393 
Natural History, — Botany, 
beck, published in the year 1818 a Thesis^ entitled, De 
Muscorum propagatione commentatio.’’ In this curious tract, 
the author traces several of the mosses from their first appear- 
ance through their various stages of growth to their perfect 
state. In their first stage, they appear as a greenish orga- 
nised slime or jelly, with disseminated globules ; next, in a 
fibrous form ; and, lastly, as perfect mosses. Many of the 
Confervas, as C. frigida and castanea, and Ulvse, as U. ru- 
pestris, appear to be musci in their imperfect state. These 
observations are of the same general import with those of Mr 
Drummond, mentioned in this Journal, vol. ii. p. 192. It may 
be added, that some of the Lichens, before they attain their 
state of maturity, pass through the conferva form. 
33. Abstract of the general results which form the Basis (f 
GoillesiJs Theory of the reproduction of Vegetables, 
lesio, an eminent Italian botanist, native of Genoa, published 
at Paris, in the year 1811, a Treatise on the Citrus, (Traite du 
Citrus, par George Gallesio ) ; and, in the year 1816, at Pisa, 
a curious work entitled Teoria della Beproduzione Vegetale 
Of these two works, which we believe are yet scarcely known in 
England, the latter may be considered as little more than an 
extension, and a translation into his native language, of the 
doctrines founded upon the experiments and observations con- 
tained in the former work. Gallesio’s researches among the 
luxuriant gardens which line the beautiful shores of Liguria, 
have been extensive and multiplied. The following is an ab- 
stract of the general results which form the basis of his Teoria 
della Reproduzione Vegetale, and which it may be interesting 
to compare with those obtained by the researches of Knight, 
and other observers in our own country. 1 . Nature has 
created genera. These form so many families, distinguish- 
ed from each other by particular characters. Nature has 
created species. These form so many branches of these fa^ 
milies, to which they appertain by common characters. 3. 
The mixture of these species by sexual union, gives rise to 
* Gallesio is now' engaged in an extensive a;nd important work, the Pomona 
Italiana, of which two or three numbers have already been published, in a style 
highly creditable to the Italian press. 
VOL, II. NO. L APRIL 18^0. C C 
