IN FLOWERING PLANTS. 199 
siderable size; the portion within the neck presenting the 
same appearance as it did previously, that is, the dislocat- 
ed tissue has not as yet been absorbed. "This nucleus is 
extremely like a second coat, particularly in its neck, but it is 
not perforated. 
The next stage, sometime after fecundation, presents the 
foramen closed up ; the excavation much increased, extending 
nearly to the apex of the neck of the nucleus. It has a shin- 
ing appearance, and is lined by a very distinct membranous 
(albuminous) embryonary sac, fixed by its apex, but totally 
free elsewhere, although it reaches to the top of the nucleus. 
In the earliest stage at which I have seen it, its apex was oc- 
cupied by.a brown grumous mass: it contains likewise a few 
active molecules of two sizes, large and small. The next 
Stage presents the grumous mass showing obvious traces of 
cellularity, especially towards its apex: but the lowermost 
cells are only half-formed, and surrounded with the grumous 
matter of a more lax nature. The extreme apex is occupi- 
ed by a globular cell, containing very few granules. This 
cell is visible up to a late period, and it is to it that the 
young embryo is attached. The granules soon increase in 
number; they are larger than the active molecules, which 
abound in the young albumen. The cells soon become more 
developed, and will shortly be found to have assumed the 
form of albumen. When this is half-formed, it is inferiorly 
either truncate or concave: it swarms with active molecules, 
which, as indeed in all cases, form that milky fluid which is 
discharged when a section is immersed in water: the embryo- 
nary sac is constricted about its middle, the lower portion 
being empty, and remaining portion so to a very late period, 
perhaps always. I should not say empty, because it is occupied 
by a fluid, but the albumen does not extend into it. At this 
period the neck of the nucleus is very short, and its sub- 
stance very thin; the lower portion is still adherent as 1t al- 
ways is, to the corresponding portion of the testa. The 
embryo which is very minute and globular, may be found 
in its apex, attached to the terminal cell. The embryonary 
sac in that portion unoccupied by albumen, is still very dis- 
