CHARACEJE. 89 



tain a number of small red granules, to which the colour 

 of the globule is principally owing. Within these segments 

 are noticed, first, the stalk of the globule, which is pyri- 

 form, and rests upon one of the peculiar cells which have 

 been described. Upon the summit of this stalk rests a num- 

 ber of smaller spherical or pyriform cells : these occupy the 

 centre of the globule, and from them proceed a number of 

 large cells to be inserted into the segments which form the 

 coating of the membrane, and by means of which their seg- 

 ments are retained in their proper situation. These last cells 

 correspond in number with the segments, one going to each. 

 Lastly, interwoven together, and filling the interstices be- 

 tween the cells, are numerous fine articulated threads, to be 

 more particularly referred to hereafter. 



No win the footstalks of the nucules and those of the globules, 

 as well as in the radiating cells attached to the segments, a 

 peculiar body or vesicle is noticed. This was first, I believe, 

 discovered by Mr. Yarley, but has since been noticed and de- 

 scribed by other observers; although its office has not yet 

 been determined. This vesicle is situated in the circulating 

 fluid of the cells, the course of which it follows, although 

 from its size it frequently projects some distance into the 

 central fluid. 



In the stalk of the globule, and in those of the segments, 

 in addition to the transparent vesicle, there are membranes 

 studded with vesicles similar to those of the external and 

 ordinary cells, and in like manner arranged so as to show the 

 ascending and descending currents; but instead of being green, 

 as in the former case, they are bright red. 



We now come to relate the most extraordinary circum- 

 stance, not without parallel, however, in the vegetable king- 

 dom, connected with the history of these most interesting 

 productions. The spaces between the stalks of the seg- 

 ments, it has been remarked, are filled up with entangled 

 filaments or vessels which appear ringed. The contents of 

 each division between the rings first appear angular, and sub- 

 sequently resemble a thread coiled up ; " after a while," to 

 adopt the language of the first discoverer of the fact, " these 



