Fane Cebae sense er res 26 eer PA Cee, , gee: em — F a THE ANNALS <3” AND MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY, INCLUDING ZOOLOGY, BOTANY, ann GEOLOGY. (BEING A CONTINUATION OF THE ‘ ANNALS” COMBINED WITH LOUDON AND CHARLESWORTH'S ‘MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY. ) CONDUCTED BY P. J. SELBY, Esq., F.L.S., GEORGE JOHNSTON, M._D., CHARLES C. BABINGTON, Ese., M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., J. H. BALFOUR, M.D., Prof. Bot. Edinburgh, AND RICHARD TAYLOR, F-.L.S., F.GS. se nee 9° VOL. XII.—SECOND SERIES. _—~ LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS. SOLD BY LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS; S. HIGHLEY; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.; PIPER AND CO.; W. WOOD, TAVISTOCK STREET ; BAILLIERE, REGENT STREET, AND PARIS: LIZARS, AND MACLACHLAN ANP STEWART, EDINBURGH : CURRY, DUBLIN: AND ASHER, BERLIN. 1855. ‘*Omnes res create sunt divine sapientie et potenti testes, divitiz felicitatis humane :—ex harum usu bonitas Creatoris; ex pulchritudine sapientia Domini.; ex ceconomia in conservatione, proportione, renovatione, potentia majestatis elucet. Earum itaque indagatio ab hominibus sibirelictis semper zstimata; a veré eruditis et sapientibus semper exculta; malé doctis et barbaris semper inimica fuit.”— LINNZUS. Quelque soit le principe de la vie animale, il ne faut qu’ouvrir les yeux pour voir qu'elle est le chef-d’ceuvre de la Toute-puissance, et le but auquel se rapportent toutes ses opérations.” BRUCKNER, Théorie du Systeme Animal, Leyden, 1767. oh ele “ee, Ci ich “4, 0 Re sylvan powers Obey our summons ; from their deepest dells The Dryads come, and throw their garlands wild And odorous branches at our feet ; the Nymphs That press with nimble step the mountain thyme And purple heath-flower come not empty-handed, But scatter round ten thousand forms minute Of velvet. moss or lichen, torn from rock Or rifted oak or cavern deep: the Naiads too Quit their loved native stream, from whose smooth face ~ They crop the lily, and each sedge and rush That drinks the rippling tide: the frozen poles, Where peril waits the bold adventurer’s tread, The burning sands of Borneo and Cayenne, All, all to us unlock their secret stores And pay their cheerful tribute. J. TayLor, Norwich, 1818. CONTENTS OF VOL. XII. in [SECOND SERIES. } NUMBER LXVII. yas Tage I. Remarks on some Alge belonging to the genus Caulerpa. By mt R. K. Grevitue, LL.D. &e. (With two Plates.) .......00-.0e.s scenes 1 II. On the Genus Truncatella. By Wiui1am Ciark, Esq. ...... 4 III. On the Opereulum of the Genus Diplommatina. By Dr. J. BE. Garay, F.R-S., ViP.Z.8. 800 52.0 i20ah. eens eats lescesdebcesesbacesnts. 9 IV. Description of a new species of Rhododendron from Bootan, in India. By THoMAS NUTTALL, Esq. — .......ssceeceereeeceeneeeereeees 10 V. On Relative Position ; including a new Arrangement of Phanero- gamous Plants :—Part IV. On Dorsal Placentation. By B. CLARKE, F.L.S, &e. (With a Plate.) ..-......ssseeseceeeceseeeeseeerresensseteneens ll VI. On the Phosphorescence of some Marme Invertebrata. By M AsBie QUATREFAGES |) 60095i. 082000 ec cdesese suit npbecteatndungal comers 15 VII. On the Structure of the Leaves of Palms. By M.A. Trécun. 27 Proceedings of the Linnzan Society; Zoological Society ; Botanical Society of Edinburgh ...........-.-eceseeseee coeneserseeesseeeentees 31—64 On the Fecundation of the Fucacee, by M. Gustave Thuret ; Time of Spawning of British Crustacea, by William Thompson ; Experi- ~ mental Researches on Vegetation, by M. Georges Ville; On the Priority of the Discovery of the Mode of Action of the Pholades in the Perforation of Stones, by M. Vroik; On Sun Columns observed at Sandwick Manse, Orkney, by the Rev. C. Clouston ; Meteorological Observations and Table «..............+0+--++e000+ 64—72 NUMBER LXVIII. VIII. On the Genus Cereyon, with a short Monographical Synopsis of the British Spheridiide. By ANDREW Murray, W.S. Edinburgh. RNY ae Tae aia eden Ceoanasgnacestsasscacasns adeps satetetpiennit 73 iv CONTENTS. Page IX. Characters of new Land Shells, collected by Epcar L. Layarp, Esq., in Ceylon. By W.H. BENSON, Esq......cesesessesessessccescsvenens : BO X. Notes on the Ornithology of Ceylon, collected during an eight years’ residence in the Island. By Epcar Leopouip Layarp,C€.C.S. 97 XI. On the Rissoa rubra. By WiiiraM Crarx, WAN). “osessascimes 107 XII. Description of several new species of British Crustacea. By Wiiu1aM Tuompson, Esq. (With a Plate.) ...... Wied Rearead pT S| 110 XIII. On two new species of Calanide, with Observations on the Spermatic Tubes of Pontella, Diaptomus, &e. By Joun Lussocx, Mag. FG. MAR Plate.) '% .-recnensss danynenderalt -odch “dep Secsecblows 115 XIV. Notes on some new or little-known Marine Animals. By i Bo, RPOBN, Bs isi sp pebe dd cevde tie aecnuee 124 XV. On the Teeth of the Genus Mitra, Lamarck. By J. E. Gray, Ph.D., F.RB.S., V.P.Z.S. &e.) %.ccsesesee asi bcaWSive vis touted sndowectes dhe 129 New Books :—Systéme Silurien du Centre de la Bohéme. 1? partie, Recherches Paléontologiques. Trilobites, par J. Barrande.— Popular Physical Geology, by J. B. Jukes, F.R.S............. 130—135 Proceedings of the Royal Institution ; Zoological Society ...... 136—148 Observations on the Breeding of the Nightingale in Captivity, by H. Hanley ; Eucratea chelata, by William F. Templer; On a new species of Bulimus, by Lovell Reeve, F.L.S.; Johnstonella Catha- rina, Gosse, by J. E. Gray, F.R.S. &c. ; Ona new genus of Ano- miade, by J. E. Gray, F.R.S. &e.; Meteorological Observations ONO TRON rosea seca ceasedhacsacvedss cauvwesdel Wwestenepeeagt aes 148—152 NUMBER LXIX. XVI. Notes on some new or little-known Marine Animals. (No. 2.) By PH. :Gosse,A.L.S. (With a Plate.) ..0.0:..icscssemeasosicessbce de seg 153 XVII. On two new species of Calanide, with Observations on the Spermatic Tubes of Pontella, Diaptomus, &e. By Joun LusBoox, Esq, F-Z:S. ' (With‘a Plate.) cocci iscieaek ties dale tS eal 159 XVIII. Notes on the Ormithology of Ceylon, collected during an eight years’ residence in the Island. By Epgar Lroproip Layarp, Os cc vada ccc ckass vai cis cetus pigedeubbenipdetss vemsevaewshae se) kaneemEn Een 165 XIX. On the Head of the Genus Conus, Linn. By J. E. Gray, Ph. DZ ER.S., BPS: eos. ia avid. Gesrnstacke) sane: 176 XX. On the Animal of Rotella, Lamk. By J. E. Gray, Ph.D., Ps VPLS. WC. acssvcensssevesesa Leet SSO RIAA a cbbyeaedes 4 179 — CONTENTS. V age Page XXI. On the Phosphorescence of some Marine Invertebrata. By M. A. De QuatTreraces. (With a Plate.) ......... Widens Sel i oe age A 20 M. de Quatrefages on the Phosphorescence of II. On the mode of producing light by Marine Invertebrata. Almost all researches undertaken to discover the manner of producing light in animals, have been made on insects, especially the Lampyri and Elaters. Spallanzani, Burmeister, but, above all, Macaire*, have published results apparently decisive. ‘These experiments undertaken and varied by Matteuccit, with all the precautions furnished by experimental science at the present day, leave, we think, no room for doubt. In the insect. which he ex- amined, the light was produced by an actual. slow combustion analogous to that of phosphorus exposed to the air, This light is extinguished in a vacuum and in the irrespirable gases ; it, re- appears by contact with atmospheric air ; it is sensibly brightened in pure oxygen ; it continues in animals after they are dead, or even cut to pieces. The particular substance from which it ema- nates may be isolated, and may leave upon the fingers or the dissecting instrument a luminous streak which disappears only on drying; a little dampness even, in certain cases, 1s sufficient to restore the phosphorescence ; finally, the production of this light is accompanied in the living animal, as well as in its dead carcass, by the escape of carbonic acid. Everything concurs then. to show that the phosphorescence of insects, and probably ofall aérial animals, is owing to a peculiar secretion, whose substance combining slowly with oxygen produces hight. 5 But can this explanation of phosphorescence be applied to in- vertebrated animals living in water? Such. questions imme- diately arise, but yet have been overlooked by most naturalists. The greater part of the observers from whose works we have. cited. have been satisfied with knowing that animals produced, the phosphorescence of the sea; some have gone a little farther, and have attributed this phenomenon to the secretion of a lumi- nous liquid. This opinion appears generally adopted, and traces, of it may be seen even in the writings of some naturalists who, have. not formally stated it. The experiments of Spallanzani. and the observations of many travellers seem fully to confirm this view, which is evidently correct in some eases. Dugés, for instance, has decidedly adopted it, and has implied a, resemblance between the phosphorescence of the Meduse and Annelids, &c., and that of the Elaters and Lampyridest. A very different opinion has been set forth by M. Gilbert, an officer of the corps of naval engineers, who, without being aware of the investigations of others on this subject, had seen the .Noe- tiluce, and describes them rather coarsely, but ina manner easily * Journal de Physique, t. xciii. + Lecon sur les phénoménes physiques des corps vivants, 8° lecon: | + Traité de Physiologie comparée, t. ii. Montpellier, 1838, ae ee eS eS fact ee oe ee ae vccesome Marine Invertebratas) 0 1! at — He explains the production of light m these animals the development of electricity from the surface of their bodies, nee opment brought out by the action of the waves*. This rte is evidently untenable even in a merely physical x vine view. Basti spas to us one of the first, if not the first, who has adept hosphorescence a pheenomenon ‘distinct from the physico- ss actions which take place in our laboratories, but with- ing himself very fully on this subject. This naturalist hosphorescence as due to Crustacea belonging to dif- ent iBoera “he allows that the seat of this light, emitted on irritation or at the time’ of procreation, resides in glands placed in’ variable number on the sides of the thorax. Te adds :— “his light should be regarded as a fact established by investi- nm, as a modification of the laws of life, and as different from simple sparkling light resulting from the decomposition of animal substances}. “Carus, losing sight of the philosophy which prevails in his 8; adopts the opinion that this phenomenon is a property of pained animal matter, which is nothing else than the nérvous , and which representing the solar element in the ani- ul, , necessarily appears luminous to the planetary elementt. He; then, as well as Oken, from whom he cites the passage, “regards the jelly of Zoophytes, Medusx, &c., as the nervous substance in its lowest stage, from which the “other substances embraced within it have not been isolated.” M. Bérard, cited by Dugés§, regards the phosphorescence of iitimals as due to a kind of luminous imbibition, or purely vital effect, analogous to those which result in different bodies from the action of heat, electricity, light, &e. “Dr. Coldstream published in Todd’s Encyclopedia’ a very interesting article on phosphorescence||. After having examined the ‘nature of animal light, the natural or artificial circumstances which influence its appearance or intensity, the points of body in different animals from which it is produced, he sums up all that we have learned ftom different authors of the phosphorescent ; , and the different theories proposed to explain these phe- nomena. We quote from this English author some passages from this part of his work. _ According to Beccaria, Meyen, &e,, the phosphorescence of ait * Annales maritimes, 1817. ¥ Dict. des Se. Natur., 1826, article Phosphorescence. { Traité élémentaire ry Anatomie comparée, traduit par Jourdan, t. i. § Traité de Physiologie comparée, t. 11. || The Cyclopzedia of Anatomy and Physiology, Part xxii. article Animal Luminousness. 1841. 22 M. de Quatrefages on the Phosphorescence of animals is owing to what they absorb from the rays of the sun, which they throw out again in the dark. inert Spallanzani regards phosphorescence as a kind of combustion sustained by the oxygen of the air. According to Brugnatelli, the light is taken im with the food, and disengaged by particular organs. i Macaire considers the phosphorescent matter as composed of phosphorus and albumen. The variations of intensity apparent, in the light arise more or less from the coagulation of the albu- men, a coagulation which is increased or diminished at the co of the animal, and permits a more or less rapid combustion.» \ Tiedemann, Darwin, H. Davy, Heinrich, Treviranus, Bin: meister, &c., believe in the secretion of 2 liquid containing phos- phorus, and in the combustion owing to the air introduced: by respiration. i Macartney and Todd regard phosphorescence as due to the nervous fluid concentrated and modified by certain ineeies) $0 as to appear under the form of light. The author next proposes his own theory founded on a sort: ‘of fusion between the two preceding. With Macartney, he admits that phosphorescence is due to an imponderable agent, and com- pares it to the production of electricity by certain fishes. But considering the well-known fact of the luminous traces that cer- tain animals leave behind them, he supposes that phosphorus or an analogous substance may very well enter ito the compo- sition of the organs which produce the light. dor It is plain that Dr. Coldstream, in common with all the authors whom we have cited, believed that phosphorescence none be attributed to but one cause. This error M. Becquerel* has avoided. After having ahve that in the Lampyris and other insects phosphorescence is the re- sult of a chemical action at the control of the animal, M. Becquerel relates the observations of Ehrenberg, and admits with him that in certain inferior animals the production of light is owing to a disengagement of electricity. Moreover, he recalls the ob- servations of MM. Quoy and Gaimard, who had seen under the equator, near the island of Rawak, small zoophytes, which while swimming rapidly, drew after them luminous trains. Finally, M. Becquerel, resting on this fact, and on his own observations made in company with M. Breschet, at Venice, in the waters of the Brenta, allows that the phosphorescence of the sea may be owing to an organic substance intimately combined or mingled with the water, analogous to that which covers the herring and other fish when they are phosphorescent. . * Traité de Physique comparée, dans ses rapports avec la Chimie et les Sciences naturelles, t. ii., 1844. a a ee ee ee ‘ eT en ee ee en ee ee eee ee! eee ‘Ff 0 ON er ee oe en ee ee some Marine Invertebrata. : 23 Dr. Coldstream seems