Miscellaneous. 289 



nary or branchial apparatus in animals, lie stated tliat the cotyle- 

 dons in the higher plants appeared to perform all the functions of 

 true leaves, and to be analogous to the temporary gills so remarka- 

 ble in the Batrachian reptiles. In ferns, the frondose expansion, 

 which is formed by additional cells produced from the original spore, 

 and which decays when the gyrate frond is evolved, may be viewed 

 as similar to the cotyledonary body in phsenogamous plants. In 

 other cryptogamous plants, as Marchaniia polymorpha , this primary 

 frond does not decay, but remains permanent, and may be looked 

 upon as a persistent cotyledon. Mr C. then went on to show that 

 the developement of the offspring, which takes place during the 

 ripening of the seed in phsenogamous plants, is analogous to that 

 which in the cryptogamous follows the germination of the spore ; 

 thus fulfilling a law which appears to pervade organized nature, 

 that the different organs of the higher beings in the progress of 

 their evolution pass through a series of forms analogous to their 

 permanent states in the lower. 



Dr Balfour read a communication regarding several species of 

 British ferns, in which he particularly alluded to the observations 

 recently made by Mr Don in the Linneean Transactions. Speci- 

 mens of all the species and varieties of the ferns alluded to were 

 exhibited by Dr Gilbert M'Nab, — including Aspidium dumetoriim, 

 dilatatum, irriguum, ^-c. Cistopteris dentata, both from England and 

 Scotland, also C. regia and alpina. 



Dr Balfour mentioned having found Scahiosa columbaria last 

 autumn, in considerable abundance, on the sea shore near North 

 Berwick. — W. H. Ca3ipbell, Sec, 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Blumenbach. — " The great lion of this university (Goettino-en) is 

 Blumenbach, Professor of Natural History, by whom I was most 

 graciously received, though without any formal introduction ; yet I 

 have heard he is not always so courteous. He speaks English fluent- 

 ly, — in fact, he is the only professor who appeared to have any know- 

 ledge of the language, which surprised me much, considering the 

 intimate connection that exists between Hanover and our own coun- 

 try. The venerable Professor, though he has reached his eio-hty- 

 second year, still retains all his faculties perfect. He spoke of the 

 kindness of George III. during his visit to England, forty years 

 since, at which period he also went to Oxford. One of his apart- 

 ments is fitted up as a museum ; it is by no means large, but con- 

 tains rather an odd medley of preparations, and a numerous collec- 

 tion of skulls of negro tribes, as well as specimens explanatory of 



