...•^ '^— — - — ^ m No. XIV.] [Price 2s. 6d. ANNALS OF NATURAL HISTORY; OR, MAGAZINE OF ZOOLOGY, BOTANY, AND GEOLOGY. (being a continuation of the ' MAGAZINE OF ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY,' AND SIR W. J. IIOOKEIl's * BOTANICAL COMPANION.') CONDUCrTED BY Sir W. JARDINE, Bart.— P. J. SELBY, Esq., Dr. JOHNSTON, Sir W. J. HOOKER, Regius Professor of Botany, AND RICHARD TAYLOR, F.L.S. MARCH 1839. WITH A PLATE Illustrating M. Beyrich's Paper on Goniatites. LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY R. AND J. E. TAYLOR. SOLD BY S. HIGHLEY; SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL ; SHERWOOD AND CO.; W. WOOD, TAVISTOCK STREET; BAILLIERE, REGENT STREET, AND PARIS : LIZARS, AND MACLACHLAN AND STEWART, EDINBURGH : CURRY, DUBLIN: AND ASHER, BERLIN. '^ TO CORRESPONDENTS. Communications have been received from the Rev. P. Keith, F.L.S. ; Rev. M. J. Berkeley ; Rev. F. W. Hope, F.R.S. ; W. Yarrell, F.L.S. ; Prof. C. Morren, of Liege; Prof. A. Wiegmann, of Berlin; F. Walker, Esq., F.L.S.; E.Forbes, Esq., F.R.S.E. ; G. Dickie, Esq.; Rev. 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SELBY, Esq., Dr. JOHNSTON, Sir W. J. HOOKER, Regius Professor of Botany, AND RICHARD TAYLOR, F.L.S. VOL. in ^'''' ^^^^ LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY R. AND J. E. TAYLOR. SOLD BY S. HIGHLEY; SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL; SHERWOOD AND CO.; W. WOOD, TAVISTOCK STREET ; BAILLIERE, REGENT STREET, AND PARIS .' LIZARS, AND MACLACHLAN AND STEWART, EDINBURGH ; CURRY, DUBLIN I AND ASHER, BERLIN. 1839. " Omnes res creatae sunt divinae sapientiae et potentiae testes, divitise felicitatis humanae : ex harum usu honitas Creatoris ; ex pulchritudine sapientia Domini ; ex ceconomia in conservatione, proportione, renovatione, potentia majestatis elucet. Earum itaque indagatio ab hominibus sibi relictis semper aestimata ; a vere eruditis et sapientibus semper exculta; male doctis et barbaris semper inimica fuit" — Linn. lo J. CONTENTS OF VOL. III. NUMBER XIV. I. On the Production of Vanilla in Europe. By Prof. Ch. Morren, Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Brussels page 1 II. On the Goniatites found in the Transition Formations of the Rhine. By Dr. Ernest Beykich. (With Plates.) 9 ni. Descriptions of some new or rare Indian Plants. By G. A. W. Arnott, Esq., LL.D 20 IV. An attempt to ascertain the Fauna of Shropshire and North Wales. By T. C. Eyton, Esq., F.L.S 24 V. Florae Insulanim Novae Zelandiae Precursor ; or a Specimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By Allan Cunningham, Esq 29 VI. On an apparently undescribed Species of Lepadogaster ; and on the Gobius minutus of MuUer. By William Thompson, Esq., Vice- President of the Natural History Society of Belfast 34 New Books : — A History of British Zoophytes, by George Johnston, M.D. ; Flora of North America, by Drs. Torrey and Gray; Genera Insectorum Iconibus illustravit et descripsit Dr. H. Burmeister; Second Annual Report of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh ; Flora of Jamaica, by Dr. J. Macfadyen 46 — 54 Proceedings of the Linnaean Society ; Royal Irish Academy ; Geological Society; Zoological Society 54 — 69 On the genus Syngnathus ; Influence of native Magnesia on the Vege- tation and Fructification of Vegetables ; Meteorological Observa- tions and Table 69—72 NUMBER XV. VII. On a new Species of Bat, found in the County of Durham. By the Rev. L. Jenyns, M.A., F.L.S. (With a Plate.) 73 VIII. On the Pith of Plants. By the Rev. P. Keith, F.L.S 77 IX. Remarks on some Species of the Genus Syngnathus. By W. Yarrell, Esq., F.L.S., F.Z.S 81 X. Descriptions of some new or rare Indian Plants. By G. A. W. Arnott, Esq., LL.D 85 XI. On the Tortoise Beetles, commonly denominated Cassida, with the Characters of Six new Genera. By the Rev. F. W. Hope, F.R.S., L.S., andZ.S. (With a Plate.) 92 XII. Some observations on the Digestive Apparatus of Infusoria. By Dr. J. Meyen, Prof. Bot. University of Berlin 100 Prof. Rymer Jones on the Digestive Apparatus of Infusoria 105 XIII. On the Migration of the Snowy Owl. By W. Thompson, Esq., Vice-President of the Natural History Society of Belfast 107 XIV. Florae Insularum Novas Zelandise Precursor; or a Specimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By Allan Cunningham, Esq. Ill New Books : — Genera et Species Geiitianearum, Auctore Dr. H. Grise- bach ; Natural History of the Sperm Whale, by T. Beale ; Flora Excursoria Ilafniensis scripsit S. T. N. Drejer ; Bee-Keeper's Manual, by Henry Taylor; A Botanical Chart for Schools, by Elizabeth A. Warren; Flora Aberdonensis, by George Dickie; IV CONTENTS. Commentadones de Leguminosarum Gcneribus, Auctore G. Ben- tham page 115 — 123 Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh ; Wernerian Society; Zoological Society; Geological Society 123 — 140 Notices of the occurrence of rare Birds; Instruments of Perforation in the Cicada ; Occurrence of Carex rupestris ; Black variety of the Common Hare; Meteorological Observations and Table ... 140 — 144 NUMBER XVI. XV. On two British Species of Cydippe, By Edward Forbes, Esq. (With a Plate.) 145 XVI. Descriptions of some new or rare Indian Plants. By G. A. W. Arnott, Esq., LL.D 150 XVII. On the Goniatiies found in the Transition Formations of the Rhine. By Dr. E. Beyrich. (With Plates.) 155 XVIII. On the Reproductive Organs of the Lichens. By G. Dickie, Esq., A. t.S., Lecturer on Botany at Aberdeen 165 XIX. On a Fossil ruminant Genus allied to GiraffidcB. By Capt. P. T. Cautley 167 XX. On the Digestive Organs of Infusoria. By M. F. Dujardin... 170 XXI. Descriptions of British Chalcidites. Bv F. Walker, Esq., F.L.S .*. 177 XXII. On the effects of the Hurricane of Jan. 7, 1839, in Ireland, on some Birds, Fishes, &c. By William Thompson, Esq., Vice-Pre- sident of the Belfast Natural History Society 182 XXIII. On a Meteoric Paper, composed of Confervae and Infusoria. By Prof. Ehrenberg of Berlin 185 New Books : — The London Flora, by A. Irvine ; the Little English Flora, by G. W. Francis; Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum, by J. C. Loudon ; Enumeratio Plantarum quas in Novae Hollandise ora AustrO'Occidentali collegit C. L. Baro de Hiigel; the Edin- burgh New Philosophical Journal ; Microscopic Illustrations, by Dr. C. R. Goring and A. Pritchard 185—192 Proceedings of the Linnsean Society ; Zoological Society ; Geological Society 193—213 On the Nature of Polypidoms ; Structure of Succulent Plants com- pared with the Sigillari(B ; Meteorological Observations and Ta- ble „ 214—216 NUMBER XVII. XXIV. On the Generic Distribution of the British HydromyzidcB. By A. H. Haliday, Esq., F.L.S 217 XXV. On the Ranunculus aquatilis of Smith. By Charles C. Ba- BiNGTON, M.A., F.L.S., G.S., &c 225 XXVI. On the Common Limpet, considered as an article of food in the North of Ireland. By Robert Patterson, Esq., Treasurer of the Belfast Museum 231 XXVII. On Remains of Fossil Mammifera in Brazil. By Dr. Lund 235 XXVIII. Notices of a Botanical Excursion to the Mountains of Ternova in Carniola. By Edward Forbes, Esq 236 XXIX. On the Wild Cattle of England. By Sir Philip Grey Egerton, M.P., F.R.S., &c 241 XXX. On three undescribed species of Cimex. By the Rev. L. Jenyns, M.A., F.L.S. (With a Plate.) 241 CONTENTS. V XXXT. Floi'JE Insularum Novge Zelandise Precursor ; or a Specimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By Allan Cunninq- HAM, Esq page 244 XXXII. Information respecting Botanical Travellers : — Mr. Gard- ner's Journeys in Brazil 250 New Books: — Synopsis Florae Helveticse, auctore J. Gaudin; Flora Cestrica, by W. Darlington ; Novitiarum Florae Suecicse Mantissa, E. Fries ; Icones Florae Germanicae, by L. Reichenbach ... 255 — 257 British Coleoptera Delineated, by Mr. Schuckard 287 Proceedings of the Linnsean Society; Royal Irish Academy ; Botanical Society of London ; Dublin Natural History Society ; Natural Hi- story Society for the West Riding of Yorkshire ; Zoological So- ciety 257—282 Formation of Indigo in Polygonum tinctorium ; on a new Species of Cyrena from the Norfolk Crag ; on a new Species of Polyporus ; Vernation of the Cycadacece ; Systematic Arrangement of the Chrysididoi \ Meteorological Observations and Table 282 — 288 NUMBER XVIII. XXXIII. Miscellanea Zoologica : — On the British Nereides. By George Johnston, Esq., M.D. (With a Plate.) 289 XXXIV. On Pinus and Abies, with remarks on a new Species. By Capt. S. E. Cook, R.N 296 XXXV. On the Synonymy of Passandra, with Descriptions of new Genera and Species. By Edward Newman, Esq., F.L.S 303 XXXVI. On the Morphology of the Ascidia of Plants. By Prof. C. MoRREN, Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Brussels ... 305 XXXVII. Floras Insularum Novae Zelandiae Precursor; or a Speci- men of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By Allan Cunning- ham, Esq 314 XXXVIII. On a Leather-like Substance formed of Confervae and Infusoria. By Prof. Ch. Kersten of Freiberg, and Prof. Ehrenberg of Berlin 320 XXXIX. Contributions towards a Flora of Van Diemen's Land. By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, A.M., F.L.S. (With a Plate.) 322 XL. Information respecting Botanical Travellers : — Mr. Gardner's Journeys in Brazil 327 New Boo/cs : — De Pinubus Taurico-Caucasicis, auctore Steven ; Pri- mitiae Florae Sarnicae, by Charles C. Babington 336 — 341 Proceedings of the Zoological Society ; Tweedside Physical and Anti- quarian Society; Botanical Society of Edinburgh 342 — 356 On the Wild Cattle of Great Britain ; on a new Species of Sepiola ; on the Nematoidea ; Action of Frost on Plants ; Birth of a Giraffe at the Gardens of the Zoological Society ; Meteorological Observa- tions and Table 356—360 NUMBER XIX. XLL The Fauna of Twizell. By P. J. Selby, Esq., F.R.S.E., F.L.S., &c 361 XLII. Descriptions of Exotic Fungi in the collection of Sir W. J. Hooker, from Memoirs and Notes of J. F. Klotzsch, with Additions and Corrections. By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S. (With a Plate.) 375 VI CONTENTS. XLIII. Remarks on the Generic Distribution of the British Ilydro- myzidcB. By A. H. Haliday, Esq page 401 X LI V. Further Remarks on the Morphology of the Ascidia of Plants. By Prof. Ch. Morren, Member of the Royal Academy of Brussels ... 411 XLV. Descriptions of British Ckalcidites. By Francis Walker, Esq., F.L.S 415 XLVI. On two South African Genera of the Natural Order Passi- jiorecB. Bv the Hon. W. H. Harvey, of the Cape of Good Hope. (With Two Plates.) 420 XLVII. List of Fossil Mammifera from the Basin of the Rio das Velhas, Brazil, with some of their distinguishing Characters. By Dr. Lund 422 XLVIII. Enumeration of Plants collected by Mr. Schomburgk in British Guiana. By George Bentham, Esq., F.L.S 427 NUMBER XX. SUPPLEMENT. XLVIII. Enumeration of the Plants collected by Mr. Schomburgk in British Guiana. By George Bentham, Esq., F.L.S. \_Continued.'] 435 XLIX. On the Metamorphoses of the Crustacea. By Capt. C. DuCane, R.N. (With a Plate.) 438 L. Remarks on the Fumariacece. By George Dickie, Esq., A.L.S. 440 New Books : — A General Outline of the Animal Kingdom, by Prof. Rymer Jones 443 Proceedings of the Zoological Society ; Linnaean Society 445 — 461 On the structure of the Folvocince ; Development of the LeguminoscB ; Structure of the scales of Fish and Reptiles ; Lemna arrhiza ; Dis- covery of Mummies in Mexico ; Olfactory Sense of the Antennae ; Geographical Distribution of Palms ; Meteorological Observations and Table 461—466 PLATES, Plates I. II. Goniatites. II. British Cydippe. III. Vespertilio aedilis. IV. Cassidae. V. New species of Cimex. VI. British Nereides. VII. Fungi and Algae, VIII. Polyporus australis. IX. Acharia tragoides. X. Ceratosicyos Echlonii. XI. Metamorphosis of Crustacea. ERRATA. Page 139, line 31, omit the words (in conjunction with Prof. Muller). — 142, line 32, omit Charles. — 166, line 10, /or CoUema and Boeomyces as specimens; however, if read CoUema Bocomyces ; as specimens, however, of J — 166, line 3 from bottom, /or thcc« read theca*! — 227, line 5 from bottom,/or Lison read Linn. — 350, line 18, ajler Australia add and the Islands of the Indian Archipelago. ANNALS OF NATURAL HLSTORY. I. — On the Production of Vanilla in Europe, By Professor Charles Morren^ of the University of Liege, Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Brussels, &c. * 1 HE natural history of Vanilla cannot have too many facts brought in aid of its illustration, because it is to be re- marked that all the relations of travellers with regard to this plant serve rather to perplex than to throw light upon the subject. Having been fortunate enough to obtain two years since, and at two different times, an abundant crop of this interesting fruit, I believe I may assert that henceforth we may produce in Europe vanilla of as good a quality (if not better) as that which is exported from Mexico. This result is owing to the progress that vegetable physiology has made during these last few years, for, without an exact knowledge of the organs and of their functions, the fruit of this plant could never have been obtained ; on this account this new cul- ture deserves particular attention. In the second place, the experiments made at the Botanic Garden of Liege upon the fecundation of the flowers of the Vanilla have revealed several new facts in the physiology of the reproduction of plants. And, as regards the distinction of species, my inquiries may moreover serve to establish better diagnoses between the plants of the genus Vanilla, at the same time that they tend to prove that the latest works that treat of these species are far from giving correct information respecting the origin of the vanillas most in demand in commerce. Lastly, my experiments may afford the most convincing proof, that in our own climate, but in our hot-houses, the same circumstances of the ambient at- mosphere as those which exist under a Mexican sky, produce in the vanilla plant all the phaenomena of a good and perfect maturation of the fruit. * Read before the British Association at Newcastle, and since commu- nicated by the author to, and translated for this" Journal. Ann. Nat. Hist, Vol.3. No. 14. 3/«rcM839. b 2 Prof. Chas. Morren on the Cultivation of Vanilla. §1.0/* the species of Vanilla Plant lohich produces the long and fine pods of Commerce, Were we to believe most authors, (and I may even go so far as to say all) the Vanilla aromatica of Swartz, described by Robert Brown in the ^ Hortus Kewensis' (vol. v.), would be the only one which produces the vanilla of commerce. This should have been the species introduced into Europe in 1739 by Henry Philip Miller ; but it appears that it is not at all to be found at the present time in England, for I sought for it in vain in the gardens of London and its environs. I did not see it at Kew. It appears moreover that several species are con- founded under this name, as M. Schiede has already pointed out in his botanical observations made in Mexico (Linnaea, vol. iv. 1829, p.554 — 583), for, as he says, in Kunth's ^Synop- sis,^ we find assembled under this name Mexican species and others from Southern and Western America. The charac- ter which has been assigned to it of having nerved leaves (foliis nervosis) may possibly have arisen from bad culture, for in this case the Vanilla planifolia also has nerved leaves; or because dry leaves have been examined ; for then again the leaves of the Vanilla planifolia are no longer smooth, but much wrinkled longitudinally, that is to say nerved. In short, the assertion that the pods of the vanilla of commerce are produced by the Vanilla aromatica rests upon no certain or known fact, but in a great measure upon the belief which existed that the Vanilla planifolia bore no odoriferous fruit, a thing which my own researches have proved to be completely false. It is singular that there is not a better agreement with re- gard to the Vanilla planifolia, especially since the pubUcations of M. Schiede. This botanist thinks that two distinct spe- cies are confounded under this name, both of which he found in Mexico ; the one, the Vanilla saliva, Schiede, the leaves of which are oblong, succulent, the bracteae small, and the fruit without grooves ; and the other, the Vanilla sylvestris, Schiede, the leaves of which are oblong-lanceolate, succulent, the bracteae small, and the fruit with two grooves. It is to be regretted that M. Schiede should have confined him- Prof. Chas. Morren on the Cultivation o/* Vanilla. 3 self to these differential characters^ so far from certain as to leave much doubt in the observer's mind, for he avows not having seen the flowers of any one species of Vanilla, and it is in the flower alone, and especially in the labellum, that the true characters are to be sought. There are in the hot- houses of Mr. Loddiges of London two kinds of Vanilla plant referred to the Vanilla planifolia of Andrews, to which these characters equally apply, and which are nevertheless very dif- ferent, insomuch that the one has the leaves oblique and the other regular. It is moreover very doubtful, whether in the genus Vanilla all the fruits have not two grooves, which are the traces of the lines of dehiscence or of the sutures. These sutures also exist to the number of two upon the fruits which I saw upon the Vanilla bicolor at Mr. Loddiges, and which have recently been described by Professor Lindley. From the form of the fruit of the Vanillas cultivated at Liege, it seems to me that the Vanilla planifolia of Andrews (Repository, vol.viii. pi. 538.), figured in his plate 538, is really the Vanilla sylvestris of Schiede ; but I am not very sure of it, because the characters assigned to the Vanilla pompona of this latter author, and especially that of the size of the fruit, agree equally with the Vanilla of Liege ; so that here again the want of all criterion drawn from the flower destroys any kind of certainty which might be had upon this subject. What is very certain is, that the Vanilla planifolia of the herbarium of Pro- fessor Lindley, although marked with a note of interrogation (?) is the very same plant drawn in flower by Mr. Francis Bauer in Lindley's ^ Genera and Species of Orchideous Plants^ ; se- condly, that this species is certainly the one which was figured by Andrews ; and thirdly, that it is this same plant which, generally cultivated, on the continent, has produced at Liege an abundant crop of odorous and delicious fruit. Hence, it follows : 1st. That the characters of the species of Vanilla named by M. Schiede V, saliva, V. sylvestris, V, pompona, should be submitted to a fresh examination, and that no sure distinction can be established except upon the flower, which has not yet been observed. 2nd. Thatwhereas Andrews states that his Vanilla planifolia 4 Prof. Chas. Morren on the Cultivation q/' Vanilla. is that of Plumier described in the unpublished collection of. his drawings as having reddish fruit (fructu corallino) and short [breviori), and as having white flow ers, there is an error either on the part of Plumier or of Andrews ; for the fruits of the species figured as the Vanilla planifolia are extremely long (2 decimetres), and its flower is not white but green. 3rd. That the Vanilla planifolia of Andrews bears fine and good odoriferous fruit as long as the finest sort to be found in commerce, and that consequently this species, already much spread, may become very important, whether for cultivation in our hot-houses or for introduction into the intertropical colonies, two objects which merit as well the attention of pri- vate individuals as the protection of governments. § II. An Abstract of the History of the Vanilla planifolia bearing large odoriferous fruits, I have followed Robert Brown^s ^Vermischte botanische Schriften^ (vol. ii. p. 48.) in attributing (in a notice respecting the indigenous Vanilla plant lately published at Brussels in the Bulletins of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium, tom. iv. No. 5.) the introduction of Vanilla planifolia to the Honourable Charles Greville in 1800; but I have learnt here, at Newcastle itself, that this is a mistake. The useful Vanilla plant was first introduced into Europe by the present Duke of Marlborough, then Marquis of Blandford; but it is true that this interesting species w^as at first cultivated in the Honour- able Charles Greville's choice collection of plants at Padding- ton, near London, where it flow ered for the first time, but then no artificial fecundation having been performed no fruit was produced. In 1807 Mr. Bauer figured a new flower of this species from nature, together with one fruit ; but the co- lour of the latter and its structure leave me some doubt w^hether this drawing was not made from a specimen of commerce, and there is nothing to authorize our believing that at this period the art of producing fruits in the Orchidece was yet known. The Vanilla planifolia was carried in 1812 from the gar- dens of Mr. Greville into.those of Belgium, and it was M. Parmentier of Enghien who introduced the plant at Antwerp, where it was confided to the care of Dr. Somme, the director Prof. Chas. Morren on the Cultivation o/* Vanilla. 5 of the Botanic Garden. The plant grew rapidly there, and slips were sent to all the towns of Belgium and of France, but they very rarely flowered ; once or twice in Flanders at the seat of Madame la Vicomtesse Vilain XIV., and at Liege ; but fruit was never obtained, so that this culture was de- spaired of. Nevertheless, in 1819, M. Somme sent two plants of Vanilla to M. Marchal, now Curator of the Bibliotheque de Bourgogne at Brussels, that he might send them to the Dutch colonies of Java, where it was said the plant might be- come valuable by its produce. The history of this migration of the Vanilla plant from America to the East Indies is too interesting not to be made known, because it brings to mind in every respect the episode of the transportation of the plant of the coffee tree taken from the hot-houses of Amsterdam, given to Louis XIV. and father of the three plants, one of which was taken to the French Antilles by Captain Declieux, who, in a scarcity of water experienced by the ship's crew, shared the small quan- tity which he had to drink between himself and his dear coffee plant. Indeed, only one of the Vanilla roots stood the passage from Belgium to the East Indies ; but it was only by the great- est care in preserving it from the rough treatment of the sailors, from the changes of temperature, and from the salt water which was thrown upon it. It would undoubtedly have perished if M. Marchal had not made it his darling child. The plant so happily saved w as given to the Botanic Garden of Buitenzorg at Java, and prospered there so well that it flow^ered ; and it is without doubt, that which was afterw ards described by Dr. Blume, who on account of its green flower named it Vanilla viridiflora ; so that this name should also be regarded as a synonym of the specification, already so perplexed, of this species. The observations on the necessity of an artificial fecunda- tion in the greater part of the orchideous plants not being known at that time, the flowers of this Vanilla bore no fruit in the East Indies, which I attribute to the absence of the species of insect which nature has doubtless given to the cli- mate of Mexico to effect in this latter region a fecundation, which man alone, by a study of the organs, is able to perfect in other countries. 6 Prof. Chas. Morren on the Cultivation o/* Vanilla, It was in 1836 that by a peculiar horticultural treatment we had at Liege upon one Vanilla plant fifty-four flowers, which having been fecundated by me, produced the same number of pods ; and in 1837 a fresh crop of about a hundred pods was obtained upon another plant by the same methods ; so that now there is not the least doubt of the complete success of this new cultivation. § III. Short Digression on the Introduction of Vanilla into domestic use. From the works of the illustrious Alexander von Humboldt we learn that the Mexicans were already in the habit of per- fuming their chocolate when the Spaniards discovered this part of America. It seems, however, by the accounts which I have read of the first travellers in this region, that the Ame- rican chocolate was a detestable beverage to which the Euro- peans afterwards gave an exquisite flavour. Chocolate was brought from Mexico into Europe in 1520, but it appears that vanilla was brought to the continent as a perfume about the year 1510, at the same time as indigo, cochineal, and cacao itself, that is to say, ten years before the arrival of tobacco. Nevertheless, as I have elsewhere said, ^ Notice sur la Vanille,^ Bruxelles, in spite of its perfume, so sweet that Salisbury at a later period called the plant Myrobroma, vanilla cannot have acquired a very great popularity about that period ; for Claude d^ Abbeville, whose singular ^ History of the Mission of the Capuchin Fathers in the Island of Maragnan and the neigh- bouring lands,' published in 1614, I have consulted, says no- thing of this plant, although he devotes an especial chapter to the history of the vegetables which are useful or curious, as the pine apple, of fruit trees, as the palm tree, &c. At a much later period it engaged but very slightly the attention of travellers, and I shall quote among others Father Gurailla, who in his ' Natural, Civil, and Geographical History of the Nations inhabiting the banks of the Orinoko,' mentions the vanilla [Bagnilla) merely as being a sarmentose plant always green and twining itself around trees. In 1703, vanilla was better known from the writings of Charles Plumier. At that time its use was diffused over the Prof. Chas. Morren on the Cultivation of Vanilla. 7 continent; and in 1773 Fus^e Aublet described the prepara- tions of this fruit, which subject M. Schiede resumed in 1829. At the present time it is an important object of the commerce of the Mexicans, as may be learnt from the works of M. von Humboldt. § IV. Detailed Description of the Cultivation of the Vanilla, I find that the Vanilla planifolia is as common in the gar- dens of the British Islands as in those of the continent, but the complaint there generally is that it very rarely flowers. I attribute this want of flowering to two causes; 1st, that al- most everywhere the plants are too small, too young, and that they are not allowed to grow freely in the most lofty heated and humid houses ; 2ndly, that a pecuhar culture is not bestowed on them. I shall try to make good these two assertions. The Vanilla plant in order to flower should be at least five or six years old. The older and larger it is, and the more branches it has, the better and more abundantly it will flower. Nevertheless, the number of flowers is not in direct propor- tion to the vigour of a plant ; for I have two plants thirty feet high, but perhaps about a hundred feet long, one of which is much more feeble and sickly than the other, and the weakest bears more flowers than the stronger one. The quantity of flowers has more relation to the situation than any other cir- cumstance ; but in general old plants are necessary, and horti- culturists are quite wrong in throwing away their old plants. Secondly. — I have found by experience that the best me- thod of cultivating the Vanilla is the following : The situation should be shady ; being behind and around palm trees and Dracaenas, &c. suits it, at the back part of the hot-house, getting sun at intervals, although the sun is not necessary for ripening the fruit. Shade, heat, and humidity are three requisites for obtaining flowers. The soil which I have found the best is simply coack or burnt coal, without mixture of earth, and above white wood poplar, or birch, crushed and reduced into small pieces ; fre- quent watering ; an iron column, a stem of Draccena, or any other support will aid the climbing of the plant, which sends 8 Prof. Chas. Morren on the Cultivation of Vanilla. forth numerous aerial roots without giving it the quality of a parasite. In fact. Vanilla is not in the least a parasitical plant. The culture consists in twining the branches, cutting, and burning them at their extremity with a hot iron : everything that contributes to stop the sap serves to bring it into flower- ing state. If a plant blossoms and its flowers are not fecun- dated, it bears new flowers in the following year ; but if it has produced fruit, some years of rest are necessary before it flowers again. The time of its flowering is from February to April, and when it bears fruit they need exactly a year and a day to ripen : this fact has constantly been confirmed at Liege. As the fruit ripens, it falls, and maturation takes place without the aid of the plant. § V. On the Structure of the Flowers of the Vanilla Plant, The flower of Vanilla has this peculiarity — that the retina- culum is highly developed, so that this organ forms a curtain suspended before and above the stigmatic surface, thus sepa- rating it completely from the anther, which in its turn in- closes in two cavities, naturally shut, the pulverulent masses of pollen. From this structure it results, that all approxima- tion of the sexes in this orchideous plant is naturally impos- sible. It is thus necessary either to raise the velamen or to cut it when the plant is to be fecundated, and to place in direct contact the pollen and the stigmatic surface. The fe- cundation never fails, and we may be convinced of its success by observing the flower some hours after the operation. If impregnation has been effected, the petals and sepals reverse inwardly, and the flower droops instead of remaining erect. So soon as the following day the ovarium elongates. I followed the development of the pollen tube through the columnar tube and at the septa only to the ovules ; but what is remarkable is, that it requires three weeks before the pollen tube seizes the nucleus of the ovule. The formation of this latter part is easily studied in this species, and I have veri- fied on this plant the profound researches of Robert Brown, which are of the greatest accuracy. The direct results of this memoir therefore go to prove that y ^tnn Mr/ 7Aa/. 'Yol,JI[./7; J.BasLre. Uth Oonicbliles. AntL.Nat.Hist.Vol.lli I'l, ^rUis/h Cyfhppe^ ^oni^tit^s. M. E. Beyrich on Goniatites. . 9 in all the intertropical colonies vanilla might be cultivated and a great abundance of fruit obtained by the process of ar- tificial fecundation ; and secondly^ that in all our hot-houses this culture would succeed quite as well as that of the Ananas, and would undoubtedly become more profitable. It is a sub- ject which well deserves attention in a commercial point of view ; and is moreover a proof of the importance of science for improving every branch of industry. II. — On the Goniatites found in the Transition Formations of the Rhine. By M. Ernest Beyrich*. [With Plates.] We are indebted to M. Leopold von Buch for the establish- ment of a decided and precise separation between the Ammo- nites and the Nautili f. He has pointed out what must be considered an essentially different organization in the former of these Cephalopods: in fact, the siphuncle does not penetrate the transverse plates as in the Nautilus and other kindred ge- nera, with the single function of fixing the animal strongly to the shell, but is prolonged between the chambers and the shell, as a much more important organ, and hke a solid liga- ment surrounds the animal to the very extremity of the exte- rior. The Goniatites must be considered as one division of the Ammonites ; they are the representatives of the genus in the oldest fossiliferous rocks of the transition formations and of the carboniferous strata. The Goniatites are distinguished from the Amm,onites by the more simple divisions of the cham- bers which are not denticulated like the leaves of a flower, and have lobes following a law less simple and precise than that which governs the formation of the more recent Ammonites. In some species indeed the lobes are scarcely perceptible, and they might be mistaken for Nautili, if it were not for the dorsal lobe, which necessarily accompanies the dorsal siphun- cle. The greater part of the Goniatites have but one lateral lobe, which is sometimes greatly rounded, sometimes angulose and infundibuliform, and sometimes linguiform. When there * This memoir appeared as a pamphlet in 1837 at Berlin ; the present translation is from the French in the * Annales des Scien. Nat.' vol. x. p. 65. 1838, carefully corrected from the German original. t See Annales des Sciences Naturelles, 1st Series, t. xxix. 10 M. E. Beyrich on the Goniatites are two or more lateral lobes^ they are mostly linguiform, and extend from the back quite to the suture, increasing and di- minishiftg in a regular manner ; or they present an irregular form, without following any law. The Goniatites are extensively distributed in the transition formations ; they are found in very large quantities in the old transition limestone of the Fichtelgebirge. Count Miinster has described a great number of species of that locality*, and they ascend and appear even in the superior beds of the carboniferous measures, properly so called, where they are found amidst the debris of a mighty vegetation, the sole and last remains of the animal kingdom. In the limestone of the Fichtelgebirge, they occur with Trilobites, Orthoceratites and Clymenice : the Trilobites and Orthoceratites ascend as far as the carboniferous measures; the Clymenia, on the contrary, which differ from the Goniatites in the position of the si- phuncle, and ought to be considered as true Nautili, have not hitherto been found either in the carboniferous limestone or in the recent transition formations, amongst which the schistose rocks of the Rhine arrange themselves f. The great number of Goniatites now discovered renders it necessary to divide them into natural groups. M. von Buch, w^ho was acquainted with very few species compared to the number at present known, divided them, first, into Goniatites with lobes rounded, and Goniatites with angulose lobes ; after- wards in each of these sections, he separated those which have a simple dorsal lobe, and those which have the dorsal lobe di- vided. I think this mode of classification should be discarded, because it appears to me that the character upon which the secondary divisions are founded, that of a simple or divided dorsal lobe, has a more immediate relation to the interior or- ganization of the animal, and is consequently of much greater importance, than the difference between rounded and angulose lobes, which cannot be established with precision. We can very plainly distinguish by the form and number of the lateral • See Annales des Sciences Natiirelles, 2nd Series, t. ii. f Since the publication of this pamphlet, an article appeared in the Cam- bridge Phil. Trans. Ib38, by Dr. T. Ansted, describing the genus Clymenia which occurs in the slate rocks of Cornwall. The name is there changed ta Eudosiphonites, Clymenia being already appropriated. of the Transition Formations of the Rhine, 1 1 lobes, four sections among the Goniatites with the simple dorsal lobe, and two amongst those with the dorsal lobe di- vided, that follow however a determinate law in their geo- gnostic distribution. To these six proposed sections, among the Goniatites properly so called, might perhaps be added as a seventh the Ceratites of the muschelkalk : they are un- doubtedly more nearly aUied to the Goniatites than on some Ammonites of the more recent formations. The Goniatites and Ceratites united, would stand opposed to the Ammonites, and might like them be divided into several natural families. Before I proceed to the individual description of the differ- ent species, I consider it necessary to explain the determination of the proportions of these fossils, characteristics introduced for the first time into the science by M. von Buch, and of which I have also availed myself in the description of the se- veral species. The increase in diameter, the height of the spire, or more simply the height, expresses the proportion in which the height of the mouth increases in the space of an entire whorl. The height of the mouth is measured on two succeeding whorls, and the lesser of these dimensions is put down as a decimal fraction of the greater, which is taken for unity. The height of the mouth may be estimated in two ways : by taking the perpendicular dropped from the middle of the back, either as far as the suture or as far as the middle of the back of the preceding whorl. As the degree of involu- tion in the outer circles is always the same as in the inner circles, we ought by these two estimations to obtain the same result for the increase in height. The increase in breadth, or simply the breadth, expresses the proportion in which the breadth of the mouth (that is to say, the dimension perpen- dicular to the height) increases in the space of an entire whorl — measure again here the breadth on two whorls which cosher each other, and set down the lesser number as a decimal frac- tion of the greater. The increase in height and the increase in breadth are very certain proportions for the different spe- cies ; taken together with the involution, these characters completely determine the form of an Ammonite. The thick- ness which expresses the proportion between the height and the breadth of the mouth depends on the two first propor- tions; it varies in each respect whenever the height (and 12 M. E. Bey rich on the Goniatites that happens almost -constantly) does not increase in the same proportion as the breadth. For this reason I have en- tirely neglected its determination ; moreover, for the distinc- tion of the several species, we must not attach to these nume- rical proportions a greater degree of importance than they really deserve. If, in general, questions concerning organic bodies cannot be mathematically determined, we may with still greater reason in the present instance disregard little discrepancies ; dealing as we are with fossils, the imperfect preservation of which seldom permits a great degree of accu- racy of admeasurement. Section I. Nautilini. The dorsal lobe simple, infundibuliform or linguiform; there is one single lateral lobe, smooth and rounded, which sometimes disappears entirely. 1. Ammonites subnautilinus, Schlotth. A. Noeggerathi, Goldf. and Von Buck, Goniat. PI. I. fig. 6 — 11. ? A. evexus, L. von Buck, Goniat. p. 33. PI. I. fig. 3 — 5. The dorsal lobe infundibuliform ; depth equal to two or three times the breadth. The lateral lobe is large, occupying the whole extent of the side, it even descends nearly the whole depth of the dorsal lobe, and returns towards the suture, with a somewhat greater inclination, to the height of the dorsal saddle*. The increase in height is 0*5 to 0*55 ; the increase in breadth 0*68 to 0*72 ; there are 14 chambers in one com- plete whorl. The number of whorls is 6 or 7 : the inner whorls are almost entirely enveloped, never more than one fourth of them being perceptible. M. von Buch has already observed, that the A. Ncaggerathi, Goldf., does not essentially differ from the A, subnautilinus, Schl. In these two Ammonites the lobes have a form alto- gether similar ; the height and the breadth scarcely differ, and the somewhat less complete involution of ^. Noeggerathi will scarcely suffice to constitute a variety : still less can the more discoid form of the latter be regarded as a distinctive charac- ter. We must be very cautious in the appreciation of the ex- terior form, and in the use of that characteristic for the di- * The word saddle is used to denote those separations between the lobes upon which the mantle of the animal is supposed to have rested. For fur- ther explanation see Dr. Buckland's Bridgewater Treatise, page 363, note. of the Transition Formations of the Rhine, 13 stinction of species, where, as in this case, the height and the breadth increase in entirely different ratios. A necessary- consequence of the more rapid increase in height than in breadth is, that according to the law of geometrical progres- sion, the thickness in the outer whorls diminishes very ra- pidly also, and it follows that the ammonite in its growth takes a form more and more discoid. In the A, subnautilinus the difference between the increase of height and that of breadth is already great enough to render this character very evident. It appears to me that the fragment described by M. von Buch, under the nam^e of A. eveosus, ought to be restored to the present species ; it presents no character that per- mits the establishment of a specific distinction between them. In the A. subnautilinus, as in this, the transverse plates are elevated in the middle, and their greatest depth found to be on the edges near the lobes. The A, subnautilinus is met with in the limestone of the Eifel near Gerolstein, and in the state of pyrites in the clay slate of Wissenbach {Thons chief er). From these two locahties I have at present seen only casts. The pyritose fossils of Wissenbach are almost always in the state of casts, and if any striae are visible they must be considered as belonging to the interior side of the shell, which was probably very thin. 2. Ammonites lateseptatus, n. s. PL I. figs. 1, 2, 3, 4. The dorsal lobe infundibuliform ; not much deeper than broad. There is no lateral lobe properly so called, that lobe being only indicated, in the early period of its growth, by an imperfect curve in the septa of the chambers. The increase in height is 0*70, the increase in breadth 0*65. There are but 10 or 11 chambers in one whorl. The number of whorls is 7, only a third part of the interior whorls is visible. This ammonite is found with the preceding, in the clay slate of Wissenbach ; it is well characterized by its form and by its lobes. As the height does not increase faster than the breadth, but rather more slowly, the thickness of the ammo- nite is not diminished in the exterior whorls, but is even some- what increased. Figs. 1 and 2 of PI. I. represent the finest example that I possess ; there is very nearly a whorl and a half 14 M. E. Beyrich on the Goniatltes without a transverse plate. In order to see the lobes, one must take off a part of the last whorl, as is shown in fig. 2. In the outer whorls the breadth of the opening at the mouth is considerably greater than the height ; consequently the side is very narrow, and the dorsal saddle, which is large and rounded, can scarcely be distinguished. The form of this am- monite would be perfectly spherical, if the inner whorls were not partly disengaged, and thus form a large and deep umbi- licus. Upon the last whorl, destitute of transverse plates, the side falls towards the interior in an obtuse angle, presenting a well-defined ridge : this ridge is wholly wanting in the in- terior whorls. The increase in breadth being more rapid than the increase in height occasions the thickness in the inner whorls to be a little less than that of the outer ones. The back is also smaller in consequence, and the side more flat and more distinctly separated from the back. For this reason also the lateral lobe in the inner whorls is indicated on the side by an imperfect curve of the transverse plate, whilst in the outer whorls the dorsal lobe widens, and extends over the back in such a manner that it has properly speaking no exist- ence, except as a large and rounded dorsal saddle. In fig. 3, PL I. the lobes are represented as they begin to appear at first, in the specimen shown in figs. 1, 2, with a whorl and half destitute of transverse plates ; in fig. 4 are the lobes of another specimen, of which only the three innermost whorls are preserved. The shell of this ammonite was striated, as may be distinctly seen upon the cast ; the striae are in- flected behind, upon the back, according to the ordinary law for Goniatltes, forming a very deep curve. I have chosen the name lateseptatus on account of the considerable distance of the transverse plates from each other, which is so great that there aire only 10 or 11 of them in one whorl, whilst in general 14 seems the lowest limit for the number of transverse plates of the Goniatltes, 3. Ammonites Dannenbergi, n. s. PL I. fig. 5.* a, b. The dorsal lobe infundibuliform, the depth twice as great as the breadth ; the lateral lobe sinks a httle deeper than the dorsal lobe 5 it entirely occupies the side and ascends towards of the Transition Formations of the Rhine. 15 the suture^ but not quite to the height of the dorsal saddle. The increase in height is 0*28 ; the increase in breadth 0*5. There are 18 chambers in one whorl. The interior whorls are not at all enveloped, but entirely free. The only specimen that I am acquainted with is in the beautiful collection of M. Dannenberg at Dillenburg; the figure is taken from a model in plaster. It is a fragment of which only two whorls are preserved; it wants the interior whorls and the outer un- chambered part. The form is completely discoid, from its more rapid increase in height than in breadth. This am- monite is thus distinguished from the A, ewpansus, which has the whorls entirely enveloped. In the latter the height in- creases still more rapidly, yet has less disproportion with the increase in breadth. If we suppose that in this ammonite, according to the ordinary law, there is a whorl and a half with- out chambers, it will be found from the proportion of the increase in height, that the diameter of the entire shell would be nearly a foot. The thickness ought in this species to diminish very rapidly, since the breadth of the mouth in- creases much more gradually than the height. The dimension is, at the commencement of the first of the two whorls pre- served, 0*7 ; at the commencement of the second, 1 ; and at the termination of the second, 1*5. The greatest thick- ness is at the middle of the side ; it decreases however, but gently, till approaching the suture and the back. Upon the outer of the two whorls the back is completely rounded, and passes gradually to the side. Upon the inner whorl it becomes flat, and at the commencement of the second whorl it forms almost a right angle with the sides. Probably there was upon the shell, between the back and the two sides, two sharp edges, the impression of which may be seen upon the cast. These edges limit the inflected curve behind, which is formed by the striae of the shell and the back : they gradually disappear upon the outer whorls. We shall see in many of the following species this diflerence in the manner in which the back is united to the sides, in the exterior and interior whorls. The lobes of A, Dannenbergi are not essentially different from those of A, subnautilinus. The dorsal saddle is always somewhat narrower and higher ; the lateral lobe, on 16 M. E. Beyrich on the Goniatites the contrary, is a little deeper : the last rises evidently to form a lateral saddle. It does not ascend, as in ^. subnau- tilinus, quite to the suture, and is not cut off in an abrupt manner, but inflected considerably upon the side. (See M. von Buch, fig. 3 and 9. pi. I.) This difference is because in A, subnautilinus each saddle that unites the lateral lobe with the flat ventral lobe, which exists in that ammonite, is com- pressed beneath the suture, in consequence of the decided envelopment of the interior whorls. 