48 
One lesson he had learnt, among others, was the family likeness 
which ran through seeds belonging to some of the great natural 
orders, and the assistance the microscopic characters afforded in 
determining the difference between species which approximated closely 
to each other in some particulars. 
In its ripe state a seed consisted of a nucleus or kernel, and an 
outer skin called the /es¢a, variable in texture, colour, and markings. 
Sections, such as those so admirably made by their friend, Dr. Hallifax, 
showed that three distinct layers might be detected in the ¢esfa, cor- 
responding to the three coats of the ovule. 
The nucleus consisted of two parts—the albumen and the true 
growing parts. The albumen differed in quantity and consistency, 
being soft in some and as hard as bone in others, as might be seen in 
an ivory nut, while it consisted of starch, lignine, oil, nitrogenous, and 
saline substances, contained in cells. 
The embryo was either straight or curved, and consisted of the 
vadicle, which developed into the root, and the plumule, which 
produced one or more seed leaves, and the gemmule, or first leaf bud. 
Turning to the external appearance of the seed, the microscope 
revealed “a thing of beauty,” as shown by the great variety of markings. 
Without entering into minute descriptions, he would indicate some of 
the families of seeds which, he had found, contained some of the 
most interesting examples. As before-mentioned, the family likeness 
was so great that it was often possible to indicate the family to which 
a seed belonged before knowing its name. 
The Chili nettles, or Zoasace@, contained very interesting and 
beautiful seeds, contrasting with which were the Portulacee or 
Purslane family, some of which bore a striking resemblance to the 
shells of the fossil ammonites, many of them shining with quite a 
metallic lustre. 
Among the Lodeliacew would be found interesting specimens, not 
the least interesting being /sotoma axillaris, presenting an amber- 
coloured crystalline appearance with exquisite markings. 
The Poppies, the Papaveracce, well repaid examination, while the 
Scrophulariace@,—a very large family, containing the foxgloves, mul- 
leins, figworts, the toadflax, snapdragon, eyebright, pawlonia, &c.,— 
were all characterised, more or less, by hexagonal reticulations, with 
more or less minute reticulations within them. One cultivated plant, 