not to have known of two memoirs which appeared in Germany, about the same time, and which we have: reserved for the close of this history, on account of their peculiar interest. The first of these works is that of M. Ehrenberg*, and it is in- contestably the most complete which has been published on this subject. .To all the facts made known by his predecessors, the author adds the result of his own investigations m many seas. At Alexandria he established beyond doubt the fact that the Spongodium vermiculare, as also other Alge regarded as phos- phorescent, owe this appearance only to the luminous animal- cules adhering to their surface. He describes a new species of Polynoé (P. fulgurans) found by him in the Baltic, that appa- rently plays an important part in the phosphorescence of that sea, which also owes its luminous properties to different infu- soria. At Christiana and at Heligoland, Ehrenberg observed this phznomenon in many species of Meduse; at the last locality he met with the Noctiluca miliaris, which he calls Mammaria. Ehrenberg describes also the very remarkable mode of phospho- reseence which appeared in a Nereid, the Photocharis cirrhigera. In that Annelid, the light proceeds from two thick and fleshy citri belonging to the dorsal branch of the feet. The author observed sparks, at first isolated, invade the cirri by degrees, until they became luminous in their whole extent; then the sphorescence spread through the whole back, until the animal ooked like a thread of burnimg sulphur. The mucus secreted by the Photocharis left on the fingers a luminous trace. In the Polynoé fulgurans, Ehrenberg regards two large rough bodies, resembling ovaries, as charged with producing the light. In the ippe pileus and in the Oceania pileata, he found that the light ‘starts from the centre, that is, in the neighbourhood of the ‘reproducing organs. In the Oceania hemispherica, a species ‘whose diameter is more than an inch, Ehrenberg saw the sparks from a chaplet around the border; these correspond to the large cirri or to the organs alternating with them. | Ehrenberg sums up in the following manner the important results of his labours :— » Ast. The phosphorescence of the sea appears to be owing solely to organized beings. » 2nd. A very great number of organic and inorganic bodies shine in the water and out of the water in different ways. » 8rd. There is also a light from organized bodies, which is probably owing to vital action. 4th. The active organic light shows itself frequently under the form of a simple flash, repeated from time to time, sponta- * Loc. cit. 24 M. de Quatrefages, on the. Phosphorescence of neous or provoked. Often. also. it) appears under the form! of repeated sparks, followmg each other in quick succession, under the influence of the will, and very similar to electric sparks. Often, but not always, there is. formed by this, production, of sparks, a mucilaginous humour, gelatinous or aqueous, which is diffused around in great abundance, and is evidently placed ina - secondary or passive state of phosphorescence, which, continues a long time without requiring any new influence from the organic being, and even lasts after that has been divided or destroyed... A light which to the naked eye appears uniform and tranqnals shows itself scintillating under the microscope. 5th, The. viscous humour which envelopes and penetrates the ovaries seems to be especially susceptible of acquiring. this com- municated light, which is constantly reinforced by friction, and reappears even when it seems to have ceased. May not the light emitted by living fishes, by Actinias, wad by, many other animals covered with mucosity, be, sometimes merely communicated ? 6th. The relations which exist between the production of light and the sexual functions are evident in the Coleoptera, although the connexion of the small luminous sacs with the reproductive organs may remain concealed. With many marine hermaphro- dite animals, phosphorescence appears to be a means of defence and protection, analogous to those of another kind which exist in the Brachinus crepitans, the cuttle-fish, the frog, or to the discharges of the torpedo. Whatever it may be, the air and the sea have their phosphorescence. 7th. As yet it is only among the Annelids, and of then: only m the Photocharis, that a peculiar phosphorescent organ has been discovered ; it is external, tufted, frequently giving out light, similar to a thick cirrus, showing a largely cellular struc- ture, and formed within of a mucilaginous substance. The ex- panded base of the marginal cirri in the Thaumantias (Acalephs) may be regarded as phosphorescent organs, of an wousual kind. The ovaries are more probably luminous, passively and in’a secondary manner, although their minuteness and transpareney have prevented our ascertaining whether the organs of phospho- rescence are placed near them, as for instance in the Polynoé and Pyrosoma. 8th. The production of light is evidently a vital act very simi- lar to the development of electricity, an act which being com- pletely individual, becomes more feeble and ceases ‘on too fre- quent repetition, which reappears after a short interval of repose, to the production of which absolute integrity of the organism is not necessary, but which sometimes manifests direct connexions only with the nervous system. \) 980°: some’Marine’ Invertebrata.’ 25 ' The memoir of Meyen is less extended, but it contains some important facts*, The author admits three kinds of phospho- rescence :—1. The phenomenon is owing to a mucosity diffused in water: In that case the water seen in the day has a uniform tint of bluish white. ~It is often observed in tropical ports, but rarely out‘on the open sea. This mode of phosphorescence may be produced artificially by washing or by crushing certain Mol- lusks and Acalephs either in sea-water or m fresh. 2. Phospho- reseence results from the presence of certain living animals, en- dowed with'a liminous mucus. This continues even after the death of the animal); it arises from a superficial oxidation of the mucous coating; and it can be reproduced after it seems extinct by passing the finger over the animal. The animals which owe their lummous property to a secretion are, according to the author, Infusoria, Rotifera, Biphorze, Medusz, Asterias, Cuttie- fish, Sertularie, Pennatule, Planariz, Crustacea and Amnelids. 3: The third cause of phosphorescence is in some animals from the presence of one or more special organs. Of this number are the Pyrosoma, and especially P. Atlantica, whose light, of a greenish blue, is very brilliant. Hach mdividual carries behind its mouth a soft opake substance, of a reddish brown colour. This body is slightly conical, and under the microscope thirty or forty red points may be seen; it is this substance which pro- duces the light. i I. Observations. It is apparent from the foregoing statements, that the great majority of naturalists, whatever explanation they have given of the phosphorescent phenomena, have applied that explanation indiscriminately to all cases. Meyen himself, while admitting three kinds of phosphorescence, nowhere expresses the idea that the production of light arises from causes essentially different. It, is.im this point, I believe, that the writings of these learned men are deficient. In a note published in 1843+, Lendeayoured to establish a different opinion, and to show, that under the general name.of phosphorescence, phenomena essentially distinct have been confounded, and which have really nothing in common but the production of light. We have already shown that such is also the opinion of M. Becquerel. After having reviewed all that my predecessors have written on the subject, after having made new experiments and new observations, I am more than ever per- suaded that it is really so. Without speaking of the phos- 7 sa pe zur Zoologie, von F. J. F. Meyen, fiinfte Abhan . Ueber das Leuchten des Meeres (Noy. Act. Nat. Cur. t. xvi, Suppl. 1834). + Note sur un nouveau mode de Phosphorescence observé chez quelques Annélides et Ophiures (Ann. des Sc. Nat., 2e série, t. xix. p. 183). 26 On the Phosphorescence of some Marine Invertebrata. phorescence arising from. animal decomposition, nor of that which results from mucus in a state of solution, I believe that light is produced in living animals in two ways :— it Ist. By the secretion of a peculiar substance exuding either from the entire body or from a special organ. It. is probable that in this first mode of phosphorescence the light always arises - from a slow combustion. The fact is proved as regards insects ; but direct experiments are necessary before the same certainty can exist as to marine Invertebrata, Annelids, Mollusks or Radiata; 2nd. By a vital action, whence results the production of a pure light independent of all material secretion. I had arrived at this result at the time of the publication of my first note. My ob- servations accord entirely with those that Ehrenberg made before me; yet doubts have been thrown out on the legitimacy of con- elusions which we had both considered warranted by facts fur- nished by observation alone. I hope that the experiments which form the subject of the latter part of this memoir will reply to all these objections. ‘ep He When I published my first note, I was informed of Ehren- berg’s results only through a conversation with Humboldt. | 1 have since consulted his memoir, and find that on some points — we agree entirely, while we differ on others. he With Ehrenberg I had learned to see in the phosphorescence of the Annelids and Ophiura which I have examined an action essentially vital; but I cannot regard this action as strictly con- fined either to the organs or the functions of generation, as the learned naturalist of Berlin considers it. I find, it is true, in reviewing my notes, that one of the Polynoé which best. exhi- bited the phosphorescence was filled with zoosperms in full maturity, but many other Annelids among those which I have studied were not in that state. Hven in admitting that the light may be most brilliant at the period of gestation, I should regard that fact as merely a coincidence arismg from the increase of vital energy which is thus very plainly manifested by all these animals. Besides, in the Ophiura, the independence of the light and the generative organs is very evident, since the sparks are seen only along the arms, and the reproductive organs are en- closed in the body, whose walls are very thick. M. Ehrenberg first made known the fact, that the phospho- rescence of Annelids, &c., always results from a combination of microscopic sparks, Here my observations accord entirely with his. We have compared these little flashes to those which are produced from a ‘tableau fulminant’ which has been charged from an electrical machine. ie But M. Ehrenberg has described in the Polynoé a special organ for producing this light. Here we differ. In the Polynoé, as Ll MT ee Tee ae es ee os ae — "fd eS ee ee eee OS ee ce le & i Be ‘Ye ef ciel poor ee ee an Ete ae =) oe deli a cine ae ae ee 7 rw Py aie | eS ae Se eee i ; M. Trécul on the Structure of the Leaves of Palms. 27 in the Sylle and the other little Nereids which have been the subject of my investigations, I have never perceived any peculiar organ from which the light appeared to emanate. The muscles alone, and particularly the muscles of the feet, have appeared to me’to present this phenomenon. I have seen, moreover, some for instance shine through the whole extent of their bodies ; and in this case the comparison to a thread of burning sulphur is striking and just. This is the appearance to the naked eye; but under the Thahigaityinig glass this thread is divided hats a double range of luminous points corresponding to the feet. I am far from denying that certain animals may have organs charged with secreting light, as certain fishes possess those for secreting electricity ; but up to this time I have never seen that sparkling light show itself except in the muscles and at the moment of contraction. There may undoubtedly exist on this point reasonable uncertainty with regard to those Annelids whose foot-muscles are lodged in the abdomen ; but this cannot be true with respect to the Ophiura, and nothing is easier than to prove this even to the unaided vision, as in the latter the OSE ce appears along the arm, and only during move- ment: Moreover, the details which will be given beyond of the phosphorescence of the Noctiluce will show plainly, I believe, that these animals have no special organ for producing the light. “Finally, the Photocharis observed by Ehrenberg secreted a liquid hich left luminous traces on the objects which came in contact with it. This peculiarity I have also met with in one of my Annelids ; but generally in the latter, and especially also in the Ophiura, the light was owing entirely to the scintillations, and disappeared with them. It is, however, easy to believe that the modes of phosphorescence which we have admitted may co- exist in the same animal. by bipee [To be continued. } rs " en VIL—On the Structure of the Leaves of Palms. ng ie » By M. A. Trecux*. NorwitustaNnpix< the important investigations of Von Mohl and Mirbel, there still remains considerable uncertainty upon the structure of the leaf in the Palms. For instance, what is the ligula of the flabelliform leaves of many of these plants? Are their lobes the natural divisions of the leaf, or only accidental rents of its substances? Both these opinions are advanced. How is the plaited limb of these leaves formed? Are the pin- * From the Comptes Rendus, May 16, 1853, p. 857. 