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Li sane ms. tase Re oeeoees CP - - seeisalbsszize 4 t+ en Bee: saenenaee astskck oe nessa rif ei ase beret eee te® u ; i] et bits seeeaszs sit ~ ares sos: sesssesgsecs, ree wetele =e ees Perey? aenae wuae acaseonce Sites cte= Se ietewwee ros ze rete Uswar i ters obec estos vene® tone er oe eka teee serene nese ee ehwpeaneee wee" o debe Sat at hetwr visceral nerves; q’, q', nerves to the mantle ;. 7, pair of viseeral nerves applied to intestine, and tube of ink-bag; s, small ganglion at origin of this pair of nerves ; t, another pair of visceral nerves supplying the anterior vena cava; uw, ganglion on the wall of vena cava; v, v, branchial nerves, each ex ibiting’ a ganglionic swell- ing v'; w, w, genital nerves; 2, nerve sup pplying systemic and branchial hearts and posterior aorta; .y, cord or commissure, uni- ting gastric ganglion to that. on vena cava; 2, gastric ganglion ; A, nerve to spiral stomach ; B, B, B, nerves to gizzard ; é C, ditto to pancreatic organ; D, ditto to ‘pylorus ; ; K, ditto to cardia ; F’, F, oesophageal nerves or par vagum. Fig. 2. Under view of anterior suboesophageal and optic ganglions :—-a, an- terior mass; 6, under commissure connecting same to. median ; c, ¢, upper ditto ; d, upper buccal ganglions; é, e, nerves supply- img the outer buceal capsule ; f, commissure between ‘same and lower buccal ganglions; g, commissure from upper buccal gan- , glions to anterior subcesophageal mass; h, ditto from optic: to upper buceal ganglions; 7, optic ganglions; j, j, optic nerves; 1,7, small round ganglions on same ;-m, m, brachial nerves ; 2, two pairs of nerves to muscles in-front of eyes. | Fig. 3. OU gen view of optic ganglions :—i, optie ganglions; 7, 7, ‘optic nerves; k, k, enlargement of same at back of eye; /; small round eanglions on optic nerves; m, m, nerves from same,to, skin of head above and behind; 2, », filaments from optic nerve ap- plied to back of eye; 0, eye. Fig. 4. Otolithe from auditory sac. Il.—A few Notes on the Structure of the Belemnite, By GipEon ALGERNON Mante1, Esq., LL.D., F.R.S., President, of. the West London Medical Society, &e.. To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. *« Dr. Mantell, who has adopted Mr. Channing Pearce’s ‘generic name of Belemnoteuthis for some of these fossils (Belemnites), seems to. be disposed to detract. from the merit of their anatomical restora- tion, for which the Royal Society awarded the Royal Medal to. Pro- fessor Owen in 1848, affirming that the true characters of the animal of the Belemnite have yet to be discovered. But he forgets:that.a change of name does not change the essence of a thing,. and that the essential character of a Belemnite is the phragmecone.’’—From the Article entitled ‘‘ Progress. of Comparative Anatomy,’’ Quarterly Reyiew, March 1852, p. 383, : GENTLEMEN, Tue personal imputation; the mystification of the point at issue, and the misstatement respecting the late Mr. Channing Pearce, Dr. Mantell\om the Structure of the Belemnite. 15 im the above extract: from the extraordinary article misnamed «The Progress of Comparative Anatomy,” would not have pro- voked one. line from my pen, but for the assertion that ‘“ the _essential, character ofa Belemnite.is the phragmocone.” As the advancement of our knowledge of the organization of the extinct forms of Cephalopods would ‘be seriously impeded were a state- ment so erroneous, and emanating from such high authority, to remain uncontradicted, I beg the favour. of being permitted to lay before. your readers a concise illustration of such parts of the structure of those two distinct types of the highest order of Mol- lusca—the Belemnite and Belemnoteuthis—which were blended together to form the supposed animal of the Belemnite in the memoir, above referred to. | The accompanying sketches represent certain fossils from the Oxford elay of Wiltshire, in which the distinctive characters of the two genera are clearly exemplified: the original specimens were examined: by many of the eminent foreign naturalists who were attracted to London last summer by the Great Exhibition, andnot one of those competent observers dissented from the opinions expressed in my communications on this subject to the Royal Society, and published in the ‘ Philos. Trans.’ for 1848 and 1850; my statement being merely confirmatory of the’ original views. enunciated by Messrs. Pearce, Cunnington, Charles- worth, &c. I'am most anxious, as I have ever been, to abstain from any comments that may lead to controversy, and J therefore restxiet myself tu a simple description of the specimens, of which figs. 1 and 3 are representations on a reduced scale: the originals in my possession may be seen by any naturalist interested in the inquiry: those in the British Museum are now admirably ar- ranged by the able curator Mr. Woodward*. It is however necessary to state most emphatically, that the essential. character of a Belemnite consists, not, as the reviewer affirms, in the pos- session.ofa,‘‘phragmocone”’ or conical chambered siphunculated shell, whichis common to numerous genera of Cephalopods, but of an‘osselet of a peculiar form and structure which invested the phragmocone, ‘and extended ‘distally beyond the chambered ‘shell ina solid rostrum’ or guard. It is this mineralized rostrum which was called Belemnite, thunderbolt, or dart-stone, by the early naturalists. * See my ‘Hand-book to the Gallery of Organic Remains im the Bri- tish Museum.’ The characters of the fossil Cephalopods are succinctly and clearly pointed out in Mr. Woodward’s excellent ‘ Manual of the Mol- lusea.’ 16 Dr. Mantell on the Structure of the Belemnite. ‘The Betemnite.—In the specimen represented (fig. 1), and in the diagram fig. 2, all the known parts Fic. 1 of the structure of the Belemnite are Ria: displayed: but slight traces of any portion of the organization of the ori- ginal are preserved, except the sepio- staire, which comprises an external horny capsule, a calcareous osselet of a fibrous structure, and an internal chambered conical shell, termed the phragmocone. 1. The Phragmocone (fig. 1b, fig. 2d) occupies the centre of the Belem- nite: this is an inversely conical- chambered shell, composed of a series of shallow concave cells of a nacreous substance, traversed by a siphunculus or tube (fig. 2 c), which is situated on the ventral region of the cone. The phragmocone terminates distally in an elongated apex, and enlarges towards its basilar part, and two elongated flat processes extend from the dorsal mar- gin of the peristome or upper margin, as shown in figs. 1 & 2 a, a: this struc- ture was first detected in a specimen discovered by my son near Trowbridge. The shape of the phragmocone, as it appears when exposed by the re- moval of the part next to be described, is seen in fig. 2 d: the transverse lines indicate the septa of the cells or cham- : bers ; the siphunculus which traverses pay eunires PuZoSIANUS them is shown at ec. (4 natural size, linear). a, a, the two basilar processes of the phragmocone; 0, the phragmocone, much fractured and collapsed ; ¢, the rostrum or guard of the osselet, containing within the upper part the distal portion of the phragmocone, as seen in fig. 2. 2. The Osselet (fig. 1c, fig. 2h, 1).—This body is in the form of a very elongated verted cone, and surrounds the phragmo- cone throughout its entire length, as shown in section in fig. 2: the basilar or upper part is extremely thin, and blends with the outer integument or capsule (fig. 2 0, b): it rapidly increases in thickness as it descends, and closely invests the phragmocone, the delicate elongated apex of which is completely protected by it (fig. 2.f, g): beneath this point it becomes solid, and in most Dr. Mantell on the Structure of the Belemnite. 17 species is prolonged into a cylindrical rostrum or beak, which terminates in a conical apex. Fig. 2. a a NN Diagram of the known parts of the structure of Belem- nites Puzosianus. * a, a, the dorsal basilar processes of the phragmocone. b, 6, upward extension of the attenuated osselet. c, siphunculus. d, phragmocone : the transverse lines indicate the septa. e, the capsule or outer investment of the guard. f, the distal part of the phragmocone. g, the alveolus or eayity in the guard. h, vertical section of the guard. i, the solid part of the rostrum. k, a suleus or groove on the ventral aspect of the 1, shows the Scnahion of the capsule, in section, continued from e. | m, diverging parallel strize observable between the dor- sal processes of the phragmocone. n, transverse section of half the diameter of the ros- trum, to show its radiated structure. Mlle Wye S Xs OE 7A om . | a = eS \ = = ? : As the solid part of the osselet is generally separated from the upper portion a short space above the apex of the phragmocone, in consequence of the thinness of its walls, the Belemnite is commonly found with a conical cavity in the upper part: this hollow was termed the alveolus, and the solid part the rostrum or guard; and until shown by the specimen figured in my first memoir on the Belemnites, no one suspected that the osselet was continued upwards, and formed a thin envelope around the basilar termination of the phragmocone*. The osselet of the Belemnite, as is well known, has a radiated structure : it is formed of thin concentric laminz of very minute prismatic trihedral fibres, which are arranged at right angles to the planes of the successive layers :—see the sections, both longi- tudinal and transverse, in fig. 2. The solid part, or rostrum, is * The depression observable in the specimen fig. 1, midway between the letters 6 and c, indicates the fracture of the walls of the osselet, and the point where the Belemnite is usually separated from the other parts. It was by removing large blocks of clay, with the imbedded Belemnites undisturbed, that the instructive examples here figured were obtained. Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. x. 2 18 Dr. Mantell on the Structure of the Belemnite. very thick and heavy, and invariably mineralized. by calc spar : the original structure was probably light and calcareous, like that of the osselet of the Sepza. 3. The Capsule, or sheath; a thin horny or. testaceous case which invested the osselet, and constituted the external envelope of the receptacle ; it is seen partially covering the osselet at c, fig. 1, and in section at e¢, /, fig. 2. This structure was for the first time demonstrated in my memoir, ‘ Phil. Trans,’ 1848. With the exception of obscure indications of a carbonaceous fibrous structure between the dorsal processes, the above descrip- Vig. 3. tion comprehends all the facts re- lating to the organization of the Belemnite with which we are at present acquainted: no soft parts, no traces of arms or tentacles, no vestiges. of the eyes or man- dibles, have been discovered. The Betemnotrevutuis.—From the extraordinarily perfect state in which some examples of the Be- lemnoteuthis are met with, a brief description will suffice. lig. 3 (from a drawing with which Mr. Woodward of the British Museum has favoured me) exemplifies the essential parts of the structure of these Cephalopods. The body is of an elongated form, with a pair of lateral fins, two large sessile eyes, eight uncinated arms, and a pair of armed tentacles ; each arm was furnished with from twenty to forty pairs of hooks, placed alter- nately (fig. 4, 4). Like the Sepia it had a piemental sac or ink-bag, which is generally filled with the inspissated secretion. The inferior part of the body is of a conical form, and contains a brown horny osselet, with asiphunculated phrag- mocone, which terminates in a rostrum of a fibrous. structure (fig. 4, 5). The osselet of the BELEMNOTEUTHIS ANTIQUUS (3 natural size, linear). a, the uncinated arms and tentacles; 6, remains of the head and eyes; c, the mantle, with indications of fins; d, the pigmental sac or ink-bag ; é, the osselet : the transverse lines indicate the septa of the phragmo- cone, which is covered by a horny sheath or capsule ; f, the solid termi- nal apex of the osselet. Mr. ©. C. Babington on a new species of Eleocharis. — 19 Belemnoteuthis appears to have been calcareous, like that of the Sepia. In all essential points of structure the Belemnoteuthis is 1, 3. Detached hooks (natural size). Fig. 4. 2. Three hooks with attached horny rings: from a specimen in the aati of Re ricer ¥ ‘od ® r 4. Part of one of the arms, showing . ‘four hooked spines. 5. Transverse section of the distal part of the osselet of Belemnoteuthis, exposing the apex of the cham- bered shell in the centre, sur- rounded by the radiated osselet, | a: (magnified four diameters). Horny rings and hooks of Belemnoteuthis antiquus. related to the Calamaries, but the lateral position of the fins, the presence of a chambered shell or phragmocone, and the peculiar character of the tentacles, establish it as a peculiar type. The distinction between the Belemnites and Belemnoteuthis is too ob- vious to demand further notice; no one, I presume, will again mistake an osselet of the latter for the phragmocone of the former detached from the alveolus of its guard: and I would fain hope that this attempt to elucidate an important palzonto- logical question, will not again subject me to the imputation of unamiable motives. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your faithful servant, Chester Square, Pimlico, GipEON ALGERNON MANTELL. June 1852. III.— On a supposed new species of Eleocharis. By Cuar.es C. Basineton, M.A,, F.R.S. &c.* My attention has been recently directed by Mr. H. C. Watson to the British species of Eleocharis, and, having been led to con- cur with him in the idea that there is an undescribed plant be- longing to that genus which inhabits the western coast of Scot- land, I purpose pointing out in this paper the respects in which it differs from our known species included in the genus, .and adding a few remarks upon them. In the autumn of the year 1844, I had the pleasure of accom- panying Professor Balfour of Edinburgh in a tour through the district of Cantyre in Argyleshire. At Tayanloan, on the western coast of that peninsula, he gathered two or three specimens of the plant upon which this paper is founded, but. did not observe its difference from Scirpus pauciflorus, in company with which it * Read before the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, June 10, 1852. 2 20 Mr.C.C. Babington on a new species of Eleocharis. was growing, owing to the similarity of their outward appear- ance. Doubtless plenty of it might have been obtained if it had been looked for. To Mr. Watson we are indebted for the knowledge of this new species, as he received two small specimens from Dr. Balfour, and forwarded the fruit of one of them to me; with a request that I would endeavour to ascertain its identity with any known species. Through the liberality of Dr. Balfour I have’ ‘had an opportunity of examining all the plants belonging to this group which are contained in his herbarium, but have only succeeded in finding one additional specimen of the Tayanloan plant ; for the permission to retain a portion of it I am much indebted to him. The similarity in outward appearance of the species included in the groups named Eleocharis and Beothryon renders it neces- ‘sary to pay close attention to the structure and form of their several parts: thus the form of the mouth of the sheaths which surround the base of the stem, the form of the nut, that ofthe base of the style and of the outer glume, and the length of ‘the hypogynous bristles, have been carefully examined, and found to afford distinctive characters when the more conspicuous organs do not present any describable or constant differences. I propose the following as a provisional name and character for the plant, as I have totally failed in finding any described species to which it can be referred. The name is given im com- memoration of the gentleman to whose acuteness of observation we owe its discovery, and who deserves so well of botanists from his researches concerning the geographical distribution of plants. Eleocharis Watsoni ; spicis terminalibus solitarius oblongis, glumis acutis (?) infima obtusiuscula basin spice cireumcingente, stylo bifido, achenio utrinque convexo oblongo obtusissimo basi paululum attenuato angulis rotundatis tenuissime punctato-striato, basi styli persistente late depresso, setis hypogynis 4-6 achenio brevioribus, culmis basi vaginatis, vagina abrupte truncata. Radix ignota. Squamee radicales late, obtusee, rubescentes. Culmi 3-4 unciales, tenuissime striati, erecti, nudi, tenues, basi vagina viridi inferne rufescente superne fusco-marginata circumdati. Sete hypogyneze breves, retrorsum hispidee, achenio dimidio breviores. Hab. in palustribus maritimis prope ‘'Tayanloan”’ in com. ‘ Argyle’? Scotiee. It might be allowable to stop here, but I think it desirable to add a few remarks concerning the differences between this’and the allied plants. 1. The lowest glume is larger than the others, and surrounds the base of the spike in E. uniglumis, E. Watsoni and E. multi- caulis, but does not do so, and is not larger than the others in E. palustris. Mr. C. C. Babington ona new species of Eleocharis, 21 2.,The stigmas are two in all. except H. multicaulis, which possesses three. They have not been) seen in E. Watsoni, but the lenticular nut renders it nearly certain that they are two in number, 3. The nut is more or less compressed, but variable in shape, in all except E. multicaulis, in which it is acutely triangular and topshaped.. In £. palustris it is roundish, with or without a slight narrowing or stalklike point at the base. In FE. uniglumis it is pearshaped.. In H. Watsoni it is oblong, but a little nar- rowed at the base. In all of them it is smooth, with the excep- tion of KL. Watsoni, where its surface is closely punctate-striate throughout. 4, The nut is shorter than the hypogynous bristles in E. pa- lustris and E. uniglumis ; equals them in H#, multicaulis ; and. ex- ceeds them in LE. Watsoni. 5. The sheath surrounding the base of the stem is transversely truncate, but having a very obtuse point on one side in all except E.) multicaulis, where the point is acute. It is thus seen that there are very considerable differences between the several plants under consideration, and it is with them alone that L. Watsoni is likely to be confounded, since its. generic character separates it from the group Beothryon, The other European species of Eleocharis are E. ovata and E. atropur- purea, which form the genus Eleogenus of Esenbeck, where the glumes are all equally large and more densely imbricated than in the typical group of species ; and E. carniolica and E. acicularis (to which our plant shows some resemblance in its short bristles), which constitute the genus Scirpidium of Esenbeck, where the bristles are deciduous, not persistent, as in E. Watsoni. The Scirpidia also are trigynous, and their nuts are obovate, much » narrowed below and trigonous; EH. acicularis has a ribbed and transversely striated nut, and FE. carniolica, which closely re- sembles it in appearance, has short subulate leaves termimating the sheaths. It. does.not seem desirable to extend this paper by discussing the distinctions between E. Watsoni and the North American species’ of Hleocharis ; let it suffice to state that every endeavour has been made to ascertain if our plant could be identified with any of them, but that none such has been found. It is earnestly hoped that Scottish botanists will not long allow. this curious plant to continue in the dubious position of a species, founded upon so small a number of specimens as hardly to justify its separation from its allies; indeed, could it with any probability have been considered as a state of any one of them, this-dissertation would not have been*written. 22 Mr. W. Clark on rare British Gasteropodous Mollusca. IV.—On some of the rarer British Gasteropodous Mollusca. By Wiii1am Criark, Esq. To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. GENTLEMEN, Exmouth, Devon, June 1852. I sxe the favour of you to record the discovery of some of the rarer British Gasteropodan Mollusca, which have hitherto either escaped the researches of naturalists, or been mentioned so im- perfectly as to afford little assistance to science. During the present May and June I have met with the animals of the Chem- nitzia fenestrata, Ch. scalaris, Ch. clathrata, Ch. acicula; and seen many specimens of the Ch. elegantissima and Ch. pusilla, men- tioned in the 8th vol. of the ‘ Annals, N.S. p. 112, which con- firm the distinctness of the two, agreeably to M. Philippi. I have likewise reviewed all the Chemnitzie of my two memoirs in the ‘ Annals,’ N.S. vol. vi. p.451, and vol. vii. p. 108, and ex- amined others of the animals of this genus, which with me in- cludes the Odostomie and Eulimelle of authors, and [ can confi- dently state that they do not offer the slightest generic variation ; indeed some of them scarcely present, from their similitude, suf- ficient specific characters. I cannot doubt but the genus Chemnitzia will ultimately com- prise these species and some of those of Aclis. I consider the Chemnitzian family one of the most interesting and classic of our indigena ; nature has stamped it with unmistakeable distinction. I think that a disseverance of its integrity by the distribution of any of its species in other genera, can only be looked on as a disruption of natural affinities. With regard to the Rissoe, I have examined the animal of R. proxima, which has long been a desideratum, to settle the doubts respecting it and Montagu’s R. vitrea; and also the R. punctura and R. reticulata of that author : this last discovery solves another difficulty. The R. striata, R. semistriata, R. cos- tata and R. soluta have also been observed.. On my return to Bath, I will arrange the minutes of all that are now men- tioned. As these animals have long been sought for, I regret that I cannot at once send the descriptive notes; but I am so immersed in the examination and acquirement of these difficult minute objects, that I am obliged to solicit this‘ postponement ; and I hope in the interim still further to diminish the number of our rarer desiderata. I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant, Witiiam Ciark. P.S. I may mention that I have taken here a second example Dr. Kneeland on the Skeleton of the Great Chimpanzee. 23 ‘of the Megathyris cistellula, and that Mr. Barlee has met with several. I have also dredged at the same haul, in the laminarian zone, live Lucina borealis and L. flexuosa, and examined both. June 22, 1852. [ have just. captured an example of the species. known as the Lepton convezum, which will solve the problem of its distinctness or otherwise from the Lepton nitidum, concerning the animal of which I have full notes. Whilst 1 write, I examine my prize, which is very vivacious, free from rusticity, and I feel confident will afford to science the information which has been so long a great desi- deratum. In the same glass I have a live example of the rare Chemnitzia obliqua or C. decorata, 1 cannot yet say which (if they are distinct), for fear of disturbing the animal, which is a splendid, unrecorded creature, displaying specific characters of more than usual beauty and interest. I will prepare without delay an account of my captures.—W. C. V.—On the Skeleton of the Great Chimpanzee, Troglodytes gorilla. By S. Knzzxanp, Jun., M.D., Boston, U.S.A. Tue Boston Society of Natural History has recently received a valuable addition to its cabinet in a nearly complete skeleton of the Troglodytes gorilla from Western tropical Africa. It consists of a fine skull, with lower jaw and teeth complete ; all the ver- tebree except the atlas; the pelvis complete; both scapule and clayicles ; the humerus, radius, and ulna of left side, the ulna of right side with humerus and radius broken; the right femur, tibia and astragalus, the head and upper part of left femur ; all the ribs, except two on the left side; the upper part of the ster- num ; and a few bones of the hand and foot. The skull is of great size and strength; the internal capacity is only 27 cubic inches, 8 inches less than in another belonging to the Society. From the great development of the crests, and the massive character of all the bones, this is undoubtedly a male ; the jaws, the complete development and worn appearance of the teeth, indicate an adult, if not an old animal. The sutures are hardly discernible, as usual; the superciliary ridges and crests ave remarkably developed. The specific characters pointed out by Professor Agassiz, in the decreasing depth of the infra-orbitar canal from before backwards, and the projection outwardly of the inner wall of the orbit, are well seen ; there are two infra-orbitar foramina on each side. The nasal bones are united together, in the lower half presenting traces of a median suture, in the upper half a prominent ridge ; the portion of the bone between the inner 24 Dr. Kneeland on the Skeleton, of the Great.Chimpanzee. orbitar angles of the frontals seems to confirm Dr, Wyman’s * opinion that it is an independent piece, having its own, centre of ossification ; the foramen existing midway between the incisive foramen of each side and the edge of the. alveolus, on the left side is replaced. by two as in the Chimpanzee. . The zygomatic ‘arches are exceedingly strong, enclosing temporal muscles) of immense size. The other,anatomical peculiarities of the cranium and face have been sufficiently detailed by Dr. Wyman (op. cit.). The following points are interesting :—the dental formula is the “same as in Man; the median upper incisors are twice the size of the lateral, the reverse of which is the case. m the lower jaw ; they are also respectively longer, giving to the upper incisors a convex edge, and to the lower a concave one: in’ the upper, jaw there is an interval of two or three lines between the imcisors and canines, and no interval between the latter and the premolars, the reverse being the case in the lower jaw, in which, however, the interval is less: the upper canines extend from the alveolus 13 inch, the part within the alveolus being at least, 2 inches ; they are an inch broad and 3 of an inch thick ; the upper canines “are worn anteriorly by the lower, and posteriorly, by the first lower premolar, giving to the tooth a triangular shape, with an anterior, a posterior, and an internal cutting edge ; the action of the lower premolar on the upper canine, and of the latter on the lower canine, produces a distinct talon, or heel, at the base of these teeth: the two grooves mentioned by Dr. Wyman as occurring on the inner face are not seen in these canines, probably from the extent of the worn surface ; there is the lower portion of a single groove, however, which is lost in the worn surface beyond : to produce these surfaces there must be some lateral motion of the jaw, which would hardly be expected from the great length of these teeth. The premolars and molars agree with Owen’s description in the ‘ Cyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology ’ (Art. Teeth) ; the first lower premolar is much larger, than the second, the anterior cusp being so strongly developed, and the posterior so little, that the tooth resembles an enlarged human canine ; all the lower molars have three cusps on the outside and two on the inside. The lower jaw is of great strength, the ramus being at right angles with the body of the bone; the condyle is 12 inch wide and 3 of an inch thick, projecting much internally : the coronoid process is higher than the condyle. The external face of the ramus is deeply concave for the masseter muscle, which is nearly 3 inches wide; the ramus inclines very much outwardly at its lower portion, and is grooved internally for the internal pterygoid muscle: the body of the jaw is 13 inch high, * Boston Journal of Natural History, vol. v. p. 426, Dr Kneeland on the Skeleton of the Great Chimpanzee. 25 and nearly'an inch thick ; the height and width at the symphysis is’ 2 inches, the thickness 1} inch ; the chin is convex and re- treating, its convexity measuring 31 inches. The skull measures from the posterior plane of the occiput to margin of incisors 13} inches; the diameter of face across zygomata is 6% inchés ;’ from the posterior plane of occiput to fronto-nasal suture 7} inches ; from this suture-to margin of incisors 6} inches ; breadth of zygomatic fossa 2 inches; length of bony palate 33 inches ; inter-orbitar space 13 inch ; lateral diameter of orbit 13, vertical 13 inch. “TronkOf the vertebre, only the atlas is wanting. The odontoid process of the axis, instead of being almost perpendi- ‘eular, as in Man, inclines backwards at an angle of nearly 50°: the spinous process is an inch long, spreading out at its apex to nearly the same width, with an evident disposition to fork as in the human type ; it is also somewhat concave at the end of its ‘under surface. The bodies of all the cervical vertebre are higher, ‘but narrower than in Man, and received deeply one in the other. The spmous processes are horizontal, long, and (excepting the third, which is sharp-pointed) are swelled or club-shaped at the end; the fourth is the longest, the third the shortest; their lengths are, from the posterior face of the spinal canal, as fol- lows :—-the third, 2} inches; the fourth, 33 inches; the fifth, 3% inches ; the sixth, 34 inches ; the seventh, 31 inches : the use of these long processes is sufficiently obvious, being required for the ligamentum nuche necessary for the support of the ill- balanced head. The transverse processes are very long, the pos- terior an inch in length; the anterior or cervical ribs begin to be seen at the fourth, increasing to the sixth and seventh, which last are of equal size—there. being, as a general rule, no cervical ribs to the seventh vertebra of the mammal neck. All are pierced for the vertebral artery on each side; the transverse processes are directed obliquely downwards. The dorsal vertebre are fourteen in number, as in the Chim- panzee (according to Cuvier; Vrolik gives this last only thirteen). They much resemble the human in shape and size; the last two are rather larger, and more like human lumbar vertebre; the spinous and transverse processes are much more developed. The spinous process of the first is like the cervical, and 2% inches long; the spimal canal is less in this and the remainder of the column ; the spimous processes of the second and third are com- pressed laterally at the end, and 23 inches long. At the fourth the spinous processes begin to descend, as in Man, to the ninth ; below this they resemble the lumbar spines, though pointing more downwards. The last dorsal has its rib on the right side firmly anchylosed to the body. 26 Dr. Kneeland on the Skeleton of the Great Chimpanzee. The lumbar vertebree are only three in number,—less than in any of the higher mammals ; but taking in the dorsals, there is in both the same number as in Man. The bodies are larger and thicker than m Man ; the vertical diameter is less anteriorly than posteriorly, making an anterior concavity, and showing that. the erect position is as unnatural for this as for the other Quadru- mana. The sacrum, which has a slight lateral deviation to the left, consists of eight bones, firmly joimed together, the intervertebral spaces being obliterated except between the first. and second. The first bone resembles very much a lumbar vertebra, and on one side its transverse process, though bearing the upper portion of the articulating surface for the right ilium, is not connected - with the lateral portion of the sacral wing below; on the left side the bony union is complete, and the spinous process is conti- nuous without interruption or foramen with the median sacral crest ; this crest at its upper portion is 2 inches high, gradually decreasing, and lost entirely on the sixth bone, where also the sacral canal termimates. The sacrum is long and narrow, having a very decided concavity anteriorly. The articulating surface for the ilium is confined to the first three vertebre. Whether any coccygeal vertebre are anchylosed in the sacrum it is not easy to say; from the uncommonly large number of sacral vertebre, viz. eight, it would seem probable that these also include the coccyx ; the terminal bone ends in a rounded projection, which has some- what the appearance of an articulating surface. In Dr. W. Lewis’s description of a Gibbon (Boston Journal, vol. i. p. 35) it is stated that the coccyx consisted of a single bone; in our specimen this single rudimentary coccyx may have been attached to the sacral terminal surface. The bodies of the second and third cervical vertebree incline backwards; the direction becomes perpendicular in the fourth, and in the last three a little inclined forwards: at the upper dorsal region the spine is slightly convex, in the lower dorsals and lumbar concave; at the last lumbar and first sacral it is again convex, and in the lowest portion again concave. . The whole number of vertebre is 32, and possibly 33; the length of the cervical, dorsal and lumbar regions is 22 inches: from this it would appear that the spinal column is very nearly as long as the human, which it also comes nearer to in its curves than any of the Quadrumana. : The pelvis departs widely from that of the Chimpanzee and Orang, and approaches that of Man in the greater spread of the ilium, its deep anterior concavity, and corresponding posterior convexity, on which a well-marked longitudinal ridge indicates the origin of the gluteus maximus; and a fainter semicircular Dr. Kneeland on the Skeleton of the Great Chimpanzee. 27 line, extending from the sciatic notch to near the rudimentary anterior inferior spinous process, about 2} inches above the ace- tabulum, the probable origin of the glutzeus minimus; the ante- rior superior spinous processes are fully 6 inches in advance of the plane of the sacrum. ‘The sacrum extends only to the spine of the ischium, about 4 inches from the tuberosities of this bone, so that the pelvis has somewhat of the lengthened narrow form peculiar to the Quadrumana, though it projects far more from the line of the spine than in any other members of the group. The superior aperture has not the narrow elongated shape of the Orang’s, the antero-posterior diameter being only half an inch ereater than the transverse, these being respectively 63 and 6 inches; in the female, according to Dr. Wyman’s: measure- ments, the difference is 3 inches. The tuberosities of the ischia are very thick and broad, and the rami of the pubes very wide ; the whole lower portion indicates great strength and solidity. — It is the portion of the pelvis between the acetabulum and the lower edge of the sacro-iliac articulation which is so much shorter than in the Chimpanzee, and which gives to the pelvis its more human aspect. The length of the sacrum is 6} inches, the width 4; breadth of pelvis between spinous processes of ilia 161 inches ; breadth of ilium 9; length of os mnominatum 143 inches ; from outside of one tuber ischii to the other 7-15 inches. At first sight the scapula has much the appearance of the human, having very much its shape, but somewhat enlarged ; it more nearly resembles that of the Orang than that of the Chim- panzee, but is more like that of Man than either in its more equilateral form. The spine is nearly in the middle of the bone, making the supraspmous nearly equal to the infraspinous fossa ; after about one-third of its length it ceases to have the broad thick edge of the human spine, reaching nearly to the posterior border, but is continued by a sharp well-marked ridge quite to the edge, as in the Orang; the spine is also more perpendicular to the plane of the dorsum than in Man, and its direction more that of the axis of the trunk. The acromial process is longer and less curved than in Man, and wants the strong angle on its posterior surface, a little in advance of the plane of the glenoid cavity ; its arch over this cavity belongs also to a much larger circle. The coracoid process has a greater inclination down- wards than in Man and the Chimpanzee; this direction, in the Orang, Vrolik considers a sign of inferiority. The glenoid cavity is much the same as in Man, the upper half being less narrow in proportion. The subscapular fossa is very deep, and divided by prominent ridges into five or six smaller depressions. There is no deep suprascapular notch as in the human scapula ; but there is a decided concavity at the base of the coracoid pro- 28° Dr. Kneeland on the Skeleton of the Great Chimpansee. | cess, without the narrowness ofa notch, contrasting strongly with the nearly. straight line of the, upper border of, the bone in the Orang. Length of scapula along the base.10 Wehesi ; broadest part 74 inches. The clavicles are shorter, and.stronger. than, in, Man, ond less curved ; the edges are more.angular; their, length in a straight), line. is 6} inches ; their circumference in| the middle 2 inches, thence 1 increasing to each.end., The) subclavian. ridge. is. well marked. The sternum, at its upper portion, is 4 inches wide, and about half an inch thick ; there is a decided’ semilunar notch, but, less than in Man ; the lower portions are wanting. There is no sign of division into lateral halves in this upper portion, which. is 33 inches long... The articular surface for the clavicles is. less curved and more horizontal than in Man. The ribs are fourteen pairs; of these two are wanting on, the left side, at about the middle of the series... They much resemble those of Man, and form a very capacious thorax ; they are, how-. ever, longer and thicker, and the curves less complicated. Some. of them bear marks of old injuries. ‘The angles are very well marked ; the last rib is united both to the body and to the trans- verse process of a single vertebra. . The humerus is 3 inches longer than that of Man, and 2.inches greater in circumference at the middle, the latter measurement being 5, inches ; the length is 163 inches; around the middle of the head, horizontally, 84 inches; greatest width at lower extre- mity 41 inches. The bone is of very compact structure and very heavy. It resembles that of Man, but is less twisted on itself; the bicipital groove is deep and wide, having on its, sides very large tuberosities for muscular insertions ; the ridges for the pec- toralis major and latissimus dorsi are well marked, as is also the insertion. of the deltoid; the anterior face is rather convex than concave, even more so than in Man. Both the condyles and the condyloid ridges are more developed than in Man ; the trochlear portion..is less excavated, and the internal ridge less prominent; there is a deep groove between the trochlea and the surface for, the head of the radius, which is very slight.in Man. The lower extremity is perforated on the right side, but not onthe, left;; the cavity for the olecranon is an inch in width and-half an,inch deep, while that for the coronoid process, on the anterior, surface, is hardly, sunk beneath the level of the bone: this difference. is much less in Man. The udna.is more curved than the human, as is also the radius ; they curve in opposite directions, enclosing a wide space between, them ; the curve of the radius begins at the tubercle, while the ulna is. curved .its whole length. The-length. of the, ulna is Dr. Kneeland on the Skeleton of the Great Chimpanzee. 29 14°3 inches, that of the radius 13} inches. The articulating ’ ‘surface for the humerus, on account of the less prominence of the imner ridge of the trochlea, differs from that of Man in bemg proportionally wider, and in having a deep concave inner wall, which in the human ulna is not only wanting, but the edge of this border of the joint is worn into a deep notch corresponding with the long inner ridge of the human trochlea; at the bottom of this cavity ‘is an irregular long bone, apparently wedged in, and perhaps having a separate centre of ossification ; if the ole- cranon process were taken off through the suture here left open, the head of the ulna would very much resemble the head of the tibia, to which it corresponds in the lower extremity—this is seen’ on both sides. The articulating surface for the head of the radius’is less perpendicular than in Man; the coronoid process is also less prominent, in conformity with the small anterior con- cavity on the humerus: the styloid process and the accompany- ing groove occupy a greater proportion of the lower extremity. With the exception of stronger ridges and sharper angles, the -remathing portions of the ulna and radius resemble much the same bones in Man on a larger scale. The proportion between the humerus and ulna brings this animal nearer to Man than the Chimpanzee or Orang. : The femur in its head and neck is much like the human; it has a roughness, hardly a depression, for the ligamentum teres ; the neck of the bone is proportionally shorter, and placed more obliquely with respect to the shaft ; the trochanters, especially _ the great, are much stronger ; the space between the great tro- chanter and the head of the bone is less, and the concavity deeper than’in Man ; the neck is also more flattened ; the whole bone is flatter, especially just above the condyles, and its shaft more curved. Though the inner condyle is so much longer than the external as to give the lower part of the shaft an inclination out- wards, as in Man, the curve of the middle and upper portions restores its general direction nearly to the vertical, as in the Chimpanzee. The femur is about 2 inches shorter than the humerus; in this respect the 7. gorilla recedes from the human type, while he approaches it in the relative lengths of the ulna and humerus. The ¢bia is considerably shorter than the human (11]} inches long), and more curved both laterally and anteriorly, enclosing consequently with the fibula a large interosseous space. The right astragalus is preserved, resembling the human, but flatter and longer ; the articular surface for the tibia is less convex and narrower posteriorly ; the surface for the scaphoid is more pro- minent, flatter, and with a better marked constricted neck ; the lateral surface for the tibia is less vertical and more quadrilateral ; 30 Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the \cacinacex. the surface for the fibula is less triangular; the posterior portion is wider, with a less deep groove for the flexor longus pollicis; the surfaces for the os calcis with the deep groove are much as in Man. There are also a few carpal, metacarpal, and phalangeal bibise of the fingers and toes ; the metacarpal bones are long and curved inwards, with large lower articulating surfaces ; the bones of the fingers have their edges much turned under on the anterior sur- face, for the protection of the vessels, &c. in the act of climbing. The height of this specimen must have been nearly 54 feet, and the breadth of the shoulders, judging from the scapule and ribs, 2 feet at least, and probably more. The hands extend'’a little below the knees ; the abdomen, judging from’ the ‘iliac fossee, must be nearly 2 feet wide ; the lower extremities — bowed. Boston, May 11, 1852. VI.—On some genera of the Icacinacee. By Joun Miers, Ksq., F.R.S., F.L.S. [Continued from vol. ix. p. 492.] STEMONURUS. THERE can exist no doubt that the genus Stemonurus, proposed by Professor Blume in his ‘ Bijdragen’ in 1826, is the same as the Gomphandra of Dr. Wallich, although they have hitherto been considered as distinct ; but at the same time there is every reason to conclude, that both are again identical with the La- sianthera of Pal. de Beauvois, established as far antecedently as 1805, in his ‘ Flora Owariensis,’ and placed by DeCandolle in his ‘ Prodromus’ (i. p. 636) as a doubtful genus of the Ampe- lide: m such ease, the latter name, on account of its priority, ought to claim the preference. As however it is contrary to the rules of science to form a compound generic term from both Greek and Latin roots, the name would necessarily require to be modified into Lasiandra, one that has long been preoccupied. Besides this, we have to consider the confusion likely to arise from increasing a list of consimilar names, already too numerous, as Lasiandra, Lasianthea, Lasiantha, Lasianthus, and Lasianthera, and also, that in reality the latter name is untenable, because of the incorrectness of its signification, for in the present case it will be seen, that it is not the anther, but the filament which is villous. For all these reasons, I strongly recommend the pre- ference to be given to Stemonurus, the next in priority, as the most appropriate designation of this genus. Mr..J. Miers on some genera of the Leacinaceze. 31 Its most. marked peculiarity consists in the character of its stamens ; the filaments sometinies shorter, often longer than the petals, are generally very broad, extremely thick and fleshy, obtuse at their summit with a small apical point, to which the. anthers are attached, and they have a somewhat prominent in- ternal keel down the middle: the margins of their broad summit and the upper part of the keel are fringed with long transparent white hairs, clavate at their extremity and bent, so as to form a crest over the anthers: from this character both the names of Beauvois and Blume originated. The flowers, sometimes herma- phrodite, are frequently polygamous in the same plant, that is to say, either the anthers are void of pollen, or the ovarium is deficient of any ovules, or both these imperfections occur at the same time: it does not appear to me that they are constantly unisexual, as generally stated. The analysis of the structure of this genus has been attended with much difficulty, because of the frequent abortion of some of its parts, especially the ovarium, which is often deficient of cells or ovules; and even when the ovules exist, it is not easy to detect their presence, on account of their extreme minuteness, in an early stage of the flower. I was for a long while unable to solve the anomalies of its struc- ture, and almost gave up the matter in despair, but patient exa- mination at length overcame the difficulties: not one in twenty instances exhibits the smallest trace of an existing ovule, nothing but a fleshy mass appearing to constitute the ovarium, which: is always comparatively small : indications of the existence of more cells than one are sometimes observable, but these are not large enough to be well defined ; and even in the case where a single distinct cell exists with two suspended ovules, these are so mi- nute that they might readily be overlooked. After the period of fecundation, however, the petals and stamens fall away, when the ovarium attains a rapid growth, and soon displays itself as an oblong cylindrical body of many times its former dimensions, seated on its small persistent calyx and crowned by a large pul- vinate disk : it now unmistakeably exhibits to the naked eye.a _ single cell containing two large suspended ovules and conforming to all the usual characters of the order.. With one exception I have never met with flowers in an intermediate stage, and. it is not therefore surprising that Stemonurus and Gomphandra should have been so long considered as two distinct genera. The nature of the pulviniform gland that forms so prominent a feature on the summit of the ovarium, and which evidently suggested the name given by Dr. Wallich, is not altogether manifest. On making a longitudinal section of a pistillum in its early stage, when it consists of a very small, 4- or 5-lobed, short cylinder, it will be seen crowned by a fleshy glandular ring of the same 32 Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinacez. shape, but of a different colour from the lower and central por- tions, where the ovuligerous cell is seen, whenever discernible : this glandular appendage is sometimes in a small degree conical towards the centre, but more generally deeply umbilicate, and in the middle of this depression is seen a conspicuous prominence consisting of the real style and stigma: this is in the form of a very short hollow tube, crowned by four or five very minute teeth, corresponding in number to the lobes of the ovarium. On the growth of the pistil, in the manner before described, the gland just mentioned also expands, assuming the form of a large pulvinate disk, more or less lobed, which often exceeds in diameter, and therefore overhangs the summit of the ovarium, while the style and stigma become withered into a small central umbilicated depression. This early stage of the ovarium is tolerably well depicted in plate 953. fig. 5. of Dr. Wight’s ‘ Icones,’ while its subsequent clavated appearance is shown in plate 954. fig. 6. of the same work. I have frequently quoted instances of the ex- istence of a similar epigynous gland upon the summit of an inferior ovarium, but 1 know of no instance in which it forms SO prominent a mark as in this case. At one time (Au). op. ix. p. 224) it appeared to me desirable to unite the Phlebocalymna of Griffiths, as well as the Platea of Blume, with Stemonurus, which differ in no respect from the last-named genus, except in the absence of the villous fringe that forms such a remarkable crest overhanging the anthers: from Dr. Wight’s ‘Icones’ I was at first led to believe that this was only a sexual dif- ference, but careful observation does not confirm this conclusion. I find it a constant character in particular species, and on this account it will probably be better to keep Stemonurus distinct ; but in this case Phlebocalymna and Platea will merge into another separate genus, the preference being given to the latter name on account of its priority: the differences which are observable between them will be discussed when we come to consider that genus. I propose to unite with them a species which I had placed in Stemonurus, under the name of S. /axiflorus (Cuming, no. 189, from the Philippine Islands), and also Dr. Wight’s variety of S. polymorpha, figured in plate 953 of his ‘ Icones.’ The structure of the putamen bears much analogy to that of Pennantia : it is covered with a very small quantity of pulp, and is strongly ribbed by several longitudinal irregular lines: it is more coriaceous than osseous, and is of an oblong form, somewhat flatter upon the ventral face, on which side, a little below the summit, is.seen a caruncular prominence, beneath which is a foramen communicating with the interior of the cell. On the same side near the base is another foramen; this however does not penetrate into the cell, but it pierces the substance of the Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinacez. 33 shell obliquely by a hole which comes out in the point of its at- tachment to the calyx. Between these foramina is a deep groove filled with a thick chord of fibres: this chord, issuing from the interior of the nut, out of the upper perforation, descends through the basal passage just described, and terminates in the torus of the persistent calyx. By making a careful incision through each side of the shell, the cell is seen filled with an oblong seed, which is suspended from a thick funicular support, contmuous with the raphe on one hand and with the chord before mentioned on the other : in Pennantia these parts are attached to one another, but here the bundle of fibres is continuous with the raphe, as well as with the external chord, that terminates in the basal torus. The raphe does not descend along the centre of the dorsal face of the seed, as in Pennantia, but takes a somewhat lateral course towards nearly the bottom, when it makes a sudden turn, and curving in a hippocrepical form ascends the opposite side of the same face, terminating in a caruncular prominence upon the apex of the seed. The thin mtegumental covering apparently con- sists of two adherent membranes, in which the raphe is imbedded ; but there is no thickening of these membranes at the base, nor any appearance of a chalaza, unless the caruncular swelling at the apex can be so considered. The albumen is fleshy, and. its embryo almost divides into two nearly equal portions, interposing a vacant space between them, and leaving on the edges only a very narrow solid rim of its albuminous substance to connect them; the embryo entirely lines this space, and consists of two extremely thin, almost pellicular cotyledons, which are oblong, nearly the size of the-albumen, cordate at the summit, with a short terete radicle in its sinus. I have had an opportunity of examining only a single seed, and I can affirm with confidence that its structure was that above deseribed. A result so greatly at variance with other recorded observations will naturally create a suspicion that the seed so examimed may have been a malfor- mation, but there appeared in this case no mdication of any ab- normal deformity : how then can we account for the existence of an embryo so different in size and form from that figured by Dr. Wight? Is it possible that this distinguished botanist, or more probably his draughtsman, can have mistaken the radicle for the entire embryo? This will appear probable when we care- fully examine fig. 10 of his plate 954 above referred to, which gives a transverse section of the seed, where exactly the same lunated space is shown across the middle, which I found to exist, lined with the two thin membranes above described, and which I conceive can be nothing but cotyledons ; and again, if we com- pare this with fig. 11 of the same plate, which is a longitudinal section of the same, we perceive a line or long space descending Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. x. 34: Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Ieacinacee. from the, supposed embryo at the summit to the base of the albumen, a fact’ which precisely accords with what. 1 have de- scribed in the preceding analysis. Upon such grounds [am inclined.to believe, that: what. I have.detailed above is the. real structure of the seed in Stemonurus. In anatropal suspended seeds with a superior radicle, it is usual to observe the raphe ter- minate at the opposite extremity to the poimt of suspension ; but in, this case we find an exception to this general rule, which seems opposed to the established theory: here the direction of the raphe would seem to indicate a double retroversion of the ovule : so singular a fact may be of more frequent occurrence, but I confess that I have never met with, nor seen the record of, any such development. On the other hand, again, we have an ana- lysis given by Blume of the seed of Stemonurus secundiflorus in his ‘ Mus. Lugd. Bat.,’ in which the embryo is small in the sum- mit of the albumen, as represented by Dr. Wight, the radicle being terete and the cotyledons exceedingly small. The flowers. of Stemonurus are sometimes 4-, often 5-merous, but, 1.am not, aware whether this can be depended on as a good specific character; all I can affirm is, that in those specimens I have seen, where 4-merous flowers prevail, I have. occasionally met with some that are 5- or even 6-merous. Generally, the inflorescence is so short, as often to appear lke a cluster of ax- illary fasciculated flowers; in other species it consists of long branching panicles, in which the flowers are sometimes secundly disposed... The flowers are always glabrous, and each articulated upon. its separate pedicel, which is often pubescent. I have seen but.few of the species on record, and those mostly imperfect, spe- cimens.. In the following enumeration the characters are therefore given, as described by their several authors; they require doubt- lessly a more careful revision, for as they generally resemble each other so much in the appearance of the leaves, the shape of which often varies in the same species, it is probable that better and more valid characters may be found in. the inflorescence. The outline of generic features here offered: is founded wholly. on my own observation. Stemonurvs, Bl. Lasianthera, Pal. Beauv. Gomphandra, Wall. —Flores hermaphroditi vel abortu polygami.. Calyz parvus, brevissime cupularis, limbo fere integro, 4—-5-denticulato,, vel 4—5-fido, immutatus et persistens. Petala 4-5, hypogyna, ob- longa, carnosa, summo marginibus mucroneque apicali pro- pendenti inflexis, zestivatione valvata, libera, vel interdum mar- ginibus imo coherentibus, simulque cum filamentis adhesis in tubum cylindraceum sic leviter agglutinatis, e medio liberis et reflexis. Stamina 4-5, cum petalis inserta, iisdem alterna ; MriJu Miers on some genera of the Teacinacee. 35 oi jfilamenta seepe aucta et-demum exserta, crasso-carnosa, lata, -9 compressa, incurvula, summo truncato ac breviter repente ‘eacuto;carimaque interna mediana, pilis’ longis albidis apice ‘scelavatis munita ; anthere istis equilate, ovate, introrse, plus ominusve cordate, 2-lobee, lobis smgulatim 2-locellatis demum ‘septicidis' et longitudinaliter evolutim dehiscentibus. Pollen ‘aeute “8-gonum. Ovarium globoso-conicum, 4—5-sulcatum, e\idiseo parvo insitum,; glandula crassa sub-annulari aut sub- lobata coronatum, seepissime sterili, quandoque fertili et tunc ‘cito multoties: elongatum et cylindricum, ]-loculare, ovula 2 anatropa juxta apicem loculi ‘subcollateraliter superposita, ‘podospermio crasso suspensa. Stylus brevissimus, conicus, 6'4-5-suleatus, summo. cavus, dentibusque 4—5 erectis stigma- tosis terminatus, et simul cum glandula (in ovario fertili) mn discum magnum pulvinatum sub-lobatum epigynum demum ‘auctus. Drupa oblonga, parcissime carnosa, oliveformis, in- terdum elongata, monopyrena, calyce persistente suffulta, et pulvino coronata: putamen lignosum, ovato-oblongum, dorso ‘o‘eonvexius, uniloculare, monospermum, ad faciem ventralem planiusculam infra apicem foramine parvo (loculo attingente) perforatum, hine extus fere ad imum longitudinaliter profunde canaliculatum, illinc usque ad fundum introitu diagonali (loculo ‘“Sevitante) pertusum. Semen conforme, funiculo fra apicem ‘Joculi suspensum ; funiculus crassus, fibrosus, e rapheo dorsali ortus, ‘per foramen apicale loculi trajectus, tune canalem externum pervadens, et introitum basalem penetrans, denique in toro amissus; testa submembranacea, cum integumento interno coherens ; raphe hippocrepicus in faciem dorsalem teste: immersus, primum ex apice versus latus fere ad imum deeurrens, hine repente deflexus, per latus adversum fere ad apicem accurrens, et in carunculam apicalem desitus. Embryo itiversus, rectus, cotyledonibus magnis, cordatis, textura tenuis- simis, latitudine curvatis, im medio albuminis carnosi fere ogquanti mmmersis, radicula brevi, tereti, supera, 6-plo lon- gioribus: [Ex iconibus et descriptionbus clar. Wight et Blume embryo in apicem albuminis immiersus, brevis, radicula tereti, supera, cotyledonibus minutissimis, compressis. |—Arbores vel frutices Indie Orientalis et Archipelagi Asiatic indigene : folia “alterna, elliptica, vel lanceolata, coriacea, glaberrima, petiolata ; flores parvi, flavo-viriduli, odoratissimi, in racemos spicatos sepe “ k-laterales, vel in cymas axillares rarius oppositifolias dispositi, interdum (presertim in ovuligeris) fasciculato-aggregati ; fructus purpureus. 1, Stemonurus pauciflorus, Bl. Bijd. 648 ;—folis oblongis, acumi- natis, basi acutis, glabris ; pedunculis brevibus apice 2—3-fidis, 2~3-floris.—Java. 3* 36 Mr.J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinacee. 2. Stemonurus secundiflorus, Bl. Byd. 649 ;—arbor 10-pedalis ; foliis oblongis, acutis, basi angustatis, coriaceis, glabris, aveniis, apice spicis 3-4-fidis, floribus secundis, filamentis. carnosis, linearibus, petalis eequilongis, pilis longissimis clavatis ciliatis ; drupa valde elongata, apice attenuata.—Java. 3. Stemonurus Javanicus, Bl. 1. ¢. ;—foliis oblongis, utrinque acu- minatis, coriaceis, glabris, venosis ; cymis solitariis geminisye densifloris.—Insul. Nusa Kambanga. B. foliis ovalibus, utrinque acuminatis, suabmembranaceis, elabris 3 3 3 > junioribus ad eostam infra puberulis ; cymis dichotomis ‘soli- tariis. 4.- Stemonurus quadrifidus, Bl. Mus. Bot. Lugd. Bat. 249 ;—folns é basi acutiusculis, oblongis v. oblongo-lanceolatis, obtuse acu- minatis, membranaceis, cymis umbellato-4-fidis, multifloris.— Sumatra.—Folia 34 ad 6 poll. longa, 1-12 poll. lata. 5. Stemonurus prasinus, Bl. 1. c. 8. Javanicus, Krthls. ;—foliis e basi acutiuscula ellipticis, v. elliptico-oblongis, longiuscule acuminatis, membranaceis; cymis $-furcatis, multifloris.— Sumatra.—Folia 43-6 poll. longa, 13-3 poll. lata. 6. Stemonurus macrocarpus, Bl. 1. c. ;—foltis e basi acutiuscula ellipticis, v. elliptico-oblongis, obtuse acuminatis, subcoriaceis ; pedunculis solitariis paucifloris, fructibus elongato-ellipsoideis. —Ins. Borneo.—Folia 43-6 poll. longa, 24-8 poll. lata (evi- “ denter ?). 7. Stemonurus macrophyllus, Bl. 1. c. ;—foliis e basi acuta ellipticis, obtuse acuminatis, coriaceis; racemis geminis confertisve ; fructibus cylindraceis.—In Archip. Indico.—Folia 53-9 poll. longa, 23—44 poll. lata. 8. Stemonurus parviflorus, Bl. 1. c. ;—foliis e basi acuta vel obtusa oblongis vel elliptico-oblongis, acuminatis, membranaceis, is brevissimis densifloris, drupis cylindricis —Sumatra,— Folia 5-10 poll. longa, 2—4 poll. lata. 9. Stemonurus? littoralis, Bl. t. c. ;—foliis e basi acutiuscula v. obtusa ellipticis, acuminatis, coriaceis.— Nova Guinea.—Folia 6-9 poll. longa, 33—4 poll. lata. 10. Stemonurus? membranaceus, Bl. 1. e. ;—foliis e basi. acuta elliptico-oblongis vel oblongo-lanceolatis, acuminatis, mem- branaceis.—Java.—Folia 6-10 poll. longa, 24-34 poll. lata. 11. Stemonurus Africanus, Wasianthera Africana, Pal. Beauv. Fl. Owar. i. 85, tab. 51; D.C. Prodr. 1.636 ;—suffrutex scan- Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinacez. 37 dens, foliis lanceolato- vel ovato-oblongis, cuspidatis, imo ro- tundatis, apice longe acuminatis vel cuspidatis, cyma oppo- sitifolia, apice umbellatim ramosa, ovari stylo brevi, stig- mate obtuso.—Africa tropica; Chama, fl. St. Jago.—Folia 6 poll. longa, 2 poll. lata, petiolus 1-pollicaris: inflorescentia 2-pollicaris, ramis 4—5-umbellatis, floribus apice agglomeratis, 12. Stemonurus coriaceus. Gomphandra coriacea, Wight, Til. Ind. Bot. i. 103 ;—dioicus, folis coriaceis, ovalibus, utrinque attenuatis vel oboyato-cuneatis, floribus 4-andris, cymis 3 axil- laribus, 4 floris; 2 floribus solitariis vel 2-3, racemosis, fruc- tibus oblongis, cylindraceis.—Ind. Oriental. 13. Stemonurus polymorphus. Gomphandra polymorpha, Wight, Ill. Ind. Bot. i. 103; Icon. Pl. tab. 953-954 ;—glaber, foliis oblongis vel obovato-lanceolatis, acuminatis, membranaceis, subtus glaucis, breviter petiolatis ; cymis axillaribus solitariis vel geminis petiolum equantibus, masculis plurifloris, foemineis 2-5-floris, calyce integro minute 4—5-dentatis, petalis 4-5, gla- bris, staminibus exsertis, cristato-pilosis, fructibus ovoideis.— India orientalis. | Var. a. acuminata, B. oblongifolia, y. angustifolia, 8. longifolia, e. ovalifolia. This species is described as being commonly diffused oyer the whole Peninsula of India, and subject to many varieties of form, but I suspect that if these were more carefully examined, several specific differences would be found to exist among them. I have copied the character from Dr. Wight’s description, omitting how- ever three features, viz. “ dioicus ”— petalis basi in corollam tubulosam coalitis’’—and “ antheris minute cristato-pilosis.’’ I find in all cases the petals are quite free, although strongly agglutinated by their edges, and that they do not open even at the summits until some time after impregnation, and then they gradually become separated at their edges to the base, after which, in time, they fall off. There seems to have been a general conviction among botanists, that in Gomphandra the anthers are pilose ; this is so stated by Endlicher and Wight, but in every instance I have found the clavate hairs that form a hooded crest over the anthers all spring from the filaments. Dr. Wight, in his ‘ Icones,’ represents the male plant in this species as having beardless stamens (see figs. 1 & 4. tab. 953), and it is worthy of note that the ovarium is here depicted as being ovuligerous (see fig. 6): the female plant in plate 954 has bearded stamens with a fertile ovarium, the progress of the development of which, to the state of ripened fruit, is here shown: it has hence been inferred by that distinguished botanist, that the occurrence of bearded or beardless stamens constitutes a true sexual distinc- 38 Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the leacinacez. tion. My observation upon dried specimens leads me: to an opposite conclusion, for I find in every mstance I have examined, that the stamens are’bearded even in the male flowers, that ‘is to say, where the ovarium has been’ quite sterile: and even in ‘what are called female flowers, that is, where the ovarium is’ ovuli- gerous, the stamens are equally barbed, whether the anthers: be charged with pollen or filled only with a grumous mass. I am therefore led to the irresistible conclusion, that the plant figured by Dr. Wight as the male plant of Gomphandra polymorpha belongs to a distinct genus, being a species of Blume’s ‘Platea, which will be hereafter described. As additional: evidence in favour of this conclusion, I may mention the fact, that Dr. Wight describes the male plant in plate 953 as flowering inthe months of March and April, and the female plant in plate 954 as having its fruit ripened im the same months: this would oecur probably alone on the supposition that the fruit was the sitar dee ofa previous year’s growth. ~ Among the Ceylon collection of the late Mr. Gardner (no. 102) is a plant which I take to be the variety longifolius' of this spe: cies : it is certainly different from the longifolius of Dr. Wallich’s collection, which will be presently described ; the leaves are here of a light pallid green ; two or three short dichotomous racemes grow out of each axil; the calyx is entire, but the petals and sta- mens have all fallen away ; the ovarium is long and cylindrical, and is terminated by a flattened 5-lobed disk, which considerably exceeds in diameter that of the ovarium ; it is 1-celled, with two large ovules suspended from near the summit of the cavity : on account of the clavate form of the ovarium this affords a good illustration of Dr. Wallich’s genus Gomphandra, and is well represented in Wight’s ‘Icones,’ tab. 954. figs. 6 & 7. The remarks offered upon the development of the ovarium in S. affinis will equally apply to the present instance*. : 14. Stemonurus Gardneri, n. sp. ;—glaber, ramulis. teretibus, subflexuosis ; folis ellipticis, utrmque acutis, apice obtusius- culo breviter lineari-angustatis, glaberrimis, valde :coriaccis, utrinque eveniis, costa nervisque supra impresso- -sulcatis, subtus prominentibus, inferne subferrugineis. margine :.revo- luto, petiolo longiusculo, tereti, superne haud sulcato ; racemo oppositifolio, petiolo longiori, floribus masculis paniculatis 5-meris, staminibus in alabastro petalis brevioribus, pilis cla- vatis antheris brevioribus munitis; fructu oblongo, disco ;10- lobo umbilicato coronato.—In Mont. Neilgherrensib. The plant here described was sent to me by the late Mr. Gard- ner as the Gomphandra polymorpha, being collected by him as * The analysis of the structure of the flowers and of the seed of this species will be shown in plate 13 of the ‘ Contributions to Botany,’ &c. Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinaceze. 