280 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 
an abundance of raphides. Hence he concludes that this is 
as good an example of a raphis-bearing order among exotic 
Exogens as Balsaminacez, Onagracez, and Galiacez, are 
instances in our native plants of that class. 
And this is not the only interesting fact, for he shows that 
Leea is truly a raphis-bearmmg genus. Thus, it still further 
proves its true affinity with the order, and gives evidence of 
the perspicacity of Lindley in retaining Leea under Vitacee, 
notwithstanding the opinions to the contrary of Von Martius 
and other eminent botanists. 
Surely such proofs of the importance of raphides and their 
organic vesicles as natural characters afford good illustration 
of Dr. Lankester’s remarks in the ‘ Quart. Journ. Mie. Soe.’ 
for Jan., 1864, concerning the necessity for further research 
into the minute details of the cell-life of the members of the 
vegetable kingdom, and of the great value of microscopic 
observations in this direction. We may now hope that 
systematists will perceive the necessity of more attention in 
future to this interesting and important subject. 
Professor William King, who has lately excited Dr. Carpen- 
ter’s ire by daring to doubt that Hozoon Canadense is an 
organic phenomenon, replies in the same number of the 
‘Annals’ very amply to a counter-charge of inaccuracy, re- 
newed by Dr. Carpenter. The matter under discussion 1s the 
“ Histology of two specimens of Rhyncopora Geinitziana.”’ 
Professor King contends, as he did some years since, that the 
shells of these Brachiopods are perforate. Dr. Carpenter, on 
the other hand, says that they are merely punctate, and in 
the columns of the ‘ Reader’ has (so says Professor King) 
attacked his cpponent with personalities. Thus stands the 
matter at present. It seems strange that a decision cannot 
be arrived at as regards a matter of fact; but we have seen it 
so before. 
In the July number that most valued and indefatigable 
Nestor of botanists, Dr. Greville, describes some new genera 
and species of those little plants, his researches on which have 
contributed so much to the reputation of the ‘'Transactions of 
the Microscopical Society of London.’ 
The species described belong to the genera Palmeria (new), 
Asterionella, Surirella, Creswellia, Hemiaulus, Amphiprora. 
The Rev. W. A. Leighton, B.A., communicates a paper on 
the gland of the phyllodium of Acacia magnifica, which he 
has carefully investigated by means of the microscope. He 
states that “the stamens, and indeed every portion of the 
floral whorls, will be found beautiful and imteresting objects, 
