumbles from the furfacc, and is fome- 

 times fo abundant as to fail in a vifible cloud on the flighted motion 



Vol. VI. K cf 



