945 



It seems to me a begging of the question to say that the " two or 

 three vesicles" in the interior of the embryo-sac, or embryonic body, 

 "undoubtedly existed before the pollen-tubes entered the foramina of 

 the ovules ;" at least, I can find no actual proof of this fact ; nor is it 

 at all clear to me that the unimpregnated nucleus of itself constitutes 

 or contains any " germinal vesicle," if by that term is meant some- 

 thing which may develop into an embryo without any transfusion or 

 addition of matter from the pollen-tube. It has still to be proved 

 whether this vesicle does itself undergo such development, or whether 

 it is merely the matrix within which the " pollinic fluid passing 

 through the intervening membrane" is transformed into an embryo. 

 Moreover, it is still possible that further scrutiny may show that there 

 is an actual penetration of the nucleus by the pollen-tube. 



It may be useful to contrast the ovule of this plant with the very 

 singular one of Veronica hederaefolia, where, almost immediately after 

 fecundation, the neck of the nucleus is protruded, and its forked 

 glandular extremity firmly embraces the funiculus, forming in every 

 sense of the word a suspensor to the body of the nucleus, which 

 bursts out from its integuments and becomes a perfectly naked and 

 much enlarged mass of albumen, in shape not very unlike that of a 

 cowry shell, having the suspensor and the chalaza attached to the 

 hollow part of the cup. The change of the ovule is so rapid that the 

 mode of access of the pollen-tube cannot, be observed. 



W. Wilson. 



Warrington, June 7, 1850. 



A Visit to the Lily Field, or Narcissus poeticus in Warwickshire ; 

 and a Note on Narcissus lobular is. By the Rev. W. T. 

 Bree, M.A. 



Some years have now passed over since I was informed, on authority 

 that I could not doubt, that Narcissus poeticus grew wild in great 

 abundance in a certain field in the adjoining parish of Fillongley ; and 

 in proof of the correctness of such information, roots were sent to me 

 from this locality, which have flourished in my garden ever since. 

 Though often intending to go and see the " Lily Field " — for such is 

 the appellation by which it is familiarly known in the neighbourhood — 

 it, somehow or other, has so happened, that I never did pay a visit to 

 it till the 5th of the present month of June, when the Narcissuses were 

 Vol. hi. 6 f 