4. Ammonites compressus. PI. I. fig. 6 a, b. Spirula compressa. Gold/. Dechen Geogn. p. 536. Gyroceratites gracilis, H. v. Meyer. Act. Nat. Cur. 1831. XV. II. p. 59. Bronn. Leth. geogn. p. 102. pl. I. fig. 6. The dorsal lobe very small, infundibuliform, two or three times as deep as broad. The lateral lobe is almost en- tirely wanting, or at most only indicated by a very imperfect curve on the transverse plates of the chambers. The increase in height is 0*3, the increase in breadth 0'5. There are 15 chambers in a whorl; the number of whorls is from 4 to 5. This ammonite has not any part enveloped ; the innermost whorls are entirely free. It is not an unfrequent fossil in the clay slate of Wissen- bach (Thonschiefer), nevertheless the specimens are seldom well preserved : they oflen w ant the innermost whorl, and fre- quently the exterior portion or that destitute of chambers. This must have been the reason why Goldfuss called it a Spirula, and H. von Meyer made it a distinct genus, under the name Gyroceratites. The lobe distinctly exists, though certainly small, and proves it to be really a Goniatite. The whorls are by no means separated one from another, as in the Spirula, but in contact with each other, although but slightly. The greatest thickness is in the middle of the side, which gradually diminishes, both towards the back and towards the suture, in such a manner that the section of the mouth is an ellipsis. One consequence of this is, that in the casts where the shell is wanting there is really a little interval between the whorls ; that space appears still larger if the particles of schist between these whorls have not been taken off with sufficient care. of the Transition Formations of the Rhine. 1 7 The drawing given by Bronn in the ^ Lethaea-geognostica' has certainly not been taken from nature, but probably from the description of H. von Meyer. The Gyroceratite of the latter is certainly only referrible to this fossil. Bronn gives as a syn- onym a lAtuites gracilis, Goldf. Collect. ; certainly there is in the Museum at Bonn a fossil designated as Lituites, but it is another fossil : it presents no chambers, and I think is a cast of Euomphalus, perhaps Eu. Icevis, Goldf. With regard to the increase in height and in breadth, the A. compressus is very near the A. Dannenbergiy it is princi- pally distinguished from this by the simple lobes, and it never attains the size of the latter. There are neither ventral nor late- ral lobes in this species ; this Ammonite has in common with A, lateseptatus the simplicity of lobes. In the specimen figured PI. I. fig. 6. there is a portion of the part without chambers preserved. It may be very distinctly seen, by the striag upon the shell, that it was very thin. The species described here, to which A. expansus, von Buch is nearly allied, form a group among the Goniatites, limited in a very natural manner. Except the dorsal lobe, which can always be very distinctly seen, there is nothing very particular to be said about the lobes. There is only a very slight in- flexion of the transverse plates, that in every individual occu- pies the entire side quite to the suture. We cannot arrange here with certainty any of the Goniatites of the old transition limestone of the Fichtelgebirge described by Count Miinster ; A, latus and A. angustiseptatus can only be added to this sec- tion as doubtful species. Section II. Simplices. The dorsal lobe simple, infundibuUform or linguiform. There is a lateral lobe more or less angulose, and a broad late- ral saddle occupying the greatest part of the side. 5. Ammonites retrorsus. Von Buch. PI. I. fig. 10. a, b, c, L. de Buch Goniat. p. 49. PL II. fig. 13. The dorsal lobe small, infundibuliform, almost as broad as deep. The lateral lobe is rounded beneath, more than twice as deep as the dorsal lobe, and a little broader than deep. The lateral saddle, broad and rounded, is also raised to the dorsal Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 3. No. 14. March \%39. c 18 M. E. Beyrich on the Goniatites saddle, occupies half the side, and is gently hollowed in ap- proaching the suture. The increase in height is 0*455 the in- crease in breadth 0*65 ; this Ammonite is altogether enve- loped without an umbilicus. It is found with the Goniatites of the limestone of Oberscheld near Dillenburg, and in the Martenberg mine in the territory of Waldeck. The specimens that I possess of the first locality are at the most one inch, and otherwise altogether resemble those of Waldeck. This Am- monite has nothing but the enveloped form in common with A, Munsteri, which M. von Buch believed to be allied to A, retrorsus ; on the contrary, it agrees so closely in the form and lobes with A. simplex,Yon Buch, that perhaps they ought not to be separated as distinct species. For the increase in height M. von Buch gives for A. retrorsus only 0*32, and for A. sim- plex 0*4 ; in all cases the height in both increases more rapidly than the breadth, so much so that the thickness in the outer whorls diminishes very fast, and the larger the Ammonite is the more discoid is its form. In A. simplex, as M. Buch has described and figured it, the dorsal lobe is considerably larger and the lateral lobe smaller, and of the same depth as the dorsal lobe. That is the only distinction between this Ammonite and A. retrorsus. The name of retrorsus is given from the very delicate striae seen on the shell. On the lateral surface the terminations of the folds form a very smooth curve, inflected behind : they ascend again afterwards towards the back, and form above a narrow and deep sinus, the concavity of which is directed towards the front. The breadth and depth of the dorsal sinus appear to correspond to the breadth of the back in the different species. The smaller the back the deeper and more contracted is the sinus : in A, lateseptatus and A. Listeri it is very large and flat. The A, retrorsus is the only species in this section that up to the present time has been found in the schistose rocks of the Rhine. A. simplex, which is nearly allied to it, and which is said to be found at Rammelsberg near Goslar, comes perhaps from the limestone of Grund, the fossils of which have a near affinity to those of the transition limestone of the Eifel. To these two Ammonites the A. ovatus, Miinster, is intimately allied. The description gives us no important difference either of the Transition Formations of the Rhine, 19 in the form or in the lobes. The principal part of this sec- tion is composed of numerous species of the transition lime- stone of the Fichtelgebirge^ discovered by Count Miinster, A, nodulosus, A, sublcevis, A, globosus, A, sublinearis, A, li- nearis, A. divisus and A, hybridus. We may add as forming a third subdivision, A. sulcatus and A. subsulcatus, Miinster, which distinguish themselves by their lateral linguiformed lobe, and are somewhat related to the following section : they have nevertheless the lateral saddle broad and rounded, which occupies the greater part of the side. Section III. ^quales. The dorsal lobe simple, linguiform or infundibuliform. There are two or more lateral lobes, that become successively greater or ^mailer in approaching the suture. 6. Ammonites Becheri, Goldf. PI. I. fig. 7^ 8. L, de Buck Goniat. p. 39. PI. II. fig. 2. The dorsal lobe infundibuliform; on the side which is slightly vaulted are found four Hnguiform lateral lobes, which become smaller and smaller in approaching the suture. The first of these is twice as deep as the dorsal lobe ; the fourth is but two-thirds the depth of the first, after it comes a considerable ventral saddle that is twice as broad as the third lateral saddle. The increase in height is 0*4, the increase in breadth 0*65. There are seven whorls ; almost two -thirds of the inner ones are enveloped. This Ammonite occurs in the red limestone, amongst the Goniatites of Beilstein, near Oberscheld ; it is also found in the hematitic iron of the mine of Rinzenberg. It appears to come very near A. Henslowi, Sow., but this has only three lateral linguiformed lobes. As it augments much more quickly in height than in breadth, its form is discoid, and the thickness rapidly diminishes. Its contour presents an elliptical appearance, as always happens when the height increases much faster than the breadth. The shell is rarely well preserved ; it is thick and plaited : between the folds are found regular spaces, with numerous finer folds. The greatest thickness is near the suture ; the side slightly vaulted falls gently towards the back -, the latter forms c2 20 Dr. W. Arnott on some new or rare Indian Plants, with the sides two ridges^ entirely immersed, betw^een which are found the folds of the dorsal sinus. Besides A. Becheri and A. Henslowi, I place in this section A, Miinsteri, von Buch, A, orbicularis, Miinster, and also A, planus, Miinst., which are all three found in the transition lime- stone of the Fichtelgebirge, and are characterized by the lateral lobes becoming larger and larger as they approach the suture. This distinction estabhshes in the section two very natural subdivisions. [To be continued.] III. — Descriptions of some New or rare Indian Plants, By G. A. W. Arnott, Esq., LL.D. ScHizosTiGMA, Am. (Rubiacece), Calycis tubus globosus, limbus 5-partitus, laciniis lanceolatis. Co- rolla infundibuliformis, intus pubescens, extus hirsuta, ad medium usque 5-fida, laciniis lineari-lanceolatis patulis. Anthera 5, lineares, obtusse, ad faucem sessiles. Ovarium cohserens, multiloculare, lo- culis multiovulatis. iS/yZ«5filiformis, stamina longe super ans. Stigma multi- (4 — 7) fidum, segmentis linearibus patulis. Fructus indehi- scens, baccatus, globosus, costatus, hirsutus, laciniis calycinis folia- ceis patentibus coronatus, pluri-(4 — 7) locularis, loculis polyspermis. Herha decumbens vel subrepens, hirsuta. Caules simplices, 4 — 8 poll, longi. Folia, \\ — 2 poll, longa, opposita, longiuscule petiolata, oblongO'lanceolata, integerrima, supra viridia, parcius pilosa, suhtus pallida. Stipulse interpetiolares, late ovatce, acutce, membranaceee. Flores, 8 — 9 lin. longi, axillares, solitarii, alterni, subsessiles, basi^ bracteis duabus stipulis subsimilibus stipati. 1. S. hirsutum. Am. Hab. in insula Ceylon. This genus may be placed near Sabicea, AcRANTHERA, Am. [Rubiaccce.) Calycis tubus oblongo-turbinatus, limbus 5-fidus, laciniis linearibus. Corolla tubulosa, intus glabra, extus hirsutissima, ultra medium 5-fida, laciniis erectis, spathulatis, retusis, sestivatione valvata plicata. Stamina 5, erecta, basi coroUse inserta, ea dimidio breviora ac ejus laciniis alterna : filamenta filiformia subpapillosa : antherce innatae, oblongo- linen res, connective apice in mucronem longiusculum ultra Dr. W. Arnott on some new or rare Indian Plants, 21 loculos producto. Ovarium cohserens, pseudo-biloculare, dissepi- mentis duobus oppositis vix ad medium attingentibus, placentam bilamellatam divaricatam ferentibus : ovula innumera. Stylus fili- formis, discumbulbiformem perforans : stigma clavatum, muriculatum. Fructus hirsutus, lineari-oblongus, compressiusculus, limbo calycis erecto coronatus, membranaceus, indehiscens, intus subpulposus, pseudo-bilocularis. Semina innumera, minuta, globosa, papillosa, placentae lamellis nidulantia. Albumen corneum. Herba humilis (3 — Spoil, alta), hirsuta, simplex, habitu quodammodo Cyrtandraceo. Folia opposita, 4 — 6 poll, longa, petiolata, oblongo- obovata, obtusa, basi attenuata, membranacea, integerrima, supra vi- ridia, glabriosa, subtus pallida ; supremum par ceteris scepius multo minus : pili rigidi, acutissimi, forsan urentes. Stipulse interpetiolares, indivisce, triangulares, ovatce, acutS^. Ophidion.' I am very sorry that you did not take the trouble to compare Bloch's specimen with the figure, for you would certainly have come to a contrary conclusion. I have never seen Bloch's specimen, yet I still maintain that a S. Ophidion never served for the original of the figure, because no S. Ophidion offers such proportions as those presented by the figure. In no true >S^. Ophidion Ccin the caudal fiu be placed in such relation to the anus ; the figure To Miscellaneous. indicates exactly the proportions which we find in S. aquoreus, for no S. Ophidion can become so large or thick, or have any such snout. This may appear but a trifle, and in one respect it is so ; but on the other hand, it is of very great importance for the clearing up of the synonomy and all the errors which have thence originated. You will oblige me by correcting this as soon as possible." — J. B. Fries. Stockholm, 21st August. Note by Prof. Wiegmann. " At the same time that I fulfil the wish of my respected corre- spondent, I must state that I certainly did not compare Bloch's figure, whose work I had not at hand, erroneously supposing that the only specimen in his collection had also been figured by him. Hence it seems that Bloch did not distinguish both species." ON THE INFLUENCE OF NATIVE MAGNESIA ON THE GERMINATION, VEGETATION, AND FRUCTIFICATION OF VEGETABLES. BY ANGELO ABBENE. Among the various causes which produce barrenness in lands, has been enumerated the presence of magnesia, because it had been ob- served that the various magnesian soils are sterile. This opinion has begun to lose credit, since Bergmann, who examined the compo- sition of fertile soils, considered magnesia as forming one of their principal constituents. Prof. Giobert has performed a number of experiments to inquire into the action of native magnesia, which is found in numerous cul- tivated soils. In the environs of Castellamonte and of Baldissero, this substance is abundantly diffused in the soils cultivated with great success, and which exhibit a vigorous vegetation. There are many di- stricts in Piedmont and elsewhere, where the bi-carbonate of lime and of magnesia is abundant in the cultivated lands, which produce beau- tiful plants. Giobert concluded from these experiments ; 1st, that native carbonated magnesia is not injurious to the various functions of vegetables ; 2nd, that on account of the solubility of magnesia in an excess of carbonic acid this earth can exercise an action analogous to that of lime ; 3rd, that a magnesian soil may become fertile when the necessary manure is employed. From these facts naturally proceeds the conclusion, that if the magnesia was dissolved in an excess of carbonic acid and water, and had entered like the lime into the composition of the sap, it ought to be found in the plants with the potash, hme, oxide of iron, &c. M. Abbene has ascertained this by the analysis of the ashes of plants which had grown in magnesiferous mixtures. Moreover, he endeavoured to find, by comparative experiments, whether the in- Miscellaneous. j^\ fluence of magnesia on vegetation is analogous to that of lime. The following are the conclusions he arrives at : 1st, Native magnesia is not only not injurious to germination, vegetation, and fructifica- tion of plants, but on the contrary, appears to be favourable to these functions. 2nd, Magnesia, being soluble in an excess of carbonic acid, has on vegetation an action analogous to that of lime ; and when a soil contains magnesia not sufficiently carbonated, this de- fect may be remedied by the addition of manure, which by its de- composition furnishes the necessary quantity of carbonic acid ; the amelioration will be much more efficacious if the soil be frequently disturbed, as then the air will better exercise its action. 3rd, When lime and magnesia exist in arable lands, the former is absorbed in prefer- ence by the plants on account of its greater affinity for carbonic acid. 4th, In barren magnesian lands, it is not to the magnesia that the sterility must be attributed, but to the cohesive state of their parts, to the want of manure, of clay, or of other composts, to the large quantity of oxide of iron, &c. 5th, Barren magnesian soils may be rendered fertile by means of calcariferous substances, as rubbish, chalk, ashes, marl, &c., provided the other conditions be fulfilled. — • Journal de Phai^macie de Janvier, 1839. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR JANUARY^ 1839. Chiswick. — .Tan. I. Overcast. 2,3. Cloudy and fine. 4. Rain: clear. 5. Clear and very fine. 6. Overcast: sleet: rain at night, with vi^ind increasing to a hurricane. 7. Boisterous. 8. Clear : slight snow. 9, 10. Frosty. 11. Over- cast: rain. 12. Very fine. 13. Cloudy and windy, with slight showers. 14. Rain. 15. Very clear. 16. Fine, but cold. 17, 18. Sharp frost : clear. 19, Stormy and wet : clear at night, with aurora borealis. 20. Fine: rain. 21. Rain. 22. Clear and cold. 23. Overcast and fine. 24. Hazy : fine. 25. Fine. 26. Fine : slight snow. 27. Cloudy and cold. 28. Frosty : slight snow at night. 29. Clear ; snow. 50. Sharp frost : slightly overcast : stormy with snow : tempestuous at night. 31. Snowing. Boston. — Jan. I. Cloudy. 2. Stormy. 3. Fine: stormy night. 4. Cloudy: rain early a.m. 5. Fine. 6. Fine : snow p.m. 7. Stormy : blew a hurricane all day. 8. Stormy. 9,10. Fine. 11. Cloudy: rain early a.m. : rain a.m. 12,13. Cloudy. 14. Fine. 15. Stormy. 16,17. Fine. 18. Fine : snow p.m. 19. Clondy : rain early a.m. : rain p.m. 20. Cloudy: rain early a.m. 21. P.ain. 22. Fine : snow early a.m. 23, 24. Cloudy. 25. Fine : rain p.m. 26. Cloudy : snow early a.m. : snow p.m. 27. Cloudy : rain a.m. 28. Cloudy. 29. Fine: rain and snow p.m. 30. Fine: rain p.m. 31. Cloudy: large fall of snow early a.m. : more snow in the day, with hail. Applegarth Manse, Dumfriesshire. — Jan. 1. High wind and sharp showers. 2. Generally clear : occasional showers. 3. Very boisterous. 4. Calmed a little: stormy P.M. 5. Wind strong: snow. 6. Frost and snow : rain p.m. 7. Fearful storm : rain and sleet. 8. More calm : more snow. 9. Frost : snow lying three inches. 10. Thaw: snow melting. 11. Rain moderate : flood. 12. Moderate day : sunshine. 13. Frequent heavy showers. 14. Showery: aurora borealis. 15. Frosty after a boisterous night. 16. Clear frost : wind lulled. 17. Calm and frosty, and sunny. 18. Frost a.m. : rain at night. 19. Temperate: heavy flood. 20. Shower a.m.: still mild. 21. Frost a.m. : in- creasing p.m. 22. Clear frost : overcast p.m. 23. Frost again: slight thaw p.m. 24. Thaw : a few drops of rain. 25. Fine day, without frost. 26. Fine frosty day. 27. Calm and clear frost. 28. Frost : slight fall of snow. 29. Frost : storm of snow. SO. Frost: snow and high wind. SI. Frost: still snowing : nine inches deep. -aw B ' •aaiqs | . . •saujuina ' • • uojsoa : : :^ : : : : : :§^ 3[otMSiq3 c M a> • • "O -OCMO • "OO • ' ^ • • . l>. t^ CO . • • ^ _4 CO • • 0^ ra-d I ^- fe^ J ^- J ^' . ^- S ^^ ,• £ ,• S > fe- ^- S S S' . S . S S SB &:' &• &' ^' i i i i i Itltiimiii i s ^* i se; » i i - « .• ^. ii'^'^\liii\ i i i i ^iil i, i i i i i S£ -W Hks rt|« ■^cO"^cocororo-u:i«3'^0-hOIIO'^— •00T^'O'-^Ot^(^l00O^00tOVOO^'^t^ g tc-r}<'^Tf«tm'^coco"^toioiO'^"^"5j'co^totoioco"^"^'*cocococococo >,"c|coc.oiooh"^oa^c^(NC^^50co6a^c^llocbo .2^ icO'^'^"^<^^^<^*^<^' CO-^-^-^COCOCOCI C COCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOO(N .vb 6< •^■^■<*"<*'^C0»O"^cOC0'^»O'OiO-^'*-^C0"^'^'*r}--^cooour)ooo(N'^a^ot^ CO o^c* Ttcoo^o -^-71 g^o^9opcr>0 o^o^o^o o c^o^o^o C o o o o o 6^6^0^0^ cioooo^oo^o^(^luo'^orocooQocoocooo lOO^^r^c^•^lOC^co^^9Qp9^^^^97'7^coapl;^co^^P'7^l^p^po«pc^lr^ b6^c^6^o^6^aD6^6^bc^b6^o^(^booa^a^o^obbbbbb6^6^c^ icO(N'<3<^ -^coTf, ^p(»^o^^7^■^':■^»p'pap7<>pcplr^7H,-^^oop9t>.c^o^oo C^C^0^c^6^0^Qb 6^o^o^c^6^6^a^c^c^o^c^c^o^o^o^o o o^c^b 6^c^dbdb C<0»IO«-vovo»riOOc<"^-•f^^■^Goa^X)^0(^^uoo^.-H 00 r^t^rt-^'^CriO) COLOCOC O^Q0 iOtO'rt"t^(^CN C^-h CTiOQO l^"<*00 lOfO^ oo*o»pvO'^oipr---HoiiOrtC>-H C b 6^b^b^6^C^6^0^b b b b^b^6^b^b b O^O^o^o o b bib b b^b^6^b^ fOCO(Mou^cooc-0'^0'«ta^Gor^io C^iO lOI--a^co■<*0^— COO CO ■rfC^coOJ t^o -^rr ^ ^^ — „ „ r^ CI 00 CO *0 ^ ^'j ^^ "w" '^ ^^ v< WM V— ' ^'j ^=r w '^^ wi ^j^' I ^ "^ J lOI--a^C0■<*O^— COOCO'^C^coOJt^O-^roc^'* c^r^t^t^cotoc^co7^c^9a^9 9 r-i-ooor^voo^oooi i,~,irN_,cocOOLOOi0» (MO"n'Or5QOd^ — -^— it^t^OmCTiCOCOOOiO-^C: '^Csu:) cooo^^^or^Ou:)t^c^■--7'OO^ooc^Or-H^pp*09u^|p07^cooS^. Ophidion i\iQ.t was measured, the body Avas 6 inches, the tail 8 inches ; in another the body was 4 inches, the tail 6. I admit that there is considerable resemblance in the form and sculpture of the plates, but in this country >S^. cequoreus is as rare as the S, Ophidion of Bloch is common : males and females of both exist, as has been shown, and I have not yet met with any specimens, which by forming an intermediate series, would bring these two fishes together. I have hitherto referred to this second ophidial pipe-fish by the name of S. Ophidion, al- though M. Fries is, I believe, perfectly correct in stating that the Ophidion of Jenyns and Yarrell, identical with the Ophi- dion of Bloch, tab. 91. figure 3. as quoted by both in their synonyms, is not the true Ophidion of Artedi and Linnaeus ; but let us inquire a little further. In this country we are in the habit of referring to the works of Swedish naturahsts, considering them good authorities for the Linna^an species. 84 Mr. W. Yarrell on some Species of the Genus Syngnathus. When engaged on the synonyms of the Syngnathi, I referred to the works of Swedish authors^ and found that M. Retz, in his ^ Fauna Suecica/ at page 312^ refers to Bloch^s figure 3. tab. 91. as representing the Ophidion of Artedi and Linnaeus. Again, M. Nilsson in his ' Prodromus Ichthyologiae Scandi- navicas/ page &^. also refers to Bloch^s figure 3. tab. 91. as the Ophidion of Linnaeus*. If therefore we have erred in quoting Bloch^s figure as the true Ophidion, we have at least gone astray in good company ; the more so, since Lacepede in his original work, — the editor of the recent edition, — and Baron Cuvier himself in his ^ Regne Animal,' have quoted Bloch's figure 3. tab. 91. as the S. Ophidion of Linnaeus. As short descriptions, without figures, have often led to an erroneous adoption of names, I send herewith a representation engraved on wood of the true S, Ophidion of Artedi and Lin- naeus. I have found it occasionally on the southern coast of England, but it is not very common. It is described by M. Fries in the 8th Number of the ^ Annals,' page 103. and by Mr. Jenyns in his ^ Manual of British Vertebrate Animals,' page 488. The straiyht-nosed Pipe-fish. Nat. size. The species which has hitherto been called 5. Ophidion by Mr. Jenyns and myself will in future be considered as S. an- * M. Fries, when quoting the synonyms of three Swedish authors, namely, Retz, Ekstrbm, and Nilsson, for the true Ophidion of Linnaeus, very quietly omits the references made by two of them, M. Retz and Nils- son, to the figure of the Ophidion of Bloch. Dr. Arnott on some new or rare Indian Plants, 85 guineus : a name first suggested for it by Mr. Jenyns in his ^ Catalogue of British Vertebrate Animals/ and referred to as a synonym for the fourth species of Syngnathus in his ^ Ma- nual of the British Vertebrate Animals/ page 487. The British Syngnathi, as suggested by Mr. Jenyns, con- sist of 6 species : 2 marsupial pipe-fish, S. Acus and S. Typhle, having true caudal fins ; 4 ophidial pipe-fish, which may be again divided into 2 sections, the first of which contains 2 spe- cies, S. cEquoreus and >S^. anguineus, having each a rudimentary caudal fin ; the second section also containing 2 species, S, Ophidion and S. lumbriciformis, in which there is no rudi- mentary caudal fin, the round tail ending in a fine point. In the recent works on British Fishes, one by Mr. Jenyns the other by myself, we had considered the figure of Bloch^s Ophidion as representing the true Ophidion of Linnaeus, which as here admitted is not the case : Mr. Jenyns has described the true Ophidion under the name of lumbriciformis, and I inserted the true lumbriciformis but omitted the true Ophidion altogether. I acknowledge with pleasure my obligations to M. Fries for setting me right. Ryder Street, Feb. 18, 1839. X. — Descriptions of some new or rare Indian Plants, By G. A. W. Arnott, Esq., LL.D. [Continued from p. 23.] Balsam ODENDRON, Kunth {Burseracece), In the ^ Prodromus Florae Peninsulae Indiee Orientalis^, i. p. 1 76, Dr. Wight and I united this as a subgenus to Protium, and it still appears to me doubtful if the two be separated by sufficiently important characters : the habit is, however^ very different. In consequence of the addition of several new spe- cies, the character given by Dr. Wight and me, will require to be slightly altered, as follows : Calyx late vel tubuloso-campanulatus : torus disciformis in fundo calycis ovarium cingens, externa inter singula stamina verrucula ele- vata instructus : stamina octo : drupa ovata : nux obtusa angulata. From this it is obvious that the shape of the calyx and nut 86 Dr, Arnott on some nev) or rare Indian Plants, is not sufficient to distinguish Balsamodendron from the spe- cies^we referred to the Protium, of Burmann^ and that the principal character consists in the position of the torus or disc. All the East Indian species which I have seen have the calyx tubular-campanulate as in the Senegambia one {Heude- lotia) and Commiphora of Jacquin, while it is broad and shallow- in B. gileadense, and perhaps in the other two from Arabia : but, as these last are not sufficiently known, I cannot avail myself of that probable difference of structure to sub-divide the genus into sections. The following is a synopsis of all the species known : 1. B. Berryi {km.) \ spinescens, foliis longiuscule petiolatis gla- bris, foliolis 3 cuiieato-obovatis crenatis, terminali lateralibus duplo majore, pedicellis unifloris brevibus, petalis calyce breviter tubuloso subduplo longioribus, fructu apiculato. — Protium gi- leadense. Wight et Am. Prod. i. p. 177 (excl. syn.). Wight, Cat. n. 543.— Amyris Gileadensis. Uoxh. Fl. Ind. ii. p. 246 (excl. syn.). This was introduced to the Botanic Garden of Calcutta, by Dr. Berry, of Madras, so that in all probability the plants were obtained from the interior of the Peninsula, where it is a native ; and not from Arabia, as Roxburgh supposed. 2. B. Roxburghii (Arn.) ; spinescens, foliis petiolatis glabris, fo- liolis 3, terminali ovali serrulato, lateralibus minutis, pedicellis unifloris brevibus. — Amyris commiphora. Ro:vb. Fl. Ind. ii. p, 244. — A. Agallocha. Roa^b. ? Herb. Beng. p. 28. — Commiphora madagascariensis. Jacq. H. Schoenbr. ii. t. 249 (fide Roxb.). Hab. in Silhet, Assam, &c. There can I think be little doubt of Commiphora being the same with the present genus, but I feel less certain that C, madagascariensis is the species described by Roxburgh. My principal objection arises from the distance between the locali- ties where the two are said to be indigenous. As, however, no succeeding botanist appears to have received it from Mada- gascar, Jacquin may have been accidentally led into an error on that point. 3. B. Wightii (Arn.) ; spinescens, foliis sessilibus glabris, foliolis 3 subsequaUbus cuneato-obovatis acute dentato-serratis, flori- Pr. Arnott on some new or rare Indian Plants. 87 bus sessilibus fasciculatis, fructu subiter acuminato. Wight, Cat. n. 2426. Hab. ad Bellary, Wight (1834). 4. B. Africanum (Am.) ; spinescens, foliis longiuscule petlolatis pubescentibus, foliolis cuneato-obovalibus subrugosis obtuse in- ciso-serratis, terminali majore, floribus fasciculatis subsessilibus, petalis calyce tubuloso parum longioribus, drupa ovoidea acu- minata. — Heudelotia africana. Guillem. etPierott,Fl. Senegamb. i. p. 150. t.39. 5. B. Kafal (Kunth) ; spinescens, foliolis 3, ovalibus dentato- serratis, junioribus villosis, senioribus glabris, drupa compressa mammillata. DC. Prod. ii. p. 76. 6. B. Kataf {K\xnth) ', inerine, foliolis 3, ovalibus plus minusve acuminatis serratis glabris, pedunculis dichotomis. — Amyris Kataf. Forsk. Descr. p. 80. 7. B. gileadense (Kunth) ; inerme, foliis petiolatis glabris, foliolis 3 integerrimis obovato-oblongis, pedicellis brevibus unifloris, calyce latiuscule campanulato. B. gileadense et B. opobalsa- mum. Kunth. DC. Prod. p. 76. — Amyris gileadensis et A. opobalsamum, Linn. Vahl^ at the end of the second part of his ^ Symb. Bot/ has shown that A. opobalsamum was described by Linnaeus, not from specimensjbut from a bad figure, and that it is not distinct from A. gileadensis. What Balsamea meccanensis, Gled., in 'Act. Soc. Nat. Cur. Ber.' iii. p. 127. t. 3. f. 2., may be, I have no means of determining. DeCandoUe refers it as a variety with bipinnate leaves to the present species ; but if it belongs to this genus, that structure must have arisen either from ac- cident or cultivation, and in neither case can be considered as a permanent form. Brown has about twenty years ago shown that the Linnaean genus Exacum ought to be limited to the East Indian species which have all showy flowers ; it is therefore somewhat strange, that in almost all the European Floras, those of Britain not excepted, that name is given to small slender filiform plants, wdth an appearance quite different from the typical species. To the European species Adanson had long since given the name Cicendia ; they differ from Exacum by the funnel-shaped corolla, the segments of which become twisted after flowering into a kind of calyptra above the capsule. 88 Dr. Arnott on some new or rare Indian Plants, and by the one-celled or at most imperfectly two-celled cap- sule. The Asiatic genus, of which I am about to define se- veral species, may be thus shortly distinguished from the other genera of the Gentianece. EXACUM, L. Sepale dorso carinato alata. Corolla rotata absque corona, circa capsulam marcescens : aestivatio dextrorsum contorta. Glandulse epipetalse vel hypogynse nuUae. Stamina 4 — 5 : antherse immutatae porro dehiscentes. Ovarium complete biloculare. Stylus filiformis phis minusve adscendens. Stigma indivisum. Capsula valvulis in- troflexis complete bilocularis, placentis demum utrinque Hberis. The following is a Clavis Analytica of all the species I have seen : Caules subsimplices, corymbi nudiusculi. Stamina 4 E. tetragonum, R. Stamina 5. Folia ovalia acuta vix acuminata, co-"! r, ,, , 11 I • • T 11 I r Jc^. macranthum. Arn. rollae lacmise ovali-oblongse acutae... J ' Folia lanceolata utrinque attenuata "j subundulata. coroUselaciniaeobovales I E. ceylanicum, L. obtusiusculae J Caules valde raniosi. Stamina 5 : inflorescentia foliosa. Caules ramique late 4-alati ; capsula fflo- 1 ,, nr- i j- « 1 11- ^ J a • ^ > L, Wiqhtianum. Arn. boso-ellipsoidea : rlores magni J -^ ' Caules ramique 4-goni vix alati : flores parvuli. Folia oblongo-lanceolata acuminata : "| cor. laciniae obovatag ; capsula ovata I E. courtallense, Arn. oblonga J Folia ovata acuta : cor. laciniae ob- "| longo-lauceolatae ; capsula oblongo- v E. Walkeri, Arn. ellipsoidea J Stamina 4: inflorescentia nudiuscula : cap- | e. pednnculafum, L. sula globosa : flores parvi j ^ ' These may be more perfectly defined as follows : 1. E. tetragonum (Roxb.) caulibus subsimplicibus basi 4-alatis sursum 4-angulatis, foliis ovalibus vel oblongo-lanceolatis sessi- hbus, corymbo nudiusculo, corollse laciniis 4 oblongis acutis, pe- dunculis fructiferis rectiusculis. Hab. ad oras Malabaricas. Flores mediocres. 2. E. macranthum (Arn.) caulibus subsimplicibus teretiusculis, fo- liis subpetiolatis ovalibus acutis vix acuminatis, corymbo nudi- Dr. Arnott on some neiv or rare Indian Plants. 89 usculo, corollae laciniis 5 ovali- oblongis acutis, pedicellis fruc- tiferis rectiusculis. Hab. in montibus insulee Ceylani. Flores magni. 3. E. ceylanicum (Linn.) ; caulibus subsimplicibus tetragonis, foliis lanceolatis longe acuminatis basi in pseudo-petiolum attenuatis margine subundulatis, corymbo nudiusculo, coroUae laciniis 5 obovalibus obtusiusculis, pedicellis fructiferis subrecurvis. — E. ceylanicum. Wall. Cat. n. 4357, b. Hab. Prope Colombo in insula Ceylano. Flores magni. 4. E. Wightianum (Arn.) ; caulibus valde ramosis ramisque late alatis, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis subsessilibus, co- rymbo folioso, corollse laciniis 5 ovalibus acutis vel acuminatis, pedicellis fructiferis valde recurvis, capsula globoso-ellipsoidea. — E. ceylanicum. Wall. Cat. n. 4357, a. (et forsan c). Hab. in Peninsulse Indicee montibus australioribus. Flores magni. Capsula latitudine vix longior. 5. E. courtallense (Arn.) ; caule dichotome ramoso, ramis angus- tissime 4-alatis, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis, inflore- scentia foliosa, corollse laciniis 5 obovalibus obtusiusculis, pedi- cellis fructiferis rectiusculis, capsula ovato-oblonga. Hab. ad Courtallum in Peninsula Ind. Or. Flores subparvi. Capsula versus basin quam apicem latior. 6. E. Wdlkeri (Arn.) ; caule dichotome ramoso, ramis angustis- sime 4-alatis, foliis ovatis acutis vel acuminatis, inflorescentia foliosa, corollse laciniis 5 oblongo-lanceolatis, pedicellis fructi- feris rectiusculis vel leniter arcuatis, capsula oblongo-ellipsoidea. Hab. in insulse Ceylani montibus. Flores subparvi. Capsula revere ellipsoidea, Ij — 2-plo longior quam lata. 7. E. pedanculare (Linn.) ; caule erecto ramoso letragono, foliis lanceolatis, corymbis nudiusculis, corollse laciniis 4 ovalibus, capsula globosa. — E. pedunculare. Wall. Cat. n. 4359. — E. carinatum, Roxb. — E. sulcatum, Roxb. Hab. in insula Ceylano, et per omnem fere Hindoostaniam. Flores parvi. In addition to these Roxburgh mentions an E. bicolor, and Wallich E. teres, stylosum, pteranthum, and E. grandiflorum, the last from the Peninsula (and perhaps the same as E. Wightianum), with none of which I am acquainted. Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 3. No. 15. April 1839. h 90 Dr. Arnott on some new or rare Indian Plants, This genus occurs principally in the south-west parts of India : it does not appear to be found in Java. LoRANTHUs, L. {Loranthacece). L. lageniferus (Wight) ; corolla longe tubulosa sequaliter 5-fida, antheris erectis, involucre campanulato magno colorato circa flores paucos subcapitatos. Wight, Cat. n. 2437. Hook. Ic. PI, t. 229, 230. Hab. in Malabaria ; Wight. Lignosus glaber parasiticus. Folia opposita petiolata, petiolo 2 — 4 lineas longo, ovato-lanceolata seu elliptico-oblonga, obtusa basi ro- tundata, plurinervia, crassa, coriacea. Pedunculi fasciculati ad ramos annotinos orti, brevissimi, apice involucrum sanguineum gamophyl- lum campanulatum magnum 4 — 5 lobum ferentes. Flores 4 — 5 in fundo involucri subsessiles. Calycis limbus cupularis membrana- ceus repando-5-dentatus. Corolla pulverula tubulosa, involucrum duplo superans, apice supra medium quinquefida, versus laciniarum basin per sestivationem inflatim annulata, laciniis linearibus demum reflexis. Antherse erectse. Sin Involucratos DeCandoUei, seu Lepeostegeres Blumii, bracteis quandoque coalitis gaudere posse putes, turn haec nova ac pulcher- rima species cum iis coUocari debet : sin non, ad novam finitimamque inter Symphyanthos subsectionem pertinebit facillime diagnosi supra datalimitatam. This is perhaps the most beautiful of the genus : its blood- red involucres are about an inch long and 4 to 6 lines across. PoLYCARP^A, Lam. {Paronychiacece). 1. P. corymbosa(La,m.); suffruticosa vel herbacea, caulibus ple- rumque albo-tomentosis, foliis ex oblongo-lanceolatis in linearia vel etiam setaceafasciculatis,floribus cymose-corymbosis, sepalis scariosis lanceolatis acuminatis enerviis, petala subovalia obtusa capsulamque 2 — 3-plo superantibus. — a, radice simplici uni- cauli, caule simplici vel ramis elongatis erectis simpliciusculis. — P. corymbosa. Lam. Wight, Cat. n. 1172. — /3, caulibus di- chotome ramosis, rarius (et tunc e radice lignoso multicipiti pluribus) simpliciusculis. — P. spadicea. Lam. Wight et Am. Prod.Fl.Penins.Ind. Or. i. p. 357. — a, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis obtusiusculis, corymbis densissimis. Wight, Cat. n. 1168. — b, foliis approximatis oblongo-linearibus, stipulas vix superantibus, corymbis densis. Wight, Cat. n. 1 169. — c, foliis linearibus subu- Dr. Arnott on some new or rare Indian Plants, 91 latisve plus minusve distantibus, corymbis laxiusculis, ramulis albo-tomentosis, sepalis albis. Wight, Cat. n. 1170. — d, cauli- bus ramulisque dense albo-tomentosis, foliis subulatis subdistan- tibus, corymbis laxiusculis, sepalis aurantiaceis. — P. aurea, Wight, Cat. n. 2443. — e, ramulis tenuibus glabriusculis, foliis setaceis subulatisve, corymbis laxis gracilibus. Wight, Cat. n. 1171. In compliance with Dr. Wight^s lately expressed wishes^ I now unite P. corymbosa and P. spadicea of authors, and cer- tainly he has had most ample opportunities of examining them in all situations and under various appearances. At the same time there is in general a peculiar habit about P. corymbosa, by which it can be distinguished from all forms of the other species: this, however, cannot so easily be expressed in words. In P. corymbosa the root is always simple, and ap- parently either annual or biennial : it is occasionally so in P. spadicea ; but what is the case ? the stems are dichotomously branched, which they seem never to be in the other species. Again, in P. spadicea the plant is usually, perhaps always, if not removed, sufFruticose, while I have seen no tendency to that in P. corymbosa. The broad-leaved specimens, which Dr. Wight and I referred to P. spadicea, appeared at first sight to have simple stems ; but there are numerous fascicles of leaves and rudimentary branches in the axils of the leaves, so that these stems must be considered as the primary ones, or axes, of a branched form. The proportions of the petals and sepals are nearly the same in all the varieties. 2. P. diffusa (Wight) ; sufFruticosa ramosissima laxa diffusa gla- briuscula, foliis fasciculatis linearibus, floribus cymoso-corym- bosis, sepalis scariosis ovato-lanceolatis acuminatis enerviis, pe- talis sepala subaequantibus, stamina capsulamque acutam parum superantibus. Wight, Cat. n. 2442. Hah. Prope Tuticoreen (Maio 1835), Wight. 3. P. spicata (Wight) ; glabra, radice ad collum multicipiti, cau- libus plurimis gracilibus diffusis foliorum pedunculorumque fasciculos distantes 1 — 2 gerentibus, foliis radicalibus cauli- nisque fasciculatis glaucis subcarnosis spathulato-oblongis acu- tiusculis, floribus imbricatis spicatis, spicis paucis ad pedunculi apicem fasciculatis, sepalis scariosis dorso uninerviis, petala H 2 92 Rev. F. W. Hope's Observations on the Genus Cassida, subulata multo superantibus, filamentis basi dilatatis uno cum corollse basi in annulum circa capsulam coalitis. Wight, Cat. n. 2441. Hah. in montibus Peninsulse australioribus, Wight. [To be continued.] XL — Observations on the Tortoise or Shield Beetles, commonly denominated Cassida by Linnceus, with the Characters of Six New Genera. By the Rev. F. W. Hope, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S.5 and Member of various Foreign Societies. [With a Plate.] Of late years, amongst Coleopterous Insects, the Adephaga have engaged much of the attention of entomologists, proba- bly because they stand foremost in the artificial arrangement of modern authors ; there are however some remarkable ex- ceptions to the contrary, such as the Curculionidw now in pro- gress of publication by the illustrious Schonherr, the Ceto- niadce and Buprestidce by Gory and Percheron, and also the Heteromera by Sober. Other groups, however, have been com- paratively neglected, and particularly the Cassidoidea. I pur- pose therefore in the present paper to examine the group, and suggest the adoption of some new genera, to be classed under the family of Cassidce, so named by Dr. Leach. Cassida of Linnaeus is very rich in species. It presents us with singu- larly grotesque and varied forms, and if we look more parti- cularly to the larvae, no less remarkable will they be found in their earlier stages than in their complete development. The larvae sometimes assume the appearance of vegetation, some imitating in that state the squamae of the fir cones, others again the filamentous appearance of plants and lichens. The entire group which I term Cassidoidea is composed of several families and is confined to no particular country. Several of the forms which predominate in the New World have not their counterpart in the Old World, at least as far as we know at present. The European species with their larvae and habits have been ably described by Roesel Reaumur, DeGeer, and others. Our indigenous British species early attracted the atten- tion of my friend the Rev. Wm. Kirby, three of which, with their with Characters of Six New Genera, 93 transformations, are described in the third volume of the Lin- naean Transactions. The whole group appears to be entirely herbivorous in its habits. In our own country they are chiefly partial to thistles and marsh marigolds, occurring also on the water-mint and other aquatic plants. The thistle, when much infested by the larvae early in the summer, occasionally appears as if scorched by fire ; the marsh marigolds turn perfectly black, and in some years, when attacked by these parasites, they are not only greatly impoverished by them, but are en- tirely destroyed. The number of European tortoise beetles known is about forty species. It is difficult however to state the numbers accurately, as great difference of opinion exists as to what are really species ; their synonymy is perplexing, and, as the range which some species enjoy is very extensive, there is consequently an increase of varieties, arising probably from difference of food, climate, temperature, and soil. In- stead of entering accurately into their geographical distribu- tion, I shall merely state the numbers mentioned by authors, and then add some general remarks on the whole. Linnaeus, in his ^ Systema Naturae,' gives us but 23 species, Olivier 105, Fabricius, after separating Imatidium, 119. The Baron De Jean, including the latter genus, gives us in the first Cata- logue 109, and in his last about 400. In my own collection there are 500 species, and at least 200 more have fallen under my notice ; and as Cassida is a group which has been greatly neglected, it will eventually be found much more numerous than is at present supposed. Out of the 500 now known, 400 belong to the New World. Perhaps scarcely 40 will be found mentioned in catalogues and works as inhabiting Africa, and less is the number described from Asia, even including the extended continent of Australia. Professor Perty, in his ^ Con- spectus Coleopterorum Indiae Orientalis,' mentions but 22 from Asia. From the above statement, therefore, it will ap- pear that the New World affords a very large proportion of the Cassidoidea known. As to the European species, there is not much reason to think that they will prove to be much more numerous than at present. As to African CassidtB, they will eventually be found to be considerably more numerous than the European species, and I am inclined to think that 94 Rev. F. W. Hope's Observations on the Genus Cassida, those of Asia will far outnumber those of Africa. In both of the last-mentioned continents, large tracts of diversified coun- try are unexplored, and till we become better acquainted with their entomology, it may seem like presumption to attempt to express an opinion respecting them. At the end of this pa- per will be found references to the different authors who have written on the Cassidoidea of the chief divisions of our globe ; I shall therefore refer the entomologist for further information to the species described by them, and conclude these observations with a remark on the peculiar colouring matter of some of these beetles which are called tortoise or shield beetles. Little, very little is known, respecting the substance com- posing the elytra of insects, and what has been written re- specting chitine or elytrine does not appear to be applicable to several of the Cassidce : I allude more particularly to the brilliant metallic splendour of those diaphanous species allied to Cassida nobilis, Linnaeus, w^hich are frequently ornamented with greenish-gold and sulphury-silver coloured spots and fasciae, the colours of which disappear when the insects are dead, but may be made to reappear by immersing them in hot water. I am inclined to think that the colouring matter, alluded to in the above insects, is not to be found in the elytra, but is derived from the intestines. I do not here attempt to explain the cause, but merely record an impression, which may be erroneous ; it is with a hope indeed of inducing others to investigate a cause very imperfectly understood, that this suggestion is now thrown out. CASSIDA, LiNN^us. Cassida, Leach, Cassidoidea, Hope. The first genus which I propose to separate from the mul- tiplicity of forms now arranged under the term Cassida is the Genus Mesomphalia^. PL IV. fig. 1. Type of the genus Cassida gibbosa of Fabricius. Forma fere orbicularis. * Mesompkalia is derived from fx.iao[^(p«.7^iov, or from ^gVoj and of^Cpx'Kog, the boss of a shield. with Characters of Six New Genera. 95 Antennce 11 articulatae cylindricae, articulo 1"^° crasso^ 2^^ mi- nimOj reliquis fere aequalibus^ extimo apice subconico. Labrum breve, margine antico valde inciso. Mandibulce cochleariformes, apicibus incisis. Maxillce breves bilobae, lobo superior! tenui recto. Palpi maxillares crassi et cornei, articulo 2^° longo, duobus ul- timis brevioribus et fere oequalibus. Mentum parvum corneum antice angustum. Labium membranaceum subquadratum. Palpi labiales cornei, articulo 2^^ longiori, ultimo ovato. Elytra orbicularia ante medium umbone armata. Thorax rotundatus emarginatus. Prosternum sub ore protensum, intra pedes anticos productum et contractum, canaliculatum. To this genus belong Cassida G-pustulata, lateralis, discors, incequalis, reticularis, and discoidea of Fabricius, and also (snea of Olivier, and at least 60 other species, many of which are unpublished : several of them will be found ably described by my friend Professor Germar of Halle, in his ^ Species Insec- torum,^ a work not sufficiently appreciated in this country j it was published in 1824 at Halle in Saxony. Dolichotoma^, Hope. PI. IV. fig. 2. Type of the Genus, Cassida Chloris, Hope. Antennce, 1 1 articulatae, articulis sex basalibus glabris, reliquis villosis, 1™° crasso, 2^° minimo, quatuor sequentibus parvis et aequalibus, reliquis multo longioribus. Mandibulce parvae quadratag, extus tuberculo corniformi ar- matae. Maxillce minutae subcoriaceae, lobis duobus rotundatis. Palpi maxillares minuti, articulis subaequalibus, extimo conico. Mentum parvum coriaceum. Labium subtrigonum setosum. Palpi labiales minuti, articulis subaequalibus, ultimo ovato- conico. Elytra orbicularia, ante medium angulato-elevata. Thorax antice rotundatus, lateribus in dentem acutum pro- ductis. Prosternum inter pedes anticos latius, subplanum. * From lo>iixfi; et ro^jj. 96 Rev. F. W. Hope's Observations on the Genus Cassida, D. Chloris, Hope, long. 7 lin., lat. 7 lin. Totum corpus supra vi- ride, thorace utrinque acute-angulato, convexo, impunctato ; elytris in medio disci angulato-nodosis, subrugosis, lateribus externis glabris ; corpus subtus atrum, elytris infra subcyaneis, pedibus nigris plantisque ferrugineis. Habitat in Insula Sancti Vincentii. This Cassida I obtained by purchase from the valuable col- lection of the Kev. Lansdown Guilding. To this genus be- long Cassida strigata of Schuppell^ and luctuosa of Olivier and others. Belenis^, Hope. PL IV. fig. 3. Type of the Genus, Cassida perforata of Fabricius. Antennceox^AcxAi^ compressisextrorsum crassioribus,l"^°crasso, 2^" minimo, 2i*'° longo gracilis 4^^ breviori^ 5*° et reliquis longitudine decrescentibus, et gradatim crassioribus^ ex- timo apice acuto. MandihulcE corneae multidentatae. Maxill(B simplices^ lobis rotundatis. Palpi maxillares 1"^° minimo, 2*^° longissimo curvato^ apice la- tiori, 3^^° et extimo aequalibus^ ultimo apice conico. Mentum parvum subquadratum. Labium parvum trigonum et setosum. Palpi labiates V^^ articulo brevi, 2^° elongato, 3^^° subsecuri- formi. Elyti^a semicircularia ante medium angulato elevata^ humera- libus angulis acute porrectis, apice elytrorum acuminato. Thorax trigonus utrinque in spinam acutam productus. S, perforata 1 make the type of the genus. It appears doubtful after examining many specimens of the above insects if the perforations are not the result of accident ; no two spe- cimens accord ; the holes under a lens seem irregularly worn, the effect may be caused simply by attrition ; it may be re- marked also that the elytra of the same insect differ consider- ably ; the only published species besides the type is C. Spi- nifex, Fab., which is considered only as a sexual distinction. There are, however, in our English cabinets others which are undescribed. ♦ Selenis, from the Greek l,ihviui;, signifying a crescent. ^ Jnn. lYallRstYoX. MesamphcuUoy . qibl?Odcu DoLwJioto-mw Chlcris iz SeUicCs perfoTcubcu Tawromw Touims 4Ai> Desirwrwta pLcduTWtOy. r'l ^aivrwia^ M'(Lefu f^n-st-.