Gelehrte Gesellschaften. 223 



contain granules, do not give rise to root-hairs, these arising exclusively from 

 the colourless and apparently empty cells. The deposition takes place rapidly, 

 within a few seconds. Phosphate of ammonia, 4 parts to 1000 of water, 

 caused the same eft'ect, but no reagent was as rapid as the carbonate. The 

 precipitated granules were not observed to be re-dissolved. They were not 

 dissolved by long Immersion in alcohol or acetic acid, or washing with 

 sulphuric ether, nor a 10 per cent. Solution of common salt, the last being 

 able to dissolve aleurone grains. The granules were, however , broken up 

 when heated for a short tinie in caustic potash ley; hence the granules are 

 inferred to be of the nature of protein. Analogous results were obtained in 

 two other Euphorbiaceous genera ; but the results were not uniform, nor 

 were they in twelve other genera experimented upon, the Droseraceag showing 

 some remarkable results. The main roots of Drosophyllum lusitanicum after 

 treatment showed one ; or more commonly several masses of brown translucent 

 matter ; the loose cells of the root-cap also had them, a fact worth noting. 

 In the roots of Oyelamen persicum a great change occurred, green granules 

 making their appearance after treatment with a Solution of 7 to 1000 to such 

 an extent as to give a green tint to roots previously brown. Sulphuric ether 

 does not dissolve them, nor discharge their green colour ; whilst acetic acid 

 changes them to dull orange. Most of the root-hairs arose from colourless 

 cells, but some sprung from granule containing cells. The conclusion drawn 

 was that these granules are probably due to excreted matter. No previous 

 writer seems to have suspected that root-hairs do not arise indifferently from 

 any of the exterior cells. (2) ,The Influence of Carbonate of Ammo- 

 nia on Chlorophyll-B d i es.' The phenomena of aggregation is best 

 seen in the tentacles of Drosera when any nitrogenous particle has been 

 placed on it. The purple fluid in the cells becomes turbid, then granules 

 are seen, which soon coalesce and grow larger; later, these large masses 

 send out processes in a curious manner, until one or two spheres are formed 

 which remain motionless. Protoplasmic waves may then be seen; granules 

 withdrawn from them are absorbed by the masses in the centre. After a 

 few days the solid aggregated masses are re-dissolved, the process commenc- 

 ing at the base of the tentacle working upward, — that is, in direct Oppo- 

 sition to the in-aggregation. The whole process is a vital one. Chlorophyll 

 consists of modified protoplasm; the grains not only change their position 

 and shape, but divido. In üionsea muscipula the cells of each leaf filled 

 with Chlorophyll change in colour permanently when an insect has been 

 caught. A thin leaf was immersed for twenty-four hours in a Solution of 

 carbonate of ammonia, 7 to 1000, and sections were made and examined. 

 The cells near the margin of the leaf did not exhibit a single chlorophyll- 

 gi'ain, but had instead masses of transparent yellowish green matter of various 

 shapes. Hence it seems that carbonate of ammonia first acts on the cell-sap, 

 producing a granulär deposit of a brownish colour, and that this tends to 

 aggregate into balls; afterwards the grains of chloroi^hyll are acted on, and 

 become completely confluent, or breaking up into fine granules. Experiments 

 were also made by administering an Infusion of raw meat to plants, in Nep- 

 enthes, Drosera, Pinguicula, &c., and other genera. From these experiments, 

 the author considers it established that chlorophyll-grains are re-formed after 

 being broken up; he further considers that these contain living protoplasm, 

 to which may be attributed their various movements. 



April 6. — Sir John Lubbock, President, in the chair. — Messrs. 

 John Blackie, C. C. Lacaita, J. W. Phillips, and John B. Wilson 

 were elected Fellows of the Society. — Mr. Patrick Geddes exhibited and 

 described a series of living specimens under the microscope illustrative of 

 the presence of Algse in Radiolarians and certain forms of Ccelenterata. — 

 The following papers were read : ,0n the Connection between Geo- 

 tropism and Growth,' by Mr. Francis Darwin. — ,Note on Ne- 

 gative Heliotropism in Fumaria corymbosa,' by Mr. B. Daydon 

 Jackson. M. Battandier has noticed that in this plant, which grows in 

 the crevices of overhanging rocks, the pedicels after flowering lengthen out, 

 and deposit the fruits in such crevices as may be within reach. ■ — ,S o m e 

 Observations on the Breaking of the Shropshire Meres;' by 



