Oil the Secreting Structure of Animals. 167 



radiation of the vallies from that centre. He considers that the 

 observations of the great French geologist, when analyzed, as well 

 as his own, rather point to an anti-clinal axis passing through the 

 point in question, and prolonged in a NN.W. and SS.E. direction ; 

 accompanied, however, with various minor lines or centres of dislo- 

 cation, especially that which elevated the mountain of Grande Rousse 

 to the northward, of which the geology has been ably described by 

 M. Uausse. The interference of this elevation with the previous 

 one (roughly parallel to the torrent of the Veneau), probably pro- 

 duced the excessive disturbance of the strata of lias near La Grave, 

 which have been jostled between the two granite masses. 



These views are supported, partly by a consideration of the ex- 

 ternal contour of the group, and partly by direct observations of the 

 bearino- and dip of the sti-ata. 



March 24. — Dr Abercrombie, V.P. in the Chair. 



1. On a New Species of British Grass of the genus Holcus, 



and Observations on some of the more closely allied spe- 

 cies of Grasses fomid in the Neighbourhood of Edin- 

 burgh. By Richard Parnell, M.D., F.R.S.E. 



2. On the Ultimate Secreting Structure of Animals. By 



John Goodsir, l^.sq. Communicated by Professor Syme. 



After referring to the labours of those anatomists who had veri- 

 fied Malpighi's doctrine of the follicular nature of gland ducts, the 

 author alluded to Purkinje's hypothesis of the secreting function of 

 the nucleated corpuscules of these organs. In a rapid sketch of the 

 results of inquiries since the appearance of Muller's work " De Peni- 

 tiore Structura Glandularum," and more particularly of the obser- 

 vations of Ilenle and otliers on the closed vesicles which are situated 

 at the extremities of certain ducts, Mr Goodsir stated, that no ana- 

 tomist had hitherto " proved that secretion takes place within the 

 primitive nucleated cell itself, or had pointed out the intimate nature 

 of the changes which go on in a secreting organ during the perform- 

 ance of its function." 



Numerous examples were now given of secretions detected in t!i3 

 cavities of luicleated cells of various glands and secreting surfaces. 

 Among these secretions were the ink of the CVphalopoda, and the 



