130 REPORT — 1871. 



being not unfrequently found growing in animals and man, botli externally and 

 internally. For the most part these affected tlie skin, giving rise to several cuta- 

 neous diseases. They also Uom-ished in the alimentary canal ; and among others, 

 one peculiar form (Sarcina) had been described by the late Professor Goodsir from 

 the human stomach. In nearly though not in all instances where vegetable orga- 

 nisms flourished within the living body, it was in organs where a certain amount 

 of air had free access. It was more difficult to account for the cases where 

 vegetable parasites arose in, so to speak, closed cavities. _ The instances which the 

 author brought forward as coming under his observation were three in number, 

 viz. a fungus-like growth in the abdomino-pleural membrane of a Kittiwake gull, 

 Bissa tridactyla (Linn.), a great white-crested cockatoo, Cacattia crisfafa (Linn.), 

 and a rough-legged buzzard, Archihuteo laffopus (Gm.). After a general descrip- 

 tion of the specimens in question, he referred to them as m some way bearing 

 upon those doctrines whereby living organisms were supposed to originate out of 

 the tissues themselves. Other weighty reasons imdoubtedly might be given to the 

 contrary ; but as every fact, either furnishing doubtful evidence of, ov opposed to 

 the spontaneous generation theory, might be useful at the present juncture, the 

 author thought a record of such worthy of being brought before the Association. 



On tlie (Jlianges luMcli occur in Plants during i7ie ripening of tJte Seeds, in order 

 to ensure the access of the Air and Light as well as Heat, ivhich are generally 

 requisite for this purpose, without the loss of the Seeds before the ripening 

 is completed. Bg J. Bibkbeck Kevins, M.B. Lond., F.B.S. Ed. 



In the poppy the capsule becomes erect because the valves are at the summit of 

 the seed-vessel, whilst in Campanulacea3 the seed-vessels droop, because the valves 

 are at the base of the capsule, except in the case of the C. persicifolia, which has 

 an erect capsule, the valves being at the summit. 



In the PrimulaceaJ the di-ooping flower becomes an erect capsule in ripening, 

 except in the Cyclamen, which ripens its seed in the ground, and therefore droops 

 imtil the capsule is buried in the earth, after which its capsule opens at its apex 

 downwards. The AnagaUis, which has always a closed seed-vessel, ripens with the 

 capsule in various directions. 



In the Stellarias, which are summer flowers, the flower is erect, as well as the 

 capsules, the period of inflorescence being favourable to ripening. And in Compo- 

 sites, which flower in summer, the same is observed ; whilst in the Coltsfoot and the 

 African marigold, which ripen their seeds under difficulties, various changes of 

 position occur, to shelter the immature seeds from injury from the weather. The 

 Kanuuculacefe, IMalvacere, Scrophulariacese, and several others were passed under 

 review, and their various changes pointed out, which had the object in view of 

 promoting the ripening of the seeds without prematiu-e loss from the seed-vessels. 



On the Nature of tlie Crucferous fruit, with reference to the Replum. 

 By J. BiEKEECK Nevins, M.D. Lond., F.B.S. Ed. 



The replum is a direct prolongation of the stem, which produces the seeds 

 without the intervention of cai-peUary leaves ; as is also the case in the Coniferie. 

 After ha^^ug produced the seeds, the stem bears two leafy organs, which are directed 

 downwards, and adhere by their apices to the stem, below the point from which the 

 seeds spiing, and thus close in the seed-vessel, which therefore consists of a stem 

 bearing the seeds (the replum) and two external leafy organs (the valves). When 

 ripening commences, the apices of these deflected leaves separate from the stem, 

 until at last they are entirely detached, and fall ofl' at their articidation with the 

 stem, leaving the seeds still adherent along the edges of the stem in four rows. 

 The replum is therefore not a dissepiment derived in any way from the carpellary 

 leaves, out simply a seed-bearing stem, flattened and thinned in the central part 

 (the pith) until it is transparent. In accordance with this view, the venation of the 

 valves is that of a leaf turned downwards, being directed towards the base of the 



