
. NOTICES OF MEETINGS, 353 

into the indentations of the next, thus helping to give the spheroi- 
dal envelope some rigidity. ‘The four uppermost shields are trian- 
gular; the four lowermost are four-sided, on account of the 
insertion of a cell acting as a stalk, 
The outer surface of the shields is colourless or hyaline, so that 
the globule looks as if it were surrounded by a halo of transparent 
jelly ; the inner surface is covered with grains of chlorophyll, which 
change to orange or red as the antheridium ripens. 
From the centre of the inner wall of each shield there projects a 
cylindrical cell termed a manubrium, filled with orange-red granules, 
and reaching about half-way towards the interior of the antheridium. 
The base of each manubrium is indicated by the eight bosses seen 
on the outer surface of the globule ; while at the opposite extremity 
is a rounded hyaline cell called the capitulum or head. 
Each capitulum in its turn gives origin to six other smaller cells, 
or secondary capitula, from each of which proceed four long whip- 
like filaments coiled several times upon themselves. Excepting the 
space occupied by the eight manubria, and the cell which acts asa 
stalk, these filaments entirely fill up the cavity of the antheridium. 
Thus each globule, when developed normally, contains one stalk, 
eight shields, eight manubria, 8 capitula, 48 secondary capitula, 
and 192 filaments, say 265 parts ; nor is this all. 
The 192 filaments in their turn are compound organs, each being 
composed of a linear series of from roo to 200 discoid cells ; thus 
there are from 19,200 to 38,400 discs, each one of which contains 
an antherozoid. The antherozoid is a fine hair-like body, thickened 
at its posterior extremity and rolled spirally, while from the opposite 
extremity proceed two long and very fine cilia. 
When the antheridium is ripe, the eight valves separate from 
each other at their edges, while the 20,000 to 40,000 antherozoids 
escape from the discoid cells and paddle away in the water with a 
cork-screw-like motion. The rupture usually takes place in the 
morning, and the movements of the antherozoids continue for 
some hours afterwards. 
( To be continued.) 
NOTICES OF MEETINGS. 
MANCHESTER CRYPTOGAMIC SOCIETY.—Capt. Cunliffe, F.R.M.S., 
in the chair. Mr. James Cash exhibited and distributed specimens of a moss 
which he had collected on Meal Talmechan during his recent excursion to 
Scotland in the company of the chairman, and this he had determined by 
microscopical examination to be the rare A/yurella apiculata. Mr. Cash also 
exhibited several other interesting mosses which he had collected in Montgomery- 