-.-poA d/eO. JScbsi with Characters of Six New Genera. 9? Tauroma^, Hope. PL IV. fig. 4. Type of the Genus, Cassida Taurus of Fabricius. Antennce articulo 1"^° crasso, 2^° minimo, quatuor sequentibus longioribus aequalibus, metallicis, quatuor proximis lon- gioribus sequalibus villosis^ extimo majori ovato-conico. Mandibulce latae cochleariformes, apice edentula?. Labrum breve corneum, in medio acute emarginatum. Maxillce minutae bilobae et ciliatae. Palpi maxillares perbreves, articulo y'^*' minimo, duobus prox- imis aequalibus, ultimo conico-ovato. Mentum trans ver sum, angulis anticis rotundatis. Labium breve conicum et pilosum. Lingua magna et membranacea. Palpi (abiales maxillaribus longitudine aequales, articulo 1"^° brevi, duobus aliis longitudine aequalibus, at ultimo ovato- conico. Elytra angulis anticis utrinque in spinam crassam truncatam porrectis^ angulis posticis rotundatis dorso baud tuber- culato. Thorax antice rotundatus valde emarginatus. Prosternum latum planum. To the above genus belong C. bicornis, Fab., one of the most splendid of the Cassidoidea. Monsieur Chevrolat has named a third species as inhabiting Mexico : as I am doubtful however of its having been described and published^ 1 am un- willing to mention manuscript or catalogue names ; a fourth I now describe from my cabinet. Tauroma punctipennis, Hope. Long. 5 lin., lat. 3^ lin. Atro-vi- ridis elytris fortissime punctatis, dorso convexo cornubus hu- meralibus crassis et truncatis. Corpus subtus atro-cyaneum, pe- dibus concoloribus plantisque ferrugineis. Habitat in Brasilia in Museo nostro. Desmonota-f, Hope. PI. IV. fig. 5. Type of the Genus, Cassida Platynota of Germar. Antennae articulo V^^ crasso, 2^° minimo^ octo sequentibus fere aequalibus subdepressis^ extimo ovato. * Derived from ruv^og and J^o;, humerus. t From haf^o; and uuTog, tergum, notted back. 98 Rev. F. W. Hope's Observations on the Genus Cassida, MandibulcB crassoe cornese, apice truncate, dentibus duobus ex- ternis majoribus. Labrum corneum medio marginis antice emarginato. MaxillcB membranaceae bilobae, lobo externo parvo et coriaceo. Palpi maxillares breves, 1"^° minuto, 2^° et 3*^° subtrigonis, ex- timo ovato-acuto. Mentum transversum. Labium parvum trigonum setosum. Lingua maxima et membranacea. Palpi labiates maxillaribus aequales, V^^ brevi, duobus aliis lon- gitudine aequalibus, ultimo apice acuto. Elytra oblongo-quadrata, nodoso-convexa. Thorax transversus, margine antico fere recto, lateribus ob- liquis, angulis posticis recte truncatis, margine et postico in medio angulato. Prosternum latum inter pedes anticos subimpressum. The name oi platynota was originally published by Germar, and is therefore retained in preference to that of nodosa of De Jean ; there are other species belonging to it ; some of those in the French collections I regard merely as varieties. The species of this division require a very accurate examina- tion ; none of my acquaintance accord altogether with the above generic characters, they require therefore further sub- division ; the typical insect is from the Brazils, Batonota"^, Hope. PL IV. fig. 6. Type of the Genus, Cassida bidens of Fabricius. Antennce articulo V^^ crasso, quatuor sequentibus aequalibus minutis, sex sequentibus multo longioribus, et fere longi- tudine aequalibus, ultimo apice conico. MandibulcB subquadratae apicibus multidentatis. MaxillcB bilobae lobo externo coriaceo. Palpi maxillares articulo V^^ brevi, tribus aliis fere aequalibus et praecedenti multo longioribus et crassioribus. Mentum transversum. Labium parvum subrotundatum et ciliatum. Palpi labiates graciles, articulo 1"^^ crasso, duobus aliis aequa- libus et praecedenti pauUo longioribus. * From (ixTos, u thonij and t/aros, back, Tliorn-backcd Cassidce. with Characters of Sioc New Genera. 99 Elytra humeris in lobum maximum angulatum antice por- rectis, spina erecta in medio suturae elongata, acuta. Thorax antice rotundatus subemarginatus^ dorso subcarinato. Prosternu7n oblongum subplanum in medio impressum. To the genus Batonota belongs also the Cassida truncata of Fabricius from Cayenne, C. pugionata of Hoffinansegg and laticollis, Mihi, and others, which are undescribed. Those spine-backed species with the humeral angles of the elytra ought to belong to a subgenus, the description of which I leave for future authors. The above six genera are detached from the genus Cassida, and may be ranged under the family Cassididae till the fami- lies are more accurately characterized. Those forms have chiefly been selected which differ considerably in their out- ward appearance, and various others might have been added. If at a future time a similar communication on this group or any other is thought worthy of insertion in the ^ Annals of Natural History,^ the writer when possessed of more leisure may be induced to accede to the requests of the Editor, as he has on the present occasion. References to Authors, Besides consulting the general works of Linnaeus, Herbst, Fabricius, Olivier, and Schonherr, for the description of nu- merous species of Cassidoidea, the entomologist is referred to the following authors who have written on the Cassidce of par- ticular countries. Europe, — Of England I mention Marsham^s Coleoptera; Mr. Kirby^s Memoir in the Linnaean Transactions, vol. iii. ; Stephens^s Outlines of Entomology; Curtis^s Genera, and the Entomologia Edinensis, by James Wilson. Of Sweden — I give the names of DeGeer, Paykull, and Gyl- lenhall. Of France — Reaumur, Latreille, Guerin and Percheron, Dufour, and Baron Walckenaer. Of Holland—Fri^ch, Of Germany — Those of Schrank, Duftschmidt, and Panzer. North and South America — For the Cassidae of the New World consult the following works : — Say's Writings ; Species Insectorum, by Germar ; Vigor's in the Zoological Journal ; 100 Dr. Meyen on the Digestive Apparatus of Infusoria, Delectus Animalium Articulatorum, by Spix and Martius ; Voyage de Humboldt et Bonpland, Premier Volume; Kirby's Fauna Boreali-Americana ; Coleopteres de Mexique, par Che- vrolat ( Omocerus N. G.) ; Dalmann^s Analecta Entomologica, [C.fornicata)', Guerin and Percheron, Genres des Insectes^ col. plate 12; Sahlberg's Pereculi Entomographici Cassida; Der Naturforscher, Stuck 6 and 9, and Fuessly^s Archives. Africa — Refer to King's Bericht on the Coleoptera of Ma- dagascar ; Insectorum Enumeratio Eleutheratorum, by Gold- fuss. The AYork of Palisot Beauvois also contains the figures of some species from the kingdom of Oware. Asia — Consult BruUe's Voyage in the Morea ; Hope's New Species in Gray's Zoological Miscellany ; Wiedemann's Zoo- logisches Magazin^lSl? — 1823 ; Perty's Synopsis Coleoptero- rum. Falderman records only a single species, namely, Cas- sida bella, in his Fauna Entomologica Trans-Caucasica. It seems probable that Cassida may be greatly SAvayed by the vegetation on which the dilFerent species feed. New Holland — Bois Duval's Voyage de L' Astrolabe. REFERENCE TO PLATE IV. 1. Mesomphalia gibhosa. 1 a. The same in profile; / 1. Labium; md. Man- dible ; mx. Maxilla ; / 2. Labium ; a. Antenna : st. Sternum : t. Tarsus ; u. Unguis. 2. Dolichotoma Chloris. 2 a. The same in profile ; md. Mandible seen in two positions ; mx. Maxilla; 12. Labium; a. Antenna. 3. Sele7ds perforata. 3 a. The same in profile; / 1. Labriim ; md. Man- dible ; mx. Maxilla ; / 2. Labium ; a. Antenna. 4. Tauroma Taurus. 4 or. The same in profile; I \. Labrum ; md. Mandible; mx. Maxilla; / 2. Labium (with the large fleshy internal lingua) ; a. Antenna. 5. Desmonota flatynota. 5 a. The same in profile; / 1. Labrum; md. Mandible; mx. Maxilla; 12. Labium (with the internal lingua); a. Antenna. 6. Batonota bidens. 6 a. The same in profile ; md. Mandible ; mx. Maxilla. 4 2. Labium ; a. Antenna ; st. Sternum. XII. — Some Observations on the Digestive Apjparatus of Infu- soria,^ By Dr. J. Meyen, Prof. Bot. University of Berlin. To Richard Taylor, Esq, Sir, Excuse the liberty I take of forwarding to you a short memoir on the digestive apparatus of the Infusoria, which I request you will pubhsh in your highly valuable journal. My * Communicated by the Author to, and translated for this Journal. Dr. Meyen on the Digestive Apparatus of Infusoria. 101 paper was sent as early as October to Prof. J. von Miiller for insertion in his ^ Archiv/ and since then I have seen in your journal that Prof. Rymer Jones has made some correct ob- servations on the same subject^ which have been controverted, but unsuccessfully, by Prof. Ehrenberg. [We gladly comply with the wishes of our learned corre- spondent, and, in order to lay the whole subject as it at pre- sent stands before our readers, we have extracted from the elegant and valuable work of Rymer Jones the passage treat- ing on this subject. We intend also to give in our next num- ber an extract from a memoir which has recently been pub- lished by M. Dujardin in the ^Annales des Sciences Natu- relles,' which is likewise opposed to the views taken by Dr. Ehrenberg. In the mean time we hope that some of our English naturalists (excellent microscopes being now much in use in this country) will take up this subject and help to bring this interesting question to an issue. — R. T.] It will be weU known to naturalists that Von Gleichen even as early as the year 1781 fed the infusorial animalcules with carmine, and observed on the following day that several red globules were apparent in the interior of their body, whence he drew the inference that the animalcules had swallowed the colouring substance ; Gleichen also observed that the coloured globules were expelled by a distinct aperture. Gleichen figures these received red globules very correctly, and indeed each globule in the interior of a distinct circle, without stating any- thing respecting their design. Subsequently Prof. Ehrenberg repeated these observations, and thence concluded that the true Infusoria possess a larger or smaller number of stomachs, which in one group are destitute of intestinal canal, but in the other are connected with one another by peculiar extremities of the canal, nay sometimes exhibit laterally appended canals en cul-de-sac. In consequence of these discoveries the ani- malcules received the name of Polygastrica. M. Ehrenberg thought he observed that these stomachs are filled in regular succession, and he has even figured, more or less completely, in a number of animalcules of this kind, the intestinal canals 102 Dr. Meyen on the Digestive Apparatus of Infusoria, which are said to lie between the globular stomachs and to connect them one with the other. These views of Dr. Ehrenberg on the digestive apparatus of the Infusoria have already been doubted in various quar- ters. I have never participated in them ; in the first place^ because I could never perceive these intestinal canals which are said to connect the various stomachs one with the other ; and secondly^ because many years ago I had observed in In- fusoria of various genera that the supposed stomachs circu- lated with more or less rapidity in their interior, resembling exactly the rotatory currents of the globules in the cellules of the Chares, Subsequently I frequently saw in VorticellcB^vAi^Vi they had nine to fifteen large balls of indigo in their body, that these revolved constantly round a fixed central point, and thus evidently showed that in this case an intestinal canal connect- ing the stomachs and in connexion at one extremity with the oral and at the other extremity with the anal aperture could not exist. What then, however, are those equally sized vesicles and globules which occur in the interior of animalcules and have been regarded as their stomachs ? This question will be ge- nerally asked of me, and I have also put this question to my- self, until by continued observation of this subject I have ascertained the origin of these globules and vesicles. The true Infusoria are vesicular animals, whose cavity is filled with a gelatinous, somewhat slimy substance ; the consistence of the membrane forming the vesicle is in some of these creatures distinctly visible, and in several genera I have been able to observe in this membrane a spiral structure plainly recogni- sable, so that the structure of these Infusoria, in the main, ap- peared to me to resemble that of the cells of plants. In the larger Infusoria there proceeds from the mouth a cylindrical canal (alimentary canal) obliquely through the membrane which forms the animal ; the lower end of this canal expands when it has taken up nutriment in a greater or less degree, generally, however, to the size of the globules which occur in the interior of these Infusoria. The inner surface of this por- tion of the alimentary canal is beset with cilia, by the motion of which the absorbed substances, both the nutritive sub- Dr. Meyen 07i the Digestive Apparatus of Infusoria, 103 stances and foreign ingredients, are forced round with an ex- ceedingly great velocity, until they are compressed together into the form of a perfect sphere. During this formation of the globules, the stomach (for this organ can only be consi- dered as such) is in free connexion with the alimentary canal, and by the outer ciliary apparatus new substances are conti- nually driven into this canal and into the stomach ; but whe- ther the alimentary canal between the oral aperture and the stomach is also clothed with cilia I have not been able to ascer- tain wdth certainty. As soon as the globule of the absorbed substances has attained the size of the stomach, it is expelled at the other extremity, and forced into the cavity of the ani- malcule, immediately on which a new globule is formed with- in the stomach, if solid substances are present in the sur- rounding fluid ; this second globule is also thrown into the cavity of the animalcule, and now pushes the first globule with the intervening slime further forwards, and thus the for- mation of similar globules from the absorbed substances is constantly going on. These are the globules from the num- ber of w^hich Dr. Ehrenberg inferred the great quantity of stomachs of these animals. If the surrounding fluid does not contain much solid matter, these globules are also less com- pact, and they then have the same appearance as we find them in Infusoria in common uncoloured infusions, where such a globule at times only exhibits a few small particles, and consists for the greater part of a slimy substance, with which these are mixed. At times two such globules are pressed in the interior of the body so forcibly together that they remain in this connexion. If it is desired to observe the formation of these globules very distinctly, the observation should be commenced imme- diately on the Infusoria coming in contact with the coloured fluid. The reception of the coloured matter takes place very rapidly, frequently even in half a minute, and then it may easily be perceived how one coloured globule after the other passes from the stomach perfectly formed, and how in the Paramcecice, Keronice, and Vorticellce they are propelled down- wards at the border of the cavity of the animal, and how then the new globule pushes the preceding one with the inter- vening slime forwards, so that the first soon ascends on the 104 Dr. Meyen on theDiyestive Apparatus of Infusoria, inner border of the opposite side^ turns round at the opposite end of the cavity^ and is then again forced down on the other side ; and thus the mass of the globules goes on continually increasing;, until again some are expelled at the anus. The quantity of these globules is sometimes so great that the entire cavity of the animalcule is filled with them, and they lie so near to one another that all of them together form as it were a great ball, which frequently, especially in the Vorticella, revolves slowly round its centre. This rotatory motion is caused, however, as I have perfectly assured myself, by the force with which the globule newly formed in the stomach is propelled into the cavity, and hits against the under border of the existing ball. In other cases on the contrary, when so many globules are not yet present, this circular rotation is also seen, of which I have already made mention at the com- mencement ; but it has not become clear to me by what ex- ternal causes this motion is here produced. In the true Infusoria, therefore, the substances which they take up are brought in form of globules into the cavity of the body, and here the nutritive substance is extracted from them ; the useless passes off generally in the same globular form in which it entered, but sometimes the intervening slime is reab- sorbed, and the particles of the globule already separate in the interior of the body, which^ however, does not frequently hap- pen. But what then are those vesicular cavities which occur fre- quently in such great number, and also of very different sizes, in the interior of Infusoria ? Stomachs they certainly are not ; they have nothing to do with the absorbed globules just mentioned, although sometimes those globules penetrate singly into these cavities, which, however, must be re- garded only as an accidental occurrence. The origin of these cavities, as also their sudden and total disappearance in the slimy substance in the interior of the Infusoria, may be observed with the same ease as the formation of the globules ; nay, it is sometimes even possible to observe the formation of such a cavity around one of the absorbed globules, which then afler some time again disappears. The microscope shows that these cavities have no distinct membranous sides, but consist in mere excavations of the slimy substance ; they also occur Prof. R. Jones on the Digestive Apparatus of Infusoria. 105 generally near the inner surface of the membrane which forms the coating of the animalcule, and at times some of them in- crease to a very considerable circumference, so that the cavity of such a bladder constitutes one-third and one-half of tlie ca- vity of the entire animalcule. That these cavities contain a thin and aqueous fluid and are not filled with air is shown by the remarkably small refraction of rays at their borders, and in the larger Infusoria it may be quite distinctly seen that they do not open exteriorly. Similar cavities are also formed in the mucus of the cells of plants, especially frequent in Hy- pJiomycetes growing in water. My botanical researches prevent my working out this sub- ject more fully ; these brief notices may, however, suffice to induce a greater number of naturalists to follow up the ob- servations, which it is true require great patience ; for the above-mentioned facts are not to be seen immediately in every animalcule ; but they are sufficiently important, for already have the Polygastrica passed into all recent works on zoology. Prof. Rymer Jones on the Digestive Apparatus of Infusoria^, However imposing, from their completeness, the views of Ehrenberg concerning the digestive system of the Polygastrica may be, and sanctioned as they are by almost general consent, we cannot pass over a subject of so much importance without expressing ourselves as being far from admitting their accuracy in all respects, and we must say that our own observations upon the structure of the Polygastrica have led us to very dif- ferent conclusions. The positions of the mouth and anal aperture we are well assured, by frequent examination, to be such as are indicated by the illustrious Professor of Berlin ; but with regard to the tube named by him intestine, and the stomachs appended thereto, our most patient and long-continued efforts have failed to detect the arrangement depicted in his drawings. In the first place, as regards the function of the sacculi, which he looks upon as the organs in which digestion is accomplished ; * Extracted from Prof. Rymer Jones's work entitled ' A General Outline of the Animal Kingdom.' Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol.3. No, 15. April 1839. i 106 Prof. R. Jones on the Diyesilve Apparatus of Infusoria, in carnivorous animalcules which devour other species we might expect^ were these the stomachs, that the prey would at once be conveyed into one or other of these cavities ; yet, setting aside the difficulty which must manifestly occur in lodging large animalcules in these microscopic sacs, and ha- ving recourse to the result of actual experience, we have never in a single instance seen an animalcule, when swallowed, placed in such a position, but have repeatedly traced the prey into what seemed a cavity excavated in the general parenchyma of the body. In the second place, the sacculi have no appearance of being pedunculated, and consequently in a certain degree fixed in definite positions : during the last two hours we have been carefully examining some beautiful specimens oi Paramecium aurelia, an animalcule which, from its size, is peculiarly adapt- ed to the investigation of these vesicles ; and so far from their having any appearance of connexion with a central canal, as represented in the figure copied from Ehrenberg, they are in continual circulation, moving slowly upwards along one side of the body, and in the opposite direction down the other, changing moreover their relative positions with each other, and resembling in every respect the coloured granules which have been described as visible in the gelatinous parenchyma of the Hydra, With respect to the central canal, we have not in any in- stance been able to detect it, or even any portion of the tube seen in the figures, much less the branches represented as leading from it to the vesicles or stomachs, as they are called. Even the circumstances attending the prehension of food would lead us to imagine a different structure ; witness for ex- ample the changes of form which Enchelis pupa undergoes when taking prey, as shown in fig. 16, 3, where it is repre- sented in the act of devouring a large animalcule, almost equal to itself in bulk, and is seen to assume a perfectly different shape as it dilates its mouth to receive the victim, with which its whole body becomes gradually distended. Such a capabi- lity of taking in and digesting a prey so disproportionate, would in itself go far to prove that the minute sacculi \^ere not stomachs ; as it evidently cannot be in one of these that di- gestion is accomplished. Mr. W. Thompson on the Migration of the Snowy Owl, 10/ XIII. — Note on the Migration of the Snowy Owl, Suniia nyctea, Dttm. By Wm. Thompson, Esq., Vice-President of the Natural History Society of Belfast. I HAVE the pleasure on this occasion of recording a novel and interesting fact in the history of that beautiful bird, the Snowy Owl. By the ship ^John and Robert^ (Captain McKechnie), of 501 tons burden, belonging to the port of Belfast, and which arrived here from Quebec early in the month of December last, three specimens of this bird, which had been caught on board, were brought hither alive. A fourth individual, similarly obtained, died about the time the vessel entered Belfast bay. These birds were captured either at twilight or when dark, as they perched on the rigging ; the sailors observing that they were asleep before attempting to lay hold of them. They were kept on flesh-meat, which, for the first ten days, was forced dow^n their throats, but after this time they fed themselves ; in about fifteen days after their capture the ves- sel came into port. These three birds, of which two are males and the other a female, are very fine examples of the Surnia nyctea ; a more splendid specimen than the last- mentioned, which died and is now in my possession, I have not seen. All of them I should consider birds of the year, and from the one that died having been described to me as similar to mine, it probably was so likewise*. Having heard that these were part of a large " flight'^ of Snowy Owls that were for several days seen about the vessel, I — never having read any account of this species being met with on its migration — made the fullest inquiry into the sub- ject. The captain obligingly replied to all my queries, and besides furnished me with the log-book of the ship. It may in the first place be desirable to give an extract from the • log' for a week previous to their occurrence, that we may learn if the state of the wdnd, &c., will account for the * See remarks on this subject in the 1st vol. of ' Annals', p. 243. Two of the Snowy Owls there noticed, which have since been kept in a spacious garden containing many fruit trees, never perch upon them, but remain constantly on the ground, although in rainy weather a portion of their snow- white plumage is thereby much soiled, greatly to the disadvantage of their appearance. l2 108 Mr. W. Thompson on the Migration of the Snowy Owl, great number of these birds observed in the course of their migration. The vessel^ which was bound from Quebec to Bel- fast, was driven by contrary winds along the coast of Labrador. 1838. Nov. 8. Wind W.N.W. at noon ; strong gales and tremendous sea running. N.W. at midnight, and more moderate. ■ — 9. Wind W. by N. at 10 a.m. ; weather hazy. At 5 p.m. strong gale from E. ; bore up for the harbour of La- brador ; here we lay for the next 48 hours. On the 10th were strong gales from the E. On the 1 1th strong gales from the S. — 12. Wind N. by E., moderate ; left harbour of Labrador this day ; light breezes and clear weather. — 13. Wind N. ; going along shore passed Bellisle. — 14. Wind E. by N. at noon; light airs; cloudy weather; sun obscure. — 15. Wind S. by E. at noon ; sun obscure ; strong gales from the S. — 16. WindS.S.W., light airs, clear weather ; saw Owls « to the number of about thirty or forty for the first time. Lat. 54-02 ; long. 47*40 ; about 250 miles from the straits of Bellisle. — 17. Wind S.S.W., fresh breezes; a few Owls alighted on masts; two captured this evening about 7 o'clock. Lat. 54-20 ; long. 46*20 ; about 375 miles from Bellisle. — 18. Wind S.W. ; strong breeze and heavy sea from the E.; great numbers of Owls, about fifty or sixty, flying about and alighting on the rigging ; captured none to-day, nor did any remain on the ship this night. Lat. 54*50 ; 450 miles from BelUsle. — 19. Wind N.W., strong breeze and cloudy weather; squally with snow showers during the day ; captured two more Owls to-night. Lat. 54-51 ; long. 37-39; about 635 miles from Bellisle. — 20. Wind N. by E., heavy gales with a tremendous sea run- ning ; saw several owls, but none were caught. Lat. 54-50; long 33-10. — 21. Wind N.E. at 2 r.M., E. by S. at 4 p.m. ; light breezes and cloudy weather ; saw a Gannet and Curlew. Lat. 54*25; long. 31*40; about 740 miles from Bellisle. * Notices of die Owls are added to the ' log', which is otherwise much condensed. Mr. W. Thompson on the Migration of the Snowy Otvl. 109 Nov. 22. Wind S.E. by S., light breezes ; no Owls seen these two days past, nor were any afterwards met with. Dec. 4. Vessel arrived at Belfast. The captain describes the migration of these Owls to have been an extremely beautiful sight, and more particularly, from his never having seen such birds before, w as greatly interested about them. Sometimes they kept flying about the vessel w ithout alighting, and again there would be one or two on every yard-arm, w^ith others hovering just above ; on alighting, they fell asleep, apparently from exhaustion. Numerous as were these beautiful creatures, it was only when occasional bickerings took place among those which had alighted on the yard-arms, and in the stillness of night, that they were heard during their entire presence. Their flight, described to me as inaudible, could not but call to mind the finest and most poetical description of this characteristic trait applied to the owls generally, ^^ How serenely beautiful their noiseless flight! A flake of snow" is not winnowed through the air more softly silent I* ^^ Occasionally they remained for a day about the ship, W'hen but little way was made, and again, as reported to me, " w^nt off for a day and returned next morn- ing,'^ greatly to the surprise of the beholders how they could find the ship after a night had intervened. What must have added much additional interest to their appearance, was the idea entertained^ that these birds blown from the coast of La- brador, and finding, like the dove of old, '* no rest for the sole of her foot,^^ had, after traversing the pathless waters, sought the vessel for this purpose, loitering about her course, disap- pearing for a day, and again hastening to repose upon her yards and rigging. But however pleasing such imaginings, it is not for the naturalist here to pause, but in search of truth, assuredly not less attractive, to pursue inquiry further. If by reason of storms or otherwise he cannot perceive why the same birds should, after having rested on and left the ves- sel, re-appear another day, he may perhaps conclude, that the Owls thus seen, were bodies successively migrating to more southern latitudes, and that different birds appeared on each occasion, or at all events that it was not the same individuals w^hich presented themselves during the whole period. * Blackwood's Magazine, vol. xx. (1826) p. 671. 110 Mr. W. Thompson on the Migration of the Snowy OivL That the chief abode of the Snowy Owl is the regions within the arctic circle, is well known, as it likewise is that numbers migrate thence in winter to Canada and the United States. Reference to the ' log' will show that, during the five days on which these birds were successively observed, the vessel kept nearly to the 54th degree of latitude, having sailed during the time about 500 miles in an easterly direction ; consequently, if the course of the Owls were to Canada or the States, the vessel, which in such event might possibly " fall in with^^ them a second time, was proceeding somewhat in an opposite direction, but whither again it does not appear that they would have been driven by storms. A greater number of birds too being seen on the 18th than on the 16th favours the idea of a continuous migration. The vessel was about 250 miles from the straits of Bellisle, or the S.E. point of Labrador, when these Owls first appeared, but sailing eastward, was on the day they were last seen about 740 miles distant from them and 480 miles from the southern extremity of Greenland, which for some time was the nearest land. I shall take this opportunity of again noticing the occurrence of the Snowy Owl in Ireland. In the possession of Edward Waller, Esq,, of Dublin, I lately saw a fine specimen, which was shot in the winter, " about three years ago," near Oraagh in the county of Tyrone. This individual may probably have migrated thither early in the year 1835, when several others were obtained in different parts of Ireland ; and at which period the species was first recorded as visiting the country*. In a letter, dated Twizell House, July 21, 1838, I was informed by P. J. Selby, Esq., that he had received a Snowy Owl from Killibegs, county of Donegal, near which place it was shot in the month of November or December, 1837 t- This is the same individual which appears from the ' First Annual Report of the Natural History Society of Dublin, 'p. 6, to have been announced at one of the meetings as an Eagle Owl {Bubo maximus) ; it is almost unnecessary to add the fact, that the gentleman who made the an- nouncement had not the opportunity of seeing the specimen, but judged merely from the description communicated to him. * See * Magazine of Zoology and Botany', vol.ii, p. 179. \ In the first vohime of the * Annals' (p. 241) a Snowy Owl is noticed as having been killed near Belfast on the 2nd of December, 1837. Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand, 111 XIV. — Flora Insularum Novce Zelandim Precursor; or a Spe- cimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand, By Allan Cunningham, Esq. [Continued from p. 34.] MYRTACE.E, /?. Br., DC. 1. Leptospermum, Forst., Gcertn. 553. L. scoparium, Forst. Char. Gen. t. 36. DC. Prodr. iii. p. 227. Willd. Sp. PI, 2. p. 949. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 337. Andr. Rep. t, 622. KaiKatea ab incolis vulgo vocatur. ISevv Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos.BanJcs. Bay of Islands. -—1826, A. Cunningham. (Middle Island). — 1773, G. Forster. A stunted tree flourishing in barren clayey soil, and producing a a very hard red wood, sometimes used by the natives for the corner parts of their larger canoes. The perfume, says the Rev. W. Yate, which the blossoms exhale, is very fragrant. 554. L. ericoides, ramulis glabriusculis, foliis linearibus basi sensim an- gustatis appvoximatis glabris punctatis ciliatis, calycibus villosiusculis, den- tibus acutis persistentibus, caule arboreo. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 338. Manonea ab incolis designatur, D'Urville, Astrolabe Bay. Rawiri, R. Cunningham, Bay of Islands. New Zealand (Middle Island). Dry barren bills, Astrolabe Bay.— 1827, D'Urville. (Northern Island.) — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Hills around the Bay of Islands. — 1833, R. Cunningham. Arbor mediocris, 12 — 15 pedalis, ramosissima. Flores parvi albi ad apicem ramorum. 2. Metrosideros, R. Br., DC. * Foliis oppositis. 555. M. huxifoUa ; scandens, ramulis incano-hirsutis, foliis (4 — 5 lineas longis) ellipticis ovatisve obtusis coriaceis venosis nitidis margine revolutis, breviter petiolatis utrinque pilis incanis conspersis subtus punctatis, floribus corymbosis terminalibus, pedunculis srepe trifloris. Aid, indigenis. Lignum-Viioi of the Missionaries. New Zealand (Northern Island). A rambling shrub adhering to trees, and by its lateral roots climbing to the summits of the loftiest timber in the forests of Wangaroa, Bay of Islands, &c. — 1826, A. Cunningham. Frutex ramosissimus, caule scandente radicante vel fibrillis radiciformibus ad truncos arborum adhserente quemadmodum Hedera. Folia lato-elliptica, ovalia, obtusa. Flores parvi, albi, in corymbis ad summa ramulorum dispo- siti. Calyx monosepalus, tubu urceolato pubente limbo 5-dentato, dentibus brevissimis latis obtusis. Corolla quinquepetala, petalis sessilibus rotundatis valde concavis deciduis. Stamina numerosa, corolla longiora, filamentis glabris, antheris bilocularibus. Stylus simplex staminibus paulo longior. Capsida parvula, globosa, 3-locularis. 112 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. The wood of this plant, which is liard and heav}^ takes a most beautiful polish, and its grain seems to be only a continuation of hard knots, which gives it a peculiar but very beautiful appearance when wrought. Yate's New Zealand, p. 47. 66G. M. perforata ; ramosissima ramuHs hirtis, foliis ovalibus obtusis co- riaceis, aveniis glabriusculis superne nitidis, brevissime petiolatis punctatis, juvenilibusprffisertim subtus pilosis, pedunculis axillaribus unifloris apice sse- piusve trifloris. yl. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. ,334. — Melaleuca perforata, Forst. Prodr. n. 212. — Lcptospcrmum perforatum, Forst. Gen. Char. 36. n. 4. New Zealand (Middle Island). — 1773, G. Forster. Astrolabe Harbour. 3827, D'UrviUe. Arbuscula ramosissima erecta. Folia ovalia unguiculata. Flores ^oxvwWj albi, axillares, solitarii aut terni. Calyx monosepalus adhagrens ; tubo tur- binate pilosiusculo limbo 5 — 6-dentato, dentibus latis obtusis. Corolla 5 — 6 petala, petalis sessilibus obtusis subconcavis, caducis. Statnina numerosa, simplici serie disposita. Stylus simplex, teres, stigmate minimo depresso vix distincto tcrminatus. Capsula globoso-depressa, 3- rarissime 4-locularis, loculis polyspermis. Semina numerosa parvula subulata. A. Rich. 557. M. robusta, foliis ellipticis ovatisve coriaceis obtusis emarginatis pe- tiolatis glabriusculis subtus punctatis utrinque pulchre reticulato-venosis, corymbis terminalibus, pedunculis subtrifloris, calycibus bracteis ramulisque ferrugineo-tomentosis. Rata abincolis dicitur, R. Cunninyham. New Zealand (Northern Island). Forests of Wangaroa, Ilokianga, &c., at some distance from the sea-coast. — 1826, A* Cunningham. — 1834, R. Cun- ninyham. Arbor procera, ssepe usque 80-pedalis alta, coma irregulari, ramis glabris teretibus. Folia opposita, elliptica, ovalia vel oblongo-ovata. Facie Liyustri ; apice rotunda vel emarginata 1 vel sesquiunciam longa. Flores pulcherrimi, purpureo-rubicundi, pedunculati, corymbosi, terminales, bracteis obovatis concavis deciduis. Stamina numerosa, petalis unguicularibus persistentibus quater longiora stylum subaequantia. Stiyma tubulosum. Capsula obovata trilocularis, tubo turbinate calycis circumcingente adba;rens, polysperma. Semina linearia, subulata. A noble tree, frequent in the dense forests of the Northern Island, where it not unusually attains the height of 80 feet; becomes ramified at from 30 to 60 feet from the ground, and beneath the branches, 'which are of very irregular growth, the trunk varies from 3 to 7 feet in diameter, according to the extreme height of the tree. The wood is hard, close-grained, very durable, and hence admirably adapted for ships' timbers and the construction of agricultural implements. A colonial trading vessel from Port Jackson was built by Messrs. Macdonellat Hokiangain 1828, the principal timbers of which were of the Rata ; and the experiment answered so well, that they are now specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. 113 engaged in the construction of another ship on the same stocks and of similar material. The natives entertain the notion tliat this tree, the Rata, and the following very distinct species, which they call Pohutu-Kawa, are the same, hut that the former is the Wahen^ or female ! 558. M.tomentosa; foliis eUipticiscoriaceisacutiuscuhsbreviter petiolatis utrinque reticulato-venosis superne glabris, subtus raniulis calycibusque albo-tomentosis, corymbis terminahbus paniculatis, pedunculis trifloris. y/. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 336. t. 37. — CaUistemon ellipticum. A. Cu7in, Ms. 1826. Pohutu-Kawa ab incolisvulgo vocatur. A. C.Yate. — Poutu-Kaoua, nom, vernac. sec. D'Urville. New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Rocky sea - coast and shores of the Bay of Islands, within range of the tide. — 1826, A. Cunnin(/ha7n. Arbor vix 30 pedalis alta, habitu iiTegularis, ramulis teretibus, cano-to- mentosis. Folia opposita, elliptico-acuta, basi sensim angustata, margine re- voluta, 2^ — 3 pollices longa. Flores sat magni, speciosi, splendide coccinei, in racemum terminalem paniculato-corymbosum digesti racemis, ramis ra- mulisque trichotomis, basi articulatis niveo-tomentosis. Stamina nmnerosa, petalis subunguiculatis deciduis multoties longiora styliim paulo superantia. Capsula ovoideo-obtusa, calyce cincta, ima basi tantum adhaerens, trilocularis, polysperma. Semina subulata adscendentia. An ordinary sized tree, inhabiting usually the immediate sea shore, where it is readily distinguished among other plants by the bril- liancy and abundance of its flowers. The wood of the tree also is exceedingly hard, close-grained and heavy, equally valuable for ship building and implements of husbandry. It usually enlivens the shores of the Northern Island with its blossoms in December. 559. M.florida, foliis obovato-oblongis glabris lucidis venosis, subtus dis- coloribus punctatis, thyrso terminal! calycibus oblongis turbinatis, ramulis radicantibus. Sm. in Linn. Sac. Tr. v. iii. p. 268. DC. Prodr. iii. p. 224. A. Rich. FL Nov. Zel. p. 333. — Leptospermum scandens. Forst. Char. Gen.t.oG.f. 1. Raka-pika ab incolis dicitur. R. Cunn. New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Dense forests at the Bay of Islands, Wangaroa, &c. climbing to the summits of the loftiest trees. — 1826, A. Cunninyham. — 1833, R. Cunningham. Frutex ramosus, ramis glabris radicantibus scandentibus. Folia opposita, elliptico-oblonga, venosa, venis primariis parallelis in nervum margini ap- proximatum desinentibus, utrinque minutissime et copiosissime punctatis. Flores in thyrsum coarctatum terminalem dispositi. Calycis tubus elongatus fere quemadmodum CaryophylU turbinatus, liinbus 5-lobatus, lobis pcrsis- tentibus rotundatis obtusis. Petala 5, flavescentia, unguiculata, obtusa, mar- gine membranacea, tenuissinie lacerata. Stamina numcrosa, rubicunda, 114 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand, petalis deciduis plus duplo polysperma, stylum aequaiitia. dipsula trilocu- laris, polysperma, Semina minuta, cuneiformia. 560. M. diffusa, ramulis radicantibus, foliis ellipticis ovatisve acuminatis venosis utrinque glabris nitidis, paniculis axillaribus terminalibusve, pedi- cellis oppositis, ramulisque pilis rigidis curtis conspersis, calycibus campa- nulato-urceolatis. Sm. in Linn. Soc. Tr. v. iii. p. 268. DC. Prodr. iii. p. 224. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 333.— Melaleuca lucida. Liim. Suppl. p. 342. non Forst. New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. In dense fo- rests at Wangaroa, adhering to the trunks of the largest timber trees. — 1826, A. Cunningham. Friitex ramosus, glaberrimus. Ramuli radicantes. Fulia elliptica, acumi- nata, obtusa, petiolata, lucida, revoluta ab basin trinervia. Patiicula ramosa plerumque terminalis. Calyx campanulatus, persistens, limbus 5-lobatus, lobis obtusis. Petala 5, lutea, breviter vuiguiculata, concava, obtusa, tenuis- sime ciliata decidua. Stamina flavescentia, petalis quater longiora, stylum jequantia. Capsula globosa, trilocularis, trivalvis. Semina ? 561. M. ? lucida, foliis lanceolatis utrinque acuminatis aveniis enerviis, floribus terminalibus congestis sessilibus. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 333. — Melaleuca lucida. Forst. Prodr. n. 216. non Linn. New Zealand.— 1773, G. Forster. Ohs. A very little understood species, not noticed by M. DeCandolle, and only by M. A. Richard from Forster with a mark of doubt. 562. M. hypericifoUa, glabra, ramis radicantibus, foliis sessilibus ovalibus oblongo-lanceolatisve obtusis cum apiculo utrinque glabris, junioribus subci- liatis, subtus venosis ad basin triplinerviis, racemis brevibus subpaniculatis lateralibus ramulisque pubentibus, calycibus subinfundibuliformibus. New Zealand (Northern Island). In dense forests, adhering to trees, near the Kahio river, Wangaroa, — 1833, R. Cunningham. Frutex subscandens, cortice ramulorum pallide testaceo membranaceo pu- bente laxo, facile separabili. Rami stricti, teretes, juniores foliati. Folia opposita, sessilia, basi rotundata, uncialia subtus discoloria. Flores race- mosi rubicundi. Calycis limbus quinquedentatus, dentibus brevibus deci- duis. Petala 5, rosea, glabra, obtusa, caduca. Stamina numerosa, petalis plus triplo longiora, stylum aequantia. Capsula parva, globosa, leviter pu- bens (loculicido-dehiscens) 3-locularis, 3-valvis, valvis medio septiferis. 563. M. ? salicifolia, glabra, racemis strictis virgatis, foliis lineari-lanceo- latis elongatis acuminatis subfalcatis laevigatis, margine revolutis. New Zealand (Northern Island). Forests of Wangaroa. — 1833, R. Cun- ningham. Arhuscula gracilis elegans, ramis teretibus pallidis ssepe et prsesertira ad axillas radicantibus. Folia (3 — 5 uncialia) opposita valde angusta, attenu- ata coriacea, nitidissima, parce punctata, venosa. Flores nondum vidi. 3. Eugenia, Mich., Z. 564. E. Maire, glabra, pedunculis axillaribus multifloris (4 — 12) folio sublongioribus racemosis, pedicellis inferioribus oppositis 2 — 3-floris, foliis Bibliographical Notices, 115 ovato-lanceolatis acuminatis basi attenuatis petiolatis, fructu ovato turbi- nate. Mairi-tawalca ab incolis vulgo vocatur. New Zealand (Northern Island). Alluvial banks of rivers, Bay of Islands, &c. — 1833, R. Cunningham. Arbor 30 — 40 pedalis. Rami pallidi, glabri, sparsi, alterni. Flores nu- nierosi, axillares, calycibus coloratis. Drapa monosperma, lobis calycis ob- tusis ample coronata. 4. MvRTus, Z., Gart. 565. M. bullata, pedunculis axillaribus 1- rare 2-floris vix folio longioribus, pubescentibus apice bibracteatis, bracteis deciduis, foliis rhombeo-ellipticis acutiusculis ovato-orbiculatisve petiolatis alte bullatis supra glabris, subtus coloratis ramulisque dense pubentibus, calycibus tuberculatis, pilosis quadri- lobis. Sol. Ms. 171 Bihl. Banks. Rama-7'ama indigenis. New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Shady woods, Bay of Islands, flowering in December. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 1834, R. Cunningham. Arbuscula gracilis, 10 — 15 pedalis, ramis virgatis patentibus. Folia op- posita. Flores albi. Stamina numerosa, longitudine styli. Lobi calycis elliptici, acuti, concavi. Petala 4, orbiculata, concava, leviter crenulata, ci- liata. Bacca verrucosa, bilocularis di- vel oligo-sperma. Semina reniformi- incurva. [To be continued.] BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Genera et Species Gentianearum, adjectis Observationibus quibusdam Phytogeographicis, auctoris Aug, Henr. Grisebach, M.D., &c. &c. This extremely valuable work, which we some time ago announced, in the * Companion to the Bot. Magazine/ as being in a state of for- wardness, has at length appeared at " Stuttgard and Tubingen," in one volume, 8vo. It is one of the most learned and accurate works which we have seen for a long while, and does infinite honour to the industry and acquirements of the learned author. The preface is followed by a disquisition on the Gentianece, which is full of valuable information. First, the character of the natural family is ably discussed ; then follow its affinities ; and lastly, the geographical distribution. The number of species the author de- scribes is 343, or about g^^jyth of the known portion of the vegetable kingdom. These are dispersed over a considerable portion of the world : but it is to be observed that no species have been found in several of the isles of the Pacific Ocean, in tropical New Holland, in the islands of Timor, Sumatra, and other of the Polynesian group, 116 Bibliographical Notices, nor in the African deserts, the shores of Venezuela, and scarcely in the mountains of the South of Europe. Two hundred and ten spe- cies are found in the tropics; 133 are extra-tropical, of which 45 in- habit the southern hemisphere. The New World affords 180 species, the old 175 : but 12 are common to both. The higher mountains of the Andes yield the greater proportion of species (51), then fol- lows tropical Brazil (46), the Himalaya Mountains (41), the United States (33), the Alpine Flora of Europe and Siberia (32), Hindostan (30), the Cape of Good Hope (25). One hundred and thirty-five species flourish at an elevation exceeding 5000 feet above the level of the sea, 230 below that elevation. The maximum of the family may be considered alpine ; nevertheless the species are rare or al- together wanting in the Alps of Mexico, Java, on the Peak of Tene- riflfe, and of Sicily. The following is Dr. Grisebach's Conspectus Gentianearum ex methodo analytico dispositus. A. ^stivatio corollae dextrorsum contorta. a. Stylus distinctus, deciduus. a. a. Antherarumloculi absque connective oppositi! Corolla rotata, circa capsulam marcescens. Trib. 1. Chiron ie^. b. h. Antlierae connectivo instructse. a. a. Semina placentae immersa. Infiorescentia centrifuga, dichotoma. «6. Corolla spectabilis, ssepius rotata, denium circa capsulam marce- scens. Trib. II. Chlore^e. /3. Corolla parvula, infundibuliformis, demum aut supra capsulam torta aut decidua. Trib. IV. Erythr^ace.e. h.h. Semina funiculis imposita ! Infiorescentia centripeta. Trib. III. Hippies. b. '^tigma ovario stylo persistenti irapositum. a. a. Infiorescentia dichotoma. Sepala connexa. Stylus distinctus. Trib. V. LisYANTHE^. h. b. Infiorescentia racemiformis. Sepala sublibera 1. membrana intra- calycina juncta. Stylus ssepius 0. Trib. VI. SwERxiEiE. B. iEstivatio coroll?e induplicativa. Trib. VII. MENVANXHiDEiE. I. ClIIRONIEiE. A. Stigma indivisum. Antherarum rima contigua. a. Placentae valvares. Antherarum rima elongata ... 