IPostelsfa hi 



hence may be developed at any point 

 on the circumference. Bower readily 

 shows that this feeder is the homo- 

 logue of the nursing-foot in the Pteri- 

 dophytes. Clearly then it is a true 

 cotyledon, and in its position and func- 

 tion during germination is remarkably 

 similar to those of the Monocots. 



The Gymnosperms are an ancient 

 seed-bearing race, and the peculiar 

 modifications in embryogeny are un- 

 doubtedly due to the long continued 

 intraseminal parasitic habit of the 

 embryo. These peculiarities may be 

 looked upon as being induced by habit- 

 ual parasitic nutrition, just as remark- 

 able morphological changes of the 

 extraseminal plant body have been 

 wrought by parasitism in many Angio- 

 sperms ( Orobanchacese, Rafflesiacese, 

 etc.). The abundance of nourishment 

 in the seed might be considered the 



