PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY.j 
763 
the hairs contribute much to their power of flotation. . . . The exact 
relationship of this genus is difficult to make out. In some ways it is 
related to Bhizosolenia, and also to the genora Stephanogonia, Periptera 
and Stephanopyxis of Van Iieurck. On the whole, this genus Gorethron 
is essentially Arctic in its habitat, and, with the exception of the present 
gatherings, has never been seen in a free growing state.” 
Mr. E. B. Green read a paper “ On some Parasitic Growths on the 
Root-hairs of Plants,” and illustrated his subject by specimens and 
drawings. 
Mr. A. W. Bennett said that Mr. Green had shown him his slides 
and drawings before the Meeting, and, without expressing any decided 
opinion upon the question as raised by Mr. Green, he might admit in 
the first place that he was quite justified in saying that what had been 
written about the subject in text-books and elsewhere was very un- 
satisfactory. It was well known that the root-hairs of plants exuded 
a kind of mucus, which was frequently acid, but the fact that this was 
powerful enough to corrode glass was certainly interesting. With regard 
to the parasites, some were familiar and some unusual, and he hoped 
Mr. Green would pursue his investigations concerning them. Mr. Green 
distinguished his parasites from Mycorhiza, which added to the nutritive 
power of the roots of the plants on which they grew, while in his 
opinion these were only destructive in their action. He would not 
express any opinion on that at present ; but he confessed himself to be 
exceedingly sceptical as to the so-called spores, because, if the observation 
was correct, it would be an entirely new one, and because it was so easy 
to mistake parasites for spores. There was no doubt that the blue-green 
algab were found in soil, and in close contact with plants, and it was 
not at all incredible that they might in some cases become parasites. 
Mr. Green had brought these ideas upon the subject before them, not 
with any idea of dogmatizing upon it, but rather to elicit further infor- 
mation ; and it was quite apparent that this was a branch of enquiry open 
to all who were interested in such subjects, and one which might be 
reasonably expected to lead to very useful results. 
The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Green for his paper. 
Prof. Bell said he did not think they ought to let pass the intimation 
they had received of the death of Dr. G. E. Blenkins, who had been a 
Fellow of the Society since 1848, and was at one time a Member of the 
Council and Secretary. 
Mr. F. Chapman read a further paper, in continuation of his series, 
on the Foraminifera of the Gault of Folkestone, in which he described 
27 species of the genus Cristellaria , of which three were new (see p. 645). 
The Chairman said the Society was again greatly indebted to 
Mr. Chapman for this paper, and for the very excellent drawings by 
which it was accompanied. 
Prof. Bell said that he had made some remarks on the six preceding 
parts of Mr. Chapman’s description of the Foraminifera of the Gault, and 
could only repeat what he said some time ago — that he greatly regretted 
that they did not know earlier what kind of a contributor they had in 
