Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 337 



cliambers of the same row do not seem to communicate with each 

 other ; but each chamber communicates with two chambers of the 

 previously-formed row, and, in Hke manner, with two of the subse- 

 quently-formed row, by narrow passages, the number and position of 

 which are by no means constant. These passages seem to afford the 

 principal means whereby the segments of the sarcodc-body occupy- 

 ing the inner chambers, can be nouris^hcd from the exterior ; but it 

 is by no means impossible that, the tubuli of the shelly laminae that 

 invest the chambers above and below, may also be subservient to this 

 purpose, since, however numerous may be the laminae, the tubuli 

 are continued through them all from the cavity of the chamber to 

 the external surface. 



The almost entire separation of the segments of the sarcode-body 

 in these two genera, the investment of each of them with its own 

 proper envelope of shell, the minutely tubular structure and firm 

 consistence of the shell-substance, and the interposition of the inter- 

 mediate skeleton with its canal-system, arc features that place them 

 in such marked contrast with Orbitoiites and Orbiculina, that, not- 

 withstanding their conformity to those two genera in their res])ective 

 plans of growth, it is scarcely possible for them to be more widely 

 removed in everything that relates to their respective physiological 

 conditions. 



From a comparison of the five genera whose structure has been 

 thus elucidated, the author deduces the conclusion that, in this 

 class, external form, which depends exclusively on plan of growth, 

 affords no clue whatever to internal structure ; and that the latter 

 alone, as the exponent of the physiological condition of the animal, 

 can afford the basis of a natural classification. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



July 10th, 1856. — Professor Balfour, President, in the Chair. 



In taking the Chair, Professor Balfour stated tluit the j»ainful 

 duty devolved upon him of recording the ^eath of the President, 

 Colonel ^Madden, which took place siuldenly and unexpectedly from 

 rupture of the aorta soon after last meeting of the Society. " We 

 all, I am sure (he said), deeply deplore the loss of one who took a 

 warm interest in our proceedings. His amiable deportment and 

 gentlemanly manner endeared him to all of us, and we rejoiced to 

 see one who had spent a large portion of his life in the active service 

 of the East India Company devoting his time and leisure to the pro- 

 secution of science. During his residence in India he was a careful 

 observer, and made many interesting remarks on the flora of the 

 country. He sent home the seeds of many valuable plants, which 

 have flowered in Glasnevin and in other gardens. "When he came to 

 settle in Edinburgh, he joined the Royal and Botanical Societies, of 

 both of which he became a very active member. He was elected a 

 councillor of the Royal Society, and took a marked interest in its 

 proceedinas. He particularly took charge of the scientific additions 



Ann. ^Mag. N. Hist. Sev. 2. I'ol. xviii. 22 



