G2 Mr. W. Thompson's Additions to the Fauna of Ireland. 
sac, in the manner which is described by Gelesnow* * * * § ; and the 
figures to his own memoirs do not always show the depression of 
the summit of the embryo-sac, but exactly resemble the condi- 
tion which is figured by Muller from Monoiropa and Begonia, 
where the pollen-tube is applied upon the apex of the euibryo- 
sac and lies in a line with the embryo. Here his statement, that 
he has drawn out the pollen-tube from the embryo-sac, with the 
embryo at its extremity, must be set against Hofmeister^s affir- 
mation that he has detached the pollen-tube from the apex of the 
embryo-sac without disturbing the germinal vesicle. 
Finally, the whole question now appears to be narrowed to the 
determination of the point, whether the germinal vesicle does 
actually exist before impregnation, since if that can be proved, 
all appearances yet observed may be reconciled, by allowing for 
very slight errors in interpreting and delineating them. Amiei 
does not express himself very distinctly on this point, but the 
other three papers which have just been investigated, added to 
the opinions of Brongniartf and MirbelJ, will probably satisfy 
many upon this point. 
P.S. — Since the above was written I have found that L. B. 
Tulasne § has given a brief resume of some researches into the 
embryogeny of Veronica hedercefolia, triphyllos and prcecox. Ac- 
cording to his statements, the pollen-tube here actually perforates 
the embryo-sac and lies within it ; the end of the pollen-tube be- 
comes the embryo and at no period can any germinal vesicle be 
distinguished. These observations therefore go to support the 
modified views of Schleiden, but until they are more distinctly 
detailed by their author, their true value can hardly be estimated. 
VI. — Additions to the Fauna of Ireland \\. By William 
Thompson, Esq., Pres. Nat. Hist, and Phil. Society of Belfast. 
Aves. 
Bridled Guillemot, Uria leucophthalmos, Faber. 
lacrymans, Yalenc., Gould, Yarrell. 
A communication from Richard Chute, Esq., of Blennerville, county 
of Kerry, dated Feb. 26, 1846, informed me of his having once shot 
this bird at Dingle. 
* Botanisch. Zeitung, i. 841. 
t Mem. sur la generation de I’embryon, &c., Paris, 1827. 
I Ann. des Sc. Nat. 2® ser. xi. 200 and 381. 
§ Comptes Rendus, June 14, 1847. 
II 'this short communication was intended to be supplementary to two 
papers on the same subject in the 20th volume, but was too late in being 
forwarded for that purpose. 
