18 
metric change of the atmosphere, causing it to curl in various directions, 
which produces an onward movement on the surface of the ground. In 
the Balsam family the carpels of the seed-vessel become highly elastic as 
the seed ripens, until the slightest touch causes them to separate with a 
spring, throwing the contents to a considerable distance. The pod of 
Viola canina consists of three carpels united at their edges, which when 
ripe divide from the point downwards, and fall back to a horizontal 
position with a sharp report ; at the same time the edges of the carpels, 
loosed from their restraint upon each other, press upon the polished 
surface of the seed, which is thus, as it were, shot out. The flower-stalk 
of Linaria Cymbalaria becomes elongated during fruiting, and curls and 
twists in various directions until the seed-vessel finds a suitable chink in 
the wall or rock to deposit its contents. 
A variety of other agencies for distribution were mentioned, as running 
streams of water, the seeds being swallowed by birds and animals, and 
afterwards dropped ; the hooked bristles and awns possessed by some, as 
Geum urbanum, the Carrot, Toriles anthrkcus, and others of that order ; 
the teasel and various species of the RubiaceEe. The pappus of Taraxacum 
and others of that order ; the membranous wing of the Pine and 
Bigonia seeds, the feathery awns of the Clematis and other like appendages, 
being acted upon by the wind, are powerful agents of distribution. 
The chemical composition of the cotyledons and albumen was noticed, 
as also the part played by each in the economy of the seed. 
The latter portion of the paper was devoted to the consideration of the 
changes produced by germination, the starch being converted into dex- 
trine and grape sugar for the nourishment of the young plant. The 
appearance of the embryo and radicle at different periods of growth was 
described, and the result of some experiments by De Candole on the 
the vitality of seeds closed the paper, which was illustrated with a number 
of diagrams and microscopic preparations. 
IV. 
Monad Life.* 
By Henry E. Fripf, M.D. 
Read at the General Meeting, March 3rd, 1870. 
In a former paper, I brought before your notice an account of certain 
species of Amoeboid protoplasms, found by Richard Greef, and described 
by him as Land species of Amoeba. From his researches we learn that 
* The figures mentioned in the paper refer to drawings exhibited at the Meeting. The 
Editor regrets, that the illustration of papers by plates has not as yet been contemplated. 
