252 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



Two papers were read. The first, by the Rev. H. W. Lett, M. A., 

 was entitled, "A Bit of Groundsel, Examined Microscopically." 

 The writer described a bit of common groundsel, from the top 

 of the seed down to the tip of the root, and showed how much 

 more there was in such a wayside weed to be observed beyond 

 what is set down in most botanical works. Commencing with 

 the seed, he described the various disclosures made by the 

 microscope before and after fertilisation, the arrangement of the 

 reproductive organs, and the beautiful pollen or fertilising dust. 

 Then the different sorts of cells of which the stem and leaf are 

 composed were explained by the help of diagrams drawn from 

 the microscope, and also the air openings in the lower surfaces 

 of the leaves. The rootlets, with their protecting tips, adapted 

 for penetrating the ground, were also described, and the paper 

 concluded with an account of two minute fungi that are parasi- 

 tical to the plant. 



The second paper was, by the Vice-President, the Rev. Canon 

 Grainger, D.D., M.R.I. A., entitled " Magilligan Strand after a 

 Storm." Canon Grainger illustrated his paper by a table-full of 

 specimens gathered after the recent gales. Having described 

 the geological structure of Lough Foyle and the adjacent head- 

 lands, with the Azoic rocks on the Innishowen, and the Secon- 

 dary and Tertiary on the other side, and also the position of 

 Magilligan Strand, nearly seven miles in extent, he exhibited 

 his various specimens, giving a brief description of each. 

 Amongst the sea-weeds cast up were the great oar-weed, Lami- 

 naria digitata^ with the curious finger-like bases by which it is 

 anchored to the rocks and stones ; the bladder wrack, Fucus 

 vesiculosus^ whose abundant air vessels are so often taken by 

 the careless sea-side visitor for pods of seed ; the very common 

 Plocamium coccineum, which is such a universal favourite with 

 young ladies who make up bouquets of dried sea-weed for 

 bazaars, &c. The dulse, or Delesseria, was shown growing in 

 dense clusters on a stem of oar-weed. Some varieties of another 

 red alga, Ceramium^ and the Porphyra^ or sloke ; also, the 

 lovely emerald green Conferva conglomerata, which is found 



