1854.] Linnean Society. 279 



February 7. 



Thomas Bell, Esq., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Edward Newman, F.Ij.S., exhibited specimens of Ophioglos- 

 sum Ltisitanicum, L., found in Guernsey, in a complete state of fruc- 

 tification, in January 1854, by Mr. Wolsey. 



Read a " Note on the Elaters of Trichia." By Arthur Henfrey, 

 Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. 



After referring to observations by Hedwig, Kaulfuss and Corda, 

 asserting the existence of spiral fibres in the filamentous elaters 

 mixed with the spores of Trichia, and to those of M. Schleiden and 

 of M. Schacht, by whom these spiral fibres are called in question, 

 Mr. Henfrey states, that having examined the elaters of a species 

 of Trichia (Tr. serotina, Schrad. }), in some specimens sent to the 

 Society from New Zealand by Mr. Ralph, he is prepared to assert 

 positively the existence in them of spiral fibres exactly analogous to 

 those in Marchantia polymorpha. The number of fibres in an elater 

 of this species of Trichia is three ; in some species Corda describes 

 a much greater number, but this Mr. Henfrey regards as open to 

 doubt. The fibres thin off towards the very gradually attenuated 

 ends of the tubular elaters, and apparently become confluent there, 

 in the same manner as he has himself described in those of Mar- 

 chantia polymoy'pha (Linn. Trans, vol. xxi. p. 107) ; but the ends are 

 so fine, that even with a power of 1000 diameters and a good light, 

 he could not clearly define the terminations of the fibres. The 

 tubular character of the elaters was proved by a transverse section 

 of certain curved filaments, which gave a circular form ; and the 

 spiral structure was clearly distinguishable with a power of 250 

 diameters ; but in order to count the fibres, it was necessary to take 

 out a few of the elaters, and to mount them in the thinnest possible 

 film of liquid under very thin glass, and apply a magnifying power 

 of 1000, when the individual fibres could be made out with quite 

 sufficient clearness to allow of their being drawn with the camera 

 lucida. These elaters, Mr. Henfrey observes, may be regarded 

 as very good test-objects for the defining power of the higher 

 object-glasses ; or, perhaps — considering the confusing eflFect of the 

 crossing nerves of the number of parallel spiral fibres — as test- 



