Proceedings. 17 



Dr. Bossey exhibited under the microscope the Alga from 

 Frensham, Rivularia echinata, in appearance like a ball sur- 

 rounded by tapering threads. He stated that this species is 

 not found on the Continent of Europe, 



Mr. N. E. Brown, of Kew, then described " The Develop- 

 ment of Starch Granules " : — 



The nucleus of the cell develops around it bodies known 

 as leucoplastids, and on, and apparently by, these leuco- 

 plastids a new growth is formed, which is the rudiment of 

 the starch granule. He supposed that the successive layers 

 of which starch granules are composed, as indicated by the 

 annular markings upon them, were produced by the using up 

 of the starch formed in the chlorophyll granules each day 

 under the influence of daylight, and that, as the leucoplastids 

 secreted starch during the night as well as by day, when the 

 supply from the chlorophyll granules each day began to fail, 

 the starch secreted by the leucoplastids would become more 

 watery, thus accounting for the separation into layers of the 

 starch-granules. In some cases the leucoplastid remains 

 attached to a fully-developed starch granule. 



Mr. Brown also explained "Continuity of Protoplasm " : — 

 He thought that in bome cases it originated with the division 

 of the nucleus itself. He stated that the nucleus of the cell 

 is the denser portion of it, and from it every other part 

 is formed ; in it resides the potentiality of growth. In time 

 the nucleus divides, numerous protoplasmic threads connecting 

 the two separated parts of the nucleus. Shortly afterwards 

 the whole cell is divided into two by a wall of cellulose ; but 

 probably the threads which connected the two nuclei remain 

 continuous through the new wall, and keep up a connection 

 from cell to cell throughout the plant, this process being 

 repeated ad infinitum. 



Mr. H. M. Wallis, of Beading, gave the following — 



Notes on Italian Switzerland. 



Amongst the Birds of Italian Switzerland many di£fer 



slightly from the English forms. The Sparrows, for instance, 



have the same note, habits, flight and general appearance as 



our House Sparrows, only the crown of the head is of a 



c 