39 such, in company with Dr. Wight, in the Neilgherry Hills:. it might therefore be considered as an authentic sample of this species. Its characters however. will be seen to be quite, at variance with those given by Dr. Wight of other plants of this species, collected by him in the same neighbourhood, where the leaves are said to be membranaceous and shortly petioled : here, on the contrary, they. are extremely opaque and thickly coria- ceous: the inflorescence is not only there described, but figured as being axillary ; here, on the contrary, it is always opposite to the leaves... It is not easy to say whether this plant is referrible to any of the varieties mentioned by Dr. Wight, but from the differences here shown, it certainly claims the rank of a species distinct from his Gomphandra polymorpha. The leaves. are 23- 34 mches long, 14-12 inch broad, on a petiole half an inch m length; the male panicle is branching, nearly an inch in length, with flowers oval in bud, about 14 line long ; both the male and female inflorescence, as in the following species, spring from the side’ of the stem opposite to the petiole: the calyx is cupshaped, with a 5-denticulated margin ; the five petals are oblong, with .in- flexed margins and apex; the stamens, shorter than these, have fleshy filaments, with glandular hairs scarcely longer than. the anthers: the ovarium is oblong, glabrous, sterile, with a-conical — hollow style. The fructiferous raceme is 3 of an inch long, bearing an oblong drupe, 7 lines in length, surmounted by,,a depressed, umbilicated, 10-lobed disk, and supported. upon),its minute, persistent calyx. The internal structure. of the, fruit has been already described in a foregoing page. 15. Stemonurus Penangianus. Gomphandyra Penangiana, Wall. ; —ramulis teretibus, pallide ferrugineis ; foliis oblongo-lanceo- latis, imo, cuneatis, apice lineari-angustatis, coriaceis, glaber- rimis, subtus pallidioribus margine revoluto, petiolo brevi, crassiusculo, profunde canaliculato ; cyma oppositifolia, sub- umbellatim et 2-3-4-chotome ramosa, floribus hermaphroditis, secundis, cum pedicellis articulatis, valde deciduis, carina interna petalorum in appendice longe propendenti inflexa maxime producta, filamentis longe ciliatis, antheris polliniferis, ovario brevissimo, 5-gono, apice pulviniformi et: umbilicato, stylo conico, sub-brevi, tubuloso, dentibus 5: erectis acutis terminato.—Penang.—(v. s. in herb. Soc. Linn. Wall, Cat. 7204: ) This species is very distinct on account of ‘its singularly branching racemes, with long rows of secund flowers, which are always placed on the side of the stem opposite to the insertion of the petiole. The stems are quite glabrous and of a dulllight brown colour. The leaves are about 54 inches long, 14-13. inch 40 | Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinacee. broad, on a petiole 3 or 4 lines in length. The primary peduncle is 3 to 6 lines long, branching somewhat umbellately into from three to six branches, which are again dichotomously, or some- times umbellately subdivided into lengthened curving branchlets, from 6 to 9 lines long, closely and pectinately beset with pedi- cels, from which the articulated flowers have fallen off, all being | quite glabrous and of an ochreous colour. The calyx is small, cupshaped, minutely 5-toothed ; the petals adhere by their mar- gins below in a tubular form, the summits being quite free ; the stamens are the length of the petals, but the long ciliated erests are far exserted ; the filaments are thick and fleshy, having their margins and apices charged with very long clavate white hairs ; the upper part of the mner keel interposes between the lower part of the two lobes of the anthers, which are oval, deeply separated at their base, the lobes being attached dorsally at their junction to the apical point of the filament; they are pollini- ferous, the granules of pollen being sharply 3-angular : the ova- © rium is distinctly ovuligerous. 16. Stemonurus longifolius. Olax longifolia, Wall. ;—ramulis: teretibus, gracilibus, glabris, ochraceis ; foliis valde lanceolatis, utringue acutis, apice lineari-angustatis, glaberrimis, flavo- virentibus, subtus pallidioribus, petiolo gracili; panicula pau- ciflora, glaberrima, petiolo vix longiori, floribus glabris, petalis 4, staminibus 4, filamentis crassis, dilatatis, longe ciliolatis, an- theris effcetis, ovario sterili, 4-sulcato, stylo conico tubuloso 4-5-dentato coronato.—Sylhet.—(v. s. mm herb. Soc. Linn. Wall. Cat. 6782 A. et B.) This species is remarkable for its very long narrow leaves, which are attenuated at their apex into a lengthened linear ex- tension ; they are of a pale colour above, of a glaucous yellowish hue below, about 6 inches long, including the linear apical ex- tension of an inch in length, and { of an inch broad, upon a slender petiole 3 or 4 lines in length. The inflorescence seldom exceeds 4 lines in length, several flowers about 2 lines long being almost fasciculated on an axillary peduncle of 2 lines in length, all quite glabrous: the calyx is small, cupshaped and 5-toothed ; petals 4, linear ; stamens 4, with very fleshy filaments nearly the length of the petals, furnished on their margins and apex with a dense fringe of long clubshaped hairs ; the two anther lobes are each 2-celled, sterile, and filled with grumous matter ; the ovarium is smooth, cylindrical, 4 or 4% the length of the stamens, sterile, and terminated by a hollow, tubular, conical style, divided at its apex into four acute erect teeth. 17. Stemonurus Heyneanus. Olax Heyneanus, Mall. ;—ramulis Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinacez. 41 * subflexuosis, glabris ; foliis oblongis,-utrinque acutis, apice breviter repente angustatis, glaberrimis, opacis, petiolo gra- cili ; racemo axillari, petiolo sublongiori, bifido, vel subdicho- tome ramoso, floribus secundis, vel subaggregatis;_ calyce cupuliformi, 5-denticulato, petalis 4-5, linearibus, apicula in+ flexa longe propendenti, staminibus 4-5, crassis, demum elon- gatis et exsertis, pilis clavatis antheris fertilibus 2-plo longi- oribus munitis ; ovario sterili, subgloboso, 4-5-suleato, apice pulyiniformi, subumbilicato, stylo brevissimo, fere obsoleto.— India. Orient.—(v. s. in herb. Soc. Linn. et Hook., Wall. Cat. 6780.—Ceylon, Gardner, 102.) | This plant bears much the aspect of Stemonurus polymorphus ; the leaves are of a pale green, of nearly the same hue on both sides; the specimens in the herbarium of the Linnzan Society are oblong, with parallel sides, or sometimes tapering a little towards the base from the upper part, where they are broadest, and then suddenly contracted into a narrow and obtuse point ; they are 3 to 32 inches long, 13 inch broad, on a slender petiole about 4 lines in length. In the Ceylon specimens the. leaves taper more regularly to each extremity, and are somewhat. nar- rower. The flowers are generally 5-, rarely 4-merous ; sometimes the hairs of the stamens are short and nearly obsolete, at other times double the length of the anthers ; the cells of these are in some specimens replete with perfect pollen, in others filled with grumous matter: the ovarium is generally depressed or globose, and J haye never met with a single instance of their possessing ovuligerous cells. 18. Stemonurus axillaris. Gomphandra axillaris, Wall. Lasi- anthera tetrandra, Wall. Flor. Ind. Or. vol. ii. ;—ramulis tere- tibus, flexuosis, substriatis, glabris ; foliis oblongis, utrinque acuminatis, apice angustato-attenuatis, glabris, opacis, subtus pallidioribus, margine revoluto ; panicula ramosa, petiolo paullo longiori, glabra, floribus crebris, subsecundis, 4—5-meris, calyce cupuliformi, 5-denticulato, petalis margine inflexis, apice longe propendenti, staminibus fertilibus, longissime ciliolatis, ovario sepe sterili, interdum ovuligero, oblongo, vel subgloboso, 4-5-gono, stylo conico, tubuloso, apice 4—5-dentato.— Sylhet. —y, 5. in'herb. Soc. Linn. Wall. Cat. 3718.) As in S. Penangianus, 1 have observed that. in many cases where the oyarium is ovuligerous, the anthers have been charged with perfect pollen, so that such flowers may be said to be truly hermaphrodite: in most instances, however, the ovarium is ste- rile. The leaves are from 32 to 43 inches long, including a nar- row and almost linear apical point of half an inch in length; they are 11 to 13 inch broad, on a petiole half an meh long: the 42 Mr. J. Miers on\ some genera of the Iecacinacet. racemes, 3 to # inch long, have numerous crowded flowers which do not exceed 3 lines in length: the hairs of the filaments are three or four times the length of the anthers, and arch’ over them in a very graceful manner: the pollen-grains are acutely 3-gonous. . 19. Stemonurus Cumingianus, 0. sp. ;—ramulis flexuosis, tereti- bus, ferrugineo vel flavido-tomentosis ; folus oblongis, utrin- que acutis, apice repente attenuatis, supra glabris, subtus brunneis et sparse pubescentibus, costa neryis petioloque ferrugineo-pilosulis, margme subreyoluto ; panicula_ ramosa, petiolo tenui vix longiore, pubescente, floribus ¢ crebris, sub- capitatis, 5-meris; calyce brevissimo, 5-denticulato, piloso, petalis glabris, oblongis, summo marginibus apiculaque longa propendenti inflexis; staminibus isdem brevioribus, _latis, crassis, pilis clavatis longissimis ciliolatis; ovario oblongo, piloso, dentibus 5 coronato.—Insul. Philip.—v. s. in. herb. Hook. et Lindl. (Cuming, 796). The leaves here are 5-62 inches long, and 23-3 inches broad, on a petiole 5-7 lines in length ; the panicle is trichotomously branched, with crowded 5-merous flowers, which are still in bud ; the upper margins of the petals are deeply inflected, together | with their long apical points, which are all closely agglutinated into a long process that hangs down in the centre of the anthers ; the filaments are rather short and broad, fringed with extremely long glandular hairs; the ovarium, seated on a short glabrous dise, is cylindrical, and altogether very pilose, growing smaller and more conical towards the summit, where it is hollow and 5-toothed. 20. Stemonurus Ceylanicus, n. sp. ;—ramulis glabris, ochraceis ; foliis oblongis, utrinque virentibus, subtus pallidis, costa mediana prominenti ; paniculis axillaribus, geminis, dichotome ramosis, petiolo brevi 3-plo ie loca pubescentibus, floribus in ramis secundis, crebris, calyce 5-denticulato, glabro, ‘petalis linearibus, sicco aurantiacis, staminibus isdem sequilongis, apice carinaque interna longissime ciliolatis; ovario’ sterili, glabro, depresso-10-lobato, apice profunde umbilicato, ‘stylo brevissimo in cavitatem incluso.—Ceylon.—v. s. im herb. Lindl, et Hook. (Macrae, 4:28). This species differs from S. Penangianus i in the axillary origin of its inflorescence, in its much shorter and geminate panicles, in which the flowers, though somewhat secund, appear almost aggregated. The leaves, which are thin and almost membrana- ceous in texture, appear when dried of a darkish green above, and of a very pale green beneath, with prominent nervures and veins ; they are about 6 inches long, and nearly 2 inches broad, Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinacee. 43 on a petiole barely exceeding 3 lines in length. The panicles are scarcely 9 lines long ; the calyx is small, obsoletely 5-toothed ; the five petals are linear, with a long inflected apex; the five stamens are equal to them in length, with broad, thick, fleshy filaments, the internal keel, upper margins and summit being closely fringed with very long clavated hairs, which are three times the length of the anthers; these consist of two oval lobes, fixed together by a point near the apex, where they are attached to the filaments, the lobes below being separated by the summit of the keel, so that they rest in two cavities in the apex of the filaments, as occurs in most species of this genus ; the ovarium is globular, somewhat 10-lobed, depressed at the summit, and deeply umbilicated in the centre, in the cavity of which, the ob- solete style and stigma, forming a depressed lobe, lie concealed ; the body of the ovarium is fleshy, with no apparent cells*. 21. Stemonurus Walkeri, n. sp. ;—ramulis teretibus, subdicho- tome divisis; foliis oblongis, imo vix acutis, apice valde ob- tuso et hinc subito attenuatis, utrmque glaberrimis fuscis et concoloribus, crasso-coriaceis, supra nitido-opacis, costa sul- catis, nervis immersis, subtus costa crassiuscula nervisque tenuissimis prominentibus, margine subrevoluto, petiolo bre- viusculo; racemo axillari, brevi, paucifloro, floribus 3 4-meris; 9 5-meris, filamentis crassis, apice sub-breviter ciliolatis.— Ceylon.—. s. in herb. Hook. ( 3 Col. Walker, 2 Gardner, 101). This species is distinguishable by its much darker and more fleshy, smooth leaves, which are nearly 4 inches long, and 1} inch broad, on a rather stout petiole, about 4 lines in length; the calyx is small, and rather deeply 5-toothed; the male flowers have oblong petals, with an internal longitudinal keel, and a long inflexed apical joint, four stamens equal to them in length, with very broad, thick, fleshy filaments, which are furnished on the upper margin with a row of clavate hairs, scarcely longer than the anthers; the pollen is acutely 3-angular; the ovarium is sterile, oblong, with a rather long, conical, hollow style, toothed at its apex. The female flowers have five thick fleshy petals, and five stamens formed like the others, but the cells are filled with grumous matter; the ovarium is nearly the length of the stamens, somewhat 5-grooved, globular in its lower moiety, smaller and cylindrical in its upper half, which presents here somewhat excentrically, a single cell with two distinct ovules suspended from near the summit, on the side towards the axis: the apex of the very short ovarium is crowned with a conical, 5-lobed, * A representation of this species, with the details of its floral structure, will be given in plate 13 of the ‘Contributions to Botany,’ &c. 44, Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinacez.. disciform process, equal to it in diameter, the summit being ter- minated by five very minute teeth*. 22. Stemonurus affinis, n. sp. ;—ramulis tortuosis, nodosis ; foliis ellipticis, utrinque subacuminatis, apice obtusiusculo attenua- - tis, opacis, supra in costam sulcatis, subtus pallidioribus, costa nervis venisque prominulis, margine subrevoluto, petiolo tenul teretiusculo superne sulcato; panicula axillari, pauciflora, petiolo vix longiore, pedicellis pubescentibus, calyce 5-dentato petalisque oblongis breviter apiculatis glabris, stamimibus iisdem vix eequilongis, filamentorum apicibus carinaque interna longissime ciliatis, ovario fertili, longitudine staminum, longe cylindrico, paullulo incuryo, apice pulyinato.—Malacca.—. s. in herb. Hook. (Griffiths). This species is. near S. polymorpha, but differs in several particulars. It appears to be a remarkably knotty and scrubby tree ; its leaves are about 3} inches long, 14 to 13 inch broad, on — a petiole 4 or 5 lines in length; its panicles are 6 or 8 lines long, and its flowers offer a very instructive exemplification of the development of the ovarium ; the last-mentioned species ex- hibiting an intermediate stage, between that described in S. Pe- nangianus, and this, which offers another manifest instance of Dr. Wallich’s genus Gomphandra. Here the fleshy petals are linearly oblong, with a comparatively short inflexed apex; the stamens are not equal to them in length; the filaments exceed the anthers in breadth, but are not quite so thick as in other species ; they are suddenly contracted to a sharp point at the apex, and have a less prominent internal keel, the summit of which, together with the upper margins of the filaments, are fringed with very long clavate hairs; the anthers are 2-lobed and sagittate from near the almost apical point of their attachment ; the lobes are membranaceous, each longitudinally split open and quite void of pollen or other matter, so that it is not apparent whether they have been fertile or sterile. The ovarium is the length of the stamens, is cylindrical, a little curved, and rather thicker towards the apex; in diameter it is scarcely broader than the fila- ments, quite smooth, and surmounted. by a short, compressed, umbilicated, and somewhat 5-lobed disciform process, which partly overhangs the summit; the body of the ovarrum exhibits only a single large cell, of nearly its whole length, from one side of which, near the summit, two ovules, that almost fill the cavity of the cell, are suspended, each from.a short cupshaped strophiolet. * A figure of this species, and an analysis of its floral structure, will be shown in plate 14 of the ‘ Contributions to Botany,’ &c. + This species, and the details of its floral structure, will be exhibited in plate 15 of the ‘ Contributions to Botany,’ &c. Mr. F’. Walker on some new species of Chalcidites. 45 VII.— Notes on Chalcidites, and Descriptions of various new species. By Francis Waker, F.L.S. [Continued from vol. ix. p. 43.] Perilampus maurus, mas. Azer, antennis apice ferrugineis, tarsis” fulvis, alis limpidis. Body black: head as broad as the chest, nearly smooth, slightly shining ; hind part slightly striated across ; front shining, very deeply excavated, extending on each side of the face and of the epistoma which are small and rhomboidal; epistoma larger than the face: mouth pitchy: feelers nearly filiform, black, ferruginous towards their tips which are conical: chest coarsely and deeply punctured, dull, hairy: abdomen smooth, shining; ventral plate dull, slightly striated: legs black, clothed with short tawny hairs; feet tawny : _ wings colourless, very pubescent ; veins pitchy ; humerus at some distance from the fore-border, less than half the length of the wing ; ulna about one-third of the length of the humerus; radius rather more than half the length of the ulna ; cubitus full one-third of the length of the radius ; brand small, not furcate. Length of the body 21 lines; of the wings 5 lines. Port Natal. In the British Museum. Eupelmus basicupreus, fem. Viridis, awillis et seutello nigris, metathoracis lateribus auratis, abdomine cupreo basi micante, antennis nigris, pedibus fulvis, femoribus viridibus, alis sub- Sulvis. Body green: head very little narrower than the chest, coarsely punctured ; crown black ; channel for the reception of the first joint of the antennze very deep, finely squamous, bright green with a blue disc: eyes large: feelers black, slender, filiform, more than half - the length of the body ; first joint green, very long, slightly curved ; second bright green: axillee and scutellum black ; axille very large, nearly contiguous ; scutellum obcordate, with a very slight longitu- dinal suture: sides of the hind-chest golden green: abdomen cu- preous black, nearly spindle-shaped, depressed above, keeled beneath, bright cupreous at the base, rather less than twice the length of the chest ; sheaths of the oviduct black, ferruginous towards the tips, extending beyond the abdomen to-one-fourth of its length: legs tawny ; thighs bluish green; fore-shanks black at the base ; a ferru- ginous band near the base of each hind-shank : wings slightly tinged with tawny; veins tawny; humerus rather more than one-third of the length of the wing, slightly widened towards its tip; ulna a little shorter than the humerus ; radius much shorter than the ulna ; cubitus about one-fourth of the length of the ulna, slightly curved; brand very small. Length of the body 2+ lines ; of the wings 4+ lines. Para. In the British Museum. 46 Mr. F. Walker on some new species of Chalcidites. Sparasion Sinense, mas. Viridi-eyaneum, abdomine cyaneo-pur- pureo, antennis pedibusque nigris, femoribus cyaneis, teibiis tar- sisque anticis piceis, alis subfuscis. ; Body convex, rather hairy: head and chest dark greenish blue, roughly punctured: eyes and eyelets piceous: feelers black, nearly filiform, shorter than the chest ; first jomt long, stout, shining ; second short, cup-shaped ; third very long, subclavate ; fourth and following joints to the tenth short, transverse, nearly equal in size, but gra- dually decreasing in length and breadth towards the tips of the feelers: fore-chest extremely short, forming a narrow line in front of the middle shield, the sutures of whose parapsides are ‘distinct ; scutcheon obconical : hind-chest obconical, declining : breast smoother than the chest ; the punctures being fewer and smaller: petiole very short : abdomen long spindle-shaped, thickly striated, bluish purple, bluish green at the tip, narrower than the chest and about twice its length ; sides nearly smooth or having only a few indistinct punctures : legs black, hairy; hips and thighs shining, the former dark blue; fore-shanks and fore-feet piceous: wings slightly brown, somewhat darker along the fore-borders from the middle to the tips; veins brown. Length of the body 4 lines; of the wings 6 lines. Fou-chou-fou, China. In the British Museum. Smiera torrida, fem. Fulva nigro varia, capite antico flavo, an- tennis nigris subtus ferruginets, pedibus fulvis, femoribus an- terioribus flavis, tibiis posticis nigro vittatis, alis ad costam sub- cinereis. Body tawny, roughly punctured, thinly clothed with short tawny hairs: two black spots behind the head; front and face yellow: feelers black, filiform, ferruginous beneath and at the tips; first joint tawny: three black stripes on the shield of the middle chest ; the inner one obtonical ; the side pair oblique, slightly waved, taper- ing towards the fore-border ; axillee black, parted by near one-third of the breadth of the scutcheon, which has a triangular black spot resting on its hind-border: propodeon smooth, shining: petiole slender, cylindrical, a little longer than the propodeon, with a short black stripe on each side: abdomen spindle-shaped, smooth, shining, punctured towards the tip, more than twice the length of the petiole ; metapodeon large ; octoon about half the length of the metapodeon ; ennaton, decaton and protelum together as long as the octoon;. para- telum and telum of equal length, together longer than the.octoon ; ventral segments concealed: legs tawny; anterior thighs yellow; a black stripe on each hind-hip; hind-thighs armed beneath with seven teeth whose tips are black; first and second very small, the other five large; a black stripe on each hind-shank : wings very pubescent, slightly gray along the fore-border ; veins tawny ; supplementary veins distinct as in other large species ; humerus much more than one-third of the length of the wing; ulna less than half the length of the humerus ; radius as long as the ulna; cubitus not more than one-sixth Mr, F..Walker on some new species of Chalcidites. 47 of the, radius; brand. very small. Length of the body 44 lines; of the, wings 8 lines. | Para. In the British Museum. “Smiera nigro-rufa, mas. Rufa, nigro varia, petiolo nigro, abdomine “' pufo, antennis nigris, alis limpidis. . Body red, roughly punctured: head black; sides of the front tawny : mouth tawny: feelers black: breast, hind-chest, paraptera, axillee. and sides of the middle chest black: three black stripes on the shield; the side pair broad and oblique ; a three-lobed black mark on the scutcheon:; petiole black, slender, cylindrical, smooth, shining : abdomen smooth, shining, short, globose, less than twice the length of the chest : legs red ; hips black ; anterior thighs black at the base ; middle shanks striped with brown towards the base ; hind-shanks at the base and at the tips and hind-feet black : wings colourless ; veins brown; humerus near half the length of the wing ; ulna not one-third of the length of the humerus; radius much longer than the ulna; cubitus, about one-fourth of the ulna; brand rather large, slightly forked... Length of the body 24 lines; of the wings 5 lines. East Indies. In the British Museum. Callimome cyaneus, Kollar, fem. Purpureus cyaneo viridique varius, antennis nigris, pedibus fulvis, femoribus purpureis, metatibiis piceis, alis limpidis. ‘Fem. Body purple, pubescent, varied with green and blue : feelers black, subclavate, a little shorter than the thorax ; first joint fulvous : head and thorax punctured, in structure like the other species of Cal- limome : podeon very short : abdomen purple, smooth, shining, nearly as long as the thorax ; metapodeon blue, green at the base: legs fulvous ; coxee and thighs purple; metatibiee piceous; tips of the tarsi piceous: wings limpid, rather short; nervures fuscous; ulna much shorter than the humerus; radius very short; cubitus a little shorter than the radius; stigma very: small; oviduct fulvous, much longer than the abdomen ; its sheaths black. _ Inhabits Germany. CHALCEDECTUS, 0. g. _ Hupelmo affinis, at quoad pedes posticos Chalcidi similis. Chalcedectus maculicornis, fem. Viridis, cupreo cyaneo et pur- pureo varius, antennis nigris, articulo 5° supra albo, tarsis piceis, tarsis intermediis nigris basi flavis, alis fusco subnebu- losis. Body brilliant green, narrow: head a little narrower than the chest: crown narrow; front largely and deeply punctured, with a very, deep almost smooth bluish green channel for the reception of the first joint of the feelers; face broad : mouth pitchy : eyes rather large : feelers black, filiform, slender, as long as the chest; first joint very long ; second linear, long, nearly half the length of the first ; third 48 Mr. F. Walker on some new species of Chalcidites. and fourth indistinct; fifth white above, a little shorter than the second; the followmg linear, very compact, successively decreasing in length: chest spindle-shaped: fore-chest broader than long, rounded in front, much lower than the middle-chest, very finely shagreened : shield and scutcheon of the middle-chest very largely and deeply punctured : shield rather flat, adorned with a broad coppery band whose edges are tinged with blue and purple; sutures of the parap- sides distinct; axillee parted by about one-third of the breadth of the chest ; seutcheon obconieal, with a coppery spot at its base : hind- chest small, subquadrate, finely punctured, with two or three slight cross ridges: propodeon and podeon short: abdomen. lanceolate, longer and a little narrower than the chest, slightly pubescent, trans- versely and very finely striated, almost flat on the disc towards the. base, adorned above with coppery purple and blue colour; metapedeon of moderate length ; octoon shorter ; ennaton longer ; decaton shorter ; the three following segments short ; underside finely punctured, not keeled, dorsal segments approximate beneath, parted only by two linear, parallel, very slender plates which extend along the whole length of the body: legs green, slightly pubescent, adorned with blue and ° purple colour: fore-thighs rather thick; fore-shanks purple, armed at the tips with a slender curved spme; fore-feet pitchy, tawny at the base; middle thigh long and slender, grooved beneath; tip. of each middle shank armed with a stout straight tawny spine ; middle feet black, pale yellow at the base; hind-legs formed like those of Chalcis; hips long; thighs very large, armed beneath with seven oblique teeth, those towards the tips are small; shanks very much curved, widening from the base to the tips; hind-feet pitchy, with a slight metallic tmge: wings almost colourless, fore-wings: slightly clouded with brown in the disks-and with gray at the tips; veins black ; humerus much more than one-third of the length of the: wing’; ulna about one-third of the length of the humerus; radius nearly as long as the humerus, extending almost to the tip of the wing ; cubitus straight, very slanting, less than one-fourth of the length of the radius, widening from its source to the brand whichis small; a few supple- mentary veins in the disk, as is usual in the large species of the tribe. Length of the body 5 lines; of the wings 6 lines. Para. In the British Museum. This is one of the tropical forms whose characters are more com- pound or complicated than those of any genera which inhabit more temperate regions ; and may be considered either as a connecting link between families, or as a common and governing centre, repre-— senting various remote groups, and associating them together. It comes between the Pteromalide and the Hupelmide, and is one of the Cleonymide, and is most allied to Lycisea; but it has the head of Perilampus, the thoracic sculpture of the Perilampide and. the Eurytomide, and the hind-legs of the Leucospide and of the Chal- cide. Zoological Society. 49 PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. November 26, 1850.—R. H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair. An Account or FISHES DISCOVERED OR OBSERVED IN MADEIRA SINCE THE YEAR 1842*. By tue Rev. R. T. Lowe, M.A. Family Zenip&, 1. Zeus concuirer. Lilacino-cinereus, capite inermi ; thorace pinnaque dorsali analique utrinque scutatis ; spinis dorsalibus anterioribus brevissime filamentosis ; pinnis ventralibus | + 5- radiatis ; caudali lunata. 3 D. 9 v. 10425 v. 26; A.2+(1+25 v. 26); P.13; V.+5; »L ELEY: ; M.B.7; Vertebrae, 13 abd. + 21 caud. = 34. 1+1.+VI. An example of this very fine new Dory was communicated, with a short notice, to the Zoological Society in 1845+. The row of large and remarkable naked bony scutellee on each side, at the base of the dorsal and anal fins, and along the breast or ventral line, afford a very striking character. They resemble the depressed shells of a Fissu- rel/a seen in profile, and are beautifully radiato-striate, with a bright iridescent rose or lilac lustre, like the inside of a T'rigonia. The umbo forms a smooth short strong spine or recurved prickle. The dark thumb-mark on the middle of the sides is present, as in Z. Gal- lus, L.. Three examples only have occurred, measuring from eighteen inches to a little more than two feet in length. The supposed affinity between Zeus and Oreosoma, Cuv.t, is much corroborated by this fish. 2. Arcyropreticus Oxrersi. (Sternoptyx Olfersii, Cuv. R. An. (2nd edit.) ii. 316. t. 13. f. 2.) A single example, caught with a boatscoop on the surface of the water in the Bay of Funchal, June 6, 1845. The name of Pleurothysis, proposed in the ‘Fishes of Madeira,’ p. 64, for this portion of the Cuvierian genus Sternoptyz, has been anticipated by that of Argyropelicus, previously assigned to a Medi- terranean species by the Italian naturalist Cocco, and adopted in the ‘Fauna Italica’ by the Prince of Canino. - I have now succeeded in obtaining both the Cuvierian species of Sternoptyz in this part of the Atlantic ; though St. diaphana (Le St. d’ Herman, Cuv.) cannot, like 4rg. Olfersii, be perhaps fairly claimed at present to belong to the Madeiran fauna §. The Atlantic and Mediterranean species of Argyropelicus may be thus distinguished : Are. Otrersi1, Cuv. Corpore altiore, altitudine dimidium lon- , * Ann. Nat. Hist. S. 1. vol. xiii. p. 390. tT Proc. Zool. Soc. part 13. p. 103. $ Fishes of Madeira, Preface, p. xii. § Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. xiii. p. 393. Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. x. 4 50 Zoological Society. gitudinis (dempta pinna caudalt) superante; parte postica (caudali) abbreviata ; capite duplo altiore quam longo ; sterno postice in forcipem, preoperculoe inferne in aculeum timplicem desinente. (St. Olfersii, Cuv. J. c.) : Ane. HEMIGYMNUS, Cocco. Corpore angustiore, altitudine di- midium longitudinis (dempta pinna caudal) equante; parte postica (caudali) elongata; capitis longitudine altitudinem aequante ; sterno postice in angulum simplex acutum, preoper- culo inferne in aculeos duos desinente. (Arg. hemigymnus v. Sternoptyx mediterranea, Cocco et Buon. Faun. Ital. cum fig.) This extraordinary group of fishes offers many points of analogy with uae Fam. Duties: 3. TemNopon vapiGco. (Lichia vadigo, Cuv. et Val. vii. 363. t. 235:) | , . A single example was taken in February 1846, but it appeared to be quite unknown to the fishermen, and. is therefore to be regarded as a mere straggler in these seas. If the genus Temnodon be retained, this fish has precisely the same claims to a place in it as the common “‘Anchova”’ of Madeira (T’,. sal- tator, Cuy. et Val.). 1 _ Fam. ScomBripz. 4. ScomBerR coxtas (Gm.), Cuv. et Val. viii. 39. t. 209. (The Spanish Mackerel, Yarr. Brit. Fish. i. 131.) In April 1844, the market in Funchal was plentifully supplied with these fishes for two or three successive days. They were said to have been brought from Porto Santo. : | 5.. Auxis vuLGARis, Cuv. et Val. vill. 139. t. 216. A single example, February 3, 1845. Not quite unknown to the fishermen, but its occurrence said to be a mere chance. 6. PeLamys sarpa, Cuv. et Val. viii. 149. t. 217. October 27, 1844: a single example, called “Sarda”? by the fisher- _ men, to whom it is not absolutely unknown, though, like the last, of merely casual occurrence. Fam. T&Nro1D&. 7. TRACHYPTERUS GRYPHURUS. Corpore elongato, macula poste- riore laterali spatio tertiam partem totius longitudinis aquante a basi pinne caudalis amota; pinnarum radiis scabris.; linea lateralt inermi, postice supra marginem ventralem desinente. D.5+166; P.10 v.11; V.1+5; A.0; (eae M. B. 6. Intermediate between 7. fale and 7’. iris of Cavier and” Valen- ciennes’ ‘ Histoire,’ vol. x. pp. 333, 341 ; approaching, perhaps, near- est to the latter, but differing in its deeper shape (D=5. instead : : z Zoological Society. 51 of ort): and in the backwarder position of the third dark side- spot. The ventral fins are short, only equalling one-twelfth of the body without the caudal fin, and the four first produced rays of the first dorsal are equal in length to the ventral fins. The lateral line ends as in MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes’ figure (t. 297) of T. iris, but is quite unarmed. The ventral line is serrulate, and the whole surface, particularly towards the ventral line, is finely shagreened or Sau the granulations becoming stronger towards the ventral ine, as in the same figure. In shape and proportions it agrees better with 7. falz, but differs in several important particulars from MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes’ description of that fish. The only individual examined of this beautiful and extraordinary fish occurred in June 1845, and has been added by me to the collec- tion of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. It was scarcely quite dead when I first saw it, and was in the most perfect state of preserva- tion. Another Trachypterus had occurred in June 1844, and was probably the same species ; but the example was unfortunately thrown away by the person to whom it had been mis-sent without my seeing it. It was said to have been about three feet long. The whole body is pure bright silver, appearing as if frosted from the fine granulations of the surface. The fins are of a delicate scar- let or vermilion, the lower point or angle of the caudal being tipped, and the hinder end of the dorsal edged with black. On the sides are three blackish oval or elliptic spots. This example was twenty-five inches long, exclusive of the caudal fin, which resembles a bat’s or griffin’s wing, and is erected in a fan-like manner ; the lower lobe or portion being suppressed or undeveloped, and only indicated by the presence of five short spinules or abortive rays. Fam. LABRID. 8. LaBrus taRvATus. Flavus, capite humerisque griseo-nigres- cente larvatis ; pinna dorsali antice caudaque utrinque infra lineam lateralem rectiusculam unimaculatis ; corpore oblongo elongato ; dentibus validis crebris, antice biseriatis ; pinne caudalis apicibus analisque ventraliumque margine coeruleo- nigris. D.17+13; A. 3+11; P.16; V.1+5; C. Squamee lin. lat. 42—45. In general appearance, shape, and the peculiar straightness of the lateral Ime; this fine species much resembles Cossyphus Darwini, Jen. ; but it. is a true Labrus, with the dorsal and anal fins naked, and the preopercle quite entire. Its nearest allies are therefore L. mivtus and Li Serofa; from which however, besides other characters, the nume- rous strong teeth distinguish it. A single example only has occurred, measuring seventeen inches and a quarter in length. 3v.44VI. 2v5 3+ V3” B. M. 5; 4°* 52 | Zoological Society. Fam. CHEIRONECTID. Gen. CHaunax, Lowe. Gen. Char. Corpus subcubico-oblongum, suffabile, nudum, cute presertim ad ilia ventremque flaceidissima laxa ; antice obesum, postice abrupte attenuatum subcompressum, Caput osseum mag- num subtetrahedrum, superne nuchaque latum planatum, utrin- que s. ad genas declive; oculis lateralibus, spatio interoculart convexo ; ore rictuque amplissimis transversis plagio-plateis s. depressis. Dentes intermazillares vomerinique palatinique parvi scobinati. Nares simplices (nec pedicellate nec tubulose). Spi- racula ( foramina branchialia) postica s. ad ilia pone pinnarum pectoralium axillas. Pinna dorsalis unica ; pectoralibus (pedi- cellatis) carnosis ; ventralibus jugularibus spathulatis carnosis ; analis postica ; caudalis simplex truncata. Cirri, preter uni- cum in fossula internasali, nullt. 9. Cuaunax pictus, Lowe in Trans. Zool. Soc. ii. part 4. p. 340. t. 51. . 1+IV. Di lis. cAe FcR. dies Nai Sy 2411. Species adhuc unica. fad. in mari Maderensi. I have nothing to add to the full account of this curious fish above referred to, except by way of correction to the second paragraph‘ p- 344, which has been erroneously printed, and should stand thus: “Whilst Cheironectes seems its most natural, Halieut@ea is its near- est technical ally. Agreeing with Lophius in the wide transverse mouth, and in the backward position of the breathing orifices in the flanks, but with Cheironectes more in shape, in the granular or velvety roughness of the skin, and in colour; it differs from both, and ap- .. proaches Halieutea, in the absence of crests or cilia on the back, and in the single dorsal fin. In these last two points, and in the rough- ness of the skin, it agrees with Halieutea, but differs in its Diodon-like © shape, and in the position of the breathing-holes considerably behind, instead of above or before, the axils of the pectoral fins.”’ Fam. ScoPELID®. Gen. PoaNopON. Gen. Char. Caput magnum compressum, oculis magnis, rostro brevissimo obtuso, rictu magno pone oculos longe diducto, mento subtus ad symphysin cirro barbato. Dentes intermaxillares uni- seriuti ; anteriores (5 v. 6 utrinque) validi tenues prelongi ta- niari subrecurvi remoti distincti, extrorsum supra labia invi- cem claudentes ; ossibus palati dentibus minoribus uniseridtis, lingua biseriatis, armatis. Onpercula simplicia plana. Corpus elongatum compressum nudum? s. exsquameum; abdomine pune- tis argenteis (ut in Scoreto) seriatis. Linea lateralis recta pinneque fere ut in Scorero, pectoralibus brevioribus. Zoological Society. 53 10. Poa&{Nopon riNnGENS. (Scopelus barbatus, nob. MS. olim.) 941.4 1X. ma » Oda . . : BD mice eemee AE TT im D. 16; 2% D. 0; A, 16; V.73' P..9; O. SC ravill: M.B » Closely allied to Scopelus, but with the head and teeth of Eehio- stoma, which it also resembles in its single cartilaginous beard or barbule. | | A single example occurred in May 1845, and was placed by me in the collection of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, under the MS. name of Scopelus barbatus. {t was seven inches long, and the above fin-formula is taken from it. _ I have been favoured. by the Duc de Leuchtenberg this winter with the opportunity of examining a second individual, procured from a fisherman. It agreed in all important details with the former, but was only from five to six inches long, and had a much shorter barbule. Both, these examples were entirely devoid of scales, but from cer- tain appearances I am inclined to attribute this defect to injury. _ The colour is a uniform brownish or coal-black, except the silver pits, which are disposed in rows along the throat and belly, exactly as in Scopelus. 11. mee ahe MADERENSIs (Suppl. in Trans. Zool. Soc. iii. part 1. p- 14). : «» Appears to be distinguished from Sc. Humboldti by the forwarder {medio-dorsal) position of its first dorsal fin, and by the long pec- toral fins, which are contained from four to four and a half times in the whole length, and reach to the end of the base of the first dorsal fin. The anal fin has fourteen rays. _. Examples have occurred of two other forms or species, with shorter pectoral, fins, in one of which the anal fin has fourteen, and in the other twenty-two rays. In the first of these, the length of the pec- -toral fin is one-sixth of the whole length of the fish (p= =) in the second it is one-fifth and four-sevenths of the same p= 3 te. rather longer. But further investigations will be requisite before these can be safely proposed as species. In general habit, colour, and appearance, they agree with S. maderensis. 12. Mrxtror1as typH Lops (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1843, vol. xi. p. 90). Another example has occurred of this most curious and anomalous little fish. It was brought to me in May 1849, from the same place, Magdalena, at, which I obtained the former... It is of much larger size, measuring..three inches anda half in length. I find nothing whatever to correct in the account. above referred to, except that the maxillary teeth, instead of being “ uniseriate,”’ are in.a scobinate or brush-like band in both jaws; narrow in the upper, broader in the dower jaw. .-The, acquisition of a second example, confirming the peculiar cha- racters before set. down, is the more satisfactory, from the former oe Zoological Saciety. having been unfortunately destroyed by the wasting of the alcohol'in which it was kept. Fam. GApIp&. 13, Paycis rurcatus, Flem. (not Bowdich); Yarr. Brit. Fish. ed. 1. ii. 201. (Le Merlus barbu, Duham. Cuy. R. An. ed. 2. li. p. 335.) 3 A single example occurred May 8, 1845; not quite agreeing with the figure in the ‘ British Fishes,’ yet certainly distinct from the com- mon “ Abrotea” of Madeira (P. mediterraneus, Lar.), of which, on the other hand, the P. furcatus of Bowdich (Excurs. p. 122. f. 28) was unquestionably a mere accidentally fork-tailed individual. Fam. EcHENEID. 14. EcHENEIS viTTata, Suppl. to Synops. in Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. ili. part 1. p. 17, and Hist. Fish. Mad. p. 77. t. 11. The acquisition of an adult example measuring 2 feet 63 inches in length, has proved the fish above described to have been a young in- dividual of #. vttata, Riippell (Neu. Wirbel. p. 82). It is fortunate that the happy coincidence of name necessitates no change or con- fusion in rendering justice to my learned friend’s prior claim in the establishment of this well-marked species. The lateral dark band or vitta becomes indistinct in adult individuals. In the large full-grown example above mentioned it had disappeared entirely. 3 Fam. MuraNIDz. Gen. LEPTORHYNCHUS, nob. Gen. Char. Caput scolopaciforme, callo elongato distinctum ; maxillis in rostrum tenue productis, utraque dentibus minutissi- mis lime instar scabra ; rictu pone oculos diducto. Nares oculis contigue approximate, simplices nec tentaculate. Oculi magni. Corpus nudum anguilliforme compressum, gracile, elongatum ; postice longissime attenuato-productum filiforme, apice acuto. Aperture branchiales sat magne, ante pinnas pectorales ob- lique deorsum fisse.- Pinnee pectorales distincte lanceolate, sat magne ; pinna dorsali ad nucham paullo ante, anali ad gulam paullo post pinnas pectorales incipiente ; utraque usque ad api- cem caude continuata, membranacea, nec cute cooperta, sed ra- diis sat validis distinctis. 15. Leprornyncuus Levcunrenseres. (The Snipe-Eel.) I am indebted for an opportunity of describing this interesting new type of Murenide to the favour of His Imperial Highness the Duc de Leuchtenberg, to whom an example was brought by a fisherman in January last. It approaches the Anguillide by its well-developed pectoral fins. The prolonged beak-like muzzle also reminds one of that of Leptognathus, Swainson. The unique individual examined, which measured 2 feet 9 inches in length, scarcely half an inch in height, and four lines in thickness, is included in the extensive col- Zoological Society. 55 lections formed with so much scientific ardour and discrimination by. His Imperial Highness the Duc de Leuchtenberg, during his late six _ months’ residence in Madeira. Fam. BauisTipz. 16. Monacantuus AuRIGA. Hispidus, cauda utrinque dense hispido-villosa ; pallide olivaceo-murinus, sublutescens, fusco- lutoso-maculatus.v, interrupte longitudinaliter subfasciatus ; fasciis luteis inconspicuis evanescentibus 3 v. 4 ab oculis antice oblique radiantibus; radius 1 v. 2 antics dorsalis prime ali- quando in filamentum productis. | . im™D,1; 24D.31; A. 30v.31; P.13y.14; C.14+X.+1. From eight to ten or eleven inches long. On each side, towards the base of the caudal fin, is an oblong patch, like plush or velveteen, of close thickset hairs or bristles. The occasional production of the second or first two rays of the second dorsal fin is perhaps sexual. Such examples have the muzzle rather longer and more produced be- fore the eyes than those which have not the elongated dorsal fila- ment. They are perhaps the M. filamentosus of M. Valenciennes, to whose figure and description, however, in MM. Webb and Berthe- lot’s ‘Canarian Fishes,’ I regret I have not access. Several examples haye occurred, chiefly in the autumn, durmg the last five or six years, of this previously in Madeira unobserved or un- recorded species. mt | Weseauaupa. Fam. ALOPECIDZ. 17. Atopras vuLPxs, Buon. (The Fox Shark, Yarr. ii. 379.) An example occurred this spring of unusual size, measuring eighteen feet in length, of which the tail was ten feet. The skin was preserved by the Duc de Leuchtenberg. Fam. SpINnACID. Bs CENTROPHORUS squaMosus, Mill. und Henle, p. 90, with a gure. The Ramudo or Raimudo of Madeira, not unfrequently taken off the Dezertas at a depth of twelve or fourteen “‘linhas,” i.e. from 350 to 400 fathoms, belongs apparently to the above species, the habi- tat of which was unknown to its describers, MM. Miiller and Henle. I have only examined female examples, and the fishermen profess themselves’ to be entirely unacquainted with the male, which I have however formerly (March 10, 1838) once seen, though without oppor- tunity for a close or accurate examination, and so perhaps without re- marking any spine near the tips of the claspers or ventral fin-append- ages. The individuals examined were five or six feet long, but the fish is said to grow to a much larger size. Madeira, May 25, 1850. 56 Zoological Society. December 10.—Prof. Owen, V.P., F.R.S;, in the Chair. DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL NEW SPECIES OF ENTOMOSTRACA, By W. Barro, M.D., F.L.S. erc. Genus Leripurvs, Leach. ~ 1. Leprpurvs viripis, Baird. Body of animal, including the flap of tail segment, about two inches long and one broad. The carapace and whole body are of a fine green colour, the carapace covering about two-thirds of the abdomen; the edges of the notch in the posterior part of the carapace are strongly toothed, and those of the inferior half of the carapace are very finely serrated ; these teeth are of two sets, the one much larger than the - others; the larger teeth are of a green colour, tipped at the point with dark brown; they are about eleyen in number, and between each there are two or three much smaller ones interspersed. The appen- dages of the first pair of feet are very short and small, scarcely ex- tending beyond the edge of the carapace. The segments of the abdo- men are each studded with a row of stout, slightly curved spines of a green colour tipped at their edges with dark brown. The tail flap is oval, keeled down the centre, the keel being beset with short sharp spines, and the edges of the flap are finely serrated. The long setze of the tail are nearly the length of the whole animal, and are covered with short hairs. } ba Hab. Van Diemen’s Land. British ~~ Genus Cypris, Mut 1. Cypris Donneti1, Baird. Carapace valves elongate oval. Anterior extremity. narrower than posterior, and considerably flatter ; posterior extremity rounded, and very convex; dorsal edge arched; ventral slightly reniform. The surface of the valves is smooth and shining, of a brown colour, varie- gated with patches of a darker shade. The pediform antennze are provided with about six bristles of considerable length. Hab. Freshwater ponds, Coquimbo ; collected by — Donnet, Esgq., Surgeon R.N. Brit. Mus.; from the collection of H. Cuming, Esq. 2. Cypris CUNEATA, Baird. Carapace valves wedge-shaped, much broader at anterior than poste- rior extremity. Dorsal margin highly arched ; ventral deeply sinuated in the centre, giving the shell a reniform appearance... Valves very convex in the centre, and surrounded by a prominent margin, which at the anterior extremity, when highly magnified, is seen to. be mi- nutely and finely serrated. The whole carapace is of a deep green colour, and covered with fine hairs. _ Hab. Duddingston Loch, near Edinburgh; August 1850. Genus Canpona, Baird. 1. CANDONA LACTEA, Baird. ‘Carapace valves oblong ovate, convex. Dorsal margin: nearly Zoological Society. 57 straight ; ventral slightly sinuated in the centre. Anterior and poste- rior extremities of nearly equal size. Surface of valves smooth and shining, and of a dull white colour. | This species resembles in shape the Candona reptans, but is only about one-fourth the size, and is of a uniform dull white colour. Hab. Freshwater pond at Charing, Kent; collected by W. Harris, Esq., to whom I am indebted for specimens. Regent’s Park (7. Ru- pert Jones, Esq.). be Genus CyrHrre, Miller. 1. Cyrurre TARENTINA, Baird. - Carapace valves obovate. Anterior extremity much broader than posterior, and having a broad flat margin striated on the surface and toothed round the edge; posterior extremity pointed, having the same margin, but not so broad, and with much fewer teeth. The valves are very convex in the middle, of a greyish colour, with a white patch in the centre, and are slightly pitted all over, Dorsal and ventral margins both somewhat prominent. ; : Hab. Tarentum. In Mr. Williamson’s collection. 2. CyTHERE SETOSA, Baird. Carapace valves oval. Anterior extremity narrower than. poste- rior. . Dorsal margin arched ; ventral sinuated about its anterior third. Surface of valves shining white, and studded all over with short stiff hairs. | : Hab. Moreton Bay, Australia, and Tenedos: Mr. Williamson’s collection. x Genus CYTHEREIS, Jones. 1. CYTHEREIS AUSTRALIS, Baird. Carapace valves somewhat quadrilateral. Dorsal and ventral mar- gins nearly straight. Anterior extremity broader than posterior, and finely toothed ; teeth numerous. Posterior extremity emarginate on - upper or dorsal edge, and toothed on ventral; teeth tew, and stronger than those on anterior margin. Surface of valves roughened with small asperities, and having one tubercle on about the anterior third of its length. A raised margin encircles the whole valve. Approaches very near Cypridina hieroglyphica of Bosquet, Ento- most. Maestricht, t. 3. f. 4. Hab. Moreton Bay, Australia. Mr, Williamson’s collection. 2.: CYTHEREIS RUNCINATA, Baird. Carapace valves ovate, flat. Anterior extremity broader than poste- rior, and rounded ; posterior extremity emarginate on upper or dor- sal margin. Surface of valves very flat and rugose ; a flat projecting border surrounds each valve, which is serrulated at anterior extremity and toothed on posterior; a high raised sharp ridge runs across the centre of the valve somewhat in a diagonal direction, which is serru- lated along its whole length, and a smaller similar ridge is seen near the ventral margin. Hab. Tenedos. Mr. Williamson’s collection. 58 | Zoological Society. 3. CYTHEREIS FISTULOSA, Baird. Carapace valves nearly quadrilateral, elongate. Anterior extremity a little more rounded than posterior, and armed with seven or eight small teeth ; posterior extremity armed with five or six larger teeth. Dorsal and ventral margins nearly straight. Surface of valves gra- nular and ornamented by four elevated straight ridges, which are per- forated near their margins with small round holes, Hab. Manilla. Mr. Williamson’s collection. : e 4. CYTHEREIS PRAVA, Baird. Carapace valves subquadrangular. Anterior extremity considerably broader than posterior, rounded, smooth round the edge, and having a broad flat margin beset on inner edge with small round tubercles ; posterior extremity emarginate, and furnished on inferior half with several short teeth. Valves extremely gibbous in centre, and the surface very rough, wrinkled, and tubercled. Hab. Tenedos. Mr. Williamson’s collection. 5. CYTHEREIS DEFORMIS, Baird. Carapace valves ovate, short and gibbous; the two extremities of nearly the same size. Dorsal and ventral margins nearly straight. Surface of valves very coarsely granulated and tubercled; roughly ridged, but the ridges not perforated as in the preceding species. Hab. Manilla. Mr. Williamson’s collection. 6. CyTHEREIS SENTICOSA, Baird. Carapace valves flat, ovate. Anterior extremity broader than poste- . rior, and rounded. Dorsal margin sloping towards posterior extre- mity; ventral nearly straight. The surface of the valves is very rough, wrinkled, and beset all over, but especially near the margms, with strong spinous laciniee. Hab. Tenedos. Mr. Williamson’s collection. Genus Crpriptna, M.-Edwards. 1. Cypripina ZEALANIca, Baird. Carapace valves of an oval form, somewhat flattened, but convex in the centre and striated; the strice are numerous, close-set, and of a waved appearance. Surface of valves covered with minute punc- tations, which probably give origin in the fresh state to short hairs, though they are not visible in the dried specimens. The anterior ex- tremity is slightly narrower than posterior. The whole carapace is of a uniform white colour. Natural size one-fourth of an inch long and one-fifth of an inch broad. Hab. New Zealand. Two specimens were sent to the British Mu- seum by the Rev. R. Taylor, of Waimati in New Zealand, along with a-collection of marine and freshwater shells, but without any history attached to them. 2. CyYPRIDINA INTERPUNCTA, Baird. Carapace valves oval. Anterior extremity narrower than posterior ; Royal Institution. 59 the notch near anterior extremity very wide, and its anterior margin blunt and projecting in form of a beak straight upwards ; posterior extremity obtusely rounded, and terminating near the ventral margin in a short blunt poimt. Dorsal and ventral margins nearly straight or slightly arched. The surface of the valves is of a dull white colour, and is densely and rather coarsely covered with impressed punctations. The carapace is convex, but much less so than in C, M‘dndrei, and is of a much more oval shape. Hab. Near the Isle of Skye; collected by R. M‘Andrew, Esq., August 1850. 3. Cypripina Marta, Baird. Carapace valves elongate oval, of exactly the same size at each ex- tremity ; extremities rounded. Dorsal and ventral margins nearly plane, or very slightly arched. Surface of valves of a white shining colour, mottled with a few spots of a dull white, and covered with minute superficial punctations. Notch or ventral margin of anterior extremity blunt, leaying the upper and lower margins of the notch - very obtuse. Approaches Asterope elliptica of Philippi somewhat in figure of carapace, but is much more elongate, and is one-third larger. Hab. Off the Isle of Skye; collected by R. M‘Andrew, Esq., Au- gust 1850. ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN. Friday, May 7, 1852.—W. R. Grove, Esq., M.A., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. On the Supposed Analogy between the Life of an Individual and the Duration of a Species. By Prof. Epwarp Forsss, F.R.S. In Natural History and Geology, a clear understanding of the rela- tions of Individual, Species, and Genus to Geological Time and Geographical Space is of essential importance. Much, however, of what is generally received concerning these relations will scarcely bear close investigation. Among questionable, though popular notions upon this subject, the Lecturer would place the belief that the term of duration of a species is comparable and of the same kind with that of the life of an mdividual. The successive phases in the complete existence of an individual are, Birth, Youth, Maturity, Decline, and Decay terminating in Death. Whether we regard an individual as a single self-existing organism however produced, or extend it to the series of organisms, combined or independent, all being products of a single ovum, its term of duration can be abbreviated, but not prolonged indefinitely, nor can the several phases of its existence be repeated. Conditions may. arrest or hasten maturity, or prematurely destroy, but cannot, how- ever favourable, reproduce a second maturity after decline has com- menced. Now, it is believed by many that a species (using the term in the sense of an assemblage of imdividuals presenting certain constant 60 Royal Institution. characters in common, and derived from one original. protoplast or stock) passes through a series of phases comparable with those which succeed each other in definite order during the life of a single indivi- dual,—that it has its epochs of origin, of maturity, of decline and, of extinction, dependent upon the laws of an inherent vitality. If this notion be true, the theory of Geology will be proportionately affected ; since in this case the duration of species must be regarded as only influenced, not determined, by the physical conditions among which they are placed ;—and, thus, species should characterize epochs or sections of time, independent of all physical changes and modify- ing influences short of those which are absolutely destructive. Now, geological epochs, as at present understood, are defined by peculiar assemblages of species, and the amount of change in the organic . contents of proximate formations or strata is usually accepted asa measure of the extent of the disturbances that affect them. Yet this latter inference, involving as it does the supposition that the spread and continuity of species in time are dependent upon physical influ- ences, is adverse to the notion of a Life of a Species as stated above. If we seek for the origin of this notion, we shall find that it. has two sources; the one direct, the other indirect. It is not an induc- tion, nor pretended to be, but an hypothesis assumed through appa- rent analogies. Its first and principal source may be discovered in the comparison suggested by certain necessary phases in the duration of the species with others in the life of an individual, such as each has its: commencement, and each has its cessation. Geological research has made known to us, that prior to certain points in time certain species did not exist, and that after certain points in time certain species ceased to be. The commencement of a species has been com- pared with Birth, the extinction with Death. Again, many species can be shown to have had an epoch of maximum development in time. This has been compared with the maturity of the individual. Between the birth of an individual and the commencement. of a species in the first appearance of its protoplast, the analogy is more apparent than real. We know how the former phenomenon takes place, but we have no knowledge of the latter. Between the maturity of the individual and the maximum deyelop- ment of a species there is no true analogy, since the latter can easily be proved to be entirely dependent on the combination of favouring conditions, and during the period of duration of a species there may be two or more epochs of great or even equal development, and two or more epochs of decline alternating with epochs of prosperity. |The epoch of maximum of a species may also occur durimg any period in its history short of the first stage. Geological and. geographical re- search -equally show that the flourishing of a species) is\ invariably coincident. with the presence of favouring and its decline with that of unfavourable. conditions... Hence there is no analogy \between..the single and definite phase of maturity of the individual, and the varia- ble and sometimes often-repeated epochs of luxuriant development in the duration of a species. ° : Between the death of the individual and the extinction of a species Royal Institution. 61 there isan analogy only when ‘the former event occurs prematurely _ through the influence of destroying conditions. But in their absence, an individual ‘after its period of ‘vitality has been completed must necessarily die ; whereas we have no right to assume that such would be the fate of a species so cireumstanced, since in every case where we can either geologically or geographically trace a species to its local or general extinction, we can connect the fact of its disappearance with the evidences of physical changes. [The Lecturer illustrated these points by diagrams and special de- monstrations, selecting for explanation two local cases, the one marine and the other freshwater; the former taken from the geological pheenomena of Culver Cliff and the neighbouring bays in the Isle of Wight; of which a beautiful and original model had been communi- eated by Capt. Ibbetson for the purpose, and the latter from his own recent researches (unpublished) on the succession of organic remains in the Purbeck strata of Dorsetshire, conducted as part of the labours of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. } The second and more indirect source of the notion of the life of a species may be traced in apparent analogies, half-perceived, between the centralization of generic groups in time and space, and the limited duration of both species and individual. But in this case ideas are compared which are altogether and essentially distinct. The nature of this distinction is expressed among the following propositions, in which an attempt is made to contrast the respective relations of individual, species, and genus to Geological time and Geographical space. A. The individual, whether we restrict the word to the single organism, however produced—or extend it to the series of organisms, combined or independent, all being products of a single ovum—has but a limited and unique existence in time, which, short as it must be, can be shortened by the influence of unfavourable conditions, but which no combination of favouring circumstances can prolong beyond the term of life allotted to it according to its kind. B. The species, whether we restrict the term to assemblages. of individuals resembling each other in certain constant characters, or hold; in addition, the hypothesis (warranted, as might be shown from ‘experience and experiment), that between all the members of such an assemblage there is the relationship of family, the relationship of descent, ‘and consequently that they are all the descendants of one first stock or protoplast—(how that protoplast appeared is not part of the question)—is like the individual in so much as its relations to time are unique: once destroyed, it never reappears. But (and this is the point of the view now advocated), unlike the individual, it is continued indefinitely so long as conditions favourable to its diffusion and prosperity—that is to say, so long as conditions favourable to the production and sustenance of the individual repre- sentatives or elements are continued coincidently with its existence. {No amount of favouring conditions can reeall a species once destroyed.—On this conclusion, founded upon all facts hitherto 62 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. observed in paleontology, ‘the value of the: application of Natural History to Geological science mainly depends. | C. The genus, in whatever degree of extension we ‘use the term, so long as we apply it to an ‘assemblage of species intimately related to each other in common and important’ features of organization, appears distinctly to exhibit the pheenomenon of centralization in both time and space, though with a difference, since it would! seem that each genus has a unique eentre or area of development in time, but in geographical space may present more centres than one. a. An individual is a positive reality. b. A species is a relative reality. e. A genus is an abstraction—an idea—but an idea impressed on nature, and not arbitrarily dependent on man’s conceptions. a. An individual is one. {. A species consists of many resulting from one: y- A genus consists of more or fewer of these manies resulting froin one linked together not by a relationship of descent but by an affinity dependent on a divine idea. And, lastly, -a. An individual cannot manifest itself in two places at once; it has no extension in space ; its relations are entirely with time, but the possible duration of its existence is regulated by the law of its ‘inherent vitality. 6. A species has correspondent and exactly analogous relations with time and space,—the duration of its existence as well as its geogra- phical extension are entirely regulated by physical conditions. e. A genus has dissimilar or only partially comparable relations with time and space, and occupies areas in both having only partial relations to physical conditions. The investigation of these distinctions and relations forms the subject of a great chapter in the Philosophy of Natural History. That Philosophy contemplates the laws that regulate the manifestation of life exhibited in organized nature, and their dependence upon and ‘connection with the inorganic world and its pheenomena. None teaches more emphatically the difficulties with which man’s mind must contend when attempting to comprehend the wisdom embodied in the universe, and none holds out a more cheering prospect of future discovery in fresh and unexpected fields of delightful research. BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. Thursday, 8th April, 1852.—Dr. Seller, President, in the, Chair. Dr. Murchison exhibited some curious specimens of Extract:of ‘Tea, prepared in the form of lozenges by the Chinese. These lozenges were of various forms, and had impressed upon them mottos: in Chinese characters, and the figures of different insects, musical in- struments, and other objects. They had been brought from Pekin in the year 1812, and were stated to be used by the Chinese when Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 63 travelling; when introduced into the mouth, they were said to, dissolve slowly, preventing thirst, and. proving very refreshing. Though it was forty years since they had been brought from China, they still retained a very perceptible flavour of tea. The following papers were read :— 1. *On the Economic Uses of Chicory (Cichorium Intybus, L.),”’ by Mr. James Fulton... The author, after giving a general account of the history of the Chicory plant, and alluding to the antiquity of its cultivation, proceeded. to point out the wide range of ceconomic uses to which it might be made applicable, and urged the importance of extending its cultivation. Its extensive use as an ingredient in coffees well known. Asa forage plant, it forms some of the best meadows in the south of France and Lombardy, succeeding in all seasons ; while its use as a salad is likewise extensive. Since 1835, large quantities of the root have been imported from the continent ; itis now cultivated in several parts of England. It had occurred to Mr. Fulton that the bitter of the chicory root might be employed as a substitute for hops, and he had accordingly used it with success, and found that the root not only communicates a pleasant bitter, but that it is likewise in some measure a substitute for the malt by possessing a large amount of saccharine matter. 2. “Analysis of the Sabal umbraculifera, as grown in the Botanic Garden,” by Mr. Allan B. Dick. The following is Mr. Dick’s - analysis :—= | Organic matter. Inorganic. No . Phaats ag Gie 9 Ns sia dea pe GINA 91°90 8°10 RM Sa re be ee 95°00 5:00 Bees er ee ee 37°00 Sulphuric Acid .............. 