Magazine of Natural History. 489 
chapter he explains how these interesting algae are propagated by gemmules 
analogous to the buds of more perfect plants ; and another is occupied with a 
detail of observations, which prove that they also produce seeds or at least semi- 
nal bodies, the result of a union between two or more individuals which con- 
nect themselves in the same way that the Zygnemae have been long known to 
do. It seems that these lowest plants have their seasons too of semination, 
the reproductive unions occurring only at two seasons of the year, viz. in April 
and June, but it is probable that the time will depend on the annual temperature 
of the place which is made the scene of observation. The gemmules are nume- 
rous and small, while the seeds are very few in number and large, so that were 
the Closteria to be left dependent on the latter solely for their diffusion or 
existence, they would speedily become extinct, two individuals being required to 
produce one fertile seed. No single Closterium can form a seed of itself ; a pair 
is necessary, and yet each element of this pair, enclosing all the organic con- 
ditions necessary to reproduction, is in fact an hermaphroditical being. In 
each there are two utricles with reddish spherules the male organ, and two 
masses of chromules the female organ. If it remain single, the spherules fe- 
cundate the divisions of these parenchymatous masses, which become then the 
gemmules ; if it unites itself to another individual, the spherules fecundate the 
whole and undivided masses of the same chromule, which, by a force acting from 
the circumference to the centre, is raised to the condition of a seed. Morren con- 
cludes his paper with the following corollaries " 1. II y ades etres chez les- 
quels les organes de la nutrition forment seuls et a-la-fois les organes reproduc- 
teurs et les etres reproduits." " 2. La formation des embryons vegetaux, 
dans les algues, depend d'une concentration de la matiere organised." " 3. Les 
embryons vegetaux chez les algues, se formant sous Pinfluence d'une force or- 
ganisatrice qui precede de la circonference an centre." MONTAGNE sur les 
plantes cryptogom.es recemment decouvertes en France. SPACH, Conspectus 
Monographic^ Hypericacearum. The following table exhibits a distribution of 
the British species according to Spach's views : 
Tribus DESMOSTEMONE.E Sectio ELODEINE^I. 
Genus Elodes : sp. E. palustris. 
Tribus HYPERICEJE Sectio HYPERINEJE. 
Genus Hypericum : sp. * Holosopalum H. humifusum. H. quad- 
rangulum. * * Milleporum H. perforatum. H. dubium ? * * * 
Adenosepalum H. pulchrum. H.montanum. * * * * Droso- 
carpium H. Carbatum. 
Tribus HYPERICEJE Sectio ANDROS^MINE^. 
Genus Androscemum sp. A. qfficinale. 
Genus Eremonthe : sp. E. calycinum. 
The remaining articles of the number consist of short reviews and extracts from 
the " Flora," and do not require in consequence to be indicated in this place. 
The Magazine of Natural History. Conducted by J. C. LOUDON. 
Vol. ix. Nos. for Nov. Dec. (Continued from p. 403.) 
I. Zoology. 
WESTWOOD on the Nomenclature of Natural History, p. 561. We are at the 
very antipodes with Mr W. on this subject, which it appears to us has ben 