28 = Ms Tréeul onthe Structure of the Leaves of Palms. nulesiof: the pinnate leaves formed like those of dicotyledonous plants? I do not hesitate to say at once, that the phenomenon is very different, and that the origin of the ligula is by no means that which has been supposed by very celebrated anatomists. ~ In examining palms with pinnate leaves, one of the leaves of which is just expanding, it will be seen that the old leaves have - the pinnules distant from each other on the rachis and free at their extremities, whilst that which is just émerging from its enclosing sheath presents a very singular appearance. The elon- gation of the rachis removes the pinnules from one another, but they are all joined together at the apex; sometimes they are united im this manner by a cellulo-fibrous thread which even contains vessels (I have seen spiral and streaked vessels in the threads of Phenix sylvestris), and which extends from the base of the. hmb to its apex. The sheath of this leaf encloses another, all the leaflets of which are frequently so compressed together, that they appear to form a single piece without any parts distin- guishable by the naked eye; in other cases in which the com~ pression is less, all the parts of the leaf are apparent. — What is the mode of formation of these leaflets, so singularly attached to one another ? (In examining a Chamedorea Martiana we find that in this leaf in which all the parts are pressed together, the upper leaflets are much longer than the lower ones. In a leaf of 16 centimetres (about 61 inches) in length, the upper pimnules were 15 centi- metres (about 54 inches) long, whilst the lower were only 3 mil- limetres (about + inch), and this disproportion may increase when the apex of the leaf becomes extended. In this leaf there’ were thirteen pinnules on each side of a rachis of 2 centimetres’ (about. $ inch) in length, and the two rows being placed on the inner at Sg the back of the rachis only could be seen. A few millimetres below the lower leaflets is the opening of the:sheath. If this be removed, a very remarkable conical’ body” is exposed. Extracted from a leaf of 16 centimetres m length, it’ measured 3} millimetres. This is also a leaf, which when viewed from behind presents an entire surface, but im front is divided into two portions; the lower portion is cylindrical and notehed at the apex at the opening of the sheath; the upper’ portion, which is conical, is divided longitudinally on the inner ‘surface’ into two rolls, which diverge towards the base and become atte-’ nuated towards the apex. These are the two rows of leaflets in course of formation. Each roll is transversely ‘striated on the sides, and the striz or furrows of one side of the roll alternating with those of the other side of the same render the longitudinal ridges sinuous. By opening the sheath of this leaf I obtained another which ’ a ee oe M. Trécul on the Structure of the Leaves of Palms. 29 was about 11 millimetre in length. Its two rolls (or series of leaflets), a little less advanced. than those of the preceding leaf, were comparatively more divergent at the base. From the sheath of this leaf issued the apex of a still younger one not more than 2 millimetre in length. . Its lateral rolls were only marked with faint striz or transverse depressions towards the middle, and its sheath also gave exit to the tip of another leaf... This latter was not more than 1 millimetre in length ; its sheath, which was short and thick, had a broad rounded opening about the middle of the leaf, through which the naked apex of the stalk could be seen. This sheath was surmounted by the nascent rachis, but this presented no trace of leaflets. .It was broad and depressed inits. median portion ; aud there was on each side a longitudinal swelling of so little prominence that it required considerable at- tention to perceive it at all. These swellings are the origin of the two. rows of leaflets. _Thus a leaf of Chamedorea Martiana commences with a simple circular cushion at the apex of the stalk. This cushion or rudi= mentary sheath is produced obliquely into a prominence, which) is depressed on. its inner surface... This becoming elongated into a cone produces a Jongitudinal roll on each of its margins. These two rolls or cushions, which are more inflated near the sheath, where however they terminate in a short point, become more and more contracted towards the apex of the rachis.. Originally they are smooth, but durmg their growth scarcely sensible undula- tions are produced on each side of them (first on the inner side) ; of these the first appear a little way from the base of each «roll, and they afterwards increase in number and atta the base and apex of the rachis. . Whilst all the parts of the leaf continue growing, these uns dulations, increasing in depth, become furrows which penetrate by, degrees into the interior of the roll, at length arriving at the opposite side on the outer surface so as to produce a rupture; but the furrows which penetrate from the outer surface towards the inner. cease advancing before reaching the latter, so: that scission takes place only at the sides of the outer surface. In this manner. are produced as many leafiets plaited in the diree- tion of the median nervure as there were ribs on the mner sur- face; but, the separation of the leaflets is not completed in this manner through their entire length; it stops near the apex, which remains united.to the side of the leaflet placed above it. When the leaf emerges from its sheath and the leaflet expands, this point of attachment becomes broken and the apices of the leaflets are set free.. The union of the leaflets is not the same throughout the palms; in Phenix sylvestris, Acrocomia sclero~ carpa, &¢c., the points of the pmnules are attached to a cellulo- 30 =-M. Trécul on the Structure of the Leaves of Palms. fibvous thread which runs along the whole length of the leaf, and retains the leaflets in union for some time after their expansion. This filament and the brown pellicles which cover the leaves at: this period have a similar origin. They arise from an envelope, within which the leaflets are organized, and which becomes dried up and falls in small brown flakes. The existence of this enve- - lope may be recognized in the very young leaves, even at the period when the furrows (as in the Chamedorea) begin to make ~ their appearance. The leaflets then appear to be formed in a substance of a gelatinous appearance, which is the origin of this pellicle. The leaflets of all palms are not plaited in the same direction ; some, as Chamedorea Martiana, Ceroxylon andicola, Areca rubra, Arenga saccharifera, &c., have them folded on the lower surface ; others, in which the scission is carried to the ridges of the inner surface and not to those of the outer, have the leaflets folded on the inner surface, as Phenix dactylifera, sylvestris, Fulchiron se- negalensis, &c. There are other palms of which the leaflets are broader and contain several folds of the primary lamina. It ap- pears to me that very good characters may be derived from the plication of the leaflets. 1 UD The limb of the simple leaf of Geonoma baculum is somew. differently developed ; the rachis emits a lanceolate limb, widest at the base; this becomes plaited first at this basal portion, the folds extend in proportion to the growth of the leaf, and the upper extremity becomes cleft to form the two terminal lobes. — In Chamerops humilis, as in Chamedorea and plants with sheathing leaves, all the leaves are enclosed by their sheaths. In a leaf of 1 millimetre the sheath was equal to the half of the length of the leaf ; it was opposite to an inflated portion covered with hairs, which is only the rudimentary limb. 1 removed. all these hairs and with them a pellicle which clothed this. part of the leaf. In this manner I arrived at a rounded surface, divided longitudinally into parallel ribs on the anterior and posterior surfaces of the limb. The surface being convex, the ribs are shorter on the sides than towards the middle. They are inserted on a nearly horizontal plane and rise parallel in growmg. Each rib of the outer surface corresponds to the median nervure of a lobe of the leaf. _ As long as the leaf remains enclosed in the sheath, all its parts consist of a very delicate tissue, but as soon as its apex reaches the air and light it becomes green, grows rapidly, and acquires consistence ; the limb is often hard and coriaceous and ‘contains much woody matter, whilst the base of the petiole, which is en- closed in the sheath, is still of extreme fragility. It is also this lower portion which continues growing longest. Thus the limb: ee” eee Linnean Society: 31 of the leaf of Chamerops humilis is found under a pellicle clothed with hairs, which is torn at the junction of the petiole by the growth of the limb ; and it is the base of the pellicle which gives rise to the organ which has been called the ligula of the flabel- liform leaves of certain palms, and to the cicatrix which is ob- served round the extremity of the petiole. PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. LINNZAN SOCIETY. ~ June 1, 1852.—R. Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. Read a memoir ‘‘ On Acradenia, a new genus of Diosmee.”” By Richard Kippist, Esq., Libr. L.S. The new genus described was one of a highly interesting collection formed in the neighbourhood of Macquarrie Harbour, Van Diemen’s Land, by Mr. Joseph Milligan, and by him, through the late lamented Mr. Bicheno, presented to the Society. It belongs to the natural order Diosmea, tribe Boroniee, and in habit most nearly approaches Zieria, to the larger-leaved species of which it bears at first sight considerable resemblance. From this genus, however, as well as from Melicope, Boronia, and Cyanothamaus, from Eriostemon, Crowea, and Philotheca, and from Geleznowia, Turcz., it differs in various characters which are more particularly indicated; and it is distin- guished from them all by the structure of its ovaries, which adhere closely together and are everywhere clothed with a dense tomentose covering; except that each bears, at its upper external angle, a naked sessile tubercle or gland, large enough to be readily observed with the naked eye, a character which Mr. Kippist has been unable to discover in any closely allied genus, and which has suggested the generic name. He is unable to speak positively as to the precise nature of these glandular bodies, or to say whether any exudation proceeds from them: when examined under the microscope they appear to be perforated by a tube, widening below, and communi- eating with the internal cavity of the carpel; and from their exact correspondence in position, they are probably analogous to the cor- nute appendages which crown the ovaries of some species of Pheba- lium, in which genus they are occasionally developed into subulate or nearly cylindrical horns. Acrapenia, Kipp. ‘alyx 5-partitus. Petala 5, hypogyna, calyce multé longiora, zstivatione imbricata, ovato-elliptica, undique velutina. Stamina 10, hypogyna, , petalis sublongiora, alterna paulld breviora; fi/amenta libera, subulata, giabra; anthere introrse, glabrz, biloculares, rima longitudinali de- iscentes, apice inappendiculate. Ovaria 5, gynophoro disciformi ‘Inargine sinuato insidentia, 1-locularia, villosissima ; singula apice glan- dula ‘majusculé sessili instructa. Ovula in loculis gemina, suture ventrali collateraliter inserta, pendula. Styliin unieum glabrum coaliti. 32 Linnean Society. Stigma subcapitellatum, Capsula 5- (vel abortu 1-3-) cocea; cocci basi subcoherentes, sepalis persistentibus pluries longiores, subquadrati, paulo compressi, basi rotundati, apice abrupte truncati et angulo ex- terno brevé cornuti, coriacei vel sublignosi, dorso carinati, transversim rugosi, extus glabriusculi, intus sulcati, glabri, endocarpio haud sece- dente. Semina....?—Frutex Zasmanicus, ramosissimus; foliis oppo-~ sitis, exstipulatis, petiolatis, 3-foliatis, foliolis coriaceis, lanceolatis, ser~ ratis, supra tuberculatis ; pedunculis terminalibus, trichotomé cymosis, multifloris ; flovibus albis. Acrapenta Franxiinie, Kipp. Zieria Frankliniw, Milligan, MSS. Hab, ad margines sylvz dense prope Portum ‘“‘ Macquarie”’ dictum Insulee “Van Diemen,” ubi floribus expansis legit Dom. Jos. Milligan mense Decembri 1846, et iterd’m Martii 1847. The close resemblance to Zieria in habit had originally suggested to Mr. Kippist the specific name of “ Zierioides,”’ but Mr. Brown having kindly communicated to him a specimen gathered by Mr, Milligan on the Franklin River in April 1842, with a ticket attached, from which it appears that Mr. Milligan had proposed to name the plant “‘ Zieria Franklinie”’ (after Lady Franklin), he has adopted with much pleasure that specific name. On the same ticket M-. Milligan describes the plant as handsome and fragrant; but this, as he at that time saw no flowers, Mr. Kip)ist presumes can only be intended to apply to the leaves, which, as in the majority of the Diosmee, are copiously furnished with pellucid dots, reservoirs of essential oil, and exhaling probably the peculiar odour which charac- terizes the family. The plant having recently flowered at Kew, he was enabled by the kindness of Sir Wm. Hooker to examine the flowers in a living state, but he regrets to hear that it is not likely at present to ripen its fruit at Kew, where Mr. Smith states that it was first introduced in 1845 in a case sent by Dr. M‘William from Norfolk Island; a locality, however, in which it is scarcely possible that it should be indigenous. The same collection from which the Acradenia was obtained, in- cluded a number of highly interesting plants, quite new to the Society’s herbarium. Among the most striking were several alpine Umbellifere, principally from Mt. Sorrel, of very singular habit, one or two of which have been recently figured by Sir Wm. Hooker in his ‘Icones,’ from specimens forwarded by Mr. Milligan or his fellow-labourer Mr. Gunn: others appear to be still undescribed. Dr. Meisner found among them a few new Proteacee, and a most remarkable dichotomous Pimelea, with densely silky imbricated leaves, which he proposes to call after its discoverer. It contained, moreover, a number of fine Hpacridee; among them a splendid species of Dracophyllum (D. Milligani, Hook.), remarkable as being the first instance of the occurrence of that genus in Van Diemen’s Land, and a new genus of Hemadoracee, with large handsome flowers and equitant leaves, recently described by Sir Wm. Hooker under the name of Hewardia tasmanica. ees Diaiain 'SataTy 38 "Read further “ Descriptions of two new Swan River Papilionacee.” By Thomas Moore, Esgq., F.L.S. _ The characters of these species, which have recently flowered for the first time in English gardens, are as follows :— » GasrRotosium PyRaMIDALE, ramulis foliis stipulis pedunculis bracteis ~~ ealycibusque densé tomentosis, stipulis longis setaceis recurvis, foliis pétiolatis 3-nis ovali-obtusis v. rotundatis mucronatis supra demim glabris, racemis axillaribus densé capitatis, pedunculis foliis paulld brevioribus, bracteis trifidis : superioribus obovatis mucronatis, calyce campanulato; dentibus superioribus lateralibusque obliquis, pedicellis calyce brevioribus, ovario subsessili villoso. Hab. ad fi. Cygnorum N. Hollandiz, Drummond, ser. 5. no. 54. ~ Cuorozema NekvosuM, ramulis pubescentibus, foliis laté cordatis rigidé euspidatis crassé marginatis integris utrinque conspicué venosis glabris undulatis subcarinatis, racemis paucifloris axillaribus terminalibusve, __pedicellis supra medium bibracteolatis calyce brevioribus. Hab. ad fi. Cygnorum N. Hollandiz, Drummond, ser. 5. no. 23. _ Both plants were obtained by Mr. Moore from the Nursery of Messrs. Henderson in the Edgware-road, where they had been raised from Mr. Drummond’s seeds. November 16, 1852.