2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



of the Society by Dr. Eustace ; for the palseontologieal record of 

 the evolution of the horse is remarkably complete, and no indi- 

 cations of horns are to be found in the extinct congeners of the 

 modern equines. (Mr. Broad has since presented the specimen 

 to the Natural History Museum.) 



Professor Weiss exhibited some preparations and photographs 

 of a mycorhiza or mycorhizome from the Coal-measures. The 

 preparations were in part from the Cash Collection at the Owens 

 College, Manchester, and in part from Dr. Scott's private col- 

 lection. They showed the existence in a small root-like organ of 

 fungal filaments presenting all the appearances of those found in 

 the roots of many orchids and in the rhizome of Psilotum. In the 

 outer layers of the cortex the hyphse run along the inside of the 

 cell- walls and form smaller and larger vesicles in some of the cells, 

 comparable with those found in the mycorhiza of lixiug plants. 

 In the deeper layers of the cortex the contents of the cells are 

 collected into a central dark mass connected with the cell-walls by 

 delicate strands some of \^'hich are clearly fungal hyphse. These 

 masses very closely resemble those described by Shibata in the 

 mycorhiza of Orchids. Small bodies similar to the "sporangioles" 

 described by Janse are also met with occasionally. From the 

 occurrence of these various stages Professor Weiss was inclined 

 to infer that a symbiotic relationship existed between the fungus 

 and the host-plant similar to that of an existing mycorhiza. 

 With regard to the plant in which the fungus occurred, he was 

 inclined to think that it might have been epiphytic, a view which 

 would be supported by the absence of large air-spaces such as are 

 found in the young roots of Calamites and in the rootlets of 

 Stif/maria. 



A discussion followed in which Dr. Percv Groom, Dr. D. H. 

 Scott, Mr. W. C. Worsdell, and Prof. P. W. Oliver took part, 

 Prof. Weiss briefly replying. 



Mr. B. H. Bentley exhibited a large series of lantern-slides, 

 designed for teaching purposes, which he had taken, illustrating 

 certain types of floral pollination, and bees and other insects in 

 actual operation. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " On the Structure of the Leaves of the Bracken (Pteris 

 aquilina) in relation to Environment." Bv Leonard A. Boodle, 

 F.L.S. 



2. " On the Life-history of a New Monoplihhus from India, with 

 a Note on that of a Vcdalia predaceous upon it ; with remarks on 

 the Monophlebinte of the Indian Eegioii." Bv E. P. Stebbing, 

 F.L.S. 



