ГИЯ 
XII. On some Points in the Histology of certain Species of Corallinacee. By Major- 
General В. J. Newson, R.E., and Prof. Duncan (М.В. Lond.), F.R.S., Pres. Geol. 
Soc. Communicated by Dr. MURIE, F.L.S. 
(Plates XXVL, XXVII.) 
Read June 15th, 1876. 
CONTENTS. 
I. Notice of the Histology of the Corallineæ by Quekett and Decaisne. 
II. Notice of M. Rosanoff’s Essay on the Histology of the Melobesiæ, so far as it concerns this 
communication. 
III. On the Bermuda Corallinaceæ ; their simple and compound filamentous Epiderm; the 
structure of the external cellular tissue of the Frond and its relation to the deposit of carbo- 
nate of lime; the nature of the internal tissue. Their physiology. 
IV. The Histology of the Epiderm of the Frond of Corallina officinalis from temperate seas ; 
notice of the Structure of the Cells of the Mass of the Frond. 
V. The Filamentous Processes of the Melóbesiæ of the Bermudas. 
I. Notice of the Histology of the Corallinee by Quekett and Decaisne. 
PROF. JOHN QUEKETT, who lectured at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, in 
1850-1852, on the skeleton of invertebrate animals, published his course under the title 
‘Lectures on Histology,’ in 1854. In the second volume that distinguished micro- 
scopist, whilst considering the calcareous skeleton of the Coelenterata, very properly distin- 
guished it from the remarkable hard substance of the Lithophytes, or the plants com- 
monly known as Corallines. He gave a description of the common Corallina officinalis 
of the British coasts and also some important notices of the microscopical anatomy of 
the group. After noticing that when the Corallines are acted upon by dilute hydro- 
chlorie acid and the coating of lime is removed they become as flexible as any plant, һе 
proceeded to explain that the terminal branches, which are of a round figure, exhibit the 
organs of fructification. The other species, Corallina monile and Corallina opuntia, he 
explained, are both largely coated with lime, but their joints are more evident than those 
of the common species. He then, after remarking upon the relation of the Nullipores 
to the Corallines, suggested that the comparison of the skeletons of the plants and of 
those of the true zoophytic corals is most interesting physiologically ; for in both instances 
abundance of caleareous material has been separated from the sea-water by a vital 
process He stated that on making a vertieal section of Corallina officinalis ** we shall 
find that on examination with the lowest powers it will exhibit two kinds of structures, 
both of which are essentially cellular—that on the exterior being formed of small cells of 
hexagonal figure, whilst on the interior they are more elongated and generally of a 
brownish colour: this is especially the case if the section should include a joint. In the 
fresh state the contents of the cells can be easily made out, and the central ones are not 
SECOND SERIES.— BOTANY, VOL. I. 2F 