—N. Wallich, Esq., M.D., Vice-President, in the Chair. Read Mr. Henfrey’s memoir “On the Development of Ferns from their Spores.” : The author commences his paper by referring to the remarkable discoveries published by Count Leszczyi-Suminski in 1848. and the observations to which they have subsequently led on the part of others; which appear to necessitate important changes in our gene- ral views of the reproduction of plants. He finds, however, that the results of some of these later observations differ in many respects not only from those of Suminski, but also among themselves ; and that opinions are divided both as to the actuality of the most im- portant fact of all, viz. the process of impregnation, and as to the period and circumstances of its occurrence. Under these circum- stances he has thought he would be performing a useful task in sub- jecting the question to minute investigation, in the course of which he has carefully traced the development entirely through its course from the spore to the young leafy plant, applying every available means to clear up the anatomical conditions in each stage of the progress. The drawings which accompany the memoir were nearly all made by means of the camera lucida eye-piece, so that they repre- sent preparations actually seen. The subject is treated of under three heads ; the first section con- taining the author’s own observations ; the second, a critical exami- nation of those of preceding authors ; and the third, a few remarks on the general bearing of the results upon vegetable physiology. Under the first head, Mr. Henfrey describes first the prothallium, and its mode of growth, enlargement and decay; secondly, the antheridia, with their sperm-cells and spermatozoids; thirdly, the Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. xii. 3 34 Linnean Society. archegonia, with their papille and embryo-sacs; and fourthly, he gives his own view of the development of the embryo. On all these points he enters into much detail, tracing the several stages of the process with great minuteness. In his criticism of previous obser- vations, he passes in review the facts and opinions stated by Nageli, Suminski, Wigand, Thuret, Hofmeister, Schacht, Mettenius, Von . Mercklin, and Hofmeister again; and indicates the points in which they severally differ from each other, and also those in which he himself either coincides with or differs from each of them. The memoir is so completely one of detail, that under these two principal divisions it would be difficult to give a sufficiently clear abstract without running to too great a length ; and this is the less necessary as the memoir itself will immediately appear in full in the Society’s ‘ Transactions.’ Under the head of “‘ Development of the embryo” the author gives the following statement of his opinion on the question of impregnation, and the mode in which it is effected :—‘* My opinion with regard to the fertilization is, that the operation is effected by the contact of one or more spermatozoids with the mucilaginous filament contained in or hanging from the mouth of the canal of the archegonium. I have seen the spermatozoids swimming in num- bers:around the mouths of archegonia, but never detected one inside, and I do not see any good reason for supposing such a process necessary. The pollen-tube of flowering plants only comes in con- tact with the outside of the embryo-sac, and the influence is some- times communicated through a long suspensor ; and there does not seem to be any sufficient objection to the supposition, that the contact of the spermatozoid with the filament of mucilage which lies in the canal of the archegonium, suffices to convey the necessary sti- mulus. I imagine this stimulus resides in the mucilaginous fluid in which the spermatozoid is bathed in the sperm-cell, and which, ad- hering to this, is conveyed to the mucilage (protoplasm) of the ger- minal vesicle, just as the contents of the pollen-grain become com- bined with the protoplasm of the germinal vesicle in flowering plants. The nature of the process is clearly a problem beyond the reach of science, but it seems to me a necessary induction from the facts in the Phanerogamia, that the phenomena result there from the material union of two fluids, and I hence conclude that this is the ease here. ‘The comparatively few cases of successful impregnation among these prothallia, so many of which prove sterile, may perhaps be accounted for by the peculiar conjunction of circumstances re- quired to bring a sufficient amount of the fertilizing fluid, by means of the spermatozoids, to the germinal vesicle, at the precise epoch required.” His general. “‘ conclusions” are as follows :—‘‘ In summing up all these statements it becomes evident that the balance of evi- dence is in favour of the existence of sexual organs, and of a process, of impregnation, giving rise to a new individual, as asserted by Suminski, although under conditions somewhat different from those described by that author. Only two of the observers who have re- > ne, a See Linnean Society. 35 peated his investigations throw doubt upon these points, namely Wigand and Schacht; the statements of the former as to matters of fact are far from sufficient to bear out the mass of argument he has built upon them against the existence of sexes; in fact, his obser- vations were so imperfect that he described the two parts of the archegonium, the papilla and the enlarged embryo-sac, as distinct structures; while he never traced the origin of the new plant at all. His observations may therefore be safely passed over. Schacht’s are more complete, but he again only argues against the probability of a sexual conjunction, with the preconceived notion that this must be analogous to what he erroneously believes to be the conditions in the Phanerogamia ; while his observations furnish facts which greatly support the probability of an impregnation by the spermatozoids ; the difficulties he suggests being of little weight in comparison with those of accounting for the existence of all the peculiar structures by any other hypothesis. The opinions of all the rest are in favour of the impregnation (Thuret does not treat of the archegonia), and the differences between them, except in the case of Suminski, are unimportant in a physiological point of view, merely presenting questions of anatomical and morphological interest. And since Suminski’s description of the mode of origin of the embryo would be altogether at variance with what exists, not only in other plants, but also in animals, and is opposed to the observations of all the rest of us (except the doubtful support given by Von Mercklin), I cannot but repeat my belief that he was led from the facts by his imagi- nation being preoccupied by Schleiden’s doctrine of the impregna- tion of the Phanerogamia.” January 18, 1853.—R. Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. Read a paper “‘ On the Habits and Structure of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda, L.).” By William Yarrell, Esq., V.P. and Treas. L.S. The particulars relating to the habits of the Bustard are derived from the communications of several friends, who have had oppor- tunities of observing it both in England and elsewhere. The first notice is from C. A. Nicholson, Esq., of Balrath Kells, in the county of Meath, and furnishes remarks on the habits of the bird as ob- served by him in the neighbourhood of Seville, where it appears to be extremely abundant, the males beginning to arrive in the cultivated country at the beginning of February in flocks varying (according to Mr. Nicholson’s observations) from seven to fifty-three; the old birds always associating together, and those of a year old, which are much smaller, never mixing with them : the young birds have neither beard nor pouch. The females do not arrive till the beginning of April, and come singly or at most in pairs; the flocks of males then break up and are met with in parties of three or four, or even singly, spreading their tails on a fine day like Turkey-cocks, drooping their wings and expanding their pouches. The sexes appear to live quite separate. In May the cocks entirely disappear from the cultivated lands, retiring to the extensive grass marshes on the banks of the 3* 36 Linnean Sociely. Guadalquivir, and leaving the hens behind them. The young are hatched in the corn-plains about Seville, and are able to take care of themselves when the corn is cut in July, after which the young birds and hens follow the cocks to the marshes. The birds are very diffi- cult to shoot : the heaviest shot by Mr. Nicholson weighed 28 pounds; and the largest measured 7 feet 3 inches from tip to tip of wing. | Those of a year old weigh from 8 to 10 pounds, and are much the best eating. Their stomachs were found crammed with barley, both leaves and ears, with the leaves of a large-leaved green weed and with a kind of beetle. When flushed they generally fly for two or more miles, and sometimes at least 100 yards high. They never try to run, and Mr. Nicholson cannot imagine greyhounds being able to catch bustards, as they are reported to have done. Mr. John Wolley, jun., states that he had never seen the Great Bustard, or received its eggs, from the neighbourhood of Tangier. While ascending the Guadalquivir, about the month of September, he saw several flocks of four or five birds each on the level plains which extend along the banks of that river, walking apparently in file, some with their heads down. They did not appear to be timid, or very cautious; but once, as the boat came suddenly round a corner, several of them rose together, springing hastily to the height of 40 or 50 feet, and then turning suddenly and somewhat clumsily, after a few more rapid strokes, sailed along with the arched form of wings so general in game birds. Mr. Yarrell’s next notice is derived from a letter in the possession of John Britton, Esq., giving an account of two bustards seen on Salisbury Plain in the summer of 1801, within a fortnight of each other, both of which attacked mounted horsemen, and one of which was captured and kept for some time by Mr. J. Bartley of Tilstead, by whom it was eventually sold to Lord Temple. The letter gives numerous details of the habits of this bird from the information of Mr. Bartley. J. H. Gurney, Esq., of Norwich, states in a letter to Mr. Yarrell that, as far as he can learn, the last bustard killed in Norfolk was a female, which was shot at Lexham, near Swaffham, towards the end of the year 1838. The small flock of which this was one had for several years consisted of females only, the eggs of which were fre- quently picked up, having been dropped about at random in conse- quence of the absence of male birds, the latter having become extinct at an earlier date. Fredk. J. Nash, Esq., of Bishop’s Stortford, has several times informed Mr. Yarrell that, when taking the field as a young sportsman, he once saw nine flights of bustards in one day not far from Thetford in Norfolk. And Gilbert White of Selborne mentions in his Diary, under date of November 17th, 1782, that being at a lone farm-house between Whorwell and Winchester, the carter told him that about twelve years before, he had seen a flock | of eighteen bustards at one time on that farm. Three instances only of the appearance of the bustard in England have been noticed by Mr. Yarrell since the publication of the second edition of his ‘ Hi- story of British Birds ;’ one, a female, recorded by G. R. Waterhouse, Linnean Society. 37 Esq., of the British Museum, as occurring to him in August 1849 on Salisbury Plain; a second, also a female, shot at Lydd in Romney Marsh in January 1850, and now in the possession of Dr. Plomley, F.L.S. ; and the third shot on the 31st of December, 1851, in Devon- shire, and now in the possession of J. G. Newton, Esq., of Millaton Bridestow. Mr. Yarrell proceeds to state that he had long wished to have an opportunity of examining the body of a male bustard for the purpose of inspecting the gular pouch described by Daines Barrington in his « Miscellanies,’ 1781, and by Edwards in his ‘ Gleanings of Natural History,’ 1811, and thence copied both by Bewick and himself; but no opportunity for so doing occurred until recently. About four years ago the Zoological Society obtained from Germany six or seven young bustards, and one of these (a male) died within a year. The body. was examined by Mr. Mitchell and himself, and no gular pouch was found, but this was then attributed to the youth of the bird. In December last another male of this flock, believed to be four years old, died at the Zoological Gardens, and was also exa- mined by Mr. Yarrell. The neck was carefully dissected; but there Was no opening under the tongue, and he entirely failed in various attempts to distend any part of the membranes either by fluid or by air. Thus disappointed in his expectation of finding what had been so minutely described, Mr. Yarrell turned to the translation of the anatomical descriptions of the animals dissected by the Royal Aca- demy of Sciences at Paris at the end of the seventeenth century, and found the results of the dissection of six male bustards there given to correspond entirely with his own observations. He found also that Cuvier in his ‘ Lecons d’Anatomie Comparée,’ refers to no pe- culiarity in the neck of the male bustard. Professor Owen also en- tirely confirmed the fact of the absence of any gular pouch by his own dissection of a full-grown bustard made with the view of ob- taining a preparation of that supposed structure for the Museum of the College of Surgeons. Mr. Yarrell is therefore disposed to con- sider that there must have been some mistake on the part of the writers quoted as to the species of bird in which that pouch was observed. February 1, 1853.—R. Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. Read a paper ‘“‘On Venation as a generic character in Ferns; with Observations on the genera Hewardia, J. Smith, and Cionidium, Moore.””. By Thomas Moore, Esq., F.L.S., Curator of the Botanic Garden, Chelsea. The object proposed by the author is to inquire—lst, into the general importance of modifications of the vascular structure of the fronds in distinguishing the genera of Ferns; and 2ndly, into their relative value in the cases instanced. He begins by referring to the numerous authors by whom the venation has been turned to account in the formation of genera or subgenera, and in particular to the ob- servation of Mr. Brown, that “for subdivision, the most obvious as well as the most advantageous source of character seems to be the 38 Linnean Society. modifications of the vascular structure, or the various ramifications of the bundles of vessels or veins of the frond, combined with the relation of the sori to their trunks or branches.”’ He notices an in- stance in which Sir William Hooker has given generic importance to this character of venation alone, viz. in Dictyoxiphium; while in Schizoloma he regards the venation as only of subgeneric value; and he treats it as a mere question of words, to be decided by conve- nience, whether or not this character should be generically em- ployed. In the case for instance in reference to which Mr. Brown’s remarks were made, Polypodium (Dipteris) Horsfieldit, it seems to him, as a matter of convenience, a much simpler and more easily comprehensible idea, to regard Dipteris as a group of ferns with round naked sori, dichotomous primary veins and reticulated ve- nules, than to have to recognize in Polypodium (a genus of ferns having round naked sori) an included group called Dipéeris, in which the primary veins are dichotomous and the secondary reti- culated. In most cases, indeed, he regards subgenera as at the best but cumbrous contrivances. Looking at the question of venation, as illustrated in the great and universally adopted natural divisions of flowering plants, he thinks its generic importance in ferns rests on better grounds than convenience alone. In the case of flowering plants the presence of complete floral organs affords the necessary diversity for generic distinction ; but as an equivalent to these we have in ferns nothing more than certain naked or covered aggregations of spore-cases, which in the great bulk of the species scarcely afford any differen- tial characters, or such only as are microscopic, and therefore not to. be resorted to until all more obvious features are exhausted. But peculiarities in the venation of ferns are for the most part associated with peculiarities of habit; and since it appears quite justifiable to employ other characters than those derived from the fructification in distinguishing generically such groups as the ferns, in which the fructification affords comparatively so little variety, what is there so constant and unvarying, and at the same time affording such diver- sities, as the peculiarities in the development of the vascular struc- ture? Experience, moreover, attests this character of venation as one to be relied on with perfect confidence, because (with very in- significant exceptions) whatever modification of vascular structure is met with in a particular species, that and no other is found in that species. The author concludes, therefore, that without lowering the importance of the fructification of ferns in distinguishing generic groups, the modifications of venation are properly as well as conve- niently admitted to share in the same office. Passing to the question, whether a reticulated venation is in itself a sufficient generic distinction among the ferns, he determines it in the affirmative, inasmuch as a genus being in his view an arbitrary group, all that is really required as a generic character is a constant difference from established genera in the structure of some import- ant organ or system of organs. Now the vascular system must be regarded as of the highest importance in the vegetable ceconomy Linnean Society. 39 even in reference to propagation, it being not at all unfrequent to meet with extraordinary means of development in connexion with it, viz. adventitious buds; and in ferns particularly those points of the veins which serve in normal cases as the receptacles to which the sori are attached, in other cases become viviparous and develope gemmez from which new plants are produced.- He believes, more- over, that characters derived from this system of vessels, when taken in connexion with the fructification, though sometimes forming groups of considerable extent, and occasionally separating species having some external similarity, nevertheless in no case bring to- gether obviously ill-assorted species, but rather associate those of obvious similarity and affinity. For these reasons he is not prepared to follow Sir W. Hooker in setting aside the genus Hewardia of Mr. John Smith. He regards the difference as broad and important between the accidental anasto- mosing of contiguous venules which occurs in some species of Adi- antum, and a constant and complete reticulation, such as exists in the genus Hewardia; and he concludes that that genus should be retained. This conclusion he finds unexpectedly confirmed in Fée’s ‘Genera Filicum,’ just received in this country, where the same view is taken of the species of Hewardia as that which he had previously adopted, and an additional species (H. serrata) mentioned of which he had no previous knowledge. The species enumerated by the author are arranged as follows :— * Sori continui; venz primariz costiformes. 1. Hewardia adiantoides, J. Smith = Adiantum Hewardia, Kunze. 2. H. dolosa, Fée = Ad. dolosum, Kunze. ** Sori interrupti; ven uniformes. 3. H. Le Prieurei, Fée = Ad. Le Prieurei, Hook. 4. H. serrata, Fée. Mr. Moore regards H. Wilsoni, Fée (Adiantum, Hook.), as a true Adiantum; as also Sir W. Hooker’s variety y. of 4d. lucidum. In both these the dichotomous veins occasionally anastomose ; but there is nothing like complete reticulation, and the union, when it does occur, is evidently accidental. If the name Hewardia be retained, as the author proposes, for the genus of ferns to which it was first applied, he suggests that of Isophysis for the Melanthaceous genus, subsequently so called by Sir William Hooker in his ‘ Icones Plantarum,’ t. 858, the species retaining the name of Tasmanica. The same rule induces the author, in the second case referred to, to separate from the genus Deparia, Hook., a species having a truly and constantly reticulated venation, that of Deparia being uniformly free. The species in question is Deparia Moorii from New Caledonia, named by Sir Wm. Hooker after Mr. C. Moore, the Director of the Sydney Botanic Garden, by whom it was discovered ; and the fol- lowing are its generic characters :— 40 Linnean Society. Cionip1um, 7. Moore in Gard. Comp, (nomen tantim). Cuar. Gen. Vena reticulate. Sori semi-globosi, extra-marginales, in venularum apicibus excurrentibus pedicellati; capsulis pedicellatis. Indusia stipitata, subeyathiformia.—Frondes bipinnate ; soris ex utrdque pinnularum pinnatifidarum margine prominulis, Cionidium Moorii, T: Moore, 1. c. Deparia Moorii, Hook. in Journ. of Bot. iv. p. 54. t. 3. Hab. in Nova Caledonia, D. C. Moore (1851). February 15, 1853.—R. Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. Mr. Yarrell, V.P. and Treas. L.S., exhibited a specimen of the Sooty Tern (Sterna fuliginosa, Lath.), a species new to Britain and even to Europe, which was killed in October last at Burton-on-Trent, was preserved for, and belongs to the collection of H. W. Desveeux, q: Read an ‘ Additional Note’ to Mr. Newport’s memoir on Ich- neumon Atropos, Curt., in reference to the changes which take place in the alimentary canal after the parasite has ceased to feed, and while assuming its imago state. These changes, which are very considerable both as regards form and condition, are minutely de- scribed ; and every part of the canal is shown to be supplied with trachee, the trunks of which, one in each segment, passing trans- versely inwards, divide into branches, which, again subdivided, pe- netrate into and ramify through the structure. These, like all other tracheze, are formed, as described by Sprengel, of three tissues, an external membranous and an internal mucous, enclosing between them a strong spiral fibre. The nature and origin of the external tissue have been shown by Mr. Newport in previous memoirs; but he has since found.that the ramifications of the trachee which pene- trate the structure of the canal, or of any other organ, become de- nuded of this external covering. and then seem to be formed only of two tissues, the spiral and the mucous, if indeed there be not also, as he has some reason to think, an extremely delicate serous, or basement membrane, closely adherent to and uniting the coils of fibrous tissue on its external surface. The ultimate divisions of the trachee are always distributed separately, and do not anastomose, ending, as noticed by Mr. Bowerbank, in extremely minute, filiform, blind extremities ; and this Mr. Newport finds to be their condition in all structures, in the nervous and tegumentary, equally as in the glandular and muscular. These facts, the author observes, may perhaps assist us to understand the nature of the injection of the trachez by M. Blanchard, and also the mode of nutrition in insects ; the ultimate branches of trachez in the tissues of the alimentary canal operating, possibly, as absorbent structures, and inducing the chylific fluid elaborated around them to flow, in its transit outwards, along the channels formed by their loose peritoneal covering into the regular circulatory currents. Further, they may assist to explain the mode of coloration of the trachez in the experiments of MM. Alessandrini and Bassi, and of M. Blanchard, and also in others, yet Linnean Society. 41 unpublished, made by himself on the larve of Clissocampa Neustria, in July 1837. April 5, 1853.—R. Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. Read a “ Note on the Nature of Fasciated Stems.” By the Rev. William Hincks, F.L.S., Professor of Natural History in Queen’s College, Cork. The author lays it down as an indubitable principle, that what we call monstrosities or anomalies, either in the animal cr vegetable kingdom, are always susceptible of explanation from the operation, under unusual circumstances, of causes or principles the ordinary operation of which produces the normal structure of the species. Hence they are always worth studying until a satisfactory explana- tion of their nature has been arrived at, and even when that is ac- complished they have still an interest as illustrations of principles which we apply in the explanation of normal structures, or as proofs of the truth of particular views in respect to the origin or relations of parts in certain tribes. In accordance with this view of the im- portance of such investigations he proceeds to the consideration of the nature of fasciated stems, which, in concurrence with the view taken by Linneus in his ‘ Philosophia Botanica,’ he is disposed to regard as formed by a group of coherent stems. According to this view the real peculiarity would consist in the number and remark- able arrangement of the buds, the coherence of stems brought to- gether in such a relative position being, as shown by innumerable examples, a matter of course. Having regard to the crowded or unusually placed buds which are found in the anomaly called plica, tracing this cohesion upwards from the not uncommon ad- herence of two stems, and observing what must necessarily happen from numerous branches occurring together, it seems to him that the fascia is by no means difficult of comprehension. ‘The strize which it almost invariably presents exhibit the traces of the lines of junc- tion; and the curved or spiral contraction, which is so often met with, is perhaps accounted for by the growth in connexion with each other of internodes of unequal length. He would not, however, affirm that every stem which is called fasciate is composite in its nature ; for that term has been extended to cases of riband-like expansion, which, although dependent also on excess of nourishment, are dis- tortions of a single stem. Mr. Hincks then refers to the objections taken to the theory of Linnezus by several recent physiologists, and most clearly and ex- plicitly stated by M. Moquin Tandon in his ‘ Tératologie Végétale’ under the following heads :—1. “‘ We find plants with a single stem fasciated (as Androsace maxima), and nothing announces to us that we have in this case several individuals united together.” 2. “On certain fasciated stems we may remark that the branches are of the same number and the same arrangement as in the normal condition.” 3. “ Two branches accidentally united in the direction of their length form a body of which the transverse section presents a figure more or less resembling a figure of 8, if the coherence is recent or slight, 42 Linnean Society. and an elliptic or rounded figure if it is of long standing or yery in- timate : traces of two medullary canals are almost always found. In a fasciated stem the section gives an elongated figure in which we commonly observe only one compressed canal.” 4. ‘*To obtain a fasciated stem by coherence a great number of united branches would be required ; but though an accidental union of two branches - or of three may be admitted, it is very difficult for it to occur at the same time among four, five, or six. It is very difficult to suppose that these branches should all meet longitudinally, and that the union, instead of taking place around the central axis, should be en- tirely in one direction.” 5. “ If fasciated stems were the result of many combined branches, we ought to find cases in which the union is incomplete, and to be able to observe on their surface such a dis- tribution of leaves or buds as would announce the fusion of many partial spirals or verticils.” Setting aside the anomalies hefore alluded to, and guarding against the assumption that mere adherence explains an appearance which chiefly depends upon a peculiar position of buds and the pro- duction of numerous branches in a certain relation to each other, Mr. Hincks regards these arguments as not possessing any great weight. In regard to the lst he remarks, that herbaceous plants which have usually but a single stem, not unfrequently produce several, which often remain distinct, but their union into a sort of fasciated stem is by no means uncommon. In proof of this he showed specimens of Primula vulgaris and Hieracium aureum, exhi- biting the union of two stems so produced, and of Ranunculus bul- bosus showing still greater complexity in the stem, while the prin- cipal flower appeared to be made up of two or three combined, The 2nd objection may appear in certain cases to be just, but the author is of opinion that it is hazardous to conjecture that we have no more leaves present in a fasciated stem than we should have in the same space in an ordinary one, and he referred to specimens on the table as distinctly proving that an increased number of leaves and buds is a general character of fasciated stems. M. Moquin Tandon himself has, indeed, referred to an instance in Bupleurum falcatum where the leaves had been whorled, doubtless, Mr. Hincks observes, from those belonging to two or more stems being collected together. The 3rd argument he regards as very deceptive, for the nature of the transverse section presented by coherent stems must depend not only on the intimacy of their union, but also on the in- ternal structure of the stems themselves. When two flowers adhere without much pressure, they exhibit uniting circles somewhat re- sembling a figure of 8, but when more completely combined they have one circumference of a much-elongated figure, and something similar is to be expected in herbaceous stems. Even the elongated pith of a transversely cut woody fasciated stem only marks the inti- mate union of several branches ; and the author has noticed instances of the union of two and only two stems when the internal appear- ance was the same as in other fasciations. The 4th objection is derived from the improbability of the lateral union of many stems; Linnean Society. 