11°15 1 Ieee gn eee whage even oni cdy Gulp 15°90 POUR so TAS Re eee 8°65 MORE Seige Po sy Oe 2°50 Chloride of Sodium .......... 8°45 Phosphoric Acid ............ 1-70 Rui Ee a 1°30 ». Manganese... .... 0... 1°40 TAO a ee ee eee Carbonic Aad 7°. 2-4 eee 0°99 SINRONN Phe Nea a Ga oe 5°95 99°74 3. “On Plants found in the neighbourhood of Ripon, Yorkshire, in March 1852,” by Mr. James B. Davies. oo Aas S Report on the state of Vegetation in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, from 10th March till 8th April 1852, as compared with the years, 1850 and,1851,”? by Mr. M‘Nab. 5: ‘Notice of Plants found in flower at Bowhill, Selkirkshire, on 23rd March,’ by Dr. Balfour. 64 — Botanical Society of Edinburgh. May 13th, 1852.—Dr. Seller, President, in the Chair, © Dr. Balfour read a letter from Dr. Dickie, mentioning that he had added two mosses to the Flora of Treland, viz. Polytrichum hereynt- cum and Hypnum rufescens. ~* following papers were read :— . “ Notice of Chinese Vegetable Products transmitted for ‘the Maseum of Economic Botany,” by Mr. Robert Fortune. 2. “On Plants found in Yorkshire, Westmoreland, and Cumber- land, in April 1852,” by Mr. James B. Davies. Mr. Davies gave a complete list of the plants observed by him, with their dates of flowering. Professor Balfour exhibited a young plant of Victoria Regia, from one of the hothouses in the Botanic Garden, showing the remarkable difference in the form of the leaves produced in its early stage of growth from those afterwards formed. The plant showed the first- formed linear leaf, followed by the sagittate form, after which, leaves of a more or less rounded-cordate form are produced. © June 10, 1852.—Dr. Seller, President, in the Chair. ~— following papers were read :— . “On a supposed new species of Eleocharis,” by Charles C. Baie M.A. This paper will be found in the present Number of as ‘ Annals,’ 2. “Analysis of the Fluid (known as Gram Oil) from the leaves of Gram (Cicer arietinum), by Thomas Anderson, Esq. This paper consisted of an analysis.made by Mr. Russell Aldridge :—<‘ On eva- poration it yielded a black residue which would not dissolve in cold water, but did so readily when heated; and on cooling it became turbid, showing the presence of oxidizable extractive. ‘To a small portion of the fluid chloride of calcium was added, and a precipitate of oxalate of lime obtained, showing the presence of oxalic acid ; it was then filtered, and to a portion of the filtrate potash was added, no precipitate was obtained, therefore no tartaric acid. To the remainder of the filtrate ammonia was added, which gave no precipitate. when cold; but upon boiling it a slight one was obtained, showing a trace of citric acid. The remainder of the original solution was evaporated. down, and the residue taken up with alcohol, a small, quantity of gummy matter separated; on evaporating the alcoholic fluid, it left some sugar; the residue was then placed in a platinum capsule and subjected to red heat, the ashes (which were of a brown colour) were then taken up with water, and a few drops of hydrochloric acid added, which gave to the fluid a yellow colour, showing the presence of oxide of iron. It was then filtered, and carbonate of ammonia added, which gave a distinct trace of lime, again filtered, and to the filtrate phosphate of soda added, which gave a trace of magnesia. Potash and soda were present in minute quantities. “The results thus are :— “ Oxalic acid (copious), citric acid (traces), oxidizable extractive, gum, sugar, lime, magnesia, iron, potash and soda.”’ 3. ‘ Notice relative to the Transmission of Foreign Seeds in Soil,”’ Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 65 by Mr. M‘Nab... The author stated that he had been long in the be- lief that the transmission of fruits and seeds in a fit state for germi- nation would be better accomplished by being packed in soil than by any other known method. This experiment was fully tested by him- self during 1834, when he brought over the seeds of many of the rarer American oaks and other trees in boxes filled with soil, while portions of the same kinds of seeds packed, both in brown paper and cloth bags, were in many instances totally useless. 4. “On a variety of the Orchis mascula (O. speciosa, Host), found in the county of Wicklow,” by Mr. D. Moore of Glasnevim. This communication consisted of parts of two letters from Mr. Moore ad- dressed to Mr. N‘Nab :— «27th May 1852.—I have just been looking over a proof figure of Orchis speciosa, Host. It was discovered by me and another per- son last year in the county of Wicklow, where I went again a few days ago and found two more plants. Koch makes it a variety of O. mascula, which it probably ought not to be kept separate from ; the difference being more in appearance than in well-defined cha- racters. It is however a noble-looking plant, growing nearly 18 inches high.” | “ 28th May 1852.—I herewith send you one of the smallest spe- cimens of the Orchis speciosa, Host, which I will thank you to show to Dr. Balfour. Some of the flowers in the rachis are imperfect, wanting the labellum. The specimen figured had also imperfect flowers, which would appear to be characteristic of the species. I confess I cannot find good characters to distinguish it from O. mas- cula, though it differs so widely in general appearance.” In regard to the Orchis, Dr. Balfour read the following communi- cation from Mr. Babington :— | “T see that Mr. Moore has sent you a paper upon the supposed Orchis speciosa of the county of Wicklow, and that it is to be brought before the Botanical Society on Thursday next. He has been so good as to send me a specimen of the plant, and I have informed him very recently that I could not concur in the opinion that it is the O. speciosa of Host. I believe it to be nothing more than a very luxuriant state of the O. mascula. A few days since I found two spe- cimens, exactly corresponding with the Wicklow plant, in the wooded part of the Devil’s Ditch, in this county of Cambridge. They pos- sess the remarkable size of Mr. Moore’s plant, and the rather acuter segments of the perianth, such as he finds on his specimens. The true O. speciosa (which is itself only a variety of the O. mascula) has very much more attenuated segments of perianth. It is figured by Reichenbach in his recent elaborate volume upon the Orchidaceze (forming ‘Icon. Fl. Germ.’ vols. xiii. & xiv.), and I have lately re- ceived a plant which is much more like it than is the Irish plant, from Mr. Keys of Plymouth. Our English O. mascula is noted by conti- nental botanists as an obtuse-petaled form of the species. Mr. Moore’s plant is far nearer to the continental type of the species. 5. “On Plants observed in Westmoreland and Cumberland in May 1852,” by Mr. James B. Davies. Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. x. 5 66 : Linnean Society. LINNZZAN SOCIETY. February 4, 1851:—Robert. Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. The President exhibited ‘specimens of stems of Kingia australis, R. Br., and Xanthorrhea arborea, R. Br., together with drawings of the former, illustrative of) its structure, especially of the siliceous covering of the vascular fasciculi of the persistent. bases of, the leaves; and in both genera, the means by which the stems are pro- tected from the scorching fires of the natives. Read the following ‘‘ Notice concerning Linnzus’s. Iter, Dale- carlicum,” extracted from a letter of Mr. Charles Hartman,.M:A., to the Secretary of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, in which he gives a report of his examination of the collections and manuscripts of Linnzus in the possession of the Linnean Society of London ; ‘which letter is printed in the Academy’s Proceedings at . the Meeting on the 12th September 1849 (being No. 7 of the, 6th year), p. 185. Translated from the Swedish by N. Wallich, M.iet Phil,D.,-V.P.L.S. &c. After mentioning the library of Linneus, Mr. Hartman proceeds _as follows :— But what especially interested me was to find a manuscript of Linneeus, consisting of 176 folio pages, containing a complete ac- count of his journey in Dalecarlia in 1734, arranged according to the plan adopted in his other published Travels, and enriched: with remarks on divers subjects, marginal notes of contents, such as *Cconomica, Geographica, Botanica,’ &c. After the proper diary follows a small appendix of the names, and an extremely short but graphic ‘character of clergymen and other persons jin. the parishes of the Dalas (valleys, Dalecarlia) which were visited; a faithful chart executed by the geographer to the party; and lastly, a seem- ingly jocose warrant, issued to their mineralogist, in the handwriting and under the sign manual of Linnzus himself. As this journey has never, as' far as I know, been published, or even’ noticed, it may not be improper to give here a transcript of its title:and ipre- face, which will best serve to give an idea of the contents of the MSS., and the plan and object of the journey itself... The writing as well as the whole ‘report being in Swedish, in thesnot always very legible handwriting of Linneus, I have had some difficulty in deciphering. it, and have been obliged to omit some words in two places. The title is as follows :—Caroli Linnaei, P.S.R. Iter Dalekarlicum jussu & impensis Viri Generosissimi et. Eacellentissimi Dni Nicolai Reuterholmi Gubernatoris Provincie Dalekarlice institutum per Dale- karlicam Suecie provinciam quoad orientalem, Alpinam & occidentalem partem, observationibus constans Geographicis, Physicis, Mineralogicis, Botanicis, Zoologicis, Domesticis & Oeconomicis quotidie collectis a mensis Julii die 3 ad Augusti d. 17 Anni 1734. Linnean Society. 67 The first page contains the following preface, relating to the ex- tent of the journey, &c. ee Pap °F ‘Having been charged, last summer, by Governor Reuterholm to make a tour through the Eastern and Western Dalas (valleys) in his province, I proceeded to Fahlun, where I enjoyed that distinguished gentleman’s hospitality, and obtained a generous stipend: for the journey. ~As soon as the time and objects of the journey became known, I was visited by some of the cleverest and most zealous Students of the Academy of Upsala, who were anxious to accom- pany me at their own expense. I very thankfully accepted of their prompt offer; and in order that everything might be properly regu- lated, my companions formed themselves into a Society, with laws and ‘statutes ‘to be kept conscientiously : e. g.* C, Linnaeus oo. 955. Smoland.,... Praeses publice et privatim. Reinh. Nasman,...... Dalekarl.....Geographus...... Pastor. Carl:Clenberg: .,.... Helsing. .... Physicus........ Secretarius, Ingel. Fahlstedt ..., Dalekarl..,..Mineralogus .... MasteroftheHorse. Claud Sohlberg...,.. Dalekarl?,,.. Botanicus ,..... Quartermaster, Eric Emporelius .... Dalek. ...... Zoologist........ Huntingmaster. Petr. Hedenblod ..,. Dalek. ...... Domesticus,..... Aide-de-Camp.. Beniam. Sandel...... Americ. ..,,Oeconomius .... Accountant. ‘**Thus organized, the journey commenced on the 8rd July, 1734, from Fahlun through the Eastern Dalar, the hills, the Western Dalar, through Biursas, Lexan, Rattvik, Ore, Orsa, Mora, Elfdahl, Serna, Fiell, Roras.in Norway, Lima, Malung, Nas, Floda, Gagne, Ahl, ending at Fahlun the 17th Aug. ej. anni. Observations were made daily; as far as possible, according to the subjects assigned to, each of our party, by which the duties of the undertaking were facilitated. Thence it may be seen that much remains still unknown in the country and......5 that each province possesses its advantages and how they may be developed; that it would be of incredible advantage to Sweden were all her provinces similarly examined, and that one pro- vince might thus be assisted by another. Should the reader approve, thanks are due to him who originated the journey, without whose aid it could not have been undertaken, and who deserves to be looked to as a pattern to all, who love, pursue and patronize studies, who excels in reasoning powers, and who deserve to..... To the Great God, who has ordered this world in such an indescribable manner, and has created and preserved us to be its . . . ..and Spec- tatores, be praise and thanks for our having performed our journey in safety. “Dabam Fahlu Kongsgard “Cart LINNAEUS.” 1734 Aug. 25.” * Consult Egenhdndiga Anteckningar af Carl Linnaeus (C. L,’s own Annotations), p. 107. 5x* 68 Linnean Society. The following list of acquaintances made during the journey, with remarks on each, is placed at the end of the journal :— Biursds .... Pastor... Lundvall, Mr. Joh... ..0. juvenis, fidus. Rattvik.... Dean ....Humblaeus, Mag. Olaus. , sublimis, 60genarius. Accountant,Olof Laresu........+++- simplex, Mineralogus. Orsa . oy 02s Pastor .,..Schedevin, Mag. Dan, ..doctus, oeconom. Commander Olof Laresu......-++++: simpl., bonus. Mora....., Dean ....Emporelius, Mag. Joh. .. 70genarius. Adjunctus . Wistblad, Mag. Tob....), . sibi sapiens. Elfdahl .... Pastor,..., Nasman, Eric.......... .. hospitalis. Serna,,.4., Pastor .... Floraeus, Mr. Gabr...,....adustus, Horne \ Director :, Bredabl; Mr. Land. |...) 4 2umanissimus Norveg. omnium. Hyttskrifv. Inrgens, Mr. Hennig... .. bonus & astutus. Overstigare.Bortgrevin, Mr. Leonh. .. bonus animus ger> manic. Lima...... Pastor... ... Gezelius:., . 65s. es os phlegmat. curiosiss,... pauperri- Transtrand. Comminist. Dale, Mr. Lars......... : mus, abjectiss..doc- soe tissimus, Malung.... Pastor..... Harkman, M. Vindikt ., phlegmat. Nas ...... Pastor ,...Dicander, M. Eric ...... doctus, sapiens, Floda.,.... Pastor ....Rabenius, Mr. Joh....... humaniss., sapiens. Gagne, .«...Comminist. Bidrkman, Mr, Sven ..., bonusvir, non hospitalis. Ahl,..;....Pastor..... Lundberg; Mr. Joh. .... simplex. Lastly is added a copy of the warrant alluded to above, which is furnished with the seal and signature of Linnzus :— «© We preses and membra of the Reuterholmian Travelling Society through Dalecarlia make known by this letter patent to all con- cerned, that we have nominated and appointed our master of the horse, Mr. Ingel. Fahlstedt, at his own request and on account of his science, as our ordinary Membrum Mineralogicum, and as such to be as industrious as is in his power, to attend to his branch of re- searches as regards the province of Dalecarlia for the good of the public and the honour of our country, and to consider himself re- sponsible to the Society for the due execution thereof. Done at Fahlun Kongsg. 1734 July 2. Cart LINNAEUS. (Sigill.) C, CLENBERG: Seeret. Societ. Warrant for Ingel. Fahlstedt, Mineralogist. (L.S.) The cost of Charta Sigillata 1 Rtdr. Spee paid into the Treasury. Bren. SANDEL, Account.” Miscellaneous. 69 MISCELLANEOUS, Ornithological Notes. By Joun Avexanper Smita, M.D.* 1, Of the Woovcock (Scolopax rusticola, Linn.), breeding in Perthshire and Morayshire, §c.—It is scarcely necessary for me to remind the Society that the Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) is one of our regular winter visitors, arriving in Britain from the north gene- rally in the beginning of October, and leaving again on its northern journey in March and April. And although this is beyond all doubt the general rule, still a good many instances have occurred from time to time of their remaining to breed both in England and Scotland ; and these have apparently become more frequent, of later years, or perhaps from the increased number of observers they are now more carefully watched than formerly. But although we have notes of the occurrence of their nests at various times in Scotland, still the young birds have been very rarely seen by our Edinburgh naturalists, so that I have thought it of sufficient interest to call your attention to the subject by exhibiting this couple of young Woodcocks which were taken in the neighbourhood of Dunkeld in the end of the month of April last. Judging from their appearance they seem to be about a month, or perhaps six weeks old ; and they closely resemble the old bird in their mottled plumage: the first primary however has. the outer web edged with a very light-coloured brownish stripe, while the others have the triangularly shaped brown spots like the adult ; the bill is rather more than 13 inch in length, and the whole bird about 9 inches ; whereas the bill of the adult is nearly 3 inches in length, and the whole bird about 14 inches. These birds I have been in- formed were come upon, when the whole family party were’ busily engaged catering for food ; and on their being disturbed, the parent birds, strange to say, attempted to fly off with their young in. their claws, dropping some of them however in their flight, when the young birds were caught by two men who witnessed the whole pro- ceedings; three young birds were caught, but the fourth was believed to have been safely carried off ; they were kept alive for a short time, but they soon pined away and died. The Woodcock has been ob- served to breed at various times in this district around Dunkeld ; it is however by no means a common occurrence. Mr; Muirhead, Queen Street, tells me, that when in Morayshire last summer, about the 18th or 19th of June, one of the Earl of Moray’s gamekeepers, at Darnaway Castle, assured him that some of the Woodcocks occa- sionally remained and bred in the neighbourhood, and on Mr. M. (who had never heard anything of the kind before) hinting a doubt on the subject, the keeper offered to show him one of their nests, and remarked that what was far more extraordinary was the fact, that occasionally on coming near a Woodcock’s nest, he had seen the old bird rise from it carrying one of her young brood in her claws. And accordingly on going with him to a piece of dry grassy ground, co- * Read before the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh, April 7, 1852. 70 Miscellaneous. vered with copse wood, where there was a Woodcock’s nest with young birds, and carefully approaching the place, they heard the old bird, as they supposed, give a peculiar cry or “‘squeel,”’ and saw it immediately fly up with a young bird in its claws ; and Mr. Muirhead declares he could not have made any mistake, as the bird was not above ten or twelve yards from him, so that he saw it most distinctly ; they then went forward to the nest, and found another fledged young bird still remaining squatted in it, which he was prevented handling, by the keeper informing him that if he did so, it would in all proba- bility be removed, and not brought back again to the-nest. He was told that there were generally three or four eggs in the nest. I have the pleasure of also exhibiting an egg of this bird which was taken from a nest near Durris, Kincardineshire ; it is about 1 inch 10 lines in length, and 1 inch 4 lines in breadth; ofa yellowish white, blotched and spotted with gray and various shades of yellowish brown ; the spots being more frequent towards the larger end. We have in these in- stances another detailed account of the curious and extraordinary cir- cumstance of birds attempting to rescue their young from anticipated danger, and in the Woodcock these are by no means to be considered as solitary examples ; some three instances of a similar kind occurring in this country being quoted in Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’ (vol. ii. p. 591), from that valuable storehouse of facts in zoology, the ‘Ma- gazine of Natural History.’ Cases of this kind however seem to be so very strange, that we are inclined to give various explanations be- fore we can persuade ourselves of their possibility, and to one of these I may in passing allude: for example, a bird-fancier told me he had seen instances where the presence of an addled or unhatched egg in the nest of some of his breeding birds, had given rise to the appearance at least of the old bird carrying a young one out of its nest. The bird was sitting very closely on her recently hatched young, the addled egg being accidentally broken, its contents spreading over the breast of the mother as well as over one of the young birds; and on her rapidly leaving the nest to feed, the young one, having become adherent to its mother’s breast, was carried out with it; the heat of the mother while in the nest helping to dry the albumen, and in this way glue the two together, and in some imstances so closely, that he had been obliged to seize the mother for the purpose of removing the young one, while in other instances it dropped off shortly after the bird left the nest: and this he had seen to occur both im pigeons and canaries. I am not aware how far a similar cause may be considered as explaining any of the instances described as occurring among birds in their state of native freedom; although im many cases I should suppose it impossible to be perfectly certain how the young bird was carried by the mother, whether accidentally or by manifest design. And I suspect it will require more extended and carefully minute observation before we shall be quite able to ex- plain them ; still in the several instances noticed by Yarrell, as well as in those to which I have alluded, there seems no reason for doubt- ing the fact of the young bird being actually carried off in the claws of the anxious parent bird. From these young Woodcocks being Miscellaneous. 71 hatched so early in the season as the middle of March, if not earlier, and the others in the month of June, one would be inclined to suppose that these birds. may occasionally rear two broods in the year (?); or it may be explained merely by some accidental circum- stances retarding the nidification of some individuals until such, a late eriod. 2. I also take this opportunity of exhibiting to the Society this very peculiar specimen of the Common or Corn Buntine (Lmbe- riza miliaria, Linn.), which at first sight has more the appearance, in colour at. least, of an overgrown mealy canary. Its whole upper and under parts being of a pale yellow, with-the exception of a very few brownish spots or feathers scattered over it ; these spots consist apparently of the darker colour along the quill of the feather, still remaining in.a few instanees; the wing-coverts. are pure white, but the quills are of the usual brown colour, edged with lighter brown, with the exception of the second quill in each wing, and two or three of the secondaries of one wing, which are also pure white. The tail- coverts are yellowish white, and the lateral tail-feathers are white, the central ones being of a very pale brownish colour ; indeed only three feathers retain their usual colour.. The under mandible is also pale yellow ; but the eyes were of their ordinary dark brown or black, con- trasting strangely with its light-coloured plumage... The bird is an adult female, being fully 7 inches in length, and was in plump and well-fed condition.. It was shot. on the 7th of February last, to the north of the village of Maxton, Roxburghshire. The Common Bunting, as it is called, is by no means.a very common bird inthis locality, and indeed it would seem to be now much rarer than formerly, as, unfortunately for its peace and safety, the quill- . feathers are highly esteemed. by the anglers in the district for making a very killing variety of artificial fly for trout-fishing. I have. brought. with me a specimen of the bird.in its ordinary plumage, that those of you who are not very familiar with its usual appearance may see the great contrast exhibited. by this pale yellow specimen, where the dark colours are almost entirely obliterated, and the naturally yellowish tinge of the lighter brown parts has become extended. over the whole bird and transformed into a pale yellow or yellowish white. 3. L.exhibit also.a specimen of the Lesser Reppoue (Lringilla linaria, Linn.), shot near Stirling, which has the upper and back parts of the. head.and sides of the neck pure white, and there are also a few white feathers thinly scattered over other parts, of its body, It shows very well the more usual extent in which this accidental white- coloured variety of plumage is generally found. 4.\I. shall next notice this specimen of the. Siskin (Carduelis spinus, Cuy.), which was taken on Arthur’s Seat, about the middle of last September ; and my reason for doing sois that some of our natu- ralists seem to me to consider it much rarer in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh than it really is: Our bird-catchers [am informed are in the habit of taking considerable numbers in this neighbourhood by means of their call-birds and nets, all through the winter months ; in 72 Miscellaneous. some seasons however they catch them in much greater numbers than in others; and although it is one of our winter visitors, still some of them undoubtedly remain to breed, of which indeed several instances have been recorded ; and I have myself seen a specimen of the bird which was shot in this neighbourhood in the end of the month of April. ‘5. I am indebted to my young friend Mr. W. Dumbreck for being able to exhibit to the Society a Scottish specimen of a very rare bird, the BLAcK-wINGED Stitt, or LonG-LEGGED PLoveR (Himantopus melanopterus, Tem.). It is one of the accidental visitors to Britain which are met with now and then at very uncertain intervals, and of which only some two or three instances are recorded of its occurrence in Scotland. This I hope will be a sufficient apology for exhibiting it ; although it was killed a good many years ago, and no notice has ever been given of its capture. It was shot in the breeding season on the south bank of the river Clyde, nearly opposite to Dumbarton Castle, and when seen was squatting on the ground, so that it was at first supposed to be merely a young Lapwing, or some such bird. It is easily distinguished by its extremely long ‘stilt-like legs, with three toes in front and none behind; and it appears to be a young bird ; the back part of the head and neck bemg dusky, the scapulars brownish black, the rest of the wing greenish black; and the length of the primaries from the carpal joint to their extremity being only 54 inches, instead of 8 inches as in the adult, in which they extend considerably beyond the tail ; whereas in this specimen they do not reach to within 13 inch or so of its extremity. The tail is ash- coloured, and the rest of the body is white. It measures about 13 inches in length, and from: the termination of the feathered part of the tibia to the foot it is 7} inches long. 6 & 7. I am also sadhtened that the person who shot this bird was fortunate enough when a young man to capture other two of our rarer birds, which may be worth a passing notice; the one is the Wryneck (Yunz torquilla, Linn.), of which an individual was killed in the neighbourhood of Glasgow ; and the other (which I have seen) is the Rosr-coLoureD Pastor (Pastor roseus), which was shot in a garden near Caldwell, Renfrewshire. I allude to these birds, as I am anxious to impress upon the Mem- bers of the Society the propriety of recording all the instances of the occurrence of any of our rarer birds which may happen to come to their knowledge; as it is only in this way that anything like a cor- rect idea of the ornithology of a particular district, or of our country ‘itself, is to be obtained. 8. Through the politeness of Mr. Dickson, of the well-known firm of John Dickson and Co., Gunmakers, Princes. Street, I am enabled to show this beautiful specimen of the very rare Great-B1LLED or Surr Scorer (Oidemia perspicillata, Flem.). It is a fine adult male, and was shot in Musselburgh Bay on Friday last the 2nd of April. The Scoters are true sea ducks, seeking among the waves and surf for their varied molluscous diet. Three species are described as beg found occasionally on our coasts during the winter months ; Miscellaneous. 73 the Black, the Velvet, and this, the Surf Scoter ; but the last of these is only a very rare visitor. » They are dark or black plumaged ducks, the females being brown ; and this species)is easily distinguished from the others by the rounded patch of white on its forehead, between and in front of its eyes; and the somewhat shield-shaped patch, square above, and pointed posteriorly, on the nape and running down the neck. The rest of the plumage is deep bluish black tinged with brownish on the quills and the wedge-shaped tail. ‘The appearance of the bill is singular: prominent in the middle over the nostrils, which are pervious (and to which point the feathers come down), then sloping with a concave outline to the slightly rounded nail at its point ; and it is also very prominent at the lateral parts of its base. Its colour is of a reddish orange, paler at the sides, and becoming yellowish towards the nail; and there is a very strongly defined square-shaped black patch on each of the two lateral protuberances, edged with the reddish orange of the bill, except at its superior and anterior angle, aud in front, where it is succeeded by a triangularly-shaped spot of bright bluish white, terminating at the nostril.. The under mandible is of a much paler reddish colour. The bill measured on the side is nearly 23 inches in length by 1} inch in height, and about the same in breadth across the lateral protuberances at its base. The eyes are placed high on the head, not far indeed from the top, about 14 mch above and slightly behind the angle of the mouth. The iris was of a beautiful white, reminding one almost of white china ware. The tarsi are of a reddish orange colour in front and dusky behind, and the toes are also reddish orange with dusky spots at the joints, the inter- vening membranes being of a dusky black ; the claws are small and black. The whole bird is about 21 inches in length; and from the carpal joint to the extremity of the first and second primaries which are the longest, it is 93 inches, the wing reaching only to a very little . beyond the base of the tail. Flemmg in his ‘British Animals’ mentions that the Surf Scoter is said by Temminck to have occurred in Orkney. 'And I shall quote a short passage from Sir W. Jardine’s interesting ‘ Ornithology of Great Britain,’ part iv. p. 162 (Naturalist’s Library), which seems to give the best summary of its occurrence : he says,—** The Surf Scoter is an extremely rare bird in Britain, and even in’ Europe; the coasts of North America (where it is plentiful) being its real habitation. It has been stated by most of our modern British ornithologists, that specimens of this bird occur now and then in the vicinity of the Orkney and Shetland Islands, but we are not aware of any being lately procured there. In the ‘ Birds of Europe,’ a specimen is stated to have been killed in the Firth of Forth, and Mr. Yarrell records another instance of a recent specimen coming into the possession of Mr. Bartlett of London: all these in this country have occurred in winter. It is of nearly equal rarity on the continent, and few notices of it occur either in any of the recent works devoted to natural history, or in those books of tours which lately, under the apology of sport, have recorded some interesting anecdotes on the habits of little-known species.”” So that this beautiful adult male is to be considered apparently as the second instance of the bird’s occur- 74 Miscellaneous. ring in the Firth of Forth, and only the third or fourth time that it has been observed in Britain. \ 9. And in conclusion I may call your attention to a fine specimen of the Prnx-Footep Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus, Bail.), or Anser phoenicopus, Bart., which seems to be not very uncommon in this district at this time of the year. It was only pointed out as a new species in this country so recently as 1839, and is easily known by its short bill and pink feet, which the names given to it point out, and which distinguish it from the Bean Goose (Anser segetum), which it much resembles. The whole bird measured some 28 inches in length, the narrow bill being (along the side) little more than 14 inch long, and much shorter than the head; its colour is black, | except a band across its middle which is bright reddish pink. Legs and feet reddish pink, in some parts brighter than in others, with the claws dusky. I have observed a few specimens of this bird in the poulterers’ shops lately, said to have been shot towards the west country. This specimen was killed in the Carnwath district, adjoin- ing this county to the south-west. I have had sent me the following note, giving notice of these geese occurring in the neighbourhood of Midcalder (Edinburghshire), by the friend who shot this one on the 4th of this month: this you may perhaps consider of some little interest, as not much appears to be known of the habits of this parti- cular kind of goose; and with it I conclude: he says,—“ At this season yearly, the geese come in considerable numbers for the purpose of feeding on the sown fields, particularly in the moorland districts, where the country is open and they see about them; they are very shy and easily disturbed ; where they are in numbers today, there are none tomorrow; they rarely settle near the same place after being disturbed ; the evening about dusk is the time to creep upon them, when they are arranging their sleeping berth commonly at the side of some out-of-the-way bit of water—lakes, ponds, not running streams. About a hundred of them passed over this house on Sunday evening a little before 8 o’clock ; they speak much to each other, and very loud, giving ample notice of their approach to bed; those on Sunday. evening were within shot, and must have gone to sleep at some short distance at the Curling Ponds. The bird you got was shot about nine miles from this, in the Carnwath district ; and was one of a con- siderable flock, in the act of taking up their sleeping quarters. They are sometimes got by laying in wait for them about the sown fields. I sent the bird for a roast—the culinary qualities are much prized— mode of proceeding, see ‘Meg Dodds.’ I was on the look-out for them till 9 o’clock last night, but no success. The getting them is quite a matter of chance.—April 6th, 1852.” CORFIOTE SHELLS. BY SYLVANUS HANLEY, ESQ. Although the accompanying list of species contains nothing re- markable, yet being, I believe, the only published catalogue of the shells indigenous to that most beautiful island, it may possibly prove not devoid of utility to those who study the geographical distribution Miscellaneous. 75 of the Mollusca. The want of a dredge forbad any extended re- search, and the time of year (January) was most adverse to any suc- cessful search for the land or freshwater kinds : consequently the list is most imperfect, the whole of the marine shells having been col- lected, on the shore, within three miles of the capital of Corfu. Those distinguished by an asterisk were evidently washed up, and were untenanted. As the ‘ Enumeratio Molluscorum Sicilie ’ of Philippi is in the hands of every conchologist, the names adopted by him, in his second volume, have been accepted, for facility of reference. Venus decussata. Cardium rusticum (edule var. glau- cum). Cardita sulcata*. Spondylus Geedaropus*. — ~ Arca Now*. barbata*. Chiton Siculus. Patella Lusitanica (= punctata of Lamarck). Tarentina. cerulea. Helix aspersa. striata. » Carthusianella. __ Corcyrensis (of Pfeiffer, Monog. Helie.). Bulimus acutus. Achatina acicula. Cochlicopa Algira. Clausilia papillaris. Cyclostoma elegans. tessellatum (as figured in Sower- by’s Thesaurus). Rissoa Montagui. costata. elata. Bruguierl. Truncatella truncatula (most abun- dant under stones in shallow but decidedly salt water). Haliotis tuberculata! (not our Bri- tish shell, but the lamellosa of Reeve’s Monograph). Vermetus gigas*. Trochus articulatus. fanulum. divaricatus. varius. Adriaticus. Phasianella pullus. Littorina Neritoides. Cerithium vulgatum. lima. fuscatum. Pleurotoma Ginnanianum. Murex brandaris*. trunculus*. Ranella lanceolata. Buceinum variabile. D’Orbignyi. scriptum. pusio (maculosum of Lamarck). corniculum. Columbella rustica. Mitra Savignyi. Conus Mediterraneus. It is not unworthy of remark, that the plicated and dwarf varieties of Buccinum corniculum are found intermingled with the ordinary form, without any diminution of their varietal peculiarities. ON LITTORINA PALLIATA, BY WILLIAM THOMPSON. To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. Weymouth, June 6, 1852. GENTLEMEN,—Messrs. Forbes and Hanley in their account of the Littorine, at page 52. vol. iii. of the ‘ British Mollusca,’ state their conviction that the result of a completed knowledge of this genus would be a reduction of the number of true British species ; and in 76 Miscellaneous. page 53 they feel almost sure that Idttorina palliata will fall under L. littoralts. A curious fact has lately come under my observation, which is evidence in favour of Messrs. Forbes and Hanley’s opinion. On the 19th of December 1851, whilst searching the region of Fucus nodosus and I’. vesiculosus, I obtained several examples of the male Littorina rudis in copulation with Inttorina littoralis (formerly Nerita litto- ralis) : in every instance rudis was the male. What will their pro- geny be like? I think we find it in Littorina palliata ; the characters of the two former are so intimately blended in LZ. palliata. It may be described as a littoralis with the convex whorls and rounded body, and I may add, the spire of rudis, whilst the smaller size and the nar- rower basal confluence of the lips may fairly enough be considered as the effect of hybridism. From these circumstances I infer Littorina palliata to be the hybrid progeny of Z. rudis (male) and a female L. littoralis. The only doubt in my mind as to this inference is, that I have not as yet found any specimens of L. palliata on this ‘coast ; but neither have I found any other shell that might in any way be considered as the produce of rudis and littoralis. I found in all eight couples ; and I think, that the copulation being only chance, the probability of the unfruitfulness of some (which probability is greater than in cases where both are of the same species), and the further probability of the hybrids not being prolific—taking all these together, —will, I think, form just grounds for the rarity of the species. Should this prove to be the case, it will be a question whether L. palliata is entitled to be considered a species or merely a variety. If it be capable of reproducing like Mollusca, I think it should be retained as a species ; it may be a question, however, whether a hy- brid incapable of reproduction is entitled to be considered a species. Gentlemen, yours obediently, Wiii1aAmM THompson. NEW LOCALITY FOR TULOSTOMA MAMMOSUM. To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. The Willows, Swansea, June 9, 1852. GENTLEMEN,—Believing the plant mentioned below to be some- what rare, I shall be obliged by your insertion of the following :— Tulostoma mammosum, near Pennard Castle, Glamorganshire. Found only on one spot—not very plentiful there. Your obedient servant, Matruew Moceripeer. On the Preservation of the Fecundated Eggs of Fishes. By M. Coste. I-communicated to the Academy, at a previous meeting, the result of an experiment tending to prove that it was possible to preserve the egos of salmon and trout out of the water a sufficient time to trans- port them to great distances and to make them hatch in places where it was desired to introduce these fish. The following fact shows that Miscellaneous. 77 these eggs can be preserved during more than two months without losing the power of development. If this fact be confirmed, we shall possess the means of procuring species living in distant parts of the lobe and acclimatizing them in regions which they have never yet inhabited. This result, obtained by MM. Berthot and Detzem, is evidently of great importance; the following are the means adopted by these gentlemen. Eggs of salmon artificially fecundated were placed in a deal box in layers alternating with damp sand. The box was then placed, for two months, in a cold room, the temperature of which, however, was sufficiently high to preserve them from freezing. At the expiration of this time the eggs were shrivelled, and before taking them out of the box they were placed in water so that they might become moistened through the sand with which they were covered ; for when this precaution is neglected, they perish. Some of these eggs were sent to me by MM. Berthot and Detzem. I placed them in my apparatus, where they have since hatched. The experiment has therefore succeeded.—Comptes Rendus, April 5, 1852, p. 507. ; POSTSCRIPT TO MR. CLARK’S PAPER ON RARE BRITISH MOLLUSCA AT PAGE 22. June 23.—The Chemnitzia I mentioned yesterday turned out to be the Chem. obliqua, with a perfectly smooth shell; and after 1 had despatched my postscript note I met with the Chem. decorata, an animal of more modest pretensions, having the basal volution of the shell finely and superficially striated. This discovery settles the di- stinctness of the two, which I doubted, having. stated in vol. vii. p- 394 of the N.S. of the ‘Annals,’ that the C. decorata is the C. obliqua: I make this admission with the reservation that my pre- sent shell is the odliqua, if such a species is in esse. And this morn- ing I captured the rare Chem. insculpta alive. I have notes of the three animals of this peculiar little section of the Chemnitzie. IRISH MOLLUSCA. To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. : Windsor Lodge, Monkstown, co. Dublin, May 22, 1852. GrenTLEMEN,—The following Mollusca have been obtained by me off the Dublin coast, some of which are new to that locality : will you please at your earliest convenience to publish their occurrence ? Teredo megotara, Hanley. Drift wood, Killiney Bay. Aylophaga dorsalis, Turton. Some very fine live specimens were trawled off the Skerrie Islands. Sphenia Binghami, Turton. In the thick valves of Ostrea edulis : dredged in Dalkey Sound, 14 fathoms. Thracia villosiuscula, Macgillivray. Dredged in about 14 fathoms, Dalkey Sound. T’. convexa, Wood. Trawled off Skerries. Solecurtus coarctatus, Gmelin. Same locality as the last. 78 ; Miscellaneous. Psammobia tellinella, Lamarck. Dredged in Dalkey Sound. Tellina pygmea, Philippi. Same locality as the last. Cytherea Chione. One valve: dredged in about 14 fathoms, Dalkey Sound. _ Circe minima, Montagu. Two odd valves: same locality as the last. Astarte suleata, Da Costa. Same locality as the last. Cardium nodosum, Turton. Same locality. C. fasciatum, Montagu. Same locality. Lucina spinifera, Montagu. Trawled off the Calf of Man. Leda caudata, Donovan. Two live specimens with some odd valves dredged in 13 fathoms, Dalkey Sound. Lima Loscombii, Sowerby. Dredged in a live state from 12 to 14 fathoms, Dalkey Sound. - Lima hians, Gmelin. A beautiful live specimen was dredged last month in Killiney Bay in about 15 fathoms. Anomia striata?, Lovén. Dredged in Dalkey Sound. Chiton levis, Pennant. Same locality. Trochus exiguus’, Pulteney. South Bull, Dublin Bay. T. granulatus, Born. Trawled off the Calf of Man. T. Montagui, Gray. Dredged in from 12 to 14 fathoms, Dalkey Sound. Fusus propinguus, Alder. Trawled off the Skerries ; but I have obtained much better specimens last summer off the Saltees. Mangelia gracilis, Montagu. Trawled off Skerries, in company with M. turricula, Trophon clathratus and Nassa incrassata. - Yours truly obliged, ~Wiiiiam Waite WALPOLE. On the Sun Column as seen at Sandwick Manse, Orkney, in April 1852. By C. Cuousron. The perpendicular column of light which appeared repeatedly at - sunset and sunrise during April, deserves a more particular. account than the usual monthly report contains, as this is the most northern locality in which I have yet heard of its appearance. When seen in the evening, it was generally immediately after the sun had sunk either below the horizon, or behind a bank of clouds there. It was rather wider than the apparent diameter of the sun, and extended upwards for about 15°, widening a little towards the top, and becoming fainter, so that there was no defined boundary ; but it was sometimes much shorter, and could be distinctly seen, when it was less than the semidiameter of the sun above the horizon, either when vanishing by descending, as it generally did, or as it last appeared on the 3rd of May, without rising more than about 1°. Though at first it seemed to be a law that it must descend as the sun descended below the horizon, yet on one occasion, at least (on the 26th), it vanished by ascending, or the base disappeared first. “It was generally remarkably perpendicular, but sometimes had a perceptible inclination to one side, and followed the course of the sun northwards. Meteorological Observations. 79 It had periods of greater and less brightness, but for the most part was steady, something like a sunbeam among the clouds, and never had any approach to the rapid motion of the aurora. Its colour was pale or whitish in its upper portion, or when it ap- peared contrasted with the dark sky ; but in passing through the red, copper, or orange-coloured sky that prevailed lower down, it partook of its shade, and tinged the thin strata of cloud that lay across it with a brighter hue of their own colour. Fifty-five minutes was the longest period that it was visible any evening. I am told that it also appeared very bright some mornings before sunrise. . If the phenomenon was uncommon, so was the state of the atmo- sphere when it occurred. The drought was unprecedented ; only about =!;th of an inch of rain falling in April, which is about 51th of the average quantity in that month in previous years. The atmo- spheric pressure was great, the mercury never being lower than 30°07, nor higher than 30°32. The temperature was also high for the month, being 47°64, or more than 4° above the average for April. The atmosphere was very calm, and the sky near the horizon of that red or copper ‘colour which generally indicates dry and warm weather, so that at last we could anticipate its appearance. I do not presume to explain the mode of its production, but these circumstances may assist others in so doing. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR MAY 1852. Chiswick.—May 1. Overcast: cloudy: clear. 2. Cloudy and cold: frosty at night. 3. White clouds: fine: clear and frosty. 4. Dusky clouds: clear and frosty. 5. Densely clouded < clear and frosty at night. 6. Cloudy: clear. 7. Overcast : very fine. 8. Cloudy: fine. 9. Fine. 10. Fine: rain at night. 11. Boisterous, with heavy shower, partly hail. 12. Heavy rain: thunder. 13. Cloudy : overcast : boisterous at night. 14. Showery and boisterous: clear. 15,16. Very fine. 17. Slight drizzle : overcast : thunder, lightning and rain at night. 18. Very fine: rain at night. 19. Very fine. 20. Hazy: fine: showers. 21. Overcast. 22. Cloudy: clear. 23. Cloudy. 24, 25. Overcast: fine. 26. Rain. 27. Over- cast. 28. Densely clouded. 29. Rain. 30. Fine: cloudy. 31. Fine: cloudy: clear and cold. Mean temperature of the month ..... Ban Weesaatectttc aces i OI Mean temperature of May 1851 .........cceccseeescsccseoneesens 51°16 Mean temperature of May for the last twenty-six years... 54 °07 Average amount of rain in May ......cescecceseceeeee Se dsotersue > 5° Sm OS Boston.—May 1. Cloudy. 2. Cloudy: raina.m. 3,4. Cloudy. 5. Cloudy: rain A.M. 6. Cloudy. 7. Fine. 8. Cloudy. 9,10. Fine. 11. Cloudy. 12— 14, Cloudy: rain a.m. 15, 16. Fine. 17. Cloudy. 18. Cloudy: rain a.m. and p.m. 19. Cloudy: raina.m. 20. Fine. 21. Cloudy: rain a.m. andp.m. 22—25. Cloudy. 26. Cloudy: rain p.m. 27—29. Cloudy. 30. Fine. 31. Cloudy. Sandwick Manse, Orkney.—May 1. Cloudy: fine. 2. Clear: fine. 3. Cloudy: fine: clear: fine. 4. Cloudy: fine. 5. Drops: fine: cloudy: fine. 6. Clear: fine: cloudy: fine. 7. Drops: rain: clear. 8. Drops: showers, 9. Rain: clear. 10. Drops: clear: aurora. 11. Cloudy: showers. 12. Bright: clear. 13. Rain: clear: fine. 14. Bright: showers. 15. Clear: cloudy. 16. Clear. 17. Clear: fine. 18,19. Clear: fine: aurora. 20—23. Clear: fine. 24. Bright: fine: clear: fine. 25. Clear: fine. 26. Cloudy. 27. Cloudy: fine. 28. Bright: cloudy: showers. 29. Bright: showers: cloudy : hail-showers. 30. Sleet-showers. 31. Sleet-showers : showers.—This month has been fine, warm and dry. 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The’ concavity of! the: digital joint does not extend to its termination, which is: compacts Abdomen slender, oviform, convex above; projecting a littleover? the base°of the cephalo-thorax ; it is of a light: orange-brown colour, with an irregular band of black on each side‘of the mie~' dial line ; these bands converge towards the spimners, where they meet, and on the anterior part of the light orange-brown space comprised between them there is a narrow oval figure of orange- brown circumscribed by a fine black line; the sides are spotted with brownish black, and a longitudinal line composed of con- fluent spots of the same hue occurs on each side of the under part; the intermediate space being densely covered with white hairs. ne . This species was captured in June at Interlacken in the can- ton of Berne. | 5 Family SauricrpZ. Genus Salticus, Latr. 2. Salticus notatus. Length of the female th of an inch ; length of ‘the cephalo“ thorax 51, ; breadth +4,; breadth of the abdomen'+/y ; length ofa posterior leg 4; length of a leg of the second pair 4. | Legs robust, provided with hairs and’sessile spines ; they aié ofia pale yellow colour, the coxe' of ‘the posterior ‘pair’ having'a black’ spot on the upper side’; 'the fourth pair is' the longest, thé: first'and third ‘pairs are equal in length, and the second pair is the shortest ; each tarsus is terminated by two curved claws, below which. there is a small scopula. The palpi resemble the’ Mr. J..Blackwall.on newly discovered:species of Aranciden, 95 legs.in colour.) (Cephalo-thorax, nearly: | quadrilateral, and: spas ringly clothedwith: black; and whitish'hairs;,it slopes abruptly in ithe posterior region, and is|prominent in front; projecting be- pine ithe-base.of the’ falces, which-are-small, vertical, and armed with a| few teeth on! the imner: surface » the sternum) is» oval. These. parts, withthe; maxillee | and lip,are of a. brown-black colours: the | last two, which -are the ;palest, having.a reddish tinge, \particularly at; their, extremities. | Eyes disposed in: three rows; constituting three sides of a square, im the front:and on the sides.of the céphalo-thorax ; the intermediate eyes of the an- terior-row are greatly larger, and the intermediate eye of each lateral row.is much smaller than: the rest... Abdomen oviform, pointed at its/posterior extremity, convex above, projecting over the basesofsthe céphalo-thorax ; it is of a brown-black colour, with, short, whitish hairs, thinly distributed: over its surface ;:a pale yellowish brown: band; broader in the posterior than, in the anterior region, extends along the middle of the upper part, and, an{ obscure, narrow band ‘of whitish hairs:is curved round the anterior part, and, produced.on the sides nearly to the apincts? 5 the, sexual organs are reddish brown. Andadult: female Salticus notatus was found in’ June esetes herbage i ina wood. at Southgate. Family THomisip 2. Genus Thomisus, Walck. 3. Thomisus umbratilis. Length of the male Zpyths of an inch; length of the cephalo- thorax ;';; breadth +, ; breadth of the abdomen zz; length of an anterior leg +; length of a leg of the third pair +. Eyes disposed on the anterior part of the cephalo-thorax_ in two transverse curved rows, forming a crescent, whose convex side is in front; the eyes of each lateral pair, which-are seated on a tubercle, are much larger than the intermediate ones, those of the anterior row being the largest of the eight. Cephalo-thorax large, convex, abruptly sloping behind, compressed before, glossy, and of a,brownish black colour, with a longitudinal band of red- brown,jon. each side, and a broad, one of the same hue extending along the middle... Falces short, strong, subconical, vertical, of a dark brown colour, with reddish brown extremities, and, an) ob- scure spot of the same hue’ in) front. . Maxille convex near the base, pointed at the extremity, and inclined towards the lip; they are of.a pale reddish brown colour, and haye a dark, brown: spot at the! base,on.each side.’ Lip triangular and reddish brown; the apex being.the palest.. Sternum oblong, heart-shaped, approach- 96 Mr.J.Blackwall.on newly discovered species of Araneidea. ing. to. oval; it.is of a pale,reddish brown. colour, with dark brown spots on the margins, opposite to the insertion of the legs, Legs robust, provided with hairs.and spines.; they are of.a, pale red- dish brown colour, the entire femora.of the anterior pair,,the anterior extremity of those of the other pairs, a spot on, each side of the genual joint, and one on each side of the tibiz ofthe, pos- terior legs bemg brownish black ; the first and.second pairs are decidedly longer and more powerful than. the third, and fourth pairs, the first pair being the longest, then the second, and, the third pair the shortest; each tarsus is terminated, by two.curved pectinated claws. The palpi are short; the humeral, joint. is brownish black, and the cubital, radial and digital joints are. of a pale reddish brown colour marked. with a few dark brown, spots ; the radial joint is stronger than the cubital, and projects two apophyses from its anterior extremity; one on \the. outer side, which is long, slender and pointed, and the. other, which ls strong, prominent, obtuse, with a protuberance at its base, on, the outer side, is situated underneath; the digital joint is oval, con- vex, and hairy externally, concave within, comprising, the, palpal organs; they are moderately developed, rather, complicated. in structure, and are of a dark reddish brown colour... Abdomen depressed, corrugated on the sides, broader at the posterior than at the anterior extremity, the latter, which appears as if cut in a straight line across, projecting over the base of the cephalo-thorax ; its colour is dark brown tinged with olive and freckled on the upper part with minute yellowish brown spots, those onthe pos- terior part, being confluent, form a few obscure transverse bars ; five circular yellowish brown depressions occur on the upper part ; the three anterior ones are much the most conspicuous, and describe a triangle whose vertex is directed forwards ; imme- diately before this vertex there is a small yellowish white spot ; a narrow. band of the same colour, spotted with brown, extends along each side, and a short, obscure, curved, yellowish white line is situated near the outer side of each branchial operculum, This spider was taken at Interlacken in June. Genus Philodromus, Walck. 4. Philodromus vivax. Length of the female 1th of an inch; length of the cephalo- thorax 54, ; breadth =, ; breadth of the abdomen 3; length of a leg of the second pair 3; length of a posterior leg 75. Cephalo-thorax short, broad, slightly compressed before, con- vex and glossy; it is of a dark brown colour, with a large yel- lowish brown oval in the cephalic region, comprising an oblique brown line directed backwards from each lateral.eye of the pos- ‘Mr. J. Blackwall on newly discovered species of Araneidea. 97 Me a row ; these lines converge towards the posterior extremities wo fine and nearly contiguous lines of the same hue origi- nating immediately behind the intermediate eyes of the anterior ‘row, the four lines presenting the form of a small anchor; on “each side of the medial line of the posterior part of the cephalo- thorax there are several short, oblique, yellowish brown streaks, and ‘the lateral’ and frontal margins are yellowish white. Falces ‘short, subconical, vertical, and yellowish brown in front, except at the base, which, with the outer side, is dark brown. Maxillee ‘gibbous ‘at the base, inclined towards the lip, convergent at the extremities; and of a pale yellowish brown colour. Lip oval, ‘dark brown, ‘with a yel owish tinge at the apex. Sternum heart- shaped ; it is of a yellowish brown colour, the lateral margins “and an obscure, narrow, longitudinal line in the middle being ‘datk brown: ‘Lees long, moderately robust, provided with a few ‘sessile Spines ; they are of a yellowish brown colour, with spots and longitudinal streaks of dark brown; the second pair is the longest, then the first, and the fourth pair is the shortest ; each ‘tarsus is terminated by two curved claws, and has a climbing ‘a i tha its under side. The palpi are short and resemble the legs in colour, yes disposed on the anterior part of the ie i er in two curved, transverse rows, forming a crescent whose convexity is directed forwards ; the lateral eyes of each row are seated on distinct prominences, and the intermediate eyes of the anterior row, which are nearer to each other than those of the posterior row, are rather the smallest of the eight. Abdomen somewhat depressed, broader in the posterior than in the an- terior region, but rather pointed at the spinners, projecting a little over the base of the cephalo-thorax ; on the upper part and sides it is of a dark olive-brown colour, spotted with numerous irregular, yellowish white spots; those on the sides are the largest, several small ones, forming a row immediately above the 7 aA being angular, with their vertices directed forwards ; the under part is yellowish white, three brown bands extend- ing along the middle and uniting in a poimt at the base of the inferior pair of spinners; the sexual organs are of a deep reddish brown colour. This interesting Philodromus was captured at Interlacken in June. A Family Drassip&. Genus Drassus, Walck. 5. Drassus reticulatus. Length of the female, not including the spinners, 2ths of an inch ; length of the cephalo-thorax 4 ; breadth 3 ; breadth of the Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. x. 7 98 Mr.J.Blackwall.on newly discovered species of Araneidea. abdomen 7 j length of a — leg 445 length of.a leg of. the third ‘pair +45; ‘oThe:eyes are isin, axid are disposed. on. the anterior part of the cephalo-thorax in. two nearly parallel, ; transverse |rows.;| the posterior row is rather the longer, ;and the intermediate: eyes, which are the smallest, and nearer. to; each| other than. they are to the lateral eyes of the same row, forma square, with the inter: mediate eyes of the anterior row,/which are:much, the largest.of the eight and black; all. the others being diaphanous.., Cephalo- thorax oval, convex, pointed» before, and, thinly covered. with hairs > maxillze long, convex, at. the |base, depressed, near.the middle, enlarged at the extremity, which is obliquely. truncated on) the inner side and) curved towards the lip, which is long, oval, and rounded at the apex: sternum oval, broader,in the pos- terior than in the anterior region, and supplied with hairs, which are densest on the margins: legs robust, moderately hairy, and provided with a few sessile spines; the fourth pair is the longest, the first shghtly surpasses the second, and the third, pair is the shortest ; each tarsus is provided with hair-like papille onthe under side, and has two curved, pectinated..claws at. its extre- ity; These parts, with the palpi, are of a, yellowish, brown colour, the digital jomt of the latter and the lp. being, the darkest. . The falces are powerful, conical, armed. with one or two very minute teeth on the inner surface, slightly prominent, and of a red-brown hue. Abdomen of an elongated oyiform figure, projecting a little over the base of the cephalo-thorax ;it.1s spa- ringly clothed with short whitish hairs, and is of. a. pale, olive- brown.colour, reticulated with fine, dull, yellowish white lines,; the sexual organs are minute and reddish brown; and the spin- pier ave prominent, cylindrical, and. of a pale. yellowish. brown colours: The spider from which the foregoing description was asinde was captured in August near Lancaster. Family Linypuima. Genus Linyphia, Latr. 6. Linyphia perniz. Length of the male y 5th of an inch; length of the cephalo- thorax'34;; breadth 24 ; ' breadth of the abdomen 25 ; length of an anterior leg +; length of a leg of the third pair +. Falces long, powerful, subconical, with a protuberance) at, the base, in front, and a few teeth on the imner surface 5 they aré/in- clined towards the sternum, and are of a reddish brown colow’ Maxille rather darker-coloured than the: falees; :straight; and somewhat enlarged at the extremity; which is: curvilinear) atoits Mri J) Blackwall°on newly discovered species of Araneidea. 99 exterior angle.’ Lip semicircular, prominent at the apex, and, like the sternum, which is heart-shaped, of a very dark brown colour, ‘Cephalo-thorax oval, convex, glossy, with an indentation in the medial line of the posterior region, and some coarse hairs, directed forwards; behind’ the eyes ;) its colour is dark brown, Kyes disposed on black spots on the anterior part of the cephalo- thorax ;'the four intermediate ones form a trapezoid whose ante- rior side is the shortest, and those of each lateral pair are seated obliquely on a protuberance and are nearly contiguous; the an- terior eyes of the trapezoid are the smallest of the eight. — Legs long; slender; provided with hairs and spines, and of a red colour; the first’ pair''is the longest, then the second, and the third pair is ‘the’ shortest ; each tarsus is térmimated by three claws ; the two! superior ones are curved and minutely pectinated, and the inferior one is mflected near its base. The palpi are short, and resemble the legs im colour, with the exception of the digital joint; which is dark brown ; the radial joint is stronger than’ the eubital, and has some long hairs’ in front; the digital joint is somewhat oval, having a large lobe on the outer side, near its base; it is convex and hairy externally, concave within, compri- sitig the palpai organs, which are highly developed, complicated in structure, with a broad, compressed, curved process projecting nearly at right angles from their base, on the outer side, and are of ‘a dark reddish brown colour. Abdomen oviform, very spas ringly supplied with short hairs, convex above, projecting over the base of the cephalo-thorax ; it is of a yellowish brown colour on ‘the upper part and sides, a series of black angular lines, whose indistinct vertices are directed forwards, extending along the middle of the former ; the extremities of the anterior lines of the series are much the most strongly marked, anda small yel- lowish white spot occurs immediately above the spinners 3 the under part is of a pale brown colour. This species was found among juniper bushes at Southgatein May. Family Eritripz. Genus Epéira, Walck. 7. Epéira calva. 'o Length of the female ith of an inch; length of the cephalo- thorax j,; breadth ;4,; breadth of the abdomen +4, ; length of an’ anterior leg’ +; length of a leg of the third pair 4. Hyes disposed on the anterior part of the cephalo-thorax ; the four intermediate ones are placed on a black prominence and describe a quadrilateral figure, whose anterior sideis the shortest ; those of each lateral pair are seated on a small black tubercle and 7k 100 Mr. R. MtAndrew. on the. Mollusca. observed. during a are almost in:contact ; the, posterior ,eyes of the quadrilateral figure are the largest, and the anterior ones are the smallest, of the eight. Cephalo-thorax rounded, on. the. sides, compressed before, elevated and convex inthe cephalic region, depressed \be- hind, glossy, and, of a very dark. brown colour, .withca ybroad band in the middle, which decreases. in; breadth, to its posterior extremity where it is yellowish white, the anterior, part, being yellowish brown. Falces powerful, conical, vertical, armed swith teeth on the inner surface, and of a, reddish, brown, colour, the base’ being the’ darkest... Maxille, short, straight, enlarged and rounded at the extremity : lip semicireular, but, somewhat pointed, These parts are of a very dark brown colour, their extremities being faintly tinged with red. * Sternum heart-shaped, with small prominences on the sides, opposite to the insertion of, the legs; its colour is brownish black. Legs moderately, long, .provided with hairs and a few fine spines; they are of a yellowish brown colour, the femora being marked with brown longitudinal streaks ; the first pair is the longest, then the second, and the,third ;pair is the shortest ; each tarsus is terminated) by the. customary number of claws of the usual structure. The palpi are short/and of a yellowish brown colour, the radial. and, digital, jomts ;being the darkest. Abdomen oviform, convex above, projecting |greatly over the base of the cephalo-thorax ; it is of a, pale yellowish brown colour on the upper part, and is marked with four. minute brown spots which form a quadrilateral figure whose anterior side is the shortest ; a narrow, irregular, dark brown \line.extends along each side, from the anterior part, more than two-thirds of its length, and. contiguous to the inferior margin. of these lmes, which are most distinct at their extremities, there is, a,parallel band of,yellowish white ; the sides are dark brown, freckled with paler brown, and the under part is brownish. black, bounded laterally by a yellowish white band extending from the anterior extremity. beyond the spinners; the. sexual) organs are, almost concealed by a seale-like process situated on each, side of them. The specimen of Hpéira calva described above was taken, m June at Interlacken. XI.—Note of the Mollusca observed during a short: visit: to the Canary and Madeira Islands, &c., in the months of April. and May 1852. By R. McAnprew, F.L.S. On the 12th of March I sailed from Liverpool in a small yacht, on a voyage undertaken to benefit the health of some members of my family. We reached Lisbon after a boisterous navigation of ten days passed without any occurrence worthy of note, and short visit to the’ Canary and Madeira Islands, ce: 101 were ‘afterwards, by a continuance of bad weather, detained im port till the end of the month. In addition to the species of land shells previously met with by mein the neighbourhood of Lisbon, such as Helix porentina, H. barbula, &c:, | obtained a Pupa the size of ‘P: secalina, and a Testacellus. The weather only once permitted ‘of my attempting to dredge, when I tried in deep water towards the south side of the Tagus, but got very little of anything.’ Nassa scalariformis was the only addition to my pre- vious list from the locality. Cymba Olla is sold in the market of Lisbon, and doubtless ‘eaten by the natives.: We set sail from Lisbon on the Ist of April, and almost immediately after passing the bar, began to observe numerous ‘marine animals, such as Vellelle, ‘Salpe (in chains), Portuguese men-of-war, &c.. In lat. 834°, and about fifty or sixty miles from the nearest land; a Loligo was brought on board by the patent log :—a ‘similar cir- cuinstance oecurred ‘on another occasion further north, and at a still greater distance from land. Bist 2 . “5th April.