41 



Gilburt's remarks, because he had brought the matter forward with a view 

 of exciting discussion, and as an addition to the paper read at their 

 previous meeting. The question was by no means a settled one ; but as 

 regarded some parts of it, the more they were looked into the more did 

 they become confusion worse confounded. However, there were some 

 Btatements of Strasburgher's— that regarding the embryo-sac, for in- 

 stance — which he thought could not be maintained. As regarded the 

 suspensor, he had made the statement on the authority of some foreign 

 •writer, but he did not believe that it was any part of the future stem, 

 Then, again, as to the embryo-sac, the observations were those of Hoff- 

 meister ; in the genus Pinus more than one embryo -sac was found, but 

 they were differentiated from several cells set apart for the purpose. 



Mr. A. D. Michael said he had expressly avoided joining in the discussion, 

 but would just like to say that he had the pleasure of listening to Mr. 

 Ward's paper at the meeting of the Linnsean Society which had been 

 referred to. Mr. Ward had been engaged for a long time in the Kew 

 Museum and Library working at the subject, and his drawings were laid 

 before the Society, and would therefore shortly be in print. He understood 

 Mr. Ward to confirm Strasburgher's views as to formation by cell division, 

 and moving downwards and upwards ; this was, in some species at all 

 events, the cause of the formation. Mr. Ward had worked it out with 

 extreme care, but he did not appear to go with the views regarding the 

 Archigonia. The Botanists of the Society present seemed to consider Mr. 

 Ward's paper was rather confirmatory of the views of the earlier 

 Botanists. 



Dr. Matthews said it was clear they had not lost the old gladiatorial 



spirit ; but he was glad to find that, unlike those of old, the contest that 



evening had been a bloodless fight, and had not ended in a victory on either 



side. He had great pleasure in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the 



President for his admirable paper. 



The vote of thanks was then put to the meeting, and carried by 



acclamation. 



Attention was called by Mr. Ingpen to the exhibition by Messrs. Powell 

 and Lealand of Amphipleura pellacida by means of a new oil immersion 



condenser, in conjunction with a | inch water-immersion objective of 



large aperture. 



Notices of meetings for the ensuing month were made, and members 



were specially reminded that in consequence of the date of their next 



ordinary meeting falling on the day after Christmas Day, there would be no 



ordinary meeting held until January 23rd, 1880. 



The proceedings closed with the usual conversazione, at which the 



following objects w^ere exhibited : — 



Section of Coriander Seed ... ... ... Mr. P. W. Andrew. 



Fungus — Uromyces intrusa on leaf of Alclie- ) -^ -^ Coleq 

 milla vulgaris... ... ... 5 



VdliitG oi Patella vulcjata ... ... ... Mr. T. Curties. 



Diatoms from Gulf Weed ... ... ... Mr. C. G. Dunuiug. 