1. Chironia, L. h. Placentae demum centrales liberae. Antherarum rima poviformis 2. Exacum, L. B. Stigma bicrure. Antherarum loculi distincti. a. Antherse strictas rimse poriformes. Stigma immu- tatum 3. Dejamra,C\\si.m. b. Antherae spirales rima elongata. Stigma spirale. Sabbatice Sect. Pseudochironia. Bibliographical Notices, 117 II. Chlore.i;. A. Stigmata bina. a. Stigmata bilamellata, immutata. a. a. Corolla rotata 5 — 8-mera. Calyx exalatus 4. Chlora, L. h.b. Corolla infundibuliformis 4 -mera. Calyx alatus I. carinatus G. Schultesia, M. h. Stigmata bicruria, demum torta. Corolla rotata ... 5. Sabbatia, Ad. B. Stigma capitulatum. Corolla rotata 7. Ixanthus. III. Hippies. A. Calyx calyculatus. Corolla rotata. Stigma 2-la- mellatum 8. Coutoubea,!i\x\i\. B. Calyx nudus, aequalis. Corolla infundibuliformis. Stigma capitulatum. Capsula unil ocularis ... 9. Flippmi, Sprgl. c. Calyx inoequalis. Corolla infundibuliformis. Stig- ma capitatum. Capsula semibilocularis 10. Enicostema, B\. IV. EuYTHR^ACEiE. A. Corolla regularis. a. Placentse valvares. a. a. Antbera) spirales. Genitalia exserta 11. 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By Edward Forbes, Esq. [With a Plate.] When walking along the sandy shore at St. Andrews' on Saturday the 28th of December, 1838, in company with my friend Mr. J. Goodsir of Anstruther, our attention was di- rected to a number of small, shining jelly-like globes which were thrown up by the sea and rolled back on the receding of the waves. On gathering some we were delighted to recognise them as species of Beroe, and on placing the creatures in sea- water were greatly astonished and pleased by their elegant appearance and lively motions. They were kept alive for se- veral days : imperfectly known as these animals are, the fol- lowing remarks may prove of some importance in illustrating their natural history. As every precaution was taken, and the observations of several persons carefully compared, whilst sketches were made at the time from the specimens (more than twenty) collected, I trust they may prove deserving of confidence. The animals found at St. Andrews' belonged to the genus Cydippe of Eschscholtz, Pleurobrachia of Fleming : two dif- ferent species occurred, the character and structure of which I shall first describe. 1st species — ciliferous ridges broad, commencing near the anus and extending over two- thirds of the body ; rows of cilia on each ridge 19 or 20, 3 to 7 cilia in each row; lateral fila- ments very long. 2nd species — ciliferous ridges narrow, extending over more than two-thirds the length of the body from near the anus ; rows of cilia about 36, crowded ; filaments moderate. Both the species are about the same size, seldom exceeding thi'ee-fourths of an inch in length, though some specimens Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol.3. No. 16. May 1839. m 146 Mr. E. Forbes on two Species of Cydippe. were longer (especially when first caught), melon-shaped and not so broad as long. Sometimes they appeared a little longer than at others, but they never altered their forms in the man- ner reported of Bero'e cucumis by Fabricius and by Dr. Ma- cartney. The body of both is divided into eight longitudinal lobes, the furrows separating, which are deepest in the first species ; on the summit of each lobe is a ciliferous ridge, not however continuous from mouth to anus in either case. The cilia when in motion are beautifully iridescent. The second species generally exceeds the first in size, and is slightly more elongated, but is comparatively a sluggish animal. The cilia of the first are very large compared with those of the second, and consequently the first species is much more lively in its motions. It is also a much less delicate animal, bearing transportation with comparatively little injury. It swims by striking the rows of cilia exactly as a fish strikes the water with its pectoral fins : sometimes it moves them slowly, sometimes extremely quick, sometimes when in mo- tion, and sometimes when at rest. At times the animal seems quite quiescent, but the least motion in the water ex- cites it to move its cilia. It always strikes the cilia towards the anal extremity, and in no instance did either species swim with that extremity forwards. At the anterior end of the ani- mal is the mouth, which contracts and dilates irregularly, and occasionally pouts out, when it appears lobed. The mouth opens into a cavity or stomach, slightly contracted superiorly, and extending more than half-way into the centre of the ani- mal. This stomach contracts and dilates also irregularly and is lobed. When contracted, the folds appear as if coloured (purplish), and are apt to mislead the observer into the notion that they are separate organs or vessels in the stomach, which however when dilated presents no trace of them. Near the base of the stomach is a translucent brownish tongue-shaped organ of some size, the nature of which I cannot guess. It has the power of changing form, sometimes lengthening and at other times contracting. It does not extend altogether to the base, but appears to terminate in four hooked-shaped pro- cesses, which are lodged in what seems the bilobed extremity of the stomach. From the end of the stomach there is a very Mr. E. Forbes on two Sjjecies 0/ Cydrpi)e. 147 small canal proceeding to the other extremity of the animal, and opening in the little funnel-like cavity of the anus. At about one-fourth the length of the animal on each side the anal half are the openings of the two filamental cavities. Each cavity is a cul-de-sac, in which a long filamental arm is lodged, attached to a triangular process projecting from the inner side of the base. The filaments are not rolled spirally, but packed irregularly in the cavities, and are jerked as it were out of the body by their contraction. In the first spe- cies the filamental cavity is shorter, though wider than in the second, but the filaments themselves are much longer. Each filament is furnished on one side with a number of small filaments coiled spirally like the tendrils of a pea. When the main filaments are ejected from the body the little filaments begin to uncoil, not simultaneously, but separately, those about the centre generally uncoiling first. The two main filaments appear to be tubular. They are not ejected from the body simultaneously, at least in all my specimens they w'ere sent out alternately. On making sections of the animal we find the following ap- pearances. The stomach is compressed laterally and four- lobed, the two cross lobes being smallest ; the filamental ca- vities are cordiform towards the base in consequence of the projecting pedules of the filaments. From the basal angles of each filamental cavity proceed six canals, two to the stomach, meeting at the extremity of the cross lobes, and four to the ridges of cilia. Two of the latter and one of the former ca- nals meet at each of the basal angles. The canals to the ci- liferous ridges probably communicate with longitudinal canals at their bases. The rest of the body is homogeneous and solid. Round the mouth is a white thread-like circle, but I could ob- serve no filaments branching from it : it is not connected wdth the terminations of the ciliferous ridges. This circle, judging from analogy, is probably nervous. When an individual of either species is placed in a vessel of sea-water, it often projects its long filaments upwards, itself resting at the bottom of the vessel. At other times it darts upwards with great velocity, drawing its long filaments after m2 148 Mr. E. Forbes on two Species of CydX^^^e. it, retracting and extending them alternately. They seem to guide it in its course. Not unfrequently it remains some time at the top of the water ; and when it wishes to descend, turns over, drawing up its filaments suddenly, and then swims mouth downwards to the bottom of the vessel. Imbedded in the substance of one of these animals, near the stomach, is a remarkable parasitic worm, in shape resembling a Filaria. The only specimen in which the parasite was found is now preserved in Mr. Goodsir's collection. The comparison of the two species of Cydippe here described induces me to regard the filamentary cavities and the filaments themselves as the generic points of their organization; while the number of rows of cilia, the length of the ciliferous ridges, and the relative proportions of the various parts of the ani- mals afford good specific distinctions. The character of the genus given by Blainville, *^ Actinologie,' p. 148, abounds in errors, being founded on the imperfect observations and rude sketches (chiefly of travellers) published before his book came out. Thus the filaments are represented as proceeding from the mouth, and the body of the animal as divided into eight lobes by the ciliferous ridges, whereas the ridges are really placed on the summits of the eight lobes. The fragility of the animals and the unfavourable circumstances under which they have generally been observed easily account for these mistakes. The observations of Otho Fabricius on this Bero'e ovum [Mertensia ovum. Lesson), of Dr. Fleming on his Bero'e ovatus, ^ Wern. Mem.^ iii. 401, and of Dr. Grant on Cydippe pileus, ^ Zool. Trans.^ vol. i. are most important of any on this tribe of animals. Lesson, in his ^ Memoire sur la Famille des Beroides,^ (An. Sc. Nat. 1836), divides the genus Cydippe into three genera; Eucharis, Eschscholtz; Cydippe, Eschscholtz; and Merten- sia, Lesson. Of Cydippe, to which both the species I have described belong, he enumerates two species, Cydippe pileus and Cydippe densa, the latter a Mediterranean animal having red filaments. The only recorded British species is the Beroe pileus of authors, Pleurobranchia pileus of Fleming, Cydippe pileus of Eschscholtz, Blainville, and Lesson. To it the first Mr. E. Forbes on two Species o/Cydippe. 149 of the two animals I have described probably belongs : the second, as far as T know, is undescribed, and new to the British Fauna. Yet if the first be the Bero'e pileus, Professor Grant's ani- mal, judging from his elaborate figure and the appended de- scription, must either be distinct, or has been incorrectly ob- served. I am inclined (with all due deference to that distin- guished naturalist) to the latter opinion, for the following reasons : 1st. In Professor Grant's figure the filamentai7 cavities, in- stead of opening at the anal, open at the oral end of the ani- mal. Imperfect as most of the older figures are, they repre- sent the filaments coming out at the anal end, as they do in the two species I have described. It is not likely so import- ant a part of the animal's organization should be reversed in so remarkable a manner. 2nd. The ovaries are represented where the filamentary ca- vities are placed in my animals. When the Cydippe is at rest with its filaments withdrawn, the cavities at first glance ap- pear filled with ovaries, and as such I noted them on the sea- shore under the impression that the animal was a true Bero'e before I saw it protrude its filaments. Is it not possible that many of the so-called species of Bero'e may be species of Cy- dippe with the filaments packed up in the cavity ? The second species did not send out its filaments for a long time after being placed in sea-water, and even then rarely. If Professor Grant's figure be correct, the eggs must be imbedded in the solid substance of the animal ; but it is much more likely that the long filaments are analogous to the ovigerous filaments of the Diphysa and other allied animals, and that in the proper season the eggs are developed in the filamentary cavities. The filaments when ejected are plainly seen to proceed from their pedicles at the bases of their cavities, and not merely from the mouths of the cavities as represented in Professor Grant's figure. I have little doubt as to .Dr. Fleming's Bero'e ovatus being a Cydippe, judging from the imperfect figures in the ' Wer nerian Transactions,' vol. iii. 3rd. The filamentary cavities in Professor Grant's figure 150 Dr. Arnott o?i some neiv or rare Indian Plants. are curved with a sigmoid flexure towards the stomach ; in both the species examined the curve is but slight and always from the centre of the animal. The ridges of cilia are represented by Professor Grant as extending the whole length of the animal from mouth to anus. This probably indicates a difference of species. The rows of cilia do not appear to me to be webbed, especially in the se- cond species ; and when in motion, it seemed as if the lateral cilia in each rows moved before the central, thus causing an undulating appearance and a play of colours. I could not observe the filaments branching out from the nervous circle as figured by Professor Grant. The whole structure of the animal examined conveyed the idea of the bilateral rather than of the radiate type, and tended to confirm the opinions of M. Blainville on that sub- ject. M. Blainville's character of Cydippe might be amended thus : Body regular, free, gelatinous, oval, divided into eight lobes, each crowned by a ridge furnished with transverse rows of vibratile cilia. Mouth opening into a compressed and 4-lobed stomach, from which a canal proceeds to the anus. A cavity on each side of the centre opening towards the anal extremity and containing a long semipinnated retractile filament. REFERENCES TO PLATE II. 1. Cydippe No. 2. 2. Cydippe No. 1. 3. Diagram of stomach and filamentary cavities. 4. Section showing vessels. XVI. — Descriptions of some new or rare Indian Plants, By G. A. W. Arnott, Esq., LL.D. [Continued from p. 92.] LoPHOPETALUM, Wight, MSS. {Celastrinece). Calyx scutelliformis 4 — 5-lobus, lobis rotundatis brevibus. Petala 4 —5 sessilia orbiculata patentia, supra circa basin cristis lobulisque carnosis instructa versus marginem nuda Isevia. Torus discoideus, 4 — 5-gonus crassus carnosus calycis cavitatem omnino implens. Dr. Arnott on some new or rare Indian Plants. 151 Stamina 4 — 5, petalis alterna, supra discum inserta : filamenta per- sistentia subulata. Anther ae ovatse, biloculares, longitudinaliter de- hiscentes. Ovarium disco semi-immersum, 3 — 4-loculare. Ovula biserialia, 8 — 12 in quoque loculo, adscendentia. Stylus brevis per- sistens. Stigma obtusum. Capsula 3 — 4-angularis, 3 — 4-locularis, loculicide dehiscens, loculis subdispermis. Semina arillata. Fructices glahri. Folia opposita, petiolata. Flores magni, corym- bosi. 1. L. Wightianum (Arn.) ; foliis elliptico-oblongis paullo acumi- natis basi obtusis integerrimis, corymbis terminalibus panicu- latis, floribus pentameris, ovario 3-loculari. Wight. Cat. n. 2440. Hab. in Malabaria, Wight. Flores 6-8 lineas lati. Petala pallide sulphurea. Discus sangui- neus, angulis protuberantibus rotundatis, petalorum bases incumben- tibus. 2. L. grandifiorum (Arn.) ; foliis subovalibus obtusis basi acutis serratis, corymbis axillaribus folio brevioribus, floribus tetra- meris, ovario 4-loculari. — Evonymus grandiflorus. Wall, in Roxb. Fl. Ind. (ed. Wall.) ii. p. 404 ; Cat. n. 4282.— E. lucidus. Don, Prod. Fl. Nep. p. 191. DC. Prod. ii. p. 4. Hab. in Nepala, Wallich. Flores 10 lin. lati. Petala (fide Wallich) alba. Discus atroviridis, quadratus. I am unwilling to change the specific name of this species, as it has been already fully described under it by its distin- guished discoverer, but the flowers are scarcely larger than those of the other species. MiCROTROPIS, Wall. Sepala 5, orbiculata, 3 interiora, 2 exteriora, irabricata. Corolla hypogyna, gamopetala, carnosa, 5 -partita, laciniis oblongis concavis erectis intus carina longitudinali instructis, deciduis tubum carnosum annuliformem circa ovarium relinquentibus : sestivatio imbricativa. Stamina 5, brevia, corollse tubo inserta, laciniis alternantia. Filamenta subulata glabra. Antherce cordato-oblongae, dorso medio afRxee, bi- loculares intus longitudinaliter dehiscentes. Squamula 5, breves, epipetalae staminibus alternantes, paullo inferius insertse. Discus nullus (nisi tubo corollse arete coalitus). Ovarium liberum, brevis- simum, biloculare, loculis 2-ovulatis. Ovula collateralia, adscen- dentia. Stylus conicus, carnosus, ab ovario externe baud distin- 152 Dr. Arnott on some new or rare Indian Plants, guendus. Stigmata 4, punctiformia. — " Capsula ohlonga, unilocu- laris, bivalvis, a basi dehiscens. Semina solitaria, arillo tenui succu- lento involuta. Albumen ^rmu.mten^x. Embryo erectus, cotyledo- nibus cordato-ovatis, radicula cylindrica, infera." — Rowb. Arbor elegans, glabra, habitu Caralliae. Folia opposita, ovata vel ovato-lanceolata, obtuse acuminata, coriacea, integerrima, subtus pal- lida, tenuiter penninervia, petiolata. Stipulse wmZ/^c. VedMncuM axil- lares, vel supra- axillares ac interpetiolares, perbrevss, semel bisve di- chotomi, pauciflori. Flores brevissime pedicel lati, pedicellis basi bi- bracteolatis. 1. M, discolor. Wall. Cat. n. 4337. — Cassine discolor. Wall, in Roxb. Fl. Ind. (ed. Wall.) ii. p. 378. — Evonymus garcinifolius. Roxb. Fl. Ind. i. p. 628. (ed. Wall.) i. p. 404. Hab. in Silhet. The above character is derived solely from M. discolor, but Dr. Wallich, in his list of East India plants, indicates with doubt some other species. One of these, however, is Celas- trus bivalvis of Jack, which has no petals, and must be very different. The genus is only pointed out by Dr. Wallich, and is adopted by Dr. Lindley, in his ^ Introduction to the Natural System^, without a definition. Dr. Wallich, influenced pro- bably by the gamopetalous corolla, originally united it with Cassine, which is now generally referred to Ilicinecs: Rox- burgh inserted it in Evonymus, and described the petals as di- stinct : DeCandolle seems not to have been acquainted with it : Lindley places it without doubt in Celastrineae, To me its affinities are not at first sight very clear. In the true Ce- lastrineae there is usually a large flat disk, covering the shallow bottom of the calyx and cohering with it ; the petals are di- stinct, and the stamens, so far from being inserted on the pe- tals, often arise from the middle of the upper surface of the torus or disk. In Ilicineae, on the contrary, the petals are more or less united at the base, the stamens inserted on the tube, and there is no disk ; from which considerations only one Avould have little hesitation in referring Mic7'otropis to the latter family. But in Ilicinece the ovules are solitary, the seeds exarillate, and the fruit indehiscent ; so that in as far as re- lates to these organs this genus is more related to Celastrineae, Dr. Arnott on some new or rare Indian Plants, 153 After the fall of the segments of the corolla, its annular base around the ovarium, bearing on its inside the persistent fila- laments and scales, presents so much the appearance of a cup- shaped fleshy torus or disk (such as is to be seen in some spe- cies of Celastrus), that for some time 1 felt disposed to view it as such, and that the petals might be distinct and attached to the back or edge of this ring ; but on examining several flowers in various stages I can perceive no trace whatever of an annulus, so long as the segments of the corolla were not broken off. There is therefore no distinct disk ; but I am far from denying it a torus, and in a sense somewhat different from what usually exists in the Corolliflorae. In most of that group of orders the petals are soldered together by their margins, and the filaments of the stamens, although apparently epipe- talous, are decurrent, and may have their insertion traced to the same point as that of the corolla ; there is besides some- times a hypogynous disk, or glands. In Microtropis, how ever, the stamens are not at all decurrent, and therefore it is not improbable that there is a disk or torus, with which the lower part of the petals is completely incorporated, and that the sta- mens and scales are inserted on the upper or inner surface of the disk. Under this point of view Microtropis might be left in Celastrinece, and the principal objection to such would arise from the supposed torus being hypogynous, while in those species of Celash'us in which a cup-shaped torus is to be seen the torus is adnate to the bottom of the calyx, the margin only being free. In Celastrinea, moreover, the tube of the calyx is shallow and broad, in Microtropis it is small, if indeed any can be said to exist, for the sepals appear almost quite distinct. Nearly all the genera referred to Celastrinece and Ilicinem require careful revision, several of them being much at variance with the characters of the orders in w hich they are placed. Professor Lindley inserts all the section Aquifoliace. May 1839. x 162 M. E. Beyrich on the Goniatites bonarius, even when the shell is wanting^ are visible like ribs on the casts. This occurs in those individuals which were for- merly found in the mine HofFnung, near Werden, and to which Goldfuss specially gave the name carbonarius. The pyritose ammonites which are found in the state of pebbles in the Ruhr, as well as those of the carboniferous limestone, properly so called, of Vise, are casts upon which the lobes are very well preserved, though nothing of the structure of the shell can be perceived. The lobes of A, sphaericus are distinguished from those of the other Goniatites of the carboniferous strata by the dorsal saddle, which, as well as the two saddles of the mid- dle elevation of the dorsal lobe, are not rounded, but on the contrary angulose. A. sphcericus is not met with among the ammonites found in the aluminous schist near Choquier. 16. Ammonites Listeri, Mart. PI. I. fig. 13, a, b. The dorsal lobe is nearly equal in breadth and depth. The middle elevation attains half the height of the lobe : the two saddles are rounded, as is also the dorsal saddle ; the lateral lobe is nearly as deep as the dorsal lobe ; it has, like the last, its two arms sloping towards the lower part, in the form of a tongue. The back, which is broad and rounded, forms a sharp ridge with the side, which descends rapidly towards the inte- rior, and cuts across the lateral saddle in the middle. This latter is of the same height as the dorsal saddle. The increase in height is 0*72, the increase in breadth 0*62. There are six- teen to eighteen chambers in one whorl. The inner whorls are strictly enveloped, even to the ridge which is between the back and the side, so that the sides form a large and deep in- fundibuliform umbilicus. On the back are large and elevated folds. A. Listeri, as it is figured PI. 1. fig. 13, is met with at Choquier in the aluminous schist supervening on the carbo- niferous limestone; it is found in rounded kidney-shaped masses, inclosed by the aluminous schist, which is almost en- tirely composed of ammonites. I am not at present aware that it has been found in the carboniferous limestone of the Rhine. With' this ammonite the A. Diadema and A, atratus, Goldf., are also found at Choquier. In these the form of the lobes is entirely similar. The peculiar characteristic oi A, of the Transition Formations of the RJiine. 163 Listeri is the sharp ridge^ which must be regarded as the hmit between the broad back and side, and which intersects the lateral saddle at the centre. The ridges of the shell are strong and simple on the inner whorls ; on the outer they become finer and finer, and are bifurcated at the commencement of the back. They are always perceptible as ribs even upon the casts. The folds are raised upon the dorsal ridge in the form of scales, so that it appears indented ; and this is well de- scribed by the series marginalis tuberculorum that Martin gives in his characteristic. The number of ridges upon the third or fourth whorl is about thirty or forty. Their num- ber rapidly augments in the last whorls. A remarkable and very interesting fact is, that upon the outer whorls the folds change their direction altogether. Upon the inner w^horls, contrary to the general rule for Goniatites, they form a curve upon the back, of which the convexity is directed forw^ard. This curve becomes more and more flattened, the folds keep for some time in a straight line, and at last resume the or- dinary direction. The change in the direction of the folds is figured, PI. II. fig. 8. It proves that no great importance should be attached to the direction of the striae or folds of the shell in separating the Goniatites from the rest of the Am- monites. 17. Ammonites Diadema, Goldf. PL II. fig. 5, 6, 7* The dorsal lobe is nearly equal in breadth and height. The middle elevation is rounded like the dorsal saddle. The late- ral lobe is almost as deep as the dorsal lobe and somewhat sloped in the form of a tongue. The lateral saddle is broad and rounded, and declines gradually tow^ards the suture. The increase in height is 3*52 ; the increase in breadth 0*62 to 0*65. The inner whorls are almost entirely enveloped, leaving a nar- row and deep umbilicus. The form is rather discoid than glo- bular ; the shell finely folded. The name which Goldfuss has chosen for this ammonite may have been occasioned by the smooth furrow^s, which to the number of four or six upon the circumference of a whorl, run along on the back and side, at nearly equal distances. The direction of these furrows en- tirely follows that of the plications of the shell, notwithstand- N 2 1G4 M. E. Beyrich o)i Go/fiaiites. ing which they are only visible on the casts^ being completely tilled up by the shell. The shell is very delicately plicated on the outer whorls ; the folds are but little raised^ and leave very indistinct traces on the casts. They become certainly stronger on the inner whorls, without however being much elevated. The direction of the folds changes as described above, but the change commences further back, and we must retrograde at least one entire whorl to percei^^e it. The A, Diademtty as here represented, appears to diifer totally from A. Listeri in the form and structure of the shell, yet we ought not to consider these ammonites as two different species, if we would rigorously follow the principle of uniting all those w^hich are connected by a continuous passage. In fact all possible varieties of passage may be observed in these two ammonites ; they are determined by the variations which arise in the increase in height and the increase in breadth, characters of great constancy in the Goniatites, but which here vary between very distant limits. The increase in height for ^. Listeri is estimated at 0*72; it is a very gradual increase. For A. Biadema it is 0*52 : these are the two extremes. The increase in breadth remains nearly equal in both. The pas- sage of the form of ^. Listeri into A. Biadema is influenced thus : by following the continually rapid increase in height the breadth of the back diminishes, and in consequence the ridge, which is perceived as forming the limit between the back and side, appears less and less evident. According as the back becomes more straight, and the sides which begin to ap- pear become larger, the umbilicus is nan^owed and the plica- tions of the shell become at the same time more numerous. 18. Ammonites atratus, Gold. PI. II. fig. 8. a, b. The dorsal lobe is a little wider than deep, the middle ele- vation reaches half the height of the lobe and is rounded, as is also the dorsal saddle. In the lateral lobe the breadth and depth are equal, the lateral saddle attains the same height as the dorsal saddle, and declines but little towards the suture. The increase in height is 0*4 ; the increase in breadth 0*55. The inner whorls are completely enveloped without umbi- licus. 7'his ammonite is found with the two preceding at "Mr. Dickie on the Reproductive Organs of the Lichens. 165 Choquier. It is entirely enveloped, the height increases ra- pidly, its form is in consequence very discoid, and this di- stinguishes it from A. Diadema, with which it must never be confounded. The shell is extremely thin and very finely striated and pHcated. The folds, as far as I have been able to observe, present no change in their direction. The lobes agree in all their characters, as has been already remarked, with those of the two preceding species. It remains gene- rally very small, being seldom more than three-fourths of an inch in diameter. XVIII — Remarks on the Reproductive Organs of the Lichens, By George Dickie, Esq., A.L.S., Lecturer on Botany at Aberdeen. Starch seems to be a product of almost universal occurrence in the vegetable kingdom ; it is found in stems, roots, &c. ; and in the parts of fructification of many plants, it is abundant, and appears to serve a very important purpose. It is plentiful in the disk of the almond, and Dunal has detected it in the disks of certain species of Arum ; and it is supposed to undergo a certain change in order to render it fit to afford nourishment to the pollen and young ovules. Its presence in the ripe seed is well known, and its use during germination has been fully established. But starch is not confined to what are called the higher tribes of plants ; it is also found in some which are generally allowed to stand low in the scale of vegetables. In ^ Mag. Zoology and Botany,' vol. i. p. 382. I have stated that it occurs in the nucules of Char a vulgaris, and in the bodies, formerly called capsules, of Pilidaria globulifera, in both of which it is also found along with a matter having all the pro- perties of a fixed oil ; it also occurs in those pyriform bodies which are found in the axillae of the leaves of certain species of Jungermannia, ^ Mag. Zool. and Bot.,' vol. i. p. 592. So that the bodies in the capsules of Pilidaria are grains of starch and not sporules, and the contents of the anthers (of some authors) of Jungermannia consist also of the same substance. The bodies, which are found in the tubes (transversely undulated 166 Mr. Dickie on the Reproductive Organs of the Lichens. filaments of Greville), contained in the globules of Chara, pos- sess all the physical characters of starch globules; and although on account of their very small size I have been unable hitherto to ascertain satisfactorily the action of iodine upon them, still it is very probable that they are grains of fecula. The lichens which are placed still lower also contain starch, their thallus is the part to which it has been supposed to be confined, but even in this part it does not seem to be of universal occur- rence, since I have been unable to detect it in the thallus of Collema and Boeomyces as specimens; however, if all the genera have not been tested, these are probably not the only two w^hich do not contain it. But the reproductive organs of the lichens also contain a substance which is tinged blue by iodine. The thecae or tubes which contain the sporules are the parts referred to. The accompanying figure represents one of the thecae {t) of Pertusaria communis ; it consists of A a fine transparent membrane, capable of being '' tinged blue by iodine, and containing in its inte- rior a fluid matter in which the sporules {s, s) are immersed. Each sporule consists of a membrane similar to the thecae, but not capable of being tinged blue by iodine like it. In the interior of each sporule there is a fluid in which numerous small globules are seen ; they do not seem to possess any constant form. It has been already remarked, that iodine does not strike a blue colour with the thallus of Boeomyces or Collema ; in the latter however the thecae are tinged by it, but in the former there is no blue colour pro- duced in any part. If the action of iodine entitles us to infer the presence of starch, the thecae of the lichens must be con- sidered a peculiar modification of it. From the investigations of Raspail, it appears that each starch globule has the power of producing in its interior other smaller globules, and that these last are (at one period) attached to the inner parietes of the mother cell. Perhaps the thecae of a lichen may be considered as a glo- bule of starch of a peculiar form, in the interior of which other globules are produced, the sporules namely. I have not Capt. Cautley on a Fossil Ruminant allied to Giraffidae. 16? been able as yet to see any connexion of the sporules with the wall of the thecae ; they appear to float loosely in the fluid which surrounds them. If thecae in a very young state were examined, some connexion might be found. Some of the lichens are considered to be closely allied to certain forms of Algas, and Raspail, in his Organic Chemistry, states his beUef that the colours of many marine Algae may be owing to a peculiar combination of iodine w ith starch ; he also states that he has succeeded in tinging lichens with iodine so that they resembled some Algae. I am not aware of any of the fungi which contain starch, in such a state, at least, as to afford a blue colour with iodine : now it has been already stated that the same is true regarding Boeomyces, and this ge- nus has been considered to make a near approach to the fungi. Sir J. E. Smith compares the fructification of Boeomyces ro- seus to some minute Helvetia, XIX. — Note on a Fossil Ruminant Genus allied to Giraffidae in the Siwalik Hills. By Capt. P. T. Cautley.* When we look at the number of species of Proboscidan Pa- chydermata which swarmed in the primaeval forests ; when we see that in the present day nature appears to have left but so- litary species to attest the gigantic form of primitive existence, the imagination naturally places before our eyes forms of cor- responding magnitude in other genera ; we picture to ourselves gigantic Ruminants and gigantic Carnivora only to be revealed by the remains which nature has placed in her own keeping to exhibit to inquiring man the wisdom of design and the systematic chain of organization established throughout the Avhole of the animal kingdom. Amongst the Ruminants the discovery of the Sivatherium giganteum has most amply tended to prove the truth of this induction, exhibiting a ruminating animal bearing the same proportion to the rest of its genus as the Mastodon and Ele- phant do to that of the Pachydermata. Amongst the Carni- vora we have the Ursus Sivalensis, an animal far exceeding in * From the * Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,' No. 79, 1838. 1G8 Capt. Cautley on a Fossil Rmamant allied to Giraffida?. dimensions its congener of the present period, or the Ursus SpelcBus and bears of the German caves, with a species of hyaena at least one-third larger than that now existing. The reptiles also have their gigantic representative in an entirely new genus of the tortoise, for which we propose the generic name of Megalochelys, from the enormous proportions of its remains as yet discovered, and the size of its femoral and hu- meral extremities equaling those of the largest rhinoceros. The question, however, does not appear to be whether the ani- mals of former periods were larger than those now existing, but whether the genera of larger animals were not more nu- merous? AVe appear to be gradually losing all the larger forms of the creation. The elephant and giraffe of the present period will in all probability share the same fate as the Mas- todon and Sivatherium of former eras, and be only recognized in the proofs exhibited by the researches of the geologists. Having discovered the type of a gigantic Ruminant amongst the fossils of the Siwaliks in company wdth the remains of the larger Pachydermata, and having at the same time proved the existence of the camel, with other numerous species of the cervine and caprine family of Ruminants, it was not by any means improbable that the present tribe of Giraffidce should have its representative, so that the connexion of the chain of existing and fossil Ruminants might be still more perfect. The discovery of the Sivatherium and camel in conjunction, led to the probability of the existence of the giraffe, giving this genus the first position amongst the family of Cervidce. The fossil now to be described appears to throw some light on the subject ; and should further research tend to corroborate the contents of this paper, it w ill be interesting to remark on the co-existence of the Sivatherium, Camel and Giraffe wdth Qua- drumana, Anoplotheria, Mastodons, and reptiles so closely re- sembling those of the present rivers, that it is not possible to discover, in their osteological pictures at least, any remarkable deviation from the type Avhich has been left to us. The remain which I wish to describe is the third cervical vertebra : it was cleared out of a block of sandstone, and as is usual in similar cases, is very perfect in all its parts and pro- portions, and sufhciently armed with processes for the pur- Capt. Cautley on a Fossil Ruminant allied to Giraffidye. 169 pose of recognition and comparison. The dimensions are as follows : Length in the barrel 7*8 inch. Breadth in centre ditto 1*7 — Depth ditto ditto 2-2 — There are marked differences between this fossil and the corresponding vertebra of the existing camel, and in com- paring them together the following appear to be the most worthy of notice. In the fossil the oblique processes are much shorter and stouter than those of the camel, with articulating surfaces at a greater angle : the barrel of the vertebra is much longer : the hollows or depressions which appear directly under the anterior oblique processes, and the ridges radiating from the extremity of the spinous process towards the expanded sur- face of the posterior oblique processes so well marked in the camel, are altogether wanting in the fossil ; the upper surface, with the exception of the spinous process, being altogether flat and unmarked. On the inferior or lower side of the vertebra there is also a considerable difference, that of the camel being much curved and hollow, uninterupted by ridge excepting in the vicinity of the posterior extremity, where there is a knob or round pro- cess : in the fossil this knob is wanting, but in its place there exists a well-defined sharp ridge from one extremity to the other. The transverse processes of the fossil are imperfect, but the form and angle of departure from the barrel of the vertebra differs from those of the camel. The foramina for the transmission of the vertebral artery are well defined in the fossil, the space between the entrance and exit occupying the central third portion of the whole length; a prominent well-defined ridge runs obliquely across the plane of the side, connecting the upper anterior oblique process with the lower and posterior extremity of the trans- verse process ; a very marked peculiarity, which, with the po- sition of the foramina, separates the fossil from the camel. 170 M. F. Dujardin on the Digestive Organs of Infusoria. XX. — On the Digestive Organs of Infusoria. By M. F. Dujardin*. The experiments of artificial coloration had led M. Ehren- berg to recognise in 1830 the existence of deglutition in many Infusoria; considering at that time as stomachs all the vesicles in which the colouring matter had lodged, this observer en- deavoured to find out the mode of connexion of these stomachs with a mouth and anus. Deceived undoubtedly by some il- lusion, he thought he perceived a central tube, straight or va- riously curved, to which the stomachic vesicles were attached by still narrower tubes, like the berries of a bunch of grapes. He described and figured Enchelys pupa with a straight intes- tine, Leucophra patula with the intestine curved three times, and Vorticella citrina with the intestine forming almost a com- plete circle, and returning to open for excretion at the side of the mouth. In the Monads, on the contrary, he represented the stomachs as attached around the mouth by long pedicles, and not affixed to the intestine. Although in the text of his memoir he took care to state that the vesicles filled with a solid nutriment are spherical and appear to be isolated, be- cause the intestine which unites them contracts and becomes transparent, yet his drawings, supposed to be made after na- ture, represent this intestine equally extended everywhere, and even filled with colouring matter in Vorticella, so that one was naturally led to think that these representations were ideal. It did not escape him that a vesicle was capable of dilating considerably so as to contain a very voluminous prey, and con- sequently he admitted that the intestine must have dilated equally in order to allow it to pass. He had not yet noticed the difference between the vesicles or the globules of the interior, but he then attached so much importance to the dis- covery which he thought to have made of the intestine of In- fusoria, that he made it the basis of his classification, calling Polygastrica the true Infusoria in opposition to the Rotatoria which are monogastric, and which united by him under the same denomination fiirnished false analogies. He distinguished * Extracted from F. Dujardin 's * Memoire sur I'Organisation des Infu- soires/ Annales des Sciences Naturelles, November 1838. M. F. Dujardin on the Digestive Organs of Infusoria. 171 the Anentera, which, unfurnished with intestines Hke the Monads, have their pedicellated stomachs simply suspended around the mouth, and the Enterodela which possess an in- testine. These were divided into Cyclocoela, Orthoccela, and Campy- loccela, according to whether the intestine formed a circle as in the Vorticella, straight as in Enchelys, or contorted as in the Leucophrce ; but the author, to conform, he observes, to the received laws of zoology, immediately substituted for these di- visions other sections established on external characters de- pending on the position of the intestine, i. e. on the position of the anus and mouth. He thus termed Anopisthia the Cy- cloccela which have the two apertures united in front ; Euan- tiotreta those with the two apertures opposite and situated at the extremities of the body, and which may be subdivided into Orthocoela and Campylocoela ; Allotreta those having one of the apertures terminal, the other lateral; and lastly iCa^/re^a, those in which both apertures are lateral or non-terminal. In his second memoir (1832), M. Ehrenberg, without adducing new- facts in support of his opinion, developed further his first ideas. In his third memoir (1833) he figured in two new types Chi- lodon cucullus and Stylonychia mityluSy the intestine as large, if not larger than in the three preceding species, which seems to be in contradiction to the extreme contractability which would have concealed this organ from the persevering investigations of other observers. At the same time he began to establish a distinction between the vesicles which can be filled by the colouring matter, and those which, always containing a dia- phanous fluid and generally more voluminous and less suscep- tible of sudden contractions, are considered by him to be the male organs of generation. Even in 1 776 Spallanzani had men- tioned in the Paramcecice these latter vesicles, which in this species are stelliform, but had assigned respiratory functions to them. M. Ehrenberg, on the contrary, following up his ideas of the signification or analogies of these parts, has af- forded himself a means of solving, in appearance, the difficul- ties presented by the explanation of the functions of all these inner vesicles. In his large work recently published in 1838, he has re- 1 72 M. F. Dujardin on the Digestive Organs of Infusoria, produced without any alteration the figures of five species, previously represented with an intestine much expanded, and has moreover added, as also showing this organ, the figure of Trachelium ovum already described in 1833 (third memoir), with a large sunk band in the centre, and whence proceed very thin ramifications, anastomosing, which truly has no re- lation to the primitively supposed intestine so contractile and so difficult to perceive. He has also figured an intestine more or less complete in several Vorticellince, and this intestine di- lated uniformly in some is represented in the figure of one of them {Epistylis plicatilis) as being from time to time inflated, as if the stomachs, instead of being appended in raceme, were arranged one after the other. With respect to the figure of Paramcecium Aurelia, with a curved intestine, he himself re- marks, that it is only an ideal figure. While declaring that it is only in seven species, four of which are Vorticellinae, in which he has been able to distinguish plainly the intestine so as to be able to draw it * ; he enumerates among the four spe- cies in which he had been able to trace it only from the suc- cessive passage of the nutriment, precisely the two Infusoria given in 1830, as having been the first that exhibited the in- testine to him ; moreover he has placed by the side of his old figures oi Leucophra some new ones which seem to contradict themf. It will also be noticed with what urgency the author recommends the Vorticellince for the verification of this im- portant fact, and the tendency which he has always shown to neglect representing the intestine in those species which he had cited in his first memoir as having been the first in which he had noticed this organ ; thus, the example of Leucophra loses a great part of its value by comparison with the new drawings, the Paramoecia have furnished but an ideal figure, and the Kolpodea have never been represented by him with any intestine whatsoever. Can the analogy of the Rotatoria or Syntolides, &c., be called in aid, as has been already done, to prove the existence of an intestine in Infusoria, in which it is not even possible * Die hifusionstliieichen, von Ehrcnberg, 1838, ]). o62. t Die Infusionstliicrchen, von Ehrenberg, 1838, PirXXXII. fig. 1,2, 3, I, (3. M. F. Dujardin on the T>iyeM\ct Organs of Infusoria. 17'3 to indicate a trace ? But, as I have before stated, the differ- ence between the two types is so great that this analogy is one of the most imjierfect ; and while denying the existence of an intestine in the true Infusoria, 1 admit in the Rotatoria not only an intestine, but even true jaws_, respiratory organs, glands and an ovary. Can it be said, that it suffices to have demonstrated that the alimentary substances have penetrated from outwards into these vesicles, to conclude, first, that they are stomachs, and then that these stomachs must communicate with an intestine ? for it would not be possible to conceive stomachs having no communication with the exterior. But that is precisely what might be contested; for this consequence is founded on a false analogy with higher animals, in which the stomach is always in continuation with the intestine. But before coming to direct proofs, we must examine one objection which was first advanced by M. Bory de St. Vincent in 1832, was reproduced in 1835 by Dr. Foeke, of Bremen*, and has recently been again presented to M. Ehrenberg, by Prof. Rymer Jones, be- fore the British Association at Newcastle. This objection, which I consider well-founded, rests on the inner motion of the globules or sacculi, w^hich can in no way be reconciled with the hypothesis of an intestine connecting all these glo- bules together, and which, on the contrary, proves their entire independence. As M. Bory observed, the intestines, the tubes of communication, did they exist, would soon become inextri- cably entangled, unless by supposing them to be indefinitely extensible, tliey would not allow of the globules moving about as they do in the interior. To these objections, founded on the displacement of the pretended stomachs in the interior of the Infusoria, M. Ehren- berg answers in his great w^ork^ that this motion is merely an apparent displacement, analogous to that of the small painted * The analysis of the communication made by Dr. Foeke to tlie Associa- tion of German Naturalists at Bonn in 18;i5, will be found in the Isis for 1836, p. 785. M. Foeke says he had never been able to distinguish the sup- posed intestine in Stentor Miilleri, in Loxodes bursaria, and in a species of Faginicolci', and declares that the evident motion of the nutriment or of tlie colour in the interior of the body of these animalcules is incompatible with the supposition of the existence of an intestine. {Hier muss also eine andere Oryanixation des DarmcanaJs, als die von Ehrenberg ange(jebone, staff fnidcn.) 