— Dredged two hauls at eight miles from the shore, off ‘Mogador, depth 35 to 40 fathoms, bottom fine sand and mud. | “Obtained twenty-two species of shells, all known inhabitants of the British seas, with the exception of the six following, viz: a°Tellina, Venus undescribed, but previously dredged by mem Gibraltar Bay, Dentahum dentalis, Buccmum modestum, Ringu- cula auriculata, and a Natica, species not ascertained.» One’ of the species (Venus striatula) would hardly have been looked for so far south. I. | We'spent two days in the port of Mogador, during which a_ strong wind with a heavy surf coming into the harbour rendered landing ‘inconvenient, and dredging all but impracticable3°1 managéd ‘however to work a little under the lee of the island which forms ‘the harbour, by going very early each morning be- fore the breeze freshened up. I had no opportunity of examiming the'shore of the main land—indeed only landed there once, but the country in the vicinity of the town was far from invitmg— presenting nothing but bare sand, rising behind into hills topped with a shrubby vegetation. The island, on the contrary, at the time of our visit was covered with a perfect carpet of flowers. The. only land shells I could find there were— Helix lactea. Bulimus decollatus, aspersa. acutus. pisana (the most abundant). pyramidatus. A Caracolla (white with pink in- side). Of marine shells, between what were collected: on the shore 102° Mr. R. McAndrew on the Mollusca observed during a and:those dredged, Iigot nmety-eight species ; of which fifty-four- are common to the British seas, ninety are known to inhabit 'the Mediterranean, one (Psammobia rugosa) the south coast of Por- tugal, one (a Kellia or Galeomma, but genus not ascertained) the coasts of Algarve and Asturias, one (Marginella glabella) Senegal and the Canaries, five (two small Marginelle, a Chiton, a Bue- cinum, and Mitra zebrina) I met with in the Canaries, and one (a Turbo) is new to me. Laminarie are as abundantly developed in Mogador harbour: as on our own coasts, the prevailing species apparently identical with the common tangle, but.of a paler colour; numerous speci- mens of Patella pellucida are found upon it. Two days’ sail from Mogador brought us to Lancerote, one of the Canaries. Among these islands we spent exactly a month, which allowed time for only a partial examination of a small portion of the coasts of Lancerote, Grand Canary and Teneriffe, andl appropriated a full fortnight to the latter island. I have, reason to think that Fuerteventura, and the smaller islands of Graciosa, Alegranza, and Monte Claro, which I did not visit,, would have furnished results of greater interest. The marine Mollusca described in the costly work of Webb and Berthelot on the Natural History of the Canaries, comprise 188 species, of which eight are Cuttle-fishes, and six naked Mol- lusea, leaving 124 species of marine shells, of which a list was furnished to me by my friend Prof. Edw. Forbes. Of these T did not succeed in taking Argonauta Argo. Scissurella Berthelotii. Planaxis leevigata. Mytilus elongatus. Conus betulinus, Prometheus and Arca Noz. guinaicus. Cardium costulatum. Cymba Neptuni, porcina and pro- Cardita corbis. boscidalis. Crassatella divaricata. Marginella lineata, Lutraria rugosa. Cassis flammea and testiculus. Mitra ebenea. Cerithium nodulosum, Trochus, two or three species Murex trunculus. : doubtful. But as several of these are known African shells, and were re- ceived from fishermen, it is possible that some may have béén obtained from the coast of Africa, the great Canarian fishing- ground. Of six species of Hyaleea I only procured three. Of five species of Cleodora I only procured three. Of two species of Atalanta I only procured one. Several of the species I have obtained are either new or not identified ; but when they are all worked out and named, I reckon that my list of shells of the Canaries will include about 260 to short visit to. the Canary and Madeira Islands, &e. 108! 270, species,.of which 100, are enumerated in the-work referred: to, and 160, or 170.are new to the fauna of the district. ! Last of Shells odes in the Canary Islands. Teredo Gastrocheena . Saxicava .... Venerupis Corbula fear Nevera. ¢ Pandora .... Thracia Solecurtus. . Solemya..... Psammobia bs Tellina Mactra Venus’. 20 0. Cardium . Lucina Diplodonta Ketha 3... Modiola .... Crenella .... Chama Areca *e e*eee Pectunculus. . Avicula iin, ae THUS oS Sig Pecten. /.... Species. ~~ KH OWWwWDRK = hw NNN D SRK ee bo & bo CWO ee = — BO arctica. irus. . nucleus. cuspidata and. costulata. obtusa, rostrata ? phaseolina, pubescens. candidus, coarctatus. mediterranea. vespertina, costulata, ferroensis. depressa, distorta, balaustina, serrata: .. anatinus ? castanea. subtruncata ?, stultorum. . chione, one new? one undescribed. verrucosa, casina, and one ? minima. incrassata, compressa ?, triangularis. . calyculata. echinatum, rusticum, papillosum, leevi- gatum, fasciatum, and one,? Adansoni, leucoma, flexuosa, divaricata,. pecten, spinifera, transversa ?, and one. (minute), . rotundata, apicalis. rubra ?, suborbicularis. tulipa, and one (costulata of W. § B., but nearer M. petagnee of Scacchi ; inhabits masses of nullipore, pre- serving its communication with the, external world by means of a trumpet- shaped prolongation of the epider- mis). rhombea, marmorata. gryphoides, lactea, tetragona, antiquata, imbricata. . glycimeris. tarentina. .. Tustica. . Squamosa, hians, subauriculata. Jacobeeus or maximus, opercularis ?, co- rallinoides, pusio, pes felis, gibbus, and another, 104 Mr. RuM*eAndrew on the Mollusca observed during a Cleodora .. - Atalanta.) Umbrella. . * Lottia Calyptrea . : Fissurella Emarginula . Haliotis .. Trochus 3°. Monodonta' Solarium. 24053 Bifrontia .... Phasianella 39 Ianthina .. Littorinad;: .. Rissoa ...., Turritella. . Ceecum Cerithium Scalaria Stilifer...... Chemnitzia .. ‘Odostomia _. FEulimella. ~. . Truncatella . . Natiea ... Species. ] ? Ltie : iu vGeedaropus. . not identified. truncata, and three not identified: ./‘trispinosa, and two others. dV .) faseicularis, canariensis, and two others. crenata, guttata, Lowei, and one new? . . dentalis, rubescens,and one pier: (small). vulgaris. reticulata, gibba. ..! elongata, reticulata ? tuberculatus. . exiguus, striatus, magus, oad wil: nulatus, ziziphinus, Sauleyii,.and five or six species not identifieds:\ 9210) Berthelotii. ..*]uteum, and another. zancleea. rugosus, and another ? ullus. . fragilis, and one (small). . striata, affinis, neritea. canariensis, costata, parva’, purpurea, - elata?, textilis?, striata’, punctata, and about six species not identified. triplicata. vulgatum, fuscatum, perversum,) lima, and another. ., pseudoscalaris, Webbii, cochlea ?;\cte- nata, clathratula, and five not iden tified. doo distorta, nitida’?, and one. rufa, ee penises, pusilla:?;'>: ‘indi- stincta ?, and one undescribed. conoidalis, and four or five. scillee. poreellana, millepunctata, sericea, bical- losa?, and another. short visit to\theGanary and Madeira Islands. 8c, 105 Neritina .... Lamellaria .. Cancellaria . Cerithiopsis . : Ranella Dolium Terebra .... Fususy: lucas. sar ‘Tritone.. col Mangelia } 4: Pleurotoma .. Mitra ...... Conuss: <2... Maigiadliaia ME Spirula,..... Octopus \o00 . Ditrupa a... Echinus .... Asterias .. Comatula Acasta...... Pollicipes'. : Species. bo x % ome AanpnoSew> F B&Oee = Go ’ bo io) . .ei(oarine) viridis. | sty brroge lor2 .boitiasbr tou ‘iobw? jus .tabereulatus. H . abbreviata? of W. §& B. = leevigata, rt ay | tor Lam.? corallinus, Edwardsii, * Brandaris, eax atilis, and one or two of doubtful generic position. st heemastoma, viveratoides, and one ? 2 ov uminus;and one new ? . reticulata, incrassata, mutabilis, varia- bilis, canariensis, prmmaticn: sealari- formis ? *perdix, and fragments of species not identified. .. senegalensis. : »maroccanus, rostratus, pulchellus. .. modiferum, pileare, cutaceum ?, and one. lO. purpurea, Lefroyii, striolata, Vauque- -o Jina, lineata, Ginniniana, — teres, and one or two more. .. elegans, balteata. .. ccolumbellaria, nigra, zebrina, littoralis? . rustica, cribrella, and another ? . mediterraneus, papilionaceus. . spurea, *lurida, pyrum, *moneta, ok lex ?, candidula ? spelta ? a ti glabella, guancha, and three others. cylindracea, truncata, mammillata;' rie undescribed, and one new? ampulla, hydatis. i hybrida, and one or two Sei Peronii. . canariensis, &e. In the Helis list the species marked * were not found by myself, but given to me as native; those mentioned as “ unde- scribed ” I had previously obtained in the Mediterranean. It is,to .be remarked that the genera Nucleus and Leda are not represented in the Canary or Madeira Islands. 106, Mr,R.M*Andrew on the Mollusca observed during .a Marginella glabella and are common in Lancerote and Grand Ca- Conus mediterraneus . f,. nary, but, were not observed in the more westerly.island of Teneriffe. ey) Of land and freshwater shells fifty-seven are enumerated in the work already referred to ;—of these I did not procure above half ;, they are generally of a peculiar and interesting character. Of Vitrina I believe there are twospecies ;;one of them, the) smaller, found under stones in diy situations; the other Inmet with living in moist wood: of laurel-trees not far from Laguna. An adult specimen of the animal measured fully 1} inch in length when living. In the same locality I found dead a ‘very thin, pellucid shell of a green colour, and carinated like a Cara- colla. It differs from any that I am acquainted with. On our way from Teneriffe to Madeira we landed for some hours on the Great Salvage, an island of about a mile in extent, in either direction, uninhabited, except for a few weeks in the. year, when it is visited for the collection of barilla, feathers, &e.. _ We found upon it a few goats, and rabbits in vast abundance, so that our people were able to catch some in their hands}. also sea fowl, which quietly allowed themselves to be taken from under | the ledges of rock, and innumerable lizards. After diligent search I could only find one species of land mollusk, a snail allied ‘to Helix pisana, but apparently distinct from it. On the rocks of the shore were Littorina striata, three or four species of Patella, and a Trochus, all of large size, and in great abundance. 16th May.—Arrived at Madeira: dredged three times in Funchal roads and once in the bay of Porto Santo: obtained Species. Gastrocheena . .. 1 Saxicava ...+ 1 . arctica. Venerupis 1 . irus. Neeera...... 2 . costulata, cuspidata. Poromya.... 1 . granulata. Lyonsia .... ] .. Striata. Thracia . 1 . phaseolina. Solecurtus 2 candidus, coarctatus, Tellina........ 5 . depressa, distorta, donacilla, balaustinaj and another. Psammobia . . 1 . costulata. Ervillia ; 1 . castanea, Cytherea.... 2 . chione, and one undescribed. Venus ...... 2 . verrucosa and casina. Maree at... 1 .. minima, Cardium .... 5 .. echinatum, rusticum, papillosum, leevi- gatum, and another ? Cardita | calyculata. Lucina .... 4 .. Spinifera, divaricata, pecten, and another. ‘short visit to the Canary and Madeira Islands, &c. oeeeee Avicula Argiope «1 Hyalea .... Cuvieria. ». .. Chiton . «i 1: Dentalium .. Calyptreea .. Fissurella . . . Emarginula . . Trochus .:.. Solarium .... Bifrontia..... Tanthina .. Turbo ..... Phasianella . . Rissa™...:. ss « Cerithium Turritella Scalaria .... Eulima Chemnitzia . Eulimella Natica...... Neritina .... Cancellaria .. Buccinum MGMG ok. Mangelia.... Cypreea'.... Columbella . . Marginella .. Ringuicula .. ~ Species. CO ee et et DO 5 — OND ee ee EROS eH awe oO Swree Ween ww wlreew i 107 . 'rotundata, apicalis. - rubra, | tetragona. . glycimeris, . tarentina. squamosa. maximus or Jacobzeus, pusio, similis, ° coralloides, polymorphus, pes: felis, opercularis ?, gibbus, and another. .. tridentata, trispinosa, and two others: vulgaris. . reticulata. crenulatus, leevigatus, es “saphat mas? gus, and another. . zanclea (operculum oahia gta: duated). . communis, and two others. . rugosus. pulla. . violacea, cimex, and two or three. . lima, adversum, and another. . Turtoni, cochlea, and one or two others®: new ? and one undescribed. ty subulata, nitida, and one other, .. rufa, and two others. . sceillee. .. porcellana ?, and another. .. viridis. .. undescribed. . corallinus, Edwardsii, and cristatus: .. Ssulcosa. minus. . prismatica, incrassata, variabilis. . teres, nana, Vauquelina, Ginniniana, and one or two others. zebrina, littoralis ? pulex, candidula ? rustica, and one other ? .» guancha ? . auriculata,. 108) = Mr. J. Miers‘ on some ‘yenera of the Teacinacee. 89" Species. © BS Cylichna..... Bint: ere: vexlindracen, ond two. others. ri Amphispira. . : ] » ayalina,,, , A odt _sroits et PMI 4 oie aye hia ay PDT Ht he Spatangus..: 1 aeear Perera is ; Asterias .. . 5 EGE AS OM SS Ditrupa sph » ) RR LSE Of, the foregoing species (about, 125); 58 inhabit Britain 98 to 100,the Mediterranean or coasts..of Portugal (including, all the British species); of those:remaining, 16, are common, to, the Ca- naries, 1 (a Tellina).to, Mogador, leaving 3 species/of Jtissea; 2.0f Emarginula, 1 of Scalaria, % of Argiope, and 1.of Tumitditas ee posed. to be new. The land. shells, of these islands having, been well pares at by other, parties, it is unnecessary to say anything, upon them, J. was much struck by their great abundance inthe Dezertas; anid Porto, Santo. Beaumaris, July 5, 1852. XII, ‘ng some. genera of the Icacinacer. By JoHn Mirrs,. Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. : [Continued from p. 44.] PLATEA. In commenting upon the genera of the Icacinacea,, I have freé+ quently spoken of Phlebocalymna, a manuscript name,proposed by Mr. Griffiths for a plant collected by him in- the, Malacea Peninsula, but as I am unable to discover that any of its: cha- racters are appreciably distinct from the Platea of Blume, the former must. necessarily merge into the latter genus, which was first established by that distinguished. botanist in his, \* Bijdra+ gen,’ and) more lately recorded in’ his: ‘Mus. Bot. Lugd.’ where he enumerates another new species. | In deseribing the characters of Stemonurus, I have stated (ante, 'p. 32), that the chief or perhaps only feature that can distinguish Platea, is the absence’ of the glandular hairs, that form a beautifully fringed crest over the anthers in the former genus, ‘and as this’ was believed only to be a sexual difference, 1 had considered Platea as identical. with Stemonurus.- In the Aormer) as' also ‘oceurs in many species of the latter genus, the filaments are said by Blume to: be short and broad (whence probably the generic name from mrateta, amplus), while in Phlebocalymna, although when in bud they are'short and broad at base, they become afterwards long and Mr..J. Miers on some generacof:the-leacinacer, 109 linear: the differences in regard to their relative length and breadth are probably only specific, as we'firid them to occur in Stemoniuris. After desiccation, the flowers of Phlebocalymna appear of an orange colour, which is probably retained from the living state; they are somewhat more transparent and agglutinated at their edges than in Stemonurus, the calyx is more distinctly 5-lobed, andthe segments are imbricated in estivation, a feature also recorded by Blume in his character of Platea : in Griffiths’s plant from Mergui, the calyx is furnished at its base, at the point of its articulation withthe pedicel; with’ a distinct bract.. In this plant, and’ in another from‘ Moulmei, the flowers are axillary, and almost) fas+ ciculated ‘ina very short raceme, but in Cuming’s plant from Manilla, the inflorescence is in a spreading panicle, with numerous flowers ‘upon lengthened ‘pedicels. ‘ Blume, in his generic cha- racter of ‘Platea; states that the flowers are dicecious, and that in the female flowers the corolla and stamens are altogether wanting. The same might almost be said of several species of ‘Stemonurus, for as soon as the fertility of the ovarium is clearly discernible, the petals and stamens will be found to have fallen off, and from analogy we may safely conclude the same to have occurred in Platea. Mr. Griffiths in his manuscript note on Phlebocalymna says, “genus novum Icacinearum, familia singularis ob albumen in lobos divaricatos et tegumen seminis vasculosissimum:” this remark can hardly apply to his proposed genus, of which it does not appear that he had seen the seed, and it is more than pro- bable that the allusion was made to Bursinopetalum, a genus placed by Dr. Wight (Icon. tab. 956) in the Olacacee, of which the fcacinee had ‘been universally held to be a tribes in that genus; by the growth of the placentary column of the abortive cells, and its protrusion mto the cavity of the fertile’ cell, the albumen becomes hippocrepically folded, and somewhat divided ito, two lobes,:m the manner clearly demonstrated im the figure referred to.” Ihave elsewhere shown that Burstnopetalum belongs toithe Aquifoliacee. Blume in his ‘ Mus. Bot. Lugd. 'givesa new. 'generi¢ character of Platea: this will require some modifica- tion; if' we include in it Phlebocalymna, and: with this view I now ‘offer. the following diagnosis :— Puaves, Blume. Phiebocalymna, Griffiths.—Flores hermaphro- ep diti vel. sepissime abortu polygami: anounquam ‘vere dioici? Calye brevissimus, cupularis, 5-dentatus, dentibus im preeflora- tionem imbricatis, persistens, sed\non augescens. ».Petala 5, hinearia, carnosula, zstivatione valvata, apice propendenti in- flexo, marginibus: rorido-glandulosis, imo in tubum. laxe‘ad- heerentibus, e medio lbera et. reflexa, in flor. fem. fertil., cito decidua, Séamzna.5, cum petalis inserta, iisdem alterna, jila- 110 Mr. J. Miérs ‘on some: genera:of ‘the Teddinaces: owmenta imterdum ‘brevia;°sepe ‘petalis fere xequilonga, ‘linearia, socompressa, imoveum petalis laxe: adherentia :\anthere-ovato- oblongze, basi breviter: bifides; dorso affixee, 4-loculares, 2-lobee, lobis singulatim 2-locellatis, demum septicidis, et longitudinas liter evolutim dehiscentibus. Pollen globosum, reticulatum. Ovarium sterile disco 5-gono 10-striato piloso'immersum ; ‘fer tile hberum, conicum, pilosulum, disco annulari glabro insitum, abortu 1-loculare, ovula 2 juxta apicem loculi subcollateraliter suspersa. Stylus brevis, sulcatus, pilosus,| ‘deritibus 3 ‘stig- matosis erectis terminatus, demum in discum’ magnum sessile pulviniforme fructus coronans auctus. Drupa' baceata, mono- pyrena, putamen oblongum, lignosum, ‘ angulato-rugosim, 1-spermum. Semen structuram Stemonuri enulans?—Arbores Asie tropice, folia elliptica, coriacea, glaberrima,' vel’ jiniora interdum subtus lepidota, breviter petiolata, flores ‘perpauci in cymas vel racemos breves axillares dispositi, interdum fasciculati, siece aurantiaci: fructus. atro-purpureus: | 1.,.Platea excelsa, Bl. Bijdr. 646 ;—arbor 80-100 ped., foliis oblongo-lanceolatis, acuminatis, integerrimis, subtus cinereo- ‘yirentibus.—J ava, | 1 2. Platea latifolia, Bl. Bijdr. 646 ;—arbor 40~60-ped., foliis ‘“ovalibus, acuminatis, basi parum attenuatis, mtegerrimis, “eostatis, subtus griseo-lepidotis.—Java. 3, Platea Sumatrana, Bl. Mus. Bot. Lugd. Bat. 249 ;—foliis e basi.obtusata vel rotundata elliptico-oblongis, acuminatis, sub- coriaceis, venosis, subtus cinereo-virescentibus.—Sumatra. 4. Platea, Griffithiana, n. sp. ;—ramulis substriatis, subrugosis, foliis oblongo-ovatis, e medio inferne paullo angustioribus, apice obtusiusculo breyiter ac lineari-angustatis, . coriaceis, utrinque pallidis et concoloribus, nervis inferne prominentibus, margine reyoluto, petiolo brevi, canaliculato, racemo axillari, petiolo vix longiori, pedunculo pedicellisque aspero-pilosulis, floribus cum pedicellis articulatis, et hinc bracteatis; calycis glabri lobis ciliatis, petalis carnosulis, glabris, filamentis line- aribus, compressis, imo latioribus, ovario brevissimo, ‘sterili, disco pentagono immerso, stylo conico, piloso, dentibus tribiis stigmatosis pabe celatis.—Mergui.—v. s. in ‘herb.’ Lindl. et Hook. (Griffiths, 849). | The leaves are’ 53 inches long, nearly: 3 inches:broad;\on deeply’ channelled petiole 4-5, lines imdength; the racemé is about: 7 lines long, few-flowered; the: lobes:of the ealyx are :di- stinctly imbricated; the petals conjom by their:margms:in a tubular form, Jeaving the upper portion: free-and reflexed|;; the Mr.J. Miers: on some genera of the Ieacinaceze. lil filaments for half their Jength adhere to the: petals, but» are easily separated, they are narrow, linear, compressed, and three- fourths of the length of ‘the petals; the anthers are filled with pollen. mossisois aT 5,..Platea..Lobbiana, n. sp.;-—ramulis angulatis ; foliis. ellipticis mo, subacutis, apice. obtusiusculo, subito. attenuatis, glaber- _ogimis,..coriaceis, supra, lucidis, utrinque pallidis, et concolo- _ribus, costa,.supra sulcatis, nervis utrinque prominulis, venis .| Jmmersis,, margine valde. revolutis, pagina inferior! minute » ¢avo-punctatis, petiolo brevi, tereti, flavescenti, transverse ru- gos, superne, paullo canaliculato ; racemo breyissimo, axillari, _.-petiolo vix longiori, floribus subfasciculatis, sicce aurantiacis, .,hermaphroditis, calyce piloso, petalis linearibus, glabris ; ovario «; piloso, ovuligero, disco annulari glabro insito.—Moulmein,— 08. In herb,Hook. et Lindl. (Lobb, 385), The leaves in this species are 43 to 5% inches long, and 12 to 24 inches broad, on a rather slender terete petiole about 4 inch in length: the flowers are hermaphrodite; the lobes of ‘the calyx’ are imbricated; the petals adhere by their margins in a tubular form, leaving the upper portions free and reflexed ; the filaments for half their length cohere to the petals, but are easily separated, they are narrow, linear and compressed, nearly, the length of the petals; the pollen is globular and reticulated ;. the style is hollow, terminated by three erect obtuse teeth ; the ova- rium is conical, hairy, seated on an annular glabrous disk; it is l-celled, with two ovules collaterally suspended from near the summit of the cell. 6. Platea Wightiana. Gomphandra polymorpha, var. Wight, Icon. tab. 933 ;—foliis oblongis, apice obtusiusculo repente attenuatis, glabris ; panicula axillari, divaricatim dichotomo- ramosa, folio 4-plo breviori, floribus aggregatis, staminibus exsertis, filamentis linearibus, apice latioribus.—Coonoor in Mont. Nielgherrensibus. This is the plant to which I alluded when speaking of Ste- monurus (ante, p. 87): although figured as the male plant of Gomphandra polymorpha, it would seem to be hermaphrodite, for the ovarium, as shown in the section given im fig, 6, is repre- sented as ovuligerous. 7. Platea laxiflora, olim Stemonurus lawxiflorus, n. sp.;—ramis flexuosis, nodosis, ramulis teretibus, subglabris, rugoso-stri- atis®; foliis oblongis, utrinque acutiusculis, apice repente atte. s nuatis;utrinque glabris et concoloribus, venis: subtus promi- nulis;« petiolo: ‘subtenui canalieulato; ‘paniculis solitariis: vel ‘112 Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinacer. -o-geminis, axillaribus; 3-chotomo-ramosis, et laxe divaricatis, '> pedunculis pedicellisque gracilibus parce pubescentibus, calyce corollaque glabris.—Ins. Philip.—v. \s. in herb. Hook. et Lindl. (Cuming, 891). 2 2 «6 iow es .2iusq lesel efi te da wget The leaves are about 5? inches long’ and 13 inch ‘broad, on a petiole 5 lines in length; ‘the panicles aré about 1! inch long, the peduncle and its’ widely spreading branchlets being long, slender, and nearly glabrous ; the ‘persistent calyx is’ smooth, with five small teeth ; the petals are linear and thm in texture ; thesé in the greater number of instances, together ‘with the sta- mens, aré wanting, having fallen away, as almost universally ‘oc- cus in the female flowers of Stemonuris found in herbaria ;'and it is probably owing to this circumstance, that Prof. Blume, in his’ generic character of Platea, states that the female flowers are deficient of corolla and stamens. The stamens are the Téngth of the petals, the filaments being quite free, very compressed and broad ‘at the base, tapering above, thin, aiid almost ‘mem- branaceous in texture, somewhat inflexed at their summit, where they are terete and affixed near the dorsal sinus of the anthers, which are oblong, 2-lobed, bifid and sagittate at' base, and emar- ginated at the apex ; the lobes are membranaceous, opened by a longitudinal fissure, the cells being quite void. The Ovatinm is cylindrical, as long as the stamens, and ¢rownéd with a’'sessilé 5-lobed: pulvinated disk, which is slightly umbilicated ‘in the centre, where a short prominence is seen, this being the withered. style and stigma: its single cell contains two large suspended ovules. It is worthy of remark, that in all the flowers retaining the corolla, I could find no instance in which the sigh with any appearance of opening, so that it is very probable that these, together’ with the stamens, in falling away retain the cylindrico- | cupular form they present in the bud. , | he 96 " ; . va eee t ee SARCOSTIGMA. ©The following observations on the structure and: affinities of* Sareostigma. were completed in readiness for the press, »when'the- last: part of the: “ Plante Javanice Rariores ’ made its appearance } inthatmportant work we are favoured with an interestingsace! count;and an excellent figure of a new species of this’ genus ! from‘Java.: The remarks there offered, in regard to the:affinities” of Sareostigma, will be seen to be greatly at variance with my” own! ‘deductions; and hence it becomes necessary that I should” offer:a few explanatory words on the subject... It would: be:pre=* sumptuous in me to attempt to contravene the mferences there” deduced by the most profound botanist of our time, showing the” relation which that» genus bears to Phytocrene, Nansiatum, and: Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Icacinacee. 113 Todes ; but fully acknowledging all that is there affirmed, I may venture to show, that a yet s and much closer extent of analogy will be found to exist in the structure and deve- lopment of the floral parts, as well as a greater approximation in habit, to what we find in Stemonurus and Pennantia. From the facts shown below, it will be seen that Sarcostigma accords with nearly all the essential characters I have endeavoured to establish in the preceding series of memoirs, as the leading fea- tures of the Icacinacea, viz. trees with alternate, glabrous, coria- ceous, petiolated, exstipulate leaves; an axillary racemose inflo- rescence, with small flowers, more or less polygamous, and di- stinctly articulated on a short pedicel; a small cupshaped, per- sistent. calyx supporting the fruit, and unchanging with. its growth ; a corolla of four or five fleshy, linear petals, with val- vate estivation, arising from the hypogynous or stipitated sup- port of the oyarium; free stamens, equal in number to, and alternate with the petals; introrse 2-lobed anthers; an ovarium presenting a similar form, the same internal structure, and the subsequent development of that seen in Stemonurus and Pen- nantia, and a fruit, in all appearance, closely analogous to that existing in those genera. Hence it seems evident from the facts here ody that wherever Pennantia, Stemonurus, and Platea are placed in the system, Sarcostigma should. follow in juxta- position with them, unless the evidence now wanting, of the structure of, its seed, should tend to a different location, . If therefore Sarcostigma be found to hold a relation with the Phy- tocrenee, the questions will naturally arise, whether this hitherto dubious family should not be brought into a more proximate poetaen in the system with the Icacinacee, or whether I have een in error in referring the genus under consideration to the latter family. The group of the Phytocrenee was first proposed _ by Endlicher as a suborder of the Menispermacea, a family with which they hold little relationship. Prof. DeCaisne, if I mistake not, first pointed out the identity of Phytocrene with the Gyno- cephalaof Blume, a genus placed among the Artocarpacee : hence Phytoerene and Nansiatum were removed by Prof. Lindley and other botanists to that family. This conclusion appears to me to have been too hastily drawn, for the Artocarpacee differ from them. essentially in their stipular leaves, the presence of only a single floral envelope, which is often imperfect or altogether wanting, in their having fewer stamens than the number of the - lobes..of its perianthium, in their bifid style, which is often basilar, in their ovarium, with only a single suspended ovule, which is amphitropal or orthotropal, and an exalbuminous seed, often erect, though sometimes pendulous, with a thickened testa, and thick, fleshy cotyledons, often unequal in size. Phytocrene is Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. x. 8 114 = Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Tcacinacee. very different in habit from any of the Artocarpacee, having ex- stipulate leaves, flowers with a regular and symmetrical. calyx and corolla, stamens equal in number to the petals, an ovarium with two anatropal ovules, suspended from the summit of the cell, and a seed with a’ considerable quantity of albumen, en- closing an embryo with large foliaceous cotyledons, and a‘small inferior radicle. In regard to the structure of the seed of Phyto- crene, our evidence is yet quite uncertain. | Prof. Lindley (Veget: Kingd, p. 274) describes and figures an albumen of avery gra- nular, or rather ruminated texture, enclosing two large foliaceous cotyledons, with a very small inferior radicle ; and Mr. Brown, in his generic character, greatly confirms this view, by stating ‘it to possess an embryo with large foliaceous cotyledons; enclosed in albumen. Prof. Blume, on the contrary (Mus. Bot. Lugd: Bat. p. 41. tab. 7), describes and figures the embryo as being quite exalbuminous, with large foliaceous crumpled: cotyledons of a rugosely granular texture, possessing a short’ superior ra+ dicle: he here acknowledges Phytocrene to be identical with his Gynocephala, the fruit of which he describes as consisting’ of ‘an aggregation of several elongated drupes, upon a fleshy receptacle, forming a globe as big as a man’s head. It must at the'same time be acknowledged, that the extremely villous habit of Phy- tocrene, the peculiar structure of its woody stem, its closely ag- gregated flowers in globular heads, the membranaceous texture of its calyx and corolla, both clothed externally with very dense. long hairs, and its peculiar stamens, present characters to: which little resemblance can be traced in Sarcostigma. 1 urge these reflections, however, with extreme hesitation, in deference to the conclusions of an authority, whose determinations all botanists will regard with the highest consideration. It is to be regretted, however, that Mr. Brown has not favoured us with ‘his’ views, and the reasons on which they are based, in regard to the real affinities of the Phytocrenee ; but he says decidedly that Sarco- stigma, which in his opinion “so obviously belongs to ” this group, bears no relation to Hernandiacee, to which family that genus had originally been referred by Drs. Wight and Arnott. We may, however, infer something more tangible on this point from his admission of “its near relationship” to Pyrenacantha, a. genus with a single floral envelope, and other characters, that have led to its position near the Antidesmea. The genera Phy- tocrene, Nansiatum, and Iodes form’ a very natural’ group, pos- sessed of consimilar features, offering constantly a‘regular ‘calyx and corolla, divided into segments equal in’ number to ‘the sta~ mens, all alternating with each other indistinct series; they have therefore every claim to rank aniong the ‘Dialypetale of Rndlicher ; but this disposition does ‘not exist’ in Miquelia, age- Mr. J. Miers. on some genera. of the Icacinacer. 115 nus ~carefully. figured and described by Prof. Blume. (loc. ante citat.), and placed by him. and Mr. Brown among the Phyto- erenee this genus, with a very different. habit, offers only .a single floral envelope, with stamens alternate with its segments, and al-celled ovarium, with’ two suspended ovules, characters similar to those of Pyrenacantha, from. which it differs in its ex- albuminous.seeds: these two. genera are therefore clearly refer- able to the Apetale of Endlicher, which are nearly equivalent to the Monochlamydee of DeCandolle. . If Sarcostigma. then, be related to the Phytocrenee,—an affinity which, if we accept, we must admit has not yet. been demonstrated, —it is clear that it cannot bear any relation to the two genera before mentioned, which appear to have been associated with that group upon very insufficient grounds; and if, as above indicated, the Phytocrenee be allowed, to rank among the Dialypetala, it appears to, me their position would not be far from the Tiliacee or Dipterocarpee, to which; families they offer many analogous characters: from _ Prof. Blume’s analysis, they would much resemble the latter,in the structure of the seed ; under Prof. Lindley’s view, they would more nearly approach the former. The observations that now follow were written several months ago, and as they are confined wholly to the description of facts, there is no occasion to retract anything there advanced in con- sequence of what is said above. The genus Sarcostigma, to which I have alluded (hw. op. ix. p: 223), as belonging to the Sarcostigmea, one of the tribes of the Icacinacee, was founded in 1832 by Drs. Wight and Arnott, on an Indian plant collected by Dr. Klein, and described by them, in the 14th volume of the ‘Edinburgh New Phil. Journal.’ Like Desmostachys, it is somewhat scandent in its habits, but it has large oblong leaves upon very short petioles, and, asin that, ge- nus, it has an extremely long and slender spicated inflorescence, studded, at close intervals with fascicles of small flowers, which in drying retain their bright yellow colour, and are, very, deci- duous, being, articulated. upon very short and. almost, obsolete pedicels! ,; The flowers, in the only case I have. seen, are. all female, and: thei stamens, which, are sterile, are alternate with the\petals;.the internal. structure. of the, ovarium, corresponds with the usual, character of the order : in) the form, of its epigy- nous stigmatoid summit it resembles Stemonurus, and, what. I have stated concerning the nature of this part.in that genus.ap- pears confirmed by, the circumstances that occur here : in some cases this appears like a, flat, glabrous, fleshy disk, with a depres- sion inthe centre, as in the following genus Discophora, but, it seems afterwards to attain the form of a somewhat, conical .um- braculiform process, overhanging the ovarium, with a crenated : ab 116 = Mr. J. Miers on, some genera of the Tcacinaceze. im cy BOISBDT SAY VO WISKSYH SOF NO BISLN .b oF Ei big ] from Java, and:although ‘all the flowers have fallen:off at the articulations ‘with the pedicels, the identity of the genus cannot be mistaken! ©The following generic character ‘has been derived, partly from my own observations’ as far as the specimen ‘D have seen ‘has afforded evidence; partly from Dr. Klem’s origimal notes, and I have since added other features from Mr. Brown’s:de- scription + 7 HSIN gir vloatsvane bas Sarcostigma,; W,, & A.—Flores. polygami....Calyz.,minimus, j) breyiter, cupulatus, obtuse 5-dentatus, persistens,,),.Petala.5, »edineari-oblonga, glabra, imo disci stipitati, adnata, zstivatione -y Walvata, sub anthesi, patentim. reflexa, marcescentia, et., persis- _yptentia....Stamina 5,.cum petalis inserta, iis alterna.et.,equ- >) donga, in flor..fem. sterilia, et subbreviora ; filamentéa,linearia, = o¢ompressa,, in sterilibus apice antheris fere obsoletis,2-loba, oop: (ine fertilibus anthere ovales, versatiles, loculis parallelis,: ap- 5 ,proximatis,. longitudinaliter. dehiscentibus, sec., cel.) Ry, Br.). ~ Qvarium in. flor. masc. parvum, sterile, pubescens, in, flor,.fem. .o eylindricum ventricosum:, pubescens, disco. seu gynophoro, breyi tereti stipitatum, 1-loculare ; ovula 2 ex, apice.loculi subcolla- teraliter superposita, podospermio carnosa suspensa: (stylus lcbrevis ‘erassus et stigma capitatum sec. Klein) ::movario~ado- lescente, stylus nullus, nisi id quod videmus in:discum ‘sessilem ‘stigmoideunr umbraculiformem margine crenatuny centro: ca- vum demum mutatum, et st7gma verum centrale promde:obso- etum:: Drupa oblonga, compressa, monopyrena 5 (putamen rugosum ; cetera ignota.—Frutices Asie meridionals, Java, et A frice tropice; subscandentes ; folia majuscula, alterna, oblonga, *\eoriacea, glaberrima, breviter petiolata;: vacemi longissimi) gra- ciles, simpliciter spicati e fasciculis 1—4-floriscalternis; flores minusculi, sicce flavi, cum pedicells fere, obsoletis, articulati, et cito, caduct, 1: Sareostigma’ Klein; W. & A. Edinb) New Phili:Jouwrn. xiv. 299 ;—subscandens, glaberrima, laxe ramosa, ramulis tere- tibus; foliis oblongis, basi rotundatis vel subacutis, apice ob- Mr. J. ‘Rliers ‘on\some genera of the Icacinacex. 117 __,fusiusculo acuminatis, et paullulo attenuatis (junioribus lan- .. eeglatis), coriaceis, supra pallidis, yenis valde reticulatis pro- _ Ininulis,. subtus stramineis, neryis venisque prominentibus, _ Margine cartilagineo, petiolo, subtenui,. canaliculato, rugoso ; . racemo ,gracili, extra-axillari, folio magno multo longiori, _ oribus 1-4: minuseulis, in fasciculis subsessilibus, aggregatis, ._articulatis, calyce pilosulo, drapa ovali, breviter pedicellata.— -, India Orientalis ad Travancore.—v. 8. in herb, Hook. (Wight, (943, cum descript, cl, Doct. Klein). ‘sThe branchlets are slender and somewhat scandent ; the leaves are of d}pallid:hue on both sides, but a little. more yellow, be- — neath; they:are of a very coriaceous substance, rather polished, with» raised: reticulations above, the margins sotiewhat revolute and! cartilaginous, with the nervures and reticulated veins very prominent: benéath'; they are 6 to 84 inches long, 2% to. 33 mehes btoad,:ona short, deeply channelled petiole half.aninch.in length, and transversely rugous as in Platea; the raceme arises fromthe side of the stem opposite to that on which the petiole is inserted, as ‘In some species of Stemonurus; it 1s about 11 inches’ long, very slender; and charged for nearly its whole length ‘with ‘clusters of few flowers, in which the calyx is somewhat pilose, but the petals are quite glabrous, and retain their yellow colour in ‘drying; they are about a line in length. The drupe‘is ‘sup- ported by its calyx and corolla, both unchanged, withered, and persistent, upon the gynophorus, which is now elongated to a pedicel of the length of 14 line; it is 11 lines long, and 7 lines broad when’ dried ; a single drupe alone remains in the specimen referréd to. Dr. Klein in his manuscript note says, that several ageréegated lengthened racemes sometimes grow out of the leafless nodes ‘of the’ old wood*. ~ a 2), Sareostigma Vogelii,n. sp. ;—suffrutex glaberrimusy ramiulis oro beretibus;: subrugosis ; foliis majusculis, oblongis,) utrinque ‘ acuminatis,apice acute et breviter attenuatis, coriaceis,) gla- - berrimis; supra’ pallidis, subtus flavescentibus, nervis/venisque vonmeticulatis et: transversis :prominentibus, petiolo breyissimo, canaliculato, rugoso ; racemo:spicato, extra-axillari, longissimo, yy gracilis floribus subaggregatis, ,articulatis, caducis ;\ drupacar- yvnosa,zubra, pendula,~+Guinea ad Cap. Palmas.~—v.\s..¢n herd. eoittooki: (Vogel, 25,27 et 68), ‘s ‘This plant’ was collected in the Niger Expedition by Dr; Vogel, who describes it as a shrub (sérauch): it bears very much the habit;and appearance of the former species,, but, the, leayes are (| * A drawing of this: plant, with details. of the. structure of its, female flowers, will be given in plate 18 of-the ‘ Contributions to Botany,” &c. 118 Mr. J. Miers on some genera of the Tcacinacet. * not. quite so thick in texture; they are smooth, somewhat undu- lating on the margins, 7 to 10 inches long, and 3 to 33 inches broad, on a very short, channelled and rugous petiole, about 3 lines in length ; the raceme. is distantly extra-axillary, and in- serted on the opposite side of the stem, as in the former'species ; itis ‘12: or 13 inches! long, very:slender, slightly) pubescent‘ and angular at ‘base; for the length of about 3 inches, and in! the remainder is glabrous and beset: with alternate) nodules, consist- ing of single or aggregated, very short: pedicels, left bare by the fallmg away of all the articulated flowers. . The fruit, according to Dr. Vogel’s. notes, is red, fleshy, oval and pendulous, and from his rough sketch of a transverse section.it would appear to be somewhat compressed and to contain two seeds): if this, be the case, it would bear out) a still stronger analogy. tothe in- stance I have recorded in Pennantia*. 3. Sarcostigma Horsfieldii, R. Br. Pl. Jay. Rarior. 241. tab. 47. Java. DIscoPHORA. The characters that warrant the establishment of this genus are few, but when taken in conjunction with the peculiar habit of the plant andthe different country of its origin, they serve to mark its. place. The specimen upon which it is founded is a natiye of Guiana, with ovuligerous flowers which are far ad- vanced, for the petals and stamens are fallen away, leaving only the calyx.and ovarium, which is crowned with a discoid process : in, the. mternal structure of the ovarium, and the form of its per- sistent calyx, articulated on its pedicel, it is strictly conformable with other genera of this family; and in the peltoid disk that crowns the ovarium it resembles Sarcostigma, Pennantia, and Stemonurus, all of Asiatic origin ; but in this case this, process is much smaller and somewhat reniform. In one instance I found a single petal remaining, just sufficient to mark its character. As it cannot be referred to. any one of the genera above mentioned, I propose to call it Discophora, from Sickos, discus, pépa, fero. The few characters known may be designated in the following manner :— DiscorHora, gen. nov.—Calyx minimus, brevissime_cupuli- formis, fere integer, obsolete 5-denticulatus, persistens. Pe- tala 5, linearia, glaberrima, textura tenui, nervo mediano lon- gitudinali notata, cito caduca. Stamina ignota, mox decidua. Ovarium liberum, cylindricum, glabrum, 1-loculare; ovula 2, juxta apicem loculi superposita, podospermio. crasso subcolla- * This plant will be figured in plate 19 of the ‘ Contributions to Botany,’ Dr. A, Krohn jon, the genus Doliolum and its species. 119 _tevaliter suspensa, anatropa. Stylus cum stigmate confusus, ; demum subreniformi-discoideus, parvus, subconcavus. Fructus ~ ignotus.—Frutex Guianensis ; folia alterna, oblonga, majuscula, ~ glaberrima, petiolata; racemi azillares, divaricatim ramost ; flores parvi, cum pedicellis articulati.. : ly Discophora Guianensis ;~-omnino glaberrima, ramulis tere- tibus, substriatis ; foliis oblongis, utrinque acuminatis, apice lineari-angustatis, coriaceis,’ supra nitidis, nervis sulcatis, venis: immersis, subtus’ fuscis, nervis rubentibus cum venis transversis’ prominentibus, punctis minutis resinosis notatis, ‘margine revolutis; petiolo incurvo canaliculato ; racemis axil- laribus petiolo 2-3-plo longioribus, dichotome et divaricatim ‘ramosis, pedicellis bracteatis, bractea oblonga obtusa crassi- uscula pubescenti, floribus cum pedicello articulatis—Deme- rara.—v. s. in herb. Hook, (Parker). The branches are terete with a smooth bark; the axils are 14 to 2 inches apart ; the leaves are quite smooth, thick, and. coria- ceous, 8 inches long, 23 inches broad, on a petiole of 3 to $ inch in length: a raceme about 1} inch long springs out of each axil, sending out from the base upwards several alternate branches at nearly right angles, which are again divided ; the branchlets and pedicels are slightly pubescent and furnished at their base with a short, obtuse, fleshy bract, covered with short fine hairs; the ovarium is 4 lines long, 14 line diameter ; the stigmatiferous disk is about one-third of the diameter of the ovarium ; the calyx and petals are quite glabrous; the latter are linear, submembranaceous, marked with three parallel nervures, and are of a reddish yellow colour when dry*. XIII.— Upon the genus Doliolum and its species. By Dr. A. Krounf. [With a Plate. ] Quoy ‘and Gaimard describe and figure in their work, the £ Voy- age of the Astrolabe’ (p. 599. pl. 89. figs. 25-28), a small ery- stalline Tunicary not 2 lines long, which they first discovered at Amboyna, and subsequently found again on the coast of Vani- koro. For this animal they created a genus, to which they gave the very appropriate name of Doliolwm, placing it in the near * A representation of this species, with analytical details, will be seen in plate 20 of the ‘ Contributions to Botany.’ + Wiegmann’s Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte, 1852. — Translated by Thomas H. Huxley, F.R.S., Assistant Surgeon R.N. 120 Dr..A. Krohn,on, the: genus: Doliolum, and. its species. neighbourhood, of Salpa.,The:species.was called D. denticulatum. Jam not, aware. whether, this animaljhas been since-examinedsby other. naturalists, . althowBhq it occurs not oe in) the Mediterranean. «.))5+ int sosqe odt on ito Once, on a previous occasion, I found it at Mesetias Aire mm ike course, of, last spring I took at) drequently.,at Naples; ‘and: jper- ‘suaded. myself that.not,only, in, point-of.- structure (not-very per- feetly made out by. Quoy and Gaimard) , but;alsoin:development, it.ds decidedly. an Ascidian.,|, It,,is,a-free swimming )Aseidian, which. in. many. respects closely. resembles the Salpé, andoso far forms an interesting, transition between the-twe orders of the Tunicata,..The genus, however, is not limited;to this-one species, as, L discovered, three other, kinds atthe same place and tame? ss Before proceeding to describe the different PRUE ity mab ‘be desirable.to.consider what they all have.im common.s:\) cog \ The genus! Doliolum. is. mainly ,characterized: by the: cireumi- wstance, that the body.of the animal.(asthe nameyindeed::mdi- ates) resembles.a. cask open, at, each end; The anterior some- what, /broader.,end.is .prolonged.into..a very | short, often hardly perceptible tube, which answers. to. the ingestive or: resputatory siphon, of other Ascidians, and, like this, has its lip-divided anto @, number of. segments. These lobes, generally. about) ten an aumber, are somewhat. pointed. At the opposite end, whose aper- ture, represents.the ‘cloacal aperture of other Ascidians, the heaty becomes gradually narrower *. The, mantle, is relatively very thin, and contains neaterid era nules, in its substance... The second layer of the. body: (Leibes- schicht), is, as,in all Tunicata, that which supports the nerves;and muscles. The. nervous centre consists.of a round ganglion ileobd 4 in} the middle of the dorsal surface ; from it three anterior.and as:many posterior, branches, proceed. "Two of these pass divergingly to! the sides. of the.body,. the third runs along the median-line.; ‘The muscular..apparatus, closely agrees with that, of) Sa/pa in its:ar- rangement, It.consists, according to the species, of either; eight or nine, flat. bands, which, like hoops, encircle the: hody,at tole- rably regular. intervals, aud so give ita still stronger resemblance to, a little, cask. _ The anterior band surrounds the base of the respiratory siphon, the posterior itimediately encircles the margin of ‘the. ‘posterior aperture, Both are less strongly marked than the other, bands. ag regard, to the. internal, organs, the respiratory. apparatus * The two, apertures are: diametrically opposite: likewise im the: Pyroso- mata; and here|alsothe cloacal-aperture, which ‘opens into the cavity of the. common, mass, has a smooth edge (see Savigny; Mém. sur les Anim. sans Vertébres), Drie Krohn ow the genus Doliolun and its species, 121 presents the: most ‘striking’ deviation from the ordinary arrange: ment. Insteadof a‘sac, it forms'a partition stretched across the cavity of the body; flat im one ‘species, bent’ at ‘an angle” in another ; and dividing the sm into an anterior anda posterior compartinent: aagivl JB IL DE ots) ‘structure’ is: rachint eianbloe than that of the compound Ascidians; since it ‘is “pierced by only two series of symmetrical, transverse,” or somewhat. oblique ‘clefts (“‘stigmates branchiaux,” Milne-Edwards); the edges of which are, as in all Ascidians, beset with-cilias In\the median’ portion of the” bratichial membrane the cleftsare wider, beyond it they narrow again: » -o'These clefts then are the only means of communication of tie anteriot and posterior divisions of the cavity of the poeey with one anothers ».29) Upon the walls‘iof the anterior division, the' ciliary’ apiseratal for conducting food to the mouth is arranged + 37. e. the well-known ventrdlogroove‘and its ‘prolongations, which are less ‘known, and may be here more minutely described. The anterior end of the relatively short ventral groove gives off two narrow ciliary bands, which diverge from one another and'run up at the base ‘of’ the respiratory siphon, along the parietes of ‘the cavity of the’ body to the dorsal’ surface ; here, converging towards one another; they become:united in front of the nervous ganglion. A third’ ciliated band runs from the posterior extremity of the ventral Sroove ig the mouth*. ‘Upon the wall of the posterior space lie the reproductive or- gans.and the alimentary canal; and anteriorly to the latter, in its:pericardial cavity, the heart, which pulsates very rapidly, and is, as in the Salpe, a short sac. The circulation and thé ’course ofthe blood are not to be perceived, as the blood is pellucid: and contains no‘granules. 'The;alimentary canal is but moderately developed'‘in' propor- tion to» the'size of the body. “The mouth is placed upon the branchial:membrane, upon the great longitudinal ridge between the lateral clefts. '> It leads into'a short cesophagus, to which ‘the rounded stomach with the mtestines bent into a loop succeeds. Like'the compound Ascidians and the genus Clavelina among the simple forms, Doliolum propagates both by ova and by buds. | * A aiailarly constructed ciliary apparatus is to be found in all Tunicata, according to my investigations. The anterior-ciliated band, forming a com- plete circle, has been described by some zoologists as a vascular ring, some- times‘as a: nervous ring. So also an accessory part of the same apparatus, especially frequent in the Cynthie as a rounded prominence, has been re- garded sometimes/as a nervous centre, sometimes as ‘an’ organ of’ peculiar ‘structure: and! doubtful function (see Siebold,; Vergleichende Anatomie, p:260)o'This elevation is distinguished, however, by no other circumstance, than by being marked upon its surface by a spiral ciliated groove. 122; Dr,.A.Krohn, on, the genus. Doliolum, and its species. But while in the former, this double, means, of multiplication. is allowed to each single creature, in the latter each generation possesses only a single mode,;, so;that, as,in the Salpe, the first generation propagates. by.ova, and,the; second multiplies.by bud- ding, the third again, producing ova, and .so,on.inja continual. alternation... In support of this view. I may adduce the fact, that , on examining a certain numberof adult individuals, of.the same, kind,in some, generative organs are always found, in others only. a stolo prolifer—the producer and bearer of the gemme. . Further; evidence will be adduced in the section upon Development. In the sexual generation the male and female. organs,-are sometimes united in the same, sometimes, carried . by; (different individuals... The gemmarium (keim-stock) of the, asexual: indi- viduals is a short, cylindrical, somewhat curyed, posterior pro- cess, which arises close in. front. of the. posterior, aperture, and exactly in the middle line; in some species upon. the dorsal, in) others upon the ventral side. It can be moved toa slight extent,, by one of the posterior muscular bands, which appears to, be peculiarly modified for this purpose in all asexual individuals ; of which more by and by. The buds, whose number is but small, are developed only from the extremity of the gemmarium, along which we find them arranged one behind the other as more or less projecting prominences. The:asexual generation, developed from ova, has to undergo.a métamorphosis.. As in other Ascidians the larva is Cercariform. All the' species move by jerks, as Quoy and Gaimard state ; by a sudden contraction they dart forwards, and then remain at) rest for awhile. Description of Species. A. Species with eight muscular bands and the gemmarium ventral. L. Doliolum denticulatum* (Q. '& G.). The branchial membrane is bent into a sharp angle projecting backwards, and extends further than in the succeeding species. Its upper half reaches as far as the second muscular band, and at times ‘beyond it’; the lower half extends as far as the third muscular band only. The mouth is placed upon the lower half of the branchial membrane; from it the cesophagus passes in a curved direction backwards and downwards to the deeper-seated stomach. The intestine describes a wide arc, passing at first backwards and * This specific denomination is unfitting, since in the other species the anterior aperture is toothed. I propose therefore for this species the name of D,. Ehrenbergi. Dr. A. Krohn on the genus Doliolum and its species. 128 eventually upwards upon the ‘right’ side of the cavity of’ the 7 the sexual individuals of this species I have only been able to discover the males, and I thence presume that the sexes aré separate. The male apparatus lies upon’ the left lateral wall of the’ posterior cavity, and consists of a testis and a relatively long and wide seminal canal. This canal is commonly distended with spermatozoa, and extends as far as the fourth muscular band. The testis is composed of single rounded lobes, which, like the folioles ofa rosette, are grouped round the commencement of the’ seminal canal: 3 As to the asexual individuals, the change in the arrangement of their muscular bands produced by the development of ‘the gémmarium, consists in the separation of the ends of the penul- timate’ band ; the narrow and pointed extremities of which run for some distance upon the base of the gemmarium. Fully de- veloped individuals of this kind attain the length of 2 lines or a little more. 2. Doliolum Miilleri (Krohn). This species is wider in the middle, and thence resembles a’ more squat cask. The mantle is very soft and almost mucila- ginous, so that foreign bodies readily become imbedded im it: The» branchial membrane has the form of a vertical’ partition placed in the posterior part of the cavity of the body and slightly convex behind ; there are about twelve pair of clefts... The mouth seemed to be nearer the lower half. The alimentary canal, on the other hand, is in the middle of the cavity, remote from either’ wail. The cesophagus descends towards the stomach, to which ~ the short intestine succeeds, descending at first and then curving upwards in a loop. The sexual individuals of this species are hermaphrodite. Close to the stomach and intestine we distinguish three structures closely applied to one another... The largest, the testis, is pyri- form,.and lies with its narrower end near the anus. The two other bodies are spherical ; the one is filled with clear nucleated vesicles, which I consider to be germs; whence the whole must be regarded as an ovarium. ‘The other body is unquestionably a fully developed ovum, in which we easily recognize the outer imyestment, the granular yelk and the germinal yesicle with its spot. In some individuals I found it free, in the posterior cavity of the body. With regard to the asexual individuals I will only observe, that their penultimate muscular band is arranged similarly to that of the preceding species. Varieties of this very common species, which is often met with 124 Dr’ ‘A: Krohn on pile Genii POW ate aida ies $ species. in ‘swarms in 1 March and April, have: a ‘ted-spotted body, and ‘the ali mentary canal blue or pale re Fully grown individuals reach the dimensions ‘of’ It ave in length. sraodierrontnteh bien “insrceoloeacl md Phas with nine ae hindi, and with the -lgvabmerium dinsiee the dorsal: surfaée. sistsot oldsuyem hotases1g l. Betiolam, Nerd (Krohn). pe as be er ‘forii’ this’ species “appears at? first! 'so’ send to sisbbinechs D: denticulatum, that they may be readily confounded-together. Tt'is only upon more’ close’ examimation! that the’ characteristic differences in the branchial’ membrane° and ‘the number“of ‘the bands become obvious. The branchial mémbrane inthis species forms a’ flat septum stretched obliquely from above and‘ behind, downwards and forwards across the cavity of the‘ body; with'onls four pair ‘of clefts.’ The mouth is exactly in the centre’ of the branchial membrane. The alimentary canal’ in all sig dee ve sembles that of D.. Miilleri. -T have nothing to say about the generative organs and: the sextial ‘relations, since all the individuals observed were asexual, With respect to the gemmarium I must observe, that a’peculiar filiform, transversely annulated, or rather wrinkled appendage’ is attached to’its free extremity, which is found in no‘other species. The modification of the arrangement of the muscular bands, which has been already referred to, affects here the ‘ante-penul- timaté band, which, in consequence of the position of the anes marium, is open above . This is’ the smallest of the species, since in its full-grown state it is not more than 1 line in length. 2: Doliolum Troschelii (Krohn): all haye but rarely observed this species. It is mich larger than that just described, as I have met with individuals ‘more than 3 lines in length. Upon the whole it resembles D. deniti- culatum and Nordmanni, only that the body is more ‘elongated. It is especially remarkable from its singularly broad muscular bhands*) The, alimentary canal,is,.quite, sumilar,to,that,of the preceding ‘species\\but ‘of the«branchial' membrane: cam-say nothing, ‘since® it. was accidentally absent in’ allthe ‘speciniens, haying been probably injured and torn off in some tianiiers"°!° ~”* Upon ‘superficial “examination, ‘this’ speciés, “on’ décount oF its weal muscular bands, might readily be taken for a véry' young sted solitaria of Salpa punctata (Forskahl). Among the Salpe observed by meat Messinia (Annales des Sciences Nat. 1846), this solitary Salpa-form is the only one all whose muscular bands form complete and relatively very broad ‘circles: Dr. A. Krohn on the genus Dohiolum and its species. 125 od PERI individuals were not seen. , In the asexual ones the ante-periultimate muscular band has the’ same arrangement’ as in Be eran ibe Aa tary spall sa Development and Metamorphosis. gis “The development of the buds was observed in D. Miillerd; but presented no remarkable feature. “The: buds: shoot one: after another, as it seems, from the gemmarium, for the outermost is always the largést;'and often “already changed into a young Ascidian, whilst,the others are far, behind. in, their development, and jindeed.the,;more, the greater, their, distance from it,,..Buds which jare,s0, far developed as to allow, the, majority of the organs, and jamong, the rest, the, swiftly, pulsating ,heart, to be. distin- guished, are placed.vertically (like|those of the Compound. Asci- dians and. Clayelinide.according, to, Milne-Edwards), with. the anterior extremity forwards, and are. attached. to the. gemmarium by: a;short pedicle. . This,pedicle is inserted upon.the abdominal surface close| below, the alimentary canal ; when.the bud/is. de- tached it falls with it, and subsequently wholly disappears... Such recently detached budded forms may be so far confounded with young asexual individuals, inasmuch as their pedicle..may,be readily taken for, the little-developed and as yet budless. gemma- rium; which has the same form and position... More. close exa- mination, however, will eliminate this. error, since all, free bud- forms already, exhibit the rudiments of the sexual organs... ..:" ‘The asexual individuals. developed, from. ova, are, born, as, has DD 903 | been said;.in, the form of Cercaria-like larye, and therefore. un-_ dergo a metamorphosis. This metamorphosis is characterized, however, by| many peculiarities, whose explanation is, only, to be found in the mode of life of the adult animal... It is well known that in the larve of the fixed Ascidians, the tail very soon disap- pears, as an organ which has become useless, when the larva has found a, fitting locality in which to fix itself. Only after this has taken place does its body become gradually changed into the perfect, animal. diate Wade easel In Deliolum, on the other hand, which, as we haye seen, is a free. swimmer, there is no need for the tail to disappear so soon; * T must leave it undecided whether the cask-like Tunicary with eight muscular bands; but much larger than.D; denticulatum, which is, described by Quoy-and Gaimard as D, caudatum (1, ¢..p.601, pL.89.fig. 29. & 30), really belongs.to this genus. In the figure the one end of the body,is indeed siphon-like, but its lip is without lobes. From the opposite extremity a dense .pyramidal, process projects, like the processes of many associated Salpe. I. should be inclined to regard the animal rather as a Salpa than as a, Doliolum, especially. since. the completely circular museular bands which ah possesses, are,.as we haye seen aboye, no decisive criterion of the genus oliolum, 126 =©Dr. A. Krohn on:the,genus Doliolum and its species. it persists during almost the whole period of development: ofthe: new creature, serves as an organ of locomotion, and begins to! wither away only when the young has reached its perfect deve: lopment and independence*. The tail, however, dies away- quite as Milne-Edwards. as’ already observed in the course of metamorphosis of Amouroucium proliferum, and as I a short time, since observed in larvee of Phal- lusia mammillata obtained by artificial fecundation. The contractile central portion or axis of the tail, composed of a simple series of rectangular, nucleated cells, is ‘gradually re~ tracted from its sheath into the body of the young animal and so becomes gradually shorter and shorter. Soon the young ani- mal casts off its larval investment, and only slight traces of the tail are left upon its ventral surface, close under the digestive canal, in the form of a round body which soon disappears. |” The following observations will afford more detailed evidence of the above view ; they were made upon separate, not yet fully developed individuals of D. Nordmanni. To all these individuals the tail was still attached ; im some it remained in all its integrity, while in others it had begun to dis- appear. The whole, tail and animal, was surrounded by the lar- val tegument, a very thick, glassy membrane, which must not be confounded with the mantle, which is closely applied to the body of the young animal. This ‘could be readily distinguished from the homogeneous larval tegument by the granules imbedded in its substance. The larval tegument was about a line long, and drawn out at each end into a tolerably acute point. The réla- tively short and very thin tail, or rather its wasted axis, appeared articulated from the presence of the above-mentioned cubical cells, and external to these a thin muscular layer was perceptible, whose fibres ran longitudinally from the root to the point+. The root projects far into a vesicular appendage attached close under the intestinal canal, and filled with a clear fluid, which'is:pro- bably only a dilatation of the second tunic (Leibes-schicht) pand diminishing pari passu with the tail, collapses, and at length dis- appears. The young animal appears:in most specimens tosbe already so far developed, that all the organs and the lobes of the anterior aperture (which are at first turned) inwards, and only * The animal described by Joh. Miller as Vevillaria flabellum (Archiy, 1846), and considered by him to be probably the larva of Amouroucium proliferum, is, accordmg to my observations, an incompletely developed Aseidian, whose tail, as in Doliolum, appears 'to’persist: until the perfect formis nearly assumed. » The perfect, as yet unknown animal will. probably be found to agree with Doliolum in its mode of life. +. This layer of fibres seems to be wanting in no Ascidian larva, In the tail of the Vewillarie it has been already quite correctly described’ by J. Miiller.’ It perfectly accounts for the rapid movements of the tail. .9009\Mri TH. Huxley on the genus Doliolum. 127 subsequently unfold themselves and project) are visible... Upon the dorsal surface the rudimentary gemmarium had already made its appearance in the form of a conical projection. The young animal was not capable of any independent’ movement, and. its taili was: only seen at intervals slightly twitching and vibrating. Final Remarks. In, the course of the preceding observations, the analogies which connect the genus Doliolum with the Salpe have been re- ferred to... These analogies consist not only in the similar, mode of life, the similar diametrical opposition of the apertures, and especially in the similar muscular apparatus of each, but also, as [ oe endeavoured to. show, im the similar mode of propagation, according to the laws of the Alternation of Generations, by which, as in the Sapa, sexual and asexual generations occur in regular succession. Yet, in the genus Doliolum the typical cha- racters by which the Ascidian is separated from the Salpa pre- dominate; such are distinctly seen in the absence of the respi- ratory siphon, in the structure of the respiratory apparatus, and in the metamorphosis. | By their approximation to the Salpa, and by the simpler struc- ture of their branchiz, however, Doliolum seems to me to stand lower than the Compound Ascidians; although, like the higher Ascidians, it is solitary, and, unlike them, it is free. The Ascidians then, according to their mode of life, may be divided into fixed and free. To the former belong the numerous genera of simple and compound or aggregated Ascidians, to the latter, the solitary genus Doliolum and the aggregate genus Pyrosoma. : Note by the Translator. Dr. Krohn does not appear to have met with a, memow upon Doliolum and Appendicularia (Vexillaria) published in the,‘ Phi- losophical Transactions ’ for 1851. -I have there described and figured D. denticulatum, and I am delighted. to find that. in, all essential points, what I have stated is confirmed, by one of. the most accurate and careful of the German) observers. | Dr. Krohn does not seem to have been more successful than myself in making out the ovaries of D, denticulatum ; but I should hardly, be inchined,to adopt, his supposition, that this species, in opposition to:its immediate congeners,1s dicecious ;, the explana- tion Ihave suggested (loc. cit. p. 601) seems to me:still-to bethe more plausible. : It. will be observed. that Dr. Krohn considers what I have called the, testis to,be the vas deferens, and vice versd., 1 feel,quite 128 Mr. T. H. Huxley on the genus Doliolum. sure, however, that in the specimens I examined the relations of the organ were as I have described and figured them. From the excellent description of the development of Doliolum given in Dr. Krohn’s memoir, it seems highly probable that my guess as to the nature of the “ shrivelled tubular process,” p. 601, is correct, viz. that it is the remains of a pedicle of attachment. In common with all previous observers, Dr. Krohn appears to have confounded what I have called the “endostyle” with the true ‘dorsal folds” of Savigny. Recent careful examina- tions of many species of Ascidians have convinced me that the distinction which I drew between these structures (on Sa/pa and Pyrosoma, ‘ Phil. Trans.’ 