Miscellaneous Notes. 133 



The final conclusions, with reference to the cause of motion, are 

 as follows : — (1) Movements of the tendril and petiole are due to 

 unequal growth, as producing uuequal tension of tissues. (2) The 

 unequal growth is chiefly defined in the vibrogen tissue, which may 

 therefore be regarded as the seat of movement. (3) The band of 

 unequal growth does not arise at successive points of the circum- 

 ference. (4) The vibrogen tissue consists of three longitudinal 

 bands, each of which becomes more active in turn, without regular 

 order. (5) The collenchyma tissue is that which is chiefly con- 

 cerned in variations of tension under mechanical stimuli. (6) 

 Bending or coiling under the influence of irritation results from 

 release of tension, or (free coiling) from inequality of tension 

 through maturity of tissues. (7) Transmission of impulses is 

 effected through continuity of protoplasm in the active tissues. 



Dr. C. J. E. Moreen.— On February 28th Dr. Morren died at the 

 age of 53 years. He was Professor of Botany in the University of 

 Liege, Director of the Botanical Institute of the same city, and 

 Secretary of the Belgian Horticultural Society. In all of these posi- 

 tions he rendered important services to Botany and Horticulture. 



Prof. Edward Tuckerman, LL.D. — Dr. Tuckerman died at 

 Amherst, Mass., on March 15th, at the age of 69 years. Although 

 not actively engaged in teaching, he filled the chair of Botany at 

 Amherst College from 1858 to the time of his death. He will be 

 chiefly remembered for his studies of Lichens, having been recog- 

 nized as one of the leading lichenologists of the day, and the high- 

 est authority on this continent. 



Feeding Insects with " Comma " Bacillus. — Dr. R. L. Maddox, 

 in a paper before the Boyal Microscopical Society, details the 

 results of further experiments in feeding insects with the comma 

 bacillus. His observations were chiefly made upon the common 

 blow-fly {Musca vomitoria), and included a very large number of 

 microscopical determinations, special cultures of the comma bacil- 

 lus being used for the purpose of feeding. The results of all his 

 investigations lead him to believe that the comma bacillus from 

 cultures can pass through the digestive tubes of some insects in a 

 living state, and through this fact, such insects are likely to become 

 an important means of distributing disease, especially to animals, 

 birds and^fishes which feed upon them. This, therefore, is in accord 

 with the quoted ^views of Dr. Grassi, " That insects, especially flies, 

 may be considered as veritable authors of epidemics and agents in 

 infectious maladies."— Journal Royal Mic. Soc, 2nd S., V. 602 and 

 941. 