43 but in addition to the common examples of the union of two stems, the author appealed to a distinct case of a union of four flower-stems of Scrophularia aquatica so complete that a composite flower was formed containing all the parts of the four component flowers, and produced a fasciated stem of Ranunculus bulbosus, where the union of several stems terminated in a flower having at least double the usual number of parts, as indisputable evidence of the fact. He also laid before the Meeting examples of numerous branches laterally arranged as if ready to combine, in immediate connexion with fas- ciated stems, which, according to his view, are made up of similar branches already combined. To the 5th and last objection he answers that cases in which the adherence is incomplete, and on which the marks of fusion of several stems are to be perceived, are in fact frequently met with, and may be appealed to as strong direct evidence in favour of the Linnean theory. A striking example is given in DeCandolle’s ‘ Organographie Végétale’ (pl. 3. f. 1) ina stem of Spartium junceum having several branches only imperfectly fasciated ; and similar specimens of Aucuba Japonica and Cotoneaster microphylla were exhibited, together with a fasciated Ash, in which the traces of numerous stems were observable upon the surface. The author stated his conclusion to be, ‘‘ that the fasciated stem is best explained from the principle of adherence, where, from super- abundant nourishment, especially if accompanied by some check or injury, numerous buds have been produced in close proximity ; and that the supposition of a leaf-like expansion of the elements of a single stem is insufficient to explain the usual appearances, and is founded on a false analogy between fasciated and certain other ano- malous stems.” The specimens exhibited were from a collection formed by the author and now in the Museum of Queen’s College, Cork. They consisted of—l, an intimate adherence of two stems of Bunium flexcuosum ; 2, an entire adherence of two stems with their heads of flowers of Hieracium aureum, and of two or more stems of Primula veris ; 3, a fasciated stem of Ranunculus bulbosus, with the terminal flower formed by the union of two, and the stem showing other signs of composition ; 4, a fasciated stem of Chetranthus Cheiri, apparently consisting of at least three united branches; 5, a fasciated stem of Veronica maritima; 6, two stems of the same plant, in which the buds which usually produce individual flowers have produced se- condary stems themselves flower-bearing, so as to transform a simple inte a compound spike; 7, a fasciated stem of Aucuba Japonica, seeming to prove the composite nature of such stems; 8, a fasciated stem of Cotoneaster microphylla, in which the composite structure is peculiarly evident ; 9, a fasciated stem of Frazinus excelsior showing a crowd of buds and of small branches in a linear series at the ex- tremity of fasciated portions, and also showing the curved contrac- tion of the fasciated branches from weaker branches being connected with a stronger one. The author also referred to a remarkable fasciculation of Asparagus officinalis in the same collection, the upper portion of which is spirally twisted, and the crowded branches from 44 Linnean Society. which seem to prove the presence of several stems ; and to some fine specimens of fasciations from the Society’s collection which were placed upon the table. April 19, 1853.—R. Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. Mr. Westwood, F.L.S., communicated a notice of the discovery in England of a new genus and species of Amphipodous Crustacea, the Niphargus stygius of Schiddte, an animal hitherto only found in the caverns of Adelsberg, celebrated as the locality of the Proteus anguinus. The Crustacean in question has been found in great numbers in a well near Maidenhead, the water of which was in con- sequence rendered unfit for use. Mr. Westwood took occasion to remind the Members of the opinion entertained by some naturalists of the existence of a distinct subterranean fauna of which the Pro- teus was an example ; the members of which fauna hitherto disco- vered were remarkable for their general want of colour, and for their being destitute of eyes, two physiological conditions dependent on the dark and gloomy places where they have hitherto been found. Mr. Kirby, in his ‘ Bridgewater Treatise,’ was one of those wri- ters who contended that such animals formed no part of the fauna now in existence on the surface of the earth, but belonged to a di- stinct subterranean race of animals. M. Schiddte, in a remarkable memoir recently published in the Transactions of the Danish Aca- demy (which Dr. Wallich has kindly translated for the Entomolo- gical Society of London, in whose memoirs the translation has ap- peared), has described a number of singular animals belonging to the class of Annulosa, exhibiting all the characteristics of such a fauna, being destitute of sight and also almost or quite colourless. Amongst them are the Crustacean in question, a species of Spider and false Scorpion, a species of the family Poduride, and several Coleoptera, all of which were found in the caverns of Adelsberg in Carniola. Mr. Westwood also noticed that animals very closely related to those described by Schiddte had been found in the Great Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, including also a blind species of Cray-fish, and one or more species of fishes destitute of eyes, at least wanting the transparent external cornea, although the optic nerve was present, which would probably allow a certain sensibility to the presence of light; and M. Schmidt had noticed that two newly discovered spe- cies of Beetles belonging to one of Schiddte’s singular genera had, although destitute of all external rudiments of eyes, exhibited a sensibility to light by retreating under stones and towards the darker parts of the cavern when brought towards its entrance. A remarkable new genus of Shrimps had also been recently described by Professor Bell in his work on British Crustacea, dredged at a very great depth of the ocean, of which the eyes, although present, were destitute of the usual hexagonal facets. Read a paper “On the Ocelli in the genus Anthophorabia, Newp.” By George Newport, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., &e. The author remarked that since the publication of his observations on these insects in the ‘ Transactions’ of the Society, his attention Zoological Society. 45 had again been directed to the peculiarities of the organs of vision in the male sex. He had already shown that these individuals pos- sess only ocelli at the sides of the head as well as on the vertex, but that these structures exist at precisely the same parts of the head as the ocelli and the compound eyes in-the female, and consequently that there can be no doubt of their homology. These appearances, however, having led some to question the correctness of this, it be- came necessary, in order to judge aright of their nature, to consider what are the essential conditions of a structure which is specially destined for the appreciation of light. This consists, as already pointed out in Fishes, of a follicle or pit in the tegument of the head, coated with dark pigment, and receiving the distal termination of a particular cerebral nerve, conditions which are precisely those of the ocelli, both of the sides of the head and of the vertex, in Antho- phorabia. ‘The various modifications of the eye in insects, with re- gard to the form of the cornea, the depth of the chamber, and the presence of the choroid, and of the lens, with reference to the extent of field, and the focal distance, of vision, were pointed out, and the degree in which they exist in Anthophorabia mentioned, as coinciding with the peculiar habits of the insect. The structures in the male were thus shown, by the presence of cornea, chamber, choroid, and nerve, to be most indisputably organs of sight. The author referred <= to the binary origin of the nerve of the middle ocellus of the vertex, as formerly pointed out by him in his paper on Pteronarcys ; to the origin of ocelli in the same way as other dermal tubercles ; and to the imperfect eye-spots in the Scorpionide being supplied with nervous filaments from the same optic nerve which supplies the recognised organs of vision in those animals. May 3, 1853.—R. Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. Read a memoir “On the Vegetation of Buenos Ayres and the neighbouring districts.” By Charles James Fox Bunbury, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. May 13, 1851.—John Edward Gray, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair. The following papers were read :-— 1. OBSERVATIONS ON THE EYE OF THE MOLE, IN A LETTER ADDRESSED TO W. Spence, Esa., F.R.S. By Joun Davy, M.D., F.R.S. In a letter with which you favoured me some weeks ago, you made mention of Schiddte’s ‘ Faunze Subterranese Specimen,’ and of the interesting discoveries described in it of several species of eyeless animals, the inhabitants of caves into which the sun’s rays never penetrate, and where, in utter darkness, visual organs would consequently be useless. 46 Zoological Society. Reflecting on the subject, I thought it worth while to examine with some care the eyes of the common Mole, an animal that spends the greater portion of its time beneath the surface of the earth, and seems in its general organization specially adapted for a subterraneous life. I shall chiefly notice what, in the dissections I have made, appears to be peculiar. 4 : The first peculiarity that arrests attention is, that the eyes of the Mole are not contained in bony sockets, but lie unprotected by any bony prominences in the cellular tissue, beneath the common integu- ments; and, in consequence, were this animal an extinct one, and its skeleton found in a fossil state, there being no orbit, the paleeontolo- gist might be led to infer that it is a species destitute of eyes. The next peculiarity I would mention is in regard to eye-lashes. These too it seems to be destitute of. The hair in which the eyes are buried, and by which they are defended, seems to be the common fur of the head. I could detect in that immediately surrounding them no hairs of larger dimensions, or in any respect different from those of which its fme fur is composed. The apertures for the admission of light constitute another pecu- liarity. When the fur is removed from the skin surrounding the eyes, a minute aperture appears over each, about =1,th of an inch in length when closed, and, in this state, linear and straight, but cir- cular when fully expanded. The extreme margins of these openings in the integuments being covered with fur, there is no well-marked appearance of eyelids,—indeed, it may be a question, whether the Mole, in strictness, can be said to possess these appendages. From the observations I have made, I am disposed however to infer that it does possess them, but imperfect ;—imperfect, not having been able to detect beneath the marginal cutis any vestige of ciliary cartilages, and yet having found in the surrounding subcutaneous cellular tissue muscular fibres so arranged as if designed for closure, resembling an orbicular muscle, and probably designed for and performing the part of such a muscle. As to the other muscles of the eye, one cnly, an abductor, was distinguishable from adjoining muscles. It is of large size compara- tively, and it may be inferred powerful: by acting on it, seizing it with a forceps, and drawing it upwards, the ball of the eye was re- tracted, thus denoting its office. I sought in vain for other muscles. That they were not discovered, supposing them to exist, is not sur- prising, considering the smallness of the organ and its peculiar un- . insulated position, most unfavourable for discriminating the subordi- nate parts pertaining to it, such as the muscles. Relative to the constituent parts of the organs themselves, except- ing their delicacy and minuteness, I am not aware of any peculiarity. The eye-ball is about =.th of an inch in diameter; the iris dark brown ; the pupil circular; the lens about ;4,1rd of an inch in dia- meter. ‘Traces of a vitreous humour, and also of an aqueous, were observable ; the former in the appearance of a cellular texture, as seen under the microscope with a high power; the latter as an exudation of moisture, a just perceptible quantity of fluid, when the ball was ~eLe oe a i ~ ee Zoological Society. 47 ruptured. From the situation of the eyes low down in the face, the optic nerves are necessarily of unusual length. The dissections, of which I have thus briefly given the results, I need hardly remark were made chiefly under water, and with the aid of the microscope. To return to the subject which led to the inquiry, viz. the subter- raneous eyeless Fauna brought to light by the Danish naturalist, you in your letter briefly advert to the speculations which this curious discovery gives rise to, as, “ whether these animals originally had eyes, and have lost them from want of use by inhabiting for ages dark eaves; or, whether they were originally created without eyes, for those abodes where they have no occasion for them,” &e. Allow me to ask—fully appreciating the difficulty of solving such pro- blems—whether the preceding observations on the eyes of the Mole are not rather in favour of the latter than of the former solution? It is easy to imagine how the optic nerve and the more important parts of the organ of vision might diminish in size from little use ;_ but it is difficult to suppose that the same circumstance could have any material effect in obliterating a eavity in bone—the eye’s orbit—and, if the Mole’s eyes were thus originally designed, why may not the dei animals have been formed in the first instance without eyes ? Jo not we see throughout Nature the most perfect harmony between the organic structure and the modes of life and habits of the living beings, so that the one is the true index of the other,—and that in the most minute details? Excuse my touching on these speculative questions, which, probably, from their nature, always must be specu- lative,;—unless indeed the eyeless species are found otherwise identical with species possessing eyes, and there be found also a gradation in them, as to power and size in accordance with the degrees of light to which the individuals have been habituated, as in advancing from the open air and the entrance of the dark abodes to their deepest recesses. Also, excuse me if the matter of this letter should not be new to you. Lesketh How, Ambleside, April 28, 1851. P.S.