296 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
thallus bearing the reproductive organs. The spermatozoids of the 
antheridian cells come into contact with the archegonial cell, and 
after fertilisation the cell remains attached to the prothallus, and 
from it is developed the stalk bearing the sporiferous theca in 
Mosses, and the sporangiferous frond in Ferns. These so-called 
spores seem to resemble buds. Bemarks were made on the buds of 
the Marchantia, the gonidia of Lichens, and the tetraspores of Algae, 
as well as on the production of separable buds in the higher classes 
of plants, and the production of ova and buds in Medusae. The ten- 
dency, also, of the spores of anomalous ferns to produce fronds 
having the peculiar character of these varieties, was considered as 
indicating their alliance with buds. 
The paper was illustrated by a large series of coloured drawings 
and by models, as well as recent specimens of ferns in various 
states, from the prothalloid condition up to the frondiparous state, 
bearing sporangia, and also at times producing viviparous buds. 
2. Note on a Eecent High Tide on the East Coast of Britain. 
Bv George Bobertson, M. Inst. C.E. (Plate.) 
The greatest height to which the tide has ever been known to 
rise at any given place is of the utmost consequence to the marine 
engineer. It forms an important element in the design and in the 
estimate for any works in the sea ; and any error on this point 
might lead to the most lamentable results both to life and pro- 
perty, especially in the construction of embankments for the recla- 
mation of land. 
I have therefore thought that a notice of the tide of the 8th of 
last month might not be uninteresting to the Society, as it is one 
of the highest, if not indeed the highest, that has ever been 
recorded with accuracy on the east coast of Britain, and the most 
remarkable example with which I am acquainted of the effect of 
wind in raising the level of high water on that coast. 
The months of January and February of this year have been 
remarkable for the long continuance and violence of westerly 
winds — at times approaching to the fury of a hurricane. 
A long continuance of these winds has always the effect of 
