PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 177 



that if tliey were going to start with a large organism, it would not 

 have developed by evolution into the microscopic many-chambered 

 forms which subsequently came into existence, but would have continued 

 its evolution on a scale of size something akin to its origin. 



The magnificent specimen of Gypmia exhibited was quite a 

 surprise to him, although he was acquainted with Miss M. Lindsey's 

 paper, in which these large specimens were described. At the same 

 time he could not agree with her revival of Carter's species plana. 

 The common Gypsina iiihserens, of which a slide had been shown, 

 was a microscopic form, but it had a tendency to grow in all direc- 

 tions, and there seemed no reason why it should stop at any par- 

 ticular size. On small stones and shells one could see twenty or 

 thirty individuals growing close together ; they gradually impinged on 

 each other, the stronger individual becoming superimposed on to the 

 weaker and entirely investing the original host. The enormous size of 

 the specimen exhibited was, in his opinion, merely the result of a great 

 number of years of growth. Nothing whatever was known about the 

 age to which Foraminifera lived, except in the case of a few small forms 

 which had been kept under observation. He did not doubt that some 

 of the bigger forms, which lived in deeper water, might have a very 

 long life, perhaps twenty or thirty years or more. A specimen like the 

 Gypsina shown might have been growing for a great many years, and 

 still be alive on the surface layer of chambers, though the inside would 

 be dead. There was no connexion between the surface layer of the 

 numerous individuals and the inner layers on which they grew. 



He would not like his remarks to be regarded as having been offered 

 in any hypercritical sense. It was his privilege to propose a motion 

 which he was sure all who had had the treat of listening to Professor 

 Hickson's paper would agree with — their cordial thanks for what had 

 been one of the most interesting and suggestive, if perhaps debatable, 

 papers which had ever been given in that room. He only wished 

 the Professor lived nearer to him, for he was sure that enough had been 

 said on this occasion to keep them in discussion for another year. 



After Professor Hickson had replied Mr. E. J. Sheppard exhibited a 

 slide of the anther of Lilium cancUdum showing pollen mother-cells, in 

 which he demonstrated the extrusion of nuclear material or chromatin 

 from one cell into another adjacent cell, which seemed to take place 

 during the synaptic stage, in the first mitosis. When the chromatin 

 was proceeding from one cell into another it appeared that the 

 cytoplasm in front of it was either absorbed or liquefied. So far no 

 fusion of the chromatin with that of the " receptor " cell had been 

 observed. Occurring in Primula, the phenomenon was brought to his 

 notice by Miss Mitchell when the Biological Section of the Society 

 visited the John Innes Horticultural Institution, and reference to his 

 collection brought to light the same appearances in a seven-years' old 

 slide of Lilium auratum. The suggestion that the appearances were 

 due to some morbid state produced by the action of a fungus did not 

 seem to be warranted by the otherwise normal condition of the 

 specimen ; nor could he accept the suggestion of artefact. 



The vote was carried by acclamation. 



Feb. 21st, 1917 N 