—It may be deserving of mention, that notwithstanding the small size of the eye of the Mole, its appearance in fcetal development is early: thus, in a foetus which I have recently examined, the length of which was about three-quarters of an inch, the eyes were distinct ; they were visible—conspicuous in the naked face, even without the aid of a magnifying glass, and indeed werenot much smaller than those of the adult, and but little different in appearance : the diameter of each was about ;4,th of an inch. 2. Notice or two ViverRIDz FROM CEYLON, LATELY LIVING YN THE GarveENns. By J. E. Gray, Esa., F.R.S. etc. The specimens here noticed were brought from Ceylon by Alex. Grace, Esq., and lived some time in the Gardens of the ——— The first is the species which I described some years ago under the name of Herpestes Smithit (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837, ii.), from a speci- men which was living in the Surrey Zoological Gardens, now pre- 48 Zoological Society: served in the Collection of the British Museum : that specimen was said to have been sent from the Cape of Good Hope, but this must have been a mistake, as it is quite unknown to Dr. Burchell, Dr. A. Smith, Mr. Smut, Dr. Wahlberg, or other zoologists who have written on the animals of South Africa. Mr. Grace informs me that it is an inhabitant of the interior part of Ceylon. It is by far the most beautiful species of the genus. The second is a new species of Cynicr1s, which I propose to call Cynictis MaccartTuim. Teeth normal. Red brown; hair elongate, flaccid, pale brown, with a broad, black subterminal band, and a long whitish brown tip; of hands and feet shorter. Feet blackish brown, hair white tipped. Claws elongate, slender, compressed, especially of the two middle toes of the fore feet. Tail redder; hair elongate, one- coloured, red. Ears rounded, hairy. ‘i Hab. Ceylon; Jaffna, North of Ceylon (4. Grace, Esq.). This species somewhat resembles Cynictis melanura in general colour, but the hairs are much longer, not so adpressed, and, when the individual colour of the hair is examined, most distinct. © I have proposed to name this interesting animal after Mrs. Mac- Carthy, the wife of the Treasurer of the Colony and the daughter of Mr. Hawes, the Assistant Secretary to the Colonies, who is much interested in the study of natural history, and has kindly sent me several very interesting natural productions from Ceylon. The skull differs from all the other Herpestes that I have examined in the back of the nape being deeply and sharply notched instead of transversely truncated, the notch in the living animal being filled up with a cartilaginous septum. 3. DESCRIPTIONS OF FIFTY-TWO NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS MITRA, FROM THE CUMINGIAN COLLECTION. By Artuur Apams, F.L.S. erc. 1. Mirra serotina, A. Adams. M. testd oblongo-fusiformi, acuminatd, serotind; spird productd, longitudinaliter plicatd, pli- cis confertis, undulatis; transversim sulcatd, sulcis subdistantibus ; aperturd antice dilataid; columelld quadriplicatd, basi coptortd et recurvd ; labro intus lirato, margine recto, antic? subangulato. Hab. Marquesas. f A light orange species, with a produced spire, and the outer lip pro- duced and rather angulated anteriorly. 2. Mirra cratitia, A. Adams. WM. testd oblongo-fusiformi, albidd, nitidd, liris elevatis transversis, acutis, et lineis elevatis, longitudinalibus, decussatim ornatd ; interstitiis suhtilissime lon- gitudinaliter striatis ; aperturd intus aurantiacd ; columelld plicis quinque instructd. Hab. South Africa. The shell from which the description is taken is worn, and not ‘in oe ee a etter ee ete ai ac i ee na ll ™ ims SPE v1] ARP ee re Zoological Society. 49 mprhoonlision. but it appears to be distinct from any species already 3. Mirra srramines, A. Adams. WM. testd oblongo-fusiformi, stramined ; anfractibus planulatis, liris transversis rugulosis, in- terstitiis cancellatis, suturd subcanaliculatd ; aperturd oblongd, antice subproductd ; columella piicis quatuor, basi subrecurvatd ; labro sins levi. Hab... An pecs transversely-ridged species, rather faintly cancellated between the interstices. 4. Mirra insienis, A. Adams. M. testd ovato-acuminatd ; spird acutd, levi, nitidd, albidd ; enfractibus planis, fascia angustd albo Suscoque articulatd, ornatd ; anfractu ultimo antic® transversim _ striato ; columelld sinuatd, biplicatd, antic incurvaid. Hab. Rains Island (Mr. Ince). This is a very peculiar form, reminding one almost of the genus Pusionella of Gray. 5. Mirra uzvis, A. Adams. M. testd oblongo-fusiformi, apice _-acuto, levi, nitidd, albidd ; anfractibus planis, supremis cancel- latis, ultimo fascid latd transversd, rufescenti ornato ; columelid quatuor, supremis magnis imbricatis. ab. Zanzibar. A smooth Oliva-shaped are with a polished surface, and a red- brown band blending mto the white of the last whorl; the plates of the columella are imbricate. 6. Mirra tiertna, A. Adams. WM. testd oblonyo-ovatd ; spird crassiusculd, apice mucronato, rufo, albo strigosd; anfractibus planiusculis, transversim subsulcatis ; columelld plicis quinque ; labro intus rufo. Hab. Philippines. Several specimens of this species, all agreeing in form, were col- lected by Mr. Cuming; but one only retained the natural colour of ‘the surface. 7. Mrrra Trarewua, A. Adams. MM. testd oblongo-ovatd, fuscd, nodulis albis, ad suturas coronatd, longitudinaliter subplicatd, transversim liratd, interstitiis vald? punctatis ; columella plicis ; labro margine crenulato. Hab. Island of Ticao, sandy mud, 6 fathoms. ’ This small, brown-coloured species is beautifully crowned, in adult specimens, with a diadem of white nodules at the suture of the whorls. 8. Mirra ricra, A. Adams. WM. testd oblongo-fusiformi, ob- scuro-fuscd, lineis pallidulis transversis prope suturas, albidd, maculis rufis, ornatd; levi; spird acuminatd ; anfractibus sep- tem, planulatis ; aperturd subdilatatd, intus albd ; columella pli- cis quatuor, albis, obliquis, instructd, antic? subintortd, Hab. Australia. Ann, & Mag. N. Hist. Ser.2. Vol. xii. 4 50 Zoological Society. This species partakes somewhat of the character of M. sacerdo- talis. 9. Mirra tuctruosa, A. Adams. M. testd oblongo-fusiformi, obscuro-fuscd, fascid unicd pallidd transversd ornatdé; spird acutd, anfractibus planulatis, transversim liratd ; interstitiis valde clathrato-punctatis ; aperturd oblongo-ovatd; spird bre- viort; labio crassiusculo ; columelld plicis quatuor salbitibus: Hab. China Seas. This species was obtained during the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang. 10. Mirra inscuutpra, A. Adams. WM. testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird brevi, acutd; aperturd breviori; anfractibus planulatis, pallide fused, maculis rufis, longitudinalibus, variegatd ; cingillis integris, acutis, prominentibus, equidistantibus ; liris intermediis submoniliformibus ; interstitiis longitudinaliter valde sulcatis ; aperturd elongatd ; columelld plicis tribus ; labro acuto margine crenulato. Hab. Ceylon (Dr. Gardner). “ This species also belongs to the same group as M. cingulata. | 11. Mirra exarata, A. Adams. M. testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird aperturam equante ; anfractibus subrotundis ; suturd subcanalicu- latd, olivaced, fasciis duabus pallidis transversis, longitudinaliter costatd ; costellis equalibus, subdistantibus ; interstitiis lineis in- sculptis, profundis, transversis ; columelld plicis tribus, validis, instructd. Hab, Bais, island of Negros, coarse sand, 7 fathoms. The most characteristic feature of this species is the sculpture be- tween the ribs, consisting of deep, papel transverse lines. 12. Mirra rurocineta, A. Adams. WM. testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird aperturam equante; anfractibus rotundis, sordidé albd, fascid transversd latd rufo-fuscd ; longitudinaliter costatd, cos- tis obtusis, rotundis, distantibus; interstitiis lineis impressis transversis ; aperturd subdilatatd; columelld plicis guatuor in- structd ; labro tenui antic? dilatato. Hab. ? A small, slightly-worn specimen serves for this deseription, but it is of peculiar form and sculpture. 13. Mrrra niripa, A. Adams. M. testa ovato-fusiformi; spird aperturd breviori ; anfractibus subrotundis, levi, nitidd, badid, anfractu ultimo antice et postice sulcis nonnullis transversis in- structo; aperturd oblongd, anticeé subdilatatd ; columella plicis quatuor ; labro simplici. Hab. A small, brown, shining species, with only a few transverse spiral lines for sculpture. 14. Mrrra compra, A. Adams. M: testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird aperturd longiore; anfractibus subrotundis, superné angilatis, ea ee i i ell | ETT See i. i. al tld i Zoological Society. 51 © sordide albd, longitudinaliter plicatd ; transversim liratd, liris apud plicas nodulosis ; interstitiis valde et regulariter clathratis ; _anfractu ultimo antic? angustato et reflero ; columeild plicis quin- gue instrucid ; labro intern? sulcato, margine crenulato. _. Hab. China Seas. This species, remarkable for the strong cancellations between the longitudinal plicee, was brought home in H.M.S. Samarang. 15. Mrrra xieata, A. Adams. WM. testd ovato-fusiformi; spird apertura longiore, anfractibus planis ; castaneo-fuscd, lined unicd pallidd, transversd in medio anfractuum, longitudinaliter plicatd, transversim subliratd ; columella plicis quatuor ; labro simplici, | margine acuto. Hab. Pasacao, province of South Camarinas; isle of Luzon, on the sands. The colouring of this species is very different from the allied spe- cies, and the sculpture is peculiar to many species belonging to the subgenus Turris of Schumacher. 16. Mirra vinex, A. Adams. WM. testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird aperturam equante ; anfractibus rotundis; fuscd, prope suturas alliduld, zonuld albd angustd transversd in medio anfractuum ; longitudinaliter corrugato-plicatd, transversim liratd, liris apud _plicas nodulosis ; interstitiis longitudinaliter striatis ; anfractu _ ultimo angustuto et antice subreflero ; columelld plicis quatuor in- - structd; labro acuto. Hab. ? __ This species somewhat resembles armillata of Reeve, but the cor- rugated nature of the plicee distinguishes it. 17, Mirra tnrerrvupta, A. Adams. MM. testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird acuminata ; aperturd breviori ; anfractibus planis, prope suturas angulatis; albidd, rufo-fusco variegatd ; cinguld trans- versd fuscd moniliformi in medio anfractuum ; longitudinaliter plicatd, plicis equalibus, obliquis, obtusis, distantibus ; trans- versim corrugato-liratd ; interstitiis punctatis ; anfractu ultimo anticé recurvato ; columelld supern? excavatd, plicis tribus in- strictd ; labro simplici. Hab. North Australia. The peculiar interrupted, dark, transverse band distinguishes this elegant species. “18. Mirra extmtA, A. Adams. M. testd ovata; spird brevi, ob- - tusd ; nitidd, aurantiacd, maculis triangularibus albis, cingillis - levibus, latis, transversis ; interstitiis valde longitudinaliter cla- thratis ; aperturd lineari-oblongd ; columeild plicis quatuor ; la- bro intus levi, margine crenulato. Hab. ——? This pretty little species belongs to the same group as M. leta, but the. sculpture and markings are quite different, although the colour is aati similar, 4 52 Zoological Society. 19. Mirra muuritirata, A. Adams. M. fusiformis, spird acu- minatd, aperturam equante ; anfractibus rotundatis, ad suturas angulatis ; pallid rufo-fuscd, cingillis levibus transversis, @ distantibus, obtusis, ornatd; interstitiis lineis pissin hs: og elevatis, subconfertis, instructis ; anfractu ultimo antice producto et subreflexo ; columelld antice truncata, plicis quatuor seiiad labro intus sulcato, margine crenulato. a0 Hab. China Seas. This species was obtained during the voyage of H.M.S..Samarang. 20. Mirra tata, A. Adams. M. testd ovatd, crassiusculd, auran- tiacd, punctis albis ornatd ; longitudinaliter plicatd ; anfractibus planiusculis, transversim baer liratd ; interstitiis simplicibus ; columelld plicis quinque instructd ; labro crenulato. Hab. Ticao, under stones, low water. An oblong-ovate, shining, orange species, with scattered round white granules and regular nodulose lire; the spire is obtuse; the whorls are flattened and longitudinally plicate. 21. Mirra ornata, A. Adams. M., testd oblongo-fusiformi, acu- minatd ; spird acutd; anfractibus novem, ad suturas angulatis ; suturd ‘subcanaliculatd ; albd, fasciis transversis rufo-fuscis,or- natd ; longitudinaliter contd « costis regularibus, obliquis, sub. crenatis ; interstitiis transversim valde clathratis ; anfraciu ultimo antice subumbilicato et recurvo ; columella plicis quatuor ; labro postice epee eine Hab. This species is peculiar for its regular form and exactness of scul- pture, as well as for its beauty of colouring. 22. Mirra nopiuirata, A. Adams. . M, testd te pallide fulvd, fascid latd rufa transversd ornatd ; spird acumi- natd, turritd; anfractibus octo planis, infra suturas angulatis ; nitidd, longitudinaliter plicatd; plicis distantibus, prominenti- bus, obliquis, prope suturas valde nodulosis ; interstitiis-lineisim- pressis ranenerste ornatis ; columelld plicis quatuor ; labro acuto. Hab. An elegant aus with the pliciform ribs strongly nodulose at their hind part. 23. Mirra pura, A. Adams. MM. testd fusiformi; spird turd longior: ; anfractibus subplanulatis ; albd; cingulis 5 A versis angustis, subelevatis, crenulatis, rufo subarticulatis ; liris tribus intermediis ; interstitiis valde punctatis, ornatd ; aperturd oblongd, antic? dilatatd ; columella plicis quingue ; labro intus sulcato, margine crenato. : Hab. An elegantly formed species, with the last whorl somewhat recurved. 24. Mirra cinGuLATa, A. Adams. MM. testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird acutd, aperturam equante ; anfractibus planulatis ; ed albd ; cingillis prominentibus subcrenulatis, acutis, iransvert = | ee ee Fee oe es mY PEO aeaa sr ON eo eee ee alagledr sasians 58 - interstitiis longitudinaliter valde clathratis, ornatd ; anfractu ul- g aT * + 2< REGS producto et recurvato ; columelld plicis tribus. ., This species belongs to that group in which the whorls are encir- ed with transverse ridges. 25. Mirra reticuiata, A. Adams. MM. testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird aperturd breviori; anfractibus subrotundis; albd; cingulis “2° transversis, @quidistantibus; -acutis, crenulatis, sulcis obliquis soon Longitudinalibus decussatis, ornatd ; columelld plicis quatuor ; la- bre intus suleato. Hab. Port Essington, 7 fathoms, sandy mud (Jukes). “Remarkable for the acute, crenated, transverse ridges which give the surface a reticulated appearance. 