88 
liad the appearance which would be produced by cilise 
falling against the cell wall in all positions upon the sus- 
pension of vital action.* 
The chlorophyll vesicles appear in three forms : in a 
gelatinous sac or mass rotating altogether in the cells ; as 
independent vesicles apparently homogenous in their structure, 
rendered opaque by colouring matter; and lastly, as inde- 
pendent vesicles somewhat increased in size, of a pale green 
colour, almost transparent, containing nuclei, one, two, or 
three in number, which in reality appear to be immature 
vesicles within the parent, similar to Volvox globator, without 
rotatory motion. The chlorophyll vesicles appear to resist 
the action of the magenta for some time after their rotation, 
has ceased, indicating a vitality, at least to a certain extent, 
independent of that of the cell. In some of the experiments 
a few of the cells assumed a purplish colour, whilst in the 
adjoining cells the circulation was active and the chlorophyll 
green ; in those the chlorophyll appeared to he decomposed, 
and the cell to be nearly full of very minute dots, swarming 
like the granules in Closterium lunula. Upon this subject 
the author offered no opinion. The observations were made 
with Jth and Itli objectives, and the paper contained minutia 
of several experiments, with the hours of observation, tem- 
perature of the room, and other particulars. 
Dr. Roberts observed that Mr. Lynde’s remarks upon the 
separate vitality of the cell and cell contents were very 
* Eminent microscopists do not entertain the idea of the circulation in 
Vallisneria being due to ciliary action ; “this appearance is decidedly affirmed 
by Mr. Wenliam to be an optical illusion.” (See Dr. Branson, in “ Quarterly 
Journal of Microscopical Science” for 1855, Yol. III., p. 274, and Mr. 
Wenliam, p. 277, quoted by Dr. Carpenter, “Microscope and its Revelations,” 
3rd ed., p. 408.) This opinion was no doubt formed solely upon observations 
made during vital action, and may be modified upon examination of the sup- 
posed dead and dying cilice rendered visible by the action of the magenta dye. 
(Sec. Micro. Section.) 
