Miscellaneous. 239 



hermaphrodite arrangement of the organs, noticed the difference 

 between spores and gemmae, and concluded by stating the following 

 arguments in favour of the sexual nature of the spore-formation in the 

 whole muscal alliance : — 1. The existence of antheridia and pistil- 

 lidia, and the production of true spores by the latter. 2. The exist- 

 ence of phytozoa in the antheridia. 3. The relation of antheridia 

 and pistillidia to one another in point of periodicity, both as regards 

 development and function. 4. Their relative arrangement, either 

 together or separate, on the same or on different individuals. 5. The 

 provisions by which the coming in contact of the contents of the 

 antheridia with those of the pistillidia may be effected. 



2. " On the Ovule of Euphrasia officinalis," by George Dickie, 

 M.D., Lecturer on Botany, King's College, Aberdeen. 



The pap^r was illustrated by drawings, and will appear in the 

 ■ Annals of Natural History ' and in the Society's ' Transactions.' 



3. Dr. Fleming exhibited a specimen of the stem of D' Urvillea 

 utilis (Bory) from Acapulco, and made some remarks on the pecu- 

 liarity of its structure, more particularly as regards its transverse 

 partitions and large air-cells. 



4. Dr. Dickie communicated the discovery of a new Diatomaceous 

 plant, allied to Meloseira, in the neighbourhood of Aberdeen. It is 

 the Orthoscira of Thwaites, and will be published under the name of 

 O. Dickiei (see p. 16S of the present number). Dr. Dickie also 

 announced from Mr. Thwaites the discovery of a new species of 

 Dickieia, consisting of binate frustulcs at the end of mucous ap- 

 pendages, like the Omacoccus of Hassall. 



Dr. Bell Salter communicated the discovery of Zostera nana, in 

 large quantities, on the shores of the Isle of Wight near Ryde. 



Mr. Babington sent notices of the following plants having been 

 added to the British Flora since the publication of the second edition 

 of his ' Manual,' specimens of all of which are in his possession, viz. : 

 — Thalictrwn minus ft. glandulosum, Koch ; Ranunculus Petiveri a. 

 Mairii, Godr., ft. Candollii, Godr,; Sagina ciliata, Fries; Campanula 

 rotundifolia ft, lanci/olia, Koch ; Si?nethis bicolor, Kunth ; and Carex 

 brizoides, Linn. 



Dr. Balfour exhibited specimens of Ceramium acanihonotum, from 

 the shores of the Frith of Forth. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



BRITISH MOLLUSCA. 



The Truncatella atomus of Philippi (Moll. Sic. ii. p. 134. t. 24. f. 5) 

 is found in the following localities mixed with the Helix nitiuissima 

 of Adams (Linn. Trans, v. p. 4. t. 1. f. 22, 23, 24): Swansea and 

 adjacent bays ; Tenby (the locality given by Adams) ; Weymouth ; 

 Scarborough; Falmouth; Cork Harbour; BantryBay; Belfast (Wil- 

 liam Thompson, Esq.), and Skye (George Barlee, Esq.). It appears 

 tn be the Helix bicolor of Adams (L. T. v. p. 4. t. 1 f. 25, 26, 27), 

 and referable to the genus Skenea of Fleming. Philippi has omitted 

 in his figures of the shell to indicate its size, which may have misled 