0026: Mapracaspervnata, A. Adams. M. testd oblongo-fusiformi, 01) pallide, rufo-fused, ad suturas albidd, longitudinaliter sulcatd, transversim liratd, liris nodulis, subacutis, asperulatis ; spird pro- __ ductd ; anfractibus sex, subrotundis ; aperturd spire dimidium 7 e@quante, antic? abrupt? truncatd ; columeild plicis tribus ; labro acuto. “Eph istialiae: ~The transverse ridges are set with subacute nodules, which give a ough appearance to the surface. SOD. cis 27. Mirra mirapiiis, A. Adams. M. testd fusiformi;_spird acuminatd, aperturd longiori; anfractibus novem, planulatis, su- lise perneangulatis; albd, maculis rufis triangularibus, et punctis trans- verso-elongatis, rufescentibus, ornatd ; longitudinaliter plicatd, plicis obtusis, regularibus, distantibus, nodosis ; nodis postice © \°prominentibus ; cingulis transversis nodulosis, obtusis, elevatis, ~~ instructd ; anfractu ultimo in medio angustato ; antice productd \ © Setisubreflerd; aperturd elongatd ; columella plicis quatuor ; labro ~\postice angulato, in medio inflexo, intus sulcato, margine crenulato. “Hab. Socotra. 28. Mirra ausina, A. Adams. M. testd oblongo-fusiformi, albd; ot 8 conicd, longitudinaliter plicatd ; anfractibus subrotundatis, _ firis transversis ornatis ; anfractu ultimo levi, postic? subplicato, antice sulcis transversis punctatis ornato ; columelld plicis quin- ~vogngue s,aperturd oblongo-lineari ; labio subcalloso ; labro acuto. sikab . Batangas, Isle of Luzon, on the reefs. »» This Mitra.is perfectly white, and ofa very peculiar form; Mr. Cuming possesses but a.single specimen. 29. Mirra ama@ena, A. Adams. M. testd oblongo-fusiformi, albd, maculis rufis variegatd ; spird acuminatd ; anfractibus octo, sub- rotundis, carinulis transversis, levibus, elevatis, rufo-fusco articu- ‘latis, lird intermedia crenulatd, interstitiis eleganter longitudina- liter. clathratis ; aperturd angustd ; columelld plicis quingue ; . labro tenui, acuto. - This elegant species belongs to the annulated group. 54: Zoological Society. 30. Mirra Rutina, A. Adams. M. testd oblongo-fusiformi, acu- minatd, aurantiacd, maculis albis sparsis ornatd, fasciis pallidis transversis prope suturas, suturis maculis aurantiacis maculatis ; spird productd, acutd ; anfractibus seplem, transversim liratd ; anfractu ultimo liris antice distinctioribus; aperturd dilatatd; colu- melld plicis quatuor ; labro acuto, antice crenato. : Hab. ——? 31. Mirra pevicata, A. Adams. WM, testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird aperturd longiore ; anfractibus planis; suturd subcanaliculatd, sor- didé albd, fasciis transversis duabus pallidis ; longitudinaliter plicatd, plicis angustis, acutis, crenulatis, interstitiis transversim clathratis, anfractu ultimo antice angustato et recurvato; colu- melld plicis quatuor ; labro margine acuto, crenulato. Hab, Cape York, 8 fathoms (Jukes). A species of great delicacy, both of colour and sculpture. 32. Mirra rurescens, A. Adams, M., iestd ovato-fusiformi ; spird acuminatd, sordide albd, rufo variegatd, cingillis transversis, acutis, subdistantibus, liris duabus intermediis, intersiitiis longi- tudinaliter valdé sulcatis, sulcis subdistantibus ; columelid antice tortuosd, plicis quatuor obliquis instructd ; labro intern? suleato, margine crenato. Hab. China Seas. This species, obtained during the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang, partakes of the same kind of sculpture as M. annulata and others, for which Swainson has formed a subgenus. 33. Mirra rormosa, A. Adams. M. testd oblongo-fusiformi, albo rufoque eleganter variegatd ; spird acutd ; anfractibus 8, rotundis, ad suturas subangulatis, cingillis transversis nodulosis ornatd, nodulis subquadratis, in seriebus regularibus ; aperturd spird bre- viore; columella plicis quatuor ; labro acuto, margine crenato. Hab. Marquesas (Rohr). A very handsome species, entirely covered with close-set granules arranged in transverse rows. 34. Mirra sacerporauis, A. Adams, M. testd oblongo-fusi- formi ; spird acuminatd ; anfractibus novem, subplanulatis ; fulvd, lineis fuscis transversis ornatd, prope suturas albidd, rufo macu- losd ; levi, sulcis distantibus, transversis insculptd ; anfractu ulti- mo basi recurvatd; aperturd spire dimidium equante, recurvatd et antice truncatd ; columelld plicis quatuor, obliquis ; labro albo, acuto, antice rotundato. Hab. Australia. A fine species of a peculiar character, both as regards form, colour and seulpture. 35, Mirra macrosprira, A. Adams. MM, testd pyramidali-turritd ; spird valde productd, albidd, maculis rufis irregularibus ornatd ; anfractibus planis, longitudinaliter costellatd, costellis levibus sub- confertis, interstitiis clathrato-punctatis ; anfractu ultimo antice I a lt il a i NN i i a oe eee oe te le Na lll ll sal hi alain Zoological Society. 55 “>> angustato, basi subrecurvo ; columella plicis quingue ; labro intus lirato, margine acuto, antice producto subangulato. A whitish species with a produced acuminate spire, and the short aperture with the base narrowed; the outer lip dilated anteriorly. 36. Mirra BELLULA, A. Adams. MM. testd oblongo-fusiformi, albd, nitidd, maculis rufis moniliformibus ad suturas ornatd ; \ transversim sulcatd ; anfractibus planis, supremis cancellatis ; aperturd angustd, antic? productd, contortd, et recurvd ; columella plicis quatuor instructd. Hab. Isle of Capul, on the reefs, low water. A small, transversely grooved, polished species, with a necklace- like row of reddish spots near the sutures. Sai 4 _ 37. Mrrra ecuinata, A. Adams. MM. testd fusiformi-turritd ; _spird acuminatd, albido-carneold, ad apicem rufescente, ad basin fascid latd transversd rufescenti ornatd ; anfractibus planis, longi- tudinaliter costatd, costis prominentibus, prope suturas echinato- ~~ nodulosis, et inferne subnodosis, interstitiis sulcato-clathratis ; labro intus lirato ; columelld plicis quatuor instructd. Hab. ? 38. Mirra scrruta, A. Adams. M. testd fusiformi-turritd ; spird acuminatd, anfractibus planiusculis, carneold ; punctis ru- . fescentibus sparsim pictd ; longitudinaliter costatd, costis undula- tis, levibus, subdistantibus ; interstitiis valde clathratis ; aperturd antic? angustatd, basi subrecurvd ; columelld plicis quatuor in- structd. - Hab. China Seas. A small, turreted, light-coloured species, with undulating ribs and clathrated interstices. 39. Mirra MarMorEA, A. Adams. WM. testd fusiformi-turritd ; spird acuminatd ; anfractibus planiusculis ; olivaced, rufo-fused marmoratd, longitudinaliter costatd, costis levibus, crassis, superne subnodosis ; interstitiis transversim exaratis ; columelld plicis quingue ; basi subcontortd et recurvd. Hab. Tambay, Isle of Negros, coarse sand, 10 fathoms. ‘Greenish, marbled with fuscous; ribs flat and broad ; interstices with transverse engraved lines. » 40. Mirra rurricuua, A. Adams. WM. testd fusiformi-turritd, albd, carneo sparsim pictd, anfractibus superné angulatis ; longi- tudinaliter costatd, costis crassis,levibus, distantibus, supra nodosis, - interstitiis sulcato-clathratis; aperturd spiram equante ; columella RE ad Hoe yok supremis duabus duplicatis ; basi vix recurvd. ab. : ‘ A small, elegant, turreted species, with smooth, thick ribs, and the interstices punctate-clathrate. 41. Mirra paturpa, A. Adams. WM. testd turrito-fusiformi ; 56 Zoological Society. ‘spird productd, acuminatd; anfractibus convexiusculis; albidd, sparsim rufo-fusco pictd, longitudinaliter costatd, costis nodulosis, interstitiis clathrato-punctatis ; aperturd brevi, antic? angustatd, basi productd, tortuosd et recurvd ; columelld quadriplicatd. Hab. Marquesas. A delicate, small, pale species, with scattered red-brown blotches, and with the interstices between the ribs clathrate-punctate. 42. Mirra Juxesir, A. Adams. WM. tesid ovato-fusiformi; spird acutd, aperture dimidium equante ; anfractibus planis; prope su- turas angulatis ; albidd, fasciitis castaneis transversis ornatd; trans- versim sulcatd, sulcis, prope suturas, profundioribus ; longitudina- liter plicatd, plicis obtusis, distantibus, prope suturas nodulosis ; columelld plicis quatuor instructd ; labro intus levi. Hab. North Australia (Jukes). 5 This species is intermediate between M. corrugata and M. wulpe- cula, but is distinct from both. 43. Mirra crenipiicata, A. Adams. M. testd ovato-fusiformi; spird acuminatd ; anfractibus planulatis ; brunned, longitudinaliter plicatd, plicis crenatis tenuibus ; transversim liratd, liris equali- bus, confertis, nodulosis ad plicas; aperturd spiram equante ; labio postice calloso, antice dilatato ; columella plicis quatuor in- structd ; labro intus dentato-lirato, margine incrassato. Hab. ? This species belongs to the group named by Mr. Gray Zierliana. 44. Mirra crentiasris, A. Adams... M. testd fusiformi; spird aperturam equante; anfractibus planis ; fulvd, longitudinaliter substriatd, transversim sulcatd ; aperturd oblongd, antice dilatatd ; columelld_plicis quatuor, antice incurvatd ; labro, in medio, recto, margine crenato et incrassato. Hab. ? This Mitra resembles in many particulars M. fulva, Reeve, but in all the specimens I have seen the outer lip is thin and smooth in that species. 45. Mrrra casTanea, A. Adams. M. testd. ovato-fusiformi ; spird productd ; anfractibus rotundatis ; castaned, nitidd, trans- versim punctato-striatd ; aperturd quam spira breviore, antic? dila- tatd; columelld plicis quingue. Hab. ? This species most closely resembles M. badia, Reeve, but’ the whorls are rounded, and it differs in other particulars. 46. Mirra picnroma, A. Adams. M,testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird acuminatd; anfractibus planis ; suturd canaliculatd, antic? castaneo- Sused, postice albidd ; longitudinaliter substriatd, transversim sul- catd, sulcis antice profundis , aperturd antice dilatatd ; columelld plicis quinque instructd, antice productd; labro intus lirato, mar- gine crenulato. Hab. ~-——? ———— a -» Hab. Zoological Society. 57 poe Mirra peausatTa, A. Adams... M.. testd .ovato-fusiformi ; oom apice cancellato ; anfractibus planulatis ; suturd profundd, alba, transversim sulcatd, sulcis distantibus ; aperturd. oblongd, antic? dilatatd ; columella postice excavatd; plicis sex ; labro an- tice dilatato, intus lirato. t This species somewhat resembles M. erenilabris in form, but it is -much more slender, and the sculpture is different. nadie Mirra Nopunirera, A. Adams. M. testd turritd viadorad: spird.quam apertura longiore ; anfractibus, prope suturas, angulatis; = albidd, longitudinaliter plicatd, plicis, ad suturas, nodulosis, pro- _>.e0\ minentibus, distantibus ; transversim liratd, interstitiis longitudi- naliter striatis ; aperturd intus fulvd, postice angulatd ; columella plicis ee 5 labro margine flexuoso. . Hab, ——? “A small species, somewhat resembling M. eymelium, Reeve, but without the transverse black lines. ae 49. Mirra Mariz, A. Adams. © M. testd ovato-conicd ; spird . acuminatd ; anfractibus planis, cingulis tribus, transversis, acutis, ..,,.elevatis, interstitiis longitudinaliter profund? sulcatis, instructis ; postice albd, antice hepaticd, reticulationibus albis punctisque rufo- Fuscis, ornatd ; anfractu ultimo, sulcis transversis, interstitiis simplicibus ; columelld plicis quinque instructd ; labro intus sul- -».eato, margine crenulato. Hab. Eastern Seas. Somewhat like M. zncisa, bat of very different form and colour. : Sib NP pusitia, A. Adams. M.testd ovato-fusiformi ; spird turritd, elongatd ; anfractibus subrotundatis ; albidd, fascid lata " transversd, carneold, antic? ornatd ; longitudinaliter costatd, costis regularibus, equalibus, subconfertis, interstitiis transversim valde i igfape aperturd brevi; columeild plicis quatuor. ab. “A small species, with a single, transverse, faint pink band at the fore part of the last whorl. 61. Mirra cotumBE.iina, A. Adams. M. testd ovato-fusifor- ‘mi ; spird brevi, acutd ; anfractibus subrotundatis, albo castaneoque ) eoncinne pictd, transversim evanidé sulcatd ; aperturd ovato-ob- longa, a aed dilatatd ; columelld plicis quatuor ; labro intus levi. Hab. > This cad is very prettily painted with white and dark chestnut- brown, and in form somewhat resembles a Columbella. 62. Mrrra Parmiprrnarum, A. Adams. M. testd ovato-fusi- formi ; spird brevi, acuminatd; anfractibus planulatis, cinered, flammulis: rufo-fuscis, longitudinalibus, variegatd; transversim sulcatd, sulcis regularibus, subdistantibus, profundis ; aperturd lineari-oblongd, intus fuscd ; columella plicis sex; labro margine albo, crenato. _ Hab. Philippines. 58 Zoological Society. This species is figured in Mr. Reeve’s Monograph as M, flammea of Quoy, the original type of which, however, Mr, Cuming possesses, and it is entirely different. May 27, 1851.—W. Yarrell, Esq., V.P.L.S., in the Chair. . The following communications were received and read :— 1. Notice oF THE Birps or MADEIRA, IN A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY. By Epwarp Vernon Harcourt, Esa. Sir,—According to your request, I send you a short account of the birds that breed in Madeira, together with a list of those that visit the island. The birds of Madeira are less numerous than might be expected in so genial a climate, and most of them are merely varieties, where they differ from European species. The birds that breed in Madeira are these :— Latin Name. English Name. Portuguese Name. 1. Faleo Tinnunculus, Linn. Kestrel. Francelho. 2. —— Buteo, Linn. Buzzard, Manta. 3. Strix flammea, Linn, Barn Owl. Coruja. 4, Turdus Merula, Linn. Blackbird. Mérlo-preto. 5. Sylvia Rubecula, Lath. Redbreast. Papinho. 6. atricapilla, Lath. Black-cap Warbler. Tinto-Negro. | (Curruca Heinekeni, Jard.) Variety of the former. Tinto-Negro de . Capello. r a 7. Curruca conspicillata,Gauld. Spectacle Warbler. None. : 8. Regulus ? ——-? Abibe. 7 9. Motacilla boarula, Linn. Grey Wagtail. Larnadaie ama- rella, j 10. Anthus pratensis, Bechst. Meadow Pipit. Corre de Caminho. 11, Fringilla butyracea, Linn. Green or Wild Canary. Canario. q 12. Carduelis, Linn. Goldfinch. Pinta Silva. q ip. Petronia, Linn. Ring Sparrow. Pardao. q 14. Tintillon, Webb & Buff-breasted Chaf- Tentilhao. Berthelot. finch. 7 15, —— eannabina, Linn. Greater Redpole or Tinto roxo. - Limnet. 4 16. Cypselus unicolor, Jard. _—__ Lesser Swift. Andorinha da Serra. ! 17. —— murarius, Temm. Common Swift: — do Mar. q 18. Columba Trocaz, Hein. Long-toed Wood- Trocaz. Pigeon, 19. Palumbus, Linn. Ring-dove. Pombo. ' 20. Livia, Briss. Rock-pigeon. Pombinho. 4 2). Perdix rubra, Briss. Red-legged Partridge. Perdix. 22. Coturnix, Lath. Quail. Cordonez. i 23. Scolopax Rusticola, Linn. Woodcock. Gallinhola. } 24. Sterna Hirundo, Linn. Tern, Garajao._ ; 25. Larus argentatus, Brunn. Herrmg Gull. Gaio, Guiyata (after 3 3rd aut, moult). i 7 -_ = vo ——_ ey eS. oe “ a ed ol J roe a Ore a Zoological Society. 59