148 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 



ratory organs, and the mode in which the blood circulates through 

 them, as he has seen in a neighbouring family, Sialis, and reviewed 

 what is yet known of the habits of the insect in connexion with 

 these remarkable structures. 



The author regards Pteronarcys, from the circumstance of its pos- 

 sessing in its winged state the means of both aquatic and aerial 

 respiration, as an Insect Proteus, the representative of the Proteus of 

 Vertebrata, both in structure and habits. 



The anatomy of some parts of the dermo-skeleton, of the spiracles, 

 and of the distribution of its internal respiratory organs, as compared 

 with that of neighbouring genera, is then described, as well as of the 

 digestive organs, and nervous and reproductive system. These are 

 minutely examined and the structures delineated on an accompanying 

 plate. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



June 8, 1848. — The Rev. Dr. Fleming, President, in the Chair. 

 The following communications were read : — 



1. "Notice of Fossil Diatomacece found in Aberdeenshire," by 

 G. Dickie, M.D. (See p. 93 of the present Number.) 



2. " On Microscopic Bodies existing on the Epidermal Surface of 

 the Lilac," by Mr. W. M. Dobie. 



These bodies were described as being of a circular or elliptical 

 form, composed of a congeries of cells, and quite distinct from the 

 stomata. They were represented as about one- thousandth part of 

 an inch in diameter, and as containing occasionally granular matter 

 in their interior. In most cases they were found to be elevated 

 above the surface of the epidermis, but occasionally a depression or pit 

 seemed formed to receive them. By moistening the leaf and scraping 

 it with the edge of a knife they were in some instances detached 

 with a funnel-like prolongation on their lower side. The author 

 noticed the action of various reagents upon them, such as iodine, 

 acetic, nitric, and sulphuric acid, and concluded by expressing his 

 opinion that they were of a glandular nature. The paper was illus- 

 trated by drawings. 



3. " Abstract of Documents by M. Ch. des Moulins, relative to 

 the preservation of the Germinating Powers of Seeds," by Chas. C. 

 Babington, Esq. In this paper several well-authenticated instances 

 are detailed, in which seeds found in tumuli in France, where they 

 must have lain for centuries, had germinated on exposure to the air. 

 Among the species obtained from these seeds, Heliotropium euro- 

 pium, Medicago lupulina and Mercurialis annua, were most abundant. 



Specimens of Tea prepared by Mr. Thomas M'Nab, from plants 

 growing in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, were exhibited* 



Mr. Evans exhibited growing plants of Paris quadrifolia and 

 Ophioglossum vulgatum recently found in Arniston Woods by Mr. 

 Veitch, gardener at Arniston. 



Professor Balfour read a letter from Dr. Dickie of Aberdeen, sta- 

 ting that the species of Sagina found on the sea- coast of Aberdeen 

 is the S. maritima of Don, not of Smith, and the S. stricta of Fries. 