174 M. F. Dujardin on the Digestive Organs of Infusoria, wooden figures which children put in motion upon the play- thing consisting of an extensible arm, formed of splines crossed lozenge-wise. This inner displacement, which I thought in 1 835 capable of explanation by the change of po- sition in the Infusoria, by their rotation around the axis of their body, I have for two years considered as quite real, and it has been well seen and described by Prof. Rymer Jones*. This observer, in declaring publicly at Newcastle that he never had been able to perceive the least trace of the central canal described by M. Ehrenberg, nor the branches which proceed therefrom to communicate with the sacculi, added that he was convinced from numerous observations, that in Paramcecium Aurelia and in allied species the minute gastric sacs (vesicles) move in a fixed direction all round the body of the animalcule ; — a fact, which of itself, says the English observer, appears to be incompatible with the arrangement indicated by the Pro- fessor of Berlin. To this M. Ehrenberg, without recurring to the comparison to the child^s toy, answered, that it is ex- cessively difficult to see the central canal (the intestine), and that it was only in following the course of great masses of nu- triment that he himself had been able to trace it. This is not what was first stated, and still less what had been represented in the figures of 1830 reproduced in 1838. But it is at present seen, from the very confession of the in- ventor, that the whole theory of the inner structure of the In- fusoria rests on ideal figures and on observations impossible to be verified on those very Infusoria on which they had been founded t. And be it well remembered, these observations, — this discovery of the intestine, — were made previous to 1838, with instruments evidently less perfect than those since em- ployed by the author, and which have allowed him to discover the armature of the mouth of Nassula and of Chilodon, and re- * fn the Athenaeum, No. 567, p. 635. [The report in the Athenceum contained several erroneous statements, some of which were corrected in a replj' to Prof. Jones from Dr. Ehrenberg inserted in vol. ii. p. 121. of this Journal. — Edit.] f We certainly must say that we cannot see all this, and think it very pos- sible that M. Dujardin will have at some future day to do, what he has so frequently done already, — namely to announce that many of his present as- sertions are irop hazardees. — Edit. M. F. Dujardin on the Digestive Organs of Infusoria. 175 cognise the generative organs in all the Infusoria^ and the locomotive filament of the Monadince and the Euglence, &c. Now would not a fact as important as that which served as basis to the physiology and classification of the Polygastrica deserve^ not only ten, but even a hundred confirmations ? Ought it not to have been confirmed a hundred times with the means of observation, which the author informs us has become more and more powerful in his hands ? Ought it not to be especially clearly expressed in most of his figures so as to be capable of being verified ? Far from this, the fact, di- minished and almost entirely disappearing in the vast extent of the grand treatise on Infusoria, is limited to the same ex- amples previously cited and become in some sort superan- nuated by the very deed of the author. And M. Ehrenberg, not condescending to reply to the objections made to him al- ready for many years since, traverses the continent to go and hear at Newcastle in presence of the British Association ob- jections no less forcible. I attempted in 1835 (Ann. Sc. Nat. Dec.) to prove the non- existence of the intestine in Infusoria by this sole fact; — that to be so extensible and contractile as supposed, it ought to con- tain in its tissue at least some fibres which would remain and become visible when the animalcule decomposed by diffluence. Now I said that in this kind of dissolution not one single trace of intestine can be perceived, and this phoenomenon of diffluence moreover tends to prove in every way the simplicity of the organisation of the Infusoria. Having seen in 1836 several Nassulcs swallow some long fragments of Oscillatoria which were curved in the interior and distended the animal- cules in the form of a sac, I cited this fact in a subsequent memoir, as proving, it is true, the deglutition which I was wrong in previously denying, but also as quite incompatible with the hypothesis of an intestine and true stomach. In fact I no- ticed other vesicles containing fragments of Oscillatoria at the same time entirely independent one of the other ; and the large vesicle excavated by the elasticity of the Oscillatorium com- municated in its entire breadth with the mouth and not by a tube or branch of the central canal. The objection which I then made against the existence of an intestine, the fibres of I7n M. F. Dujardin on tJie Digesf/ive Organs of Infusoria. which ought to have been persistent, I now again repeat, and the more so, as M. Ehrenberg insists more strongly on the great contractibihty * of this intestine to explain the reason why it is never seen in a large number of species : '' it is/' he observes, ^^ because this canal, like the oesophagus of larger ani- mals, serves merely for the passage of the aliments, and not to contain or digest them, which takes place solely in the stomachic vesicles: it dilates at wdll for the passage of the nu- triment like the small mouth or throat of a serpent when swal- lowing a rabbit, and contracts immediately afterwards and becomes entirely invisible if not in action.'' But, it may be said, if the indefinite contractibihty of the stomachic vessels and their digesting action be admitted, we may suppose them, with greater reason, to have a rather complex membrane, and containing as many, if not more fibres, than the intestine ; now these vesicles on their decomposition by diffluence never show any fibres. We must therefore conclude either that the con- traction is effected without fibres, or that these fibres are reaUy invisible in the vesicles as in the intestine. I shall pre- sently show that the vesicles must be regarded as vacuities excavated at will in the gelatinous substance of the interior, and that consequently they are without any peculiar mem- brane, and contract by the approximation of the mass ; I shall state that the alleged diaphanous vesicles observed at the ex- terior of the body of the Infusoria are nothing more than glo- bules of sarcode, expelled by expression, or by laceration, or by the diffluence of the body of the ^animalcule, as proved by their refraction and by their faculty of decomposing in exca- vating vacuoles ; but there is a single fact mentioned by Dr. Ehrenberg in his third memoir in 1 833, and which I had not been able to understand in 1836, ^ Ann. Sc. Nat.' April 1836, any more than at present. It relates to a stomachic vesicle expelled from Bursaria vernalis decomposing by diffluence, and which still contained two fragments of Oscillatoria. It is in this manner, at least, that he then represented it (PI. III. fig. 4 X.), and he has reproduced the same figure, consequently the same fact, in his large work. * Die lufusionsthierchen, 1838, p. 862. Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. 177 M. Ehrenberg* considers the separation and isolation of the stomachic vesicles as surprising only to those who have not observed earth worms cut into pieces. These pieces, he observes, let them be ever so minute, contract at each extre- mity in such a manner that but very little of the contained juices escape, and a similar effect is produced by the contrac- tion of the isolated stomachs of the Infusoria. One fact un- doubtedly is more forcible than all arguments ; and I only re- gret that that of a vesicle containing fragments of Oscillatoria has not presented itself several times to the observer ; for with respect to the alleged stomachs without contained aliments, even w hen they appear slightly coloured, the false comparison with the pieces of earth worms wdll not suffice to prove to me that the globules are not part of the gelatinous substance of the Infusoria, since I have frequently seen these globules co- loured, either from their having a tinge of their ow n, or that this effect was the result of an optical illusion or of a phseno- menon of accidental colours. XXI, — Descriptions of British Chalcidites. By Francis Walker, F.L.S. [Continued from vol. ii. p. 355.] Sp. 45. Cirrospilus Murcia, Mas. Cyaneus, abdomen cupreum, antennas nigro-picecB, femora nigra, tibice picece, tarsi fusci, protibicB fulvcp, alee suhlimpidce. Obscure cyaneus: oculi et ocelli i*ufi : antennae nigro-piceae ; articuli 1"* et 2"« nigro-cyanei, hie apice piceus ; abdomen cupreum : pedes fusci ; coxae nigrae ; femora nigra ; tibiae piceae ; genua fulva ; propedum femora apice fulva : alae sublimpidae ; squamulae piceae; nervipallide fusci. (Corp. long, lin. f ; alar. lin. 1.) Found near London. Mas. Corpus sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : caput transversum, breve, convexum, juxta thoraci latum ; vertex sat latus ; frons abrupte declivis : oculi mediocres : antennae filiformes corporis longitudine, pilis longis vestitae ; articulus 1"* gracilis, sublinearis; 2"Mongicyatliiformis ; 3US brevis; 4'^, 5"* et 6"^ longi, lineares ; clava longifusiformis, acuminata, articulo 6° duplo longior : thorax ovatus, convexus : prothorax brevissimus, supra vix conspicuus : mesothoracis scutum latitudine loigius ; parapsidum suturae remotse, bene determinatse ; scutellum breviconicum : metathorax transversus, mediocris : petiolus brevissimus : abdomen sublineare, planum, * Die Infusionsthierchen, 1838, p. 361. Ann. Nat. Hist, Vol.3. No. 16. ^/fl^/ 1839. o 178 Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. horace brevius, fere angustius ; segmentum 1"™ magnum, 2""™ et sequentia breviora, transversa : sexualia exerta : pedes graciles, simplices, subaequales ; tarsis articiili l** ad 3""^ cm'tantes, 4"* 3° longior; ungues et pulvilli parvi : alis nervus ulnaris humerali longior, radialis vix ullus, cubitalis sat longus ad alee apicem propensus stigma parvum fere bimucronatum fingens. Fern. Antennae subclavatae, corporis dimidio longiores ; articulus 4"* 3° brevior ; 5"* adhuc brevior ; clava fusiformis, acuminata, articulo S** duplo longior : abdomen longiovatum, thorace longius, vix latius, supra planum, subtus carinatum, apice acuminatum. Sp. 46. Cirr. Athyrte, Mas et Fern. Cyaneo-viridis, cupreo-varius, an- tenncs fusccB aut nigrce, pedes Jlavi, femora piceo- aut viridi-varia, alcB sublimpidce. Fern. Cyaneo-viridis : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae fuscae ; articulus 1"* viridis ; 2"* piceus, apice fulvus : gula flava : abdomen cupreo-varium : ovi- ductus vaginae nigrae : pedes flavi ; coxae virides ; tarsi apice fusci ; protarsi fulvi ; mesofemora piceo-cincta ; metafemora viridia, apice flava : alae sub- limpidae ; squamulas fulvae ; proalis nervi fulvi, metalis flavi. Mas. Anteimis articulus 2"* viridis, apice fulvus ; gula picea : abdomen cupreum : sexualia picea : femora flava, basi supra picea. (Corp. long. lin. i — 1 ; alar. lin. 1 — 1^.) Far. /3. Fern. — Abdomen cupreum, apice cyaneo-viride cupreo-varium ; propedura femora basi viridia, tibiae extus fulvse : meso- et metatibiae fulvae, apice et basi flavae. Far. y. Fern. — Thoracis discus cupreo-varius. Var. S. Fern. — Far. y. similis : pro- et mesofemora flava, basi supra picea. Far. £. Fern. — Alae limpidae. Far. ^. Fern. — Abdomen cupreum : meso- et metafemora flava, piceo vittata : alae limpidae. Far. Yj. Fern. — Viridi-cyaneus : abdominis discus cupreo-varius : femora flava, piceo-cincta ; alse limpidae. Far. 6. Fern. — Cyaneus : abdomen cupreum : femora flava, piceo-cincta ; alae limpidae. Far. I. Fern. — Femora omnia basi viridia. Far. K. Fern. — Cupreus : caput et mesothoracis scutellum viridia. Var. A. Fein, — Antennae nigrae ; articuli 1"* et 2"* virides : abdomen su- pra cupreum : pro- et meso-femora basi viridia. Far. fi. Fern. — Cyaneo-viridis aeneo-varius : antennis articuli 1"* et 2"' vi- rides, hie apice subtus fulvus : abdomen cupreum : femora flava, basi vi- ridia. Far. u. Fern. — Obscure viridis : antennae piceae ; articuli 1"* et 2"^ virides, hie apice fulvus : thoracis discus cupreo-varius : abdominis discus cupreus : femora flava, basi viridia ; propedes tibiis et tarsis fulvis. Far. 0. Fern. — Far. u. similis: thorax omnino viridis: femora viridia, apice flava. May to September ; near London, Hampshire. Found by Mr. Haliday, on willows, near Belfast, Ireland. Mr. Walker on the British Chalc.idites. 179 Sp. 47. Cirr. Bunus, Mas et Fern. Pracedenti simillimus, at minor et gracilior. iEneo-viridis : oculi et ocelli rufi ; anteniicB fuscas; articulus 1"* viridis : 2"8 fulviis, basi piceus ; abdomen cupreum : sexualia picea : pedes flavi ; cox£e virides ; tarsi apice fusci, metafemora basi picea ; protarsi fulvi : alse sublimpidae ; squamulae piceis; nervi fusci. (Corp. long. lin. 4- — f; alar. lin. I— U) Far. /3. Fern. — Antennis articulus 2"* piceus : abdomen viridi-varium. Var. y. Fern. — Caput viride : thorax concolor : antennis articulus 2"* pi- ceus, apice fulvus : femora basi picea ; metafemora viridia, apice fulva. Var. 5. Fern. — Cyaneo- viridis : antennae pallide fuscae ; articuli 1"® et 2"' virides, hie apice subtus fulvus : abdomen viridi-cyaneum ; discus cupreo- varius ; femora basi picea ; alis squamulse fulvae, nervi flavi. Var. i. Fem. — Var. I similis : thorax cupreo-viridis : abdomen cyaneo- cupreum. Var. ^. Fern. — Cyaneo-viridis, aeneo-varius : antennae nigro-piceae ; arti- culi 1"^ et 2"* virides : abdomen cupreum : femora nigra, apice flava ; pro- pedum femora flava, basi nigra, tibise pallide fulvas, tarsi obscuriores. September; near London, Devonshire. Ireland, Mr. Haliday. Sp. 48. Cirr. Abantidas, Mas. Nigro-viridis prcBcedentibus simillimiis, at longior ; abdomen cupreum^ antenncB fulvcB, pedes Jlavi, alee limpidoe. Nigro-viridis : oculi et ocelli rufi : os fuscum : antennae fulvae ; articulus !"• viridis ; 2"* basi piceus : abdomen cupreum : pedes flavi ; coxae virides ; femora picea, apice flava ; tarsi apice fusci ; protarsi fulvi : alse limpidae ; squamulae picese; nervi fusci, basi fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. ^ ; alar. lin. H.) Found near London. Sp. 49. Cirr. Menius, Mas. C. Buno simillimus, antennce densius piloses. Obscure viridis ; oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae nigro-piceae ; articuli 1"* et 2"* virides, hie apice et subtus piceus : abdomen nigro-cupreum : sexualia picea : pedes flavi ; coxae virides ; femora basi nigra ; tarsi apice fusci ; pro- tibiae fulvae ; meso- et metatibiae pallide fuscae, apice et basi flavae ; protarsi fulvi : alae sublimpidae ; squamulse picese ; nervi fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. i— I; alar. lin. I^—I^.) Var. fi. — Meso- et metatibiae flavae, fusco-cinctae. Found near London. Sp. 50. Cirr. Enagoras, Mas. Nigro-viridis, abdomen cupreum, antennce picece, pedes fusci, alee subfuscce. Nigro-viridis : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae picese; articuli lu» et 2"' vi- rides : abdomen cupreum : sexualia picea : pedes fusci ; coxae virides ; tro- chanteres fulvi ; femora viridia, apice flava ; tarsi basi fulvi ; protibiae fulvae : al£e subfuscffi ; squamulae piceae ; proalis nervi fusci, metalis fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. f ; alar. lin. L) Found near London. Sp. 5L Cirr. Molo, Fern. Cganeus, viridi-et ceneo-varius, antennae fuscas, pedes flavi, femora viridia aut cyanea : ales limpidce. o2 180 Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. Cyaneo-viridis : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae fuscas; articnli 1"^ et 2"* vi- rides, hie apice et subtus fuscus : abdomen cyaneum seneo-varium : pedes flavi ; 00X36 virides; femora basi viridia ; tarsi apice fulvi; metafemora vi- ridia ; propedum tibiae et tarsi fulva : alse limpidie ; squamulae fulvae ; nervi fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. ^ — f ; alar. lin. f — ^.) Far. /8. — Cyaneus : abdomen asneo-varium : femora cyanea. Far. y. — Far. /3. similis : abdomen omnino cyaneum : profemora flava, basi cyanea. Found near London. Sp. 52. Cirr. Epicharmus, Fern. Nigro-viridis, abdomen cupreum, antenrKS nigrcB aut fuscce, femora viridia, tibice picece autfuscoiy tarsi flavi, ales latcB limpidce. Nigro-viridis: oculi et ocelli rufi: antennae nigro-picese ; articuli 1"' et 2"' virides : abdomen cupreum : pedes picei; coxae vii'ides ; femora viridia ; genua fulva ; tarsi fulvi, apice fusci ; propedum tibiae subtus fulvae, tarsi fusci : alas limpidae ; squamulae picege ; nervi fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. | — ^•, alar. lin. 1— H-) Far./i. — Antennae fuscse; articuli P' et 2"« virides, ille basi et hie apice fusci : abdomen cyaneum ; discus cupreus : pedes flavi ; coxae virides ; femora viridia; tibiae fuscae ; tarsi apice fusci. Far. y. — x^ntennae nigrae ; articuli 1"* et 2"* virides : pedes virides; tro- chanteres picei ; genua fulva ; tibiae piceae ; tarsi flavi, apice fusci ; pro- tarsi fulvi. Found near London. Sp. 53. Cirr. Endemus, Fem. Cyaneo-viridis, abdomen cnpreo-varium, antenncB picece, pedes fusci, femora viridia, alee latce limpides. Cyaneo-viridis: oculi et ocelli rufi: antennae piceae; articuli 1"* et 2"* virides; abdomen cyaneum, basi cupreum : pedes virides ; trochan teres fusci ; genua fulva ; tibiae piceae ; tarsi fusci, basi fulvi; propedes tibiis et tarsis fulvis ; mesopedum tibiae fuscae, tarsi flavi, apice fusci ; metatibiae piceae : alae limpidae ; squamulae cyaneae ; nervi fulvi; stigma fuscum. (Corp. long. lin. i — f ; alar. lin. 1 — 1^.) Far. /3. — Abdomen cupreum, apicem versus cyaneo-viridi-varium ; tibias fuscae; tarsi fusci, basi fulvi; propedum tibiae fulvae, tarsi obscuriores. May, September ; near London ; Hampshire, Isle of Wight. Sp. 54. Cirr. Chares, Fem. Firidis aut viridi-cyaneus, abdomen cupreum, antennce fuscce, pedes fiavi, femora viridia : angustcs alee sublimpidce. Viridis : oculi et ocelli rufi: antennae fuscae ; articulus 1"* viridis ; 2"* su- pra piceus : abdomen cupreum : pedes flavi ; coxae virides ; femora viridia, apice flava ; tarsi apice fulvi ; protibiae et protarsi fulva : alae sublimpidae ; squamulae fulvae : nervi fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. -J- ; alar. lin. f.) Far. /3, — Caput viridi-cyaneum : thorax concolor : femora viridi-fusca, apice et basi flava. Found near London. Mr. Walker on the British Clialcidites. 181 Sp. 55. Cirr. Beroe, Fern". Nigro-viridis, ahdomen cupreum, anteniKB jyicecB, pedes Jlavi, mefafemora picea, alee latie UmpidcR. Nigro-viridis : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae picese, articuli l"** et 2"* vi- rides, hie apice fuscus : abdomen cupreum : pedes flavi ; coxas virides ; tarsi apice fusci ; metafemora picea; propedum tibiae et tarsi pallide fulva; alae limpidae ; squamiilse picese ; nervi fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. 1 ; alar. lin. 1.) Found near London. Fem. Corpus sublineare, nitens, scitissime squaraeum, parce hirtum : caput transversum, breve, convexum, juxta thoraci latum : antennae extror- sum crassiores, corporis dimidio longiores ; articulus 1 "* gracilis, sublinearis ; 2"* longicyathiformis ; 4"' 3° brevior ; 5"" adhuc brevior; clava fusiformis, acuminata, articulo 5° duplo longior ; thorax ovatus, convexus ; prothorax brevissimus, supra vix conspicuus : mesothoracis scutum latitudine longius ; parapsidiim suturae bene determinatae ; scutellum brevi-conicum : meta- thorax transversus, mediocris : petiolus brevissimus ; abdomen longiovatum, thorace longius vix latius, supra planum, subtus carinatum, apice acumina- tum : proalce latag, nervus ulnaris humerali longior, radialis vix ullus, cubi- talis sat longus. Sp. 56. Cirr. Rhacius, Fem. jEneus aut viridi-cyaneus, antennw fuscce, pedes Jiavi, femora basifusca aut cenea, alee limpidcs. iEneus : oculi et ocelli rufi: antennae fuscae ; articuli 1"* et 2"* aenei, hie apice fuscus : abdomen cupreo-aeneum : pedes flavi ; coxae nigro-aenese ; femora nigro-aenea, apice flava ; tarsi apice fusci ; propedes tibiis et tarsis fulvis : alae limpidae ; squamulae fuscae ; nervi fusci. (Corp. long. lin. |- ; alar, lin. 1.) Var. /3. — Thorax viridi-aeneus. Var. y. — Viridis : abdomen viridi-aeneum. Var.^. — Viridi-cyaneus: antennis articuli 1"^ et 2"^ virides : abdomen cupreum : oviductus fulvus ; vaginae piceae : coxae virides ; femora flava, basi fusca ; alls squamulae fulvae ; nervi flavi. Found near London. Sp. 57. Cirr. iEga, Fem. Cyaneus, ahdomen cupreo-viride, antennes picecB, pedes Jlavi, femora cyanea, tibicB fusco-cincfce, alcB sublimpidce. Cyaneus : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae piceae ; articuli 1"* et 2"* cyanei : abdomen cupreo-viride: pedes cyanei; femora apice flava; trochanteres picei ; tibiae fuscae, apice et basi flavse; tarsi flavi, apice fusci; protarsi fulvi : alae sublimpidee ; squamulae piceae ; nervi flavi. (Corp. long, lin ^ ; alar. lin. 1.) Found near London. Fem, Corpus sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : ca- put transversum, breve, convexum, juxta thoraci latum : antennae clavatae, coi-poris dimidio paullo breviores ; articulus 1"* gracilis, sublinearis ; 2"* lon- gicyathiformis ; 4"* 30 brevior, 5"* adhuc brevior; clava fusiformis, acuminata, articulo 5° duplo longior : thorax ovatus, convexus : prothorax brevissimus, supra vix conspicuus : mesothoracis scutum latitudine longius ; parapsidum 182 W. Thompson on the Effects of the Hurricane suturae bene determinatse ; scutellum brevi-coiiicum r metathorax trans- versus, mediocris : petiolus brevissimus : abdomen fusiforme, tliorace angus- tius et multo longius, supra planum, subtus carinatum, apice acuminatum : pedes graciles; alje mediocres; nervus ulnaris humeralilongior, radialis vix ullus, cubitalis sat longus. Sp. 58. Cirr. Anticlea, Fem. Viridis, cyaneo- et csneo-varius, abdomen cupreum, antenncs nigra aut picece, pedes picei aut fulvo-fusci, femora viridia, tarsi Jlavi, alcB limpidce. Viridi-cyaneus: oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae nigro-picese ; articuli !*'• et 2"s virides, hie apice fulvus : abdomen cyaneum ; discus cupreus : pedes virides ; trochanteres picei ; genua flava ; tibiae fuscae, apice flavae ; tarsi pallide fusci, basi flavi ; propedum tibias et tarsi fulva ; alae limpidae ; squa- mulae piceae ; nervi fulvi, basi flavi ; metalis nervi flavi. (Corp. long. lin. -§•—1- J alar. lin. 1— H-) Far. (i. — Viridi-aeneus : antennae nigrae; articulus 1"* fulvus, apice pi- ceus: abdomen cupreum, basi cyaneo-viride : pedes fulvi ; coxae virides ; femora vii'idia ; meso- et metatarsi flavi, apice fusci ; protarsi apice fusci ; proalis nervi fusci. Far. y. — Nigro-viridis ; antennae piceae ; articulus 1"* niger, 2"* apice ful- vus : abdomen nigro-cupreum : pedes nigro-virides ; trochanteres fulvi ; genua fulva ; tibiae piceae, apice fulvae; tarsi flavi, basi fulvi ; protarsi fusci. July ; near London, Isle of Wight. Mas. Corpus sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : ca- put transversum, breve, convexum, juxta thoraci latum : antennae filiformes, hirtse, corporis longitudine ; articulus 1"' gracilis, sublinearis ; 2"Mongicya- thiformis ; 3"* brevis ; 4"% 5"* et e*^** subaequales, latitudine longiores ; clava longifusiformis, acuminata, articulo 6° duplo longior : thorax ovatus, con- vexus : prothorax brevissimus, supra vix conspicuus : mesothoracis scutum latitudine longius ; parapsidum suturae bene determinatae ; scutellum brevi- conicum : metathorax transversus, mediocris : petiolus brevissimus : abdo- men sublineare, planum, thorace angustius, non brevius : pedes graciles : proalae latae ; nervus ulnaris humerali longior, radialis vix ullus, cubitalis sat longus. Fem. Antennae subclavatae, corporis dimidio longiores ; articulus 4"^ 2fi brevior ; 5"» adhuc brevior ; clava fusiformis, acuminata, articulo 5° duplo longior : abdomen longiovatum, thorace longius, vix latius, supra planum, subtus carinatum, apice acuminatum. [To be continued.] XXII. — Note on the Effects of the Hurricane of January 7? 1839, in Ireland) on some Birds, Fishes, &^c. By William Thompson, Esq. I SHALL here record the very fev^r particulars on this subject that have as yet become known to me. As may be conjectured, stormy of Jan. 7, 1839, on some Birds, Fishes, ^c. 183 petrels (Thalassidromce) were taken in many parts of the country ; and chiefly during the latter part of the day of the 7th after the hur- ricane had ceased. At two o'clock, p.m. or just about its termina- tion, one of these birds was picked up alive, but in a very exhausted state, in one of the streets of Belfast. On the 10th inst. two others, one of which I saw, and found to be the T. pelagica, were taken— the one alive, the other dead — beside a spring-well at Seymour Hill, about four miles from Belfast. Near Saintfield in the county of Down, distant about ten miles from this town, I have heard that a petrel was obtained after the hurricane. Mr. Glennon, bird preserver, Dublin, states that a specimen sent him to be preserved was procured on the 7th in one of the streets of the town of Cavan, and that on the same day another was found at Brown Hall, county of Carlow. C. Carleton L'Estrange, Esq. in- forms me, that when out woodcock shooting in the plantations at Colonel Eniry's demesne some miles from the town of Cavan, about a week after the 7 th of January, he found two petrels which had evi- dently been dead for a few days or from about the time of the hur- ricane ; they were too much injured by exposure to the weather to be preserved. In the possession of my friend R. Ball, Esq, of Dublin, I have seen a Thai, pelagica which was sent him from Kells, county of Meath, where it was procured on the 7th — on the same day a petrel picked up near MuUingar, county of Westmeath, was sent to a gentleman of my acquaintance in Dublin ; and on this day like- wise I have been informed that one was found dead near the town of Wicklow. Of all these specimens I have seen but the two no- ticed as T, pelagica ; of two or three others I could not obtain inform- ation sufficiently satisfactory to enable me to judge whether they were this or the fork- tailed species. Thai. Bullockii, but the remainder were described in such a manner as to leave no doubt on my mind as to their being the T. pelagica. Of the petrels which I have be- fore seen and which were obtained at various times and places throughout Ireland, about as many were of the T. Bullockii as of the other, which is considered the more common species. There have been diiFerent conjectures as to the cause of the petrels' appearance on land, but in this instance when more of these birds were found scattered over the country than on any previous occasion imme- diately after the greatest hurricane that has within the memory of the oldest persons swept over Ireland, we are compelled to attribute their presence to "its agency alone. From several of these birds ha- ving been found in the extreme east as well as the more central por- tion of Ireland, it would seem from the fact of the hurricane ranging 184 0)1 the Effects of the Hurricane of Jan. 7, 1839. from the north-west to the south-west, that some of them had been blown from the Atlantic*, almost entirely across the island, a cir- cumstance which, strange as it may appear, is less singular than the occurrence of these birds on a more ordinary occasion in the very centre of England f. Of the great northern diver {Colymhvs glacialis), a species which naturally keeps far out from the shore, I saw a specimen in Dublin, that was shot in a dock at Ringsend near that city, after the subsi- dence of the hurricane. In a letter from Viscount Cole, dated Hazelwood, Jan. 14, 1839, is the following passage — " I mention underneath a curious fact hardly to be believed, but which two decent men would testify by affidavit — that on the morning after the hurricane a great quantity of perch J fry were found thrown up high and dry two yards, and some more, on the grassy shore of Church Island in Lough Gill or Hazelwood Lake, in the county of Sligo." In a note with which I was subsequently favoured. Lord Cole remarked, that he had "heard" of several roach || being thrown up on an island in Lough Earn on the night of the great storm. On the 24th of January, Robert Ball, Esq. WTote me from Dublin to the effect — that after the late hurricane the dead bodies of rooks § to the amazing number of 33,000 (as a matter of curiosity the number was reckoned by some boys) were picked up on the shores of a lake some miles in extent and with ex- tensive rookeries on its borders, in the county of Westmeath ; and that in the same locality numbers of perch were thrown to some distance into the fields. The almost incredible mortality of rooks induced me to make further inquiry, when I was informed that Dean VignoUes (on whose property the circumstance occurred), states that the number of these birds above-mentioned were cer- tainly destroyed. This gentleman likewise submitted to Mr. Ball's inspection a more than ordinarily strong panel of a new window shutter which was driven in and broken through by a rook dash- ing, or perhaps rather from being dashed against it on the night in * At all times of the year they are met with off the western and northern coasts — they breed in a few of the islands, from Tory in the north, to the Skeligs in the south, inclusive. t In the Magazine of Natural History for 1832, (p. 283.) two petrels are recorded to have been found dead at Birmingham in December 1831 ; one was discovered in a street of the town, the other at a few miles distance. The Rev. Mr. Bree of AUesly, who saw the former specimen in Weaver's Museum, has informed us that it is the Fork-tailed species, T. Bullockii — loc. cit. p. 733. J Perca jluviatUis. \\ The fisli so called in Ireland is the rudd, Leuciscus ertjthrophihabnus. § Corvus fnifjUegus. On a Meteoric Paper composed of Conferyse ^ Infusoria. 185 question — he further mentioned that some of the perch were found as far as fifteen yards from the edge of the lake. Benjamin J. Clarke, Esq. of Merrion Square, Dublin, in a letter to a friend here, states that at La Bergerie in Queen's county, where he was on the 7th of January, he found lying under the branches of an ash-tree which had been blown down, two of the large titmice (Parus major) ; and that in Dublin he saw a specimen of the pere- grine falcon (Faico peregrinus) that met with its death on the same occasion. From a newspaper report of the devastation committed by the hurricane at Downhill, in the county of Londonderry, it appeared that a slab blown from the mausoleum, cut completely in two a poor hare that was sheltering beneath it. Thus far only have I heard of the effects of this terrific night upon the lower animals. Belfast, March 5, 1839. XXin. — On a Meteo7^ic Paper which fell from the Sky in the year 1686 m Courland, composed of Confervse «?i(/ Infusoria. By Prof. Ehrenberg of Berlin*. On the 31st January 1687j, a great mass of a paper-like black substance fell with a violent snovr-storm from the atmosphere near the village of Rauden in Courland ; it was seen to fall, and afler dinner ^vas found at places where the labourers at work had seen nothing similar before dinner. This meteoric sub- stance, described completely and figured in 1686, 1688, was recently again considered by M. v. Grotthus, after a chemical analysis, to be a meteoric mass ; but M. v. Berzelius, w ho also analysed it, could not discover the nickel said to be contained in it ; and Von Grotthus then revoked his opinion. It is men- tioned in Chladni's w^ork on Meteors, and noticed as an aero- phyte in Neesvon Esenbeck^s valuable x\ppendix to R. Brown^s ' Botan. Schriften.' I examined this substance, some of which is contained in the Berlin Museum (also in Chladni^s collec- tion) microscopically. I found the whole to consist evidently of a compactly matted mass of Conferva crispata, traces of a Nostoc, and of about twenty-nine well-preserved species of * Translated from the Berichte der Acadcmie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1838. 186 Bibliographical Notices, Infusoria, of which three only are not mentioned in my large work on Infusoria, although they have since occurred living near Berlin ; moreover, of the case of Daphnia Pulex ? Of the twenty-nine species of Infusoria, only eight have siliceous shields, the others are soft or with membranous shields. Se- veral of the most beautiful exceedingly rare Baccillarice are frequent in it. These Infusoria have now been preserved 152 years. The mass may have been raised by a storm from a Courland marsh and merely carried away, but may also have come from a far distant district, as my brother Carl Ehrenberg has sent from Mexico forms still existing near Berlin. Seeds, leaves of trees, and other things of the kind scattered through the mass, were, on the examination of larger portions, easily visible. The numerous native Infusoria and the shells of the common Daphnia Puleos seem to speak thus much for the sub- stance, that its original locality was not the atmosphere nor America, but most probably either East Prussia or Courland. The substance and drawings of all the constituent parts were laid before the Academy. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES The London Flora. By A. Irvine, of Marischal College, Aberdeen, London, 1838. 12mo. It has been commonly supposed that the London district did not extend to more than a few miles, twenty-five at most, from St. Paul's, but the author of this book extends it to the English Channel, South- ampton, Oxford, Buckingham, and parts of Lincolnshire and Der- byshire. He proposes, but does not adopt, numerous alterations in nomen- clature, many of which would doubtless be improvements, and it is much to be wished that they had been made by Linnaeus. All such changes are, in the present day, greatly to be deprecated as only in- troducing confusion into the synonymy; similar alterations were attempted by Gray in his Natural Arrangement, Salisbury, and others; but there is not, we believe, a single instance of their being adopted in a work of authority. The author objects to the formation of spe- cific names like Smithii, Michelii, &c., and proposes that they should always terminate in ana, not probably knowing that the most correct Bibliograpldcal Notices, 187 nomenclators of plants use the genitive of the substantive when expressing the connection of discovery or original description be- tween the plant and the person commemorated ; and the adjective when no such connection exists, and the name is only a compliment. The earlier part of this book is occupied by short accounts of Classification, Geographical Distribution, and Vegetable Organiza- tion and Physiology, and then follows a long exposition of the Na- tural Orders. These dissertations may be of use to the medical student preparing for examination, but are far too superficial for the botanist. We now come to the ** descriptive Botany," which we suspect has been written several years, for the author is manifestly unac- quainted with the third volume of the * Suppl. to Eng. Bot.,' the later volumes of the * Linnsean Transactions,' and the * Magazine of Zoology and Botany.' . The descriptions are probably sufficient for the mere English botanist who is quite satisfied if he can reduce a plant to some species of Smith or Hooker, not suspecting that it can have been omitted by those excellent authors ; but we hope that that class is rapidly becoming extinct, and that British botanists will soon take their station upon an equality with those on the continent of Europe. This remark does not of course apply to our leading bota- nists, who have long been celebrated for their deep and careful re- search. In the Appendix distinguishing marks are requested between Ha- benaria hifolia and chlorantha (plants which appear to be confounded by the author) : we would refer him either to an early number of this Journal or to the ' Suppl. to English Botany,' where they will be found carefully pointed out. We suspect that Mr. Borrer will be not a little surprised to learn that Isnardia palustris grows " spa- ringly on the south side of the bog on Henfield common ; more plentiful on the other side." We have several times had the advan- tage of examining that bog, with Mr. Borrer, but have never seen a trace of this plant. The book concludes with a Glossary and very copious Index. The Little English Flora, or a Botanical and Popular Account of all our common Field Flowers. By G. W. Francis. We spoke with commendation in the * Companion to the Bota- nical Magazine,' of Mr. Francis's little * Manual of the British Ferns.' The success of that work has induced him to undertake the present ; his object being, first, " to invite the young to the ex- 188 Bibliographical Notices. amination of the flowers of the field," by pointing out the beauties they are likely everywhere to meet with, that thus an additional charm may be added to their rambles over the meads and commons; and secondly, to induce a love for the science itself, by showing that it is easy of acquirement, and that it yields instruction and delight, not merely in our after progress, but even from our first commence- ment of its study. This object we think the author has fully at- tained. The descriptions are entirely popular, accompanied by re- marks and by poetical extracts, which will be read with pleasure by the young student. The plates are numerous and executed by Mr. Francis on the same size and plan with those of his ferns. We could have wished that, if not the plants themselves, yet that the de- tails were represented upon a larger scale, so as to exhibit more clearly the generic and specific distinctions. We should hardly do justice to our feelings, did we not introduce in our list of botanical publications, and did we not refer to a recent work of Mr. Loudon's as one of the highest importance and of the greatest utility to the arboriculturist ; to every nobleman and gentle- man of landed estate, who is desirous of improving his property and enlarging the resources of his country ; and to every botanist and cul- tivator who wishes to become acquainted with the trees and shrubs, whether indigenous or exotic, which will bear the climate of Great Britain : we allude to the " Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum, or the Trees and Shrubs of Britain, native and foreign, hardy and half- hardy, pictorially and botanically delineated, and scientifically and popularly described ; with their propagation, culture, and manage- ment, and uses in the arts, in useful and ornamental plantations, and in landscape gardening ; preceded by a historical and geographical outline of the trees and shrubs throughout the world," by J. C. Lou- don, F.L. and H.S., &c., author of the ' Encyclopaedia of Gardening and of Agriculture,' and conductor of the ' Gardener's Magazine' : in eight volumes ; four of letter-press, illustrated by above 2500 engra- vings, and four of 8vo and 4to plates. And in this ample and cha- racteristic title there is nothing promised that is not fully and skil- fully performed — so skilfully, that we will venture to say, there is not a naturalist in Europe who could have executed the task with anything like the talent and judgement and accuracy that is here displayed by Mr. Loudon. The first volume contains the history, geography, science, and descriptions (arranged according to the system of DeCandoUe,) from Ranuncidacece to Staphyhaccte inclusive; Bibliographical Notices. 189 the second volume, descrq^tions from Celastracea to Apocynacea in- clusive ; the third volume, descriptions from Asclepiadacece to Cory- lacea inclusive ; the fourth volume, from GarryacecB to the end. The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth volumes are entirely occupied with plates of portraits of trees, and representations of their leaves and flowers and fruits. These are copper-plates ; but we must confess, that in point of execution we give the preference to the very nume- rous wood-cuts which so beautifully illustrate the descriptions they accompany — and these are not confined to representations of plants and their analyses, but include landscapes and scenery of various kinds, where certain trees form a characteristic feature ; and insects and parasitic vegetables which do injury to their plants are faithfully exhibited find described, and the best modes of their destruction are recommended. In short, nothing is omitted, either in the descriptive or pictorial matter, which can tend to illustrate the history and uses of trees and shrubs ; and when it is considered that these vegetables include the most valuable materials for our ships and dwellings and implements of various kinds, the greatest ornaments of our parks, our gardens, and pleasure-grounds, and most of the fruits which are cultivated in the open air with us, it will be at once seen of what vast importance must such a work be to this country, to every part of Europe and the temperate parts of North America ; and we may even say, to all the temperate parts of the civilized world. We are sorry that the nature of our Journal does not allow us to make such copious extracts as would give an idea of the execution of the histo- rical and scientific department of the work — but this is the less to be regretted, since other Journals have not been backward in doing justice to its great merits, and since it has received the highest encomiums from an able writer in the Quarterly Review for Oc- tober 1838, (an honour not often accorded to works on Natural Hi- story,) with whose concluding words we shall terminate our brief notice. " Let us warmly congratulate our author on having finished his herculean task ; a task which few men except himself would have had the courage to begin, and still fewer the perserverance to com- plete. The Arboretum Britannicum is unique in its kind, and it must become a standard book of reference on all subjects connected with trees." Enumeratio Plantarum quas in Novce HollandicB ora Austro-occidentali ad jiuvium Cygnorum et in sinu Regis Georgii coUegit Carolus Liber Baro de H'ugel. Under this title, has appeared at Vienna the first number of a 190 Bibliographical Notices, work on the plants of the Swan river and King George's Sound, col- lected during the voyages and travels of Baron von Hiigel, an Au- strian nobleman, of which we gave some account in the second vo- lume of the ' Companion to the Botanical Magazine,' p. 190. Fol- lowing, with some trifling alterations, the arrangement of De Can- doUe, this fasciculus comprises from the Ranunculacea to Primulacece inclusive. Besides containing full descriptions of the new and rare species of the localities just mentioned, it includes, in the notes, re- marks on other Australasian species ; as for example, of Candollea, Rhamnea, BrachycomcB, &c. The authors of the different portions of this work are, Mr. Bentham of the Leguminosee, and all the orders of GarnopetalcB ; Edward Fenyl of the ParonycMece, Rhamnece, Halo- ragece, Portulacece, Loranthacece, Restiacece and Cyperacea; Henry Schlott of the Cryptogamia ; and of the rest Stephen Endlicher. The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. Conducted by Professor Jameson. Number for April 1838. Edinburgh, A. Black and Co. 8vo. [Continued from vol. i. p. 398.] April 1838. Zoology. There are not many papers purely zoological in this number ; at the same time, there are several very interesting, and which touch, to a certain extent, on various points intimately connected both with Zoology and Botany : — On the cause of the Temperature of Hot and Thermal Springs, &c. ; by Professor Gustav Bischof of Bonn. Re- marks on the geographical position of some points on the west coast of Scotland; by William Galbraith, Edinburgh. Observations on the Hurricanes and Storms of the West Indies, and the coast of the United States — and, on the Differences of the Laws regulating Vital and Physical Phsenomena; by William B. Carpenter, will be found worthy of perusal. I. Observations on Rabies or Madness in Dogs, Oxen, Horses, Pigs and Sheep ; by Dr. Wagner, Medico-Forensic Censor of the Schieben District. " In Dogs " a dread of water is not an invariable symptom attending rabies, several instances ha- ving occurred to the author where this was not exhibited. "In Oxen " the author has met with the most numerous instances of madness. Two states of it appear to prevail ; one in which there is no apparent loathing of water, and where the animal pines and loses condition, but seems to be urged by no vicious propensity ; life is terminated between the sixth and the ninth day ; the animals sink on one side (mostly on the left), the head stretched backwards ; the trunk con- Bibliographical Notices, 191 tinues motionless, while the legs undergo a constant but languid movement to and fro, until the animal has ceased to exist. The other state is more violent, with periodical paroxysms; about the fourth day they will snap every kind of fastening, and attack and gore all who approach them, and continue thus until palsy of the joints supervenes. On dissection the gall-bladder is discovered filled to excess with muddy yellowish-green coloured bile. " In Horses" the rabies increases to such an extent on the second or third day, that no person or creature can approach them without being bit and kicked in the most frightful manner. " In Pigs" only one instance was known, and the symptoms were very violent ; an end was put to existence ; and by the disgraceful conduct of a butcher, the carcase was exposed for sale, and cut up and disposed of ; no mischief, however, was heard of as arising from the consump- tion of it. " In Sheep " also, only one instance was known arising from a bite ; the animal kept quiet and dejected, but it was killed before the termination of the disease was seen. The author has known the milk of rabid animals taken, and in two instances the flesh of rabid oxen eaten, without any bad effects. He has also known the bite of decidedly rabid animals not to produce any bad effects, and he argues from this, that with mankind a predisposition to Hydrophobia very rarely exists. (This paper is a translation from Hecker's Annalen.) Botany. I. An attempt to ascertain characters of the Botanical Alliances ; by Sir Edward Ffrench Bromhead, Bart. H. Description of several new or rare Plants which have lately flowered in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, chiefly in the Royal Botanic Garden ; by Dr. Graham, Professor of Botany. Three plants only are mentioned, Aristolochia saccata, Batemannia Calleyi, and Rhododendron albiflorum, the last reared from seed sent from British America by Mr. Drummond. In speaking of the Aristolochia, Dr. Graham notices a curious property in the pouches, the reason of which is left undetermined, and which would be well worthy of the attention of those who delight in tracing design in the structures of natural productions. *'The ensnaring of insects by plants is observed in many cases, its use disputed, some- times I think misunderstood, and its benevolence in the arrangement of Nature considered equivocal. One thing is obvious, it demon- strates premeditation and design in the configuration of parts. The large heavy pouch in the middle of the tube necessarily keeps the flower pendulous, and its throat erect. Having removed from the plant one of the racemes for examination, I laid this down on the 192 Bibliographical Notices. table, and was surprised to see a crowd of small flies immediately rush out at the throat ; I raised the flowers into their natural po- sition again, and though I saw, by placing them between me and the light, that very many flies were still in the tube, all very restless and attempting to escape, not one could climb up the now erect throat. I could not discover with the microscope any cause for this, and am forced to suppose that there may be a particular condition of the surface in the upper part of the tube from secretion or some other cause, which prevents the adhesion of the feet of the insects, though they are able to walk along it when horizontal." Microscopic Illustrations of Living Objects, SfC. ; with Researches con- cerning the most eligible method of constructing Microscopes and Instructions for using them. By Dr. C. R. Goring and A. Pritchard. 