DUBLIN MICR)SCOriCAL CLUB. 3'21 



Bemarhs on Structure of Pits in Taxus. — Dr. McNab exhibited 

 a section of yew, Taxus haccata, under a Gruudlach -^-^-oh]ect\ve, 

 and pointed out that the central pore or pit of the boi'dei'ed pits 

 of the yew were not round as generally described, but were in 

 most cases elongated. The examination of a number of sections 

 shows that the form of the pits varies, being in some round, but 

 in the majority more or less elongated ; the openings in the two 

 sides cross, and thus produce the seeming circular opening as 

 seen with a low power. In these general characters the bordered 

 pita of the yew agree with those of the Cycads and with the genus 

 next Taxus, namely, Scdishuria. In examining the pits a high 

 power is required ; and if the wood-cells are treated with the iodo- 

 chloride of zinc solution, the opening can be very easily demon- 

 strated. 



Structure of spines of Astropi/ga radiata. — Mr. Mackintosh 

 exhibited transverse sections of the spine of Astropyga radiata. 

 The spines vary in length from \" to 1^", are fusiform, elliptical, 

 very strongly serrated, and pink-orange or green in colour. In 

 section the central part is seea to be occupied by a reticulation 

 with very wide interspaces, the solid rods of which unite at its 

 outer part to form a ring, from which pass outwards a number of 

 clavate rays of homogeneous structure, ending externally in 

 ridges, which vary in their degree of prominence according to the 

 part of the serration through which the section passes, and are 

 joined to one another by two or three rather slender bars, the 

 wbole forming a structure remarkable for its lightness and 

 fragility. 



Villi from Stomach of MyrmecopTiaga julata, exJnbited. — Mr. 

 Geoghegan exhibited a preparation showing villi from stomach 

 of MyrmecopTiaga juhata. 



A Black Micrococcus (Cohn), exhibited, and cursory notes 

 thereon, — Mr. Archer showed examples of a form appertaining 

 to the Sphserobacterian genus Micrococcus, Cohn, which in the 

 mass appeared of a very nearly black colour. Referring to the 

 exhibition at \3i%t meeting o^ Mic7'ococcus prodigios us (Ehr.), Cohn, 

 occurring on slices of raw potato, now, for sake of comparison, 

 again shown to the meeting, Mr. Archer mentioned that, when 

 he noticed the occurrence of that singular production on the 

 potatoes in question, he had soon after introduced under the bell- 

 glass covering them two pieces of boiled potato, one of which he 

 rubbed on the older raw piece bearing the Micrococcus prodigiosus 

 so as to well inoculate it therewith — the other he left untouched. 

 It was this second piece of boiled potato which had become covered 

 by the "black" Micrococcus. A blue Micrococcus is recorded; 

 many, it is true, might discern in the example now shown a bluish 

 shade — in fact, it might be denominated a "blue-black" (like doth). 

 But on being" placed under the microscope (say a i", or, better, 

 a y), there was a very noticeable difference from M. prodigiosus 

 (now placed undtr two microscopes side by side). In the latter 

 the cells wex*e comparatively long and narrow, elliptic, with a 



