403 

 t 

 purea-cinerea, piirpmea-incana, purpurea-repens (Doniana), purpurea- 

 silesiaca, aurita-rosniarinifolia, aurita-silesiaca, aurita-repens, stylaris 

 (varieties with smooth and silky ovaries), Starkiana, Starkiana-aurita 

 and var. suhlivida; Betula humilis; Hieraciuni vulgatuin, Fries, flori- 

 bundum (Auricnla-pratense), Bauhini, Pilosella-pratense, and pra- 

 tense. 



The following gentlemen were elected Ordinary Fellows : — John 

 Henry Aldridge, Esq., James Young, Esq., and William Gilby, Esq. 



Microscopical Society of London. 



November 26, 1851. — Dr. A. Farre, President, in the chair. 



Dr. Carpenter detailed the results of some observations made by 

 Mr. Williamson, of Manchester, on the Volvox globator. He stated 

 that, startling as the assertion might at first sight appear, Mr. William- 

 son had come to the conclusion that the Volvox belongs not to the 

 animal, but to the vegetable, kingdom, and that he himself, having 

 gone over the evidence, was inclined to concur in this view. The 

 increase of the cells (from the supposed ova) being carried on in a 

 manner precisely analogous to that of undeniable Algae, while many 

 of the so-called polygastric animalcules of Ehrenberg having been 

 proved zoospores of some of the Confervge, renders the supposition 

 probable. It appears from Mr. Williamson's observations, that be- 

 tween the outer integument and the primordial cell-wall of each cell 

 a hyaline substance is secreted, causing the outer integument to ex- 

 pand ; and as the primordial cell-wall is attached to it at various 

 points, it causes the internal colouring matter, or endochrome, to 

 assume a stellate form, the points of one cell being in contact with 

 those of the neighbouring cell ; these points forming at a future 

 period the lines of communication between the green spots so often 

 noticed on the adult Volvox. 



Dr. Carpenter argued that the evident automatic action of the vibra- 

 lile cilia was also in favour of the vegetable theory ; and cited a case 

 in which a cistern that had been recently cleared out, and partially 

 filled by the rain only, had become suddenly and rapidly covered 

 with a bright-green scum, which on examination proved to be the 

 Cryptomonas of Ehrenberg. The water could have contained nothing 

 in solution, with the exception of probably a little carbon ; and Dr. 

 Carpenter thought that the distinction between the animal and vege- 