8vo. Whittaker and Co. 1838. The present work may be divided into two parts, the first by Mr. Pritchard on the natural history of several aquatic larvae, which on account of their great transparency are well suited for the micro- scope ; forming as they do objects of great amusement to the general observer, and of research to the inquiring naturalist. Among these are the larvae of a species of gnat, of Ephemera marginalis, and of a species of Hydrophilus, each being illustrated by several wood-cuts, and a highly finished coloured engraving. The second jiart, the me- chanical and practical part, is, with the exception of the Introduc- tion, from the pen of Dr. Goring, — on the terms employed in micro- scopic science, method of constructing and using microscopes, prac- tical remarks on viewing and drawing of microscopic objects, illus- trated by numerous wood-cuts and a well-executed copper-plate. A great portion of this has been rewritten on account of the great pro gress made in this department of science since the appearance of the first edition. Mr. H. F. Talbot's memoirs on the optical phaenomena of crystals, which appeared in the ' Philosophical Transactions ' for 1837, and observations on Swammerdam's method of dissecting and preparing objects for the microscope, extracted from 'Adam's Essays on the Microscope,' are added as an Appendix, and give additional interest to the volume. The style is popular without being diff^use, and the matter on the whole exceedingly well arranged. We have no doubt that the work will meet with a favourable reception both from the general lover of science and from those more deeply engaged in unveiling some of the wonderful mysteries with which nature abounds. Linnccan Society. 193 PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. LINNiEAN SOCIETY. February 5. — ^Edward Forster, Esq., V. P., in the Chair. Read, a paper entitled " A Note upon the Anatomy of the Roots of Ophrydecer By John Lindley, Ph. D., F.R. and L.S., Prof. Bot. University College. The object of the author in this paper was to show that salep, the prepared roots of certain Ophrydece, is not a substance consisting principally of starch, as is the common opinion among writers of the present day, but is composed of a bassorine-like matter, organized in a peculiar manner. After stating the opinions of recent authorities, the author gives the results of his own microscopical examination of the tissue of re- cent and prepared roots, by which it appears that the tubercles of Ophrydece universally contain large cartilaginous nodules of a muci- laginous substance, not coloured by iodine, and a small quantity of the grains of starch, lying in the usual manner in the parenchyma which surround the nodules, and readily susceptible to the usual ac- tion of iodine. The tubercles of many South-African Ophrydece pre- sent when dried the appearance of bags filled with small pebbles, as if the epidermis had contracted over hard bodies in the inside. If a fresh root of Satyrium pallidum be divided transversely the cause of this appearance is explained, for with its soft parenchyma are mixed tough nodules, clear as water, and often twenty times as lafge as the cells which surround them. These nodules are easily separable, are tough like horn, and on being sliced appear to be perfectly homo- geneous. They are scarcely soluble in cold water; when boiled they become tumid and partially dissolve into a transparent jelly. If ex- posed to the air they rapidly dry and become brown. The aqueous solution of iodine has no sensible effect upon them in their natural state. On charring slices of some salep procured at Covent Garden, a coarse preparation of wild Ophrydece, the author found that the no- dules apparently homogeneous were composed of extremely minute transparent cells, filled, as he supposed, with a secretion of the same refractive power as themselves, and adhering naturally to each other firmly ; the double walls of the cells and intercellular spaces being only made apparent by the charring process. The author explains the error of those who have considered salep to consist chiefly of starch, by allusion to the mode of its preparation. The tubercles Ann, Nat. Hist. Vol.3. No. 16. May 1839. p 194 Linnaan Society are first parboiled and then dried, the eflfect of which is to dissolve what starch exists in the cells surrounding the nodules. 1 he dis- solved starch flows over the surface of the nodules, from which when dried it is undistinguishable, and consequently when iodine is ap- plied to salep the mass appears to become iodide of starch. If the nod!Ues, however, after this action of iodine, be removed, they are seen to retain their original vitreous lustre. The author remarks that these nodules of Ophrydecs are, as far as his observations extend, absent in the tubercles of the other tribes of Orchidacpce. Read, a paper entitled " Some Data towards a Botanical Geogra- phy of New Holland." By Dr. John Lhotsky, late of the Civil Ser- vice, Van Diemen's Land. Communicated by Prof. Don, Libr. L.S. The author commences his paper with the observation, that it was the lot of Mr. Brown to become connected in an almost exclusive way with the Flora of New Holland, he having been the first to illus- trate its vegetable riches in an extensive and philosophic manner. Notwithstanding the important discoveries since made, his re- marks, and especially those upon the botanical geography of that country, (published nearly twenty years ago,) have been confirmed by subsequent observations. The great approximation toM^ards the European Flora, in that part of the country first explored by the author, agrees perfectly with the following observation of Mr, Brown : " It appears that a much greater proporticm of the peculiarities of the Australian Flora exist in this, which I have therefore called the prin- cipal parallel (between 33° and 35° S. latitude), and that many of them are nearly confined to it.*'* The author proposes the follow- ing geographical division of the Flora of the south-eastern part of New Holland. 1st. The coast vegetation. — This class of vegetation clothes the almost moveable sand of the coast, and the rocks of sandstone of the coal formation, or skirts the ponds of salt or brackish water. JSpa- cris, Boronia, Lamhertia, Astroloma, Xanthorrhcea, Hakea, Banhsia, &c. are the most characteristic genera, forming usually a dense shrubbery of stiff and harsh plants. Of trees, scarcely any but species of Eucalyptus are to be met with. 2nd. Vegetation of the rocky gullies near the sea coast. — Such lo- calities are generally characterized by small creeks or springs of fresh- water, of which the localities of the former class are mostly devoid. * General remarks, geographical and systematical, on tlie Botany of Terra Australis, p. 580. Linncjcan :^,oc}eti/. 195 Two palms, Coryijha auMralis and Seaforthia elcyans, and tlie won- der of Australian forests, Doryanthes excelsa, adorn these localities. 3rd. The Argyle vegetation characterizes those park-like spots, with their stately Eucalyptus trees growing at some distan<;e from each other, with very little underwood, which have attracted the notice of travellers, from Tasman down to those of our times. The geological features of this region consist of various rocks, the sandstone of the coal formation excepted, which last never yields a good soil. The genera of this class of vegetation are various grasses, Thlaspi, Csra- stium, Thymus, Scandix, Hydrocotyle, JDianella, Exarrhena, Silene, Hypericum, &c., many of them European forms, and soft juicy plants. Where this vegetation occurs are to be found some of the most advantageous parts of the colony for the purposes of grazing. 4th. The Menero vegetation comprehends the Flora of those exten- sive downs which extend on the east side of the Alps to the extent of more than a hundred miles, and which are capable of maintaining vast numbers of sheep and other cattle. These downs present a dif- ferent aspect in different seasons, being in some covered with the most luxuriant herbage, which at other times is parched and dried up. Many genera of the preceding class occur in these localities, besides Ly thrum, Epilobium, Potentilla, Leuzea, Rumcx, and other European genera. The author regrets that the season was too far advanced to examine the Graminea and Cyperacea, which abound in this region. 5th. Alpine vegetation. — This was traced by the author to the summit of Mount William the Fourth.* These mountains being very extensive, will yield a great harvest to future travellers. The few plants collected by the author in this first investigation were two species of Gentiana, Mniarum, Sphagnum, Dracophyllum, Azeroe, Co" prosma, Fodolepis, some of the latter genus being three feet high. February 19. — The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. Read, '* Extracts from Letters addressed to Dr. Royle, V.P.R. & F.L.S., Prof. Mat. Med., King's College." By Dr. Falconer, Super- intendent of the Hon. E. L C.'s Garden, Saharunpore. Under date of January 24, 1837, from Saharunpore, Dr. Falconer gives a general report of the state of the garden. " The Bixa Orellana," he remarks, " now flow^ers and fruits freely, * According to a recent calculation, made from the degree of temperature at which water boiled on the top of this mountain (viz. 196°), it possesses an absolute height of hOOO feet, being by far the highest point reached hitherto by anv traveller in Austialia. 196 Linncean Society, The umbelliferous flowered Panax, near the cinnamon tree, is now a large and lofty tree, and there are numbers of it all over the gar- den. The Bombay Mangoes and Leechees are abundant with us. The medicinal garden still gives the annual supply of Hyoscyamus, and the Canal nursery turns out about 2000 teaks. The Otaheite sugar cane, brought up by Colvin, is likely soon to spread all over the district ; it has succeeded famously here, and I have now in pre- paration about a couple of beegahs of ground outside the garden for it. I am also preparing for sowing about twenty beegahs with up- land Georgia cotton seed, which will undoubtedly be most success- ful ; it ripens before the Bourbon cotton comes into flower. This last season I got a few pods of Egyptian cotton, of the garden growth ; the seed only reached me on the 15th of July, six weeks at the least too late, and it did not all ripen before the frosts, but what did ripen was long, fine, and strong in the staple, and the pods large. I expect to have a better account of it at the end of this season. I have also some Peruvian seed to experiment on. *' The herbarium has been largely added to. The family of all others that has yielded most additions perhaps is the Orchidea. There are upwards of thirty epiphytous species growing on the trees in the garden, and many more in the herbarium ; some of them are most interesting additions : one of them is a triandrous Dendrobium, D. normale, Fal. The three anthers are not the only singularity about it. The flower is perfectly regular ; the three sepals being exactly equal, as are also the three petals, which, although of the same length, are twice as broad as the sepals. The column is also symmetrical ; and as there is no labellum, it is difficult when the flower is removed from the axis to find out which of the petals re- presents the lip. Further, and what is most interesting of all, it clearly shows what is the normal position of the supplementary an- thers in the family. Lindley makes them alternate with the lateral petals ; while Brown, from the structure of Apostasia and Cypripe- dium, states that they alternate with the lateral sepals, and belong to a diff^erent whorl from the fertile anther. In my plant it is most distinctly evident, both by a decurrent ridge on each filament and by transverse sections of the column at all heights down to its base, that the supplementary anthers have the same relative position as the usual fertile one, and in harmony with Lindley's for- mula. Further, I have another variety of the species, in which the column is sliced off in front as is usual in the genus, and then the labellar petal is invariably developed into a spurred lip, so that it would appear that in the family the irregularity of the lip is a state Linnoian Society. 19? of anamorphosis consequent on the imperfect development of the column, or vice versd ; in fact, that the deficiency of the one is abs- tracted to make up the excess of the other. Next I discovered an- other genus of the tribe Gastrodia, with a monophyllous perianth, the segments, sej)als and petals being united for two-thirds of their length into a tube. I found it on Dhunoultee, and have called it Gamo- plexis ; it has the habit and look of an Orobanche. I have found also a magnificent Malaxideous genus, standing, when in flower, 9 feet. You never saw a more superb affair, with rich yellow flowers like the Cyrtopera. I have called it Thysanochilus. The seed-vessel has no ribs, and in one flower of it I found a plurality of stamens. I have several other new genera, which it would tire you to de- scribe. Talking of Dhunoultee, I found Wallich's Fraxinus flori- bunda growing on the ridge half-way between it and Landour, close to the road. You remember the description you give of the irregu- larity of the Paris polyphylla in Wallich's Plantse Asiaticae, — I found the Podophyllum Emodi growing intermixed with it, and strange to say, as if bewitched with the same turn for vagaries, with every number of stamens from 6 to 10, and in almost every flower one filament bearing two anthers, and that filament invariably the one opposite the petiole of the flower-bearing leaf. In one flower I found the following irregularities : 6 petals, 10 anthers, 7 filaments, or stamens if you like ; on one filament 3 anthers, on another 2, and the remaining 5 regular. Singular that it and the Paris should grow together and both so irregular." Under date of January 26, 1838, from Cashmere, whither he had proceeded on a Botanic mission in connexion with Sir Alex. Burnes's Expedition, Dr. F. says, " I am now wintering in Cashmere, with the prospect before me of pushing across through Little Thibet towards the Kuenlun Mountains when the snow clears. I started from Loodiana, where, by the by, I got the Butomus umbellatus in flower and fruit, new, I believe, to the plains of India ; and after a few days at Lahore, I marched on through the Punjab to Attock in the month of July ; no rains and fearful heat in the sandy plains I went along. From the want of rain and my route being through an open plain I did not glean much in my march. The Flora is exactly that of the neighbourhood of Delhi; Peganum Harmala everywhere, with Capparidece, Crotolaria Bushia, Calotropis Hamiltonii, Alhagi Maurorum, Tamarix, Acacia modesta, SiC. &c. Near Lahore I got what I believe to be a new Asclepiadeous genus exactly intermediate between Calotropis and Paratropis, with the angular and saccate sinued corolla, membrane lipped anthers and 19S Linnaean Society. corona of the former, but the coronal leaflets cleft and the pollen masses oval and ventricose as in the latter, with other peculiar cha- racters besides. It is a low, twining, small, fleshy, lance-leaved under- shrub. I have called it provisionally ^w^ro/?z5. It is in great abundance in the Punjab. I met with the Dhak {Buteafrondosa) as far as the west- ern bank of the Jhelum. The Flora begins to change atRawulPindee, which is elevated and continuous so on to the plain of Chuch, along the banks of the Attock. Here I first came on the famous Zuetoon, the wild olive, Olea ? and further on, at Hussan Abdal, I found Himalayan Rubi and a Cashmeer Dianthus, white flowered and new to you. Near Attock I joined the party, having marched hitherto alone. We halted at Attock, the dry arid hills of vvhich have a pecu- liar vegetation. We crossed the noble Indus at Attock ; a fearful ferry, in the rains the river running eight knots an hour. The lower part of the plain of Peshawur, where we now were, is sandy, and has exactly the Flora of the arid tracts of the Punjab ; Salsolas, Chenopodece, Alhagi, Calolropis, Peganum, Tamarix, &c. But when we got to Peshawur, so much do the seasons diflfer that i)eaches were coming into fruit the 15th of August, and the Kurreel {Cap- paris aphylla) out of flower only lately. From Peshawur I made an excursion to Cohaut, and from thence to the Salt Plills and the valley of Rungush. In the Salt Hills I got a Stapeliaceous Asclepiad, unfortunately neither in flower nor fruit, very probably one of Wight's Carallumas or Boucerosias. Also the Cassia ohovata, the Egyptian senna in flower! I had previously got the same plant from near Delhi, no doubt about the species ; certainly not the ohtusa of Roxb. ; the legumes always crested over the bulge of the seeds. I got numerous other plants. From Peshawur Burnes started for Cabul, and Mackeson and I for Cashmeer. From Attock, Mackeson went by the straight military road, as he was on a military survey, while I made an attempt to run up the Indus into the hills. I got on three marches and was forcibly stopped at Durbund (look at Burnes's map) and threatened with rather rough usage. I then turned across the hills and rejoined my companion in the noble valley of Huzara. The vege- tation along the banks of the Indus from Attock to Durbund surprised me much. It is quite that of the characteristic forms of the Deyra Dhoon, and taking diflTerence of latitude and altitude into account, with the great distance westward, this might not have been looked for : Grislea tomentosa, Rottlera tinctoria, Hastingia coccinea. Acacia Ca- techu, Holostemma, &c. On the banks of the Indus, in the valley lead- ing up to Cashmeer from Huzara, I found the Dodofiaa Burmanniana. You remark in your notice of the Sapiiidacece its absence from the Linncpan Society. 199 Bengal and Hindoostan region. Its occurrence with a leap further north is remarkable. From Huzara we marched on by the Pakl^e road to MosuiFerabad. Near Drumbur I came on the Hovenia dulcis. At Mosufferabad I got on a high ridge, and followed it on to Cash- meer, where we arrived early in October. It was now too late in the season to exhaust the Flora of the valley and neighbourhood, so I made up my mind to winter here and make a fresh start in spring. It would take pages to contain what I have observed about the Flora here, late as I came. It has several anomalies ; few if any oaks de- scend on the northern side of the Peerpunjal into the valley. I have not seen one yet. I have selected oaks as a very characteristic type. The same holds with respect to the plants that are associated with the oaks, &c. about Mussourie. In the lake you see Nelumbiiim and Eury ale fer ox, growing ^long with Meny ant hes irifoliata; and cotton, a poor sort, growing on the banks, while the sides of the bounding hills are skirted with pines. I got Staphylea Einodi grow- ing along with Ribes Grossularia (your Himalense ?), while it grows as you know at Mussourie on low slopes near Budraj. The Prurigos pabulariu grows in the valley. I found it most abundant on Ahatoong, a low trap hill on the valley, but it is not so vigorous a plant as in its Thibetian habitat. I expect in the summer to get as far north as lat. 36° at the least on the Kuenlun or Kara Korun range, a most desirable tract to explore, as it will be clear beyond Hima- layan vegetation, partly characteristic of that of central Asia. I have already seen enough to convince me from a trip to the Thibet frontier to near Durass, that the Flora ahead will bear a close re- semblance in many general relations to that of the Altai Mountains shown by Ledebour and yourself." " Deosir, Cashmeer, June 20, 1838. " I have written to you twice from Cashmeer. I have been going leisurely all round the valley, and into all the subordinate valleys which radiate on all sides from the great one. I have made many acquisitions. Among Ranunculacece I have got species of Hepatica, Ceratocephalus, and Callianthemum , all of which I believe to be new, and making up the very blanks you notice in your ' Illustrations.' Of Callianthemum, I have no knowledge, besides your quotation, biit my plant has leaves with umbelliferous habit, 8 white strap-shaped clawed petals, w^ith the nectariferous pore high up on the claw, and XI pendulous ovulum. It cannot therefore be a Ranunculus, nor your R. pimpinelloides. Further, I have got anew^ Ranunculaceous genus, new unless Jacqucmont has got it, having the habit of TrolUus in its 200 Lmnccan Society, leaves and mode of inflorescence, 8 herbaceous sepals, 24 strap- shaped petals, plane with no fovea at the clavi^, and solitary trans- versely attached ovula, being neither pendulous nor erect. It forms a transition from Adonis to the Ranunculece. This is another blank filled up in the desiderata so pointedly mentioned by you. I have called the genus Chrysocyathus. It grows intermixed with Trollius, ' inter nives deliquescentes,' and till I examined it I took it for a Trollius. I have got a new species of Adoxa, forming I believe the second of the genus, A. inodora (mihi), a larger plant than the A. Moschatellina, and with the lateral flower 12-androus, and 6 segments in the flowers. I have also a new JSpimedium, a large handsome leaved herb, E. hydaspidis (mihi), and two species oi Al- chemilla. Fritillaria imperialis, the Crown Imperial of English gardens, grows wild in the lofty shady forests of Cashmeer. The Cashmerees regard it to be unlucky, and grow it only near musjids and over graves. Father gilla involucrata (mihi), belonging to the Hamamelidece, exists in vast abundance in Cashmeer, forming whole tracts of low jungle ; — strange that it should not have been brought before either to you or to me. It occupies the place that the hazel {Corylus Avellana) does in England, and at a little distance does not look unlike it. Thus, Hamamelidece are found at opposite ends of the Himalaya range, Bucklandia and Sedgwickia in Assam, and Fothergilla in Cash- meer, but none of the family have yet been met with in the interme- diate tracts. Prangos pabularia I have found in vast abundance in several directions, but the Cashmerees do not know it for any useful purpose, except as a plant highly prized by Europeans. They some- times use the roots to destroy worms, by steeping them in Dhaun fields as Calamus (butch) is used in Hindoostan. The Umhelliferce have not come into fruit yet, so I do not know much of my new ac- quisitions, but I have got among others a species of Turgenia, a genus which I believe is new to the Himalayas. My brother wrote me that you were inquiring about Koot and Amomum. Koot is ex- ported from Cashmere : it is a plant of the natural family of Compo- site, which has not yet come into flower, but I shall let you know about it hereafter. Amomum, Humama, or Amamoon, is not known in Cashmeer nor to be had at the Piensarees. I have got a magni- ficent species of Ornithogallum ?, with a scape 7 feet high : the Cash- merees call it Prustereen, and prize it highly as a culinary vegetable. I have had Dodoncea brought to me from above Jummos in the heart of the hills, growing along the banks of the Chenab. I mentioned to you in a former letter some of the anomalies I had met with in the absence of forms common elsewhere ; not an oak, noi Andromeda, Zoological Society. 201 Rhododendron arhoreum, Mahonia nepalensis, &c., have I yet found, though so common in the hills elsewhere. I have got Sparganium {carinatum,m\\i\), Butomus and Villarsia Nymphoides ivoT[it\\e]\v\\^. A species of Sagittaria is used here as a Cashmeeree Salep, the natives collecting the roots as in China. The Coniferce are, as to the east- ward, 3 pines, 2 or 3 firs and Deodar, but I have not seen the Cu- pressus torulosa, the lofty cypress of the Mussourie hills." ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. July 24, 1838.— Thomas Bell, Esq., in the Chair. A letter, addressed to the Secretary, was read, from Walter Paton, Esq., accompanying a donation to the Museum of an Indian Fowl, remarkable for having had one of its spurs engrafted upon its head. The spur, in consequence of its removal to a part in which the supply of arterial blood was greatly increased, had grown to an unnatural size, and hung down in crescentic shape, presenting a very singular appearance. Mr. Martin brought before the Meeting a collection of Snakes procured by the Euphrates Expedition, which, at the request of the Chairman, he proceeded to notice in detail. The first, he observed, appeared to be referable to the Coluber Cliffordii ; it agreed in every respect with specimens of that snake from Trebizond, procured by Keith Abbott, Esq., except that its co- lours were more obscure. Of this species there were several speci- mens, young and adult. The others he regarded as new, and described them as follows : Coluber Chesneii. This species is allied to Col. [Hippocrepis, but differs in the shape of the muzzle, (which is more acute,) in the figure and extent of the nasal and labial plates, and in the disposition of the markings. The labial plates are small and numerous, and in one specimen several are divided. The posterior frontals are small, and in one specimen are divided into two. The anterior frontals are contracted. The superciliary plates are convex ; — the eyes are small. The scales of the trunk are small, imbricate, and without a keel. The head is pale yellowish brown, the plates beautifully freckled or finely marbled with dark brown : a brown band traverses the superciliary and vertical plates from eye to eye, and then descends on each side obliquely to the angle of the mouth. The labial plates are bordered with dusky brown or deep gray. 202 Zoological Society. The ground colour of the body above is yellowish brown ; a series of square spots of a brown, or olive brown colour, extend from the back of the neck, above the median dorsal line, to the end of the tail. On the sides of the neck begins a line of the same colour, which soon breaks into elongated narrow marks, which towards the middle of the body become confused, broken, and irregular. The superior margins of the abdominal plates are tinged with gray or dusky brown. The whole of the under surface of head, body, and tail, pale yellow. Caudal plates, 69 pairs in one specimen, and 57 in another. Length of head and body, 1 foot 11 inches ; of tail, 4| inches. CoRONELLA MULTiciNCTA. Allied to the " Couleuvre a capuchon* but has the muzzle much shorter and rounder ; it differs also in the distribution of the colours. The head is broad, the eyes very small, the muzzle very short and blunt. The head is gray, finely and closely marbled, and dotted with black; a ring of which colour encircles the neck. The ground colour of the trunk above is pale cinereous gi'ay, barred with trans- verse marks of black, broadest in the middle, and having a disposition to assume the arrow-head form ; they unite with the black of the. abdomen alternately, so that their direction across the back is not directly transverse but obliquely so. Length of head and body, 1 foot, li inches ; of tail, 2 J inches. CoRONELLA MODESTA. Head Small; muzzle short, but moderately pointed ; eyes small. Scales of upper parts smooth and small ; uni- versal colour yellowish gray. A black band passes from eye to eye ; a second crosses the occiput ; and a third of a more decided tint en- circles the back of the neck. In a specimen from Trebizond, pro- cured by K. Abbott, Esq., the marks on the head are more obscure. Length of head and body, 9 inches ; of tail, 2^ inches. CoRONELLA PULCHRA. Head loug, flat, and jjointed at the muzzle ; eyes moderate. Scales small and smooth. General ground colour ashy gray ; the head above beautifully marbled and mottled with black ; an irregular mark crosses each superciliary plate and extends upon the vertical ; and a mark of the same character traverses each occipital, and extends upon the sides of the occiput. A black mark runs below the eye to the margin of the lips, and a second to the angle of the mouth ; a series of black- ish spots begins on the back of the neck, and runs down the back, Zoological Society. 203 where they become larger, and often broken into a d )uble alternating series ; a line of smaller and deeper black spots runs along each side, and the upper margins of the abdominal plates also are irregu- larly mottled with black. The plates of the abdomen are minutely and obscurely freckled with dusky black. Length of head and body, 1 foot 11 inch ; of tail, S^ inches. ViPERA EuPHRATicA. Allied to Vipera elegans, but differs in the disposition of the plates around and between the nostrils, and in the style of its colouring. A large /055a indicates, as in Vip. elegans » the aperture of the nostrils, and within this a valve, only to be seen when the fossa is opened, stretches obliquely across, forming the posterior margin of the nasal canal, as it extends from the bot- tom of iho, fossa. The rostral plate is large and rounded above ; the muzzle is large and swollen ; the eyes sunk, but are not overshadowed, as in V. elegans, by a single superciliary plate ; the scales, however, which occupy its place, are somewhat larger than those covering the top of the skull between the eyes. A large elongated scale intervenes between the nasal cavity and the rostral plate. The scales between the nostrils are larger than those which succeed them ; the labials are rather small, the fourth from the rostral being the largest — their number on each side is ten. The scales on the top of the head are small, keeled, subacute at the points ; those of the trunk are large, flat, elongated, with rounded points, and narrowly keeled. Subcaudal plates 47 pairs. Body stout and robust, gradually tapering to the apex of the tail. The general colour of the upper surface is brownish gray, minutely freckled with black, the dots of which are more clustered on the sides, in some places, and at regular intervals, giving the appearance of obscure clouded/«sd«, or nehulee. The plates of the under surface are pale yellow, obscurely mottled and dotted with dusky gray. Length of head and body, 4 feet 5 inches ; of tail, 7^ inches. Two other snakes, one from India, the other from Antigua, were also described as follows : Coluber Cantori. Eyes large ; head broad ; muzzle moderate ; vertical plate broad, as are also the two occij)ital plates, and the an- terior ocular on each side. Scales of body small, smooth, and closely imbricate. Body deep, somewhat compressed and tapering. General colour of upper surface glossy brownish black ; a black spot below each eye, on the meeting edges of the 5th and 6th labial plates ; a black lino from the back of the eye to the angle of the 204 Geological Society. mouth, and a black band from the side of each occipital plate to the sides of the neck, where it ends abruptly. Along the sides, for the anterior half of the body, a small whitish spot occurs at regular intervals, with a broad black spot below it ; these marks become fainter and fainter, and at length disappear. The central line of the back, from the neck to the middle of the body, pale brown. Abdomen yellowish white, becoming dusky as it proceeds ; the posterior portion and the under surface of the tail being a little paler than the ground colour of the upper surface. Length of head and body, 1 foot 1 inch ; of tail, 3^ inches. Mr. Martin observed, that Dr. Cantor, in honor of whom he named this Snake, had observed it in India ; and, according to the observa- tions of this gentleman, it did not attain much larger dimensions than those of the specimen exhibited. Inhabits India. The exact locality of the specimen exhibited unknown. Herpetodryas punctifeRv Head narrow, scarcely distinct from the body ; muzzle short and pointed ; eyes small ; body stout and gradually tapering. Scales smooth, short, broad, and imbricate. General colour pale brown. A dark brown line runs down the top of the head ; a riband of dark brown, made up of diamond-shaped marks joined together, commences at the occiput, and runs down the middle of the back to the end of the tail, on which last it is a simple line ; a brown riband, little darker than the ground colour, but narrowly margined with dark brown, begins behind each eye, but soon loses itself on the sides of the body. Every scale at its apex has two minute dots of chalk- white, which, if not examined through a lens, might lead to the idea of their being the indications of pores ; they are, however, simply round little dots of opake white. Plates of abdomen pale yellowish white, irregularly and obscurely marked with a dusky tint. The specific term punctifer is given in allusion to the two w hite points at the apex of each scale. Inhabits Antigua. GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Dec. 9, 1838. — A paper on the " Phascolotherium," being the second part of the " Description of the Remains of Marsupial Mammalia from the Stonesfield Slate," by Richard Owen, Esq., F.G.S., was read. Mr. Owen first gave a brief summary of the characters of the Geological Society, 205 " Thylacotherium," described in the first part of the memoir*^, and which he conceives fully prove the mammiferous nature of that fossil. He stated, that the remains of the split condyles in the spe- cimen demonstrate their original convex form, which is diametrically opposite to that which characterizes the same part in all reptiles and all ovipara ; — that the size, figure and position of the coronoid process are such as were never yet witnessed in any except a zoophagous mammal endowed with a temporal muscle sufficiently developed to demand so extensive an attachment for working a powerful carnivorous jaw ; — that the teeth, composed of dense ivory with crowns covered with a thick coat of enamel, are everywhere distinct from the substance of the jaw, but have two fangs deeply im- bedded in it ; — that these teeth, which belong to the molar series, are of two kinds ; the hinder being bristled with five cusps, four of which are placed in pairs transversely across the crown of the teeth, and the anterior or false molars, having a different form, and only two or three cusps — characters never yet found united in the teeth of any other than a zoophagous mammiferous quadruped ; — that the general form of the jaw corresponds with the preceding more essen- tial indications of its mammiferous nature. Fully impressed with the value of these characters, as determining the class to which the fossils belonged, Mr. Owen stated, that he had sought in the next ])lace for secondary characters which might reveal the group of mammalia to which the remains could be assigned, and that he had found in the modification of the angle of the jaw, combined with the form, structure and proportions of the teeth, sufficient evidence to induce him to believe, that the Thylacotherium was a marsupial quadruped. Mr. Owen then recapitulated the objections against the mammi- ferous nature of the Thylacotherian jaws from their supposed imperfect state ; and repeated his former assertion, that they are in a condition to enable these characters to be fully ascertained : he next reviewed, first the differences of opinion with respect to the actual structure of the jaw ; and, secondly, to the interpretation of admitted appear- ances. 1. As respects the structure. — It has been asserted that the jaws must belong to cold-blooded vertebrata, because the articular sur- face is in the form of an entering angle ; to which Mr. Owen replies, that the articular surface is supported on a convex condyle, which is met with in no other class of vertebrata except in the mammalia. Again, it is asserted, that the teeth are all of an uni- * An abstract of the first part of Prof. Owen's memoir was given at p. Gl of the present vuhune. — Edit. 206 Geological Society. form structure, as in certain reptiles ; but, on reference to the fos- sils, Mr. Owen states, it will be found that such is not the case, and that the actual difference in the structure of the teeth strongly sup- ports the mammiferous theory of the fossils. 2. With respect to the argument founded on an interpretation of structure, which really exists, the author showed, that the Thylaco- therium, having eleven molars on each side of the lower jaw is no objection to its mammiferous nature, because among the placental carnivora, the Canis Megalotis has constantly one more grinder on each side of the lower jaw than the usual number ; because the Chrysochlore among the Insectivora has also eight instead of seven molars in each ramus of the lower jaw ; and the Myrmecobius, among the Marsupialia, has nine molars on each side of the lower jaw ; and because some of the insectivorous Armadillos and zoopha- gous Cetacea offer still more numerous and reptile-like teeth, with all the true and essential characters of the mammiferous class. The ob- jection to the falsa molars having two fangs, Mr. Owen showed was futile, as the greater number of the spurious molars in every genus of the placental /(?r« have two fangs, and the whole of them in the Marsupialia. If the ascending ramus in the Stonesfield jaws had been absent, and with it the e^^idjnce of their mammiferous nature afforded by the condyloid, coronoid and angular processes, Mr. Owen stated, that he conceived the teeth alone would have given sufficient proof, especially in their double fangs, that the fossils do belong to the highest class of animals. In reply to the objections founded on the double fangs of the Basilosaurus, Mr. Owen said, that the characters of that fossil not having been fully given, it is doubtful to what class the animal be- longed; and, in answer to the opinion, that certain sharks have double fangs, he explained, that the widely bifurcate basis support- ing the tooth of the shark, is no part of the actual tooth, but true bone, and ossified parts of the jaw itself, to which the tooth is an- chylosed at one part, and the ligaments of connexion attached at the other. The form, depth and position of the sockets of the teeth in the Thylacothere are precisely similar to those in the small opos- sums. The colour of the fossils, Mr. Owen said, could be no ob- jection to those acquainted with the diversity in this respect, which obtains in the fossil remains of Mammalia. Lastly, with respect to the Thylacothere, the author stated, that the only trace of compound structure is a mere vascular groove running along its lower margin, and that a similar structure is present in the corresponding part of the lower jaw^ of some species of opossum, of the Wombat, of the Baleena antarctica, and of the Myrmecobius, though the groove does Geological Society. 207 not reach so far forwards in this animal ; and that a simihir groove is present near the lower margin, but on the outer side of the jaw, in the Sorex hidicus. Description of the Half Jaw of the Phascolotherium — This fossil is a right ramus of the lower jaw, having its internal or mesial sur- face exposed. It once formed the chief ornament of the private collection of Mr. Broderip, by whom it has since been liberally pre- sented to the British Museum. It M^as- described by Mr. Broderip in the Zoological Journal, and its distinction from the Thylacothe- rium clearly pointed out. The condyle of the jaw is entire, stand- ing in bold relief, and presents the feame form and degree of con- vexity as in the genera Didelphys and Dasyurus. In its being on a level with the molar teeth, it corresponds with the marsupial genera Dasyurus and Thy lacy mis as well as with the placental zoo- phaga. The general form and proportions of the coronoid process closely resemble those in zoophagous marsupials ; but in the depth and form of the entering notch, between the process and the condyle, it corresponds most closely with the Thylacynus. Judging from the fractured surface of the inwardly reflected angle, that part had an extended oblique base, similar to the inflected angle of the Thy- lacynus. In the Phascolotherium the flattened inferior surface of the jaw, external to the fractured inflected angle, inclines out- wards at an obtuse angle with the plane of the ascending ramus, and not at an acute angle, as in the Thylacyne and Dasyurus ; but this difference is not one which approximates the fossil in question to any of the placental zoophaga ; on the contrary, it is in the marsupial genus Phascolomys, where a precisely similar relation of the inferior flattened base to the elevated plate of the ascending ramus of the jaw is manifested. In the position of the dental foramen, the Phascolothere, like the Thylacothere, diff'ers from all zoophagous marsupials, and the placental/er^; but in the Hypsiprymnus and Phascolomys, marsupial herbivora, the orifice of the dental canal is situated, as in the Stonesfield fossils, very near the vertical line dropped from the last molar teeth. The form of the symphysis, in the Phascolothere, cannot be truly determined ; but Mr. Owen is of opinion that it resembles the symphysis of the Didelphys more than that of the Dasyurus or Thylacynus. Mr. Owen agrees with Mr. Broderip in assigning four incisors to each ramus of the loM^er jaw of the Phascolothere, as in the Didelphys ^ but in their scattered arrangement they resemble the incisors of the Myrmeeobius. In the relative extent of the alveolar ridge occupied by the grinders, and in the proportions of the grinders to each other, espe- 208 Geoloyical Society. cially the small size of the hindermost molar; the Phascolothere resem- bles the M}jrmecohius more than it does the Opossum, Dasyurus or Thylacynus ; but in the form of the crown, the molars of the fossil re- semble the Thylacynus more closely than any other genus of marsupials. In the number of the grinders the Phascolothere resembles the Opossum and Thylacine, having four true and three false in each maxillary ramus ; but the molares veri of the fossil differ from those of the Opos- sum and Thylacothere in wanting a pointed tubercle on the inner side of the middle large tubercle, and in the same transverse line with it, the place being occupied by a ridge which extends along the inner side of the base of the crown of the true molars, and projects a little beyond the anterior and posterior smaller cusps, giving the quin- quecuspid appearance to the crown of the tooth. This ridge, which, in Phascolotherium, represents the inner cusps of the true molars in Didelphys and Thylacotherium, is wanting in Thylacynus, in which the true molars are more simple than in the Phascolo- there, though hardly less distinguishable from the false molars. In the second true molar of the Phascolothere, the internal ridge is also obsolete at the base of the middle cusp, and this tooth presents a close resemblance to the corresponding tooth in the Thylacine ; but in the Thylacine the two posterior molars increase in size» while in the Phascolothere they progressively diminish, as in the Myrmecobius. As the outer sides of the grinders in the jaw of the Phascolothere are imbedded in the matrix, we cannot be sure that there is not a smaller cuspidated ridge sloping down towards that side, as in the crowns of the teeth of the Myrmecobius. But, assuming that all the cusps of the teeth of the Phascolothere are exhibited in the fossil, still the crowns of these teeth resemble those of the Thylacine more than they do those of any placental Insectivora or Phoca, if even the form of the jaw permitted a com- parison of it w^ith that of any of the seal tribe. Connecting then the close resemblance which the molar teeth of the Phascolotherium bear to those of the Thylacynus with the similarities of the ascending ramus of the jaw, Mr. Owen is of opinion that the Stonesfield fossil was nearly allied to Thylacynus, and that its position in the marsupial series is between Thylacynus and Didelphys. With respect to the supposed compound structure of the jaw of the Phascolotherium, Mr. Owen is of opinion that, of the two linear impressions which have been mistaken for harmonic or toothless sutures, one, a faint shallow linear impression continued from between the antepenultimate and penultimate molars obliquely downwards and backwards to the foramen of the dental artery, is due to the pressure of a small Geohf/kal Society. 