I 



Miscellaneous. 229 



Falmouth, who informed me that it was shot, while resting on the 

 house, on Saturday the 24th of January last. Its imperfectness, 

 Mr. Copeland tells me, was occasioned by mice having carried off 

 the head. The rest of the bird, however, was in a sufficient state of 

 completeness for me to prove its identity with the Red-breasted Fly- 

 catcher, Muscicapa {Erythrostema) parva, Bechst. I believe this 

 example is the first of that species which has been obtained in this 

 country. I have therefore thought that a notice of the capture of 

 so remarkable an insectorial bird at this season of the year might 

 interest some of the readers of the 'Annals,' and have therefore 

 sent it for insertion. 



On the Development, Structure, and Functions of the Tissues of the 

 Anther. By A. Chatin. 



The successive investigations of Mirbel, Meyen, and Purkinje have 

 furnished the following data : — 



The anther is divided at fii'st into four and afterwards into two 

 cells (Mirbel). 



The anther has its valves formed of two membranes, first distin- 

 guished by Mirbel, and denominated exothecium and endothecium 

 by Purkinje. 



The endothecium, or internal membrane, is formed of cells called 

 fibrous by Purkinje, lobate bv Mirbel, filamentous by A. DeCan- 

 doUe. 



The filamentous cells are only produced towards the moment of 

 dehiscence (Mirbel). 



The whole of the subepidermic tissue is converted into filamentous 

 cells. 



The conversion of the simple utricles into filamentous cells is so 

 rapid that the moment of its taking place cannot be perceived 

 (Mirbel). 



There is a relation between the form of the cells of the endo- 

 thecium and the natural families (Purkinje). 



These cells are the agent of dehiscence. 



The vessels of the filament often pass into the connective (Mirbel); 

 they never penetrate there, but run through the whole filament (A. 

 Richard). 



It may be added that the observations of M. Duchartre show that 

 the cells may be locahzed towards the line of dehiscence. 



I. Development of the Tissues of the Anther. — The author's ob- 

 servations, hke those of M. Duchartre, confirm the following results 

 of Mirbel' s investigations : — Each of the two lobes of the anther is at 

 first a homogeneous cellular mass ; subsequently the utricles of the 

 middle of each half- lobe acquire a special development : these are 

 the poUinic utricles, which disappear after the grains of pollen are 

 produced in their interior. 



His observations also agree generally with Mirbel's upon this 

 point : towards the period of dehiscence, the partition of the cells 

 disappears. He has, however, seen numerous cases in which, bv the 



