204 LINARIA CYMBALARIA. 



of the stalk during the ripening of the seed is correctly stated as 

 being dependent on the contraction of the spiral tissue. I would 

 suggest that the lodgment of the seed in the small crevices may be 

 explained without crediting the plant with any discriminative 

 power. To do this would, of course, be absurd ; but I think a 

 rational explanation is easy. Suppose the mature seed-vessel to 

 be, by the action of the contractile fibre, brought into contact 

 with the w^ill at the same time that, by the continued contraction 

 of the stem-fibre, producing a certain relation of the seed-pod, the 

 latter was scraped against the surface of the wall. This would, 

 no doubt, end by its travels being eventually stopped by a hole or 

 crevice, in which the seed would in all probability germinate. 



W. Leicester Greville. 

 I quite agree with Mr. Moore's closing remarks, and his quo- 

 tation from Sir John Lubbock, as to the desirability of turning 

 one's attention to the thorough study of one or two of the com- 

 monest objects to be found in one's own immediate neighbour- 

 hood. Such objects are sure to present points of interest, little or 

 not at all elucidated, and much good work may be done. 



Arthur Hammond. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES XXL, XXII. , XXIIL 



Fig. L — Linaria cymbalaria, natural size, from a Nature-printed 

 drawing. 



,, 2. — Corolla, a, side view, closed; h, side view, open ; c, front 



view, showing the tive clefts as numbered 1—5, all x 5 diam. 

 ,, 3. — Hairs //(- situ, within corolla, x 48 diam. 

 ,, 4.— Ditto, X 300 diam. 



,, 5. — Germeu, pistil, stamens, and pollen, x 11 diam. 

 ,, G. — a, Calyx and pistil, x 15 diam. 



/>, Long stamen, x 15 diam. 



c, Short stamen, x 15 diam. 



(/, Pollen, X 300 diam. 



c, Do., in glycerine. 



f, Do. , in acetic acid. 



y, Do., in spirit, showing pollen-tubes. 

 ,, 7. — Seeds, x 40 diam. 

 ,, 8.- Section of seed, x 05 diam. 



«, testa ; b, endosperm ; c, embryt). 

 ,, 0. — Cells of upper cuticle of leaf, x 40 diam. 

 ,, 10. — Cells of under cuticle, with stomata, x 70 diam. 

 ,, 11.— Under cuticle, with stomata, x 250 diam. 



Prawn by R. H. Moore. 