1851, p. 572) is well founded. The “endostyle ” invariably exists at the base of the “ dorsal folds ” in ordinary Ascidians, and consists essentially of a band of thick, cylindrical, elongated cells, arranged round a common axis. Two similar accessory bands are in the ordinary Ascidians developed upon the folds on each side of the “ endostyle.” | Dr. Krohn does not seem to have noticed the ciliated sac, or the peculiar manner in which the anterior ciliary bands termi- nate at this part. I have described similar bands in Salpa and Pyrosoma (loc. cit. § 17-52), and I find that such exist in all Ascidians. The “accessory part of the same apparatus” men- tioned by Dr. Krohn is the “ tubercule antérieure ” of Savigny. It is not, as Dr. Krohn supposes, a mere appendage of the ciliated bands, but it is a very peculiar structure placed in the space be- tween the ciliated bands and the tentacular circlet (in ordinar Ascidians), and is always in more or less close connexion wit the ganglion. It is the same organ as the “ciliated sac” of Salpa, Pyrosoma, and Doliolum, and is, I think, very probably an organ of sense. I have found it varying very remarkably in shape and size in species of Boltenia, Cynthia, Molgula, and Phallusia. The existence of a well-developed testis in Appendicularia (Vewillaria) (loc. cit. § 84) appears to me to present an insu- perable difficulty to Dr. Krohn’s hypothesis, that this creature is an incompletely developed Ascidian ; and in addition to this cir- cumstance, there is the absence of a cloaca (the anus opening directly on the dorsal surface ($ 82)), which stamps the form as altogether peculiar. With regard to the muscular apparatus of the tail of Ascidian larvee, I may here state as a fact, which I believe to be alto- gether new, that it is composed of a layer of large, elongated, thick walled cells applied end to end. ‘The cells contain a large clear nucleus with a nucleolus. Their walls present a delicate fibrillation, which is continued from one cell to another, so that it appears at first as if the cells were inclosed within a bundle of «Mr. W, Clark on.the genus Lepton.. ' 129 fibres; resembling exactly the embryonic muscular fibres of the frog described by Kélliker... The larvee in. which I observed. this belonged to a very. peculiar, small Cynthia, in, the Collection of the British, Museum... Contrary to the, usual, course, the larvee had attained a.very considerable. degree of development. in. the space between the inner tunic andthe outer wall of the branchial sac, and had so become preserved with their parent. , Another point of great interest. about the larve may be men- tioned, here.,.Zhe integument. of the tail and of the body of young larve,in which, the body contains nothing but a mass of cells, and offers. no. trace of any organs or apertures, presents clear and un- mistakeable signs of the presence of cellulose.. The determination of this) point 1s one of the desiderata left by Lowig and Kolliker (Annales des Sciences, 1846), and it shows, I think, very clearly thatthe Ascidians do not necessarily get their cellulose, as they suppose, from the Diatomacee or other ingesta. Do the cells of the tail of the foetal Ascidian secrete cellulose as the “ Primordial- schlauch ”’ in plants secretes it ? If so, they must fix carbon ; and the, physiological. distinction. between animals. and plants. will: disappear, as the anatomical ones have already disappeared. | In: referring to the analogies between the Salpe and Doliolum; Dr. Krohn appears to uphold the doctrine of the fundamental difference between the Salpe and other Ascidians. . In the me-'_ mous referred to, I have endeavoured to show, on the contrary, that there is but one type of Ascidian structure, and: that the variations upon this type pass insensibly into one another. Sub- sequent investigations, which I hope to-make public at no distant period, have to my mind demonstrated the truth of this propo- sition.’ The great difficulty I have found among the Ascidians has been, indeed, to discover any good anatomical distinctions. among the genera. DESCRIPTION OF PLATE III. B. Fig. 1. Doliolun Miilleri, asexual individual, from the ventral side : a, gem-~ miferous tube or ““gemmarium ;”” b, penultimate muscular band with its ends inserted into the gemmarium. Fig. 2. Larva of D. Nordmanni: c, larval tegument; d,, young Doliolum ; e, vesicular appendage ; f, axis of the tail. Fig. 3. The same further developed and, more magnified. ,Letters as before, "“XIV.—On the genus Lepton. By WriiraAm Crark, ‘Esq. | , To. the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. ~ GENTLEMEN, Exmouth, July 5, 1852. I nays stated in the July ‘ Annals’ for 1852, that; the discovery ofthe animal of the Lepton converum has put it in. my power.to Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. x. 130 Mr. W. Clark on the genus Lepton. settle the disputed identity or distinctness between it. and Loni- tidum, and that after due examination I would communicate the result. I redeem my pledge by presenting a short: memoir on the genus Lepton. Though the L. squamosum, the type, has been mentioned by authors, I have thought that it would be desirable to give my account of the animal, with some additions and a few observations on the natural position of the genus. } Lerron, Turton. Lepton squamosum, auct. Solen squamosus, Mont. Animal inhabiting a very flat, subrhomboidal, white, porcel- lanous, punctured shell; its ground colour is a clear white: the mantle is very large, having the margins sinuated, often puckered into two or three folds at the will of the animal ; they extend be- yond the shell more than one-third of the vertical measure at, its centre, from which spring a row, on each side the middle. of the ventral range, of twenty-five rather long, slender, milk-white ten- tacular pointed filaments ; but the mantle thus clothed is only pro- truded largely beyond the shell, from the middle of the anterior ‘side, throughout the ventral range, to the same level at. the pos- terior end; from these points to the umbones it is never seen, being either closed or not protruded, but its suture or edges are furnished with about forty long, strong, blunt, frosted white, rather close-set cirrhi varying in length ; a part of these range at the posterior side of the beaks, above the sessile anal orifice, which occupies a small space without cirrhi, between the termination. of the protrusion of the margin and the commencement of the larger filaments on the broader, larger, and. posterior side; of that part of the filaments at the anterior side of the beaks, one is thicker, broader at the base, and double the length of the others; this is the last of the larger ones, which at one time I thought was tubular and might be an oviduct, but further exa- mination seemed to disprove this idea. None of the filaments show much motion; the long one only, when, the animal, ad- vanced a step, made an arcuated contraction, similar to that of the fore-finger im extenso when quickly brought down. \to,.the palm of the hand; it then resumed the straight. position |to,await another step: all the other cirrhi are either retractile or con- tractile, separately or en masse. - The foot is hyaline azure, with a broad longitudinal medial line of intense snow-white, and a still intenser flake at the ante- rior end; it is fixed to the centre of the body by a moderately long pedicle; on first protrusion it takes a vertical position, and . - Mr. W. Clark on the genus Lepton. 131 has:a linguiform tapering aspect, but this part almost imme- diately, after feeling about, ranges itself anteriorly and hori- zontally ; and at the same time, on the other side of the pedicle, a bevelled, attenuated, pointed portion issues, somewhat shorter than the first ; this is longitudinally cloven as far as the pedicle, and‘can form a'sort of oval disk, but on the march it is. rarely expanded : at the base of the cleft.is the byssal gland, which oc- casionally pours out a glutinous red filamentous matter, that in confinement is copious, and discharged anteriorly, which at first [thought was fecal matters, and was puzzled to account for such an issue anteally, but the subsequent view of the single sessile posteal anal conduit and the ejection of pellets cleared up the difficulty. This foot is in every respect similar in miniature to that of the Pectunculus pilosus and of the Arcade. The animal is vivacious, and allowed itself to’ be examined many times daily ; it marched with quickness, but I only once saw it progressing in a vertical position ; the usual posture of the shell is ‘to rest on one of the disks, which is frequently changed for the other’; the adductors did not appear to allow of a greater opening of the valves than the ordinary extent. The animal, when placed ‘at the bottom of a glass, always crawled up and moored itself by a filament at the side; sometimes, however, it slipped its moorings and floated free on the surface of the water with the umbones downwards, and after an interval refixed itself by spin- ning a byssal thread. I cannot speak at present of the branchie and palpi, as the animal and shell are in my collection, and are thus preserved to show that the shell, though usually described by conchologists as gaping, can, in consequence of the flexibility of the thin laminar valves, be completely closed. There is no branchial siphon ; but there are mantellar folds, which, with the great ventral opening, amply provide for the admission of the water. The animals of this interesting group exhibit, im the tentacular filaments and curious foot, as well as in the sculpture of their shells, very considerable variation from Kellia rubra and Kellia suborbicularis; the types of one of the genera of the family in which ‘they have been located by authors, doubtless from the want of knowledge of the animal. Taking imto consideration that the Leptons have many of the attributes of the Arcade, and especially giving due weight to the remarkable similarity be- tween the foot of Lepton squamosum and the Pectunculus pilosus, I am almost induced to believe that it is in a false position, in connection with the Kelliade, and that it ought to follow or pre- cede Galeomma, which, with me, is an undoubted genus of the Arcade. The punctures of this species and of L. converum are in the Ox 132 Mr. W. Clark on the genus Lepton. test; with respect to its congener, the L. nitidum, it has been stated that it is smooth and without punctures: this is a mistake, as I can show fifty specimens not only well-marked on the greenish epidermis, but in the substance of the shell. I have the satisfaction to state, that I have observed another live L. sguamosum, and also obtained full notes of the animal of one of our great desiderata, the L. nitidum, from a most lively animal, which for several days gave me every facility for exami- nation. The L. squamosum, just alluded to, was kept thirty-four days in a glass of sea-water, changed daily, and was apparently as vigorous as when first placed im captivity; it thus appears that the Conchiferze can exist for a long time in pure sea-water, on the animalcule it contains, though that aliment may not be their sole resource in freedom. I may observe, that the habitude of crawling and swimming with the foot uppermost in Lepton, and in several other minute bivalves, perhaps in all, shows the close alliance of the Acephala with the Gasteropoda, all of which, in their minute condition, have precisely the same peculiar system of dorsal natation. I ought to have mentioned that the liver is light green and mixed up with a flake-white ovary ; but from the extreme tenderness of the branchiz, I cannot speak of them and the palpi with certainty as to form and number. July 2nd.—As I had just finished the above, a lively specimen of this species was met with, which, on being placed in water, at once unfurled its long and beautiful fringes, and exserted the ample niveous mantle and foot. This is certainly the Prince of British bivalves ; the snow-white colour of both animal and shell sheds over this interesting creature the expressible charms of purity and elegance. It now lives in the same vase with its pigmy congener, the L. convexuin. _ Lepton nitidum, Turton et auct. The animal inhabits a light greenish yellow or pure white, subrhomboidal, moderately convex, more or less punctured shell. The mantle is frosted white with the margins plain, but as much proportionately protruded beyond the edge of the shell as in LL. squamosum ; it is in like manner clothed with cirrhal filaments of about the same length, and of pruinose white, but unlike that species, they are rather less developed dorsally than ventrally ; each filament at its terminal edge is studded with four or five white points or cilia, so sharp and minute as to require a powerful lens to see them. There is no conspicuous leading pro- cess, as in the preceding species, but the mantle, at the same anterior point, forms a visible projection or fold. In this spe- Mr. W. Clark on the genus Lepton. 133 cies, and contrary to L. sguamosum, the longer and broader end is anterior, but the beaks are so central, that there is little dif- ference in the sides ; the single sessile anal tube is exactly as in the last species ; there is no branchial siphon,—the water enters at the extensive ventral aperture. The foot is almost in every respect similar to that of its congener; it is perhaps larger in proportion, of pale azure hue, marked with intense but irregular flake-white minute blotches; the posterior extremity is as long as the portion anterior to the pedicle; its termination is per- fectly aciculate, and like its congener deeply grooved as far as the junction with the body, at which point is the byssal gland, and the superabundant filamentous matter is similarly discharged. | The L. squamosum is a lively creature, but this, not one-third of the size, is far more active, creeping up a glass as easily as a Gasteropod ; but the posterior portion of the foot is not expanded ; perhaps in freedom it is deployed on the march ; in confinement both shell and foot are carried laterally. The liver is light green, united to a flake-white ovarium, now, in June, full of ova. Transverse length 3, vertical ;4,, diameter ;', of an inch. It would appear that this species in every essential is identical with the L. squamosum, and it settles the position of the yet undis- covered L. convexum. This is the first record of this rare animal that has appeared. | , Exmouth, June 20, 1852. I have this day the pleasure to state, that the problem is solved as to the identity or distinctness of the Lepton nitidum and LL. converum by the capture of a live specimen of the latter, having the shell sculptured with the rough and intensely marked characteristic punctures of that species. On putting the animal into water it instantly deployed its organs ; and for their descrip- tion I have only to refer to the preceding account of the L. niti- dum, which in future will take the appellation of a variety of its old associate. The two are so identical, that after ten days’ exa- mination I can make no alteration in the minutes, except the having seen the animal march on the disk of the foot, more than once, with the shell in a vertical position; it has all the same habitudes as the L. sguamosum, and of course differs in no re- spect from its smoother variety, the late L. nitidum. It is now alive, and probably by changing the water daily it will live as long or longer than the ZL. squamosum mentioned above. It is therefore evident that the punctures of this species are very variable, ranging from the most minute granules that scarcely interrupt its smoothness to the coarsest sculpture. As the specific appellation of nétidum is obviously improper, the more significant one of convexum ought now to be adopted. 134 Bibliographical Notices. Exmouth, July 18. Since the above was written I have taken two examples, one this morning, of the smoothest variety of the ‘ convexum, late the ‘nitidum’; both are in the vase with the highly punctured one captured 20th June last, now quite vigorous, in company with the ZL. squamosum alluded to as taken 2nd July; this capture has given me the advantage of a live examination of the two completely opposite conditions of the ‘ converum,’ whereas the one above was only referable in comparison with an account’ of a live ‘nitidum’ taken last year. And I can again state that the two varieties are identical. Lepton Clarkia (nova species). Annals Nat. Hist. New Series, vol. ix. pp. 191 & 293. The above references give every particular of the shell of this new species, of which it is probable I may detect the animal ; but the hinge is so completely identical with that of the L. convexum, that it may be presumed its organs will not greatly differ from it. I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant, WririaM Ciark. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. A History of Infusorial Animalcules, Living and Fossil. By Anprew PritcHarp, M.R.I. 8vo, pp. 704. Whittaker & Co. A new edition of the only English version of the laborious investi- gations which have made Prof. Ehrenberg’s name famous among micro-naturalists (if we may for the nonce coin a word as good as micro-mammalogists), must be looked upon as a praiseworthy and creditable undertaking. So far as mere facts are concerned, so many have accumulated during the fourteen years that have elapsed since the publication of the great work, to which we have been indebted for the first im- pulse to investigation, and for the first guidance in the confused. and difficult task, that the gathering them into one place, and making them all accessible to the English reader, is a service of no small merit. Again, however much Prof. Ehrenberg may condemn them. as heretical, it is indubitable that a large body of Fathers of greater or less authority have added their writings to hisCanon. Indeed, they have not unfrequently ventured to impugn and protest against the statements of the head of the church microscopical himself. Mr. Pritchard has with a laudable eclecticism gathered all these, wheat and tares,.poppy and clover, into one sheaf (a very consider- able sheaf too) ; but thrashing and winnowing is evidently in his view Bibliographical Notices. 135 no part of the editorial duty; or to speak without a metaphor, the book has been collected, not edited at all. _ We by no means make these remarks in a spirit of detraction. The book is a very useful one, and will be of great service to those who are at work upon the Infusoria. To publish such a book at all involves a great risk to any one who undertakes it, and our sole regret is, that such a risk having been incurred, the opportunity should not have been seized for building an edifice, instead of merely filling a large cart with materials; some of them very rough stones indeed, as for instance the following :— ** It will be sufficient therefore to say, that since the time of their discovery (1676) up to the present period, all that we know of the true spermatozoa of animals is, that they are not distinguishable | from Cercaria found in the liver of snails, the animal organization of which has been made out by Bauer, Wagner, and Ehrenberg.”’ (p. 4.) «28. The power of infusorial organization is instinctively shown by the strong chewing apparatus with teeth which they possess, and their exhibition likewise of a complete mental activity.’ (p. 7.) A tap or two with the editorial hammer would, we think, have shown Mr. Pritchard that these two blocks are very much cracked and quite unfit for his purpose. In fact, the former statement is formally repudiated at pp. 61 and 177 of his own work. ‘In almost all ages of the world there has been evinced a restless desire within us to pry into the nature or principle of life, and the precise conditions on which it is retained ; and notwithstanding that our bodies, its present abiding-place, are confessedly frail and perish- able, the unravelling of an invisible and immaterial agent has been sought for by a reference to them.” (p. 26.) We quite agree with the author, that those who have been trying **to unravel an invisible and immaterial agent’? might have been better employed. The occupations of Sisyphus and the Danaides were encouraging in comparison. | Mr. Pritchard tells us in the preface that the work has been pre- pared in conjunction with Mr. Arlidge. There is internal evidence enough indeed, without this assurance, to show that two heads have been employed upon it. It is no business of ours to draw invidious comparisons, but as we have given a specimen of the productions of the one head, we must in justice lay before the reader a more cre- — ditable sample, evidently the work of the other. “Tt would be but an exercise of the imagination to seek after re- semblances between the majority of the Infusoria and higher animals ; the resemblances could be but fanciful, existing only in external form. In studying the Infusoria, the mind should be unbiassed by a know- ledge of the organization of the higher animals ; we ought not to set out, with the assumption, that such living atoms must be furnished with the organs of superior existences, and then indulge the imagina- tion by accommodating appearances observed to our preconceived notions ; but we should rather endeavour to learn under what simple conditions and contrivances animal life can be manifested and con- tinued,”’ (p. 60.) Cae Bibliographical Notices. No one who regards the modern progress of zoology can fail to agree with the view here expressed ; but how does it harmonize with Prof. Ehrenberg’s main and fundamental doctrine, that organization . has no relation to size, and that the Infusoria have all the organs which characterize the higher animal ? Indeed, while we can conscientiously recommend the present work as a very useful assistant to those who are working for themselves, we must caution our readers against the very unphilosophical sub- servience to the authority of a name which it too often exhibits. Thus, after a discussion of the polygastric theory of Ehrenberg, we find it said of subsequent observers— ** With Van der Hoeven, all coincide in denying the existence of an inclosing wall to the vesicles, and of an intercommunicating tube be- tween them ; and all assert the ever-varying number and disposition, as well as the movements (even rotatory) of these supposed stomachs.” And yet we are told further on— “From the preceding conflicting opinions and observations no satisfactory deduction can be made; Ehrenberg’s opinions, however, are entitled to great respect, although the theory of a polygastric structure may not admit of demonstration.” We have every respect for Prof. Ehrenberg, but we are really at a loss to understand why hzs opinions, if they be ‘‘ incapable of demon- stration,” are more “ entitled to great respect” than those of amy one else, especially when these opinions are at variance with those of an unanimous host of at least equally competent observers. Authoritative assertion in science, it is well to remember, is not evi- dence ; it only affords a presumption, better or worse-founded ac- cording to the real value of your authority, that evidence may exist. Great authority may be a good ground for a temporary suspension of" judgement when opposed to less authority, but it is valueless when opposed to good evidence. A great authority, whose “opinions are incapable of demonstra- tion,”’ is a sort of scientific balloon, brilliant to look at and much- gaped at of the multitude ; but contaiing nothing but gas and sand, and liable to come down with a crash at the touch of the first critical penknife. A Synopsis of the Family of Naiades. By Isaac Lea. Third edition, greatly enlarged and improved. Philadelphia, 1852. 4to. By the title of this work we might be led to suppose it would afford the conchologist the means of determining the species of this very interesting family of freshwater bivalve shells, or at least give a re- ference to the books where the species are figured and described, and the countries they inhabit. Unfortunately the author has not thought this desirable. The work simply consists of a list of 767 species, each followed by the names by which other authors have described it, accompanied by an abbreviation of the name of the author. Then follows a list of the species of each subgenus, arranged in alphabetical order, under Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, and New Holland, as they happen to inhabit, Bibliographical Notices. 137 The author, who has been studying these shells for many years, appears to have set out with the determination to make the ‘Synopsis’ afford the collectors of these shells as little assistance as possible Thus, he does not mention in which of the works of the various authors cited for the names, the shell under consideration is described or figured, or refer to any general work on the subject in which they are described, nor even to the very numerous species which he has himself described and figured for the first time (more than half the species in the ‘ Synopsis’) in the Transactions of the American Aca- demy, which have been collected together into five quarto volumes, under the title of ‘Observations on the genus Unio.’ He merely adds ‘‘ Lea”’ after the name, without making any reference to the volume or page or plate of the ‘Transactions’ or ‘ Observations ’ in which they are figured and described, so that the student has to © look out each species through the various volumes, where the shells are arranged without order as they occurred to hand. In the same manner the names in the “ Geographical Distribution of the Species’? are not accompanied by a reference to the page in which the species occur in the ‘Synopsis.’ Their place in the Syste- matic List can only be found by turning to the ‘Index of Spe- cies,’’ which carefully abstains from referring to the place where the species can be found described in the ‘Transactions’ or ‘ Observa- tions,’ though this edition of the ‘ Synopsis’ is now printed of the same size as those works, and may be regarded as a sixth volume of the ‘ Observations.’ We had hoped that as the author became more acquainted with the difficulties of the subject, he would have obliterated the ill-natured observations he had made on Rafinesque, Say, Barnes, Conrad, Deshayes, and other authors, but his dislike appears to have increased with his knowledge, and in every page we have some special pleading why Mr. Lea’s name should be adopted, and that of some other author rejected, forgetting that his successors, not having these per- sonal feelings, will examine the question for themselves and do jus- tice to his predecessors and contemporaries. Mr. Lea informs us in this edition, that he has doubled the number of species in his ‘Synopsis’ by the new species he has described : if only a tithe of the 300 species which he has described as new prove ood, which we venture to doubt, knowing how exceedingly variable these shells are in our European rivers, Mr. Lea’s name will be handed down to posterity as an active collector and describer of these mutable shells. Mr. Lea appears to have no other idea of arranging the spe- cies, than by taking some leading character, as the general form and kind of surface, and applying it artificially for the divisions of the species of each of the subgenera :—the result is most unsatisfactory and artificial. f If the shells do not afford good sectional characters, we believe it would have been preferable to have arranged the species in each sub- genus geographically, dividing the numerous American species ac- cording to the two sides of the continent they mmhabited, and subdi- viding them according to the great river-system to which they be- 138 Zoological Society. longed ; at any rate it would have been putting to the test the geo- graphical characters of the species, and this arrangement can only be made by an American acquainted with the branches and creeks of the different rivers. . Mr. Lea uses this test for the European species, and reduces all the Anodons to a single species, but believes that a very little stream in America affords at least one, and often many, distinct species of these animals !—J. E. G. PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. December 10, 1850.—Prof. Owen, V.P., F.R.8., in the Chair. OBSERVATIONS ON THE DESTRUCTIVE SPECIES OF DiprEROUS INSECTS KNOWN 1N AFRICA UNDER THE NAMES OF THE Tsetse, Zimsp, AND TSALTSALYA, AND ON THEIR SUPPOSED CONNEXION WITH THE FourtTH PLAGUE oF Eeypt. By J. O. Westwoop, F.L.S., Pres. Ent. Soc. etc. The species of insects which attack the larger of our domestic qua- drupeds may be divided into two chief classes ; first, those which do so in order to obtain a supply of food for their own support; and second, those which do so with the object of depositing their eggs in © such a position, that the larvee, when hatched from them, will be cer- tain of finding a proper supply of food derived from some part of the animal, either external or internal. The insects composing the first of these two classes require for the erformance of their dreaded functions an organization of the parts of the mouth especially fitting them to pierce the skins and hides of the quadrupeds upon the blood of which they subsist, and we accord- ingly find that it is precisely these insects which have the mouth- organs most fully developed in the different families to which they respectively belong. The Stomowxys calcitrans, and especially the different species of Tabanus, are pre-eminent in this respect; and the formidable array of lancets in the mouth of one of the latter insects is not to be met with elsewhere among the whole of the flies composing the order Diptera, to which they belong. The effects of the attacks of these insects upon the horse are perceived by the — drops of blood which flow from the orifices caused by their bites, and sometimes these wounds are so numerous, that the beasts “are all in a gore of blood.” A still smaller species, named. by Linnzeus the Culex equinus, also infests the horse in infinite numbers, running under the mane and amongst the hair, and piercing the skin to suck their blood. This insect, although given by Linneus as a Culex, appears from his description to belong to the genus Simulium, to which genus also belongs an insect of fearful note, which attacks the horned cattle in Servia and the Bannat, penetrating the generative Zoological Society. 139 organs, nose, ears, &c. of these animals, and by its poisonous bite de- stroyig them in a few hours. A species of the same genus of minute Tipulide is common in marshy districts in England, and I have often experienced its attacks, which have resulted in the raising of a tu- mour on the part of the flesh which has been attacked, attended by a considerable amount of local inflammation ; and hence we may readily believe the well-authenticated effects produced upon the cattle above described. There are various other insects which attack the horse and ox, such as the Hippobosce, various species of ticks, Anthomyia, &c.; and if these do not, from their smaller size, cause a discharge of blood like the large Tabanida, it is certain that the irritation which they produce not only by their presence upon the skin, but also by . the sharpness of their bite, must be very irritating to the quadrupeds which they infest. The insects which do not themselves feed upon our cattle, but simply infest them for the purpose of depositing their eggs in some convenient place or other upon their bodies, are in no instance that I recollect provided with an increased development of the mouth organs; on the contrary, the @stride@ are either entirely destitute of a mouth, or have only very small rudiments of some of the ordinary parts of the mouth, so as to be entirely unfitted for biting or wound- ing cattle. The effects however which some of these species pro- duce are as annoying as those caused by the bites of the Tabani. The female fly of the common horse bot, @strus Hqui, it is true, instils no dread into the horse round which she is intently engaged in flying, depositing her eggs here and there in particular spots where the horse is certain to lick the hairs, by which means the eggs are introduced. into the mouth and pass into the stomach. So little indeed is the horse affected by the presence of this insect, that I have often stood close to one round which the Gstrus Equi has been flying, until the latter has come within reach of my hand, when I have caught it with- out trouble. -Another species, Gistrus hemorrhoidalis, is however much more troublesome ; depositing her eggs on the lips of the horse, and producing in her endeavours to effect this such an excessive titil- lation, as to cause great uneasiness to the horse, which tosses its head about to drive off its enemy, gallops about, and as a last resource takes refuge in some neighbouring water, where the @stri never fol- low it. The same kind of effect is also produced in rein deer by the strus Tarandi*, and in oxen by another species of Gstrus, Gist. Bovis, respecting which however much difference of opinion has arisen. At certain seasons, the whole terrified herd, with their tails in the air, or turned upon their backs, or stiffly stretched out in the direction of the spine, gallop about the pastures, finding no rest till they also get into the water. ‘This Gistrus is asserted by some writers to make a strong humming noise, and hence it has been supposed that the herd of cattle are alarmed at the noise; but this must surely be an incor- * At the present time (April 1851) some of the rein deer in the Gardens of the Society, which were imported last autumn from Lapland, are infected to a re- markable extent with the tumours of this species; there must, I think, be from fifty to a hundred tumours on one of these animals. 140 Zoological Society. rect conjecture, as the Zstri, if they make any hum at all, are far out- stripped in this respect by many other insects which instil no dread into oxen. Neither are they alarmed in consequence of being sub- _jected to the same kind of attack upon so sensitive a part as the lips, as is the case with the horses attacked by Hstrus hemorrhoidalis. It is however asserted by some writers, that the dread is produced by the pain inflicted by the @strus in depositing her eggs, her ovipositor being represented as constructed like an auger or gimlet, only having several longer points it can wound with more effect.. When it is stated, however, that the female strus Bovis does not occupy more than a few seconds in depositing each egg, we may fairly doubt whether, with her long, fleshy, tubular ovipositor, she has been able to pierce the hide of an ox; or whether, as Mr. Bracy Clark suggests, she only makes use of this long instrument to thrust the egg down to the sur- face of the skin, which she does not pierce, but only glues its eggs to it, the young larvee when hatched burrowing into the flesh. If this be the case, the act of oviposition must be unattended with pain, as in the case of the deposition of the eggs of Wstrus Equi, and we must search for the cause of the alarm of the herd, either in an instinctive knowledge that a certain insect flying around them is the parent of a grub which at a future time will be a torment to them, or in the attacks of some other insect ; and I confess that I am inclined to consider that Virgil’s beautiful description of the annoyance caused by “‘ Myriads of insects fluttering in the gloom, (Gstrus in Greece, Asilus named at Rome,) Fierce and of cruel hum ”— has a Tabanus rather than an Cstrus for its origin. | The larva of the @strus Equi resides beneath the skin of the back of the ox, causing large tumours, and having the extremity of its body constantly placed at the orifice of the wound, where it was in- troduced as an egg, or introduced itself as a grub, the openings of its respiratory apparatus being placed at that part of the body. These introductory remarks on the different modes in which insects attack our horses and oxen, and the different effects which they pro- duce, will enable us the better to estimate the effects produced by an insect, or several species of insects, of tropical Africa upon the horses of travellers who have lately returned from that part of the world, where their enterprising researches have been rewarded by the disco- very of the great central lake Tchad. Captain Frank Vardon, a gen- tleman who has travelled far in the interior of Africa, has placed m my hands some fragments of Dipterous insects which attacked his horses, causing the death of one of them. The following is an ex- tract from his note to me in reply to my inquiry as to the mode of its attack :— “«33 Oxford Terrace, Hyde Park, May 1850. * Dear S1r,—I had always heard that the fly of South Africa so destructive to cattle was a large gad-fly, the size of a bee or hornet. This is quite erroneous: it is not very much larger than the common house-fly, but a longer and more ‘rakish’-looking insect, and easily distinguished by the transverse black bars on its body. . Zoological Society. 141 I fancy it is not met with south of the Tropic of Capricorn. _ It is usually found on hills, plains being free from it. I have ridden up a hill and found the Séts¢ increasing at every step, till at last forty or fifty would be on my horse at once. The specimens you saw cost me one of the best in my stud. He was stung by some ten or a dozen of them, and died in twenty days. I myself have been bitten by the Sétsé; you would almost fancy it was a flea biting you. Some parts of South Africa are, I should say, rendered inaccessible by the presence of this pest ; I mean of course to a man who travels in the usual way, with his oxen and horses. ‘«* How far the Séts¢ extends in the interior is of course as yet un- known, but I have certain information as to its bemg 200 miles north of the ‘Great Lake’ recently discovered by my friends, Messrs. Living- ston, Oswell and Murray. * Yours faithfully, “FRANK VARDON.” “ J. O. Westwood, Esq.” The various specimens forwarded to me by Captain Vardon have enabled me to determine that the insect is a new species of Wiede- mann’s genus Glossina, which may be thus characterized :— GLOSSINA MORSITANS, Westw. Luteo-albida, thoracis dorso subcastaneo, griseo subtomentoso, vit- tis quatuor longitudinalibus in medio interruptis nigris, scutelli apice punctis duobus parvis fuscis ; abdomine pallide lutescenti, segmento basali utrinque macula parva laterali nigra, singulo seymentorum quatuor proximorum ad basin fascia nigricanti, in medio interrupta, notatis ; alis parum infumatis. Long. corp. lin. 5; expans. alar. lin. 8}. The head is of a dirty buff colour, narrower than the thorax, with large eves; the epistoma is paler coloured and clothed with whitish hairs; the proboscis is rather longer than the height of the head ; it consists of a slender, horny seta or compound bristle, chestnut- coloured. in its chief length, but dilated at the base into a large oval bulbous horny lobe, and upon maceration I was enabled to withdraw from the upper side of the seta (which is consequently grooved), two very delicate styles as long as the proboscis; the sides of this instru- ment are defended by a pair of elongated, slender setose palpi, as long as the proboscis itself; these are concave on the inside and blackish at the tips, and the setee with which they are clothed are also black, as well as the branched setee with which the arista of the antennee is furnished; the outer surface of the arista itself, under a powerful microscope, is evidently villose. The antennze are inserted in a de- pressed obconic space between the eyes, rounded above, and there are two dark spots on the upper part of the epistoma ; the two basal joints of the antennee are dark in front, and the large third joint is dirty buff-coloured. The thorax is chestnut-red, clothed with a very delicate grey tomentosity and finely punctured ; it is impressed across the middle of the dorsum, and is marked with four longitudinal broad 142 Zoological Society. black bars, abbreviated in front and behind, the two central ones’ bemg longest in front, and the two lateral ones longest behind; the two former are united in front by a black streak from the front margin. The scutellum is dirty buff; with two dark dots at its extremity, from which, as well as from various dark dots at the sides, arise long black setee; the halteres are nearly white. ‘The wings are slightly stained with dusky ; the veins black, except at the base’ of the wing, where they are dirty-buff. The legs are dirty-buff, with the outside of the thighs stained with dark brown. The last two joints of the tarsi are black, with large pulvilli. The abdomen is flat, oval in outline, and dirty fulvous buff in colour, clothed above with numerous minute black setee, which are greatly elongated at the base of the abdomen and the extremity and sides of each segment; the first segment’ is marked at each side close to the anterior angle with a round’ black spot, and each of the four following segments has a broad basal fascia of dark brown, interrupted in the middle. The sides and under sur- face of the thorax are varied with black patches; the abdomen is pale-coloured beneath, with a large terminal oval plate, down the middle of which runs a pale longitudinal line, preceded by two small oblique oval patches, thickly clothed with minute black sete. The peculiarities of the genus Glossina, whereby it is at once distin- guished from Stomozys, to which it is nearly allied, consist in the dilata- tion of the extremity of the discoidal cell, the rounded horny bulbous base of the proboscis, which is not angulated at its base, and the long and slender flattened palpi, which together form a sheath protecting the proboscis. Wiedemann’s typical species (which has remained unique to the present time), Glossina'longipalpis, (subsequently de- scribed by Robineau Desvoidy under the name of Nemorhina pal- palis,) is a native of Sierra Leone, where it was collected by Afzelius. M. Macquart, judging from the structure of the mouth, considers it probable that it does not live upon the blood of animals, like Sto- moxys, but upon the nectar of flowers; the two setee which are en- closed in the proboscis and compose the sucker being so slender, that it is difficult to conceive that they can pierce the skin, the palpi being also elongated so as to form a protection to it, and thus further indi- cating its weakness. There is however so great a difference between the structure of the proboscis in these insects and Stomoxys, that I do not doubt that they are able to pierce the skin of a horse, the proboscis of Glossina being a long, straight, horny, needle-like instrument, and not elbowed, with fleshy lips, as is that of Stomovys. Moreover, the bulbous dilated base of the proboscis must evidently play an import- ant part in the economy of the insect, either by giving additional support to the proboscis when in the act of piercmg the skin, or by containing powerful muscles for the action of the enclosed setze ; or, as suggested to me by Prof. Owen, this dilated base may be analogous to the dilated base of the sting of the Scorpion, and like it contain a reservoir of some powerfully poisonous liquid. The account of the irritating powers of the Glossina given by Cap- tain Vardon is, it is true, not so detailed as could have been desired, but we learn sufficient to arrive at the conclusion that its effects are, Zoological Society. 143 to acertain.extent, exactly like those of the Tabanide; how far the attacks may be attended with tumours, similar to those produced. by the Simulium, and. whether a tropical climate may not extend the effects of the attack, producing. inflammatory action upon animals perhaps never before in those latitudes, are questions which have yet to be answered. . One thing however appears to me evident, that the Séts¢ is no other than the Zimb of Bruce, (an insect respecting whose real family and even existence so many doubts have been expressed,) or at least that that insect is a larger species of Glossina, to whose real habits Bruce has added those of a species of @strus. With the view of establishing this assertion, as well as of clearing up what I consider the inconsistencies of Bruce’s account, I shall beg to intro- duce, his description of the Zimb, .. “Nothing was more opposite than the manners and life of the Cushite and of his carrier the shepherd. The mountains of the Cush- ite and the cities he built afterwards were situated upon a loamy black earth, so that, as soon as the tropical rains began to fall, a wonder- ful phenomenon deprived him of his cattle. Large swarms of flies appeared wherever that loamy earth was, which made him absolutely dependent in this respect upon the shepherd; but these affected the shepherd also. This insect is called the Zimb * in modern or vulgar Arabic ; it has not been described by any naturalist. It is in size very little larger than a bee, of a thicker proportion, and the wings, which are broader than those of a bee, are placed separate, like those ofafiy. They are of pure gauze, without colour or spot upon them; the head is large ; the upper jaw or lip is sharp, and has at the end of it a strong pointed hair of about a quarter of an inch long; the lower jaw has two of these pointed hairs, and this pencil of hairs, when joined together, makes a resistance to the finger nearly equal to. that of a strong hog’s bristle ; its legs are serrated on the inside, and the whole covered with brown hair or down. As soon as this plague appears and its buzzing is heard, all the cattle forsake their food and run wildly about the plain till they die, worn out with fa- tigue, fright and hunger. No remedy remains but to leave the black earth and to hasten down to the plains of Atbara, and there they re- main whilst the rains last, this cruel enemy never daring to pursue them. farther. “What enables the shepherd to perform the long and toilsome journeys across Africa is the camel, emphatically called by the Arabs the ship of the desert. Though his size is immense, like his strength, and his body covered with a thick skin defended with strong hair, yet still is he not capable to sustain the violent punctures the fly makes with his pointed proboscis. He must lose no time in removing to the sands of Atbara, for when once attacked by this fly, his body, head and legs swell out into large bosses, which break and putrefy to the certain destruction of the creature. Even the elephant and rhino- ceros, who, by reason of their enormous bulk and the vast quantity of food and water they daily need, ‘cannot shift to desert and dry places as the season may require, are obliged to roll themselves in * “ See Appendix. It is the same name as Zebul in Hebrew.—E.” 144 Zoological Society. mud or mire, which when dry coats them over like armour, and en- ables them to stand their ground against this winged assassin ; yet I have found some of these tubercles upon almost every elephant and rhinoceros that I have seen, and attribute them to this cause. All the inhabitants of the sea-coast of Melinda, down to Cape Gardefan, Saba, and the south coast of the Red Sea, are obliged to put them- selves in motion and change their habitation to the next sand in the beginning of the rainy season, to prevent all their stock of cattle from beig destroyed. 3 “Of all those that have written upon these countries, the prophet Isaiah alone has given an account of this animal and the manner of its operation (Isaiah, vii. 18, 19): ‘And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt ....and they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.’ ” (Travels, ii. pp. 314-317.) “ Tsaltsalya, or Fly.—We are obliged with the greatest surprise to acknowledge that those huge animals, the elephant, the rhinoceros, the lion and the tiger, inhabiting the same woods, are still vastly this fly’s inferiors ; and that the appearance of this small insect, nay, his very sound, though he is not seen, occasions more trepidation, move- ment and disorder, both in the human and brute creation, than whole herds of these monstrous animals collected together, though their number was in a tenfold proportion greater than it really is. Provi- dence from the beginning it would seem had fixed its habitation to one species of soil, being a black fat earth, extraordinarily fruitful. «‘ We cannot read the history of the plagues which God brought upon Pharaoh by the hands of Moses, without stopping a moment to consider a singularity, a very principal one, which attended the plague of the fly. The land of Goshen, the possession of the Israelites, was a land of promise which was not tilled or sown, because it was not overflowed by the Nile. But the land overflowed by the Nile was the black earth of the Valley of Egypt, and it was here that God confined the flies.—I have magnified him about twice the natural size.—He has no sting, though he seems to me to be rather of the bee kind ; but his motion is more rapid and sudden than that of the bee, and resembles that of the gad-fly in England. There is something par- ticular in the sound or buzzing of this insect. It is a jarring noise, together with a humming, which induces me to believe that it pro- ceeds, at least in part, from a vibration made with the three hairs at his snout. ‘The Chaldee Version is content with calling this animal simply Zebub, which signifies the fly in general as we express it in English. The Arabs call it Arob in their translation, which has the same gene- ral signification. The Ethiopic translation calls it Tsal tsalya, which is the true name of this particular fly in Geez, and was the same in Hebrew. The Greeks have called this species of fly Cynomyia, which signifies the dog-fly ; in imitation of which, those I suppose of the church of Alexandria that, after the coming of Frumentius, were cor- recting the Greek copy and making it conformable to the Septuagint, ” Zoological Society. 145 have called this fly T’sal tsalya Kelb, in answer to the word Cynomyia. Salal in the Hebrew signifies ‘to buzz’ or ‘to hum,’ and as it were alludes to the noise with which the animal terrifies the cattle; and Tsal tsalya seems to come from this by only doubling the radicals : t’Tsalalou *, in Amharic, signifies ‘to pierce with violence.’ ”— Appendix, vii. 284 et seq. From this account we learn that it is the sound of this insect which produces a great amount of trepidation in the cattle of Abyssinia. This accords with Braecy Clark’s ideas of Zstrus Bovis. Bruce’s description of the position of the wings clearly indicates a Dipterous insect, and his figure shows a bee-like insect, with a long straight porrected pro- boscis exactly like that of Glossina. Bruce adds, that the insect punctures the thick skin of the camel with its proboscis, the parts attacked breaking out into large bosses, which are also occasionally found upon the rhinoceros and elephant. It will be observed how- ever that Bruce merely supposed these tumours to arise from the attack of the Zimb. I think we have sufficient grounds for believing that Bruce has here jumbled together the notion of the buzzing of the Gstrus instilling dread into a herd of cattle, his knowledge of the piercing powers of the proboscis of the Séts¢, and his knowledge of the tu- mours caused by the presence of the larvee of Gstri under the skin of the camel +, rhinoceros and elephant. The College of Surgeons possesses a specimen of the larva of the @strus of the rhinoceros, and the camel is also subject to the attacks of a species of the same genus ; whilst I consider that Bruce’s figure is made up from memory, taking the statement of its resemblance to a bee and its possession of a proboscis together {. No instance, in fact, is known of a spe- cies which attacks these animals with its proboscis, forming tumours upon their backs such as are described by Bruce, which agree on the whole with the tumours caused by the larve of Gistrus Bovis; and we have already seen that no Gstrus is capable of inflicting a wound with the organs of the mouth, of which in fact all the known species are destitute, whilst the boring powers of their ovipositors are very questionable. The accounts given by Mr. R. Gordon Cumming of the destructive powers of the Tsetse fully confirm the opinion here advanced, and prove that although “its Ste is certain death to oxen and horses,” it causes no dorsal tumours like an @strus. ‘This hunter’s scourge,” he says, “is similar to a fly in Scotland called Keg §, but a little smaller; they are very quick and active, and storm a horse like a * “The name of this fly is undoubtedly derived from a word signifying ‘to buzz’ in Hebrew and Ethiopic. + Pliny was aware of the attacks of @stri upon the camel, and he informs us that the merchants of Arabia were in the habit of anointing their camels with whale- and fish-oils. (Hist. Mund. lib. xxxii. p. 302, et lib. xi. cap. 16. p. 36. edit. Pancoucke.) t It is evident from the note added by the editor of the 8vo edition, from which the above extracts have been made, that the drawing of the insect was not a bond fide one made on the spot, but was manufactured at home. § Kleg is the local name for the Hematopota pluvialis. Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. x. 10 146 Zoological Society. swarm of bees, alighting on him im hundreds and drinking his blood. The animal thus bitten pines away and dies, at periods varying from -a week to three'months, according to the extent to which he has been bitten’... 6% 'Thenext day one of my steeds died of the ‘ Tsetse.’ ‘The head and body of the poor animal swelled up ina most distress- ing manner before ‘he died; his eyes’ were'so swollen that he could not see; ‘and in darkness hes eens Fe for his comrades who stood feed- ing beside him *.’ The’ Marquis di Spihetol4 in ‘a: memoir published * The claws of the anterior feet, and the black horny points of 14 212 Mr.P.H. Gosse on the Sloughing of the Spider-Crab. the ambulatory feet, were increased in size more than propor- tionally, as were the abdominal foot-processes. The whole of the branchiz were represented in the most beau- tiful order in the exuviee, with the crescentic flabellum laid over each series perfectly in situ. They were enveloped in an ample and most delicate mucous membrane, which was attached to the margin of the crust all round, and was evidently the liming mem- brane of the branchial cavities. The coats of the stomach, with its minute teeth, were also there in the form of a membranous bag, attached to the mouth by the lining of the cesophagus. The coats of the antennz and of the eyes remained attached to the carapace; and the glassy cornes of the latter were not reversed. On opening a joint of one of the legs of the exuvie, I found the thin shelly plates that afford attachment to the muscles still in situ. Ereea I was struck with the beautifully regular though minute ser- rature of the opposing edges of the claws in the renewed ani- mal, the teeth closing accurately into the intervals of the oppo- site series when appressed. Scarcely a trace of any such struc- ture could be discerned in the slough ; the teeth having been probably worn smooth by use. I did not see any of the struggling that is sometimes spoken of; it seemed to be a very easy and simple matter. The new integuments were perfected, though soft, before the old were thrown off, and the immediate cause of the separation of the crust appears to me, the sudden growth of the animal within, forcing asunder the upper and lower crusts at the posterior margin: then the pulling out of the limbs presents no more difficulty than what depends on the enfeebled condition of the muscular energy. The great claws of the common crab and of the lobster, of course, suggest a more difficult operation. But the congruity seen in the operations of nature makes it unlikely that one mode of procedure would obtain in these and another in a species ‘so affined as the Spider-Crab. Hence, J presume that even these members, bulky as they are, are drawn through their’ narrow joints, not by being emaciated, but simply by being softened, and by their fluids being displaced in detail. Ilfracombe, Devon, August 14, 1852. Bibliographical Notices. 213 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES, Plante Javanice Rariores, descripte Iconibusque illustrate, quas in Insula Java, annis 1802-18, legit et envestigavit THomas Hors- FIELD, M.D.; e siccis Descriptiones et Characteres plurimarum elaboravit JOANNES J. BENNETT; Observationes Structuram et Affinitates presertim respicientes passim adjecit Rosertus Brown. Fol. Lond. Part 4, 1852. We are glad to announce the publication of the fourth and conclu- ding part of this valuable work, the earlier parts of which are noticed in the second and fourteenth volumes of our ‘Annals. __ The acknowledgements there made to Dr. Horsfield for his emi- nent services in science, and to the Hon. Court of Directors for their liberal patronage of them, render it unnecessary for us to say more than that the ‘ Plante Javanicee Rariores’ will ever be considered a record ere perennius of the merits of the one (associated as he here is with his friends Mr. Brown and Mr. Bennett, to whom the pre- sent work owes its existence), and, among other splendid publications equally due to the liberality of the East India Company, of the mu- nificent character of the other. | To this concluding part Dr. Horsfield has added a very valuable map of Java, on which the routes in his different journeys are traced, a geographical preface illustrating the map, and a very interesting postscript, in which he gives a rapid sketch of his excursions, with observations, especially on the volcanos of the island. Dr. Horsfield’s labours in Java began and ended under the pro- tection of the Dutch Government, to the officers of which he grate- fully acknowledges his obligations. His first visit to Java was in 1800, as a surgeon on board a vessel from Philadelphia, and it was during this voyage that he was so struck with the beauty of the island, that he felt an irresistible desire to study its productions. In the next year he therefore returned to Java, and entered the Dutch service, re- ceiving the appointment of surgeon in the Colonial Army. — His first Report to the Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences led to a more liberal appointment, which enabled him to extend his researches. From 1800 to 1811 Java was in the possession of Holland, and it was restored in 1816. It was in the five intervening years that Dr. Horsfield enjoyed the patronage of Sir Stamford Raffles, and formed that friendship which ever after constituted the pride and charm of his life. It was through the influence of this eminent man that his labours were made known to Sir Joseph Banks: and a col- lection of plants sent to him in 1814 was the occasion of the first communication from Mr. Brown, who eventually, on Dr. Horsfield’s arrival in England in 1819, examined and arranged the herbarium, containing 2196 species. The present work is the jomt production of that great botanist, and of his friend and associate Mr. Bennett, and must be considered the most important contribution to our botanical knowledge that has been made in this country of late years. 214 Bibliographical Notices. We copy Dr. Horsfield’s closing passage of his postscript :— |" ‘I have the pleasing duty,” he says, “to acknowledge the ability’ and assiduity with which Mr. Bennett has performed the task ‘he has undertaken. The minuteness of detail and extent of research with which he has elaborated the articles he has contributed, elucidate clearly and satisfactorily the characters and habits of the subjects as well as the history of their discovery, and the labours bestowed on their investigation by preceding botanists. Mr. Brown has, agreeably to his original intention, contributed his remarks on the affinity and structure of the subjects described ; he has also afforded many valu- able suggestions in the progress of the work, and the whole has received his examination and revisal. I embrace with pleasure the opportunity now afforded me of publicly expressing my great obliga- tions to Mr. Brown. The examination and arrangement of my her- barium, the laborious duties connected with the superintendence of the figures contained in this work, the preparation of the illustrative details, and the time devoted to the description of the subjects, are by no means the only marks of friendship which I have received from that distinguished botanist, who, ever since my arrival in England, has afforded to me his advice and assistance in my researches con- nected with natural history, and on many other important occasions.” Of the plants contained in the concluding part, five in number, nearly all are remarkable for such singularities of structure as to render the determination of their affinities a task of considerable dif- ficulty ; and the elaboration of the whole part is due to Mr. Brown. The plant least removed from ordinary forms is Actinophora fra- grans, a genus indicated in Dr. Wallich’s list and there referred to Buttneriacee ; with respect to which Mr. Brown observes, that “ it certainly does not belong to Buttneriacee as I originally defined it, but this may equally be said of several genera included in that order, and which, like Actinophora, are more obviously referable to Tili- acee ; at the same time, as I observed in proposing the separation of Buttneriacee, these two families gradually pass into each other.” The more remarkable characters of Actinophora are its “ enlarged subfoliaceous spreading calyx, accompanying a crustaceous evalvular monospermous pericarpium.”’ | The two succeeding articles are dedicated to a new species of Sar- costigma (8S. Horsfieldii, R. Br.), and Iodes ovalis of Blume ; two genera referred by Mr. Brown to the natural family of Phytocrenee of Arnott. He discusses the question of the value of their floral en- velopes, and comes to the conclusion that they are properly to be regarded as calyx and corolla. He notices also the views of different anthors as to their affinity, and gives a synopsis of the characters of the family Phytocrenee@ and of the genera belonging to it, viz. Phytocrene, Wall., Sarcostigma, Wight and Arn., Jodes, Blume, Nansiatum, Buch. Ham., and Miquelia, Meisn. (including Jenkinsia, Griff.). As a genus “ Phytocreneis affine,”’ he enumerates also Py- renacantha, Hook., properly united by M. Planchon with Adelanthus of Endlicher. While removing Sarcostigma from Hernandiacee in which Messrs. Wight and Arnott had placed it, Mr. Brown inci- Bibliographical Notices. 215 dentally observes that the two genera, Hernandia and Inocarpus, of which that family has, been composed, do) not. appear to be very nearly related to each other, The fourth species figured in this part is Cardiopteris.lobata, Wall. List, which is identified with Cardiopteris Javanicaiof Blume. After tracing some curious points in the botanical history of the ge- nus, Mr. Brown proceeds to notice the more remarkable peculiarities of its structure, and discusses the questions of its hermaphroditism, the position of the micropyle of its seed, and the singular arrange- ment of its perfect and imperfect stigmata. In illustration of the latter point we quote his description of the pistillum. ‘‘ The external structure of the pistillum is very singular. In an early stage of the flower, immediately before or even at the time of expansion, there are apparently two stigmata: of these the more obyious is capitate,, undivided, fleshy, but not papillose, and is supported ona distinct style; the second is quite sessile, much shorter in this stage than the capitate branch, and having its upper or inner surface distinctly stig- matic or papillose. In the next stage, the latter, which I regard as the efficient stigma, gradually enlarges, becoming longer than the capitate organ, which in my opinion is an imperfect stigma, and as in this stage the ovarium though enlarged has not perceptibly increased. in diameter, this capitate stigma has the appearance of being lateral. The perfect stigma, which continues to lengthen, its upper surface becoming more evidently hispid or papillose, not unfrequently re- mains crowning the samara even when ripe, but frequently also it is then deciduous, while the imperfect capitate stigma, which has undergone no change either in size or surface, more generally remains after the real stigma has fallen.’”’ With respect to the affinities of this curious genus, Mr. Brown does not regard any of the approxi- mations hitherto made as satisfactory ; and although aware of several important objections to the view, is “inclined to consider Cardio- pteris as an isolated genus or family to be placed at no great di- stance from Phytocrenee, chiefly through Jodes.” The concluding article contams a monograph of the genus Ben- nettia, established by Mr. Brown in Dr. Wallich’s List in 1847, and recently published by M. Tulasne under the name of Cremostachys. Mr. Brown regards Bennettia as bearing “ the same relation to Antz- desma (for Antidesmee contains at present no other well-established genus) that the polypetalous bear to the apetalous genera of Huphor- biacee.” In the present case he states that ‘“ the presence of petals may even be regarded as of more than ordinary importance, their usual form in the male flower being necessarily connected with the eestivation of stamina.” This remarkable peculiarity is thus described in the species figured, Bennettia Javanica, R. Br. :—*‘ Stamina decem distincta.. Filamenta brevissima, latiuscula, sepalis et petalis oppo- sita.. Antherze biloculares, loculis connectivo lato distinctis longitu- dimaliter dehiscentibus ; omnes cucullis petalorum semi-incluse, ita ut duze petalo singulo oppositee esse videantur (exterior interiorque), sed dum exterior ad filamentum petalo oppositum pertinet, interior e loculis respondentibus filamentorum duorum petalis alternantium formata est,”’ Mr. Brown adds, that “ the affinity between Huphor- 216 Linnean Society. biacee and Antidesmee is rendered more obvious by the addition to the latter of Bennettia ; but the structure of ovarium and the mono- Spermous drupaceous pericarpium readily distinguish them. \ Jodes and Sarcostigma also agree with Bennettia in several important _points, particularly in their unisexual minute flowers, ovarium with two pendulous ovula, monospermous drupa, and in most respects in the structure of seed ; they differ in habit, being twining or scandent shrubs without stipules, in their monopetalous persistent inner peri- anthium or corolla, in eestivation and reduced number of stamina, in structure of antheree, and in the embryo being inverted, not trans- verse.’ The number of species of Bennettia described is seven, ‘chiefly distinguishable by minute, but,” as Mr. Brown believes, ** constant differences in their male flowers and in the form of their fruits.” With the exception of the Javanese species, they are all from Tavoy, Singapore, and Pulo-Penang, where the genus was first discovered by Jack, who referred it, with doubt however, to Limonia. In treating of this genus Mr. Brown incidentally refers to the prin- ciple which he laid down in 1810, when proposing and characterizing the family of Combretacee, which he placed among Polypetale “non solum propter petalorum in pluribus existentiam, sed quia vera natura partium affinitatesque ordinum, ex contemplatione generum m quibus structura magis evoluta, quam ex iis in quibus aliqua pars suppressa, tutius erui queant ;” a principle in conformity with which he in 1814 also “placed among Polypetalee Huphorbiacee, a family to which the same reasoning is still more strikingly applicable.” Preparing for Publication. An Elementary Introduction to the Study of Paleeontology ; with numerous Figures Illustrative of Structural Details. By F. M‘Coy, Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, Queen’s College, Belfast. Also, by the same Author, A Manual of the Genera of British Fossils ; comprising Systematic Descriptions of all the Classes, Orders, Families, and Genera of Fossil Animals, found in the Strata of the British Isles ; to be completed in four or five Parts, forming one volume, 8vo, of about 500 pages, with nearly 1000 Wood Engravings. PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. LINNAZAN SOCIETY. Feb. 18th, 1851.—W. Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. Read ‘A Catalogue of Recent Land and Freshwater Mollusca found in the neighbourhood of Nottingham.” By Edward Joseph Lowe, Esq., F.R.A.S. &e. Warer Saris (Univalves). Neritina fluviatilis. Abundant in the river Trent near Beeston and near Nottingham, and in the river Soar near Thrumpton. Linnean Society. 217 Paludina achatina. Common at Thrumpton in the river Soar, in the river Trent below Nottingham, and in the Lenton Canal. Bithinia tentaculata. Swarms in a stagnant ditch near Lenton Priory, common in most ditches at Lenton, in a clear brook at Bees- ton and another at Attenborough, in the river Trent and tributaries to that river near Beeston and Sawley, and also under the Seven Arches in Nottingham Meadows. B. ventricosa. Only found in a narrow ditch near the railway at Lenton, where it is tolerably abundant, and under the Seven Arches in Nottingham Meadows. Valvata piscinalis. Abundant in brooks at Beeston, Lenton, and Bulwell, and in the river Trent neur Beeston. V. cristata. In rare numbers in a brook on Bulwell Bogs, Succinea putris. Rather abundant at Thrumpton. S. Pfeifferi. Common at Sawley and near Highfield House, and found between Beeston and Attenborough. Limneus auricularius. Abundant in the Musco-Sic dike near Highfield House; found at Lenton, Beeston, Attenborough, and Sawley. : L. pereger. Very abundant at Lenton, Beeston, Attenborough, Sawley, Bulwell, Thrumpton, Highfield House, and Nottingham Meadows. | L. stagnalis. Abundant in a dike at Lenton, a dike at Atten- borough, a mill-dam at Bulwell, a backwater at Sawley (called the ‘Old Trent’),.and in few numbers in the river Trent near Beeston, and a stagnant ditch between Beeston and Attenborough. L, palustris. Abundant on moist mud at Sawley and near the railway at Thrumpton, and very large in a stagnant ditch between Beeston and Attenborough. L. truncatulus. Rare in a ditch at Lenton and under the Seven Arches in the Nottingham Meadows. Ancylus fluviatilis. Tolerably abundant in clear dikes at High- field House, Attenborough, Bulwell and Oxton, and at the mouth of a well at Newstead Abbey. Valletia lacustris. Tolerably abundant in a small ditch at Lenton near the railway, and under the Seven Arches in Nottingham Meadows. Physa fontinalis. Abundant in dikes at Lenton and Attenborough, the canal at Lenton and a pond at Wollaton, and in small numbers in the Musco-Sic brook near Beeston. P. acuta (of Sowerby). Abundant in the river Trent at Beeston and Attenborough, rare in a brook on Oxton Bogs, in the canal at Lenton, and in a ditch between Beeston and Attenborough. Aplexus hypnorum. Abundant in a dike at Beeston and rare in a ditch near the Beeston railway station. Segmentina lineata. are in a brook on Oxton Bogs. Planorbis corneus. Very abundant in brooks at Lenton, Beeston, Bulwell, Sawley, Attenborough, &c. P. carinatus. Very abundant in brooks at Lenton, Beeston, Bul- well, and Attenborough, in the river ‘Trent at Beeston, and under the Seven Arches in Nottingham Meadows. 218 Linnean Society. P. marginatus. Abundant in dikes at Beeston, and, of large size in a stagnant ditch between Beeston and Attenborough. dl P. vortex. Very abundant in the river Trent, and in dikes \at Beeston, Lenton aud Attenborough, and under the Seven Arches in Nottingham Meadows. P. spirorbis. Abundant in the river Trent at Beeston, and in dikes at Beeston, Lenton, and Attenborough. P. albus. In few numbers in the river Trent near Beeston. P. contortus. Not common on the bogs at Bulwell, and rare in a ditch at Lenton. P. imbricatus. Not common on dead leaves in the lake at High- field House. | P. nitidus. Rare in the lake at Highfield House and in a pond at Wollaton. ( Bivalves.) Cyclas rivicola. Rather abundant in the river Trent near Bees- ton and in the river Soar at Thrumpton. C. cornea. Very common in the river Trent near Beeston, and in brooks at Lenton, Beeston, Attenborough, Bulwell, and Highfield House, and under the Seven Arches in Nottingham Meadows. C. lacustris. Very abundant in a brook at Beeston and another at Highfield House. | Pisidium amnicum. Abundant in the river Trent at Beeston, in a ditch near Beeston railway station, and in a brook at Beeston. Anodon cygneus. Abundant in the lake at Highfield House, in the Old Trent at Sawley, and in mill-dams at Bulwell. A. cellensis. Abundant in the lake at Highfield House and in the river Trent near Beeston. A. anatinus. Abundant in the lake at Highfield House, a stream and canal at Lenton, and the rivers Trent and Soar. A. avonensis. Rare in the river Trent near Beeston. A. anatinus, var. (very ventricose). In the lake at Highfield House. Unio pictorum. Common in the lake at Highfield House, the river Trent at Beeston and Sawley, and the river Soar at Thrumpton. U. tumidus. Not uncommon in the river Trent near Beeston, and rare in the lake at Highfield House. U. ovalis. Found in the lake at Highfield House and in the river Trent at Beeston. U. Deshayesii (if a var.). Not common in the river Trent near Beeston. Dreissena polymorpha. Very common and large in the lake at Highfield House, common in the canal at Lenton (where it is small), the river Soar at Thrumpton, and a pond at Wollaton, and in few numbers in the river Trent near Beeston. Lanp SHELLS. Helix aspersa. Very common at Beeston and around Nottingham. Hi. hortensis. Rare at Bulwell. H, nemoralis. Very abundant in most hedges. H. hybrida (if a var.). Rare at Highfield House. H. arbustorum. Rare at Thrumpton, Sawley, and Highfield House, Linnean Society. 219 H. pulchella. Tolerably abundant at Highfield House, rare at Beeston and Oxton. H. fulva. Not uncommon at the foot of a hill at Thrumpton, rare at Highfield House, Oxton, and Stanton-on-the-Wolds. H. hispida. Common at Nottingham Castle, Beeston, Bulwell, Saw- ley, Oxton, Highfield House, Thrumpton, Stanton-on-the-Wolds, &c. H. concinna. Tolerably abundant at Highfield House, and found at Stanton-on-the- Wolds. H. depilata. Found in small numbers at Stanton-on-the-Wolds. H, sericea. Rare at Bulwell, Oxton, and Stanton-on-the- Wolds. H. virgata. Rare at Stanton-on-the-Wolds and at Highfield House. H. ericetorum. Abundant at Stanton-on-the- Wolds. A, rotundata. Very common at Highfield House and Nottingham Castle, and found at Bulwell. H. alliaria. Not abundant at Sawley and Thrumpton. H. cellaria... Abundant at Nottingham Castle, Sawley, and High- field House. Hf. aculeata. Rather rare under decayed leaves at Highfield House and Stanton-on-the-Wolds. H. caperata.’ Very abundant at Stanton-on-the-Wolds in one field, but not found elsewhere. H. crystallina. Not abundant at Highfield House, Bulwell, and Oxton. H. granulata. Rare on Bulwell Forest. 1. lucida. Not common at Bulwell, Oxton, Highfield House,.an Stanton-on-the- Wolds. H, nitidula. Rare at Bulwell and Oxton. H. pura. Rare at Oxton. H. pygmea. Rare at Highfield House and Stanton-on-the- Wolds. Vitrina pellucida. Common at Oxton both on the warren. and on the bogs, less abundant at Highfield House, Beeston, Bulwell, and Stanton-on-the- Wolds. Carychium minimum. Tolerably abundant under leaves at High- field House, Bulwell, Beeston, and Stanton-on-the- Wolds. Bulimus obscurus. Abundant at Nottingham Castle and Highfield House. B. lubricus. Common at Highfield House, Sawley, and Thrump- ton, and found at Bulwell, Oxton, and Stanton-on-the-Wolds. Azeca tridens. Rare at Highfield House. Pupa umbilicata. Very abundant at Nottingham Castle and at Highfield House. Clausilia nigricans. Exceedingly common at'Thrumpton, Bulwell, and Highfield House. The following Mollusca are to be found associated together in the same localities. A dike running at the foot of Beeston and passing behind the lake at Highfield House contains, where it passes through Mr. Barker’s field, the following shells: Planorbis corneus, P. marginatus, P. cari- natus, P. vortex, P. spirorbis, Limneus pereger, and Aplexus hypnorum. The dike is choked with weeds and filth from the village, and warm water from a neighbouring mill here runs into it; P. corneus is found 220 Linnean Society. much larger in this warm dike than elsewhere in this neighbourhood. 200 yards lower down the dike contains (where it runs through the Rev. J. Wolley’s fields), besides the above Planorbis tribe, Cyclas lacustris, Limneus auricularius, L. pereger, Pisidium pulchellum, and Valvata cristata. A few hundred yards beyond this the water becomes free of wéeds and clear, and the whole tribe of Planorbis are left be- hind. From Broadgate, all through the Highfield House estate, the dike only contains Limneus pereger, and in one or two places Ancylus fluviatilis, and on the moist mud on its banks Succinea Pfeifferi and Limneus truncatulus. 'The Musco-Sic brook branches out from it at Broadgate and joins it again at the east extremity of the Highfield House estate ; this brook at first contains Planorbis marginatus, P. vortex, P. carinatus, P. corneus, Bithinia tentaculata (very large), Val- vata piscinalis, Limneus pereger, Cyclas cornea, Pisidium pulchellum, and Limneus auricularius. | A very clear brook at Attenborough with Algz growing in it, contains Planorbis corneus, P. carinatus, P. marginatus, P. vortex, P. spirorbis, Ancylus fluviatilis, Bithinia tentaculata, Limneus pereger, L. auricularius, L. stagnalis, and Physa acuta. A similar brook at Lenton near the railway contains Planorbis corneus, P. vortex, P. spirorbis, P. carinatus, Limneus stagnalis, L. auricularius, L. pereger, Physa acuta, P. fontinalis, Valvata piscinalis, Cyclas cornea, and Bithinia tentaculata. A small ditch some fifty yards from the last-named locality con- tains :—Bithinia ventricosa, B. tentaculata, Limneus truncatulus, L. pereger, Valletia lacustris, Planorbis vortex, P. spirorbis, P. carinatus, and P. contortus. The lake at Highfield House contains :—Anodon cygneus, A. cel- lensis, A. anatinus, A. var. of anatinus, Unio pictorum, U. tumidus, Dreissena polymorpha (very large), Planorbis nitidus, P. imbricatus, and Limneus pereger. The river Soar at Thrumpton contains :—Cyclas rivicola, C. cornea, Unio pictorum, Dreissena polymorpha, Anodon cygneus, A. anatinus, Limneus pereger, L. stagnalis, and Paludina achatina. The river Trent near Beeston contains :—Pisidium pulchellum, Anodon anatinus, A. avonensis, A. cygneus, Cyclas cornea, C. rivicola, Bithinia tentaculata, Limneus pereger, L. stagnalis, Physa acuta, Neritina fluviatilis, Planorbis carinatus, P. vortex, P. spirorbis, P. albus, Unio pictorum, U. tumidus, U. ovalis, Limneus palustris, Valvata piscinalis, and Dreissena polymorpha. Under the Seven Arches in Nottingham Meadows are, Planorbis carinatus, P. spirorbis, P. vortex, Bithinia ventricosa, B. tentaculata, Valletia lacustris, Cyclas cornea, and Limneus pereger. In the river Lean at Bulwell there are Valvata piscinalis, V. eris- tata, Planorbis carinatus, P. contortus, P. vortex, Bithinia tentaculata, Limneus pereger, Anodon cellensis, and Ancylus fluviatilis. A moist mud-bank left by the Trent floods at Sawley contains Limneus truncatulus, L.-palustris, L. pereger, and Helix alliaria. A dry bank near has Helix nemoralis, H. arbustorum, H. hispida, and Bulimus lubricus. . A cool bank at Thrumpton contains Helix nemoralis, H. arbustorum, Linnean Society. ; 221 Hv hispida, H. fulva, Clausilia nigricans, Bulimus lubricus, Succinea Pfeifferi, S. putris, Helix cellaria, and H. alliaria. A sand-bank in the lane at Highfield House has Helix nemoralis, H, hispida, H. concinna, H. virgata, H. arbustorum, H. rotundata, H. cellaria, H. pulchella, Bulimus lubricus, B. obscurus, Azeca tridens, Pupa umbilicata, and Clausilia nigricans. The Nottingham Castle-yard contains Helix aspersa, H. hispida, H.nemoralis, H, cellaria, H. rotundata, Bulimus lubricus, B. obscurus, and Pupa umbilicata. Oxton Bog and Warren has Helix fulva, H. lucida, H. pura, H. pulchella, H. hispida, Bulimus lubricus, Vitrina pellucida, Physa acuta, and Segmentina lineata. The Hill Farm at Stanton-on-the-Wolds has Helix hispida, H. sericea, H. depilata, H. concinna, H. fulva, H. aculeata, H. pygmea, H. caperata, H. ericetorum, H. nemoralis, H. virgata, Bulimus lubri- cus, Carychium minimum, and Vitrina pellucida. Read further, a memoir ‘‘ On the Aquilaria Agallocha, Roxb., the Agallochum or Aloé-wood Tree of Commerce.” By the late William Roxburgh, M.D., F.L.S. &c. Communicated by the President. The memoir, which appears to have been written in 1810 or 1811, contains a detailed description of this important tree, as well as much other information in addition to that published in the posthumous ‘Flora Indica’ of the author. The plants described were sent to the Calcutta Botanic Garden by Mr. Robert Keith Dick, Judge and Magistrate at Silhet; and an extract is given from a letter addressed by that gentleman to Dr. Roxburgh, in which he states that the wood is brought for sale from the country of Kuchar and from the southern parts of the zillah of Silhet, particularly the divisions. of Puthureea and Lunglah, where the tree is known by the Bengal name of Tuggur. Its extreme height is from sixty to seventy cubits, and the trunk from two to two and a half cubits in diameter. No part of the wood, except that which is used for the extraction of the Uttur, is applied to any useful purpose. Few trees contain any of this precious perfume, and such as do, have it very partially distri- buted in the trunk and branches. The people employed in its col- lection, however, cut down all the trees indiscriminately, and then search for the Aggur by chopping through the whole tree, and re- moving such portions as are found to contain the oil or have the smell of it. In this state Mr. Dick describes four different kinds, of which the first, called Ghurkee, sinks, and sells at from 12 to 16 rupees per seer of 2 lbs.; the second, called Doim, produces from 6 to 8 rupees per seer; the third, Simuda, floats, and is sold at from 3 to 4 rupees; and the fourth, Choorum, in small pieces, which also float, at 1 to 1} rupees per seer. The oil is obtained by bruising the wood in a mortar, and then infusing it in boiling water, when the Uttur collects on the surface. Neither root, leaves nor bark yield any Uttur. Some trees will produce a maund (80 lbs.) of the four sorts, So far Mr. Dick. Dr. Roxburgh thinks that there is a wonderful agreement between the various but imperfect accounts of the trees 222 Linnean Society. said to produce the Calambac or Agallochum of the ancients and that which he describes. He notices the descriptions given by Lamarck and Cavanilles, which he thinks, as far as they go, agree well with the plant of the Botanic Garden; as do those of Rumphius, making some allowance for the imperfection of his. figures. . Keempfer’s figure and description also exactly correspond with young specimens in the Botanic Garden sent from Goalpara by Dr. Buchanan and from Silhet by Mr. Smith; and a description of the fruit. by Mr. James Cunningham is quoted as very exact. Dr. Roxburgh gives his reasons for believing that not only the Ophispermum Sinense of Loureiro, but also the Aloéxylum Agallochum of that author, are both of the same genus, if not the very same species, with the plant from Silhet. There runs indeed so uncommon a coincidence through the whole of these notices as to induce him to believe that they all relate to the same identical object. He concludes by retracting what he had previously said, in his account of Amyris Agallocha, as far as relates to its yielding Calambac, which he acknaelinee to have been founded on erroneous information. Dr. Roxburgh’s memoir was accompanied by some remarks by the late H. T. Colebrooke, Esq., F.L.S., consisting chiefly of refer- ences to and extracts from various Oriental authors, in relation. to this fragrant wood, the countries in which it is found, the tree from which it is derived, its various kinds, and the processes used in ex+ tracting the oil. On the subject of the etymology of the word Agal- lochum, he observes that it is not right to derive it from the Arabic, which on the contrary is confessedly borrowed from the Greek, that is to say, from the Agallochon of Dioscorides. Neither is its origin to be sought in the Hebrew dAhalim and Ahaloth, as proposed by Salmasius, since it is more obvious to deduce it from the language of the country whence the drug was brought; and the Indian name Aguru, or with the Sanscrit pleonastic termination ca, Aguruca, is much nearer to the sound of the Greek term. The Portuguese Pao de Aquila, he adds, is an undoubted corruption either of the Arabic Aghilyji or of the Latin Agallochum; and it is by a ludicrous mistake that from this corruption has grown the name of Lignum Aquile, whence the genus of the plant now receives its botanic appellation. The paper was accompanied with a coloured drawing of the young plant, and of a flowering branch, together with a detailed analysis of the parts of fructification. March 4,—N. Wallich, Esq., M.D., Vice-President, in the Chair, Read ‘* Notes on Bdellium.” By B. A. R. Nicholson, Esq., M.D., of the Bombay Army. Communicated by the Secretary. Dr. Nicholson states that the tree which he identifies as producing the Bdellium of Greek and Roman authors, occurs in the hilly districts of North-western India, where it is known»to the natives by the name of Googul. He extracts the account of Bdellium from Ainslie’s ‘ Materia Indica,’ and comments on some of the statements therein contained. Thus, for example, Ainslie says that ‘all of this gum-resin found in India is brought from Arahia, where the tree is Linnean Society. 223 called Dowm;” but Dr. Nicholson states that wherever the tree is found in the North-western provinces, the bazaars are supplied with the gum from it; and that he never heard the tree called Dowm in Arabia; although he has been in many parts of that country, where he has ‘seen the Googul. Dr. Ainslie again quotes Sprengel, who erroneously states that Dowm is the Arabic name for Borassus fla- belliformis, and cites Keempfer and Rumphius in proof that Bdellium is procured from that tree; but Dr. Nicholson believes the Arabic name Doom to be exclusively applied to the dividing-stemmed Palm (Hyphene Thebaica, Gertn.), which is common on the banks of the Nile, in the Thebaid and Upper Egypt, two or three trees of which he has seen growing at Mocha, and a single tree at the west end of the native village opposite to the Portuguese settlement in the Island of Diu in Kattiawar. He has frequently examined this Palm without detecting any gum; and it is well known in India that the Tari, Borassus flabelliformis, does not produce gum. Another Palm, Cha- merops humilis, L., has been also affirmed to produce Bdellium, and Matthiolus is quoted as having witnessed the fact at Naples; but Dr. Nicholson states that he particularly examined this Chamerops at Girgenti in Sicily in all stages of its growth, in flower, in fruit, and without either, and never observed anything like gum. After refuting these erroneous notions as to the origin of the gum, Dr. Nicholson proceeds to state that he met with the Googul plant for the first time in 1832 on the Hills of Balmeer, in the Chotee Thur or Little Desert, on taking and sacking which town large quantities of the gum were found in several of the Banyan houses. The bush is also plentiful about Joolmaghur, thirteen miles south- west from Balmeer; and the author has observed it on the Kulinjur Hills in Parkur, as well as on those of several parts of Kutch and Wangeer. Having been shipwrecked in 1836 on the southern coast of Arabia, about 200 miles east of Cape Furtash, and being carried by the Arabs to the town of Geda, about three miles distant from the coast, he observed that large quantities of the gum Googul, there called Aflatoon, were brought to Geda by the Bedouins from the interior, where he was informed that the tree producing it was very plentiful, and that the gum is annually carried thence to Mocha on camels, and exported from Mocha to Bombay and other places. He subsequently found the Googul bush on the hills of Yemen, and in 1841 on the hills above Wankaneer in Kattiawar. The gum is chiefly used as a frankincense; but the natives of Guzerat, and pro- bably of other provinces where the tree is found, collect and bruise the recent berries and twigs, boiling the juice out in cauldrons, and having mixed it with their chunam (lime), to which it imparts in- creased tenacity, commence all their dwellings with lime thus mixed, it is said from a religious motive. The gum is found most abun- dantly after the rains, when it is collected in pieces as it exudes from the tree, and is often very dirty from the careless way in which it is gathered, being mixed with the bark and twigs, and sometimes even with the subjacent soil. The harder and nearly transparent drops are picked out by the Banyan merchant, and fetch a higher price than the rest. 224 Linnean Society. »The-author states that he is indebted to the late Dr. Charles Lush, F.L.S., Superintendent of the Honourable: East. India Company’s Botanical Gardens at Darpoorie, who in 1842, from the, sketches and specimens then in the author's possession, identified the plant.as the Amyris Kataf of Forskahl, and assisted in identifying the gum, with the Bdellium of the ancients. He believes that if at-all known to Roxburgh, it must be under the names of Amyris. nana or.of Bos- wellia. The paper concluded with a description of the plant, and with some remarks on the geological character of the localities in which itis found ; and was accompanied by a sketch of a branch, and by specimens of the gum in its pure and mixed states. May 6.—R. Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. Read some ‘‘ Notes on the Leaf of Guarea grandifolia, Dec.” By R. C. Alexander, Esq., M.D., F.L.S., as follows :— : In the enclosed specimens of a Guarea from Jamaica, the G. gran- difolia, Dec., it will be seen that the lower leaflets have fallen off, while younger ones are being developed at the extremity of the same petiole. At the time of flowering, the number of leaflets varies from a single pair to eight or ten pairs; but as these fall off in the course of a few months, the petiole elongates, and at each successive rainy season, of which there are two in the year, throws out from ' the end a fresh foliage of several pairs. The lower and older part: of the petiole in the meantime remaining attached to the stem, be- comes completely ligneous and round, and acquires a rind distinct from the wood, and covered with lenticelles and a resemblance to pith in the centre ;—takes on, in short, the character of a branch, from which it is only to be distinguished by the axillary inflorescence, the absence of buds in the axillz of the leaflets, and the analogy with the closely-allied genus Trichilia, in which the same phenomenon is seen in leaves deciduous after the second development. In Guarea, at least in this species of it, the leaf seems to be continuous with | the branch, without articulation, and to have no definite term of life,’ hanging’ on till overtopped and killed by other leaves. Its usual length at that period is from a yard to four and a half feet. In Adrien de Jussieu’s Memoir on the Meliacee are the following remarks :— | «The resemblance of the leaflets borne on the same petiole to leaves borne on the same branch becomes more striking still in-cer- tain genera, as’ Guarea, where the extremity of the petiole, after a: series of leaflets perfectly developed, presents some which are not yet so, and which appear to belong to another shoot. It) would:be interesting to ascertain what becomes of them, a thing that'I have | not been able to do, having had none but dried specimens: to examine.” This shrub usually grows at the base of large timber trees, suchas the Eriodendron anfractuosum, in the pasture districts of St. Ann’s parish, establishing itself between their elevated buttress-like roots, and with its leaves hanging down to the grass, forms natural arbours; or rather stables, in which the cattle repose during the heat ofthe Royal Society. 225 day. The negroes use them to wattle the walls of their huts, and eall the bush “ Alligator Tree,”’ probably from the two Spanish words ‘fa ligar,” to tie with. Where it stands free, it attains the size of a’ full-grown apple-tree ; but it invariably, I believe, grows within shelter of some other and larger one. Except this genus and Trichilia, [found no other in Jamaica that had the character of leaf above described. The President exhibited numerous specimens of recent and fossil Cycadee. Among these was a fine specimen of a new species (Cy- eadites Saxbyanus, R. Br.) found in the Isle of Wight by Mr. Saxby of Bonchurch. The President remarked that all the specimens of Cycadites hitherto found in the Isle of Wight agreed in having an elliptical outline, unaccompanied with any inequality in the woody ellipsis, and also in having a bud in the axilla of each leaf; in these respects differing from the Cycadites of the Isle of Portland and from all the recent species of Cycadee with which we are acquainted, which haye a circular outline and only scattered buds. ROYAL SOCIETY. March 4, 1852.—A paper was read, entitled, «‘On the Anatomy ef Doris.” By Albany Hancock, Esq., and Dennis Embleton, M.D., Lecturer on Anatomy and Physiology in the Newcastle-on-Tyne College of Medicine, in connection with the University of Durham. Communicated by Professor E. Forbes, F.R.S. The authors have proposed to themselves to describe the anatomy of the three genera typical of the three groups of the Nudibranchiate Mollusca. An account of the structure of Holis has already appeared in the ‘ Annals of Natural History.’ A detailed description is given of the anatomy of Doris, the fol- lowing species of which have been examined, and are referred to in the paper: D. tuberculata, Auct., D. tuberculata, Verany, D..Johnstoni, D. tomentosa, D. repanda, D. coccinea, D. verrucosa, D. pilosa, D., bilamellata, D. aspera, and D. depressa; but D. tuberculata of English authors has been taken as the type of the genus, and the standard of comparison for the rest. Digestive System.—The mouth in all the species is a powerful muscular organ, provided with a prehensile tongue beset with siliceous spines, which when the tongue is fully developed, are arranged in a median and two lateral series. Certain species possess, besides, a prehensile spinous collar on the buccal lip, occasionally associated with a.rudimentary horny jaw. The mode of development of the lingual! spines is shown to be the same as that of the teeth of the Vertebrata. The esophagus varies in length; in some it is dilated at the top, forming a crop; in others it is simply enlarged previously to enter- ing the liver mass. The stomach is of two forms; one, as in D, tuber- culata, is very large, receiving the cesophagus behind, and giving off the intestine in front, and lying in advance of the liver; the other is Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser.2. Vol. x. 15 226 Royal Society. received within the mass of the liver, and is very small. The liver in all is bulky, mostly bilobed, and variously coloured, and pours its secretion by one or more very wide ducts into the cardiac end of the stomach. A small laminated pouch—a rudimentary pancreas, is attached in some species to the cardiac, in others to the pyloric end of the stomach. The intestine is short, of nearly the same calibre throughout, rather sinuous in its course, and terminates in a nipple-formed anus in the centre of the branchial circle. The Reproductive Organs are male, female and hermaphrodite. ihe male organs consist of penis and testis; the latter is connected with the former and with the oviduct. The female organs are, ova- rium, oviduct, and mucus-gland. ‘The ovarium is spread over the surface of the liver in the form of a branched duct with terminal ampulle. The oviduct terminates in the mucus-gland. The an- drogynous apparatus is a tube or vagina opening from the exterior into the oviduct, having one or two diverticular spermathece com- municating with it in its course. On the right margin of the body near the front is a common opening, to which converge the three parts of the reproductive organs. ‘The spermatozoa are developed within large and fusiform spermatophora, and are observed in the spermathece, oviduct and ovary. Organs of Circulation and Respiration. —The circulatory organs are, a systemic heart, arteries, lacune and veins. The existence of true capillaries in the liver-mass seems probable. A second heart— a ventricle, having a portal character, is also described. The systemic heart lies immediately beneath the dorsal skin, in front of the respi- ratory crown, and comprises an auricle and ventricle enclosed within a pericardium. In the systemic circle the blood is returned to the heart without having passed through the special respiratory organ. It is that blood only which is returned from the liver-mass that circulates through the branchie. The authors conclude from their observations, that in the Mol- lusks there is a triple circulation: first, the systemic, in which the blood propelled along the arteries to the viscera and foot is returned, with the exception of that from the liver-mass, to the heart through the skin; there it becomes partially aérated, the skin being provided with vibratile cilia, and otherwise adapted as an instrument of re- spiration; second, the portal, in which venous blood from the system is driven by a special heart to the renal and hepatic organs, and probably to the ovarium, where it escapes, doubly venous, with the rest of the blood which has been supplied to these organs from the aorta, and which is therefore only singly venous, to the branchiz ; third, the branchial circulation, in which flows only the more dete- riorated blood brought by the hepatic vein, but in which also that blood undergoes the highest degree of purification capable of being effected in the economy, namely in the special organ of respiration. This triple circulation has not yet, as far as the authors are aware, been described as existing in the Molluscan Subkingdom. From the fact of the blood in Doris being returned to the heart in a state of partial aération, it is clear, they say, that this animal is, in this Royal Society. 227 respect, on a par with the higher Crustaceans; and from the blood arriving at the heart in the same condition, according to the re- searches of Garner and Milne-Edwards, in Ostrea and Pinna, the great Triton of the Mediterranean, Haliotis, Patella and Helix, it can scarcely be doubted that this arrangement will be found throughout the Mollusca. From a owilaibeia tic of the facts cited in the paper, it may be deduced that the skin or mantle is in the Mollusca the fundamental organ of respiration, and that a portion of that envelope becomes evolved into a speciality as we trace upwards the development of the respiratory powers. Upon the dorsal aspect of the liver-mass is a branched cavity, that of the renal organ, lined with a spongy tissue, and opening externally at the small orifice near the anus. Organs of Innervation.—These are in two divisions, one corre- sponding to the cerebro-spinal division, the other to the sympathetic or ganglionic system of the Vertebrata. The existence of the latter, it is stated, is now for the first time fully established. The centres of the first system are seven pairs and a half of ganglia. Of the seven pairs, five are supra-cesophageal, two, infra-cesophageal : the single ganglion belongs to the right side and has been named visceral. There are three nervous collars around the cesophagus, one of which connects the infra- with the supra-cesophageal. The total number of pairs of nerves from the cesophageal centres is twenty-one, and there are also four single nerves. The sympathetic system exists, and is more or less demonstrable, in the skin, the buccal mass, and on all the internal organs. It consists of a vast number of minute distinct ganglia, varying in size and form, the largest quite visible to the naked eye, of a bright orange colour, like the ganglia around the cesophagus, and inter- connected by numerous delicate, white nervous filaments, arranged in more or less open plexuses. This beautiful system is connected with both sets of cesophageal ganglia. The authors having found the sympathetic nervous system in several species of Doris, in Kolis papillosa, and in Arion ater, believe it to exist in all the more highly organized Mollusca. The supra-cesophageal nervous centres in the Mollusca are in some instances so concentrated as to have led to the idea that they form only one mass; in others the ganglia are more or less distinct, and separated from each other. Doris has been taken as the repre- sentative of one class, Aplysia of the other, and on a comparison of both the supra- and infra-cesophageal ganglia of these with each other, there has been found a close correspondence between them, with the exception of the visceral ganglion. The single one in Doris is re- presented in Aplysia by a pair of ganglia, situated in the posterior part of the body near the root of the branchiz. The supra-cesopha- geal ganglia in the Lamellibranchiata appear homologous with those of Doris. Having determined the existence of a true sympathetic or organic nervous system in Doris, the authors feel themselves more in a position to trace a parallelism between the cesophageal nervous 15* 228 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. centres of these Mollusca and the cerebro-spinal system of the Ver-. tebrata, and accordingly they find there is a strict analogy between them, even to the) individual. pairs of .ganglia of, which they re- spectively consist,,the; general result being that the whole. of the ganglia, grouped around the cesophagus in these Mollusca, answers to the encephalon,, and .a,/small.portion of the enrachidion, of. the Mertebratine gaiilvear sdT © esti: | Organs: of the Senses.—-The auditory capsules. are microscopic, composed of two, concentric vesicles, the inner enclosing numerous, : oval, nucleated otolithes. ,.The eyes are minute black dots, beneath the skin, /attached by a) pedicle to a small ganglion... They are made up'of;a cup of pigment, receiving from behind the nerve, and lodging in front.a lens,, having in advance of it a, cornea, the whole enclosed by a fine capsule. . The authors believe they have shown the dorsal tentacles to be the olfactory organs. ‘The organs of touch are, the general surface of the. skin, but more’ particularly the oral tentacles or veil, Taste is most probably located in the lips and channel of the mouth, the tongue being a. prehensile organ, and ill-adapted as the seat of such a function. - In conclusion, the authors comment on the high organization of the Doride, and express their belief that the genus, as:at present. understood, will require to be breken up into several groups. BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. July 8, 1852.—Dr. Seller, President, in the Chair. The following papers were read :— 1. ‘On,the presence of Fluorine in the stems of Graminez, Equi- setacese, and! other Plants, with some observations on the sources from which vegetables derive this element,”’ by George Wilson, M.D. The author commenced by stating, that the earliest observer of the presence, of fluorine in plants was Will of Giessen, who found. traces of it in barley, the straw and grain of which were analysed together. The author reported to the Botanical Society, some four years ago, the results, of his earlier researches into the distribution of this ele- ment throughout the vegetable kingdom, which were not very nume- rous or very encouraging. One reason of this was the small extent to which fluorine occurs in plants ; another, and practically as serious a reason, was the difficulty of separating and recognising fluorine when accompanied by silica. The presence of this body in a plant, besides greatly complicating the investigation, rendered the employment of platina vessels essential, and thus limited the amount of material which could be subjected to examination, besides making it difficult or impossible to observe the progress of an analysis. The author then stated, that, in the course of some recent investi- gations into the presence of fluorine in siliceous rocks, he had suc- ceeded in devising a process which was also applicable, to plants, and could be carried on in the ordinary glass vessels of the laboratory. The process in the case of plants was as follows :—The plant under examination was burned to ashes as completely ‘as possiblé. The Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 229 ashes were then mixed in the cold with oil of vitriol, so as to secure the decomposition of the salts of volatile acids present. The mixture was then transferred to a retort, or flask, provided with a bent tube dipping into water, and the liquid raised to the boiling-pomt, when fluorine, if present, was evolved in combination with the silicon of the silica, as the gaseous fluoride of silicon, which dissolved in the water with separation of some gelatinous silica. The resulting solution was neutralized with ammonia and evaporated to complete dryness, when the whole of the silicon passed into the condition of insoluble silica, and water dissolved the fluoride of ammonium. The solution of this fluoride could then be dried up and moistened with sulphuric acid, when hydrofluorie acid was evolved, which might be made perma- nently to record its presence by causing it to etch glass in the usual way. The author has in the meanwhile applied this process almost solely to the stems and trunks of plants, especially to those containing silica, reserving for subsequent investigation their other organs, espe- cially their seeds- and fruits. The following were the results: ob- ‘tained :— ‘Table of Plants examined for Fluorine. The numbers represent grains of ashes, except in the case of Tabasheer and Wood Opal. The blanks imply that the weight was not known :-— - Ashes in grains. Name of plant. 200 Hguisetum limosum ............ Distinet etching. Bambusa arundinacea ........:. Ditto. Charcoal (derived chiefly from, Oak, |. and to a smaller extent from Birch) Ditto. Cae 2 Wh.s. Ci eis a Rae. Wes Ditto. Eearbey peraw cet PONS? £9.99 Ditto. Day Civesrais), 20s Osi) Boe! Ditto.. 35 ©Equisetum variegatum.... 6... Faint etching. 19 ——— hyemale .... 0.0.2... Ditto. 255 —— palustre............ Ditto. Dactylis cespitosa .... 2.0.0... Ditto. 99 Elymus arenarius.........0.4: Ditto. 495 Saccharum officinarum.........- Ditto. reese Ataran Teak” JS9SS0M oC Sgee Ditto. Smilax latifolia ..............- No-etching. Rosmarinus officinalis .. 0.4.2... Ditto. 235 Bambusa Nepalensis .......... Ditto. Polypodium vulgare... 0.2 0.6.0 Ditto. eet bees Pern. ne hee eee Ditto. 24 Phalaris arundinacea .......... Ditto. ni 240 © Malacca Catie 2) 50S US22 PLAY: Ditto. 50. Cocoa-nut shell. 1. po Ditto. 127° Tectona grandis’. 2.3. oe aS Ditto. Er SP URREROCR ON oat ties Ditto. SM OUE TW OO Pal!) Saas oles ears vitete eee Ditto. On this table the author remarked, that the siliceous stems which he had found to abound most in fluorine, were exactly those which contained most silica. In particular, deep etchings were procured 230 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. from the Equisetaceee and from the Graminee, especially the common Bamboo. The last was known to contain silica in such abundance that it collected within the joints in white masses, nearly pure, and had long, under the name of Tabasheer, been an object of interest to natural philosophers. The horse-tails were scarcely less remarkable for the amount of silica contained in their stems, which had led to the employment of one of them (Hquisetum hyemale) in polishing wood and metals. The African Teak, which like the Bamboo is known sometimes to secrete silica, was also found to contain fluorine, though much-less largely than the plants named ; whilst the strongly siliceous stems of Barley and Ryegrass also yielded the element in marked quantity. The Sugar-cane, however, gave less striking results than might have been expected, and the same remark applied to the Malacca-cane. Two specimens of silicified wood and one of Tabasheer gave no evidence of the presence of fluorine. So far, however, as the plants named in the preceding table are concerned, the author does not wish it to be inferred from the negative results which are detailed, that the plants in question are totally devoid of fluorine. With larger quantities of their ashes, positive results would, in all proba- bility, be obtained. The author’s general conclusions were as follows :—Ist, that fluo- rine occurs in a large number of plants; 2nd, that it occurs in marked quantity in the siliceous stems of the Graminez and Equisetacee ; 3rd, that the quantity present is in all cases very small; for although exact quantitative results were not obtained, it is well known that a fraction of a grain of fluoride will yield with oil of vitriol a quantity of hydrofluoric acid sufficient to etch glass deeply, so that the pro- portion of fluorine present, even in the plant-ashes which contain it most abundantly, does not probably amount to more than a fraction per cent. of their weight... The proportion of fluorine appears to be variable, for different specimens of the same plant did not yield con- cordant results. In this, however, there is nothing anomalous, for some Bamboos yield Tabasheer largely, whilst others are found to contain none. It seems not unlikely that soluble fluorides ascending the siliceous stem of a plant, on their way to the seeds or fruits in which they finally accumulate, may be arrested by the siliea, and converted into inso- luble fluosilicates (fluorides of silicon and of a metal) ; and a Bamboo, for example, secreting Tabasheer, may effect this change where one less rich in silica cannot determine it. The slow or quick drying of a stem may also affect the fixation of fluorides in the stems or trunks of plants. The sources of the fluorine found in plants may be regarded as preeminently two,—lst, simple fluorides, such as that of calcium, which are soluble in water, and through this medium are carried. into the tissues of plants; and 2nd, compounds of fluorides with other salts, of which the most important is probably the combination jof phosphate of lime with. fluoride of calcium. This occurs in the mineral kingdom in apatite and phosphorite, and in the animal ,king- dom in bones, shells and corals, as well.as in blood, milk, and other fluids. Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 231 A recent discovery of the author, communicated to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, has shown that fluorides are much more widely distributed than is generally imagined, and that the trap rocks near Edinburgh, and in the neighbourhood of the Clyde, as well as the granites of Aberdeenshire, and the ashes of coal, contain fluorides, so that the soils resulting from the disintegration of those rocks cannot fail to possess fluorides also. All plants accordingly may be expected to exhibit evidence of their presence in the following portions of their tissues or fluids :— 1. In the ascending sap, simple fluorides, 2. In the descending sap, in association with the albuminous vege- table principles, and in the seeds or fruits, in a similar state of asso- ciation, fluorides along with phosphates. 3. In the stems, especially when siliceous and hardened, fluorides in combination with silica. The investigation is still in progress. 2. ‘*On the presence of Iodine in various Plants, with some re- marks on its general distribution,” by Mr. Stevenson Macadam. The present paper owes its origin to some observations lately made by M. Chatin of Paris, and communicated by him to the French Academy of Sciences. Chatin is of opinion, that in the atmosphere, in rain-water, and in soils there is an appreciable amount of iodine ; that the quantity of this element present in one district differs from that in another; and that the relative amount of iodine in any one locality determines to a great extent the presence or absence of certain diseases. For in- stance, in the district of country which he classifies under the general title of the ‘‘ Paris zone,” the quantity of iodine present in the atmo- sphere, in the rain-water, and in the soil is comparatively great, and to this he ascribes the absence of goitre and cretinism; whereas in the zone corresponding to that of the “alpine valleys,”’ the amount of iodine has diminished to one-tenth of that found in the “ Paris zone,” and to this scarcity of the element he attributes the prevalence of goitre and cretinism, which in that zone are endemic. Considering that the subject was one of great importance, more especially if the conclusions arrived at by Chatin (in reference to the functions fulfilled by iodine in preventing the occurrence of the diseases referred to) could be legitimately deduced from the experiments which he per- formed, the ‘author has this summer undertaken a series of analyses im reference to the general distribution of iodine. Mr. Macadam’s researches have as yet been mostly directed to the atmosphere and to rain-water, and he considered that a notice of the results obtained might be interesting to the Society, alike from the intimate connexion which exists between the plant and the atmosphere, and from the fact, that he has been led to seek, and to detect, the presence of iodine in a department of the vegetable kingdom in which it has not hitherto been observed. Chatin has not published a detailed account of the processes adopted by him ; but from the manner in which he speaks of the good effects produced by the addition of potash to substances under examination, which, to use his words, “arrested the complete decomposition of the 939 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. iodine compounds whilst the waters were evaporating,” and by the addition of carbonate of potash and carbonate of soda, which: ‘ ren- dered the iodine present in soils much more easily extracted,’ the author was led to believe that the fixed alkalies had been largely em- ployed by him.” Accordingly, in the first experiments, the alkalies were used in their caustic condition, for the purpose of fixing any free iodine, and retaining any compound of iodine which might be encountered. Mr. Macadam commenced with an examination of the atmosphere. By the arrangemeut he employed, the air was made to traverse,— ist, a tube containing slips of paper, which had been previously dipped in a solution of starch ; and 2nd, a double-necked gas bottle, containing about 3 oz. of a dilute solution of caustic soda. A con- tinuous stream of air was drawn through the arrangement for some hours. This experiment was conducted in the morning, and in the afternoon a stream of air was for several hours drawn through the same arrangement, caustic potash being substituted for the caustic soda. The starch-papers did ‘not exhibit the slightest coloration, even when moistened with distilled water. The solutions of potash and soda, however, on being treated with starch and nitric acid, at once exhibited the rose colour characteristic of the presence of iodine in small quantity. So far the experiments seemed to lead to the de- sired conclusion ; but when portions of the original alkaline solutions, which had not been subjected to a current of air, were carefully tested, it was found that iodine was present in them, in quantity to all appearance as great as it was in those portions which had been used in the experiments. Wishing to trace back the iodine to its source, samples of the carbonate of potash, carbonate of soda and lime, which had been employed in the preparation of the caustie solutions, were analysed, and in all three iodine was present in perceptible quantity. Desirous _of making certain that the reagents used in the investigations were as pure as other commercial substances of the same kind,’ various speci- mens were procured from different sources, and in every sample which "was subjected to examination the presence of iodine was detected: So far then as the determimation of iodine in the atmosphere is con- cerned, the experiments were of no value. The alkalies through which the air had been drawn undoubtedly contained iodine origi- nally, and therefore no certain conclusion could be drawn as tothe probability of their bemg more highly iodized by contact with the atmosphere. ‘To the presence of iodine in potashes, or, to use words more strictly botanical, in the ashes of forest timber, further refer- ence will be made in a subsequent part of this paper. ~~. In the next experiment the alkalies were dispensed with, the air ~ being drawn through— 1, A tube with slips of starched paper, kept somewhat: damp. 2. A gas-bottle immersed in’a freezing mixture; and 3. A gas-bottle containing a solution ‘of nitrate of silver: | A continuous current was kept up for fully five hours, commencing at niid-day. At the conclusion of this ‘experiment, the papers: were Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 233 not altered in the slightest degree; the gas-bottle, (2) contained about a quarter of an ounce of liquid, and the nitrate of silver (3) had not ‘been perceptibly changed. The condensed liquid was neutral to test- papers ; a drop of starch was added to it, and subsequently nitrite of potash and hydrochloric acid, which together form a most delicate means of detecting iodine ; the result. was negative. The nitrate of silver solution was cautiously evaporated to one half-ounce ; sulphuret- ted hydrogen added to precipitate the silver, and liberate as hydriodic acid any iodine which might be present; the liquid raised in tempe- rature, carefully avoiding ebullition, and filtered. The filtrate, on the addition of starch, nitrite of potash and hydrochloric acid, did not exhibit the slightest trace of iodine. .Mr.,Macadam therefore concluded, that in the large volume of air which he had drawn through the arrangement, there had not been an appreciable amount of iodine. The experiments as yet referred to were made at. different heights on Arthur’s Seat, and their negative results led to arrangements being ‘made fora trial on a scale much more extensive. Through the kind- uniess of the proprietor of Kinneil Iron Works, the author was enabled ‘to proceed to Borrowstowness, and attach his apparatus to the re- ‘ceiver from which the air under great pressure is forced into the blast-furnaces.. By means of a stop-cock fixed in the receiver and a long flexible tube, the air was conducted to the following arrange- ment :-— 1. A wide tube containing slips of paper dipped in starch. _ 2. A condensing worm, surrounded by a freezing mixture and attached to a receiver. | 3. A tall jar contaming chips of pumice-stone and a few iron filings, with sufficient water to cover them. ; 4. A similar jar with pumice-stone, scrapings of clean lead and a solution of acetate of lead. 5. A condensing worm immersed in a freezing mixture and attached to a receiver. dee 8 The air, under a pressure of 3 lbs. on the square inch, was allowed to traverse the arrangement for fully four hours, when the apparatus “was taken asunder, and the contents of the vessels being placed in -stoppered bottles, the whole was brought to. Edinburgh for examina- ‘etion. The slips of paper (1) were not sensibly altered in tint, and did not betray the slightest indications of even a rose colour when ‘moistened with distilled water. The condensers (2 and,5) contained each a very small quantity of liquid, which, on being tested, did not show a trace of iodine. The small quantity of liquid in the con- densers may be accounted for by the comparatively high temperature possessed by the air rushing through so quickly as it did... The con- tents of the jar (3) were thrown on a filter, and washed with cold water. ‘To the filtrate was added half an ounce of a solution of car- bonate of potash, and the whole evaporated to a quarter of an ounce ; no iodine was present.. The carbonate of potash used in this trial was prepared by caleining cream. of tartar, and was so far free from iodine, that none could be detected in 2 oz. of the solution, of which half an ounce was employed., There was, therefore no likelihood of iodine being added in the alkali used, even though the analysis of the 234 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. contents of the jar had shown its presence. The jar (4) with the lead solution was treated in the same manner as described in a former part of this paper, when referring to the employment of silver, and the result was also negative. Notwithstanding the large scale on which this experiment was conducted, a volume of air of not less than 4000 cubic feet having been forced through the arrangement, Mr. Macadam has been unable to verify the results of Chatin, yet he feels disinclined to pronounce those results unwarranted, and has therefore resolved to make another trial on a still larger scale. It is proposed to fit up an apparatus of a stronger and more durable nature, and to allow a volume of air of not less than 100,000 cubic feet to pass through. Whilst the experiments on the atmosphere were proceeding, Mr. Macadam was also examining large quantities of the rain-water which fell in Edinburgh for the last two months. For this purpose, he added to 3 gallons of the water some ounces of a solution of acetate of lead. On standing twenty-four hours, a precipitate had fallen to the bottom, from which the lquid was drawn off. The precipitate was treated as formerly described, and no iodine was detected. As the iodide of lead is slightly soluble in water, and as it might be pre- sent in the liquid which had been removed from the precipitate, the whole was evaporated to 1 oz., and afterwards tested for iodine, but none was present. A second experiment was tried with a similar volume of rain-water, viz. 3 gallons, substituting nitrate of silver for the acetate of lead; a precipitate was observed after standing for twenty-four hours, but neither it nor the liquid contained a trace of iodine. Another experiment, made with 3 gallons of rain-water, which had been collected at Unst in the Shetlands, and to which acetate of lead was added, gave the same negative results. Mr. Macadam is well aware, that, consequent on the evaporation of water from the surface of the ocean, portions of the salts contained in it are carried up and disseminated through the atmosphere, ready to be rained down upon inland places, and that in this way iodine, most probably as iodide of sodium, will be present in the air. Accord- ingly at first he was confident that he should succeed in verifying . Chatin’s observations in a district so near the sea as that around Edinburgh, and more especially in the water obtained from Unst, which had fallen in the immediate vicinity of the ocean; but when we consider what a very small per-centage of iodme is present in the water of the ocean, many gallons being required to give even a faint indication, equal to that exhibited by seenesth of a grain of an alkaline iodide, and if, further, we suppose that when the water rises in va- pour from the sea, it carries up the salts in the same proportions as they exist in sea-water, it is evident that it would be requisite to eva- porate some hundred gallons of rain-water, before even a minute trace of iodine could be obtained. At a former part of this paper reference was made to the presence of iodine in the potashes of commerce. The samples first tested were those usually to be purchased in Edinburgh, but subsequently genuine and authenticated specimens of both crude and refined potashes were Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 235 procured from Glasgow. It is to Canada and the United States that we owe our supplies of these materials. As imported into this country, they are contaminated with many foreign ingredients, and amongst the rest the author has detected iodine. The most ready means for separating and recognising this substance is to heat a considerable quantity of the salt with a minimum of water. On cooling the solu- tion, the greater portion of the carbonate of potash, as well as the impurities, falls to the bottom of the vessel, whilst the iodide of potassium remains dissolved in the water. When testing for the iodine in the potashes, this solution was evaporated to dryness, treated with alcohol, boiled and filtered. The filtrate, on being evaporated to dryness, left a residue, which on resolution in water acted distinctly with the starch-test for iodine. ; The presence of this element in potashes leads the author to believe that iodine will be found more generally distributed in the vegetable kingdom than it has formerly been supposed to be. The potashes from the States and from Canada are principally the dried lixivium of the ashes of forest-trees ; but whilst by much the greater portion is so, the parties in charge are not very scrupulous about what plants they employ, and occasionally everything which comes in the way, and which will burn, is added to the pile. It may therefore be ob- jected to the statement, that forest-trees contain iodine, that the iodine found in the ashes may be derived from the succulent herbs and shrubs, and not from the trees themselves; but this objection will be at once removed when it is stated, that in the lixivium of charcoal the author has obtained very distinct traces of iodine.. Now the charcoal sold and used in this country is principally oak, with a little birch, elm and ash. The amount of iodine in forest-trees must be comparatively small. When experimenting with the potashes, one is apt to forget the small bulk into which a large quantity of timber falls when the organic matter is expelled, and the saline ingredients are alone left. So far as can be estimated from the present qualitative experiments, the relative quantity of iodine in forest-trees is much less than that in succulent plants growing in marshy places. In conelusion, it was mentioned that the presence of iodine in some freshwater plants was now generally recognised, and that the author is at present engaged in testing the various plants growing in the lochs in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. The method employed in their analysis is to dry the plants, and burn them cautiously ; indeed the burning should be rather termed charring ; the ashes are reduced to fine powder, digested in water and filtered ; the clear liquid evaporated, and subsequently treated like the potashes. In every case the pro- cess used for the liberation of iodine is that suggested by Dr. Price, viz. nitrite of potash and hydrochloric acid ; and in many cases where no indications of iodine could be obtained by the ordinary methods, good results were procured with Dr. Price’s process. In the following plants, hitherto not known to contain iodine, Mr, Macadam has detected that element :— Myosotis palustris........ Duddingstone Loch, Mentha sativa ......4... Ditto. 236 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. Menyanthes trifoliata ..,. Duddingstone Loch. Equisetum limosum ...... Ditto. Ranunculus aquatilis...... Dunsappie Loch. Potamogeton densus ...... Ditto. Chara vulgaris .......... Ditto. _ The author has also confirmed the presence of iodine in the fol- lowing plants, in which it had been previously found by other ob- servers ; the specimens, however, are from different localities :— Tris pseud-acorus............ Duddingstone. Phragmites communis ........ Ditto. And in the ashes of coal. As having some connexion with the subject treated of, the author ‘intimated that he had obtained distinct indications of the presence of bromine in the crude potashes. It is unfortunate that our tests for bromine are so much inferior in delicacy to those of iodine, that it is necessary to operate upon very large quantities before the tests are distinct. There is no doubt that from its presence in trees, it will be found in greater abundance in the more succulent plants; but the few trials yet made have been unsuccessful in determining its presence in any but the erude Canadian and American potashes. The experiments (excepting those pursued in the open air) were conducted in the laboratory of Dr. George Wilson, to whom the author feels deeply indebted for the kind manner in which he has afforded him every assistance in his power during the whole course of the investigation. 3. Dr. Balfour read the following letter by Mr. Richard Fryer to Dr. Pappe of Cape Town, relative to a case of poisoning by the bulbs of Homeria collina, specimens of which were exhibited to the meeting :— “Qn perusing your ‘ Flora Capensis Medica,’ the circumstance stated at page 26 of the poisonous effects of the bulb of the ‘Cape Tulip,’ brought to my recollection a dreadful accident which occurred in Hantam, in this district, many years ago, and, as I was called upon at the time in a judicial way to examine some of the bodies and take evidence upon the causes of death, I can vouch for the accuracy of what I shall here relate. It appears that one of the shepherds of a farmer residing there, brought home in the evening a bundle of bulbs, which the Dutch call ‘ Mutjes’ ; that towards dusk these were put under the ashes to roast, and when the other servants assembled in the kitchen they were taken out and eaten amongst them; the party consisting of three hottentots, two women, and one male slave. About half an hour after they had partaken of them they were all seized with dreadful nausea, followed shortly afterwards by severe vomiting, and a speedy prostration of strength. The farmer being called, ascertained immediately, from some of the bulbs still uncon- sumed, that they had.been eating the ‘ Homeria collina,’ of the yel- low sort ‘ Wilde Dagga.’ Sweet oil, milk, and everything thought good were immediately administered, but before midnight the three hottentots and one woman had died in excruciating agonies. The Miscellaneous. 237 male slave recovered, but for a year afterwards he looked like a ske- leton, and the surviving woman ascribed her safety to only having eaten one bulb.” MISCELLANEOUS. Notice of the Occurrence, on the Durham Coast, of Diphylidia lineata, By Atsany Hancock, Esq. In the early part of last year, the Rev. G. C. Abbes brought to me a small mollusk which he had obtained from the boats at Whitburn. On examination, this creature proved to be Diphyllidia lineata, a most interesting addition to the marine fauna, not only of the di- strict, but of England. It has occurred only once before in the Bri- tish seas ; in September 1849, a single specimen having been dredged off Shetland by Mr. Barlee. These two, the only British examples, are much smaller than those obtained in the Mediterranean, and are more attenuated in form. Thinking, therefore, that our specimen might possibly be a distinct species, I was induced to examine its internal structure ; and Mr. Alder having kindly supplied individuals of the true D. lineata, a strict comparison was instituted, which has resulted in determining that the two forms are identical.—T7rans. of Tyneside Naturalists’ Field Club, vol. ii. p.. 128. IRISH MOLLUSCA. To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. Windsor Lodge, Monkstown, co. Dublin,. August 5, 1852. ! GENTLEMEN,—The following Mollusca are the results of three days’ dredging in Birterbuy Bay, co. Galway. The first. day I was accompanied by my friend Dr. Battersby of Torquay, who being pressed for time had to return to Dublin sooner than he expected, leaving me to pursue the conchological research in that delightful locality. July 21.—Gastrocheana modio- lina ; the scarcer variety found in cases composed of broken shells, &c. Pandora obtusa. Lyonsia norvegica. Thracia pubescens ; one valve. Psammobia tellinella. vespertina. Cardium fasciatum. nodosum. Circe minima, of the most beauti- ful marking. “Lepton squamosum. Arca tetragona. Modiola tulipa. Lima Loscombii. Dentalium Tarentinun. Chiton Asellus ; very large. Trochus Montagut. Odostomia eulimoides. Mangelia gracilis; dead. purpurea ; dead. striolata, septangularis. Cylichna conulus. cylindracea ; dead. truncata ; dead. July 22.—Some of theshellsfound on the 21st, as also Thracia con- vera; dead. Thracia pubescens. Solen pellucidus. Cardium pygmeum. — Lucina spinifera. flexuosa. 238 Miscellaneous. July 23.—Many of the species Natica Montagut. obtained the first day, together Mangelia teres. with Lima subauriculata. purpurea. Chiton levis. Bulla Cranchii ; very fine. All the above shells were procured alive, except those specified as otherwise, and some of them are new to that locality. I remain, yours most truly obliged, W. W. Watpote. On the Irritability of the Leaves of Drosera rotundifolia. By Dr. Miipe. Towards the end of June I placed on the middle of a strongly vegetating leaf of a plant of Drosera rotundifolia which I had had for a short time in a cup of moss in my room, four small flies of about the size of a pin’s head. The insects remained nearly motion- less upon it, and their efforts to escape from the sticky matter were ineffectual. After about five minutes I again looked at the leaf, when to my astonishment I saw that the glandular hairs of the anterior margin of the leaf, which had been previously extended horizontally, had turned back towards the surface of the leaf and partially covered the flies. I had no time until the following day to observe the leaf again carefully, when I found that the anterior margin and the sides of the leaf had turned over towards its middle and thus completely enveloped the flies. It was only after the lapse of five days that the margins of the leaf and hairs had returned to their places, so as to leave the dead flies lying free on the surface.—Bot. Zeitung, x. 540. EMBRYOGENY OF ORCHIS, GESNERIA, AND OTHER PHANEROGAMIA.. Dr. Cobbold laid before the Edinburgh Physiological Society a brief account of some investigations into the embryogeny of Orchis, Gesneria, and other Phanerogamia. These observations, together with a preliminary account of the labours and opinions of Schleiden, Amici, Brown, Geraud, Griffith, Hofmeister, Meyen, Mirbel, Mohl, Dickie, and about forty others, formed the subject of an essay, written in the summer of 1849. Dr. Sanderson, who at the same time inves- tigated this subject, has since published in the ‘Annals of Natural History,’ an admirable memoir on the embryogeny of Hippuris vul- garis, the facts there recorded being strikingly confirmed by what the author of this paper observed as occurring in the above genera. From a review of the whole matter, the following conclusions are tobe drawn:— Ist. That, prior to impregnation, the ovule always contains an embryo-sac. 2nd. That the embryo-sac is commonly formed at the apex of the nucleus, 3rd. That in the interior of the embryo-sac there exists a fluid, more or less granular. 4th. That the sac frequently protrudes beyond the exostome (ovule tube,—Griffith). : 5th. That in the interior of the sac, prior to impregnation, one or more cytoblasts, or embryonic vesicles, are formed. Meteorological Observations. 239 6th. That their formation takes place by the aggregation of mole- cules (Amici, Meyen). 7th. That the cytoblasts, or embryonic vesicles, also contain a fluid more or less granular (globulo-cellular cambium,—Mirbel). 8th. That the pollen is always necessary for fertilization (apparent exception given by Smith). 9th. That the pollen, when applied to the stigma, sends out one or more tubes (prolongations of the intine), which contain granular matter (fovilla). 10th. That in most cases the union of the pollen-tube with the apex of the embryonic sac constitutes the very act of impregnation. 11th. That the result of this union is the formation of an embryo. 