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



first was by Rev. C. Herbert Waddell, M.A., entitled " Some 

 Notes on Plant Life." The lecturer stated that it would be 

 impossible in a single lecture to give anything like a complete 

 account of plant life. All he could do would be to give an 

 outline of some of the most interesting parts of the economy of 

 plants. Some of the lowest forms of plants and animals were 

 then described and illustrated by coloured diagrams, and it was 

 shown that the two kingdoms are divided by a faint and uncer- 

 tain line at this region. The question was asked, What are 

 all plants and animals, what is man himself made of ? In reply, 

 it was pointed out that all living organisms are built up of a 

 colourless viscid substance called protoplasm. Amoeba, one of 

 the lowest animals, consisted of a structureless mass of protoplasm. 

 Amoeban life was certainly very simple and primitive. The ani- 

 mal could move in any direction, and seize a diatom or 

 other prey with that part of its body which happened to be 

 nearest, not taking the trouble to turn round. Protoplasm was 

 the substance which built up the bodies of all plants and 

 animals. Like a builder, it has been given the wonderful 

 property of being able to gather, select, and prepare the 

 complex materials of which the marvellous human body, the 

 mighty oak, and the humble wayside flower respectively con- 

 sist. As a rule, protoplasm occurred in plants in little masses 

 called cells, surrounded by cell walls formed of cellulose. These 

 grouped together formed a tissue. Inside the cell was the 

 nucleus, embedded in the protoplasm. In a similar way man 

 built his structures — houses, ships, &c — of many compartments. 

 This kind of construction united a sparing use of material with 

 strength and lightness, and afforded easy means of intercom- 

 munication. According to the new theory, the " continuity of 

 protoplasm," all the cells were connected one with another by 

 minute pores opening through the cell wall, but this had not 

 been proved as yet. Mr. Waddell then explained the reason 

 of the flow of sap, and other vital processes in the plant, and, in 

 a drawing of a common desmid {Closterium lunula), explained 

 a curious motion of the cell contents called Cyclosis, It is in- 



