1022 REPORT—1896. 
The whole of my experiments lead me to suppose that the granules in the cell- 
protoplasm are increased in size and number when the cells are able to assimilate 
carbon, although under conditions that do not allow them to grow. 
The cell-division takes place, as I have stated previously, without showing 
karyokinetic processes. Sometimes the disposition of the constituents of the central 
body may remind one of karyokinetic stages ; nevertheless this disposition is entirely 
variable and without rule. 
Reviewing the facts which we know at the present time, we are obliged to 
admit that the central body of the Cyanophycee differs in important points from 
the nucleus of other organisms. It is highly remarkable that often nuclein has not 
been found in the dividing cells of Cyanophycee, while in other organisms, as far as 
we know, the nuclein augments when the cells begin to divide. 
In connection with the previous statements, I wish to add some words on 
micro-chemical methods. A mixture of methylen-blue and fuchsin 8. may be used 
with great advantage to study the distribution of nuclein in the cell. If one treats 
tissues of different origin with diluted hydrochloric acid and afterwards adds the 
said mixture, the constituents of the cell which contain nuclein are stained deeply 
blue, the parts without that substance being red. Sperm cells of the Rhine- 
salmon were treated by me with diluted hydrochloric acid to remove protamin. 
Afterwards I stained them with the methylen-blue fuchsin S. mixture. Instantly 
the envelopes of the heads which contain the nucleic acid were beautifully dyed 
bright blue, the inner part ofthe heads seemed to be colourless, the tails were dyed. 
red. Similarly treated, the chromatin bodies of all the nuclei, which as yet have 
been examined, are stained blue, the rest of the nuclei and the cell protoplasms red. 
That the chromatin bodies contain nuclein had also been proved by their other 
reactions. However, it is easily understood, but often not sufficiently attended to, 
that it is necessary to treat the tissues quite similarly if one wishes to obtain com- 
parable results. Lilienfeld states that white of an egg coagulated by alcohol can- 
not be stained, and removes the colour from the dye-mixture. I, on the contrary, 
have stated that white of anegg coagulated by alcohol is stained red by the above- 
mentioned mixture. I recently made out that this difference of results must have 
been caused by the different ways in which Lilienfeld and I have obtained the 
coagulated white of an egg. If one squeezes some white of an egg through a 
cloth, and then adds just enough alcohol to coagulate it, the substance thus obtained 
cannot be stained red, but removes the colour from the dye-mixture. But if 
the coagulate is washed with water, it can now be stained reddish blue, and after 
washing if) with alcohol, pure red. The water used for washing has an alkaline 
reaction, and removes the colour from the dye-mixture. 
4. Ona New Hybrid Passion Flower. By Dr. J. Witson. 
5. Observations on the Loranthacece of Ceylon. 
By ¥F. W. Keesre, B.A. Cantab. 
I. Emergences on the.Embryo of Loranthus neelgherensis.—The hypocotyl of 
the fully developed embryo is densely covered with green columnar emergences, 
whose cortical cells contain chlorophyll, starch, tannin, and a substance giving 
the reactions of a fat. Irregular masses of a similarly reacting material are fre- 
quently found covering the cuticle. 
A single stoma occurs on the free surface of each emergence, and in the 
embryo of this species stomata are confined to the emergences. 
The cuticle covering the general epidermis is continuous over the guard-cells of 
each stoma, except for a small oval slit which allows of communication between 
the intercellular space and the air. The stomata thus suggest either a xerophytic 
habit for the plant or an abnormal function for themselves. 
The emergences flourish during the germinating (epiphytic) stage, and later, 
when semi-parasitism is achieved, cease to be functional. 
