64 Mr. GnirrrrB on the Ovulum of Santalum album. 
nucleus at some period previous to fecundation, and which, at least in its 
earlier stages of development, is the only coat that is meni qus If this. 
view. be correct, the anomalies will be reduced to the formation of the albu- 
men, or rather, tissue of the amnios and embryo externally to the nucleus, ong 
to the application of the male influence to the apex of the sac of the amnios 
instead of to that of the nucleus. 
This seems to me to be the best explanation of this anomalous development, 
although there is no appreciable reason why such an extraordinary modification 
should be adopted. The mode of development has some analogy to that of 
Loranthus and Viscum, with which it agrees in especial in the albumen being 
destitute of a proper integument. I may, perhaps, be borne out in giving it 
as my opinion that Santalum forms the connecting link between the simplest 
form of ovulum, as exemplified by Loranthus and Viscum, and the ordinary 
and more complicated form of these organs. Another mode of explanation is 
obvious, by adopting which the male influence would be supposed to operate 
on the usual spot, viz. the apex of the nucleus; but as the anatomy of these 
parts does not confirm the supposition, and as the number of anomalies are 
not reducible to such an extent by this as by the explanation adopted above, 
I prefer the opinion that the ovula are reduced to nuclei, and that the “seed” 
of botanists is developed externally to this, and consists of, or is reduced to a 
naked albumen and an ordinary embryo. 
I shall not enlarge on the changes that take place after the supposed action 
of the male influence until at a subsequent period I have demonstrated the 
continuity of the filaments with the grains of pollen adhering to the stig- 
mata. The fitness of the present subject for attempting to ascertain rigorously 
what the first changes incident on thi 
obvious, and close examination will 
portant results. 
s action actually are, is at once very 
probably put us in possession of very im- 
-———Á— ee © 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
I beg to rema 
rk, that with regard to the measurements, they are all taken 
from the base o 
f the proper pedicle of the bud, or ovarium, or fruit to the 
