This monograph, which was originally published in 1669 by the Royal Society of London, bears the Latin title, _Dissertatio Epistolica de Bombyce_. It has been several times republished, the best edition being that in French, which dates from Montpellier, in 1878, and which is prefaced by an account of the life and labors of Malpighi. Anatomy of Plants.--Malpighi's anatomy of plants constitutes one of his best, as well as one of his most extensive works. In the folio edition of his works, 1675-79, the _Anatome Plantarum_ occupies not less than 152 pages and is illustrated by ninety-three plates of figures. It comprises an exposition of the structure of bark, stem, roots, seeds, the process of germination, and includes a treatise on galls, etc., etc. In this work the microscopic structure of plants is amply illustrated, and he anticipated to a certain degree the ideas on the cellular structure of plants. Burnett says: "His observations appear to have been very accurate, and not only did he maintain the cellular structure of plants, but also declared that it was composed of separate cells, which he designated 'utricles.'" Thus did he foreshadow the cell theory of plants as developed by Schleiden in the nineteenth century. When it came to interpretations, he made several errors. Applying his often-asserted principle of analogies, he concluded that the vessels of plants are organs of respiration and of circulation, from a certain resemblance that they bear to the breathing-tubes of insects. But his observations on structure are good, and if he had accomplished nothing more than this work on plants he would have a place in the history of botany.