Natural History. 401 



made during the present summer, on several other species, espe- 

 cially Pinus sylvestris and pinaster, render it highly probable that 

 the same structure exists in the whole family. 



The first change which takes place in the impregnated ovulum 

 of the coniferae examined, is the production or separation of a solid 

 body within the original nucleus. 



In this inner body or albumen, several subcylindrical corpuscu- 

 la of a somewhat diflPerent colour and consistence from the mass of 

 the albumen, seated near its apex, and arranged in a circular series, 

 soon became visible. 



In each of these corpuscula, which are from three to six in num- 

 ber, a single thread or funiculus, consisting of several, generally of 

 four, elongated cells or vessels, with or without transverse septa, ori- 

 ginates. The funiculi are not unfrequently ramified, each branch 

 or division terminating in the minute rudiment of an embryo. But 

 as the lateral branches of the funiculi usually consist of a single 

 elongated cell or vessel, while the principal or terminal branch is 

 generally formed of more than one, embryos in coniferae may ori- 

 ginate either in one or in several cells, even in the same funiculus. 



A similar ramification in the funiculi of the Cycas circinalis has 

 been observed by the author. 



Instances of the occasional introduction of more than one em- 

 bryo in the seeds of several plants belonging to other families have 

 long been known, but their constant plurality and regular arrange- 

 ment have hitherto only been observed in Cycadeae and Coniferae. 



Section E. — Anatomy and Medicine. 



Dr Sharpey read a communication on certain peculiarities in the 

 circulation of the porpoise, which he illustrated with preparations. 



The principal facts established by Dr Sharpey's investigations, 

 were, 1st, That the veins as well as the arteries of the porpoise, 

 present, in several regions of the body, a remarkable plexiform ar- 

 rangement ; and, in some places, plexures of both kinds of vessels 

 are combined or mingled together. 



2d, That the arterial plexures are not confined to the thorax and 

 vertebral canal, (the situations in which they were particularly de- 

 scribed by Mr Hunter as occurring in whales, in his observations 

 on the structure and economy of these animals, published in the 

 Philosophical Transactions of 1 787,) but several are formed by the 

 rteries of other parts. 



