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CYSTOSPERMEJE.

larger section of a smaller sphere, which, during motion, isalways directed forwards, while the entire sphere continuallyrevolves on its longer axis, and this with a wonderful rapidity.At length I observed the fine skin of the organ to burst, andwith the discharge of the motionless spores, followed the deathof the animal life (der Tod des animalischen Lebens ) of thisorgan, and the plant appeared. It must also be observed,that the mass of spores, which is discharged from this sphere,is much more highly developed than that which escapes fromthe capsule, since in the former they are little more thanvesicles, and scarcely present any thing of the grumous shinymass, which in the latter is very evident.

“ In figs. 12. and 13. are displayed similar organs of irre-gular form, whose origin it is very difficult to explain. If Ihad not observed the springing up of this organ, as well asits propagation ( Fortpflanzung ), of which I shall speak here-after, one might suppose it to represent the seeds, which hereappear to be a little more extended, and seated on the parentplant, to be about to shoot out into young Conferva. Thisidea is, however, entirely false, since such a mode of growthoccurs only in the inarticulate Conferva, and therefore inVaucheria. In conclusion, I must be allowed to assert thatthis species has hitherto never been observed, since the dark-green colour, the shortness of the filaments, and their lyingone upon another, are very striking characters; yet we no-where find them given.”— Meyen, Kritisclie Beitrdge zumStudium der Siisswasser-Algen Flora, No. 45., December,1827.

Meyen’s s.econd example, II. polymorpha, seems to includemore than one species belonging to different genera.

The genus Ilempelia is false both in fact and philosophy.The capsule, upon which Meyen lays so much stress, isnothing more than the first developed cell of the Conferva, ortransformed zoospore, and has nothing whatever to do withthe reproduction of the species. To imagine that it has, isin the highest degree unphilosophical, for it is to attributethat function, which is indicative of the perfection of the lifeof an organic being, and which is the last for it to assume, to