12th. That this formation takes place, either by the metamor- phosis of one of the pre-existing germinal or embryonic vesicles under the dynamic influence of the fovilla (acting catalytically ?) ; or, as is more probable, by the union of the contents of the pollen-tube with that of a germinal vesicle, similar to what occurs in the conju- gation of Confervee. When two or more vesicles exist, as in Orchis, one only becomes fertilized, the remainder abortive.-—Proc. Edinb. Phys. Soc. —_——— METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR JULY 1852. Chiswick.—July 1. Fine: cloudy: slightly overcast. 2. Cloudy and fine. 3, 4. Very fine. 5. Excessively hot: thermometer higher in the shade than it has been for at least twenty-six years: lightning at night. 6. Very hot. 7. Cloud. less: hot and dry. 8. Dry haze: sultry: clear at night: 9. Very hot. 10. Very fine. 11. Hotand clear. 12. Sultry. 13. Fine: lightning, with distant thunder at night. 14. Overcast: thunder: very hot: lightning, with rain at night. 15. Cloudy and fine: clear. 16. Slight haze: very hot: excessively heavy and con- stant rain at night. 17. Rain: cloudy and warm: clear at night. 18. Very fine: heavy clouds: clear. 19. Veryfine. 20. Overcast. 21. Light clouds: very fine: clear. 22—24. Very fine. 25. Overcast: thunder: rain. 26. Cloudy and fine: clear. 27. Slight haze: very fine. 28—30. Very fine. 31. Heavy dew: very fine : cloudy. Mean temperature of the month ...... ipasiene age hantee PAE SARIN «vba. J Mean temperature of July 1851 —.... .seceveccscesscececescnsee 60°71 Mean temperature of July for the last twenty-six years ... 63 °40 Average amount of rain in July —csesersesecsececeecessccteeees 2°37 inches. Boston.—July 1, 2, Fine. 3. Cloudy. 4. Fine: thermometer 84° at 5 p.m. 5. Fine: therm. 91° at 2 p.m. 6. Fine: therm. 86° at3r.m. 7. Fine: therm. 81° at3 p.m. 8. Fine. 9. Fine: therm. 89° at2 p.m. 10,11. Fine. 12. Cloudy. 13. Fine. 14. Cloudy. 15. Cloudy: rain, with thunder and lightning early a.m. 16. Fine: rain, with thunder and lightning p.m.: therm. 86°. 17. Cloudy: therm. 86°3 p.m. 18. Fine. 19—22. Cloudy. 23. Fine, 24. Cloudy. 25. Fine: rainp.M. 26. Cloudy: rain A.M.andp.M. 27,28. Fine. 29. Cloudy. 30. Fine. 31. Cloudy. Sandwick Manse, Orkney.—July 1. Bright: cloudy. 2. Rain: cloudy. 3. Bright : cloudy: fine. 4. Cloudy: clear: fine. 5. Bright: clear: cloudy : thunder and lightning. 6. Rain: cloudy: fine. 7. Hazy: fine. 8. Bright: fine: fog. 9. Hazy: showers: thunder and lightning. 10. Bright: cloudy. 11. Bright: clear: fine. 12. Bright: fine: cloudy: fine. 13, 14. Bright: fine: clear: fine. 15. Bright : fine: cloudy: fine. 16. Hazy: fine: clear: fine. 17. Cloudy: rain. 18. Bright: cloudy: clear: fine. 19. Hazy: cloudy: clear: fine. 20. Bright: cloudy: rain: fine. 21. Rain: cloudy: fine. 22. Bright: hazy: fine. 23. Bright: fine: cloudy: fine. 24. Drops: fine: cloudy: fine. 25, 26. Cloudy: damp. 27. Damp. 28. Cloudy: fine: cloudy: damp. 29. Fog. 30. Rain: fog. 31. Damp: cloudy: damp.—This month has been remarkably fine and warm. Mean temperature of July for twenty-five previous years ...... 54 *79 Mean temperature of this month —.....+004. 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THE ANNALS AND MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY. [SECOND SERIES.] No. 58. OCTOBER 1852. XXI.— Observations on the Nidification of Gasterosteus aculeatus and Gasterosteus spinachia. By AtBpany Hancock *. Ir is only within the last few years that naturalists have clearly determined that some species of fish make nests for the recep- tion of their spawn ; though Aristotle was actually acquainted with the fact about twenty-two centuries ago. Five or six kinds are now ascertained to nidify ; and of these, two belong to the genus Gasterosteus,—one, G. aculeatus, the Three-spined Stickleback ; the other, G. spinachia, the Fifteen- spined Stickleback. The former is a well-known, active, and pugnacious little fish, inhabiting almost every pool and rivulet in the kingdom; the latter is much rarer, and is a denizen of the sea. Mr. Jonathan Couch states, in his interesting work entitled ‘Tllustrations of Instinct,’ that the first detailed notice of the nest-building of the Three-spined Stickleback occurs in a little magazine, ‘ The Youth’s Instructor,’ for the year 1834. This notice is from the pen of Mr. T. Crookenden, a gentleman un- known as a naturalist ; but who has given a very faithful account, so far as it goes, of the nidification of this species. It contains all that is at present known on the subject, and its accuracy can be verified by any one who will take the trouble to look into almost any pool of water durimg the summer months,—the breeding season of the Stickleback. At this time, these fish will be ob- served near to the margins, busily engaged in building and guarding their nests ; and shoals of the fry may be seen, in dif- ferent stages of development, swimming about in all directions. But if we wish to study, to advantage, the nidification of this * Read before the Tyneside Naturalists’ Field Club, August 11, 1852. Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser.2. Vol. x. 16 242 Mr. A. Hancock on the Nidification of species, a few specimens should be placed in confinement about May or June; and then all their movements can be narrowly watched and accurately observed. Care must be taken, however, that they be left unmolested, and that their new abode resemble, as much as possible, their usual haunts. I have lately had an opportunity of noticing the habits of this fish, during the breed- ing season, under the above favourable conditions. We have, for some time past, kept a glass trough filled with aquatic plants and animals; the bottom of this vessel is covered with mud, and the rock-work, piled up in the centre, is over- grown with a delicate hair-like Conferva; a few floating plants spread over the surface of the water, and innumerable Entomo- straca and other small Crustaceans, as well as various animal- cules, swarm in all parts ; the minute, but deadly, poison-armed Hydra also prevails where food is so plentiful; and a solitary individual of the great water beetle, Dytiscus marginatus, rambles over its watery domain, lord and master of all. Several of the freshwater Mollusca also people the trough, which on the whole has much the appearance of a miniature pond. Into this new home were put four or five sticklebacks last: May ; and they, at once, made themselves perfectly at ease. One, without the least hesitation, took possession of a certain spot, which it guarded with the greatest pertinacity, attacking vigorously any of its companions that might happen to approach the chosen locality. The beetle too, which sometimes came slowly paddling by, was pounced upon and. unceremoniously tumbled over ; but secure within his.scaly armour, as the knights of old, he little heeded the onslaught of his naked assailant ; so overpowering all oppo- sition he scrambled onward in his undeviating path. This fish was rather small; had the throat of a bright red colour, and the eyes of a brilliant bluish green. At first, all. the others were pale ; but, in the course of a few days, one of them gradually assumed the rich hues of that just described, and soon afterwards it also became attached to a spot, taking up its abode in one of the corners of the trough. On examining attentively the two selected localities, a nest was found in each, composed of a collection of delicate vegetable fibres, resting on the bottom of the trough, and matted mto an irregularly circular mass, somewhat depressed, and upwards of an inch in diameter ; the top being covered over with the same materials, and having, in the centre, a large hole. The fishes searcely ever strayed from their nests, but were constantly on guard, defending or repairing them; they were perpetually prying into the hole at the top and thrusting their heads right mto it. On one occasion, one of them entered by this hole, and slowly forced itself right through the side of the nest: as it gradually moved onward, its Gasterosteus aculeatus and G. spinachia. 243 body had a peculiar, lateral, vibratile motion. They would fre- quently seize hold of the nest and give it a violent tug, shaking and tearing loose the vegetable matter of which it was composed ; at other times they would carry to it, in their mouths, fine Con- ferva-stems, and press them with considerable force into the walls of the nest, or thrust them into the hole, which, by this means, was sometimes partially concealed. Occasionally, each was ob- served hovering over its nest, with the head close to the orifice, the body being inclined upwards, at an angle of about 45°, fanning it with the pectoral fins, aided by a lateral motion of the tail. This curious manceuvre was apparently for the purpose, so to speak, of ventilating the spawn, which could be distinctly seen through the orifice at the top; at least, by this means, a current of water was made to set in towards the nest, as was rendered perfectly evident by the agitation of particles of matter attached to it. This fanning or ventilating process was repeated, at short in- tervals, during the day, and every day until the spawn was hatched, to accomplish which took between two and three weeks. Only one nest contained spawn ; the other was torn in pieces, and the materials scattered about, in the hope that we might have the pleasure of seeing it reconstructed. In this we were not disappointed ; the fish immediately began to form a new nest in exactly the same spot, and by the following day it was more than half completed: It took a mouthful at a time, and was at some pains in adjusting each load, spreading the mate- rials out, and pressing them down with its mouth ; it then drew its body slowly over the whole, vibrating, all the time, in the same peculiar manner as when it forced its way through the nest, as before stated¥. On the 13th of June the hole at the top of the fruitful nest was found to be much enlarged, so that the entire mass of spawn was exposed to view ; and, on looking attentively, a few of the newly hatched fry were seen flittmg about the walls of the nest. The assiduity of the parent was now greatly increased ; it never left the spot ; by night it rested either on the nest or by its side, and during day nothing was allowed to approach. It fiercely seized a quill that was passed down towards the ob- ject of its solicitude, with such vigour that the shock of attack was distinctly felt by the hand. Combats with its companions became more frequent ; but its ire was chiefly directed against its neighbour, which, like itself, was engaged in parental duties. This having also a nest to defend never shrank from the conflict, * It is probable that it is the male fish which builds and guards the nest ; and, if so, it might, perhaps, be shedding the milt when dragging its body over and through the nest in the manner described. 16* 244. Mr. A. Hancock on the Nidification of and the encounters were therefore fierce and prolonged ; but, nevertheless, conducted with all due caution, and apparently with much science, as the gentlemen of the ring would express it. The sparring was very wary, and generally lasted a few seconds before the combatants closed. The attack was usually com- menced by one quietly creeping up, watching its opportunity ; on this, the other, acting on the defensive, would turn its broad side to the enemy and raising the ventral spine wait to receive the onslaught ; the assailant, intimidated by this formidable de- monstration, would then slowly retreat, and in its turn had in the same manner to defend itself. After thus advancing and retreating for a few times, one, taking advantage of an unguarded moment, would rush in upon its opponent and butt at it with its head, apparently endeavouring to bite; the other, rallying, returned the compliment, and after dashing at each other in this way two or three times, with extraordinary rapidity, the round would terminate, and each fish retreat to its nest to reeommence its more immediate nidimental duties. The fry were, at first, so minute and transparent that they could scarcely be discerned as they lay partially concealed amid the meshes of the nest: every now and then a slight fluttering motion betrayed their position, otherwise it was almost impos- sible to distinguish them. As I was closely watching their mo- tions, at this time, one of the newly hatched fishlings, with m- trepidity beyond its experience, ventured to pass the limits of its cradle: in an instant the watchful parent was there, and with gaping mouth seized the little wanderer, which immediately dis- appeared, the jaws having closed upon it. Seeing this, I at once gave up the fry for lost, deeming that here was an instance of instinct at fault, and that all the affectionate solicitude of the parent was to end in its devouring its offspring. In this I was mistaken: the old fish, quietly returning, dropped the straggler into its nest lively and uninjured. During the whole of this day none of the fry were permitted to ramble beyond the pre- cincts of their fold; when any attempted to do so—and many did attempt—they were invariably brought back im the mouth of the parent: none escaped its vigilant eye, and it was amusing to see with what a hurried, fluttering motion the little things dropped almost perpendicularly down into the nest, so soon as they were released from the jaws of the parent. It was three days before all the eggs were hatched, and the attention of the parent, during all this time, was unremitting. On the second day I marked its manceuvres for five minutes, and found that, in this short period, it ventilated the nest eight times, warded off an attack of the neighbouring fish, and brought back to the nest a straggler or two. During this day Gasterosteus aculeatus and G. spinachia. 245 the spawn was frequently examined by the parent, who would occasionally seize hold of it and give it a good shake; appa- rently for the purpose of throwing off adherent matter, that the water might freely circulate about the eggs. The parent would then dive, head foremost, into the nest and bring out a mouth- ful of mud, which it would carry to some little distance and discharge with a puff. The third day was passed much in the same manner, only as the eggs were now all hatched, the nest was less frequently fanned or ventilated; and the fry, about forty in number, were allowed greater liberty; the strongest being permitted to re- create themselves among the Conferve that grew on a stone about 2 inches from the nest. On the fourth day the fanning had ceased altogether, and the rambles of the young were less restricted. They were not yet, however, permitted to pass be- yond certain limits; when any transgressed these bounds they were immediately seized, as heretofore, and carried back to the nest ; into which they were always very glad to escape from the clutches of their ardent parent. Notwithstanding all her vigi- lance, one contrived, on the fifth day, to escape her eye, and pass- ing the fatal boundary was immediately devoured by the other fish, which now seemed always on the watch, neglecting its own barren nest, being intent only on appropriating to itself the nestlings of its fruitful neighbour. In this act of cannibalism we see the reason for the parent’s anxious care and its jealousness of its kind; and it is evident from Mr. Crookenden’s account, previously quoted, that they greedily devour each other’s spawn. The young fry, however, have other enemies as well as their own species. One day a favourite Hydra (H. fusca) was observed to be distended in a most extraordinary manner; on examination it was found to have swallowed the head and shoulders of one of the young fish many times larger than itself; and the caudal extremity, which was too much for it, and which was projecting out of its mouth, had been seized upon by another Hydra. Thus, it would appear that these low organized, but powerful and vo- . racious animals occasionally regale themselves on the flesh of the Vertebrata. This happened when the fry were three or four weeks old. All the old fish, with the exception of that with the young, were, in consequence of their cannibal propensities, turned out of the trough ; and danger being thus removed, the fry were no longer restricted in their rambles, but enjoyed the whole range of their crystal abode. Henceforth the parent’s assiduity gra- dually relaxed, though for days afterwards it was its custom to take the young occasionally into its mouth, and after carrying them a little distance to let them drop out again. I took one of 246 Mr. A. Hancock on the Nidification of the fry out one day for examination with the microscope; on returning it to the trough, it was im so sickly a state as to be scarcely able to leave the vessel, which was held in the hand. The old fish, perceiving the helpless condition of its offspring, came up to the surface of the water, and seizing hold of the ex- hausted young one carried it off almost from amidst my fingers, and taking it to some distance puffed it out of its mouth into a tuft of Conferve. This courageous act of our little fish would seem, in some measure, to give credence to the assertion, so fre- quently made, that some of the sharks protect their young by receiving them into the mouth on the approach of danger. Other facts might be related evincing parental attachment ; but perhaps enough has been said to satisfy those, who take an interest in such matters, that in this respect the Three-spined Stickleback is scarcely, if at all, inferior to the hen, whose affec- tionate regard for her offspring has ever been the theme of ad- miration. Incubation, with the fish, is out of the question ; it attends its nest, however, as diligently as any of the feathered tribes, keeping it in constant repair, fanning it with its fins, and removing anything that might obstruct the free action of the water upon the eggs; it defends its young with the same un- daunted courage, and though it cannot gather them under spreading wings as the hen gathers her brood, yet all those which stray are brought back to the nest, that they may be under the protection of their ever-vigilant and courageous parent. ; , The nest of the Fifteen-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus spt- nachia) was first noticed by Mr. Jonathan Couch on the Cornish coast in 1842. Since then it has been observed two or three times on the coast of Northumberland. It is composed of pen- dent seaweeds bound together, by a silk-like thread, into pear- shaped or fusiform masses : the spawn is deposited m the centre of the mass. Mr. Coueh says, “ One of these nests was visited every day for three weeks, and the old fish was found invariably guarding it ; it would examine the nest on all sides, and then re- tire for a short time, but soon return to renew the examination. On several occasions,” continues this gentleman, “I laid the eggs bare by removing a portion of the nest, but when this was dis- covered great exertions were instantly made to recover them. By the mouth of the fish the edges of the opening were again drawn together, and the other portions torn from their attach- ments and brought over the orifice till the ova were again hid from view. And as great force was sometimes necessary to effect this, the fish would thrust its snout into the nest as far as the eyes, and then jerk backwards till the object was effected. While thus engaged, it would suffer itself to be taken in the hand, but Gasterosteus aculeatus and G. spinachia. 247 repelled any attack made on the nest, and quitted not its post so long as I remained.” Mr. Richard Howse, who found three or four of these nests in a pool among the rocks at Tynemouth, a year or two ago, informs me that each was attended by a fish, and that they scarcely ever left their nests, but kept hovering about, atten- tively examining them, and thrusting their projecting muzzles amidst the seaweeds of which they were composed ; the fish would occasionally poise themselves close to the nests, and fan them with the pectoral fins in the same manner as the Three- spined species. And, indeed, it is quite evident, from the ac- counts given by these two gentlemen, that the habits of both species, in all that concerns nidification, perfectly coincide ; both guard the nest with the same unwearied perseverance, drive off enemies, make all necessary repairs, fan or ventilate the nest, and keep it in all respects in good order. It is satisfactory to observe this exact similarity of habits, for. Mr. Couch has changed his opinion, apparently upon insufficient grounds, respecting the nest, which he attributed to the Fifteen- spined Stickleback. He now considers it to belong to the com- mon Shanny (Blennius pholis), arriving at this conclusion after having examined the young hatched from ova taken out of one of the nests. ‘Being from the first,’ says this gentleman, “impressed with the conviction that they were the young of the Fifteen-spined Stickleback, I was much surprised to notice the great difference of their shape from that of their supposed parent, more especially in the parts before the eyes, which, instead of being elongated and slender, were short and round. In consequence of this they were closely examined with glasses, and drawn with the aid of a microscope of low power; and though I failed to detect satisfactorily the ventral fins of that fish (chiefly perhaps from their slender form and transparency), yet, from the declivity of the head, protuberance of the belly, the pectoral fin, and the length of the dorsal and anal fins, which in some specimens were continuous with the caudal, and in others separated by a slight notch, I had no hesitation in referring them to the common Shanny.” Now, the young of the Three-spined Stickleback differ just as widely from the mature fish as the young of the Fifteen-spined species are stated to do; and what is of still more importance, the differences are of exactly the same kind. In the former, as well as in the latter, the parts before the eyes are short and round, and can scarcely be said to project at all im front ; the declivity of the head is consequently great ; the belly is pro- tuberant, and the dorsal and anal fins are long and continuous with the caudal. The young of the Three-spined Stickleback 248 Mr. J. Blackwall on the Structure, Functions, Gfconomy, would therefore appear also to possess, at first, the characters of the Shanny ; but as development goes on, the jaws are pushed out, the belly is reduced in comparative size, and the dorsal and anal fins are shortened, and become ultimately separated from the caudal. Thus, in course of time, the young gradually as- sume the form and characters of the parent. And there can be little doubt that this would have been found to be the case with the young of the Fifteen-spined Stickleback, had Mr. Couch watched their development a little longer. The obtuse form of the head, on which that gentleman places much stress, is the embryonic condition of all fishes; the elongation of the jaws is always an after-development. In conclusion it may be remarked, that of the three or four other species of fish, described to nidify, one, a native of Deme- rara, is stated to remain by the side of the nest with as much solicitude as the hen guards her eggs ; the same is said respect- ing another species inhabiting the Black Sea: but im none, so far as I am aware, has parental attachment been observed to equal that evinced by the Three-spined Stickleback. Yet we must not, therefore, conclude that it does not exist to the same extent in others of the finny tribes. The habits of these animals are very little known ; and who can say what time may bring to light respecting the ceconomy of the mhabitants of the deeper regions of the sea? It is only, as it were, the other day that nothing was known of the nidification of the Three-spined Stickle- back,—a. resident of almost every pool, river, and rivulet in the kingdom. XXII.—to» Dr.; Hooker toebelong’to WVostoe commune. Samples of both were forwarded:to Mr: Berkeley, whose notes to the following effect» were also laid before the Society. Mr, Bérkeley states that he has been unable to find any account of the chemical constituents of Nostec: - ‘The chemical condition of suchspecies’ as he has been enabled:to examine, under the influence of iodine’ and sulphuric acid; seems to varyonot only in the different species, but in individual specimens, andy even im parts of ‘the same 302 Linnean Society. specimen. In some the gelatinous matter and the chains of spores assume a more or less deep tint of violet, indicating that the greater portion consists of cellulose, perhaps in some cases partially changed to dextrine by the action of the sulphuric acid; while in other cases the prevailing tint is yellow-brown, indicating rather bassorin. No purple tint occurs where merely iodine is used, and the change therefore is not due to the presence of amylum. In fresh specimens of Nostoe commune, the spores assume a beautiful green tint, which is probably due to the combined tint of the yellow pro- tein contents of the cells and the blue cellulose of which their wall is formed. In the Arctic specimens and in English Nostoc commune the bassorin tint prevails, while in specimens from Thibet (probably Nostoc salsum, Kitz.), gathered by Dr. Thomson, in pools of water where the soil is covered with an efflorescence of carbonate of soda, cellulose is indicated, but with every intermediate shade. Mr. Berke- ley has, however, found that in woody fibres which in bleaching have been exposed to salt water, adeeper purple tint is assumed than when they have been bleached by rain water, so that something may possibly be due to the peculiar place of growth of the Thibetan species. In Nostoc edule the yellow-brown tint is stronger than in any other specimen examined; but it is scarcely probable that any very constant chemical characters will be found to prevail in the different species. In either case there would be a very nutritious food, and one from its gelatinous condition probably easily assimi-. lated. The habit of the Arctic species is exactly that of Nostoc commune, and Mr. Berkeley would not hesitate to regard it as iden- tical, if there were no other difference than a little increase in the relative size of the threads of spores; but in parts of the fronds the chains are surrounded by a distinct gelatinous envelope, presenting an appearance somewhat similar to that of toad-spawn, which is very visible in a transverse section. Ata later period, when the chains are ready to break up at the connecting joints, no trace of this en- velope is to be detected, and the plant then exhibits the true cha- racters of Nostoc. It appears indeed, from the remarks of Thuret, that when the threads of Nostoc are first generated from the large connecting bodies, there is really such an envelope ; but this exists in Nostoc, as far as is at present known, merely in the infant state ; and consequently if the genus Hormosiphon is to be retained, the Arctic species must be regarded as belonging to it, for no such ap- pearance has been detected by Mr. Berkeley either in dried or freshly- gathered specimens of Nostoc commune. It is possible that more extended observation may show that this character is not of the consequence attributed to it by Kiitzing; but in the mean time Mr. Berkeley characterizes these specimens as— Hormostpyon arcticus, foliaceo-plicatus viridis vel fuscescens, filis de- mum (gelatina diffusa) liberis. Fronds foliaceous, variously plicate, sometimes contracted into a little ball. Gelatinous envelope at length effused; connecting cells at first solitary, then three together; threads (which are nearly twice Linnean Society. 303 as thick as in Nostoc commune) breaking up at the connecting cells, so as to form two new threads, each terminated with a single large cell, the central cell becoming free. Of these threads and of their gelatinous envelope Mr. Berkeley gives figures. With regard to the Thibetan Nostoc, Mr. Berkeley adds that a species of this genus, as is well known, is a native of Tartary and is eaten abundantly in China, ‘There is a box of it, sent by Mr. Tra- descant Lay, in the Museum of the Linnean Society; and mention is made of it by M. Montagne in the ‘ Revue Botanique,’ ii. p. 247, as having, in the form of a soup, made part of a dinner given by the Mandarin Huang at Macao, to several members of the French Em- bassy. ‘The Mandarin described it as a freshwater plant, growing in Tartary in streams and running water, and sold at Canton in small boxes: it is highly esteemed by,the Chinese, and not very ex- pensive. At this time M. Montagne regarded the species as Nostoc ceruleum, but specimens sent him by Mr. Berkeley proved it to be distinct, and it was afterwards published in the ‘ Revue Botanique’ under the name of Nostoc edule, Berk. and Mont., and figured by Kiitzing in his ‘ Tabule Phytologice.’ In the last-named author’s ‘Species Algarum,’ it is said to have been gathered by Gandichaud, who, although a great traveller, was certainly never in Tartary. The Thibetan Nostoc, like the Arctic, is probably quite as good as the Tartarian. After some further notes on the chemical changes produced in this plant and in Nostoc commune when treated with iodine and sulphuric acid, and a reference to a passage in Kutzing’s ‘ Grundziige der Philosophische Botanik,’ where he speaks of these plants as consisting in great measure of gelacin (a substance belong- ing to the same category as bassorin, and perhaps a modification of it), Mr. Berkeley concludes by stating that a thin slice of gum tra- gacanth, treated with iodine and sulphuric acid, assumes after a time the same tint as the Nostoc. He believes, however, that starch is often present in gum tragacanth, which is not likely to be the case with the Nostoc; and thinks we may safely assume the jelly of Nostoc to be a state of bassorin, passing into cellulose or dextrine. February 3.—Robert Brown, Esq., President, in the Chair. Read a Paper entitled ‘‘ Further Observations on the genus An- thophorabia, Newp.” By George Newport, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. The author stated that having had the good fortune, in September last, to rediscover, at Gravesend, the parasite Anthophorabia, which, twenty years ago, he found in the nests of Anthophora, at Rich- borough in Kent, and an account of which is given in a former paper (‘ Proceedings,’ March 20, 1849, vol. ii. p. 24), he felt it necessary to offer a few additional observations on this genus; since one of the most remarkable peculiarities of the male sex, the possession of three stemmata on the vertex, and of a single stemmatous eye on each side of the head, instead of the usual compound one of perfect insects, had been repeatedly denied to be a fact; the denial being printed in the ‘ Proceedings ’ of the Society for May 1, 1849, vol. ii. p. 37. 304 Linnean Soctety. At the time the author described this genus it was well known that he possessed only delineations of the insect, which he had made in the year 1831; at which time the insect occurred in great abundance, and as he then expected to have been able to obtain it at pleasure, he neglected to preserve specimens of it. He now showed in the in- sect itself the stemmatous eyes which he originally stated it to pos- sess, and consequently that the denial which had been given to this fact had been uncalled for. He felt it but right, however, to mention that there were points of minor importance in the description origi- nally given of the genus which admitted of some revision. ‘These referred to the number of joints in the antenne, the club of which is formed of a plurality of closely united rings, instead of being but a single joint. The tarsi, too, of both sexes, may be regarded either in the way usual with entomologists, as being formed only of four joints; or, if anatomically considered, as he had originally described them, as of five joints, the terminal joint being short, soft and pad- like, and usually discarded by entomologists as a distinct joint, which, nevertheless, it is. With respect to the asserted identity of Anthophorabia with another parasite, Melittobia, described in the ‘ Proceedings’ for May 1, 1849, vol. ii. p. 37, the author showed that this could not be the case, if the latter insect has been described correctly,as the account there given of Melittobia differs greatly from the facts exhibited by Antho- phorabia. The characters of this genus he now proposed to revise as follows :— Tk Fam. Cua.cipipz&. Gen. AntHorHoraBia, Newp. Fem. Caput \atitudine thoracis. Antenne 9-articulate, pilose ; articulo 3tio ad 6tum subzequalibus; reliquis clavam solidam ovalem efforman- tibus. Thorax abdomenque equales. Tarsi (4-?) 5-articulati in utro- que sexu; articulo 5to minimo, molli, pulvillo simili, feré obsoleto. Mas. Caput magnum. Oculi stemmatosi. Antenne 10-articulate ; articulo Imo globoso, minutissimo; 2do arcuato, magnoperé dilatato, dimidio anteriore subtis excavato; 3tio magno; 4to adhuc majore, globoso v. subangulato; 5to 6to 7moque minimis, cyathiformibus ; 8vo 9no 10moque auctis, clavam solidam ovalem efformantibus. dle abbreviate. As the specimens found at Gravesend present some specific cha- racters which were not observed in the insects formerly obtained at Richborough, the author proposed to name those which he now possesses, provisionally, in the event of their proving to be a new species :— A. rasciata, Mas. Fulva, fasciis 5 transversis abdominalibus satura- tioribus, antennarum articulis anterioribus oculis prothoracis margine posteriore maculaque subalari utrinque in mesothorace nigrescentibus, pedibus subarcuatis robustis ambulatoriis, trochantere femorumque paris secundi parte terminali subtus spinulis minutis densé barbatis, tibiis tarsisque omnibus fortiter spinosis.—Long. lin. 1. Fem. Nigro-eenea nitida, lineis 2 longitudinalibus in mesothorace scutello- que albidis, abdomine ovali elongato acuto fasciis transversis satura- Zoological Society. 305 tioribus pilis albidis marginatis, oculis rufescentibus, pedibus flavescen- tibus, femoribus saturatioribus, tibiis rectis elongatis pilosis, tarsis pi- losis fortiter spinosis. _ Hab. in nidis Anthophore retuse apud Gravesend in Comitatu Cantiano, The author then gave some account of the habits of the males and females, which he had seen emerge from the nymph state, and re- marked that out of about one hundred and fifty specimens of perfect insects and nymphs obtained from one bee’s nest, he had only found eleven males. Having placed about one hundred females in a small glass tube closed, as he thought, securely with a cork, he was sur- prised at the end of a fortnight to find that nearly the whole had escaped, by insinuating themselves into slight fissures in the sides of the cork, between this and the glass. From this circumstance he is now disposed to think that the habit of the female is to penetrate into the bee’s nest, after this has been closed, and deposit her eggs on the nearly full-grown larva within; as a few weeks after the escape of these females he discovered three individuals in an open cell of Anthophora which contained a nearly full-grown larva, and which had remained nearly close to the glass tube from which the Anthophorabia had escaped. ‘Two of these individuals now appeared ts be in the act of oviposition. He noticed also on the same bee- larva some larvee of the parasites in different stages of growth; so that he regards the species as an external feeder, like the larva of Monodontomerus. . Specimens of the male and female insects were exhibited at the meeting. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Dec. 10, 1850.—Prof. Owen, V.P., F.R.S., in the Chair. On tHE Marine MOoLuvuscaA DISCOVERED DURING THE VoyvaGEs or THE HrerRAaLp AND Panpora, By Capt. Kewuett, R.N., anp Lirut. Woop, R.N. By Prorgssor Epwarp Forses, F.R.S. etc. Out of 307 species of shells collected by the voyagers, 217 are ma- rine Gasteropoda, 1 is a Cephalopod, and 58 marine bivalves. The genera of which species are most numerous are—Murew, Purpura, Trochus, Terebra, Strombus, Conus, Columbella, Littorina, Oliva, Cyprea, Natica, Patella, Chiton, Venus, and Area. Among the more local genera represented in this collection are, Monoceros, Pseudoliva, Cyrtulus, Saxidomus, and Crassatella. 'The specimens ane seanly in very fine preservation. Many of the species are rare or ocal. The localities at which they were chiefly collected were the coast of southern California, from San Diego to Magdalena, and the shores of Mazatlan. Unfortunately the precise locality of many of the individual specimens had not been noted at the time, and a quantity of Poly- nesian shells, mingled with them, have tended.to render the value of the collection as illustrative of distribution less exact than it might Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. x. 20 306 Zoological Society. have been. A few specimens of considerable interest: were taken by the ‘ Herald’ at Cape Krusenstern. The new species\are-all from the American shores... There are no products of deep-sea dredging: As many of the following new forms are from the coast of Ma- zatlan, Mr. Cuming, whose experience and advice have been taken, and magnificent collection consulted m drawing: up: this report, has considered it desirable that some undescribed shells contained in his collection, from that region, should be described at the same time. TROCHITA SPIRATA, Sp. NOv. T. testd conicd, fusco-purpured, longitudinaliter _radiato- sulcatd, sulcis numerosis, prominentibus, subrugosis ; anfractibus 6, angus- tis ; lamind internd spiral, depressd, magnd, margine undulato. Diam. 25%, alt. 154 une. A very handsome species of this group, allied to Calyptra sor- dida of Broderip, and differing from the well-known T. trochiformis in having very much narrower and more numerous whorls, as well as in its internal colouring. It was procured at Massaniello, in the Gulf of California. 7 Trocuus CASTANEUS. Nuttall, MSS. T. testd late-conicd, crassd, lete castaned, spiraliter Jcwstiveet, anfractibus 6, convexiusculis, omnibus spiraliter sulcatis, sulcis numerosis, ultimo lato, basi subangulato, convexo, imperforato, aperturd subquadratd, margaritaced, suturis impressis.._. Oper- ore ? Alt. 5%, lat. 38, long. apert. 4 une. The number of suleations in the second whorl is about. six ; the cavities are always rich chestnut, the elevations yellowish. The ge- neral form is intermediate between that of ziziphinus and alabastrites. The shell has long been known under Nuttall’s manuscript; name, but never, so far as I am aware, described. It is from Upper Cali- fornia. Trocuvus (MoNoponTA) GALLINA, sp. nov. f. testd obtuse pyramidali, crassd (adultus ponderosus), spird magna, anfractibus, 5, glabris, obsolete. oblique striatis, convexiusculis, albidis, fasciis angustis numerosis purpureis ornatis, anfractu ultimo prope. suturam subcanaliculato, basi lateribus rotundatis, umbilico albo, imperforato, impresso, aperturd subquadratd, labro externo subpatulo, margine acuto, levi, nigrescente, labro.colu- mellari bidentato, albo, faucibus margaritaceo-albis, operculo: cir- culart, corneo, fusco, spiris numerosissimis, confertis,.. Testa junior spird depressiusculd. _ Alt. 1,4, lat. max. 1,2,, alt. apert. 0,8 une. Probably from the Mazatlan coast. TROcHUS (Monoponta) AUREO-TINCTUS, Sp. Nov. T. testd obtuse. pyramidali, crassa, spird mediocri, anfractibus 4 vel 5, convexiusculis, obtuse angulatis, subcanaliculatis, spiraliter 1— Zoological Society. 307 | 2 date sulcatis, striis spiralibus minutis, longitudinalibus minutis- oc) osimis sculptis, colore nigro obscure minutissimét que griseo-lineato, ultimo anfractu basi subplanato’ 4-5 suleis profundis spiralibus ©)” seulpto, margine obtuse subangulato, umbilico profunde perforato, lete aurantio, aperturd subrotundd, labro externo | tenui, nigro 220 marginato, labro columellari albo 1-2-dentato, dentibus inequali- bus munitis, dente inferiore minimo, fauce albo-margaritaceo. Alt: 05%, lat. max. 1, alt. apert. 0+45 une. Variat costis obliquis transversis. With the last Trocuus (MARGARITA) PURPURATUS, Sp. Nov. T..testd. turbinatd, spird depressd, prominuld, anfractibus 5, con- vertusculis, nitidis, levigatis, striis incrementi.minutissimis, 7ro- cop, SC0lis. fascits spiralibus lete purpureis cinctis, suturis impressis, bast. margine subrotundato, umbilico imperforato,. albo, aperturd _subrotundd, labro externo tenui, labro,interno, levi, obsolete un- .,, dulato, albo-margaritaceo, faucibus purpureo-margaritaceis. Alt. 0545, lat. max. 07%, alt. apert. 0,7 unc. . A beautiful little species. W. coast of N. America? _ Trocuvus (Marearita) Hinxi, sp. nov. T. testd late turbinatd, heliciformi, spird obtusd, parvd, depressd, __ anfractibus 5 convexiusculis, levigatis, politis, ad suturas appres- ~ Sis, flaveo-albidis, ultimo anfractu maximo, basi convero, margini- bus rotundatis, centraliter excavato, imperforato, aperturd oblique- subrotundd, labro externo tenui, columellari leviter arcuato, albo ; Saucibus albo-margaritaceis. Alt. 0,4, lat. max. 05%, alt. apert. 0,3, unc. From the northern shores of the W. coast of N. America ? ~T have dedicated this species to — Hill, Esq., Master of the ‘Herald.’ Natica PRITCHARDI, Sp. nov. N. testdé subglobosd, spird brevi, anfractibus 5, nitidis, sub lente striatis, flaveolis, fasciis transversis fusco-purpureis, angulato- undulatis flammulatis, in adulto obsoletis seu fascias obscuras spi- rales simulantibus ; aperturd ovatd, superné obsolete angulatd, co- lumelld costd callosd albd spirali in umbilicum oblique intrante, umbilico superne perforato ; faucibus fasciato-fuscatis. Operculo culcareo, albo, levi, polito, sulco angustissimo prope margine ex- terno, margine interno recto, crenulato. Alt. 1 unc. ; long. anfr. ult. 5%, lat. = une. ; long. apert. 5 unc. Mazatlan. I have dedicated this pretty shell, which reminds us of the Atlantic intricata, to my friend Dr. Pritchard, Assistant- Surgeon of H.M.S. Calypso, who assiduously collected on the coast of Mazatlan, where he, as well as the officers of the ‘ Herald’ and ‘ Pandora,’ met with this species in abundance, PLANAXIS NIGRITELLA, Sp. nov. N)} testa ovato-lanceolatd, crassiuseuld, fusco-nigridé, spird brevi, acutd, anfractibus 6, spiraliter sulcatis, interstitiis latis, planis, 20* 308 Zoological. Society. | (sulcis in medio anfractis ultimt obsoletis, aperturd ovatd, patuld, superne unidentatd, labro externo tenui, margine interno, obsolete crenulato, labro columellari, superné striato, inferne abbreviato, eu i canali brevissimd, faucibus slat soi song: 385 lat. 83) long: apert. Sune. oStraits of Juandeb'Fuaco. » The “operculum is preserved in’ some bf the numerous specimens, and has'a subspiral nucleus: PLANAXIS PIGRA, Sp. NOV. tN,, testd, ovato-lanceolatd, erassd, flaveold, spird mediocri, ed, anfractibus 6, planatis, levigatis, aperturd breve-ovatd, patuld, Jon Superne obsolete unidentatd, labris incrassatis, marginibus, levibus, fon, onal brevissimd, Saucibus alias, : ee ag og 0 xfs, lat. 52;, long. apert, 2; unc. : iy See Its surface is invested with a soft yellow epidermis. The operculum is corneons, of subconcentric elements, with a lateral asia aes nucleus; \: | ; Ritoaira’ 8 Talend. “NAssa CoOperr, sp: now. os testd lanecolatd, turritd, ‘crassd, anfractibus 6, WAVE culis, ‘. spiraliter sulcato-striatis, longitudinaliter 8-costatd ; costis di- stantibus, forlibus, distinctis ; anfractu ultimo % longitudinis testa ss equante, aperturd ovatd, canali brevi; labro externo crasso, sim- “plici; labro columellari reflexo, albo; caudd albd; anfractibus __ fuse, obscure. albo-fasciatis. “Long, <8 une., lat. anfr. ult. 34, long. apert. 5! Marked from the Sandwich Isles. Bedleatea™ to Lieut! thoagar R.N., of the ‘ Herald.’ Nassa Sniiewcitubes, sp. nov. N. testd lanceolata, turritd, crassd, albd, rufo-fasciata, if ucseas bus sex convexiusculis, spiraliter sulcatis, longitudinaliter densb- costatis, spird vie longitudinem ultimi anfractéis equante ;\aper- turd ovaid, caudé brevissimd; labro columellari reflexd, albd.; ce eal alba} fauce striato. : Long. 45 une. 3 lat.2, une. ; long. apert. =2; une. With the last. Dedicated to — Woodward, Esq., R.N.,: Purser to‘the « Herald?’ PURPURA ANALOGA, Sp. nov. _&P. test turritd, albidd, spiraliter late rufo-fasciatd ; spird exsertd ; anfractibus 5 rotundatis, costis spiralibus (6 ad 8 in anfractu penultimo), quadratis, numerosis cinctis, interstitiis crenulatis, ad “ suturam hte labro ia deg pgp “Long. 154, lat. 5%, long. apert. 38 unc. This species (from the Californian coast ?) bears a striking’ resem- blanee:to; the: Atlantic-Purpura lapillus; and is intermediate between it andthe Purpuradecemcostata of Middendorff, from the Icy Seaiat Behring’s Straits, the place.of which it probably takes.on the, western shotés of North» America. Purpura, noviespit: Acsingle specimen, to. which I-abstain iy ing a name; since its: characters are intermediate, between those, of, de- Miscellaneous. 309 comoostata and Fr eycinetii (a Karnitseliatha ice at it tis probably a vartety? of the former: : | “PURPURA FUSCATA, Sp, nov. F P. testd oblonga, subturritd; fused; spira dp-cati anfractibus con- soe verts, costis spiralibus (2.in anfractu, penultimo), paucis, distan- tibus subsquamosis cinctis, interstitiis. costis .obsoletis,;, aperturd dilatatd, nolan albidd. | > . Long. 175, lat. 38, long. apert. 38 une. Wie _. A’species of the Lapillus group. Said to have been. taken at ‘the Sandwich Islands. “Among the Purpure in the collection are’ P. planospira, P. colu- mellaris, and P. Carolensis, all Galapagos species, and prpbably col- lected during the visit. to those islands. : eae .«Fusus Kenuxrit, sp. nov. ! arnaena ae F. testd crassd, fusiformi, pyramidatd, anfractibus 9, Fit stvi- atis, angulatis, noduloso-costatis, costis in anfractibus omnibus 8, prope suturam obsoletis excavatis appressisque, ;,.anfractu, ultimo 2 teste occupante; aperturd elongato-pyriformi, superne angulato ; a inferne canali obliquo plus 4 aperture equante ; labro columellari, wera reflexo, incrassato, labro poy ars attenuato, subdenticulato ; caudd . tacrassatd, contortd, reflerd ; colore sordide albido, ore albo. Long, 32 BGs § ; lat. max. anfr. ult. 1,2, unc, ; long. apert. 23 une. ; long. caud. ~ This remarkable shell was taken on. the Californian coast, ‘adj is very, distinct from any known Fusus. In general aspect it closely resembles a Fasciolaria, reminding us strongly of the European Fas- ciolaria tarentina, but is greatly larger and has no plaits on the pillar lip. The strize which wind round the whorls are grouped in twos'and threes. They become very strongly marked and assume the character of sulcations on the caudal portion of the body whorl. The ribs are mainly developed a little above the centre on the, angu- lated portion of the body whorl and on the lower halves of the upper whorls, so prominently as to appear like large tubercles. I have dedicated this unique shell to the eminent conductor of this important expedition. Fusus Oregonensis was taken on the Californian coast, and F, sale- brosus on the coast of Mazatlan. MISCELLANEOUS. On a Parasite which is developed under exceptional. circumstances on the surface of certain alimentary substances and .causes them to.appear covered with blood. By M. Montagne. An’ extraordinary pheenomenon has just, passed under my eyes, to which IT beg to call the attention of the Academy for‘a moment. \{ had“ alteady ‘some: knowledge of it from>two memoirs’ which shave treated of it specially, but had never witnessed:it previously. “More- over this: pheenomenon i is. so'rare, that Iam not aware ofits having ever been mentioned inthis country.’ Leam speaking of the develop- 310 Miscellaneous. ment of a parasite, either animal or vegetable, which under certain, cit cumstances attacks alimentary substances, especially pastry, commu- nicating to them a bright red colour resembling that of arterial blood. According to the interpretation of several historical facts given by M. Ehrenberg, who has published a very interesting and erudite work upon this production, its appearance in the dark ages must have given rise to fatal errors, by causing the condemnation of un- happy victims to capital punishments, for crimes of which they were totally innocent. It is in fact to this phenomenon that we must refer all those instances of blood found in bread, on consecrated wafers, &c. which the credulity of our fathers attributed to witchcraft or regarded as prodigies of fatal presage. - On the 14th of July last, I was at the Chateau du Parquet, near Rouen, with M. Aug. Le-Prévost.: every one knows, that for, about ten days at that time the temperature had been exceedingly high. The servants, much astonished at what they saw, brought us half a fowl, roasted the previous evening, which was literally covered with a gelatinous layer of a very intense carmine red, and only of a bright rose colour where the layer was thinner. A cut melon also presented some traces of it, Some cooked cauliflower which had been thrown away, and which I did not see, also, according to the people of the house, presented the same appearance. Lastly, three days after- wards, the leg of a fowl was also attacked by the same production. Examining it with a microscope of middling power lent me by. M. Le Prévost, I readily convinced myself that it was the same thing which had been observed by M. Ehrenberg; for a specimen of it; developed upon cooked rice, which had been sent by M. Ehrenberg to Dr. Rayer some years since, had been submitted to my inspectie by that gentleman. : fe Whether it be an animalcule (Monas prodigiosa) as M. Ehrenberg thinks, or a fungus (Zoogalactina imetropha) as M. Sette considers it, the individuals composing it are so extremely small that their dia- meter is not more than =2, of a millimetre, and it requires a magni- fying power of at least 800 diameters to observe them satisfactorily. This parasite is propagated with great facility when sown under favourable conditions,—in cooked rice for example placed between two plates or in closed vessels. M. P. Col, a chemist of Padua, has employed it in tinging silk various shades of rose colour.— Comptes Rendus, xxxv. p. 145. IRISH MOLLUSCA. To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. Windsor Lodge, Monkstown, co. Dublin, September 16, 1852. GENTLEMEN,— Upon my friend Dr. Battersby showing the speci- mens of Cylichna we took in Birterbuy Bay to Mr. Clark of Bath, he pronounced that they were the Cylichna strigella, and not the C. conulus, as stated in the September Number of the ‘ Annals,’ I am, Gentlemen, yours most truly obliged, Witiiam W. WALPOLE, Miscellaneous. 311 Directions for Making and Preserving Microscopical Preparations. Unie Ces By M. Harrine of Utrecht. / [The following directions are translated, in a slightly abridged form, from different parts of Harting’s work on the Microscope*, They haye been selected as likely to prove useful to that now numerous class of students who prosecute original researches with the aid of the microscope. . Personal experience enables us to attest the value of some of these hints; and the fact that Prof. Harting’s unrivalled cabinet of microscopic preparations, comprising more than 6000 spe- cimens put up with his own hands, is indebted for its completeness and preservation to the methods of manipulation here described, is sufficient evidence of their excellence,—TRANS, | Very few objects can be preserved unaltered when dry, and even when this is possible, as in the case of hairs, fish-scales, and the like, the method is not to be in general recommended. Such objects, when surrounded by air, possess too little transparency to permit a satisfactory definition of their component parts.* It is only for pre- serving the scales of insects and certain test objects that the dry method is useful, and even preferable, from the superior distinctness with which it enables the observer to make out the different sorts of lines upon these bodies. The simplest mode of mounting these seales for microscopical examination, is to lay a few of them upon an ordi- nary glass object-slide, which may be moistened with the breath, if this is found necessary to make the objects adhere to it. A glass eovering-plate, of suitable thickness, is then laid upon the object ; and finally there is pasted round both slide and cover a piece of paper, oe in its centre an opening corresponding to the position of the object. Different specimens from the organic kingdom would, if simply put up in the dry way, speedily become the prey of vegetable and animal parasites. This is the case, for instance, with sections of organs like the lungs, preserved by inflation and subsequent drying. To prevent this disadvantage, I am in the habit of moistening such preparations with oil of turpentine, which, on evaporating, leaves upon the surface a very delicate varnish-like coating, which suffices for its protection. Most’ microscopical objects, however, require to be mounted in some fluid, the nature of which must be varied according to the pro- perties of the substance which it is wished to preserve. The fluids which I employ are the following :— I. Saturated Solution of Chloride of Caleium. Ist, This solution, which must be perfectly free from traces of iron, is of very general utility, and may be employed in all cases in which the substance to be preserved is of moderate firmness or hard- ness. In this solution all preparations of bones and teeth, sections * Het Mikroscoop, deszelfs gebruik, geschiedenis en tegenwoordige toestand. Utrecht. 3 vols. 1848-50. 312 Miscellaneous. of hairs, feathers, fish-:seales, whalebone, &c., are:best preserveds est may be also-used: with advantage, for mounting: specimens -of many minute, animaleules | provided ;with a’ hard: mtegument, ‘such»as cheese-mites, the: itch-insect, small freshwater crustacea,: and the like. It is likewise the best preservative for vegetable preparations, whose eell-walls or vessels have undergone a partial incrustation, and is also very useful for'displaying the shells or lorice of the siliceous Bacillariee and; Diatomacese. ,oin,using,it,, one,,only, requires to lay the object on. a slide, and.to moisten.jt, witha. drop._of the solution, taking care, at the same time; . to, remove|the air-bubbles which may be formed here and there., ‘Two pieces, of paper, corresponding to the thickness of the object,.aremext pasted, to, the.extremities of. the slide, and the whole is then covered with a,second glass, plate: of the,same size. If it should now be found that too little fluid has been applied. to the object, or,that part, ofjit has run off, a drop of the solution may be applied to the edge of the slide, and will findoits way. between the glasses by capillary attraction. A piece of thin paper may, be inserted between the glasses, to promote the flow of the fiuid towards the preparation, or to rectify the position of the object when it has become displaced. ; or attaching the strips.of paper to the glass slides in this. and other cases, the best material that can be used is starch paste, with whieh a little arsenious acid is mixed, in order to prevent the forma- tion of a species of mould which is otherwise apt to gather round the ‘preparations.—Vol. i. p. 347-350. ce . Of late I haye. discovered a fault in this mode of mounting prepa- rations.. In many which have been preserved in drops of the chloride of calcium solution, there have formed numerous branches of a species of Hygrocrocis, which spread from preparation to preparation, and from, box to box, threatening totally to destroy all specimens which have been, put up in this way. _ I have consequently discontinued the practice of mounting specimens in chloride of calcium. solution, to which the air still has access ; and when I now employ this or any other, fluid, am_ careful to exclude the influence of the atmosphere by touching the edges of the covering-plate with a cement which I have elsewhere described (see p. 314). This procedure has the additional ‘advantage of not requiring the use of a saturated solution: it may be diluted, in proportion to the delicacy of the specimen, with from. two to_ten parts of water.—Vol. ili. p. 470. II. Canada Balsam. The method of mounting objects in‘Canada Balsam is too well _ known to require description, Sas dies spo Ill. Creosote Solution. ii This:fluid: may: be prepared either by distillation with water, orby filtering a)‘saturated: solution of creosote ‘mone part) of) alcohol of »S2 gi) 867; -after mixing -it~with twenty parts:of* water. °Itois usefal for all preparations of muscle, cellular tissue, tendon; ligament; ‘car- Miscellaneous. 813 tilage, sections of bones and teeth which have been treated with acid, the: fibres of the crystalline lens, &c.-'For the preservation of adipose tissue;of theultimate nerve-tubes, and of the) bloud-corpuscles; it: is not well adapted. Objects put up in it, after avcertain time, usually acquire a) brownish-yellow tint. wort et jt vat 1) IV. Solution of Arsenious \Acid.\:/\921 yioy ovls ai To prepare this solution an excess of arseiious ‘acid is*boiled’ with water; which ‘is then filtered and diluted with twice as ‘niuch water. - Fhis fluid’is one of the most suitable preservatives for ' prepdratiotis from thé animal kingdom; all the ‘tissues mentioned wnder the last hiedd) and also the adipose tissue, may be kept’ unaltered ‘in it; and as ‘they acquire no yellow colour, or a far slighter tinge, during°their immersion, I have of late years accorded’ a general préference to the arsenical’ over the creosote solution. 0° 8° YUN ost 008 S88 : V.. Solution of Corrosive Sublimates: \\o7 jue sbile ‘This! is prepared by dissolving one part“ of ‘corrosive’ muriaté ‘of inercury in from 200 to 500 parts of water.” ’ The’ strength “of ‘the solution must be varied according to the nature ‘of the object to Be ‘preserved ; hence it is well, when the required degree’ of concentra- tion is not ascertained, to put up several preparations with Solutiouis of different strengths. This procedure i8 especially applicable’ to blood-corpuscles, which can be preserved unaltered in no other fluid with which I have experimented. Thus the blood-corpuscles ‘of the frog require a fluid containing 735th of corrosive muriate ; those of bid a solution of 34th; those of mammalia and man 24,th. °* These solutions are Tikewive useful for keeping the elementary parts of the brain, spimal cord, and retina, although all these structures, ‘in whatever fluid they are put up, undergo some alteration. Cartilage, and the fibres of the crystalline lens, keep well in these fluids; but other fibrous tissues lose too much of their transparency when, in contact with them. They may be used, however, for preserving muscular fibre, whose cross markings they render more distinct,’ + For preparations of delicate vegetable tissues, and, in general, of all tender organs in which it is desired to retain the starch globules and chlorophyl unaltered, for freshwater Algse, Diatomacese, Coufervee, Infusoria belonging to the division Rotifera, &c., a solution containin giath or 315th of corrosive sublimate is the best preservative wit which I am acquainted. VI. Solution of Carbonate of Potash. This may be made of various strengths, with one part of the salt dissolved in from 200 to 500 parts of water, and is the best material for preserving the primitive nerve-tubes. Other fibrous tissues may be: kept tolerably. well in it, but become more transparent than‘in the fresh condition, This is sometimes advantagéeous,:.as;for example, when we wish to display the respiratory apparatus of insects with the ramifications of the air-tubes: 314 Miscellaneous. VIL. Solution of Arsenite-of Potass. ~"'T have, in a few instances, made use of a solution of arsenite of tass in 160 parts of water, to preserve the primitive nerve-tubes. Tt as been found as effectual as the carbonate of potash solution. In employing the chloride of calcium solution* and Canada Balsam, it is, unnecessary to,take measures to prevent the evaporation of the fluid... The first. remains, always fluid,—chloride of calcium being a deliquescent salt,;, and as the outer surface of the balsam hardens, the escape of the liquid portion is prevented. But. it is; otherwise with the last-mentioned preservative fluids (Nos. ILI. to VII.), To prevent their evaporation, it is necessary, to employ a.cement,or luting to prevent air from having access:to the fluid, . Different;compositions have been recommended for this :pur- pose ; but I have found none more serviceable than that employed by gilders to make gold-leaf adhere to mirror and picture frames. | ‘The following is the receipt for the preparation of this so-called gold- ground or gold-size.: — Let twenty-five parts of linseed.oil be boiled for three hours with one part of red lead (mente) and one-third of a part of umber, and then poured off. Next take white lead and yellow ochre, well pounded and divided, and mix them together in equal proportions. _ Successive portions of this mixture must be added to the oil, and well rubbed up and mixed with it, till.a tolerably thick fluid is formed, which must be. once more thoroughly boiled. If now a preparation has been made, which it is wished to preserve in the chloride of calcium, or any of the five last-mentioned fluids, and if it can, without injury, bear a little pressure, the following manipulation is recommended :— If the specimen is moistened with water, which during the preli- minary examination is frequently the case, all superfluous fluid is in the first place removed with a little roll of bibulous paper, or with a camel-hair pencil, such as I have elsewhere recommended. | The fluid at a little distance from the object may be wiped off with a cotton or linen rag, and the surface of the glass there made perfectly dry. A.certain quantity of the preservative fluid is then placed upon the specimen, and this is most conveniently effected by using a dropping- flask. --The amount of fluid should be such that it should afterwards perfectly, fill the space beneath the covering plate; the proper quantity is soon learned by a few trials. Next a (square?) covering- plate; about two millimetres (;4th of an inch) narrower than the object-slide, should be laid ander the centre of the latter,—7. e. im- mediately beneath the part which it is destined to cover. A: pencil is next dipped in the cement, and a square drawn with it upon the glass around the fluid, containing the specimen, so thas the cement shall extend from one,to two millimetres (/;th to ;4,th of an inch) * The author has renounced the. practice of putting up preparations tn this. fluid, and permitting the access of air, for reasons given at p, 312. —-TRANS, Miscellaneous. 815 within the margins of the covering-plate.» The latter is now to be placed upon the specimen, and its margins finally covered with the cement, If there is too much _ fluid beneath, the superfluity finds a channel for escape ; an opening then takes place in the cement, below the cover, but is again closed, if care be taken to renew the application of the cement to the edges of the cover, when the superfluous fluid has been removed, or has dried up. In about: two days, the outer layer of the luting will have become dry, but the inner layer remains soft for many weeks and even months. This is just what constitutes the excellence of the cement, for it never bursts and permits evaporation ; and a great number of preparations which I have put up in’ this manner are at the present time, after the lapse of several years, quite unaltered. It is, however, of importance that the cement shall occupy a'portion of the space between the object-plate and its cover; a mere anointing of the edges of the latter is never sufficient. | , If the specimen be one which will not bear pressure without mjury, it must be put up in some kind of cell, the depth of which must be regulated by the thickness of the object. The coverimg-plate must in this case be always smaller in diameter than the space between-the outer margins of the cell. First, some preservative solution is placed im the cell, and then the object is laid in it; the upper edges of the cell are then touched with a little of the gutta-percha luting*. The cell is then completely filled till the fluid even forms a convexity above its margins; if now the cover is applied, the superfluous moisture escapes, and no air remains in the cell. Finally, when the edges-are dry, they must be covered with a thick layer of the luting, and with a second a few days afterwards. The method last described is especially applicable to the preserva- tion of injected specimens in a solution of arsenious acid.—Vol. ii. p» 350-355, 2 Preparation of Caoutchouc Cells. In commerce we now obtain caoutchouc plates of different thick- nesses. ‘The thinnest measure about one millimetre (;th ofan inch), and out of these plates of any required thickness may be formed, as their surfaces adhere perfectly together, especially if pre- viously slightly heated. In a square piece of suitable thickness an opening may be made by means of scissors, or the centre maybe cut out of a disc-shaped piece by means of a hammer and ring-shaped punch. ‘To fasten the caoutchouc ring to the object-slide we use the following luting :— One part of finely cut gutta-percha is mixed with fifteen parts of oil of turpentine, and dissolved in it by gently heating, and constantly stirrmg, the mixture. The solution is then poured through a cloth, to separate some impurities which are always to be met with im-raw gutta-percha. To the purified solution there is added one ‘part:of shell-lac, which, by the aid of gentle heat‘and constant stirring, must be dissolved in it. The heat is then kept up until a drop,of the solu- - * The reader will find the receipt for this composition, and directions for making cells of gutta-percha and caoutchouc, at the end of the present article. —TRANS. 316 Miscellaneous. tion let:fall upon a cold surface becomes nearly, hard:) The cement: isi then ready for use. > If it is afterwards found requisite to melt it again, a little oil of turpentine should be added before: applying’ the heat. | _. To attach the caoutchouc rmg to the glass, proceed as follows :— Lay the ring upon the table, and above it place the glass object-slide, so that the ring occupies the centre of the slide, and a free margin of glass is left around it." A pencil is now to be dipped in the warm luting, and carried over the portion of the glass through which the ring is seen, care being taken to spread the luting in a thin layer, as the’ superfltious fluid would otherwise flow out from the edges. “The ring is now removed from beneath the slide, and laid upon the spot matked out ‘for it with the cement. The plate is next warmed by holding it over fire, and then laid, ring downwards, on a cold piece’of mirror glass till the cement has become cool and hard.’ ~ ge '""Gutta-Percha Cells. . Gutta-pereha,, which; like caoutchouc, resists the action of almost all. chemical.agents, has, besides, the property of becoming soft. and plastic in warm water, and can thus be fashioned into any required shape, which it retains on cooling and resuming its former consistence, Gutta-percha sheeting may be procured in commerce, like cdoutchouc sheeting, of any thickness, and will be found very useful for micro- scopical purposes. Plates of this substance may be provided of various thicknesses, according to the required depth of the cells,—for example, from, zi;th of a millimetre to three millimetres (945th to jth of an inch) in. thickness. "These plates must then be cut into square pieces, alittle narrower than. the glass slides on which they are to be fastened. The openings. may be cut out with scissors, or struck out with a unch and hammer, the plate being laid upon a piece of cork...To ten, gutta-percha rings to the glass plates the cement recommended for, caoutchouc is employed, and the process conducted in the same way, with this.difference, that, after the last heating, which makes the gutta-percha, soft. again, pressure should be made upon it fora few seconds with a cold piece of mirror glass. The upper surface of the cell. is, thus rendered quite flat and smooth, so that. the glass cover,.when. applied, is everywhere in contact with it. In this respect the gutta-percha cells are preferable to those of caoutchouc, the upper surface of which, especially about the edges, has always some degree of; conyexity.