374 H. N. MOSELEY. 



the growing hyplia would, I imagine, in the experiment of 

 Eeess, appear to have been the " Nostoc-jelly." Now, a 

 ^^Palmella-jelly," or a " Mesotsenium-jelly" (both aerial, 

 that is, not under water), wOuld seem in themselves to be 

 possibly just as likely to aiford the requisite pabulum for the 

 germinating and growing Collema-spore. If this conjecture 

 should be borne out, w^hich I would indeed put with all diffi- 

 dence, what would be the result of Reess's experiments, or 

 rather, what proven thereby ? Such a combination {if ca- 

 pable) with a Palmella or a Mesotaenium would not be 

 '^ Collema," because it would not have " nostachaceous" 

 gonidian, or the characteristic periderm. If, indeed, we might 

 for a moment assume that which direct experiment alone could 

 prove, and a germination of spores and penetration of the 

 hypha of a Collema with a Mesotsenium effected, such a 

 " lichen-thallus" would be, I apprehend, unprecedented — a 

 hypha like other lichen-hyphse, no doubt (but known to be 

 that of a Collema), with large elliptical or cylindrical 

 '' gonidia" containing a central " chlorophyll-plate," and 

 which would probably (in free nature at least, even though 

 accompanied by the hypha), go on and produce zygospores! 

 I trust that the reader of these, and my foregoing remarks, 

 W' ill understand that I put them foro'ard but with great diffi- 

 dence ', it was the occurrence of my little spore-bearing 

 Nostoc which suggested to me to venture to do so. Isolated, 

 indeed, as was that example, still, no matter from what 

 aspect viewed, even though it be urged that we should look 

 upon it as " abnormal '^ on account of its rarity, it cannot, I 

 apprehend, but be regarded under any circumstances as to a 

 certain extent suggestive and as possessing at least some 

 amount of siornificance. 



On Methods for Prepaeing the Organ of Corti for 

 Mtcroscopical Investigation. By Henry N. Mose- 



LEY, M.A. 



In the January number (1873) of the ' Quarterly Journal 

 of Microscopical Science,' Dr. Rutherford makes the some- 

 what startling statement that the whole of histology can be gone 

 over with a class of students in twenty-four lessons ; and cer- 

 tainly his list of tissues to be examined in the course is 

 tolerably comprehensive. A method for observing the struc- 

 ture of the retina is given ; but the Schneiderian membrane. 



