318 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



This lengthening of the fibre and consequent separation of the 

 nuclei is due to an increase of material, and not to a stretching of 

 the fibre. 



Soon after the nuclei have separated some of them begin to 

 decay. They increase in size ; their outline becomes indistinct ; a 

 bright border appears immediately within their margin ; their con- 

 tents become decidedly granular ; their outline is broken and inter- 

 rupted ; and presently an irregular cluster of granules is all that 

 remains, and tliese soon disappear. 



It sometimes happens that the nuclei perish while in contact, 

 before the fibre elongates ; but the subsequent changes are the same. 



The striae generally first become visible at this period, imme- 

 diately within the margin of the fibre. 



The fibre is subsequently increased in size, and its development 

 is continued by means of the surrounding cytoblasts. These attach 

 themselves to its exterior, and then become invested by a layer of 

 the surrounding blastema. Thus, as it were, nodes are formed at 

 intervals on the surface of the fibre. These invested nuclei are at 

 first readily detached, but they soon become intimately connected 

 and indefinitely blended with the exterior of the fibre. All its cha- 

 racters are soon acquired ; the nuclei at the same time gradually 

 sink into its substance, and an ill-defined elevation, which soon dis- 

 appears, is all that remains. 



Lastly, the substance of the fibre becomes contracted and con- 

 densed. The diameter of a fibre towards, or at the close of intra- 

 uterine life, is considerably less than at a much earlier period. 



At the period of birth muscular fibres vary much in size. 



The several stages in the development of muscular fibre, above 

 mentioned, do not succeed each other as a simple consecutive series ; 

 on the contrary, two, or more, are generally progressing at the same 

 time. Nor does each commence at the same period in all cases. 



Stoke Newington Natural History and Scientific Society. 

 April 24, 1855. 



A PAPER was read by Mr. Richard Moreland, jun., ' On the pro- 

 bable Structure of the Starch Granule.' * 



After pointing out the extensive occurrence of starch in the 

 vegetable kingdom, and its importance in an economical point of 

 view, and adverting to its chemical properties, the author proceeds to 

 discuss the structure of the grain itself. He illustrates his views 

 on this point by reference to the form of starcli termed ' tons les 

 mois arrowroot,' the large grains of which are particularly fitted for 

 observation. 



Noticing the views of Leuwenhoek, Rastail, Fritzsche, Schleiden, 



* This paper, accompanied with elaborate figures, has been forwarded 

 to us for insertion ; its length, however, renders this impossible, and we 

 have been compelled to content ourselves with the above abstract of Mr. 

 Moreland's views. — Editors of Quarterly J ournal of Microscopical Science. 



