I'HAHADKUDvE. 



en. \it.\rmun.iv 



fllen. Clone below thii sporocarp then, may generally be teen, at 

 the uune time, wtd upon a abort cylindrical cell, another cell, which 

 U at fint simple and spherical, but from which eight [query alwayn 

 eight ?] cell* are gradually developed, which become flattened, and 

 incloM a cavity that appear* from iU origin to be filled with a dense 

 grumoii* masa. The eight cells expand into closely compreaaed radii, 

 arranged aide by aide, increasing the circumference and depth of the 

 whol body, whilst red granules are gradually deposited upon their 

 inner wall The dark contents are meanwhile developed into other 

 cells, so that in the perfect organ a conical cell projects from the 

 cell forming the pedicle into the cavity, and a cylindrical cell is 

 formed from the middle of each of the eight celU of the wall. 

 These new cells, which likewise contain pale-red granules, bear on their 

 free extremity several spherical or truncated cylindrical cells, from 

 which project many long filaments composed of minute cells. The 

 spherical cells and the filaments form a dense coil in the centre of 

 the cavity. In each separate cell of the filament we at first see a 

 grumous mass, which however subsequently disappears, giving place 

 to a spiral fibre coiled up in two or three turns, and which manifest* 

 a peculiar motion on escaping from its cell. These mysterious organs 

 have, as yet, without any reason, been termed anthers." 



There is however an analogy between these organs and the so-called 

 spermatozoids of other Cryptngamia, that would lead to the inference 

 that they perform the same functions. [REPRODUCTION, YBOCAJUL] 

 In addition to these organs, Montague has recently described Imll.illi 

 as present in the Characete, by which, he says, the species are 

 frequently propagated. 



The Characete are also highly interesting on account of the facility 

 with which they exhibit the circulation of their fluids, and because of 

 the light they thus appear to throw upon some of the mom obscure 

 of the phenomena of vegetable life. If one of the tubes of a CAora 

 be observed under a pretty good microscope, by the aid of transmitted 

 light, the fluid it contains will be distinctly seen to have a motion up 

 one side of each tube, down the other, and then up again, after the 

 manner of a jack-chain ; and this goes on continually as long as the 

 plant remains alive. No spectacle that we are acquainted with is 

 more beautiful than this, if it is well seen with the aid of a good 

 microscope. This movement was first described by AmicL It has led 

 to the examination of other water plants ; in most of which the same 

 kind of circulation can be detected. The best account of these move- 

 ments, with drawings, is that published by Varley in the ' Transactions 

 of the Microscopical Society,' voL ii. [CTCLOsis.] 



Remains of Characta are frequently found in the fresh-water 

 Tertiary deposits, but not lower down. The species are met with 

 almost everywhere in stagnant water in Europe, Asia, Africa, North 

 and South America, and Australia. They arc moat prevalent iu 

 temperate climes. The species of Ckara are of no known use. The 

 stems of the species which are calcareous often present beautiful 

 examples of crystals of carbonate of lime. They are easily cultivated 

 in glass vessels, which is often done for the sake of examining their 

 circulation under the microscope. In the Chara this can only be 

 done after removing the calcareous incrustation, but in NitMa it is 

 seen without any preparation. The family has three genera and 

 thirty-five species. Their relations are evidently with the Algm on 

 the one hand, and the Equuetacea! on the other. 



CHARA'DRIAD^E, a family of Birds, placed by Mr. Vigors in the 

 order OraUatortt, or Waders. The genus Charadriut, including the 

 True Plovers, the Dottrell, the Sea-Lark, the Sanderling, the Stone 



'Systema 

 rotlra [Avoszr], in his order Crallir. 



Cuvier makes the family of Plovers (Los Pluviers, Charadriut, 

 Linn.}, comprising those genera which want the hind toe, and have a 

 moderate bill comprewd and convex at the end, consist of two 

 genera, (f.'diritrmtu, and the Plovers so called (Charadriut, Linn.), 

 embracing the Golden Plover, Charadriut Morintltut, C. Jlinlinln, .vr. 

 The Plovers are succeeded by the Vanncaux ( Ynnilliu, liochst, 

 Trinya, Linn.), consisting of Sawriwttsj, <'uv., anil Yandlut, Cuv. ; 

 which are followed by Htrmalupiu and Citrioriut ; after which last, 

 judging from external form, lie places the \.'ari<iina (Micrmlactyliut, 

 Oeoff, DicMopm, 111.). [VABIAMA.] 



The following is Mr. O. R. Gray's arrangement. He makes the 

 Ckaratlriadtf the first family of the (irallatoret. 



Sub-Family 1. tKdimrmimr. 



