422 General Notes. [April 
rogyra and Zygnema, and from these he supports the inference 
of the above-mentioned authors. He finds there is an appreciable 
difference of length and diameter in the conjugating cells, that 
deemed the female being the larger. The protoplasmic contents 
he also finds pass only in one direction, and change first commences 
in the chlorophyll-bands of the supposed male cells with accom — 
panying contraction of the protoplasmic material. The genea 
Mesocarpus, Staurospermum, and the doubtful form Craterospe- 
mum have likewise been examined, and, though showing differ 
ences, yet on the whole substantiate the view above enunciata 
of cell sexuality.” —Nature. l 
[In the case of hybridism in Spirogyra, described in the pei 
ary NATURALIST, there were resting-spores in doth filaments, 1 
cell A, of the figure there given, was in the case of iy 
functionally the male, but the next cell to the right cone | 
resting-spore, as is shown in the figure. Moreover, the right ce! us 
to the left of B ‘not shown in the figure | contained 8 : 
spore. This case would indicate that bi-sexuality must be co a 
fined in A, at least to individual cells, otherwise, we should : 
to consider this a case of conjugation between two female platts, y 
which is manifestly absurd.— C. Æ. Bessey.] cs 
Some Recent Boranica Apvances——Among the "n 
nificant of the recent discoveries in botany is that je: wE 
continuity of the protoplasm from cell to cell by ya W 
cate threads which traverse channels through the “higher plants 
had long been known, that in the’ sieve ” tissues of his shich i 
there was such continuity through par oe? she ae 
perfectly separated the contiguous cells. 1 tar punde 
seen by making longitudinal sections of a fibro-vascular DO 
of a pumpkin stem, staining with iodine, an 
toplasm by alcohol. Carefully made specimens ° -< o 
of many plants have shown a similar protoplasmic vestigato® 
where it had previously been unsuspected. Some "i ity ayy 
are now inclined to the opinion, that protoplasmic © eh 
be of universal occurrence in plants. i plays “1% 
Tschirch regards it as probable, that Chlorophy Le 
merely a physical, but also a chemical part 10 7 view, tit 
Per . ss > R TR sa sheim’s RE 
assimilation.” This is in opposition to Prings®® ge 
the function of chlorophyll is that of a screen OF * sak 
sex 
oplas: 
H 
regarded as “simply a strongly specialized instance Ce a 
tion of nutriment.” According to this jle 
zation, is but the feeding of a cell upon This rid 
i. e., material identical with its own substance. work” 
enables the cell, so greatly nourished, to perform m 
producing a new individual. n 
