a 
age 
Bibliographical Notices. 49 
passed on July 14th, 1842 (see Report of Bot. Soc. for that year, 
pp. 12 and 23), authorizing an arrangement to be made with the 
proprietors of this Journal, by which a much earlier publication of the 
papers is ensured to their author and the public, and also their ulti- 
mate distribution to the Members in a collected form is attained at a 
moderate expense to the Society. 
Having heard it stated that some Members of the Society have 
obtained these Transactions under the idea that they contained pre- 
viously unpublished papers, we have thought it right to call their at- 
tention to the above arrangement, and also, in justice to the authors 
of the papers, to add, that a large portion of the book has for many 
months been printed off, and that therefore it was not in their power 
to alter or cancel any part. 
PREPARING ror PUBLICATION. 
The British Desmidiez, with coloured Figures of the Species. 
By J. Ralfs, M.R.C.S. 
The author proposes to describe all the British Desmidiee, and as 
correct figures will be essential to make the descriptions of such 
minute objects intelligible, he will spare neither care nor expense in 
rendering the plates, which will be executed under his own eye, as 
accurate as possible. 
The engravings will be on copper, since experience has proved 
that the delicate markings of the Desmidiee cannot be sufficiently 
displayed by lithography. 
Upwards of 100 species will be introduced, many of them either 
altogether new or now first noticed as British. 
The conjugated state of the Desmidiee is interesting, sometimes 
from its resemblance to the same state in the Conjugate, sometimes 
from the similarity of the spores to fossil bodies found in flint, and 
considered by Ehrenberg and other naturalists as species of Xanthi- 
dium. On these accounts, and also because few instances have been 
hitherto recorded, it is intended to give not only full details of the 
process, but as far as practicable to show the different stages by 
figures. Examples will be taken from one or more species in each 
of the following genera: Gleoprium, Didymoprium, Micrasterias, 
Huastrum, Cosmarium, Xanthidium, Staurastrum, Tetmemorus and 
Closterium. 
As their animal nature has been maintained by many able writers, 
this question will be examined and sufficient reasons produced for 
considering the Desmidiee to belong to the vegetable kingdom. 
Their modes of growth and other facts which may illustrate their 
ceconomy will receive particular attention. 
That nothing may be wanting to the utility of this monograph, 
the Introduction will contain ample directions for finding and gather- 
ing these minute plants and the different methods of mounting them 
for the microscope. 
Subscribers’ names received by the author, Penzance. Price to 
Subscribers One Guinea. 
Ann, & Mag. N. Hist. Vol. xvii. E 
