118 SELECTED NOTES FROM 



I think if Mrs. Cowen will examine her section of Fig-tree 

 again with the ^-inch o. g. and polariscope without selenite, she 

 will be better able to make out the crystals. There can be no 

 doubt but that they are Sphseraphides, though somewhat indistinct. 

 I have a leaf of the Fig-tree in my cabinet, in which these crystals 

 are very abundant; still it does not follow that, because they are 

 in the leaf, they must necessarily be in all parts of the plant or 

 tree. Dr. Gulliver mentions several instances in which Raphides 

 exist in the leaves, whilst short crystals are present in the "testa." 

 Let me quote Dr. Gulliver's definition of Sphseraphides: — "Globu- 

 lated forms made up of minute crystals or granules, and either 

 smoothish, granular, or still rougher from projecting crystalline tips, 

 and generally within a cell ; the cells often forming a tissue like 

 Mosaic work." Perhaps these crystals being so very minute, and 

 having the projecting crystalline tips, have misled Mrs. C. into the 

 belief that they are not Sphaeraphides ; but I think, if she will try 

 again with careful focussing, she will be able to distinguish their 

 character. 



When examining any part of a plant other than the leaf, petal, 

 or bulb-scale, &c., I adopt Dr. G.'s method, and first boil for a few 

 seconds in caustic potash, and then smash it on a slide with the 

 point of a knife. I have not in any case failed in finding the 

 crystals, — let me add, when there. I believe there are some of the 

 natural orders which have them not, though many of the genera of 

 these great divisions have them. Our worthy President remarked 

 on the EuphorbiacecE as being mostly free from plant-crystals. 



In Science Gossip, 1873, p. 97, will be found what I believe to 

 be Dr. Gulliver's first published report of plant crystals. A shorter 

 description appeared in the Monthly Micro. Jour7ial^ 1877. 



H. Basevi. 



For further detail see Vol. I. of this Journal, p. 152. 



Editor. 



ZOOLOGICAL. 



Foraminifera from Silt— During the progress of the works 

 which have been carried on for some time at Sutton-Bridge Docks, 

 my attention has been directed to the probability of the excavation 

 yielding profitable material for microscopic enquiry ; and although 



I 