—-Vol, ii..pp, 125-127.—Monthly Journal of Medical Science, April 1852. ARENARIA SERPYLLIFOLIA. Messrs. Hooker and Arnott observe (Br. Fl. p.67): “Mr.W. Wilson finds ‘a var.at Bangor with five stamens and the petals only a quarter as long as the calyx, which has prominent ribs.’ “Mr. Babington copies the observation, ‘ Manual,’ 3rd edit. p. 49. ic Specimens agreeing with this description are not uncommon at ‘this season on the sandy commons of Surrey; they appear to be only the autumnal state of the common plant.—Samvueu Octavus Gray. Miscellaneous. 317 Note of the Observation of Ciliwin Grantia) oBy Wia.1aM Mur- ' ray Dosre, M:D., Annual President ‘of the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh. inone siidoqies te yaas LIB '28 The, present. somewhat, dubious, position of the Sponges. inthe systems of naturalists, leads me to hope that the following isolated observation may not be without its value, as an additional, proof of the distinctly animal nature of these organisms... , 0 4)... .jAt the end of last February, while residing for a short, time. at Marshalmeadows, near Berwick-on-Tweed, I had an. opportunity of pihdae the minute granular cellules of the sponge, which, although they do not always show a distinct nucleus, are, I haye no doubt, of the same nature as nucleated particles in general: These ‘cellulés ‘were’ in a state of active and independent motion, and,’ when agerégated inté masses, very much resembled some of the Compound Monads: Wheti a single particle was seen isolated, the motion was of a jerking’ cha racter, suggesting at once the existence of cilia, if they could have been seen. I now proceeded to a more accurate scrutiny.’ Another specimen was selected; a portion of the gelatine was diluted with water pressed from the interior of the sponge, and the’ whole covered with a film of glass of 1-120th of an inch in thickness.’ This I viewed with a very excellent 1-8th of an inch lens, by Smith and Beck; mag nifying 450 diameters. The size and apparent motion of the'céllules being thus greatly increased, I now could, without much difficulty, detect extremely attenuated cilia attached to every particle in’‘the field of view, and lashing with considerable vigour. When the light and focus were adjusted with great care, I was able to sketch a‘ton- siderable number of the individual particles. The average lenéth ‘of each cilium was equal to three times the’ diameter’ of thé! cellule “to which it was attached. No perceptible difference in thickness tould be observed throughout its entire length. Each cellule'very strongly resembled some species of Monads. ‘The motion ceased in’ all the particles very soon after separation from the general mass,’ ‘Twas able to repeat’ this observation several times in the Grantia.° Ta thé Halichondria, which I found at the same tine, no currents*could’ bé’ seen. Only in one example could 1 find anything resembling ciliated particles, and that very imperfectly. No further opportunity pre- sented itself for continuing these observations: From this it seems evident, that m the Grantia, the whole inher surface is lined, with a ciliated epithelium, and that,the,currents (are produced by the motion of these filaments. I have little doubt that cilia will eventually be found to,exist in all marine sponges, where currents are in operation, provided, sufficient 818 Miscellaneous. care be taken to examine the cellules, in perfectly fresh specimens, with first-rate instruments. The evidence for the animality of the Porifera is, I think, more conclusive than some naturalists of the present day are inclined to admit. I feel assured that few botanists would be disposed to claim for these organisms a truly vegetable nature. The following pecu- liarities taken together seem sufficient to establish their true animal nature :—The existence of distinct currents in definite directions ; vibratile cilia ; ciliated locomotive gemmules ; peculiar animal smell of burnt gelatinous matter. I may also mention the observations’ of Milne-Edwards and Audouin on the Irritability of Tethea*. Dr. Johnston informs me, that some very recent observations on‘a large foreign species tend remarkably to confirm the statements of Audouin and M.-Edwards. Dujardin’s interesting observations on Spongilla also.tend to prove the sponge an animal+. He noticed the remark- able property which detached portions of the granular matter of Spongilla possess, of spreading into “ Expansions variables en lobes arrondis, comme certaines amibes.” Both Dujardin and Professor Allen Thomson have observed cilia in the freshwater sponge ; but the existence of cilia in marine sponges has, so far as I am aware, been always denied.” In conclusion, I will only allude to Mr. J. A. Carter’s interesting observation of species of Spongilla in the water-tanks in Bombay{. Mr. Carter confirmed and considerably extended Dujar- din’s observations, but did not detect cilia. All these circumstances being considered, the animality of the Porifera will not, I think, be so equivocal as the following concluding sentence of Professor Rymer Jones’s late article on the Porifera seems to intimate: “ The admis- sibility of sponges into the animal series is indeed extremely problem- atical, and we doubt not, that among naturalists of the present day, the balance of opinion would be unfavourable towards retaining them in the rank, which they at present occupy in zoological classifica- tion §.”"—Proceedings of the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh, Experimental Researches upon the Process of Feeundation in Mosses. By M. H. Puriipert. The author in concluding his memoir gives the following résumé of his conclusions :— 1. The archegonium of Mosses is a true ovule. . 2. The external envelope, which has been called epigonium, and which afterwards becomes the calyptra, is analogous to the nucleus of the ovule of the Phanerogamia. * Hist. Nat. du Litt. de la France, vol. i. p. 78. + Dujardin, Hist. Nat. des Infusoires, p.305. { Notes on Sponges. Trans. Med. and Phys. Soc. Bombay, No. 8. Reprinted in the ‘ Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.’ New Series, April 1848. A second paper on the same subject appeared in the third volume of the * Annals,’ 1849. § Cyclopedia of Anat. and Phys. vol. iv. p. 70. Meteorological Observations. 319 -3»'The membranous envelope which is concealed by the epigonium and which had not hitherto been observed, represents an_embryo- sac. 4. The internal body, which afterwards becomes the seta and urn, is a true embryo. : 5. In the Mosses, the embryo, instead of detaching itself from the parent plant to originate a new plant, is developed in its place and gives rise to a capsule filled with spores. 6. The organs called antheridia are true male organs, inclosing a fecundating matter. 7. This fecundating matter is introduced by the tubular neck of the epigonium.—Comptes Rendus, xxxv. 137. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR AUG. 1852, Chiswick.—August 1. Very fine: uniformly overcast.’ 2. Very fine: densely clouded. 3. Partially overcast: slight shower. 4. Fine: clear. 5. Fine: slightly overcast.. 6. Showers: heavy rain. 7. Cloudy: clear. 8. Fine: clear. 9, 10. Very fine. 11. Constant heavy rain. 12. Heavy rain: cloudy. 13. Very fine: clear. 14. Very fine: heavy rain at night. 15. Foggy: clear at night. 16, Heavy dew: fine: overcast. 17. Densely overcast: frequent vivid lightning and distant thunder: chiefly sheet lightning till 11 p.m., then forked lightning, with heavy thunder and rain in torrents. 18. Very fine: cloudy, with lightning at night. 19. Very fine: clear at night. 20. Overcast. 21. Light clouds: uni- formly overcast. 22. Overcast: clear. 23. Cloudy and fine. 24. Overcast and mild: rain at night. 25. Cloudy and fine. 26. Slight haze: very fine: clear. 27. Very fine. 28. Foggy : remarkably dusky and dark about 9 a.m.: very fine. 29. Very fine: densely overcast: light clouds. 30. Cloudy: very fine: clear. 31. Clear : very fine. Mean temperature of the Month ....c..scecessseeeserscceesseeess OS 767 Mean temperature of Aug. 1851 —......sesscesensenee apaahege +. 62°79 Mean temperature of Aug. for the last twenty-six years ... 62 +12 Average amount of rain in Aug. ee .seesseesseeee SSeReeereeeeeys 2°44 inches. Boston.—Aug. 1. Cloudy. 2. Fine. 3. Cloudy: rainp.m. 4. Fine. 5. Fine: rain F.M.: thunder and lightning. 6. Fine: rainp.m. 7,8. Cloudy: rain p.m: thunder and lightning. 9. Cloudy: rain p.m, 10. Fine: rain p.m,: thunder and lightning. 11. Rain: rain a.m. and p.m. 12, Cloudy: rain a.m. and p.m.: thunder and lightning. 13, Fine. 14. Fine: rain and hail p.m.: thunder and lightning. 15. Cloudy: rain.a.M. 16. Fine. 17. Fine: rain p.m. : thunder and. lightning. 18. Cloudy: rainearly a.m. 19. Cloudy. 20. Cloudy: rain early a.m. 21—23. Cloudy. 24. Cloudy: rain A.M. and p.m. 25. Cloudy: rain a.m. 26, 27. Fine. 28. Cloudy: rain p.M. 29,30. Fine. 31. Fine: rain and hail p.m. : thunder and lightning. Sandwick Manse, Orkney.—Aug. 1, 2. Cloudy. 3. Cloudy: rain. 4. Bright: clear: fine. 5, Clear: fine: aurora. 6. Clear: fine. 7. Drops: clear: fine. 8. Bright: clear: fine. 9. Clear: fine. 10. Bright: fine: clear: fine: aurora. 11. Bright: fine: clear: fine. 12, 13. Bright: fine: cloudy: fine. 14. Bright: fine: clear: fine. 15, Clear: fine. 16. Cloudy: drops. 17. Fog: cloudy. 18. Drizzle: showers: clear. 19. Drizzle: bright: fine. 20. Showers: bright : fine. 21. Clear: fine: fog. 22. Fog: fine: fog. 23. Bright: fine: cloudy: fine: aurora. 24. Cloudy: fine: clear: fine. 25. Clear: fine: aurora. 26. Clear : fine: cloudy: fine. 27. Cloudy: fine. 28. Bright: fine: cloudy: fine, 29. Damp : clear: fine. 30,31. Bright: fine: clear: fine-—This month has been very fine, warm and dry. Mean temperature of Aug. for twenty-five years ............... 54°75 Mean temperature of this month ......... ssameedavevks rene Or Oe Average quantity of rain in Aug. for six years ...........-....5. 3°05 inches, zg.o| Leb | rhe '£.65 96.19 | o-bg |fo.28 \z£.SL| b2L.6c | goL.bz 9z.6z | ol.6z | 964.62 |-ueapy Sreverstsiinsesrsasqiotewerset! saume: | say | hme LS | o9 | $.LS| HY | 69 VL.62 69,62 oS .6z Loo.of LLo,of "rE Pretteresteoncsaseetesee****) upngo:) 100 oad. Marquesas; Cab, Gaskoin, Gubba. L7IOO sels ‘COLUMBELLA Avustrina. Testa oblongo-ovata, levis, nitens, wi “albicans, punctulis distantibus pallidissime brunneis, fascidque -. anticd latd brunned ornata; spird acuminatd, anfractibus sep- tem vel octo, convextusculis ; suturd distinctd ; aperturd latius- culd, labio externo postice intus emarginato ; margine acutius- culo versus canalem incurvo, intus denticulis prominentibus octo vel novem ; labio columellari recto, nitido, denticulis septem an- SS tiee posttis, margine externo subelevato ; peritremate albicante, \saperturd intus violaceo-brunned ; canali subprominente, latius- culo, oe eanalis transversim ene Fp Hrs 329; of an inch; width, ;22, of an inch. 7 100 Hab. Austratias Cab. Cuming, Gaskoin. 14, Corumpeiua Baccata. Testa oblongo-ovata, albicans, fas- ews tribus interruptis saturate rufescenti-brunneis, punctulis epacis albicantibus rotundis per lineas obliquas vel longitudi- nales positis ; spird acuminatd, anfractibus septem, quorum tri- bus anticis levibus, posticis obtuse longitudinaliter striatis ; apice albicante; aperturd latiusculd intus albicante fasciis brunneis tribus conspicuis ; labio externo crassiusculo denticulis paucis, intus prope centrum positis ; labio interno recto, ad marginem externum varice prominente instructo ; eanali lato, OF yh o* obtuso. Length, 325, of an inch; width, 2, of an inch. Hab. ?-Cab. Gaskoin. 15. ConumBetia sacitra. Testa oblonga, subcylindracea, an- gustata, levis, nitens, semipellucidula, pallidissime brunnea ; Sasciis. duabus angustis interruptis albidi-opacis, ab postico margine anfractuum ad apicem continuis; spird acuminatd, 3-5 longitudinis teste ; anfractibus octo ; apertura brevi, latd ; labio externo.crassiusculo extus margine albini-opaco, versus canalem incurvato, labio interno levi nitido; dorso anticé transversim striato; canali longiusculo, latiusculo; peritremate subquadrangulo. * Zoological Societys. 371. -ihength; 335 of an,inch,; width, sy .0f an inh. 954) p52 55.) odtbahe icons West Indies. Cab, Metcalfe, Cuming, Gaskoin, &e. ‘6. CoLruMBELLA coNnspERsA.’' Testa oblongo-ovata, pyrami- -""dalis; pallide brunnea, maculis anticis, albi-opacis, irregulari- bus; fasciis tribus albi-opacis, brunneo interruptis,’ duabus »posticis ab aperturd ad apicem continuis; spird acuminatd an- fractibus novem vel decem convewiusculis; aperturdrectd, latius- euld; labio.externo ad marginem acuto, margine,eaterno lato s\esprominente, intus denticulis quatuor quingue.vel, sex, parvis ; .tabio interno levi, nitido, intus varice parvo. denticulato, extus wiv warice subprominente ad latus canalis,.extenso.;, striis. tenut- ., dus per anticam partem dorsi. continuis ; canali.longiuscule, an- gusto, leviter recurvo ; peritremate subquadrangulo, lilacino. Length, 55°, of an inch; width, 3335 .0f an inchs oi) oy jquay Hab. Cab. Gaskoin. oe 17. CoLuMBELLA FoRMOSA. Testa oblongo-ovata, letis, nitida, colore flori-lacteo induta; fasciis duabus maculis albicantibus brunneisque interruptis; spird acuminatd, ad dimidium, longt- tudinis teste equali; anfractibus septem vel octo convexiuscu- fis, suturd subprominente ; aperturd latiusculd et breviusculd ; _ labio externo levi tenui, interno levi; canali lato. . .. Length, ,4° of an inch; width, 2°, of aninch, = Hab, ——? Cab. Gaskoin. ays 18. CoLUMBELLA HIRUNDO. Testa ovato-pyramidalis, levis, - nitens, pallida, strigis punctisque brunneis leviter maculata ; spird mucronata, dimidium longitudinis teste equante; an- Sractibus novem vel decem planis; aperturd latiusculd; labio extérno crasso albo semicirculari, dentibus duobus vel tribus latis posticis internis, margine externo crasso albo; labio in- terno levi, subspirali, dente solitario majusculo ad posticam partem; canali longo, latiusculo, recurvo, rostris prominenti- bus, externo divergente quasi furcato ut in formd caude hirun- dinis. \. : Length, ;&°, of an inch; width, ,*5 of an inch. Hab. Per the ‘Samarang.’ Cab. Gaskoin. : This species is of the stamp of Col. bicanalifera of Sowerby, Proc. Zool. Soc. part ii. page 113; Sowerby’s Thesaurus, fig. 144. 19. CotumBELLA CALiIrorNIANA. Testa oblongo-ovata,, sub- pyramidalis, levis, nitens, brunnea, vel brunneo variabilis, ali- quando lineis tenuibus, fortioribus, aut latiusculis_irregulari- bus; spird acuminatd dimidium teste subequante; anfracti- bus septem convexis; aperturd latd subquadrangulari ; tabio externo tenuiusculo intus denticulato, labio interno leviter den- ticulato ; dorso anticée transversim striato; peritremate.pur- pureo-nigricante ; canali brevi, Length, 549, of an inch; width, 2° of an inch. Hab. Sandeago, California. Cab. Cuming, Gaskoin. 20... CoLUMBELLA Iopostoma. | Testa oblongo-ovata, irregula- riter brunnea; spird acuminatd, apice ceruleo-brunneo; an- Oo 4k Hirenol . 372 —- Loological Society. ‘fractibus’ septem vel oeto raptim lonyitudinaliter decrescen: ‘Oftbus; costellis prope aperturam minus prominentibus; \costis ad’ postioum marginem in tuberculis postice téerminantibus } O-aperturd postice latiusculd, antice subacutd ; labio externo BL tenuit, intus denticulato ; labio interno intus denticulato; variee \ prominente marginato; dorso antice extus striato; canali'lon= 0 giuseulo » margine peritrematis purpureo-brunnescente. > * Dength, +5 ofan inch ; width, 22. of an inch. lit 8 to ‘Hab. Port Essington. Cab. (specimen unicum) Gaskoini 0 9! _Cyprma Crara. Testa subcylindraceo-ovalis, rufescenti-cinerea, « anticé-et posticé supra extremitate maculd brunned ornata ; fas- -.. eis latis saturatioribus tribus ; basi marginibusque albescenti- - bus; aperturd latiusculd subspirali ; labio externo crassiusculo, _dentibus circa viginti-sex, regularibus, prominentibus ; interno subspirali, dentibus circa viginti; sulco columellari profundo _ latoque, intus denticulato.; marginibus rotundatis, incrassatis ; eatremitatibus obtusis, punctis minutissimis nigris notatis. *Length, 125, inch; ‘width, 15 of an inch. bia a mlied SA Cuming.” .: This species is of the stamp of Cyp. Isabella, Linn. ’ 3. ON THE PreRopACTYLEs or THE CHALK ForMATION,. age ‘By J. S. Bowersank, Esq@., F.R.S. ete. .) {On the 14th May 1845.1 exhibited at the Meeting of the Geological Society.the.snout and: under jaws, extending from the point, to,about the..middle, of the cavitas, narium, of a new and gigantic species.of Pterodactylus; with some. other bones, a portion of which belonged to} the same, individual, and others which have every appearance of having belonged, to another animal of the same species *, and I then stated.my, belief thatthe bone figured by Prof. Owen, in the ‘'Trans- actions of the Geological Society,’ vol. v. pl. 39, 2nd Series, would psobably ultimately prove to be that of a Pterodactyl.. From, the great size of the snout, and the gigantic proportions also indicated by, the bones accompanying it, Iwas induced to give it the specific name of giganteus. .On a subsequent occasion, June 9, 1847, I continued my, remarks on these Reptile remains, in a paper entitled ‘‘ Microsco- pical-Observations on the Structure of the Bones of Pterodactylus giganteus,and other fossil animals,” in which I endeavoured to prove, by. the; strongly-marked peculiarities of the bone-cells. in Mammals, Birds and Reptiles, that the whole of the bones described in my former paper, and. those figured by Prof. Owen in the Trans. Geol. Soc., 2nd, Series, vol. vi. pl. 39. figs. 1 & 2, were in truth of purely Repti- lian character; and I also figured a radius and.ulna from the Cabinet of .Mrs. Smith of Tumbridge Wells, of nearly the same gigantic pro- portions as the one formerly in the possession of the Earl of Ennis- killen, but now in my collection (fig. 1. pl. 39, Geol. Trans.), and a bone’ from the Cabinet of “Mr. Toulmin Smith, equivalent: to that represented by Prof. Owen in the same plate, fig. 2, which bones presented the same structural evidence of their Reptilian nature, and * Quart. Geol. Journ. vol. ii. p. 7. pl. 1. figs. 1-6. Zoological Society. 873 which: déscription ‘of evidence has, I, am happy, to, say, been more fully developed and firmly established by. the talented, coadjutor of Prof. Qwen; Mr. Quekett of the Royal Collegeof Surgeons, who has publicly taught it in the Theatre of that Institution without, question or: contradiction of its truth. This great. radiusand) ulna, in) Mrs. Smith’s Collection I referred to. my previously, established. species, P. giganteus, believing at. that. time that. they. were, probably, the bones of a fully developed animal, while those previously, described, were the remains of animals not developed to the full.extent of their,capa- bility. ‘) Bia See the publication of these specimens it has been my good for- tune to obtain the snout of another and still larger species of Pte- rodactyl, from the same pit at Burham in Kent, and which it is probable will ultimately prove to belong to the species to,which the enormous pair of bones in the Cabinet of Mr. Charles of Maidstone belongs... Should this hereafter prove to be the case, it will then re- main to be shown whether the beautiful specimen of radius and ulna in the Collection of Mrs. Smith of Tunbridge Wells,. and the bone nearly corresponding in size with them, and which was in the possession of the Earl of Enniskillen, belong to the newly discovered species, which I purpose designating Pterodactylus Cuviert, or to ‘the pre- viously named species, P. giganteus; or whether there be yet,a third species existing in the chalk, to which these bones of an intermediate size may hereafter be referred *. “The snout of the new species, P. Cuvieri, differs materially in its form from the same part of P. giganteus : while the latter agrees as nearly as possible in that respect with P. crassirostris and P: brevi- rostris, the former appears to approach very closely the proportions of P. longirostris. Thus, if we take the length of the snout ‘from the distal end of the cavitas narium, as compared with its height, at ‘the same point of P. crassirostris, P. brevirostris and P. giganteus, we find the relative proportions to be,—of the first-named, 29 of height to 56 of length; of the second, 28 of height to 50 of length 3 and of the third, 28 of height to 58 of length ; we may therefore reasonably conclude that, when perfect, the head of P. giganteus very closely re- sembled in its proportions that of crassirostris. © The length of the fragment of the snout of P. Cuvier? at the upper portion of the head is 7°20 inches; at the palatal bones, 6°38 inches’; and in‘ this space there are sockets for twelve teeth on each side. ‘The distanee between each tooth is about 14 of the long diameter of the sockets; which ate somewhat irregularly placed, but are nearly equidistant’ from “each other. The pair of teeth at the distal end of the snout appear, both from the position of the sockets and the tooth remainiiig: @7 ‘st#u, ‘to have been projected more or less forward, in a line with’ the palatal bones, The head appears to have been exceedingly narrow through- out the whole of its length. At the third pair of teeth fromthe distal * A:third species, C. compressirostris, has since been described by Prof. Owen, page, 95, |Part IIE. of * The Fossil Reptilia of the. Cretaceous Formations,’ pub- lished _by the Paleontographical Society, and to which species the bones in ques- tion have been reterred. 374 Zovlogical Society. end of the’ snout it measures -66 inch, and ‘at the eleventh paircof teeth, -78 inch wide. Opposite the seventh pair of teeth the skull curves upward: suddenly and considerably, which is not the ease:at any part of the ‘éorresponding portion of the skull of P:dongirostris,; it is therefore probable; that although in the number and disposition of thé teeth in the’ upper jaw, as far as our evidence goes, it: strongly resembles’ longivostris i in: its ‘structure, yet in the length ofits skull it ig wt meas shorter in ‘proportion than that species, apparently in that pect ‘bem ‘intermediate between longirostris and crassirostris; thus wing the lo ng-nosed with the short-nosed species of Pterodactylsz uThere are ‘no‘vemains of the cavitas narium in the new species, but it'is not to'be expected ‘that it should make its appearance so near to the termination ‘of ‘the snout, as in longirostris the distal: portion of that’ cavity-is' situated “as far backward from the last of the’ dental séries ‘Of the upper jaw as that tooth is from the end of the snout. The number of teeth oneach side of the upper jaw in P. longirostris is twelve, and the like number ‘of sockets are apparent’ in our ‘speci- men; it is therefore probable that we have the whole of that portion of the head. If we estimate the size of the head on the scale of P. lonyirostris, it would appear to be 25:52 inches in length ; but as we have observed that the skull curves upward considerably at the seventh pair of teeth, it is probable that its length may not be so much. The length of the wing of P. crassirostris in proportion to the length of its head is 3°91 times. The length of the wing of P. longi- rostris compared with the length of its head is 2°51; if therefore we assume, from the peculiar form of the snout of P. Ouwieri, that the head as regards length is intermediate in its proportions between P. crassirostris and P. longirostris, it should be 3°21 parts of the length of the wing. The snout contracts in width gradually upwards from the sockets of the teeth, so that its upper portion forms a narrow ridge, and this is its form as far backward as it can be traced. ‘The palatal bones are depressed, the suture forming a prominent ridge as far as it is visible,-but not in so great a degree as in P. giganteus. One!of the first pair of teeth remains in its socket ; the whole of the other large teeth are displaced, but there are two of them imbed- ded in the chalk, one within an inch and the other an inch and a half of the sockets, and in the fifth right and.eighth left socket there is a rudimentary tooth in situ. 'The largest of the displaced teeth ex- \eeeds (1°32 inch in length, and has been buried in the socket for nearly sai inch ;: the second large tooth, which is imbedded near the third pair of sockets, does not exceed an inch in length; both teeth are ents curved, smooth, and are hollow at the base. Theigreat diversity-i in the size of these remarkable Reptiles will ren- der a short review of some of the known species interesting ; and if we arrange them in order, as they increase in size, the following willbe othe series::++-l. P. brevirostris, 2. P. longirostris, 3. P. erassirestris, 4:P1Bucklandi, 5. Pograndis, 6. P. giganteus, 7. P. Cuvieri;, aad ito|these mayibe added. the bones in the possession of, Mrs. Snaith, the Zoological, Society. 375 Earlof Enniskillen, and Mr. Charles. . Of these, drevirostris, crassi- rostris:and giganteus are short-nosed species, longirostris and Cuviert long-nosed. | With regard to relative length and. proportions ofthe other parts of the skeleton we have ample means,to arrive at tolerably correct conclusions, in consequence of the nearly perfect, condition of brevirostris, crassirostris and longirostris., Inthe, former, two; we find: the cervical vertebrae short) and. thick, the. length. being about equal to the height in the latter of the two, while in /ongirostris they vary in length from three to five times ‘their, own diameter, at, the middle. Very uncertain results therefore; would arise, from finding single bones:of this portion of the skeleton; excepting that a long and attenuated. cervical vertebra would seem to indicate-a corresponding length: of snout ; but from the other bones.of the animal, more espe- eially those of the wing, much more’ satisfactory, results, may, arise. Upon a careful measurement of the casts in the British Museum from the original specimens, I find the following, to, be.the, length, of, the bones of the wing of P. dongirostrisz—m iii oi) od) bas ovlows e) inch. : Basil ‘dt Xo oo Humerus: 2.2.0, woe 1:25 = 8:55 of length of-wing.} | Radius and ulna... .. 1n9OQs GELS sd ot sgoqqr bivow ti Carpub arse ol) tai DobF eee O1BVqu eovrueslrle sdd ted3 Metacarpus vi)... b34sa2 MOA! ei tads,oldsdotaq ai 4i ist Phalange 2.2.0.5. 1:90\=) 5°57) wsiorsl oA WZadorn yttiqulivwel 75 =cai 10 of ai Yo ddan! 3rd eS en, 1°25) ==! 8°55 6 4th 990 FQ UE LbhZcranOnbd re a } 10°69 j . inches. The ‘length of the head')!2. 62/1)". 1 elopaiqon, 4r25 From the tip of the nose to the commencement of the eavitas narium ) Pe eee, 2:10 Height of the ‘skull at the commencement ‘of the*cavitas narium’ £! S272 £ nary 02,41, ho, 0385: Dérigth ‘of the femur 29.) 2298 to ghey, Jed, § 1°34 Length of the’ tibial! 2 /208:44) 218.198) pgidl- gol Smallest diameter of the radius near the distal yn @xtremity 22026088) TG ONT Sia iH, ong ,2oGobd By these measurements it is apparent that the tibia, radius and ulna and Ist phalange are equal in length. The. humerus:and 3rd phalange are also equal to each other, and so likewise are the meta- carpus and femur equal to each other. If we also compare the'small- est diameter of the radius, 0°14 inch, with its length, 1*90cineli, we find that the bone is 13,8, diameters long, and in P. Maeronye (Buck- landi) it''is 132,. We may therefore be enabled; by keeping these comparative measurements in view, to predict with'a tolerable degtee of certainty the spread of wing of any Pterodactyl of which\wé may find one or more of the principal bones of the wing, and especially if 376: Zoological Society. we-take‘mto:consideration the comparative length of each bone with regard to its total extension, as‘exhibited) in the ‘table of the dimen» sions'of P.Jongirostris.: In the case of the great specimens of radius we mayrarrive at their length in many cases, although the:bone:may be imperfect ateeven both terminations.’ Thus the diameter of thé smallest ‘portion ofithe bone formerly in the possession of the:Earb of Enniskillen and: figured ‘by ‘Prof.:Owen, is *81:inch at the smallest portiom of the shaft:: this bone:therefore, on the scale of 13} diame- ters torits:length,:should be 10°93 mches in length.. «The measure- mentiofiithe smallestportion of the bone belonging to: Mrs.’ Smith (GeoloJourn. voluiv. plh2ofigo ba) is'77 inch: we may therefore; by theosame rule;:conclude ‘that its length was 10°39 inches when per- fect:\\'The length of the imperfect ulna beside it is 9°25 inches inthe spécimen::'''Phe:diameter ‘of the smallest portion of the bone.(Geol: Journ vol. ii pl. bvfig. 6) is45 inch, which, im the proportion of 13} diameters) to’ its length, will give.6°07 inches for its length.:>: The widthyof the:corresponding bone inthe possession of Mr. Charles) of Maidstone isols25anch:at the smallest diameter: by the same rule; therefore, the approximate dength should be 16°87. The remains of the! bone:alongsidevofiit is; although imperfect at both ends, actually 12‘25) imches:im length. tow 2 coziU -»yUponnthese grounds: therefore, in every case derived:as muchoas possible from direct measurements from the skeletons of the respective species; I have given the following table of the dimensions of a‘series of species::of) Pterodactyls, the most interesting either from the state of) perfection ‘in which their remains have been found, or from the gigantic proportions which they present ; and thus have endeavoured to,realize to the mind an idea, as nearly as possible correct, of the dis mensions of the animals when alive. . Table of the relative proportions of known species of Pterodactylus, ‘with, the length of each of the wing-bones and half of the width of ithe: body, | 3 g 3 3 1% TT) ~ 3 bp q & a jg |es-8 gl Sg petk dl ald fa (eebes: S a8 13 3 a A Fs Fs BS |S é a EI 5 E © 5 Z os r i g gs Biofimer opOolomot 4 & | & | 3 |R jess unt in, in. jin. in. in. in, in, in. ft. in. Py brevirostris...} 0°48} 0°75 0°06 | 0°52} 0°82) 0°76} 0°48 | 0°35 0°19) 0 9 P, longirostris,,«.},1°25,| 1:90 0°13 | 1°34 | 1:90].1°75} 1:25| 1:17 |0°47). 1.10 P. crassirostris,..| 2°08 | 4:42 0°34 | 1°32} 2°83] 2°53] 2°08} 2°32|1°10| 3. 2 P. Bucklandi.....)°3°25 | 4°25 0°40} 3°75| 3°91] 4°83] 3°25] 3°00|1°06| 4 7 PP. granidis’.......: “3°75 | 5°70 0°39 4°02} 5°70} 5°50] 2°75 | 3°5141-42) 5 5 Pigiganteus?,.¢.) 4°43-)°6°74.0°46} 4°75) 6°74) 6:21) 443} 4°14 |1'68) 6 7 P.{ Mrs. Sinith’s)})6°76410°39 (0:70 7°26 |10°39 | 9°49 | 6°76) 6°33 |2°59 |10,,.2 »P.. Cuvieri..»-++-+-)10:99 16°87,1-14 11:79 |16°87 |15°56 10-99 |10°29 |4:22 16, 6 i the ‘above table.I, have presumed. that the largest, bones should be-associated. with, the snout described as the type of P. Cuviert, but the: truth of -this assignment of the bones belonging to. Mr. Charies Zoological Society. 377 canvalone:/ be» determined by the: acquisition: of «more: seg ced ape mens Of the animal than shinies at present knowns (sio) 6) eulnethe construction: of: this ‘table-Ishave' taken) the p ortions of Ps longivostris as the foundation, as:it.is the only species which Ecould get the measurements of all the bones of the wing from the Same animal; but it must) not be: supposed that» the restorations effectedein the table will be absolutely correct atiall times imits appli+ cation, for we see that in P: longirostris the radius: and first Sea langesare equal, but:in crassirostris and) Buckland this is) not the ease: the greatest: discrepancy rests! with crassirostris, while Bucks landi:and brevirostris accord much more nearly withothe:proportions of longirostris ;, and. if we may judge by:the!comparative difference between those ‘bones: in longirostris on thei one part; :and Bicklandi and ‘crassirostris on the other, it may perhaps be fairly’ surmised that the greater:length of wing would be found to exist: inthe long-nosed species, and consequently that Buchlandi williprove to belong 'to:the short-nosed ones; and this also would seem to beindicated iby:what remainsiof the cervical vertebree in the, ene sacar mithe) — tish: Museum. (qs dd s1oletedt (Profs Owen, in treating of these siden: ini my A hes ffriendd Mt: Dixon’ s work ‘On the Geology and Fossils of ‘the: Tertiary .and: Cre taceous Formations of Sussex,’ has thought proper to remame.P.)gi- ganteus, and designate it P. conirostris, Owens: L-certamly did:not lendmy specimens to my late friend: Mr. Dixon>for the illustration of:his»work, with a view of having the name which'E had assigned to this new and gigantic species subverted, and without in the:slightest degree being consulted on the subject. Nor can I concur with the reasons ‘given by Prof. Owen for thus re-naming it, asthe nameigi- ganteus was not given, as stated by the learned. Professor, “ because certain bones of another and larger animal, of a different species, have been ‘erroneously referred to it ; 33 but, in truth, from its’ being ‘the largest distinct species at that time known, exceeding P. Bucklandi (or Macronyzx) by two feet in the spread of its wings, and P. grandis of Cuyier by above a foot. The beautiful specimen of radius and ulna in the possession of Mrs, Smith, and subsequently figured in my second paper, was at that time unknown to me, and the bone then in the possession of the Earl of Enniskillen was claimed by the Professor as that of a bird.“ I had therefore no other material than that in my own possession on which to base my name of giganteus. If the learned Professor’s reason for the proposed change of nartie is to hold good, that of exclusive fitness in specific nomenclature; then the one he proposes is also inappropriate, as it might be with equal propriety given to either crassirostris or brevirostris; or if specific names, based on comparisons of size, are to:/be extinguished, and new names given on the discovery of new species, there would ‘be no end of the confusion generated ; thus, as P. brevirostris is thicker in its proportions than crassirostris, they would require to exchange names, or'the latter at least to be re-named; medius would no longer be:me- dius, with the addition of our new species, and grandis would no longer be'grand in comparison: Into what an unenviable state of confusion should we not plunge nomenclature if we were to adopt the practice 378 Zoological Society. of the learned: Professor, instead of the precepts so judiciously laid down by himself and others of the Committee of Nomenclature ofthe British: Association, and which I quote ‘as\a justification on! my ‘part for my refusal toadopt the learned Professor's exchange of my nam for. the one: he has proposed ! Br : In. page 4 ofthe Report, under the head of ‘‘ Law of Priority the only effectual and just one,’ we find the followmg passages :+—‘‘ It being ‘admitted on all hands that words are only the conventional sigus of ideas; itis evident that language can only attain its: end effectually ‘by ‘ being’ permanently established and generally: recog- nized. °‘This consideration ought, it would seem, to have checked those who-are continually attempting to subvert the established lan- guage by substituting-terms of their own coinage.” ... 2. . * Now in zoology 10 one“person can subsequently claim an authority equal ‘to that possessed by the person who is the first to define a new genus or describe a new species; and hence it is that the name originally given,’even though it» be inferior in point of elegance or expressive- ness to those subsequently proposed, ought, asa general principle, to be permanently retained. | 'To this consideration we ought to:add the injustice of erasing thename originally selected by the person to whose labours»we owe our first: knowledge of the object.” To these excel- lent.principles’ the learned Professor has given the sanction of ‘his signature: ‘Prof. Owen, in the article on Pterodactylus in Mr. Dixon’s work,has'not quoted my observations on those Reptiles so fully as I could; have wished; inasmuch as he has adverted to the strongly- marked ‘peculiarities'of the bone-cells, which are the principal cha- racters'in’ the question at issue, in so slight a manner, as almost to induce me to imagine that he must have forgotten them entirely. «I shallsimply content: myself in challenging Prof. Owen to produce any such general structure and proportions of the bone-cells from the skeleton of any recent or extinct bird as those existing in the long bone described ‘as Cimoliornis, or to produce any such radius and ulna ofa bird ‘containing ‘similar bone-cells as those in the possession of Mrs. Smith, and figured: by me in my paper in the ‘ Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society for February 1848,’ vol. iv. pl. 2. 20On the subject’ of the strictures with which Prof. Owen has. fa- voured me at the conclusion of his observations in Mr. Dixon’s work, and show far I: have been “‘ wanting in a due comprehension of the subject; and have been a hindrance instead of a furtherance of true knowledge,’”? Iam content to leave to the judgement of those who may feel aisufficient degree of interest to induce them to peruse what T-have written im my former papers on the Pterodactyles of the Chalk. January.28.—R. H, Solly, Esq., F.R.S., in. the Chair. The following paper was read :— ON A’ NEW SPECIES OF PrERODACTYLE (PTERODACTYLUS COM- ‘10PRESSTROSTRIS, OWEN) FROM THE CHALK; WITH SOME RE- MARKS ON THE NOMENCLATURE OF THE ' PREVIOUSLY °DE- SCRIBED Spectres, By Pror. Owen, F:R.S: The honour of having first made known the existence of remains of the Pterodactyle in the Chalk deposits belongs to James Scott Zoological Society. 379 Bowerbank, Esq., F.R.S., This indefatigable collector had the good fortune to receive in 1845, from the Kentish Chalk, the characteristic jaws and teeth, with part of the scapular arch anda few other bones, ofia well-marked species of Pterodactyle, and the discovery was briefly recorded in the ‘ Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, of Lon- don,’ ‘and:in the “Proceedings ’ of the Society for May:14, 1845,:with an illustrative plate (pl.1). ! | : Len Mr. Bowerbank concludes his notice by referring toa large fossil wing-bone from the chalk, previously described and figured by me-in the ‘Geological Transactions,’ and remarks that, “if! it, should, prove to belong to a Pterodactyle, the probable expansion of the wings would) reach to at least eight or nie feet. Under these! cireum- stances,” he says, “‘I propose that the species:described) above shall be designated Pterodactylus giganteus.’’ (loc, ettsp.8s)\0 Subsequent Aliscoveries and observations have inclined the balance’ of probability in favour of the Pterodactylian nature of the fossils te which Mr, Bower- bank refers; but: have shown them to belong to distinet species. 7's These fossils are not, indeed, amongst; the characteristi¢ parts .of the flying reptile : one of them is the shaft ofa long bone,exhibiting those peculiarities of structure which are common to: birds and ‘ptero- dactyles; the other shows an articular extremity, which, in/our pre- sent ignorance of those of the different bones of the Pterodactyle, has its nearest analogue iu the distal trochlea of the bird’s:tibia,;: These two specimens, which are figured in the sixth volume of the ‘Second Series of the ‘Transactions of the Geological Society,’ .1840,' pl. :39. figs. 1. & 2, were transmitted to me by the Earl of Enniskillen and DreBuckland, as being ‘‘the bones of a bird” (p.-411), and: my com- parisons of them were limited to that class. wr son bari The idea of their possibly belonging to a Pterodactyle did occur :to me, but it was dispelled by the following considerations.;The act: of flight—the most energetic mode of locomotion—demands, a special modification of the Vertebrate organization, in that subkingdom, -for its exertion. But in the class 4ves, in which every system 1s; more: or less adapted and co-adjusted for this end, the laws of gravitation seem to forbid the successful exercise of the volant powers in species beyond a certain bulk ; and when this exceeds that of the Condoror Albatros, as, for example, in the Cassowary, the Emeu, or the Ostrich, although the organization is essentially that of the Vertebrate animal modified for flight, flight is impossible; and its immediate instruments, to the exercise of which all the rest of the system is more or less subordi- nated, are checked in their development); and, being unfitted: for flight, they are not modified for any other use. . There) is not, :per- haps, a more anomalous or suggestive phenomenon in nature than a bird which cannot fly! A small section of the Mammalia is modi- fied for flight ; but the plan of the organization of that warm-blooded class being less directly adapted for flight than, that. of birds, the weight and bulk of the body which may be raised and transported through the air are restricted to a lower range, and the largest, frugi- vorous Bat (Pteropus) does not exceed the Raven, in size... 'The Rep- tilian modification of the Vertebrate type would seem to be still. less 380 Zoological Society: ind there was, @ priori, a physiological improbability that the cold’ blooded ‘organization of a Reptile Heald by any secondary modifiea- irs Mammal under ‘an’ analogous special adaptation. “Wher; therefore; _ the supposed bird’s bone (Geol. Trans. 1840, pl. 39. fig. 1) was' first submitted to me by Dr. Buckland; which on’ the Pterddactyle hy po- thesis could not be the humerus, but must have been’ one of thé smaller bonés of the wing; its size seemed decisive against its reference’ to an animal of flight having a cold-blooded organization: Thé sub’ sequent discovery of the portion of the skull of the Pterodactyle, de~ scribed by Mr. Bowerbank at the last meeting of the Society (Jan, 14), shows that the resources of Creative power in past time surpass: the calculations that are founded upon actual nature. DRY “It is only the practised Comparative Anatomist that can fully realize’ the difficulty of the attempt to resolve a paleeontological problem froni’ such data as the two fragments of long bones first submitted to’me in’ 1840. “He alone can adequately appreciate the amount of research involved in such a generalization as that “there is no bird now known,’ north of the equator, with which the fossils can be compared ;’’ and’ when, after a wearying progress through an extensive class, the spe+ cies is at length found to which the nearest resemblance is made by’ the fragmentary fossil, and the differences are conscientiously pointed out—as when, in reference to the humerus of the Albatros, I stated that'*‘it’ differs therefrom in the more marked angles which bound the three sides ”— the genuine worker and searcher after truth may conceive the feelings with which I find myself misrepresented as having regarded the specimens “as belonging to an extinct species of Albatros.” My reference of the bones even to the longipennate tribe of natatorial birds is stated hypothetically and with due caution’: “On the supposition that this fragment of bone is the shaft of the humerus, its length and comparative straightness would prove it ‘to have belonged to one of the longipennate natatorial birds equalling in size the Albatros.”’ (doc. cit. p. 411.) Since the discovery has been made of the manifestly characteristi¢ parts of the genus Pterodactylus in the Burham chalk-pit, it has been objected that the bones first discovered there, and described by me as resembling birds of flight, “are so extremely thin, as to render it most improbable that they could ever have sustained such an‘“instru- ment of flight as the powerful wing of the Albatros, or of any other bird: their tenuity is in fact such,” says the ex post facto Objector, Zovlogical Society. 381 “Sa, to/point out their adaptation to support.an expanded membrane, but)not|pinions.*.”’, ...:, 46 WSids dG 26 Word ow wah 498 The reply. to. this.assertion need. only be a simple reference to na- ture :.sections.of the wing-bones of birds may be seen in the Museum of {the Royal College of Surgeons, and have. been .exposed to ,view,. since the discovery of their structure by the Founder.of that Collec- tet in, every. Museum of Comparative Anatomy worthy, to, be-.so called... . | : Biden r OY 6 a aad Leb »io,expose the gratuitous character. of the. objection aboye cited, I haye,placed.on the table a section of the very bone. that. directly, sus- tains: the large quill-feathers in the Pelican; its parietes are only half as thin as those of the antibrachial, bone of the great Pterodactyle. which jis figured in my ‘ History,of British.Fossil, Reptiles,’ pl. 4, and. isnot. thicker than those.of the bone figured in the Geological Trans; actions, 1840, above cited. y TagD\ onod + ee ae “ Jog ate _, Hunter, who had obtained some of the. long, bones, with. thin walls:and. a wide cavity from the Stonesfield slate, has entered them in, his.MS, Catalogue of Fossils as. the ‘‘ Bones_of; Birds,” and per- haps no’practical anatomist had had greater, experience in. the. degree of tenuity presented by the compact walls of the large air-eavities of the bones in that class. Of all the modifications of the dermal system. for combining extent of surface with lightness. of material, the ex~ panded feather has been generally deemed the consummation... Well might, the eloquent Paley exclaim, ‘‘ Every feather is a mechanical wonder: their disposition all inclined backwards, the down about, the stem, the overlapping of their tips, their different configuration in dif-. ferent, parts, not to mention the variety of their colours, constitute.a vestment,.for the body so beautiful and so appropriate to the: life which ‘the animal is to lead, as that, I think, we should ,haye had no conception of anything equally perfect, if we had never seen it, or can imagine anything more so.”’ It was reserved for.the author. of the ‘ Wonders of Geology’ to prefer the leathern wing of the Bat-and Pterodactyle as the lighter form, and to discover that such a structure as is displayed in the bone described and figured. in the ‘Geol. .Trans.’, vol. vi. pl. 39, was a most improbable. one to .haye,sustained a power- ful wing of any bird!+ Let me not be supposed; however, to be concerned in excusing my own mistake; I am only reducing the unamiable exaggération of it. Above all things, in, our attempt, to gain a prospect of an unknown world by the difficult. ascent of. the. fragmentary ruins of a former temple of life, we ought to note the successful efforts, as well as the oc¢asional deviations from the right track, with an equal glance, and record them with a strict, regard _to truth. The existence of a species of Albatros, or, of any other actual genus. of bird, during the period of the Middle Chalk, would, be truly . a,wonder of Geology ; not.so the existence of a bird of the longipen- nate family. + | I still.think it for the interest of science;,in the present limited extent, of induction. from. microscopic observation, to offer a warning | * Mantell, ' Wonders of Geology,’ 1848, vol, i. p.441. + Tbid. : 382 Zoological Society. against a too hasty and implicit confidence in the forms and propor- tions: of the Puarkingean or radiated corpuscles:of; bone, as: demon-: strative of such minor groups of a class: as’ that of the genus Péero-: dactylus.» Such a statement as that ‘these cells in Birds have \a. breadth in proportion to their length of from one»to:four or! fives; whilein Reptiles the length exceeds the breadth ten or twelve times,”’ only betrays the limited experience of the assertor... In the’ dermal plates of the Tortoise, e..g., the average breadth of the bone-cell to» its length is as one to six, and single ones might be selected of greater, breadthve:} os: BLA» With the exception of one restricted family of Puusainants, every 2 Mammal, the:blood-dises of which have been submitted to examina+- tion; has ‘been found to possess those particles of a circular form|)in: the Camelide they areelliptical, as in birds and reptiles. ,,. The bone-;. cells haye already shown a greater range of variety inthe Vertebrate | series than the :blood-discs...._Is it then a too scrupulous reticence, to require the evidence of microscopic structure of a bone to, be-corrobos| rated ‘by other testimony of a plainer kind, before hastening to,an, absolute.determination of its nature, as has been done with:regard to) the Wealden: bone, figured in the Geol. Trans., 2nd-Series, vol. wv. pl 13ofigs 6*? > As a-matter of fact, the existence of Pterodactylian: remains ih the chalk was not surmised through any observation of the) microscopic structure of bones that are liable to be mistaken for those of birds, but was first plainly proved by the characteristic. portions,of the Pterodactyle defined by Mr. Bowerbank, as follows, in his original communication of this discovery to the Geological Society of aeaens May 14, 1845 > ) “1 have recently obtained from the Upper Chalk + of Kent some remains of a large species of Pterodactylus. 'The bones consist of— “1. The fore part of the head as far as about the middle ofthe eavitas narium, with a corresponding portion of the under jaws, many of the teeth remaining in their sockets. «2; A fragment of the bone of the same animal, apparently apart of the coracoid. «3. A portion of what appears to be one of the bones of the auri- cular digit, from a chalk-pit at Halling. «4, A portion of a similar bone, from the same locality as No.1. “5. The head of a long bone, probably the tibia, belonging to the same animal as the head, No. 1. ‘*€6. Aamore perfect bone of the same description, not from. the same animal, but found at Halling.” * Compare, for example, two of the longest of the cells figured by Mr. Bower- bank in pl.1. fig. 9, ‘Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society,’ vol. iy. as those of a bird, with two of the widest of the cells figured in fig. 1 of the same plate as those of the Pterodactyle; and contrast the want of parallelism in the bone-cells of the Wealden bone, fig. 9, with the parallelism of the long axes of the cells in that of the Albatros, fig. 3. +| Mr, Toulmin Smith, in an able paper “ On the Formation of the Flints of the Upper Chalk,’’ in the ‘Annals of Natural History,’ vol. xx. p. 295, affirms that no upper chalk exists in the localities whence the aboye-defined specimens came.” They are from the “ Middle Chalk.” Zoological Society. 383 Ina‘subsequent communication, dated December 1845, Mr. Bower- bank"states with regard» to the specimens Nos.5 and 6, which: he supposed ‘to’ be parts of a tibia, that “on a more careful comparison with the figures of Pterodactylus by Goldfuss, Iam inclined: to, be- lieve they are more likely to be portions of the ulna:” itbes With respect to the long bone, No. 6 in the above ‘list, comparing: it ‘with that figured in the Geol. Trans., 2nd Series, vol viv pli 39s fig, 1, and referred by me to Cimoliornis diomedeus, Mr. Bowerbank writes :— } 90H eR er ated at} “Although the two specimens differ greatly in size, there! issso’ strong a resemblance between them in the form and regularity of the shaft, and in the comparative substance of the bony structure;:as tO’ render it exceedingly probable that they belong tothe same class of’ animals ;’’ and he concludes by remarking, that: If the part of the head in’ my possession (see fig. 1) be supposed’similar:in its propor>> tions to that of Pterodactylus crassirostris,—and there: appears: but: little difference in that respect,—it would indicate an-animal' of com>: paratively enormous size. The length of the head; from ‘the tip>of the nose'to the basal extremity of the skull; of P¢: crasstrostris 4s: about’ 45 inches, while my specimen would be; as nearly:as can be) estimated, 91 imches. According to the restoration of the animal! by: Goldfuss, Pt. crassirostris would measure as nearly:as’ possible:three: feet from tip to tip of the wings, and it is probable that the species now described would measure at least six feet from onevextremity of the'expanded wings to the other; but if it should) hereafter prove: that the bone described and figured by Prof. Owen belongs to a Pte- rodactyle, the probable expansion of the wings would-reach to at least eight or nine feet. Under these circumstances I propose that the'spe- cies described above shall be designated Pterodactylus giganteus.”’ (Quarterly Geol. Journ. vol. ii. p. 8.) In a subsequent memoir, read June 9, 1847, and published in\the * Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society,’ vol. iv. February 1848; Mr. Bowerbank gives figures of the ‘bone-cells’ from the jaw of a Pterodactyle (pl. 1. fig. 1), from the shaft of the bone im question (i. fig. 2), and from the femur of a recent Albatros (7b. fig. 3), in corroboration of the required proof: and he adds, * Fortunately the two fine specimens from the rich collection of Mrs. Smith of Ton- bridge Wells, represented by fig. 1. pl. 2, ina great measure justify this conclusion ; and in the bone a, which is apparently the: corre- sponding bone to the one represented by fig. 1 in Prof. Owen’s paper, the head is very nearly in a perfect state of preservation.” (op. :cit: p: 5.) Mr. Bowerbank, in his explanation of plate 2, describes the two fine specimens above mentioned as “‘ Fig. 1. Radius and-ulna of Pterodactylus giganteus, in the cabinet of Mrs. Smith of Tonbridge Wells.” (fom. cit. p. 10.) He proceeds to state, “There are two other similar bones, imbedded side by side, in the. collection. of Mr, Charles of Maidstone, of still greater dimensions than those from the cabinet of Mrs. Smith ;” and he assigns his grounds for the conclu- sion, that ‘the animal to which such bones belonged could, therefore, have scarcely measured less than fifteen or sixteen feet from, tip to tip of its expanded wings.”’ | St ptt 384 Zoological Society. _ The Committee of the British. Association, for the Reformeand! Re- gulation of Zoological. Nomenclature, amongst, other,excellent rules, have decided that, ‘A name which is glaringly false shall:be. changed” (Report, p. 113). I submit that this is the case -when:the name:gi+ ganteus is proposed for a species less than half the,size.of| others :pre- viously discovered. Now, although those remains of the truly gigantic Pterodactyles had not been demonstrated to be such, yet they ‘were suspected so to be by Mr. Bowerbank when he, proposed the:name giganteus ; and the name is in fact proposed, subject-to the condition of that demonstration, and under the evident belief that)they,:be- longed to the same species as the obvious Pterodactyle,remains»he was describing. He says, ‘‘ Under these circumstances I propose, that the species shall be designated ‘ geganteus’,’’ and the,circumstances referred to are the probable case that the bones, which from their large size I had supposed to belong to a bird, should prove to belong ito a Pterodactyle. . ) inebowstd wils The Committee for the Reform. of Zoological Nomenclature next ‘ proceed to determine that, ‘Names. not. clearly. defined::may' be changed. Unless a species or group is intelligibly defined when the name is given, it cannot be recognised by others, and the signification of the name is consequently lost: Two things are necessary beforeva zoological term can acquire any authority, viz. definition:and| publi cation. Definition properly implies a distinct exposition of essentiab characters, and in all cases we conceive this to be indispeiisable?’* (Report, pp.113,114.) Now with regard to the Pterodactylus gigan teus, Mr. Bowerbank had unreservedly applied the term to the species to which the long wing-bone first described by me might appertaimy under the circumstances of its being proved to belong to a Pterodac- tyle; inasmuch as he had figured two similar and.equal-sized ‘bones in the ‘ Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society,’ vol. iv. pl Qufigel (Proceedings of the Society for June 9, 1847), as the ‘radius andulna of Pterodactylus giganteus.”’ So far as a species can be intelligibly defined by figures, that to which the term giganteus was in 1845, pro- visionally, and in 1847 absolutely applied, seemed to be clearly enough’ yointed out by the plate 2 in the work above cited. But;,.with the arge bones appropriately designated by the term. geganteus,, some: parts of a smaller Pterodactyle, including the portions of jaws first announcing the genus in the Chalk, had been associated under the same name. Supposing those bones to have belonged to. a, young individual of the Pterodactylus giganteus, no difficulty or confusion would arise. After instituting, however, a rigid comparison of these specimens, when drawing up my Descriptions for Mr. Dixon’s,work, _ I was-compelled to arrive at the conclusion that the parts figured \by Mr. Bowerbank in plate 2, figs. 1 & 2, of vol. 11. of the ‘Quarterly Geo- logical Journal,’ and the parts figured in plate 2, figs. 1. a & 4, of vol. iv. of the same Journal, both assigned by Mr. Bowerbank to the Ptero- dactylus giganteus, belonged to two distinct species,,\ The-portions of the scapula and coracoid of the Pterodactyle (pl. 1. fig.,2,.tom.:eit.) indicated by their complete anchylosis that.they had not, been, part of a young individual of the species to which the large antibrachial bones (pl. 2. fig. 1 a & b, tom. cit.) belonged ; although they might ie Zoological Society. 385 rene tothe species to which the jaws belonged. Two spe- cies of Pterodactyle were plainly indicated, as I have shown in the above-cited work, by my lamented friend Mr. Dixon, ‘On the Ter- tiary and Cretaceous Deposits of Sussex,’ 4to, p. 402. The same name could not be retained for both, and it was in obedience to this necessity, and not with any idea of detracting an iota from the merit of Mr. Bowethahh’s original announcement of the existence of a Pte- rodactyle in the chalk, that I proposed the name of conirostris for the smaller species, then for the first time distinctly defined and di- - stinguished from the larger remains to which the name giganteus had also:been given by Mr. Bowerbank. I proposed the name, more- over, provisionally and with submission to the ‘Committee for the Reform of Zoological Nomenclature,’ according to whose rules I be- lieved myself to be guided. : « (My conclusions as to the specific distinetion of the remains of the smaller Pterodactyle (pl. 1, tom. cit. 1845) from those figur din plate 2. tom. cit. 1848, have received full confirmation by the va-- luable discovery of the portion of the cranium of the truly gigantic Pterodactyle, about to be described, to which they belonged ; and it is:certainly to be wished that, in determining to assign to Mrs. Smith’s cimens the name of ‘ giganteus,’ Mr. Bowerbank should have con- formed to the following equitable rule of the ‘Committee of Nomen- elature’:—“ The author who first describes and names a species, which forms the groundwork of later generalizations, possesses a higher claim to have his name recorded than he who afterwards de- fines a genus which is found to embrace that species. ...... By giving the authority for the specific name in preference to all others, ~ the inquirer is referred directly to the original description, habitat, &e. of the species, and is at the same time reminded of the date of its discovery.” (Reports of the British Association, 1842, p. 120.) Now the species which I originally described under the name of Cimoliornis diomedeus comes precisely under this category: it has formed the groundwork of later generalizations, which have led to its being embraced by another genus. In this case the Committee of Nomenclature, whilst determining that the specific name should be retained, recommend that the describer should “ append to the ori- ginal authority for the species, when not applying to the genus also, some distinctive mark, such as (sp.), implying an exclusive reference to the specific name.”’ In conformity with the above recommenda- tion, the gigantic species of Pterodactyle, of which parts have been described by Mr. Bowerbank, and a previously by myself, would be entered into the Zoological Catalogues as follows :— Pterodactylus diomedeus, Owen (sp.), Proceedings of the Zoolo- gical Society, January 1851, | Cimoliornis diomedeus, Tbid., British Fossil Mammals and Birds, p- 545, cuts 230, 231 (1843-1846). Osteornis diomedeus, Gervais, These sur les Oiseaux Fossiles, 8vo, p. 38 (1844). ; i Pterodactylus giganteus, Bowerbank, Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol. iv. p. 10. pl. 2. figs. 1 & 4 (1848). “Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. x. ) 25 386 Zoological, Society. . Leaving, however, the question, of names, regarding which L,have no, personal feeling except that; they, should) indicate their objects: without: ambiguity,.or| obyiousimpropriety, ‘I. -proceed. \to. lay before the same Society to which Mr. Bowerbank has communicated. his last interesting and, important: discovery, similar evidence of a, third ;spe- cies of | Pterodactyle from the, chalk, intermediate in size, between the miei of, which the jaws were figured as the Pterodactylus giganteus Bol Rin and.,the, trae gigentic species which he has named, tan dag win Cuvieni., Aytonborss ret to gilt Oe caucnaooed ebich ‘consist: of two portions of,the. wpapen jaws apes ef that; gentleman’s collection, and were,in fact exhibited table, but,junnoticed, at our last meeting, their.trme nature not pats been recognised., The chief portion might well indeed, bemis- taken,.at first,sight, for a,crushed portion. of an. ordinary|long\bone s and it,.was,not, until after:a close comparison of several specimens,of these rare,and interesting remains of Pterodactyles, kindly,confided to me by Mrs. Smith of Tonbridge Wells, Mr. Toulmin Smithsef Highgate,,.Mr, Charles, of Maidstone, and by. Mr. Bowerbank him- self, .for,,description: in| my forthcoming ‘ Monograph.on -the (Fossil Reptiles ef the Chalk,’ that I.discovered them to be ports 8 a skull ofan, undeseribed species of Pterodactyle. L odd ai pda order to, make this, understood, it will, be. necessary to ‘animal (a few, words,on the Pterodactyles in general, and on some of the;cha: racters of ithe jaw, of the Pterodactylus Cuviert in particular. |) 93 WV ~The. rat ot Pterosauria includes species of flying reptiles, 80 shodit fied .in regard to the) structure and proportions of the,skull, the} dis; position, of the teeth, and the development of the tail, as to be.refer+ able eyen.according to the partial knowledge we now possess 'of yan once extensive group, to different genera. ssitogot ' | “M, Von Meyer e. g. primarily divides the Order into— A, DIARTHRI, with a two-jointed wing-finger. ,_ Ex., Pterodactylus (Ornithopterus) Lavateri. oB: TETRARTHRI, with a four-jointed wing-finger: ix, All the other known species of the order. "hese again are subdivided into bad. Dentivostres. Jaws armed with teeth to their ‘ends a “bony ao seselerotic ring; scapula and coracoid not confluent with one an+ e y\nother “|; short moveable tail. a3 Bxo Pterodactylus proper. ' 2. Subulirostres.. Jaws with their ends produced into an edentu- *"*Tous' point, probably sheathed with bone; no bony sclerotic ; © ©! séapula aiid’ coracoid confiuent; a long and stiff tail: 3 Bx. Pterodact gtus (Ramphorhynchus) Gemmingi * . ‘ The condition of the scapular arch’ in:the:Pt. giganteus, Bow., Pett conirostris mihi, demonstrates.the fallacy, of this character. + Paleontographia, Heft 1, 4to. 1846, p. 19. Zoological Society. 387 Phe extremity of the upper jaw of the Pterodactylus Cuvieri is sufficiently perfect to demonstrate that it hada pair of approximated alveoli close 'to’ its’ termination, and we may therefore refer it to the Dentirostral division. Mk, TAY , , ‘In this division, however, there ‘are species which present such dif- ferent proportions of the beak, accompanied by differences in the rela- tive extent’ of the dental series, as would without doubt lead to their allocation in distinct genera, were they the living or recent subjects of the modern Erpetologist. In the Pterodactylus longirostris, the first. species discovered and made known’ by Collini in'1784*, the jaws are of extreme length and tenuity, and the alveoli of the upper jaw do not extend so far back as the nostril.’ ‘In’ the Pterodacty lis crassirostris; Goldfuss +, on the other hand, the jaws ’aré short,thick, and obtusely ‘terminated, and the alveoli’ of the upper jaw reach as far’ back as the middle of the vacuity which intervenes between ‘the nostril ‘and ‘the orbit, and which Goldfuss-terms the *cavitas itter- media? 6 Kp ore. 21 yd ser OS In the solid or imperforate part of the upper jaw aiiterior to the nostril, the Pterodactylus longirostris has twelve long, subéompressed teeth, followed by a few of smaller size: ‘the same ‘part of the jaw in the Pt. erassirostris has but six teeth, of which the first’ four are élose together ‘at the end of the jaw, and the first three sorter than the rest. The cavitas intermedia in Pt. longirostris is much ‘smaller than the’ nostril; in the P¢.crassirostris it is larger than the nostril. Were these two species of dentirostral Pterosauria to be taken, as bythe modern Erpetologist they assuredly would, to be types of two distinet genera, the name Pterodactylus should be retained for the longirostral species, as including the first-discovered specimén and type of the genus; and the crassirostral species should be grouped together under some other generic name. The specimen of gigantic Pterodactyle described by Mr. Bower- bank at the last meeting of the Society consists of the solid anterior end, 7. e. of the imperforate continuous bony walls, of a jaw, com- pressed and decreasing m depth, at first rapidly, then more gradually, to an obtusely-pointed extremity. As the symphysis of the lower jaw is long and the original joint obliterated, and its depth somewhat rapidly increases by the development of its lower and back part into a kind of ridge in some smaller Pterodactyles, the present specimen, so far as these characters go, might be referred to the lower jaw, and its, relatively inferior depth to the upper jaw in the Pt. conirostris would seem to lead to that conclusion. But the present is plainly a species which has a longer and more slender snout. in proportion.to its size, and the convex curve formed by the alveolar border, slight as it is, decides it to be part of the upper jaw. The lower jaw, moreover,. might be expected, by the analogy of the smaller Pterodactyles, to be flatter or less acute below the end of the symphysis. The specimen of P¢. Cuviert consists of the anterior extremity of * Acta Academie Theodoro-Palatine, V. p. 58, tab. 5. + Beitrage zur Kenntniss verschiedener Reptilien der Vorwelt, 4to. 1831, sec. 1. tab. 7, 8, 9. 25* 388 Zoological Society. the upper jaw, of seven inchés in” extent, without “any trace ‘of the nasal or any other natural perforation of its upper or lateral patiétes, From the number of teeth contained in this part, the P¢. Cuvier? pre- sents a much closer resemblance to the Pt. longirostris than to” the Pt. crassirostris ; and if the entire skull were restored according to the proportions of the’ Pé: longirostris, it would be twenty-eight inches inlength, °°" * °°" ¥