Bibliographical Notices, 49 



passed on July I4tli, 1842 (sec Report of Bot. Soc. for that year, 

 pp. 12 and 23), authorizing an arrangement to be made with the 

 proprietors of this Journal, by which a much earlier ])ublication of the 

 papers is ensured to their author and the public, and also their ulti- 

 mate distribution to the Members in a collected form is attained at a 

 moderate expense to the Society. 



Having heard it stated that some Members of the Society have 

 obtained these Transactions under the idea that they contained pre- 

 viously unpublished papers, we have thought it right to call their at- 

 tention to the above an-angement, and also, in justice to the authors 

 of the papers, to add, that a large portion of the book has for many 

 months been printed off, and that therefore it was not in their power 

 to alter or cancel any part. 



Preparing for Publication. 



The British Desmidiese, with coloured Figures of the Species. 

 By J. Ralfs, M.R.C.S. 



The author proposes to describe all the British Desmidiea, and as 

 correct figures will be essential to make the descriptions of such 

 minute objects intelligible, he will spare neither care nor expense in 

 rendering the plates, which will be executed under his own eye, as 

 accurate as possible. 



The engravings will be on copper, since experience has proved 

 that the delicate markings of the Desmidiea: cannot be sufficiently 

 displayed by lithography. 



Upwards of 100 species will be introduced, many of them either 

 altogether new or now first noticed as British. 



The conjugated state of the Desmidiece is interesting, sometimes 

 from its resemblance to the same state in the Conjugatcc, sometitaies 

 from the similarity of the spores to fossil bodies found in flint, and 

 considered by Ehrenberg and other naturalists as species of Xanthi- 

 dium. On these accounts, and also because few instances have been 

 hitherto recorded, it is intended to give not only full details of the 

 process, but as far as practicable to show the different stages by 

 figures. Examples will be taken from one or more species in each 

 of the following genera: Glceoprium, Didymoprium, Micrasterias, 

 Euastrum, Cosmarium, Xanthidium, Staurastrum, Tetmemorus and 

 Closterium. 



As their animal nature has been maintained by many able writers, 

 this question will be examined and sufficient reasons produced for 

 considering the Desmidiea to belong to the vegetable kingdom. 

 Their modes of growth and other facts which may illustrate their 

 ceconomy will receive particular attention. 



That nothing may be wanting to the utility of this monograph, 

 the Introduction will contain ample directions for finding and gather-, ,1/ 

 ing these minute plants and the different methods of mounting them : 

 for the microscope. 



Subscribers' names received by the author, Penzance. Price to 

 Subscribers One Guinea. ^fi 



Ann. ^ Mag, N. Hist. Vol. ky'u, E 



