Barber. — On Nematophycns Storriei , nov. sp. 337 
of these difficulties, that it is admissible to seek for another 
explanation of the existence of spaces in the tissue. It is 
not probable that they have anything to do with repro- 
duction, from their internal position and the absence of every 
trace of spore-like bodies ; but it is quite in accordance with 
the structure of existing algae that the spaces might have 
some connection with the aeration of the plant. The branching 
of the tubes at these points would certainly not militate 
against such a function, in fact would rather be looked for. 
I do not, however, think it altogether impossible that these 
openings in the tissue had somewhat the significance of the 
medullary rays of higher plants, as suggested by Sir William 
Dawson. The interchanging of material between different 
parts of the plant-tissues would probably, even in an alga, be 
assisted by such channels. But if these openings have this 
character, we should expect to find the majority of included 
tubes running in the radial direction, and such is not the case. 
It has occurred to me that the specimens described under 
the name of N. laxum might possibly be hapteres or clinging 
organs of N. Logani — although such a suggestion is perhaps 
premature, before having seen the fossil. The absence of 
air-spaces in such a part of the plant would not be sur- 
prising. 
The specimens of N. Hicksii , so far described, have been in 
a very poor state of preservation. From the general character 
of the tissues and the mode of occurrence of the specimens in 
the Pen-y-glog quarry near Corwen — where I have carefully 
collected the fragments — I consider it possible that N. Hicksii 
and N. Storriei belong to one and the same species. I do not 
feel justified at present, however, in classing them together, 
and have preferred to introduce a new specific name to avoid 
possible future confusion. An examination of the single slide 
exhibiting structure, preserved in the Jermyn Street Museum, 
exhibits peculiarities which are not present in the slides of 
N. Storriei. There is certainly the appearance of transverse 
walls in the tubes, which here, as in N. Storriei , are of one kind. 
There is frequently a curious transverse sculpturing on the 
