the cotyledons from the grouud, like the mustard. He should like to ask 

 Mr. Martiuelli if in the term perisperm, he included the endosperm ? 



The President thought it a pity that the excellent paper before them 

 ahould pass off without further notice. Several interesting points had 

 already been touched upon ; others would also be of great interest, such 

 as those relating to Morphology, and more especially to the comparison 

 between the development of Phanerogams and Cryptogams. The view of 

 Sachs was that the endosperm was formed in the embryo sac, and the 

 question was, "could they find in the germination of cryptogamic plants 

 any circumstances which were analogous ?" The investigations of Sachs, 

 Hof meister, Pfeffer, and others had, he believed, established this analogy j 

 the true view being that the impregnated germ became the oospore, and 

 that the endosperm was the equivalent of the prothallus. But they might 

 go through the whole series of organs, and find similar analogies. From 

 this point Mr. Martinelli had dwelt upon matters of great interest relating 

 to the development of the cotyledonary leaves. It was quite possible to 

 push the argument for analogies much further if it were advisable. 



Mi'. Martinelli said that as regarded the perisperm, he took it to be 

 that food material which was deposited within the tissue of the nucleus, 

 while the endosperm was developed within the embryo sac. As to the 

 tubers, he could say very little about them ; he was much interested in them 

 at the time, as well as surprised. When he came to examine them, he 

 found them to be much the same as the bean. He planted one of them, and 

 it came up into a large bush. 



The President having briefly referred again to the various topics em- 

 braced in so large a subject as that dealt with in the paper, proposed a vote 

 of thanks to Mr. Martinelli, which was carried unanimously. 



Seven gentlemen were then proposed for membership, and announce- 

 ments for the ensuing month having been made, the proceedings terminated 

 with a conversazione, at which the following objects were exhibited: — 



Fungus Peronospora infestans ... ... Mr. F. W.Andrew. 



„ Puccinia arundinis ... ... ... Mr. F. Coles. 



Leaf of Pelargonium quercifolium (stained) Mr. T. Curties. 



Sexual organs of Vespa vulgaris (male) ... Mr. F. Enock. 



Scale of Pike Mr. H. Epps. 



Spongilla fluviatalis ... ... ... ... Mr. H. Gilbertson. 



Hydra viridis and H. fusca ... ... ... Mr. W. Goodwin. 



Human ovary (inflamed) ... ... ... Mr. J. J. Hunter. 



MemhranijJora pilosa with the tentacles ■> m A T) M' >i 1 

 extended ... ... ... ... ) 



Diatom. Amphipleura piellucida fiV". acusj \ 



with vertical illumination and new Messrs. Powell and 

 water immersion |^th objective, having [ Lealand. 



a balsam angle of 112° j 



Living alga Vauclieria hepatica Mr. J. W. Keed. 



Mounted alga, Frullania dilatata „ 



Attendance — Members. 82 : Visitors, 16. 



