Page:Miscellaneousbot01brow.djvu/427

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HAJ'l'LESJA ARxNOLDI. 409

this the nucleus, of similar form and dimensions, seems to be more firmly attached at its n[)])er extremity to the coat by a short and very slender funiculus.

The nucleus separated from its coat has an arcujlated surface, and at first appears to be entirely com})osed of a loose and uniform cellular tissue. But on a more careful examination this substance is found to contain another cel- lular body, of nearly cylindrical form, adhering; with some firmness to the upper extremity of the including cellular mass, whose vertical axis it occupies for nearly three fourths of its length.

This inner body, which I regard as the embrt/o, consists of large cells, disposed nearly, but not with absolute regu- larity, in two longitudinal series, and so transparent, that it may be safely affirmed that there is no included body nor any perceptible difference in the contents of any of the component cells.

This account of the embryo ditlers in some respects from Mr. Bauer's representation of it, especially as to the point of attachment, and in the distinct appearance and trans- parency of cells. -^

The seed of llydnora in many essential points resembles that of Ba/IIesla. Its nucleus consists of a dense albumen, the cells of which are so disposed as to exhibit, when slio'htlv maofuified, a kind of radiation in whatever direc- tion it is cut. This albumen is much denser than that of Bafflesla, the greater density arising, perhaps, from the unusual thickness of the walls of each cell, its cavity bear- ing so small a proportion to the supposed external dimen- sions of the cell as to give it the appearance of a nucleus or more opaque central body."

Enclosed in the albumen a perfectly spherical embryo is

' I liavf! therefore added to Ta«. 23 (XXV), a circumscribed figure, marked K. Br., in which I have endeavoured to represent (but not very successfully) the structure as 1 have seen it.

•^ But these supposed cells with thickened walls, admitting them to have been originally distinct, arc in the ri|)e seed nearly or entirely obliterated, so that the substance of the cartilaginous albumen consists of a uiiirorin, semi- transparent mass, in which the more opa(pic nuclei or ceils, containing minute •rraniilar matter, aie, as it were, immersed.

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