SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
359 
to decide than ever it was. A paper recently published by Herr Max Schultze, 
in his Archivfiir Microscopische Anatomie, shows that the movements of their 
organisms take place in a manner similar to those of the Amoeba. He states 
that in all diatoms there is a peculiar viscid substance, which he regards as 
protoplasm, and by which he believes the movements are determined. Con- 
cerning this he makes the following remarks : — “ Analogy and the unicellular 
nature of the Diatomacese both suggest that the adhesive substance moving 
along the raphe is nothing but protoplasm which comes out and re-enters 
through these openings in the shell. As this motion of the protoplasm is 
capable of transporting foreign particles of considerable size, it is also suffi- 
cient to cause the creeping and various complicated movements of the diatom 
itself, the more so, since, as I have shown, during this movement the raphe is 
always directed to the surface which supports it. The protoplasm coating the 
raphe, and moving over it, has thus the import of a foot, on which the diatom 
creeps. The long-debated question concerning the movements of the Dia- 
tomacese I look upon, therefore, as henceforth set at rest.” 
The Floral Envelopes of the Lauracece. — At the late Botanical Congress a paper 
was sent in by Mr. B. Clarke on this subject, but owing to the great number 
of communications which the committee had to deal with, it remained unread. 
The views it lays down are, nevertheless, of some interest. Mr. Clarke con- 
siders that the floral envelopes in this order are composed of a trimerous 
calyx and corolla ; and in support of this theory he refers to the flower of 
Taurus itself, the fourth sepal of which, he says, is internal, and belongs to 
the petalline parts, ^ the other two divisions of these latter being converted 
into stamens. He refers to the near affinity of Hernandia (recognized by 
all authors from Jussieu downwards) and of Gyrocarpece (pointed out by 
Bobert Brown, and adopted by all subsequent writers), and to the evident 
relation of the last-named family to Combretacece (of which, indeed, Bindley 
regarded them as merely a section), and derives, from a comparison with all 
these plants, further arguments in support of the correctness of his notion. 
Evidences of near relationship are also deduced from the structure of their 
ovaries and the attachment of their ovules, and the author finally arrives at 
the conclusion that Lauracece are u Combretacece , with a superior ovary and 
sepaloid petals.” 
Insect Agency in the Fertilization of Corydalis cara. — Another memoir which 
was not read at the Congress Was that of Herr Dr. Hildebrand, of Bonn. The 
author has made several interesting experiments with a view to show the 
necessity of insect-agency in the fertilization of Corydalis cara, and concludes : 
(1.) That the flowers of the plant when protected from insect-influence, and 
acted on only by their own pollen, produce no capsules. (2.) That fruit is 
very seldom formed when the flowers of the same raceme are crossed with 
each other. (3.) Perfect fertilization can alone be produced by the crossing of 
flowers on individual plants alone. 
The Conditions of Irish Vegetation. — The inquiries of Dr. David Moore 
have shown that whilst Ireland is better suited than any other European 
country to the growth of green crops, it is unsuited to the growth of corn 
and fruit-trees. This is attributable to the following circumstances : — The 
extreme humidity of the climate, and the slight difference between the winter 
and summer temperatures — a difference that in Dublin amounts to only 17| 