209 artery, and that the author possesses the jaw of a Didelphys Virgi- niana which exhibits a similar ^a'oove in the same place. Moreover, this groove in the Phascolothere does not occupy the same relative position as any of the contiguous margins of the opercular and den- tary pieces of a reptile's jaw. The other impression in the jaw of the Phascolotherium is a deep groove continued from the anterior extremity of the fractured base of the inflected angle obliquely downwards to the broken surface of the anterior part of the jaw. Whether this line be due to a vascular impression, or an accidental fracture, is doubtful ; but as the lower jaw of the Wombat presents an impression in the precisely corresponding situation, and which is undoubtedly due to the presence of an artery, Mr. Owen conceives that this impression is also natural in the Phascolothere, but equally unconnected with a compound structure of the jaw ; for there is not any suture in the compound jew of a reptile which occupies a corresponding situation. The most numerous, the most characteristic, and the best marked sutures in the compound jaws of a reptile, are those which define the limits of the coronoid, articular, angular, and surangular pieces, and which are chiefly conspicuous on the inner side of the posterior part of the jaw. Now the corresponding surface of the jaw oi the Phascolo- there is entire ; yet the smallest trace of sutures, or of any indication that the coronoid or articular processes were distinct pieces, cannot be detected ; these processes are clearly and indisputably continuous, and confluent with the rest of the ramus of the jaw. So that where sutures ought to be visible, if the jaw of the Phascolothere were composite, there are none ; and the hypothetical sutures that are apparent do not agree in position with any of the real sutures of an oviparous compound jaw. Lastly, with reference to the philosophy of pronouncing judg- ment on the saurian nature of the Stonesfield fossils from the appearance of sutures, Mr. Owen ofl'ered one remark, the justness of which, he said would be obvious alike to those who were, and to those vAio were not, conversant with comparative anatomy. The accumulative evidence of the true nature of the Stonesfield fossils, afforded by the shape of the condyle, coronoid process, angle of the jaw, different kinds of teeth, shape of their crowns, double fangs, implantation in sockets, — the appearance, he repeated, presented by these important particulars cannot be due to accident ; while those which favour the evidence of the compound structure of the jaw may arise from accidental circumstances. Ann. Nat. Hist, Vol.3. IS o. 16. May ISS9. q 210 Geological Society. Jan. 9, 1839. — A paper was read, entitled, " Observations on the Teeth of the Zeaglodon, Basilosaurus of Dr. Harlan," by Richard Owen, Esq., F.G.S. During the recent discussions respecting the Stonesfield fossil jaws, one of the strongest arguments adduced and reiterated by M. de Blainville and others in support of their saurian nature, was founded on the presumed existence in America of a fossil reptile possessing teeth with double fangs, and called by Dr. Harlan tlie Basilosaurus. To the validity of this argument, Mr. Owen refused to assent, until the teeth of the American fossil had been subjected to a re- examination with an especial view to their alleged mode of implantation in the jaw ; and until they had been submitted to the test of the microscopic investigation of their intimate structure with reference to the true affinities of the animal to which they be- longed. The recent arrival of Dr. Harlan in England with the fossils, and the permission which he has liberally granted Mr. Owen of having the necessary sections made, have enabled him to determine the mammiferous nature of the fossil. Among the parts of the Basilosaurus brought to England by Dr. Harlan, are two portions of bone belonging to the upper jaw ; the larger of them contains three teeth ; the other, the sockets of two teeth. In the larger specimen, the crowns of the teeth are more or less perfect, and they are compressed and conical, but with an obtuse apex. The longitudinal diameter of the middle, and most perfect one, is three inches, the transverse diameter one inch two lines, and the height above the alveolar process two inches and a half. The crown is trans- versely contracted in the middle, giving its horizontal section an hour-glass form ; and the opposite wide longitudinal grooves which produce this shape, becoming deeper as the crown approaches the socket, at length meet and divide the root of the tooth into two se- parate fangs. The two teeth in the fore part of the jaw are smaller than the hinder tooth, and the anterior one appears to be of a sim- pler structure. A worn-down tooth contained in another portion of jaw, Mr. Owen had sliced, and it presented the same hour-glass form, the crown being divided into two irregular, rounded lobes joined by a narrow isthmus or neck. The anterior lobe is placed obliquely, but the posterior parallel with the axis of the jaw. The isthmus increases in length as the tooth descends in the socket until the isthmus finally disappears, and the two portions of the tooth take on the character of separate fangs. The sockets in the anterior fragment of the upper jaw are indistinct Geological Society, 211 and filled with hard calcareous matter, but a transverse horizontal section of the alveolar margin proves, that these sockets are single, and that the teeth lodged therein had single fangs. This fragment of the lo\;ve.r jaw thus confirms the evidence aflTorded by the frag- ments of the upper jaw, that the teeth in the Basilosaurus were of two kinds, the anterior being smaller and simpler in form and fur- ther from each other than those behind. Mr. Owen then proceeds to compare the Basilosaurus with those animals which have their teeth lodged in distinct sockets, as the Sphyrsena, and its congeners among fishes, the Plesiosauroid and Cro- codilean Sauria, and the class Mammalia ; but as there is no instance of either fish or reptile having teeth implanted by two fangs in a double socket, he commences his comparison of the Basilosaurus with those Mammalia which most nearly resemble the fossil in other respects. Among the zoophagous Cetacea the teeth are always si- milar as to form and structure, and are invariably implanted in the socket by a broad and simple basis, and they never have two fangs. Among the herbivorous Cetacea however, the structure, form, num- ber and mode of implantation of the teeth differ considerably. In the Manatee, the molars have two long and separate fangs lodged in deep sockets, and the anterior teeth, when worn down, present a form of the crown similar to that of the Basilosaurus, but the opposite indentations are not so deep ; and the entire grinding sur- face of the molars of the Manatee diflfers considerably from those of the Basilosaurus, the anterior supporting two transverse conical ridges, and the posterior three. The Dugong resembles more nearly the fossil in its molar teeth ; the anterior ones being smaller and simpler than the posterior, and the complication of the latter being due to exactly the same kind of modification as in the Basiloraurus, viz. a transverse constriction of the crown. The posterior molar has its longitudinal diameter increased, and its transverse section approaches to the hour-glass figure, produced by opposite grooves. There is in this tooth also a tendency to the formation of a double fang, and the establishment of two centres of radiation for the calci- gerous tubes of the ivory, but the double fang is probably never com- pleted. The teeth in the Dugong moreover are not scattered as in the Basilosaurus. Mr. Owen then briefly compared the teeth of the fossil with those of the Saurians, and stated that he had not found a single instance of agreement in the Basilosaurus with the known dental peculiarities of that class. From the Mosasaurus the teeth of the American fo.^sil differ in being implanted freely in sockets and q2 212 Geological Society. not anchylosed to the substance of tlie jaw ; from the Ichthyosaurus and all the lacertine Sauriain being implanted in distinct sockets, and not in a continuous groove ; from the Plesiosaurus and crocodilean reptiles from the fangs not being simple and expanding as they de- scend, but double, diminishing in size as they sink in the socket, and becoming consolidated by the progressive deposition of dental substance from temporary pulp in progress of absorption. In the EnaHosanria and the Crocodilia, moreover, there are invariably two or more germs of new teeth in different stages of formation close to or contained within the cavity of the base of the protruded teeth ; but the Basilosaurus presents no trace of this characteristic Saurian structure. From the external characters only of the teeth, Mr. Owen therefore infers, that the fossil was a Mammifer of the cetaceous order, and intermediate to the herbivorous and piscivorous sections of that order, as it now stands in the Cuvierian system. In consequence however of the Basilosaurus having been re- garded as affording an exceptional example among Reptilia of teeth having two fangs, though contrary to all analogy, and as the other characters stated above may be considered by the same anatomists to be only exceptions, Mr. Owen procured sections of the teeth for microscopic examination of their intimate structure and for com- paring it with that of the teeth of other animals. In the Sphyrsena and allied fossil fishes which are implanted in sockets, the teeth are characterized by a continuation of medullary canals, arranged in a beautifully reticulated manner, extending through the entire substance of the tooth, and affording innumerable centres of radiation to extremely fine calcigerous tubes. In the Ichthyosaurus and Crocodile the pulp cavity is simple and central, as in Mammalia, and the calcigerous tubuli radiate from this centre to every part of the circumference of the tooth, to which they are generally at right angles. The crown of the tooth in these Saurians is covered with enamel, while that part of the tooth which is in the alveolus is surrounded with a thick layer of cortical substance. In the Dolphins which have simple conical teeth like the higher reptiles, the crown is also covered with enamel and the base with csementum. But in the Cachalot and Dugong the whole of the teeth is covered with csementum. In the Dugong this external layer presents the same characteristic radiated purkingian corpuscles or cells as in the csementum of the human teeth, and those of other animals ; but the caementum of the Dugong differs from that of the Pachyderms and Ruminants in being traversed by numerous calcige- rous tubes, the corpuscles or cells being scattered in the interstices Geological Society, 213 of these tubes. Now the crowns of the teeth of the Basilosau- rus evidently exhibit in many parts a thin investing layer of a substance distinct from the body or ivory of the tooth, and the mi- croscopic examination of a thin layer of this substance proves it to possess the same characters as the caementum of the crown of the tooth of the Dugong. The entire substance of the ivory of the teeth consists of fine calcigerous tubes radiating from the centres of the two lobes, without any intermixture of coarser medullary tubes which characterize the teeth of the Iguanodon ; or the slightest trace of the reticulated canals, which distinguish the texture of the teeth of the Sphyraena and its congeners. The calcigerous tubes undulate regularly, and also communicate with numerous minute cells ar- ranged in concentric lines. Thus, the microscopic characters of the texture of the teeth of the great Basilosaurus are strictly of a mammiferous nature, and con- firm the inference respecting the position of the fossil in the natural system drawn from the external aspect of the teeth. Mr. Owen then adduced further proofs of the mammiferous and cetaceous character of the Basilosaurus, from the structure of the vertebrae, from the great capacity of the canal for the spinal chord, and from the form and position of the transverse processes, which however present a greater vertical thickness than in the true Cetacea, and approach in this respect to the vertebrae of the Dugong. With respect to the other bones of the Basilosaurus, Mr. Owen stated, that the ribs in their excentric laminated structure are pecu- liar, and unlike those of any Mammal or Saurian. The hollow structure of the lower jaw of the Basilosaurus, which has been ad- vanced as a proof of its saurian nature, Mr. Owen showed occurs also in the lower jaw of the Cachalot, and is therefore equally good for the cetaceous character of the fossil. In the compressed shaft of the humerus, and its proportion to the vertebrae, the Basilosaurus again approximates to the true Cetacea, as much as it recedes from the Enaliosaurians ; but in the expansion of the distal extremity and the form of the articular surface, this hu- merus stands alone ; and no one can contemplate the comparative feebleness of this, the principal bone of the anterior extremity, with- out agreeing with Dr. Harlan, that the tail must have been the main organ of locomotion. Mr. Owen proposes to substitute for the name of Basilosaurus that of Zeuglodon, suggested by the form of the posterior molars, which resemble two teeth tied or yoked together. 214 Miscellaneous. MISCELLANEOUS. ON THE NATURE OF POLYPIDOMS. M. H. Milne Edwards, in a valuable paper on the nature and growth of Polypidoms, published in the December number of the ' Ann. Scienc. Nat.', after relating numerous observations on the structure of the polypidoms in various tribes, concludes his able ar- ticle in the following words : — " The various facts which we have ex- amined seem to prove that the current opinion relative to the nature and to the mode of formation of the polypidoms is inaccurate, and that these bodies, far from always being external incrustations and without any organic connexion with the animals which produce them, are integral parts of these beings, and consist of an organized tissue, the substance of which becomes charged more or less wdth corneous or calcareous matter deposited at its base, and the nutrition of which is effected by intus-susception. In all these animals there is a tendency in the teguraentary and reproductive portion of the body to harden, but the degree this solidification reaches varies much, and this alone determines the differences which exist betweeen the species distinguished by zoologists under the names of naked Polypes, Polypes with flexible polypidom, fleshy Polypes, and Polypes with stony polypidom. The cartilaginous or stony polypidom of a Sertu- laria or of a Zoanthus, is not, as is usually stated, a habitation which these animals build ; it is in some measure their membrane which forms the solid structure of their body, and which, in the same man- ner as the skeleton of vertebrate animals, assumes at one time a membranous form, at another a cartilaginous texture, and some- times a condition in some degree osseous." [A contrary opinion is taken by Dr. Johnston in his article on British Zoophytes, in the ' Mag. Zool. and Bot.' vol, i. p. 440. *' Now when we trace the formation of this axis through the various genera, from its first appearance in the form of scattered crystalline spicula until it graduates into a solid continuous rod, we can scarcely doubt its inorganic and extravascular character ; it is the crystalli- zation of calcareous matter excreted by the living polypiferous bark, and once excreted, beyond their power to change it, excepting by the addition of material of the same quality." — Edit.] COMPARISON OF THE STRUCTURE OF SUCCULENT PLANTS WITH THE SIGILLARI^. M. Link exhibited at the meeting of the Berlin Academy on the 23rd of July, 1838, some drawings showing the structure of the stem of arborescent succulent plants, with reference to the alleged Meteorological Observations. 215 similarity between them and the Sigillaria of a former world. It is certainly remarkable that numerous layers of bark are deposited one on the other, far more so than in all other trees, and one consequence of this is that they compress each other into a flattened shape, and that the outer bark falls off. The cells, however, of the new layers are flatter than in general. The ligneous bundles pass from the wood to the scars of the leaves ; and such a diff'erence in the form of these scars on the outer bark and beneath it, as that observed by Ad. Bron- gniart in the Sigillarice, was not perceptible. The wood is very thin, even in the thickest stems of succulent plants ; the bark and pith very thick ; they remain a long while succulent and then rot, so that their preservation among fossil bodies is very improbable. — From the Bericht iiber Verhandlungen der konigl. Preuss. Akad. zu Berlin. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR MARCH, 1839. Chiswick. — March 1. Cloudy. 2. Very fine. 3. Foggy: fine. 4. Cold haze. 5. Bleak and cold. 6. Frosty. 7. Sharp frost. 8. Cloudy and cold. 9. Frosty: fine. 10. Frosty: cloudy. 11. Dry haze. 12. Frosty: hazy. 13. Hazy. 14,1.5. Rain. 16. Fine. 17. Overcast. 18. Cold haze. 19. Cloudy: frosty at night. 20. Rain. 21. Cloudy: fine: rain. 22. Cloudy. 23, 24. Fine. 25. Overcast. 26. Dry haze. 27, 28. Showery. 29. Fine. SO. Cold dry haze. 51. Overeat: rain. JBoiton.— March 1—3. Cloudy. 4. Fine. 5. Cloudy. 6. Cloudy : hail and snow early a.m. : more snow p.m. 7. Cloudy : snow^ early a.m. 8. Stormy with snow. 9 — 12. Fine. 13 — 15. Rain: rain early a.m. 16. Cloudy: rain early A.M. 17. Cloudy. 18. Cloudy: snow a.m. 19,20. Cloudy, 21. Cloudy: rain a.m. 22—24. Cloudy, 25, 26. Fine. 27. Cloudy : rain early a.m. : rain a.m. 28. Cloudy : rain, hail, and snow with thunder and lightning p.m. 29— 31. Fine. Applegarth Manse, Dumfries-shire. — March 1. Occasional showers a.m. : heavy rain and wind p.m. 2. Fine spring day : little raw frost morning. 3. Clear day: wind rather piercing. 4, Cold and ungenial. 5. Cold: dry a.m. : slight snow P.M. 6. Calm cold day: frost keen. 7. The same : showers of snow p.m. : frost. 8. Cold and bleak : hills white ; frost continued. 9. Frost continuing : mod. barometer falling. 10. Still frosty: fine day though cold. 11. Snow two inches deep : frost giving way. 12. Snow gone : very chill and slight frost. 13. Temperate: wet afternoon. 14. Damp day : rain in the evening. 15. Calm moist day : drizzling p.m. 16. Spring day, though somewhat raw : rain P.M. 17. Cold and stormy : hills white : frost p.m. 18. Quiet day: frost gone : drizzling P.M. 19. Frosty morning : moderate: cloudy p.m. 20. Moist all day: rain heavy p.m. 21. Mild spring day : occasional slight showers : wind. 22. Boisterous morning, with severe snow showers. 23. Unsettled weather : slight showers, with wind. 24. Still very changeable : occasional showers. 25. Showery : unsettled : snow on the hills. 26. Hoar-frost morning : ice a quarter of an inch thick : rain p.m. 27. Heavy rain a.m. : cleared up : rain again p.m. 28. Rainy morning : cleared up and was fine. 29. Cold drying day : threaten- ing frost p.m. 30. Very cold and dry : cloudy p.m. 31. Cold: threatening rain came on p.m. Sun, 25 day;. Rain, 15 days. Frost, 10 days. Snow, 6 days. Wind southerly, 13 days. easterly, 9 days. . northerly, 7 days. Wind westerly, 2 days. Calm, 9 days. Moderate, 9 days. Brisk, 8 days. Strong breeze, 3 days. 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S rt lo^a^oOOo6^0000C>OOC^l0^6^ooa^O^CT^6^6^a^6^6^6^ o^ 05 |c?('Onc':)OC^r000i0>0(N'^(M'^iOOOC0ir)lOL0-ap*oc;0'?t O t^'O^^O'O'O t^C'5'*'^I>" (»CpOOOC_-~tpC;*C^'7'"^OOOcp(N-^0pOI^'O*p*Oi o^o^O O o a^o^o^O^O O O O o o^C^lO^O^O O^O^O^C^ CNC^'OCOCO'MO<pt^t^^^^9^'f^V^7l'Qp^ 666c66^a^6^6666666^0^^6b6a^<^c^6^<^c^6^c^o^c^6^ OOOQOfMQO'^VOXDOCf2^,■-' , '- oc»oO'7criC^6 o^o^6^6^6^C^C^la^a^£^O^0^ I a\ C^rO-^iO'Or-OOC^O — < 32 ^ / \ -^ Wss~j-j • \ V- ^K^ '^ 12- io Areolets or Cells. Nerves, a, hum era]. 1** Excurrent or Main Nerves b, subcostal. 1, costal. c, mediastinal or ulnar. 2, subcostal. d, radial. 3, mediastinal. /, cubital. 4, radial. y, radical. 5, cubital. e, praebrachial. 7, prasbrachial. i, pobrachial. 10, pobrachial. 0, anal. 12, anal. u, discoidal. 13, axillary. g^ 7i, k, external. 2° Recurrent or Cross Nerves. I, m, axillary. n, axillary lobe. 14, humeral. 6, praebrachial. 8, pobrachial. 9, discoidal. 11, subanal. Tribe Hydromyzid^e, Fall. Calyptra auricula inferiore quasi nulla *. Nervus media- stinus cum subcostali connatus, alee \ longitudinem vix per- tingens, * A little more apparent in Ochthera, r2 220 Mr. A. H. Haliday on the generic distribution AreolcE pobrachialis et analis perparvcBy modo nan semper incompletoi'^. Antennas breves^ articulo 1"*° inconspicuo. Arista quasi exarticulata, non nisi dorso pectinata. Fades convexa, absque foveolis im,embranaceis. Peristoma rotundatum. Mentum breve incrassatum, Tibice antica^ et posticce setis lateralibus expertes. Ovidepositorium femince plane reconditum t. Fallen in his ^Diptera Sueciae^ has divided this tribe into four genera, exclusive of Hydromyza. This number has been greatly multiplied by authors. All the genera added by Meigen appear to represent natural groups, but others equal- ly distinct remain confounded among the numerous Notiphilce and EphydrcE. I have therefore retained the groups proposed by him as well as by Desvoidy, adding a few which seem to be denoted by characters of equal importance. I have not thought it necessary to give all these the rank of genera, but have reverted to the limited number employed by Fallen, One of his [Psilopa) has been degraded, as not materially dif- fering from Notiphila. On the other hand, I have adopted the genus Hydrellia of Desvoidy, comprehending with it two allied groups unnoticed by him. I have not had occasion to refer much to Macquart ; as his arrangement, where it departs from those before named, does not seem to be improved in consequence. It is rarely that this can be objected to any portion of his classical work. For the determination of the species, nere as elsewhere, the Diptera of Europe by Meigen is the standard of reference. Macquart has added some to the number, and Desvoidy has described several Notipfdlce, Hy- drellicB and Hydrynce, apparently unnoticed by either, Generum Synopsis. Femora antica. {ovata incrassata, 1. Oclithera. subaequalia ; • For an exception see Ephydra nasica. The imperfection of the same areolets is a character of the OscinidcE also ; but in that tribe they become incomplete after attaining their full development in the Loxoceridce. This appears as well from the indication of their limit in the thickening of the nervures and the corresponding divarication of the radial and cubital nerves, as from the analogy of the last named tribe. f There is a slight exception in the subgenera Glenanihe and Te'idio- myza. of the British Hydromyzldae. 221 Q 1- / velutino-pilosi, 3. Hydrellia. \ glabri s. vage pubescentesn j^^^ 2. Notiphila. ;Tc'r2"o::7ex""guiculato, 4. Ephedra. Gen. 1. OCHTHERA, Latr. Pedes antici femoribus crassis ovatis, tibiis arcuatis acutis. Me- tatarsus posticus incrassatus. Areola prima exterior apice attenuata. Nervus discoidali-recurrens obliquatus. Corpus vix nisi nudum. Caput subtus attenuatum, subtrigonum : vertex impressus : oculi magni protuberantes : clypeus exertus, suborbiculatus. Palpi ex- erti dilatati. Arista dorso ciliis perpaucis pectinata. Abdomen de- planatum. Sp. 1. Mantis, O: nigra submetallica, abdominis margine albo- punctato. Latr. Hist. Nat. xiv. 391. Gen. Cr. Ins. iv. 347, tab. xv. fig. 10. Meig. D. Eur. vi. 78. tab. 58. fig. 18—21. Macq. S. aB. ii. 519. pi. xxi. fig. 7. — Musca id. DeGeer. Mem. vi. 143. pi. viii. fig. 15, 16. — Musca manicata. Fabr. Ent. Syst. iv. 334. — Tephritis id. Fabr. Antl. 323. — Ochthera id. Fallen Act. Holm. 1813. p. 244. — Hydrom. 2. Desv. Myod. 787. In marshes, from Dorsetshire to the Isle of Skye, and westward to the wilds of Connemara. Gen. 2. NOTIPHILA, Fall. Caput oblatum. Oculi subglabri. Antennae articulo 2*^ incras- sato unguiculato ; arista dorso pectinata. Mentum parum incrassa- tum. Alee plerumque unguiculatse. Suhgenerum Synopsis. J^ervus costalis alae apiceni ambiens ; aloe planae ; proboscis unigeiiiculata ; abdomen 5-unnulatum ; anteniiai articulo 3" oblongo, 5. Hygrella. suborbiculato, 6. Discocerina. quasi 3-annulatum, 4. Trimerina. bigeniculata, 7. Hecamede. postice deflexfe, 3. Discomyza. in alae apice desinens ; abdomen * maris apice spinosuin, 2. Dichteta. inerme, 1. Notiphila. 222 Mr. A. H. Haliday on the generic distribution Subg. 1. NOTIPHILA. Nervus costalis in alse apice evanescens. Tibise mediae extrorsum spinosae. Facies perpendicularis lateribus ciliata. Palpi dilatati. Abdomen depressum inerme. Sp. 1 . cinerea, N : thorace ferruginoso, abdomine cinereo ni- gro-maculato, facie fulvescente, palpis tibiis tarsisque ferrugi- neis. Fallen Act. Holm. 1813. p. 250.~Hydrom. 8. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 65. Macq. S. a B. ii. 521. pi. xxi. fig. 9. — Keratocera palustris, Desv. Myod. 88. — K.trapaSs fulvicornis, Ibid. 78. 9. Everywhere abundant in marshes. Desvoidy has observed that it deposits its eggs in the flowers of Potamogeton, Sp. 2. riparia, N : thorace ferruginoso, abdomine cinereo nigro- maculato, facie cinerea, palpis tibiis tarsisque ferrugineis, tibiis annulo nigro. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 65. Macq. S. aB. ii. 522. Found on the borders of the lake at Blarney Castle, county Cork. Sp. 3. uliginosa (Curtis App.), N : thorace ferruginoso, abdomine cinereo nigro-maculato, facie fulvescente, palpis pedibus nigris, tarsis ferrugineis ; m.f. 2 lin. In a marsh between GlengarifF and Adrighoule ; banks of the Shannon at Tarbert ; shores of Belfast Lough, much less common than the first species. Antennae and palpi black. Face tawny yellow. Frontals dull black. Vertex, orbits, and thorax rusty brown. Abdo- men cinereous, with a blackish spot at the sides of each seg- ment. Legs black, the tarsi (at least the two hinder pair) ferruginous. Halteres yellowish. Wings obscurely hyaline. Subg, 2. DiCH^TA, Meig. Abdomen maris convexum, apice bispinosum segmento penultimo margine pectinate. Characteres reliqui fere quales Notiphilce, Sp. 4. caudata, N : D : nigra obscura, facie fulvescente, tarsis fer- rugineis. Fallen Act. Holm. 1813. p. 249. Hydrom. 8. — Dichceta id. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 62. tab. 58. fig. 1—6. Macq. S. aB. ii. 521. pi. xxi. fig. 8. Found in England. Communicated by F. Walker, Esq. Subg. 3. DiscoMYZA, Meig. Alse abdomen non superantes, postice decurvse. Tibiae mediae of the British Hydromyzidse. 223 nisi apice nudae. Corpus depressum. Facies latissima rugosa. Ab- domen 4-annulatum, orbiculatum, planum, subdeflexum. Sp. 5. incurva, N: Discom: nigra tarsis posterioribus antennisque luteis. Psilopa id. Fallen, Hydrom. 6. — Discomyza id, Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 76. tab. 58. fig. 14—17. Macq. S. aB. ii. 529. pl.xxi. fig. 13. Found on the wooded cliflfs about Isle-oronsay in Skye ; Septem- ber. Runs swiftly, but scarcely flies. Subg. 4. Trimerina, Macq, Tibiae mediae nisi apice inermes. Alae planae abdomen non supe- rantes. Abdomen marginatum quasi 3-annulatum, i.^e. segmentis 1° et 5° minimis, tribus intermediis magnis. Facies perpendicularis. Antennae articulo 3° oblongo. Sp. 6. Madizans, N : Tr : nigricans submetallica, antennis femo- ribus anticis pedibusque posterioribus rufis. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813. p. 252. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 74. Ent. Mag. i. 178. — Psilopa id. Fallen, Hydrom. 7, — Trimerina id, Macq. S. aB. ii.529. Not uncommon on grassy banks, running actively and flying little. Subg. 5. Hygrella. Tibiae mediae nisi apice nudae. Abdomen immarginatum segmentis 5 subaequalibus. Alae abdomen superantes. Facies perpendicularis, lateribus ciliata. Antennae articulo 3° oblongo deflexo. Sp. 7. nitidula, N : H : obscure aenea, antennis tibiis tarsisque po- sterioribus ferrugineis, alis hyalinis. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813. p. 252. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 75,— Psi- lopa id. Fallen, Hydrom. 7. — Notiphila comta. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 68. — Hydrellia id, Macq. S.aB. ii. 524. — Keratocera viride- scens. Desv. Myod. 790 ? England ; communicated by F. Walker. Sp. 8. leucostoma, N : H ; obscure aenea, antennis pedibusque fer- rugineis, alis hyalinis nervo transverso fusco-cincto. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 68. tab. oS, fig. 12. — Hydrellia id. Macq. S.aB. ii.524. Common among aquatic plants. Subg. 6. DiscocERiNA, Macq, Tibiae mediae nisi apice nudae. Alae planae. Facies medio con- vexa lateribus ciliata. Antennae articulo 3^^ suborbiculato. Probos- cis basi tantum geniculata. 224 On the British Hydromyzidae. * Clypeus snbexertus brevissimus. Sp. 9. ohscurella, N : Discoc : nigricans, fronte thoraceque cine- rascentibus, facie exalbida, tarsis ferrugineis. Notiphila nigrina. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 69. — HydrelUa id. Macq. 3.^B. ii. 524. Var. (j. Antennis subtus et fronte antice ferrugiaeis. , Notiphila ohscurella} Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813. p. 251. Hydrom. 10. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 73. Var. y. Minor, thorace fusco, pedibus fere totis nigris. Common in moist grassy places ; var. /3. rare. Sp. 10. calceata,'^: Discoc : nigra subnitida, tarsis basi flavis, scu- telli disco subglabro. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 69. Not rare about streams. Sp. 1 1 . pulicaria, N : Discoc : nigra, tarsis fuscis, scutello pube- scente ; nervo pobrachiali non abbreviato. 1 lin. A minute species, with the wings scarcely exceeding the abdomen ; the base of the costal nerve more bristly and the radial rather shorter than in the others : the pobrachial scarcely abbreviate. Arista with only four or five hairs. Tho- rax and scutellum pubescent. Extremity of the abdomen glossy. Club of the halteres white. Wings obscure hyaline. Not common ; mostly found on windows. ** Clypeus exertus injlexus suhquadratus. Sp. 12. glabra, N : Discoc : nigra nitida, tarsis basi flavis, alls hya- linis, halteribus fuscis. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 69. — Dlscocerina id. Macq. S. aB. ii. 528. England. Communicated by F. Walker. Subg. 7. Hecamede, Curt. Guide, App. Tibiae nisi apice nudse. Facies tuberculata. Oculiaperistomate distantes. Proboscis bigeniculata. Antenna articulo 3^ orbiculato. Abdomen planum subdeflexum 4-annulatum, ventre toto coriaceo baud insecto. Alae abdomen non superantes. Sp. 13. albicans, N : Hec : albida, facie puncto nigro antennis tibiis tarsisque liavis. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 65. Macq. S. a B. ii. 522. On sandy coasts, especially on fresh marine rejectamenta ; runs fast and does not fly readily. [To be continued.] Mr. Charles C. Babington on Ranunculus aquatilis. 225 XXV. — On Ranunculus aquatilis of Smith. By Charles C. Babington, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., &c. Owing to the respect in which Sir J. E. Smith is justly held by English botanists, the plants included in the Batrachian section of the Ranunculi have been considered as forming only two species by all our native authors whose works have ap- peared since the publication of his ' Flora Britannica.' In that work, following the example of Linnaeus, he describes R. hederaceus and aquatilis as distinct species, including under the latter four species of Ray (Syn. 249.) and Sibthorp (Fl. Oxon. 175.) 3 ^^^ i^ is ^^^ ^ little surprising, that so bold an undertaking, as the destruction of three species, of authors so well known for their attention to the living plants, and for their discrimination of species (although, owing to the low state of descriptive botany, they may not have clearly defined their distinctive characters) should not have attracted more atten- tion from the practical botanists of this country. For several years I have taken every opportunity of study- ing these plants in their native waters, and am now fully con- vinced that R. aquatilis, circinatus and fluviatilis of Sibthorp are truly distinct species, having excellent and clearly distin- guishable characters when examined in a living state, although the pressure required in their preparation causes their differ- ences to be less remarkable when preserved in the herbarium. Upon reference to foreign books, it will be found that nearly all the more modern writers have divided the R, aquatilis of Smith into two or more species, but that owing to the diffi- culty of determining upon what characters dependence could be placed, it is only of late years that they have been correctly defined ; and the sceptical have been strongly confirmed in their doubts by observing that the learned DeCandolle, who described two species (i?. aquatilis and pantothrix) in his ^ Systema', has again formed them into only one in his ^ Pro- dromus'. This result might have been confidently predicted by any person who was well acquainted with the plants ; for he has not mentioned a single character which is not extremely variable, founding his distinctions upon some of the leaves being tripartite, or all of them multifid, and upon the gla- 226 Mr. Charles C. Babington on Ranunculus aquatilis. brous or hispid carpels ; points in which each of the plants described below is found to vary, except that tripartite leaves have never been noticed in R. circinatus. The idea that the different forms concerning which we are treating are caused by the plants being placed in stagnant or swiftly flowing water, or upon nearly dry land, was first, I be- lieve, started by Mr. Woodward in Withering's arrangement, and adopted by Smith, DeCandoUe, and others ; but I have constantly observed R. aquatilis and circinatus inhabiting, side by side, the same stagnant muddy water, or the same pure and swiftly flowing brook, and yet remaining totally unaltered and remarkably different ; I have also gathered R. fluitans in perfectly stagnant ditches, quite preserving its specific distinc- tion, and am convinced that the form and mode of division of the leaves will be found to constitute plain and constant spe- cific characters. I am confirmed in this view by Wallroth, who appears to have studied these plants with peculiar care, and by Gaudin, Mertens, Koch, Schlechtendal, Sturm, and others, who have kept the plants separate, and recorded ob- servations similar to my own. In R. aquatilis the submersed leaves (and sometimes, when growing upon mud, all the foliage) are divided into numerous capillary segments, which spread in all directions, so as to form a more or less spherical mass ; in R, circinatus they ai'c divided into capillary segments, but spread only in one plane, so as to present a thin flat surface with a well-defined circular outline, as if an additional quantity of parenchyma only was wanting to form them into an entire circular leaf, and they have not the slightest tendency to a spherical arrangement ; they are also invariably sessile, that is, have only the amplexicaule sheath between their limb and the stem, whilst in R. aquatilis they have usually a distinct petiole interposed which is often much elon- gated. In R. fluitans the leaves are upon long petioles, and very much elongated, and repeatedly dichotomous, with a long in- terval between the forks, the divisions taking a parallel direc- tion and not spreading into a spherical mass, nor yet remaining in one plane surface. The persistent style also and the shape of the carpels ought to be attended to ; in R. aquatilis the carpel is usually ovate. Mr. Charles C. Babington on Ranunculus aquatilis. 227 and tipped by the short straight blunt persistent style ; in R. crrcinatus the same part is semi-obovate^ and the style is twice or three times the length of that of R. aquatilis, and is acute and placed upon the extreme point of the nearly straight side of the carpel, towards which it curves over; in R.fluitans it is more regularly ovate than in either of the others, and bears the short straight persistent blunt style below the top upon the straighter side of the carpel. R, hederaceus is distinguished from these by the total want of capillary divided leaves, by having a truly creeping stem giving out roots from every joint, and its fe^- (5 — 10) sta- mens ; its flowers are usually very small, and the petals nar- row and scarcely as long as the calyx ; but I possess specimens which were floating upon deep water and whose roots did not reach the ground, in which the petals are broad and much longer than the calyx, yet agreeing in all other respects with this species. I now proceed to the description of the species. 1 . R. aquatilis, Linn. Caule natante, foliis submersis capillaceo- multifidis laciniis divergentibus undique patentibus, natantibus reniformibus tripartitis partitionibus lobatis, carpellis trans- versim rugosis subhispidis insequaliter ovatis apicula terminali obtusa instructis. R. aquatihs, Wallr. Sched. 282. Gaud. Fl. Helv. iii. 522. Mer- tens et Koch, Deut. Fl. iv. 148. Koch, Syn. 11. Bluff, et Fing. (ed. 2.) t. i. p. 2. 285. Reich. Fl. excurs. 719. Drejer. Fl. Hafn. 191. a. heterophyllus, Wallr. Foliis emersis reniformibus. R. aquatilis, Rail Syn. (ed. 3.) 249. Eng. Bot. 101. R. aquatilis, a, Linn. Sp. PI. 781. Sm. Fl. Br. ii. 596. Eng. FL iii. 54. Hooker, Br. Fl. (ed. 4.) 218. DC. Syst. i. 234. Prod, i. 26. R. heterophyllus, Sibth. Fl. Oxon. 175. /3. pantothrix. Foliis omnibus capillaceo-multifidis. R. aquatilis omnino tenuifolius. Ray, 249. R. aquatilis, y, Lison. 782. R. aquatilis, Sibth. 175. R. aquatihs, /3. Sm. Fl. Br. ii. 596. Engl. Fl. iii. 54. R. aquatilis, e et «^, Koch, Syn. 11. a. capillaceus, Wallr. Caule natante. 228 Mr. Charles C. Babington on Ranunculus aquatilis. R. pantothrix, a, capillaceus, DC. Sys. i. 235. R. aquatilis, /3, capillaceus, DC. Prod, i. 26. R. capillaceus, " ThuiL" Lois. Fl. Gall. i. 391. b. ccespitosus. Caulibus erectis brevibus. R. pantothrix, /3, caespitosus, DC. Sys. i. 236. (Syn. Sibth. excl.) R. aquatihs, y, caespitosus, DC. Prod. i. 26. R. caespitosus, " Thuil." Lois, i, 391. R. Bauhinii, Tausch in Ann. Sc. Nat. (1835.) p. 57 ? a and /3, a. Frequent in ponds, ditches and streams. /3, b. On mud in places where water has stagnated, but after- wards disappeared. Stems long, floating upon or near to the surface of the water, throwing out fibrous roots from its lower joints ; in var, p. b. the stems are numerous, short, erect, much branched, slightly decumbent and rooting at the base, and thereby form- ing small dense upright tufts. Leaves all more or less stalked mth a sheathing stipule-like base, when below the surface of the water divided into very numerous capillary segments, spreading in all directions from their base so as to form a spherical mass ; when floating they are three-lobed, the lobes being tw^o or three crenate, or divided into a similar number of segments, which are usually obtuse but sometimes acute ; the intermediate lobe has usually three simple divisions, and the lateral ones two, each of which is often again slightly di- vided into two or three parts ; in var. p, a, the leaves are all capillaceo-multifid, and in var. yS. b., from growing wholly in the air, the segments have a much greater tendency up- wards, but still retain the divergent character of the species forming part of a sphere. In var, a a somewhat similar struc- ture is sometimes noticed in the intermediate leaves, when growing in water, which is liable to great differences of level, so as to leave the plant at times nearly dry, but in that case the segments are flattened and linear with parallel sides, or slightly narrowed towards their point, and not setaceous. Flowers w^hite, rising above the surface of the water, very variable in size. Petals white, with the base yellow, broad and blunt, with a naked nectariferous pore at their base, al- ways longer than the sepals, which are deciduous, smooth, pale green, elegantly marked with numerous slender dark lines Mr. Charles C. Babington on Ranunculus aquatilis. 229 near to their diaphanous white margins. Stamens numerous. Carpels in dense roundish heads, unequally ovate, tipped with the short obtuse persistent straight style, transversely wrinkled, usually, together with their torus minutely bristly. 2. R. circinatus, Sibth. Caule natante, foliis omnibus sessilibus capillaceo-multifidis laciniis in planum orbiculare dispositis te- retiusculis abbreviatis 2 — 3-furcellatis, carpellis trans versim ru- gosis glabriusculis gibboso-obovatis apicula laterali elongata ar- cuata acuta instructis. R. aquaticus albus, circinatis tenuissime divisis foliis ex alis longis pediculis innixis. Ray, 249. R. aquatilis, (3. Linn. 781. R. circinatus, Sibth. 175. Reich. 719. Drejer, 192. R. aquatilis, y. Sm. Fl, Br, ii. 596. Eng. FL iii. 54. (Syn. DC. excl.) Hook. 218. R. aquatilis, h, stagnalis, DC. Prod. i. 27. R. stagnatilis, Wallr. 285. (Syn. DC. excl.) R. pantothrix, /3. Gaud. iii. 524. R. divaricatus, Koch, 12. Bluff, et Fing. 285. In still water and also in brooks and rivers, probably frequent. 1 have gathered it in the canal near Bath ; in Henlield level, Sussex ; in the river Soar near Leicester ; in Reche load and near Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire. Stems long, ascending, seldom spreading much near the surface of the water, throwing out a few long fibrous roots from the lower joints, after branching at all the joints, ex- cept a few of the upper ones. Leaves small, sessile, always immersed, having a brassy tinge, terminating below in a short slightly sheathing stipule-like base ; the limb is divided into numerous, rigid, two, three, or four times forked, short, terete, capillary segments, all lying exactly in one plane, which has a very regular orbicular outline. Flowers large, similar to the last, but the sepals are much more deciduous, blunter, and have much narrower diaphanous margins. Carpels in dense roundish heads, semiobovate, laterally tipped by the long acute persistent incurved style, transversely wrinkled, usually gla- brous, sometimes slightly bristly. 3. R.fluitans, Lam. Caule fluitante, foliis longe petiolatis repe- tito di- veltrichotomis, laciniis longissimis linearibus parallelis, f . superioribus subsessiHbus, carpellis trans versim rugosis gla- bris obovatis apicula laterali brevi obtusa recta instructis. 230 Mr. Charles C. Babington on Ranunculus aquatilis. R. sive Polyanthemo aquatili albo affine. Millefolium, Maratri- phyllonfluitans. Ray, 376. R. aquatilis, I. Linn. 782. 8m. FL Br. ii. 596. Eng. Ft. iii. bb. R. fluitans. Lam. FL Fr. iii. 164. EeicTi. 719. Koch, 12. Gaud, iii. 525. Blvff. ct Fing. 286. Drej. 192. R. fluviatiJis,S'e6/7i.l76. Wallr. 284. St. Amans,Fl. Agen. (v^r.a.) R. pantothrix, y. peucedanifolius, DC, Syst. i. 236. R. aquatilis, e. peucedanifolius, DC. Prod. i. 27. R. peucedanifolius, " All. Ped, No. 1469 .''" Schlech. in Linna;a (1831) 576. Host. ii. 118 } Lois. i. 392. In rivers and also in stagnant water. I have seen it in a perfectly stagnant ditch at Mildenhall, Suffolk. Stems thick, very long, sometimes even twenty or thirty feet in length, floating near to the surface of the water, pro- ducing a few fibrous roots from the lower joints, branched; the internodes very long. Leaves, including their long petioles, from three inches to a foot or more in length, divided at long- intervals in a di- or trichotomous manner, the segments very long, linear, rather flat and nearly parallel to each other ; the upper leaves are often nearly sessile, and sometimes but rarely divided into a few short segments %vhich are dilated towards their points, not linear or narrowed towards the point as in R, aquatilis when this structure occurs : very rarely upper floating leaves are found which are " half trifid, truncate, and broader than long^' : usually all the leaves have the same di- vided structure. The stipules are narrow, elongated, and in- conspicuous, except in the upper part of the plant, where they are broad and sheathing. Flow^ers large, resembling those of R, aquatilis. Carpels obovate, slightly gibbous, laterally tipped by the short obtuse persistent straight style, trans- versely wrinkled, usually, as well as the torus, slightly bristly. R.fluviatilis,Bige\o\v, ^Boston Flora,^ 139, which Smith notices as a totally different species from this, is now referred by Torrey and Gray, ^ Fl. of N. Amer.^ i. 20. to R, Purshii, Rich., in ^ Hook. Fl. Br.-Amer.' It is probable that this species ought to have been called R. peucedanifolius after Allioni ; but not being certain of the correctness of that synonym, 1 have adopted R. fluitans, Linm., as the next oldest and the most generally employed name. St. John's Coll., Cambridge, March 18, 1839. Mr. Patterson on the Common Limpet. 231 XXVI. — On the Common Limpet (Patella vulgaris), considered as an article of food in the North of Ireland. By Robert Patterson, Esq., Treasurer for the Belfast Museum. In the month of May 1835, I passed some time in the vici- nity of the sea-port town of Larne, county of Antrim, and could not avoid noticing the number of persons who were en- gaged at low water in collecting limpets. On inquiry I found that they were sought by many as an addition to their ordi- nary food ; while others were employed in procuring them for sale. These people informed me, that ten women, inhabitants of the town of Larne, were thus occupied, and sold on an average four quarts of ^'^the fish^^ daily. The word "fish^^ was invariably employed by them to designate the animal when removed from the shell ; and about five pints of limpets as gathered from the rocks were required to produce one quart of " the fish,^^ which was sold in Larne for twopence. Their average earnings would at this rate have amounted to about eight pence per day. At particular seasons, these peo- ple collect dullesh (Rodomenia palmata), and sloke or laver {Porphyra vulgaris, &c.), which are either sold in Larne or carried to other towns. In the month of July 1837, I was again in the same locality, and renewed my inquiries on the subject. At this time very great and general distress prevailed in many parts of the king- dom, and the neighbourhood of Larne had not escaped. Those whose means did not enable them to purchase bread, were driven to extremities to procure food, and the productions offered by the beach, formed a natural, though very precarious resource. To some of these poor people the sabbath was not always a day of rest. Necessity drove them forth to collect the scanty repast which an examination of the rocks about the coast might afford. Of this I saw no instance at Larne, but further northward on the morning of Sunday the 25th of June 1837, 1 observed many persons thus occupied on a ledge of low rocks, lying between Cairnlough and Drumnasole. The absence of other employment and the scarcity of food, occasioned, as might be supposed, a great increase of the 232 Mr. Patterson 07i the Comynon Limpet. limpet gatherers about Larne. Some of them stated their entire number to be above forty, and none estimated it at less than thirty. One ferryman assured me that nineteen people had in one day crossed in his boat to " Island Magee/' to collect limpets on the more retired shores of that peninsula. They also seized with avidity any opportunity of visiting the Maiden Rocks, on which, as they are some miles distant from the coast, the limpets were plentiful, and were allowed to at- tain their full size. From the greater number of persons employed about Larne and Island Magee, in searching for limpets, they wxre be- coming towards the end of July difficult to be obtained, and that w Oman considered herself fortunate who could then earn by collecting them sixpence per day. The average of their earnings at that period would not, I was assured, much ex- ceed fourpence. A rather anomalous circumstance must how- ever be mentioned. Though the limpets were in greater de- mand than ever, the price did not advance ; on the contrary, from the increased competition of the sellers, it fell from two- pence to three halfpence per quart. Some persons in the spring of 1837, were employed in gathering limpets so early as February, but few do so until the month of March is far advanced. In May "the fish" are in their prime, and on some parts of the County Down shore, the plumpness which they assume in this month is with great simplicity attributed to " the May dew." The season is over by the middle of August*. It may be regarded therefore as lasting for five months ; or as the beginning and ending do not afford employment to the same number of people as the time when it is at its height, four months may be computed as the period of active exertion. It would be difficult, or rather it would be quite impossible, to form any correct estimate of the quantity of limpets col- lected this season about Larne and the adjacent peninsula of "Island Magee." Some rude approximation to the result may however be obtained. ♦ On the 10th of Sept. 1838, when spending a day at Larne, I met one of my old friends the limpet gatherers, with her bag filled with limpets, which she had just been collecting for sale. The trade is therefore carried on later in tlie autumn than stated above. Mr. Patterson on the Common Limpet. 2.33 It may be remarked,, that almost no limpets are collected there on the Sundays or during severe weather. On the other hand^ there are women and children who are in the habit of coming frequently to the rocks and collecting for their own use. The extra quantity withdrawn in the latter way, may fairly counterbalance the diminished consumption occasioned by the recurrence of the former causes ; so that all these con- siderations may perhaps, without much error, be excluded from the following calculation. Assuming that the smaller number of persons is the more correct, we have this year (1837) thirty individuals employed for four months or one hundred and twenty days, and selling daily four quarts of limpets. The total quantity thus sold would be 14,400 quarts, which at three halfpence per quart would amount to 83/. 