Genera. (Edicnemvt, Temio. (Charadritu, Linn. ; Olit, I.nth. ; 

 1'luriatit, Brim.). 

 rhinut, 111. ((EdHMtmut, Shaw ; Charadritu, Lath.). 



Sub-Family 2. Cttnorimr. 



Genera. Curtoritu, Lath. (Charadritu, Gm. ; Tarhydromut, 111. ; 

 OwpUfc*, QtralA 



Ortyyodrt, Virill. (llrmipndita, Sw. ; < ph.). 



flurianiu, Vi.-ill. (<%tim<lri<u. l.m. : Cartvr, Wngl. ; Hyat, Glogcr; 

 Ammuptila, Sw. ; ChfUodromui, Hupp.). 



Sul. -Family 3. Churadriantr. 

 Genera. (Hareola, Briss. (J/inuido, Linn. ; TraeHclia, Scop.). 



' Ini. ; flurialit, Briiw. ; I'antlivt, I' 

 Clinrailriut, Pall.). 



Vanellnt,Vriff. ( Tringa, Linnicus ; Charadnu:. 



h'rythrogoiiyi, Gould. 



PhilomaehHt, Mcchr. (Parra, Gnielin; Yavtllut, Gmeliu; I 

 pterut, Bouap. i. 



Charadriut, Linn. (t'luriatit, Ray). 



Sudromiat, Boie (Charadriut, Linn. ; I'lurialii, Briss. ; Morincllvt, 

 Gesn.). 



/fi-iticula, Mochr. (Charadritu, Linn. ; Plurialit, Briss. ; .fywliltt, 

 Boie). 



Pipit, Licht (Charadriiu, I. 



Anarkynchut, Quoy and Gaiin. (Scolopax t Raffles). 



Suli-Kiiniily I. Hn matnjiinir. 

 Genus. Hamatoptu, Linn. (Oil s ; Stolopajr, Scop.). 



"anally 5. Drovf 



Genera, Dromai, Pnyk. (Erwlia, Stanley ; Cvrrira, Briss. ?) 

 Eiatut, Less. (Carranaca, Hodgs.). 



We now proceed to the consideration of feme of tin- forms 

 included in this family. 



The first family of the order (irallatoret, according to Mr. 

 Gray's arrangement, is the Charadriiidir, which are divided by him 

 into the following sub-families and genera : 



In illustration of this family we select principally the species 

 inhabiting the Hritih Islands. 



(t.'ilicnemut crepilant, the Great Plover. It is the Otu (t.'dicnrmtu, 

 Pennant; Charadriut (Etlicitemiu, Montagu; Vidifncmut Jlrll"tiii, 

 Fleming. It is also known lv the comiu<'ii naino of the Norfolk 

 Plover. It is the Ostardeau of Belon; Le Grand 1'luvier, on Cmirlin 

 de Terre, of the French ; Gran 1'ivieri, Curlott.', I'iurlui, nnd t'iurlovi 

 of the Italians; Lcrchengraue Regenpfeifer, Grower limchvog.-!. mul 

 Grosse Bragvogel oder Gluth, of the Germans, amoiif; whom i: 

 called Triel, or Griel, according to Gesner, who thinks that it in the 

 Charadriut of Aristotle ; the Glin-braff of the ancient British. This 

 genus connects the Bustards and I'l 



Hi .id nnd Toot of QUirnexiui. 



Mr. Gould, who coneurs iu this view, observes that he ha.- 

 had occasion to remark, that while the normal or typical groups are 

 abundant in species, the aberrant forms, which appear to be <> 

 for tin- purple of tilling up the intervening chasms, are restricted 

 for the most part to a limited number of species: HUH while the 

 Bustards and Plovers comprise a vast multitude of species, thi- 

 (t.'dienrmta contains at most but five or six species, and them- ooth 

 fined entirely to the regions of the Old World. (' Birds of Europe.') 



The following is thu character of the genus : Bill strong, nearly 

 lnr depressed towards the tip; culnu-n rlrvutcd, lower 

 inaiidiblo angulated ; nostrils longitudinal, pierced tliroiu'!> 

 through the horny part of the middle of the bill, and ni.wt ojn-n 

 anteriorly. Tarsi long; three toes, all before, united n far 

 second joint by a membrane which ckirU their cdgra. Win^H 

 moderate ; first quill Klmrti-r than the Hcennd. whirl; 



The only British example of the fsM ! fba GlMri l'lo\.r. It has 

 all the upper parts of a reddish ashy-brown, witli a 

 dash on the middle of e.ieh f.-atlier ; MM between the eye and the 

 bill, throat, Kelly, and thigh*, puro white; neck ami bri'act slightly 



