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vary in length ; and on submitting a single fibre, compressed 
between pieces of glass, to the microscope, the flattened 
surfaces become distinctly visible. Again, on substituting a 
mature fibre before it gets dried, the filament is found to 
consist of tubular hairs, which are now quite cylindrical. 
After the dehiscence of the mature capsule by the con- 
traction and separation of its valves, the wool becomes dry 
from exposure. A filament now placed under the microscope 
is found to resemble a flattened piece of tape, twisted upon 
itself, and apparently formed of an extremely thin and 
transparent membrane, interspersed with dark granular 
matter, which, after a certain time, disappears in some of 
the varieties.” 
Mr. J. G. Lynde, F.G.S., M. Inst. C.E., read a Paper 
“ On the Action of Magenta upon Vegetable Tissue,” in 
which he described a series of experiments upon cuttings of 
Vallisneria immersed in a solution of that dye in cells under 
the microscope, and its effect upon the circulation in that 
plant. He found that so long as the vital action continued, 
the cell walls and the moving chlorophyll retained their 
green colour, but the injured cells were immediately deeply 
reddened, and their contents gradually acquired the same 
colour, the intensity of which was in proportion to the 
thickness or density of the tissue. Between the cell walls it 
■would appear that there exists an intercellular membrane, 
devoid of vital action, which becomes rapidly coloured whilst 
the circulation continues active. On the inner surface of the 
cell wall, whilst rotation is going on, the author observed a 
luminous stratum suggesting the action of cilice, but in 
every observation as the dye permeated the tissue and the 
circulation ceased, the true cell wall became covered with 
irregular markings, either corrugated or having raised 
excrescences, scarcely alike in any two cells ; in no case were 
the markings visible until the rotation had ceased, and they 
