NATUEAL HISTORY OF GENEVA. 17S 



tion of the seeds in this family, particularly in the Jussicva, and also the 

 geographical distribution of the species. He admits five genera, one of 

 which, the Oocarpou, is new, and founded upon the number of parts of 

 the flower. According to his observations, the disk of certain seeds of Jws- 

 sicca are constituted b}^ a portion of the endocarpe adhering to the seed, 

 and the bilocular seeds owe this appearance to an exceptional de%^elop- 

 raent of the raphe. He founds the division of the genus into three prin- 

 cipal sections upon these characteristics, which he elucidates by figures. 

 His memoir is published entire in the Archives of Physical and Natural 

 Science for Jane, 1874. 



Dr. J. Midler has been occupied with the determination of a singular 

 fungus, sent to the museum of Geneva by M. Claraz, as an organic sub- 

 stance, found in the waters of the Kio Negro, between Patagonia and 

 the Argentine Republic. Notwithstanding the imperfect state of pre- 

 servation, he recognized it as a Lysurvs, and has described it, with an 

 illustration, in the Flora of the 21st of November, under the name of 

 L. Clarazianus. 



Communications in regard to puhlished works or memoirs. 



Besides original memoirs and verbal communications of facts observed 

 by the members, the society allows brief information to be given in 

 regard to works already published. This is a pleasant way of contribu- 

 ting to the progress of the knowledge of the members, principally in 

 those branches with which they are not especially occupied. If we con- 

 sider the number of the publications and the short time appropriated to 

 them at the close of each session, it is clear that these communications 

 must be very incomplete. Still, they are listened to with interest, and 

 thanks are due to those members who have brought to notice some 

 memoirs, very little known, but very important. 



In the coarse of this year the clergyman, M. Duby, has drawn our atten- 

 tion to the opinions of Mr. Ililgard, in regard to the Algio and Mosses^ 

 and to various articles relative to the invasion of an American crypto- 

 gam a parasite ui)on the Malvacees ; M. Alph. Favre has spoken to us 

 of the work of M. Belgrand, upon the hydrographical study of the 

 Seine; M. Ernest Favre of the memoirs of M. Mojsisovicz, upon the 

 geology of the oriental Alpe.s, and of M. Schlatter, upon the fossil 

 crnstacea of Libanus. Prof. A. Gauticr has been very zealous in inibrm- 

 ing the society of the work which has been done in astronomy and 

 meteorology, both in Europe and America. He has mentioned esi)e(!- 

 ially the labors of Vogel in regard to the movements of the stars, and 

 of Poly ai)on the relation between the solar si)ots and different meteors 

 at the suriace of the earth. Prof, de la Uarpe has given us an analysis 

 of Prof. Hayden's volume upon the geology of the Territory of Montana. 

 M. Humbert has spoken of the observations of Fiitz Miiller upon the 

 thermiU's of Brazil; M. Marc Mieheli of those of M. Prillieux, upon the 

 movements of the chlorophyl of the Selaginella; Dr. Prevost of the 



