July 1891.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 161 



enlarged from the action of the water. But the possibility 

 of the water having caused growth leading to the presence 

 of the glands is removed, when one considers that on 

 breaking a perfectly dry and hard seed of Sherardia 

 arvensis, a gland was readily observed. It was noticeable 

 that the seeds with their testas usually floated on the water 

 for a considerable time, a bubble of air being given off as 

 they sunk. The sinking was usually, if not always 

 immediate if the testa was previously removed. 



The seeds for the above investigation were liberally 

 granted for my use to Dr John H. Wilson, late Lecturer on 

 Botany in the University of St Andrews, by M. Maxime 

 Cornu, Professeur-Administrateur au Museum d'histoire 

 naturelle, Paris. 



[Table. 



