PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 237 
vidual exhibited being an adult form—the characteristic alcyon- 
arian spicules are found both at the base of the polype and along 
and at the base of the tentacles—these latter are completely 
retractile. Should this form not constitute a new species of 
Haimeia, it is proposed to form it into a new genus called Hartea, 
after the gentleman who kindly sent it to Dr. Wright, along 
with other marine creatures from Rathmullen, County Donegal. 
Mr. Archer desired to place on record on the minutes of the 
Club, the occurrence in Ireland of a well-marked and interesting 
Palmellacean alga, Mischococeus confervicola (Nig.). This form 
had been first shown to him by Dr. Barker from a gathering made 
m the Phenix Park, and its characters are so distinctive that 
Mr. Archer at once perceived its identity. At the present late 
hour of the evening he would not expatiate upon it or its mode 
of growth, but would merely refer to Niigeli’s figure in ‘ Gattun- 
gen einzelliger Algen’ (t. ui, f. D), and remark that, notwith- 
standing that these simple forms had been ignored by some (e. 9. 
the authors of the ‘ Micrographic Dictionary ’)—an unadvisable 
course pending the want of knowledge as to their reproduction or 
origim—it might perhaps by others be regarded as not altogether 
an uninteresting addition to our Cryptogamic Flora, inasmuch as, 
so far as Mr. Archer knew, Afischococcus confervicola had not been 
seen by other eyes than its discoverer’s, Professor Nigeli. 
20th April, 1865. 
Read the minutes of the preceding monthly meeting, which 
were confirmed. 
Dr. E. Perceyal Wright exhibited the circulation of the blood in 
the branchie of Hypocthon anguinis, brought from the Magdalena 
Grotto, Adelsberg, within the last few days, by Mrs. G. Orr 
Wilson. 
Mr. Archer showed specimens of the new Saprolegniaceous 
plant, Aphanomyces stellatus, De Bary, in fruit, showing the 
oogonium which contained the oospore and the collateral male 
branchlets (antheridia). He also brought forward specimens 
showing the characteristic cluster of zoospores, proving the plant 
to belong to De Bary’s genus Aphanomyces. He likewise, for 
the purpose of comparison, showed specimens found in the same 
gathering of Saprolegnia monoica, Prings., in full fruit, showing 
oospores and antheridia, as well as sporangia ready to emit their 
zoospores. By the aid of the figures in De Bary’s and Prings- 
heun’s papers on these curious organisms, in Pringsheim’s 
‘ Jahrbiicher fiir wissenschaftliche Botanik’ (I, t. xix, xx ; I, t. xix, 
f.11, 12,13), he endeavoured to give an explanation of the structure 
and fructification of these curious organisms, and of their generic 
