124 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES: 
bodies, in vigorous movement, quite globular, of the same size 
and exceedingly like the green bodies near them, still held within 
the round inflated expansions of the Dinobryon, and, although 
with denser and greener contents, their great similarity seemed to 
suggest the possibility of their being further stages in the develop- 
ment. Here this very scanty observation, guantum valeat, ceases ; 
nor does that of Dr. Hermann, of what 1s, doubtless, the same 
phenomenon, throw any additional light on the matter. This 
author describes also a very similar encysting and formation of a 
“resting spore” in a Characium, called by him Characiwm epipyzis, 
which he compares withthe phenomenon in Dinobryon; andhe then 
goes on to say— The supposition of some affinity between Chara- 
ciumepipyxis and Dinobryon pressed itself upon me at each observa- 
tion more forcibly, although I could gain nothing certain upon the 
point. Dinobryon resembles a colony of Characiwm epipyzis, or as 
budding-off; Dinobryon occurs, besides, very frequently in company 
with our Characium.’’ Mr. Archer, however, remarked that 
Dinobryon occurs frequently where no Characium at least pre- 
sents itself; although it cannot be omitted to be mentioned that, in 
the very gathering in which the present specimens of Dinobryon 
were noticed, a Characium was present in considerable numbers ; 
but he could not make himself satisfied that it was the form called 
C. epipyxis by Dr. Hermann. 
September 21st, 1865. 
Read the minutes of the preceding meeting, which were 
confirmed. 
Mr. Archer exhibited specimens of a Staurastrum (Kiitz.) Nag., 
new to Britain, which he now referred to Staurastrum spinulosum 
(Nag.), though, before he had been able to see a specimen with the 
constituent cells well spread out, so as to display accurately their 
form, he had been in some doubt as to the actual identity with 
Nageli’s plant, though there could be none as to the genus to 
which it belonged. Although no mode of reproduction is known 
for this genus, it can hardly be doubted but that it, as well as 
Celastrum, belongs to Pediastree. Inasmuch as the well- 
marked form in question had been ignored by the authors of the 
‘ Micrographic Dictionary,’ it may be well here briefly to describe 
the plant. It consists of a definite number of cuneate compressed 
cells, united by their smaller ends in a radiate manner into a solid 
family ; the outer margins with rounded angles, and concave at 
the middle, in the present plant, or in Kiitzing’s species, Soras- 
trum echinatum, bifurcate. In the present plant, 8. spinulosum, 
the cells bear, at each of the outer rounded angles, two minute, 
rather acute, short spines ; thus, each cell bears four spines, but 
as these are placed in pairs opposite one another, not im a single 
line, when a cell presents fts broad or cuneate side to the observer 
