Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh. G3 



and distribution ; 2nd, The action of chemical re- agents on them ; 

 and 3rd, Their development. He mentioned their occurrence in 

 Aloysia citriodora, where they exist in the form of a transparent cir- 

 cular membrane, with a central dark spot or nucleus ; in various 

 Labiata, including species of Thymus, Mentha, Ballota, Melissa, La- 

 vandula, Marrubium, Leonurus, Teucrium, Sideritis, Hyssopus and 

 Origanum, in which they appear in the form of a transparent parent- 

 cell, including a circular body about 1- 600th of an inch in diameter, 

 which is divided into four by a crucial septum, and in some cases 

 subdivided further, so as to give twelve compartments — four in the 

 centre and eight in the circumference, disposed in a circular manner. 



The author next considered these bodies as they occur in the Lilac 

 {Syringa vulgaris), Tecoma australis, Myrica conifera and serrata. 



He stated that their contents are usually of an oily nature, being 

 soluble in aether, but insoluble in water. They are developed in the 

 same way as cells in general, the nucleus splitting into two cells, 

 and each of these into two others, and so on. In all these bodies 

 there are four primary compartments, which are often subdivided 

 into eight, twelve, or more. This division into four resembles what 

 takes place in pollen grains, and in the spores of many Cryptogamic 

 plants, as Lycopodium, Sphagnum, and various algae. 



From the form and structure of these bodies, taken in connection 

 with their contents, and the manner in which they can be detached 

 and separated from the cuticle, the author concludes that they are of 

 a glandular nature. The paper was illustrated by coloured etchings. 



Mr. Sanderson called attention to some forms of abortive hairs, 

 as represented by Raspail, and suggested that the bodies observed 

 by Mr. Murchison might be of the same nature. 



3. " On the mode of growth of Oscillatoria and allied genera," 

 by John Ralfs, Esq., Penzance. (See p. 39 of the present Number.) 



Professor Balfour was elected President for the ensuing year. 



Professor Christison, Dr. Neill, Rev. Dr. Fleming, and Professor 

 Goodsir, were elected Vice-Presidents. 



William Brand, Esq., Treasurer, and Dr. Greville, Secretary. 



ROYAL PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



The monthly meeting of this Society took place in the Institution 

 Rooms, 6 York Place, on the evening of Wednesday last, when Dr. 

 Greville occupied the chair, and there was a full attendance of mem- 

 bers and visitors. The first communication was from Mr. Hugh 

 Miller regarding the Asterolepis, and other allied genera of fossil 

 fishes from the Old Red Sandstone, illustrated by a beautiful set of 

 specimens and casts, revealing the structure and oeconomy of these 

 ancient Ganoids, and the relation they bear to their congeners of the 

 present day. Mr. Miller mentioned that several large specimens of 

 the Asterolepis had been found in Russia by Professor Asmus, of the 

 University of Dorpat, and in the north and west of Caithness by Mr. 

 Robert Dick of Thurso. The Caithness specimens, he said, though 

 not altogether so gigantic as those of Russia, were in a greatly finer 



