1839.] Linnean Society. 33 



Read, " On a Gall gathered in Cuba, by W. S. Maclieay, Esq., 

 on the leaf of a plant belonging to the order OchnacecB." By the 

 Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S. 



The gall is remarkable for its very close resemblance in habit and 

 form to some epiphytous Fungi, for possessing a distinct operculum, 

 and, especially, for bursting through the cuticle, which surrounds it 

 in the form of a few lacinise at the base. Mr. Berkeley pointed out 

 various forms of galls and other productions of insects which have 

 been described as Fungi, but in none is the resemblance so striking 

 as in the present. He regretted that he was not able to throw any 

 light upon the animal by which it is caused, though he was able to 

 state positively that it is an animal production, as in most instances 

 decayed exuviae were found in its cavity, and in one case a little im- 

 perfect grub, which was however unfortunately lost. 



May 7. 



The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. 



John Hawkins, M.D., of St. Albans, was elected a Fellow ; and 

 Carl Gustav Carus, M.D., of Dresden, Henri Dutrochet, M.D., and 

 Henri Milne Edwards, M,D., Members of the French Institute, 

 Stephen Endlicher, M.D., of Vienna, and John Torrey, M.D., of 

 New York, were elected Foreign Members of the Society. 



Read, " Supplementary Observations on the Development of the 

 Theca, and on the Sexes of Mosses." In a letter to R. H. Solly, 

 Esq., F.R.S. & L.S. By William Valentine, Esq., F.L.S. 



The author commences his letter by stating that subsequent ob- 

 servations have induced him to concur entirely with the views of 

 Professor Mohl as to the sporules of Mosses being developed by four 

 in a mother cell, a fact which he was led to doubt in his former com- 

 munication printed in the 17th volume of the Society's Transactions. 

 The present paper contains a detailed account of the development 

 of the theca in CEdipodium Griffithianum, which exhibits a beau- 

 tiful example of the tetrahedral union of the sporules. In this moss 

 the four sporules in each mother cell are piled on each other so as to 

 form a cone with a triangular base, and they appear to be connected 

 with each other in the young state by a very minute stalk which is 

 situated at the conjunction of three radiating lines. This connexion 



No. IV. — ^Pboceedings of the Linnean Society. 



