Zoological Society. 131 



Ulvacece are by both referred to Zoospermece ; but it is to be observed, 

 that in Tetraspora lubrica the four spores originate from a single glo- 

 bose body, precisely as in Delesseria and other gener a with Tetraspores, 

 and the quaternary arrangement in Porphyra appears to be of a very 

 similar nature. We have, at least, in Porphyra vulgaris witnessed 

 the division of cells into four distinct spores, each furnished with its 

 proper envelope. Palmella rupestris presents also an analogous struc- 

 ture. We are inclined then to think, when the matter has been further 

 studied, that they may be safely removed from their present very ano- 

 malous position. Chcetophora, again, if Decaisne's principles be fully 

 carried out, must be removed to his Aplosporece, for the simple spores 

 are as fully developed in the only species in which they have been at 

 present observed as in any genus whatever. 



One of the most useful points as regards species is the settling the 

 true position of Zonaria squamaria, which is raised to the rank of a 

 genus under the name of Peyssonellia, and it appears clearly to be 

 allied to Sphcerococcus . The genus Ralfsia (= Zonaria deusta), which 

 appears not to have been known either to Decaisne or Agardh, as 

 clearly belongs to the Aplosporic group. 



In conclusion we beg leave to direct attention to a very interest- 

 ing work by Meneghini* on the Alga? of Italy and Dalmatia, of which 

 we have received the first fasciculus from the author, and we un- 

 derstand that another has appeared. It will consist of about ten fas- 

 ciculi. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Dec. 14, 1841. — Richard Owen, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Waterhouse laid before the Meeting his descriptions of nume- 

 rous species of Coleopterous insects from the southern parts of 

 South America, which had been placed in his hands for that purpose 

 by H. Cuming, Esq. and C. Darwin, Esq. Those from Mr. Cuming 

 formed part of a collection made by Mr. Thomas Bridges, who ex- 

 pressed a wish that the specimens should be laid before the Zoolo- 

 gical Society. Unfortunately, the exact localities of the insects are 

 not mentioned in Mr. Bridges's notes, but there is reason to believe 



seems inclined to deny two modes of fructification altogether, and it must be 

 confessed that his views, especially in Choristosporece (= Floridece), are 

 maintained with great ingenuity, though such generally received opinions as 

 that of the dioecious character of these Algae cannot very easily be set aside. 

 The typical form of fructification he considers to be the quadripartite granules, 

 whether more or less superficial or arranged in podlike processes, and the 

 so-called capsules he considers as mere modifications of these granules. This 

 is one of the main points of difference between Decaisne and Agardh, and 

 somewhat analogous points of difference exist in the other orders. His 

 explanation of the structure of Ulvacece appears to us less clear than other 

 points. 



* Alghe Italiane e Dalmatiche, illustrate Dal Prof. G. Meneghini. Pa- 

 dova, Marzo 1842. 



K2 