15*. As however the rate at the com- mencement of the season was two pence, and that price was always obtained for " horned *^^ limpets, and for those sold in the country, the money actually realized would exceed 100/. Three quarts of the boiled limpets were found by a friend to weigh 5 lb. 2 oz. Five quarts weighed in my presence gave 9 lbs. The average of our two trials gave a weight of 1 lb. 12oz. to each quart. According to these data, the actual weight sold this season, would be 25,200 lbs. or eleven and a quarter tons. The weight as carried from the beach is however much greater, for in addition to that of the animal, there is that of the shell, and of a small quantity of sea-water which it con- tains. I found that while five quarts of limpets weighed 9 lbs. the shells of the same " fish^^ weighed 13 lbs. making the total w^eight of the animals and their shells 22 lbs. If therefore 9 lbs. of the limpets amount with their shells to 22 lbs., the total quantity as before stated, 25,200 lbs. would give an aggregate of 61,600 lbs., or twenty seven and a half tons. If we wish to know however the actual weight of the mol- lusca and their shells removed from the coast, we must recol- lect that whelks or periwinkles [Turbo littoreus, Linn.) are col- lected along with the limpets. These are sold in their shells * The process of " horning" consists in seizing the head, from which, when boiled, the tentacula or " horns" invariably project, and pulling it from the body with the intestinal canal attached, thus freeing " the fish" from all im- purities. Ann, Nat. Hist. Vol. 3. No. 17. Jwwe 1839. s 234 Mr. Patterson on the Common Lirnpet, at one penny per quart*. In a large-sized can containing twenty quarts, the weight of the limpets was 22 lbs., that of the whelks 12 lbs. Whether the proportion of '^ whelks ^^ may not have been greater than usual is uncertain. If however they constituted as in this case more than one third of the en- tire, we shall perhaps not be far wrong in stating, that the weight of whelks and limpets, as removed from the shore this season, could not have been less than forty tons. As a natural sequel to the preceding observations, it may be interesting to glance at the consumption of some marine testacea as food in the adjoining county of Down. At Holly- wood, four miles from Belfast, the coast is destitute of rocks, and consequently of limpets, but their absence is amply com- pensated by very extensive beds of muscles [Mytilus edulis), which supply an important article of diet to the poorer classes in the village. The shells are in general allowed to accumulate about their habitations until they become sufficiently nume- rous to fill a cart. They are then sold to lime-burners, who spread them on the lime at the top of their kilns, and consider that when thus placed they facilitate the combustion. Large quantities of muscles are carried by the poor venders into Bel- fast ; and sometimes a boat laden at the muscle-bank, will dis- charge her cargo on one of the tow^n wharfs, whence it is carted off and prepared for market. At Bangor, six miles nearer to the entrance of the Lough, the shore becomes rocky with the occasional intervention of sandy bays. No one here makes a business of selling hmpets, but many poor people are glad to collect them, to eke out their scanty repast. At Donaghadee, four miles distant, they are found in large quantities. Nor are they used merely as an article of human food ; they become of some importance in the economy of the farm-yard as feeding for swine. After being removed from the shells, they are thrown back into the water in which they have been boiled ; and with the ad- dition of a little oaten meal, are regarded as nutritive and highly salutary. To such an extent does this conviction pre- vail among the small farmers living along the coast, that even * Ten large sacks filled with " whelks " were lately landed on the quay at Belfast. My informant did not inquire from what part of the coast they had been collected. M. Lund on Fossil Mammifera discovered in Brazil. 233 when the limpets are retained as food for their household, '• the brew" is carefully laid aside for their swine, especially if the animals appear at all sickly. From Donaghadee to the entrance of Strangford Lough, limpets furnish to the humbler classes a valuable supply of food, and their general use is attested by the vast quantity of shells which may occasionally be seen about their dwellings. In conclusion it may be remarked, that oysters [Ostrea edulis) and cockles {Cardium edule) are found in such abundance in some parts of the County Down shore that they cannot be overlooked in any notice, however slight, of the marine tes- tacea of that coast. Additional Note. — By Robert Ball, Esq. of Dublin, I am informed that limpet shells are seen lying in prodigious heaps, about the very old round houses, in the south island of Arran. He does not think that limpets are consumed to the same ex- tent by the present inhabitants of the island ; they are in com- mon use among the very poorest people on the coasts of Water- ford and Cork. XXVIL — Extract from a Letter ofVL, Lund on the Fossil Mammifera discovered by him in Brazil *. Lagoa Santa, Nov. 5, 1838. Ever since my arrival in Brazil, five years ago, I have continued to devote my particular attention to the fossil vertebrate animals which abound in the caverns. You will have some idea when I tell you that I have already collected 75 distinct species of Mammifera alone, belonging to 43 genera, that is to say, equaling in number of spe- cies, and exceeding in genera, the animals which actually inhabit the same country. The portion of Brazil which I have most carefully investigated is comprised between the rivers of Rio das Velhas and the Rio Paraopeba. This country forms an elevated plain 2000 feet above the level of the sea, and is traversed in its centre by a chain of mountains 300 — 700 feet in height, which is formed of secondary limestone stratified in horizontal beds, and possessing all the charac- ters of the Zechstein or Hohlen-Kalkstein of the Germans (cavern limestone). It is entirely perforated with caverns and traversed in all directions by fissures which are more or less filled with the red earth identical with that forming the superficial stratum of the di- * From an extract given by Victor Audouin, to whom the letter was ad- dressed, in the Comptes Rendus, No. 15, Avril 1839. s2 23G Mr. E. Forbes' Botanical Excursion to strict. This bed, which varies from 10 to 50 feet in thickness, covers indiscriminately and vi^ithout interruption the plains, valleys, hills, and even the gentle slopes of the mountains. It consists principally of clay containing subordinate strata of gravel and quartz pebbles, and is frequently ferruginous to such a degree, that the particles of iron are converted into pistholitic iron ore resembling that which fills the fissures of the Jura. The soil which fills the caverns has undergone some modifications, arising from its introduction and sojourn in them; 1st, it contains angulose or rounded fragments of limestone ; 2nd, it is hardened by the particles of lime deposited in its interior by the waters charged with this substance filtrating through the fissures of the rock ; 3rd, it is impregnated with saltpetre, and is on this account explored by the inhabitants of the country. It is in this soil that the fossil bones are found ; they are deposited pell-mell, are fragile, very white in their fracture, and adhere strongly to the tongue. Frequently they are petrified, more often converted into calcareous spar. In general they are broken or mu- tilated, and, lastly, they frequently bear the impressions of teeth, leaving no doubt that the animals to which they belonged had been dragged into these caverns by ferocious animals then inhabiting them. The larger ones have been introduced by various carnivo- rous Mammifera and the smaller ones by a diurnal bird. At the present day not a single ferocious animal of the Mammi- fera sojourns in these caverns, and none accumulate masses of bones comparable to those we find in the diluvial deposits. At the utmost, we find in the modern excavations bones of small animals scattered at the surface, which had served as prey to a nocturnal bird, the Terror (Effraie) of Brazil, Strix perlata, Licht. [We shall give the list of the fossils in one of our next numbers. — Edit.] XXVIII. — Notices of a Botanical Excursion to the Mountains of Ternova in Carniola. By Edward Forbes^ M.W.S. ; For. Sec. B.S., &c. In the chain of the Julian Alps, nearly opposite Goritzia, is a district called the Forest of Ternova, reserved by the Austrian government for the use of its navy, on account of the fine tim- ber therein found. It consists of a group of well-wooded mountains, of from 4000 to 5000 feet above the level of the sea. The highest summits are bare and rocky, but the general forai of the hills is round-backed. They rise from an elevated plain, the Mountains of Ternova. 237 which itself is the summit of an extended elevation raised as it were on the high plain of the Karst. My distinguished friend Mr. Tommasini, of Trieste, has for some time past been occupied with a Flora of Illyria, and these mountains have furnished him with some of its richest ornaments, they having been scarcely examined since the days of Scopoli. There still remained several elevations of the group to be explored, and as the promise of a good harvest was great, I gladly accepted the invitation of M. Tommasini to join him in an excursion to the unexplored part. Accord- ingly I met him at Goritzia on Tuesday, the 26th of June, and on the same day, with a proper stock of materials, botanical and gastronomical, vascula and bottles, boards, plates, bread and paper, we set oiF in a wicker cart for the mountains, our first object being to reach the village of Chapovano, in the heart of the forest (a distance of about 30 miles), by night. After following the course of the river Izonzo, remarkable for the white colour of its waters, we commenced ascending the mountains at about 6 miles from Goritzia. The point of ascent is the locality given by Reichenbach for the true A thmnant a Mat- thioli of Wulfen,the only known locality, and there we found it. But assuredly it does not specifically differ from the Athaman- ta rupestris of Scopoli, which I had gathered the week before at its recorded habitat near Trieste. The differences arise from situation, and are in themselves scarcely sufficient to consti- tute a variety, much less a species. Had Reichenbach seen ths two plants in their native stations he would doubtless have recognized their identity ; but he has probably in this case, as in many others, been deceived by the fallacious experiment of cultivation ; assuredly no test of specific character, as the fleet- ing difference of the field not unfrequently becomes (abnorm- ally) permanent in the garden. Along with the Athamanta grew the Phyteuma Scheuchzeri and the Dianthus monspeliacus. After rattling up and down several steep hills in our basket- like vehicle we changed it for ponies at a village a few miles beyond the church of Monte Santo, and commenced ascend- ing again. On the way the Flora gradually changed from that of the Karst to a more alpine character, and the vegetation assumed a more northern aspect. Phyteuma nigra, certainly only a variety of Phyteuma spicata, which grew along with it. 238 Mr. E. Forbes^ Botanical Excursion to ornamented the road side in company with Cirsium scrratu- loides. My companion was delighted to find ^cropliularia verna, a plant much prized in his country. At Chapovano^ our destination for the nighty we found a tolerable village inn, and after a hearty supper of omelettes we slept soundly until 4 o'clock on Wednesday morning, when we proceeded to ascend the neighbouring mountain of the Stoddar. Our way lay up a steep slope, so covered with rare and beautiful plants that it resembled a garden run wild. All the colours of the rainbow were represented amid the grass, for the richest plants were in full flower. There w^ere Lilium carniolicwn and bul- biferum, with their gorgeous flame-coloured petals ; the modest pink of Hieracium incarnatum ; the bright yellow Biscutella £ind Cineraria ', the blue of Campanula carnica; Veronica pro- strata and the Gladiole, with its brilliant purple blossoms. Here and there Cytisus angustifolius waved its golden flowers above our heads, whilst Aquilegia Sternbergii flourished in its shade. Most of the plants I saw around me were new to me ; for though the vegetation resembled generically that of the Va- lerian Alps of Switzerland, s/?eci^c«% it almost entirely differed. Every now and then however some well-known acquaintance, such as Rhododendron ferrugineum or Tofieldia palustris, re- minded me of my alpine rambles. One of the rarest flow ers which there grew was Primula carnioticay but its time of flower- ing was nearly over, and most of the specimens were in fruit. Afler recovering from the first shock of the novel and beauti- ful florabefore me, my Po /?/^a/«-hunting propensities came into full action. I sought and I found : for among quantities of Polygala vulgaris 1 discovered a few stalks oiPolygala austri- aca, and higher up the pretty plant grew in great plenty. It delighted my friend as much as myself, being an addition to the Flora of Carniola. Near the summit we found a new locality for one of the rarest plants in Europe, the Pleurospermum Go- laka, a native of these mountains only ; its time of flowering had not yet come. The summit itself was covered with bushes of Rosa alpina and Spartium radiatum, which only flourishes on mountain tops where the winds prevail. The view from the Stoddar is truly magnificent : in front the valley of Idria ; behind the gigantic mountains of the Terglon, capped with perennial snows j far beneath and ai'ound, the thick forests of the Mountains of Ternova. 239 Ternova and the fearful precipice of the Budanowitz, a moun- tain of great height^ cleft as it were from its summit to its base, adds not a little to the grandeur of the scene. From the Stod- dar we traversed the forest at a considerable elevation (about 3500 feet) to the Budanowitz_, but had no small trouble with our guides and porters on the way. The peasantry of these mountains are Sclavonian and speak a dialect of that language ; a very few know some words of Italian. Much is said about travellers corrupting the virtue of the Swiss mountaineers, but certainly in knavery the Carniolian peasants excel them ; they must be born knaves, as no travel- lers visit these mountains, and certainly no Englishmen. Yet although M. Tommasini spoke their language and knew their habits, they contrived to cheat, lie, beg, and annoy us through- out our excursion. They are as ugly as they are roguish. In the forest we found Oar damme bifolia and sylvatica, three species oiDentaria, Aremonia Agrimonioides, Omphalodes verna, Atragene alpina, Paederota Ageria, Carex firma, pedata, tenuis and mucronata. The rare Euphorbia carniolica was also extremely abundant. On the Budanowitz we gathered Gentiana Frolichii, assuredly distinct from Gentiana acaulis, and not to be confounded with the variety of the latter called angustifo- lia, in Switzerland. Here also we obtained Achillea Clavennce, Saxifraga crustata,Orobusfiaccidus,Kernera saxatilis, Astran- tia carniolica, Salix Wulfenii, Apargia incana, Betonica Alope- curus and Polygala alpestris. It is of importance to observe that in these mountains Polygala alpestris, P, austriaca and P. vulgaris all grow at the same elevation and never pass into each other. I regard them as truly distinct species. We descended to a hamlet called Lagua, where we dined. On our way down we found Sambucus racemosa. Primula ela- tior (the true plant) in fruit, Bpirma ulmifolia, and Arnica austriaca ; also a Myrrhis regarded by M. Tommasini as un- described. From Lagua we journeyed on ponies through the forest to Doll, a small village distant 12 miles. Except Pyrola uniflora, here very rare, nothing of interest occurred on the way. Both Lagua and Doll are situated on the elevated table land of the forest. This table land is about 3000 feet and up- w^ards above the level of the sea. At Doll we stopped and slept. The object of our Thursday's excursion was to ascend the 240 Botanical Excursion to the Mountains of Ternova. highest mountains of the forest, namely the Golaks (385 toises high). Our guide was an old forester, but missing his way he misled us sadly, and I have seldom been obliged to scramble so much or so inconveniently as during the ascent of the Maligolak. Our scratched faces and torn clothes (tra- vellers carry few coats) bore evidence of our toil for some time afterwards. The general aspect of the vegetation was similar to what we had seen the two preceding days, but se- veral plants of great interest and novelty diversified it. In the wood we found Lonicera coerulea and nigra, Hacquetia Epi- pactis and Salix Kitaibeliana. Towards the summit of the Golaks Pinus Mughus grew in great plenty ; also Silene quadri- dentata, Car ex capillaris, Apargia fcetida, and that variety of Gnaphalium dioicum which Don named Gnaphalium hyperbo- reum. Though the weather was warm and the month June, in consequence of the lateness of the season, much snow lay around us, which we turned to good account by manufacturing ice- punch, being well provided with materials, wherewith to drink the health and happiness of Queen Victoria with all the honours, this being the coronation day. The snow was use- ful in another respect also, for in its neighbourhood we found Gentiana angulosa in beautiful flower, a great gratification to myself, as I had despaired of seeing its blossoms; hitherto all the specimens I had found were in fruit. We found no other plants of interest before descending to the Karst, when we gathered the beautiful Campanula spicata in fine condition, also Geranium macrorrliizon 2indi Anthriscus fumarioides. The botanical part of our excursion was now at an end ; and once more reclining in a wicker car, we jogged on to Goritzia, well loaded with treasures, and arrived there at midnight. During this excursion I found but few land shells. Helix verticellus and H. planospira were common in the woods. Se- veral good species of Clausilia, Vitrina elongata, and Cyclo- stoma elegans also occurred. The greatest rarities were a few specimens gathered on the summit of the Maligolak of two of the scarcest and most interesting European Pupce, viz. Pupa pagodula and Pupa Kokeilii. The latter is a trochiform Pupa •with a ringent mouth, and forms a natural link between Pupa and Helix ; it was first described by Rossmassler, who received it from Carinthia about a year and a half ago. Jn.?i.JValMi'^t. [U.m.fl v. Ti rf. / T V ^ ■ Z. Fl0: J. 1 Cfjmoc Mimihariiu. ZCJIunndzjas. Jf.fipMrelU. Cka'M. Ciuiu, dfl. J Basire, liSt. Sir P. Grey Egerton on the Wild Cattle of England. 241 XXIX,— On the Wild Cattle of England, By Sir Philip Grey Egerton, M.P., F.R.S., &c. To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. Gentlemen, As no mention was made in Mr. Hindmarsh^s communication to the British Association at Newcastle, " On the Wild Cattle of Chillingham Park*/^ of the existence formerly of a breed of wild cattle at Bishops Auckland, the following extract may be worthy of record : — It is copied from a MS. in my posses- sion, entitled, " The Second Yeares Travell. thorow Scottland and Ireland, 1635.^^ The writer passes a few^ days on his road to Scotland ^' att Bishoppe- Auckland w<^^ Dr. Moreton, Bi- shoppe of Durham : who maintaines great hospitalitie, in an orderly well-governed house, and is a verye worthy Reverend Bishoppe.^^ After describing the palace, '^ chapples,^^ &c., he mentions ^^ A daintie stately parke : where-in I saw wild bulls and kine : w<^^ had 2 calves runers ; there are about 20 wild beasts all white : will nott endure yo^ approach : butt if they bee enraged or distressed, verye violent and furious : their calves will bee wonderous fatt.^^ I have the honour to be Your obedient servant, Philip Grey Egerton. XXX. — On three undescribed Species of the Genus Cimex, closely allied to the Common Bed-Bug. By the Rev. Leo- nard Jenyns, M.A., F.L.S., &c.t [With a Plate.] I AM not aware that any entomologist has described more than one species of the genus Cimex, as restricted at the pre- sent day, although Latreille has alluded to a second, found on • See Mr. Hindmarsh's paper, vol. ii. p. 282, which also contains notices of the existence of this breed at Hamilton, Lynn Park, Chartley Park ; and formerly at Burton Constable, and Drumlanrig, with ancient descriptions of them from Hector Boethius and Bishop Leslie. t Read to the Natural History Section of the British Association at New- castle, August 23, 1 838 ; and communicated by the Author. 242 Rev. L. Jenyns on three undescribed species of Cimex. swallows *5 which he thought would prove to be distinct from the common bed-bug f. A year or two since I had occasion to destroy a great number of martins' nests, when I found them swarming with the species just alluded to, which on being compared w ith the C. lectularius of authors, offered se- veral obvious diiferences. A short time afterwards I obtained a third species, equally distinct and equally well characterized, from the Pipistrelle bat, to which I can find no allusion what- ever. And very lately I have been favoured by Mr. West- wood with specimens of a fourth species found on pigeons, which though often met with before, has not been generally considered as distinct from the one found in houses. I beg to draw the attention of entomologists to these three unde- scribed insects, which acquire an interest from their parasitic habits, beyond what they might possess on other accounts. As they are all closely allied to the common bed-bug which is so well known, 1 shall not enter into a detailed account of their characters ; but merely point out the differential marks by which each is distinguished from the others as well as from the C, lectularius of authors. And I shall commence with the species found on pigeons, from its bearing a closer resem- blance to the one just mentioned than either of the two others. C, columbarius, Nob. On comparing this species with the common house-bug, it will be found to be smaller and of a more orbicular form. The antennce are shorter, and the joints not quite so slender ; and the difference in length between the third and fourth joints not so considerable. The thorax is rather less hollowed out in front, the anterior angles less produced, and the sides less reflexed. The abdomen more nearly approaches to round, the lateral margins being very much curved, and the greatest breadth exactly in the middle ; whereas in the house-bug the lateral margins are at first but little curved, and the greatest breadth rather behind the middle. The colours, as well as the * Reg. Anim. (2nd edit.) torn. v. p. 201. t There is also allusion to " the discovery of a new and winged species of Cimex {C. domeslicay by M. Schilling, in the "Journal of Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London," (vol. i. p. 4.) but neither its cha- racter nor its habitat are annexed. Rev. L. Jenyns on three undescribed species of Cimex. 243 punctures and the degree of pubescence, are similar in the two species. C. Hirundinis, Nob. This species is rather less than the C. columbarius, and in respect to form, different from both that and the C. lectularius. The antenn(B are comparatively short, and the third joint is scarcely, if at all, longer than the fourth. The eyes are not so prominent. The thorax is much less hollowed out in front, the anterior angles but little produced, and the sides scarcely at all reflexed. The scutellum is wider at the base or more transverse, and does not project so far backwards. The elytra are less coarsely punctured. The abdomen is not so broad, and more rounded at the apex ; the sides regularly curved. The whole insect is more pubescent. The colour is ferrugi- nous inclining to testaceous, darker than in the common bed- bug ; and the head and thorax are much clouded with fuscous. In one specimen the legs are spotted, at or near the joints, with this last colour. There are also some fuscous spots on the abdomen. The young, or pupce, have the abdomen much narrower than the perfect insect, inclining to oblong. C. Pipistrelli, Nob. The antennas of this species are of an intermediate length between those of the C. lectularius and those of the C. colum- barius ; and the third joint is obviously longer than the fourth. The eyes are prominent. The thorax has a moderately deep excavation in front, and the sides are partially reflexed. The abdomen is narrower than in either of the above-named spe- cies, and much more attenuated posteriorly, the greatest breadth being rather before the middle. The thighs are more incrassated. The whole insect is very pubescent, approaching to hispid ; and rather coarsely punctured. The colour is dark ferruginous-ochre, glistening with a faint metallic or sub- aeneous hue, not perceptible in any of the other species. The legs and antennae are a shade paler than the abdomen, and as well as this last, without spots. I shall annex a synoptic view of the specific characters of 244 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. all the four species drawn up with reference to the above dif- ferences. 1 . C lectularivs. — Ferrugineo-ochraceus : thorace profunde emar- ginato, lateribus reflexis : abdomine suborbiculato, apice acuto : antennis articulo tertio quarto longiore. Long. 2^ lin. Hah. In domibus. 2. C. columbarius, — Ferrugineo-ochraceus : thorace profunde emarginato, lateribus reflexis : abdomine orbiculato, apice sub- acuto : antennis articulo tertio quarto paulo longiore. Long, vix 2^ lin. Hab. In Columbis. 3. C. Hirundinis. — Fusco-ferrugineus : thorace leviter emarginato, lateribus planis : abdomine ovato, apice subacuto : antennis brevibus, articulis tertio et quarto subsequalibus. Long. If lin. Hab. In nidis Hirundinis urbicse. 4. C. Pipistrelli. — Ferrugineo-ochraceus, nitidus : thorace pro- funde emarginato, lateribus paulo reflexis : abdomine ovato, postice attenuato : antennis articulo tertio quarto longiore. Long. 2 lin. Hab. In Vespertilione Pipistrello. I have only to add^ that the last two species were both taken in Cambridgeshire. Of the C Pipistrelli I have seen but one specimen. REFERENCE TO PLATE V. Fig. \. C. columbarius. Fig. 2. C. Hirundinis. Fig. 3. C. Pipistrelli. a. One of the antennae. All the figures are highly magnified. The line above each denotes the natural size. SwaffTiara Bulbeck, April 6, 1839. XXX I. — Florce Insularum Novce Zelandice Precursor; or a Specimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand, By Allan Cunningham^ Esq. [Continued from p. 115.] ROSACEA, Juss. AccENA, Vahl. 566. A.SanguisorhcE. Vahl Enum. i. p. 294. DC. Prodr. ii. p. 592. Roem. et Sch. Syst. Veg. i. p. 268. — Ancistrum Sanguisorbae. L. Willd. Sp. PL i. p. 154. — A. diandrum. Forst. Prodr. n. 52. A. Bich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p.ZAl. New Zealand (Middle Island). Dusky Bay. — 1773, G. Forster. Cook's Strait.— 1827, D'Urville. (Northern Island).— 1769, Sir Jos. Panics, In dry exposed situations, Bay of Islands, — 1826, A. Cunningham. specimen of the Botany of New Zealand, 245 RuBUs, L. ^67. R. australis, caule glabfo teretiusculo, aculeis ramorum secundis re- curvis, foliis ternatis quinatisve petiolatis, foliolis ellipticis ovatisve extra medium argute serratis, serraturis acuminatis coriaceis venosis utrinque glabris, floribus axillaribus racemosis dioicis, laciniis calycinis obtusis paten- tibus, pedunculis ramulisque tomentosis. Forst. Prodr. n. 224. DC.Prodr. ii. p. 5.56. A. Rich. FL Nov. Zel. p. 340. Tataramora, indigenis. New Zealand (Nortbern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Margins of forests, Wangaroa. — 1826, A. Cunningham. (Middle Island). — 1773, G. Forster. 568. R. Schmidelioides, caule glabro tereti, aculeis ramorum brevissimis sparsis revurvis, foliis ternatis petiolatis, foliolis ovalibus lato-ellipticisve coriaceis rugosis venosis extra medium serratis acutis basi rotundatis sub- cordatis supra viridibus lasvibus, subtus pedunculis ramulisque ferrugineo- tomentosis, racemis axillaribus conferti floria brevibus paniculatis, floribus dioicis, calycibus obtusis lanatis. New Zealand (Northern Island). Forests at Wangaroa and Bay of Islands. — 1826, A. Cunningham. Obs. Habitus prsecedentis, sed differt foliolis omnino ternatis rugosis ve- nosis subtus (discoloribus) valde ferrugineo-tomentosis, racemoque multo breviore. 569. R. cissoides; caule glabro tereti ramoque inermi, foliis ternatis quinatisve elliptico-lanceolatis lanceolatisve petiolatis acuminatis serratis basi rotundatis utrinque lasvibus, petiolis costisve mediis retrorso-aculeatis, paniculis axillaribus terminalibusve glabriusculis laxis elongatis pendulis, calycinis laciniis ovatis obtusiusculis reflexis tomentosis. New Zealand (Northern Island). Dense forests of Wangaroa. — 1826, A. Cunningham. Obs, Habitus omnino Cissi. Folia prjesertim quinata longe petiolata, valde nitida et pulcherrime venosa, serraturis acuminatis. Panicula ramosa pedalis. LEGUMINOS^, Juss. ]. Edwardsia, Salisb. 570. ^. wicropA^/^/a, foliolis 33 — 41, obovatis subrotundis villiosiusculis, cariuEe petalis ellipticis, margine dorsali uncinato. DC. Prodr. u. p. 97. A. Rich. FL Nov. Zel. p. 344. — Sophora microphylla. Ait. Hort. Kew, ed. 1. V. ii. p. 42. Jacq. Hort. Schcenb. iii. t. 269, Bot. Mag. t. 1442. Kowhy or Kongi, indigenis. New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Bay of Islands. 1826, A. Cunningham. 571. E. grandiflora, foliolis 17 — 21 oblongo-linearibus sublanceolatis vil- iosiusculis carinre petalis late falcatis. DC. Prodr. \\. p. 97. — Sophora te- traptera. Ait. Hort. Kew. ed. 1. v. ii. p. 43. Curtis Bot. Mag. 1. 167. New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. 246 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand, Quid E. microphi/lla, Wenderoth in Li?ineea, v. p. 202. ex nova Zelandia, sec. Endl. ? 2. Clianthus, -5*0/. 7nss, in Bibl. Banks. Calyx late campanulatug subsequalis 5-dentatus. Vexillum acuminatum reflexum, alis parallelis longius ; Carina scapbiformis, vexillo alisque multo longior, omnino monopetala. Stamina manifeste perigyna, dia- delpha, omnia fertilia. Stylus staminibus duplo longior, versus apicem hinc leviter barbatus, stigmate simplicissimo. Legumen pedicellatum, coriaceum, acuminatum, ventricosum, polyspermum, intus lanulosum sutura dorsali recta, ventrali convexa. Semina reniformia, funiculis longiusculis affixa. 572. C. puniceus, suffruticosus diffusus glaber, foliolis alternis oblongis subemarginatis racemis pendulis multifloris, calyce quinquedentato, legu- mine glabro. Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 1775. Sol. mscr. in Mus. Brit. A. Cunn. in Hort, Lond. Trans, v. i. {new series) p. 521. t. 22. — Donia punicea. G. Don. Syst. of Gard. ii. p. 468. Kowainguta KaJca, indigenis Anglice Parrofs-hill. New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Shores of Mer- cury Bay, 1833, Missionaries. Suffrutex diffusus ramosus, quinquepedalis, ramis viridibus parum lignosis. Folia 8-juga cum impari. Racemi penduli, multiflori, floribus speciosissiniis coccineis. Legumen fere tripollices longum, atro-fuscum, venosum. Se- mina reniformia, fusca, atro-nebulosa. Lindl. loc. cit. 3. GuiLANDINA, JUSS., L. 573. G. Bonduc, L. DC. Prodr. i\.p. 480. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 348. — G. Bonducella, L. — Forst, Prodr. n. 185. Rumph. Amb. t. 48. and 49. New Zealand (Middle Island).— 1773, G.Forster. 4. Carmichaelia, R., Br. Calyx cyathiformis quinquedentatus. Ovarium dispermum. Stigma sim- plex. Legumen oligospermum (1-3 spermum) replo post lapsum valvularum persistente. 574. C. austraJis. R.Br, in Bot. Reg. 912. — Lotus? arboreus. Forst. Prodr. n. 278. Willd. Sp. PI. iii. p. 1392. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 345. DC. Prodr. ii. /). 214. — Bossiaea Scolopendrea. A. Rick. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 345. nan Brownii atque excl. syn. Andrewsii Ventenatisque. — Genista com- pressa. Sol. ms. in Bibl. Banks. New Zealand (Northern Island). On the east side. — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Frequent in dry woods and open sandy shores among underwood. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — (Middle Island). Dusky Bay.— 1773, G.Forster. Frutex ramosissimus (sexpedalis) sub statu florescentise ssepius aphyllus. Caulis ramique primarii teretes, tenuiores v. piano- compressi v. ancipites, stipulis minutis alternatim dentati. Folia e dentibus ramorum fruticis junioris ternata v. pinnata (foliolis 3 — 7, obcordatis). Racemi simplicissimi e denticulis ramorum. Flores parvi albo-purpurei. Petala longitudine Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand, 247 subaequalia, vexillum lamina latiore quam longiore basi absque callis auri- culisve, carina obtusa. Filamenta 1 — 9 fida. Ovarium lineave, 5 — 6-sper- mum. Stylus subalatus. Stigma obtusum, imberbe. Semina reniformia, sinu clause, umbilico nudo. R. Br. This very remarkable plant seems to have been but imperfectly- understood until Mr. Brown ably defined the true structure of its pod. Forster, with an expression of doubt, referred it to Lotus, in which genus it was retained by Willdenow, notwithstanding that he appears to have been acquainted with its fruit ; and by DeCandolle in the 2nd vol. of his ' Prodromus,' which appeared in 1825, who could not have been aware of its having been erected into a new genus by Mr. Brown ; and from the MSS. of that eminent botanist, published in the ' Bot. Reg.' in September of that year. But the blunders of M. Ach. Richard, respecting this very curious plant which had been living in the English gardens antecedent to the publication of his * Essai d'une Flore de la Nouv. Z^lande' in 1832, (and one might have supposed it would at that time have got into the Paris gardens from us) appear wholly inexplicable. Apparently altogether ignorant of Mr. Brown's name, and evidently without an idea of what Forster meant by Lotus ? arboreus, he not only inserts this latter in his work from Forster's MSS. at some length, but on finding speci- mens in fruit of the Carmichaelia in the collections formed during the voyage of the Astrolabe by Capt. D'Urville (who had gathered them in the Bay of Islands in 1827), he confounds them with Bassicea Scolopendria, a common Port Jackson plant ; and thus our genus ap- pears, in his volume on the Botany of New Zealand, under two names, viz. the above one of Bassiaa, and that of Lotus. RHAMNE^, R. Br. 1. Carpodetus, Forst. Gen. t. 17. 575. C. serratus. Forst. Prodr. n. 11. Char. Gen. t. 17. DC. Prodi', u. p. 29. A. Rich. FL Nov. Zel. p. 366. Piri-piri-water ab incolis dicitur. New Zealand (Middle Island).— 1773, G. Forster. (Northern Island.) On the alluvial banks of rivers, occasionally in salt-water marshes, Wanga- roa, &c. bearing fruit in December. — 1826, A. Cunningham. Arhuscula 10 — 20 pedalis, ramosa, ramis foliosis sparsis divaricatisve, foliorum casu tuberculatis. Folia alterna, ovalia, oblonga, acuta, petiolata, glanduloso-serrata, superne puberula, subtus discolora, glabra, reticulata. Racemi axillares, terminalesve corymbosi. Calgx turbinatus ovario adna- tus, limbo 5-partito, laciniis linearibus deciduis. Corolla 5-petala, pe- talis albis, sestivatione valvatis, calycis limbo duplo longioribus. Stamina 5, filamentis subulatis cum petalis alternantibus. Stylus simplex, erectus, 248 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. staminibus longior. Fructus coriaceus, subglobosus, quasi zona cinctus ex margine calycis adnato, 5-locularis. Semina plura, angulata rugulosa. 2. Pennantia, Forst., Gen. 67. Calycis sepala 5, lanceolata, acuta, sestivatione imbricata, in anthesi pa- ten tissima. Stamina 5, hypogyna, sepalis alterna ; filamentis liberis, antheris introrsus bilocularibus, dorso affixis. Ovarium sessile, ovato- oblongum, 3 loculare, loculis biovulatis, ovulis ex apice loculi pendulis. Stigma sessile, discoideum, obsolete 3-lobum. Fructus drupaceus, mo- nospermus, semine inverso. Endl. 576. P. corymhosa. Forst. Prodr. n. 379. Willd. Sp. PI. iv. p. 1122. Endl, Prodr. Fl. Norf. p. 80. Roem. et Sch. Syst. Veg, v. 5. p. 569. J. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 368. Icon. Ferd. Bauer, illustr. PL Norf. Ins. t. 165. • New Zealand (Middle Island).— 1773, G. Forster. Arbor 40-pedalis, et infra cortice albo. Rami teretes, albo-punctati, fistu- losi. Folia alterna, petiolata, elliptico-oblonga v. obovata, integerrima (vel extra medium serrata) emarginata, venosa, glabra. Flores hermaphroditi, pentandri, paucissimis abortu masculis intermixtis, corymbosi. Corymbi cymosi, 4-pollicares, in ramis ramulisque terminales. Ovarium 3 loculare, loculis biovulatis, ovulis pendulis superpositis. Drupa atro-purpurea stigmate coronata, semine unico inverso foeta. 3. PoMADERRis, Labill. * Flores petaliferi. 577. P. Kumeraho, cymis densiflorisumbellato-paniculatis, foliis ellipticis coriaceis valde obtusis super glabris subrugulosis margine tenuiter crenulatis integrisve subtus alte costatis ramulisque albo-tomentosis. Kumeraho nom. vernaculum. R. Cunningham. New Zealand (Northern Island). Banks of the Keri-Keri river, &c., Bay of Islands. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 1833, R. Cu?iningham. Obs. Valde affinis P. ellipticce qusd difFert foliis praesertim acutioribus, pa- nicula multo minore et laxiore, floribusve perquam minus confertis. The flowering of this shrub, which takes place in the month . of September, the spring of New Zealand, is the signal for the natives to plant their Koomeras or sweet potatoes ; hence doubtless origin- ates the name by which they call this plant in the present day. *• Flores apetali. 578. P. ericifolia, foliis linearibus pubescenti-scabris marginibus condu- plicato-revolutis subtus cinereo-hirsutissimis, cymis parvifloris axillaribus folio vix longioiibus, stipulis subulatis ramisque oblongis. Hooker, Journ. Bot. i. p. 257. Tuturnai incolarum. New Zealand (Northern Island). On hills among fern, Bay of Islands. — 1826, A. Cunningham. Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand, 249 The above character accords so fully with the plant from New Zea- land, as to leave no doubt of its identity with that from Van Diemen's Land, recently described by Sir Wm. J. Hooker in the work above quoted. Fruticulus incanus, erectus, ramosissimus. Ra7ni stricti, numerosi. Folia linearia, obtusa, petiolata, 3 — 4 lineas longa, supra convexa, margine valde revoluta. Flores parvi apetali cymosi, pedunculati, folia subaequantia. Pe- rianthium 5-fidum, laciniis ovatis acutis. Stamina 5, inclusa, segmentis pe- rianthii alterna. Stylus apice trifidus staminum longitudine. Stigmata tria. Genus novum Rhamneis affine, — COROKIA. Flores dioici. Mas. . Fcem. Calycis tubus ovario adhaerens limbo 5- fido persistente, per ssstivationem valvato. Petala 5, lanceolata, Tobis calycis alterna, decidua. Discus carnosus, glandulosus, epigynus. Stylus 1. Stigma capitatum lobatum. Ovarium inferum biloculare, loculis 1-ovulatis pendulis. Drupa 2-locularis, loculis 1-spermis. 579. C. Buddleioides. Korokia-taranga, appellatio incolarum est. R. Cunn. New Zealand (Northern Island). Margins of woods, on the shores of the Bay of Islands, Wangaroa, &c. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 1834, R. Cun- ningham. Caulis fruticosus, 10 pedalis, ramis ramulisque strictis albo-tomentosis instar Buddleice. Folia alterna, lanceolata, acuta, petiolata, coriacea, supra plerumque glabra, valde lucida, subtus dense albo-lanata. Flores parvi, sub- paniculati, paniculis brevibus saepius axillaribus v. terminalibus cano-pilosis. CorollcB petala alba, oblongo-lanceolata, reflexa, segmentis calycis ter lon- giora, extus incano-villosa, intus glabra. Drupa sphaerica, pisi magnitudine (epicarpio fragili, nigro, nitido) apice umbilicato villosa. Nomen hujus generis ad nomen vernaculum refert. Genus novum Ordinis manifeste intus Brexiaceas et Celastrineas. IXERBA. Calyx inferus, 5-phyllus, persistens, sestivatione imbricata. Petala 5, mem- branacea, unguiculata, disco hypogyno inserta, decidua, fere asstiva- tione imbricata. Stamina 5, hypogyna, petalis alterna. Antherce ovatae acuminatae, adnatse, biloculares, longitudinahter dehiscentes. Discus hypogynus, carnosus, 5-lobatus, lobis inter bases staminum re- tusis integris. Stylus \, angulatus, continuus, versus apicem attenuatus. Stigma simplex. Ovarium superum 5-lobum, 5-loculare, loculis 2-ovu- latis, ovulis collateralibus suspensis. Fructus nondum vidi. Nomen Brexice anagramma est, cui generi nostra planta certe maxime affiuis. 580. /. Brexioides. New Zealand (Northern Island). A tree on the skirts of woods at Wan- garoa, Nov. 1828. A. Cunningham. Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol.3. No. I?. June 18S9. t 250 Information respecting Botanical Travellers, Arbor elegans sempervirens, viginti pedalis et infra ; ramis teretibus gla- bris, cortice rugose. Folia (4 — 5 uncialia) alterna, petiolata, exstipulata. ad summitatem ramulorum ssepe verticillato-conferta, elongato-lanceolata, acu- minata, obtusiuscula, coriacea remote calloso-serrata, utrinque glabra, su- perne nitida, subtus pallidiora. Flores albi, terminales, corymbosi, pedun- culis (uncialibus) plerumque trichotomis. One of the most remarkable plants of New Zealand, where, however, it is of very rare occurrence, and in affinity approaching nearer to Brexia of M. du Petit Thouars than to any other published genus. With it our plant accords in the aestivation and forms of the calyx and petals, in its hypogynous stamens and the figure of the anthers, and in its superior pentagonal quinquelocular ovarium with a disk at its base. In the form of these latter, however, our genus differs es- sentially ; having neither, in the one, an indefinite number of ovules attached in two rows to placentse in the axis, nor in the other the toothed or fringed lobes between the bases of the stamens, as bota- nists have described the genus of M. du Petit Thouars. The ma- tured fruit of Ixerba has not yet been examined, so that the structure of the seeds remains to be ascertained. Its nearest affinity appears with Celastrinece, with which it agrees in the aestivation of the floral envelopes, the number of the stamens, and their alternating with the petals, but differing in the insertion of the stamens ; these, in that family being perigynous, and the ovules, for the most part, ascend- ing from the axis of the ovarium. [To be continued.] XXXII. — Information respecting Botanical Travellers, Mr. Gardner's Journeys in Brazil. The following extracts of letters lately received from Mr. Gardner cannot fail to give pleasure to those who take an interest in his tra- vels and collections, which promise to throw great light on the hi- story of the vegetable productions of a very extensive and hitherto little explored region of tropical South America. — Edit. Villa do Ico, Sertao of the Province of Seira, August 25, 1838. About the middle of last month I did myself the pleasure of writing to you from Pernambuco, stating that it was my intention to pass into the interior from Aracaty, a sea-port in this province, and pro- bably to try to reach the mountains to the west of the province of Information respecting Botanical Travellers, 251 Piauhy, which, from Von Martius' account to Mr. Bentham, must oiFer a good field for botanical research. I quitted Pernambuco on the 17th of July, in a coasting schooner, for Aracaty. Previous to my departure 1 was introduced to two gentlemen, brothers, named Pinto, very respectable merchants belonging to Ico, who visit Per- nambuco to make purchases about once in two years. The vessel in which I sailed was freighted by them, and I considered myself fortunate in having such companions. Besides ourselves there were about a dozen more passengers ; and as the cabin was filled with goods, we were all obliged to sleep on deck without shelter, a most uncomfort- able position, as we were four days at sea and it rained heavily nearly all that time. During our meals we more resembled wild beasts than civilized beings, and to crown my misery I was dreadfully sea-sick for two days. An illness succeeded for three days after landing owing to my exposure to the wet. The town of Aracaty is situated on the east side of the Rio Jagua- ride (Ounce river), about three leagues from the sea. The only British merchant there is a young man from Ayrshire, with whom I lived during my stay, and who kindly assisted me in making prepa- rations for the inland journey. Ico is distant from Aracaty about 200 miles, and the intervening country being level, it is customary to convey all goods in large waggons, generally drawn by twelve oxen. In one of these I forwarded all my travelling trunks and bun- dles of paper, so that I had only to buy two horses, one for myself, the other to carry provisions and a few indispensable articles for the journey. It was about twelve days before the brothers Pinto were ready to depart, and I occupied this time in making excursions around Aracaty, which produced a few species that I had not seen before, among them Angelonia procumhens (Martius). The country is uninteresting, especially to a botanist, from its arid and level na- ture : except one small hill to the south-west and a few sand hills towards the sea, it is a continued plain, covered with abundance of Carnahuba palms {Corypha cerifera of Martius), but nothing else worthy the name of a tree. This palm is one of the finest I have seen in the north of Brazil, and I regret that I could not meet with it in flower. Its stem, which is quite straight, rises to a height of about 40 feet, while its fan-shaped leaves are so arranged as to form a sort of round ball at the summit. I have never before seen a palm occurring in such quantities as this does, the road from Aracaty to Ico passing through a dense forest of it, more than 20 leagues in length ; its foliage shelters a great multitude of parrots, parakeets, pigeons, woodpeckers, and hosts of other small birds. Of the wax. 252 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. which the young leaves produce and which gives origin to the spe- cific name, I have obtained some good specimens for you. On the morning of the 3rd of August I started for Ico, in company with the MM. Pinto, but by an awkward mistake of my black servant I only travelled with them for one day. On the second morning, setting off before daybreak and in the hurry of departure, the man caught a mare of the same size and colour as my riding horse, and it was 9 o'clock before the mistake was discovered. It was then necessary to halt and send back for my beast, a distance of 3 leagues ; but I was not sorry for this, as the Pintos travelled at full speed, thus pre- venting me from gathering several plants which I saw by the way- side. They accomplished the distance in five days and a half, and I in eight. I however travelled more at ease, and made a small col- lection of plants. At this season the road is as good as the common roads in England. For the first two-thirds of the way the ground is level, but the latter part is more undulating and rocky, in conse- quence of being traversed by several small sierras. Nearer Aracaty the vegetation consists chiefiy of Carnahuba palms, mixed occasion- ally with small trees, such as Patagonula americana, Linn., called Pao-branco, from its large clusters of white flowers, a species of Zi^ zyphus, several Mimosas, and a small tree to which the natives give the name of Pereira. The latter I did not see in flower, but it has a superior fruit, formed of two woody valves, dehiscent from top to bottom, one-celled, many-seeded, the seeds broadly winged and sus- pended from the summit of the valves. The fruit is of an obovate form, nearly 3 inches long and 1| inch broad. The country further up, which -as I before remarked is more undulating, consists of large open places (vargems) almost destitute of vegetation, extensive tracts being, however, covered with small trees and shrubs (Catingas), all of which are deciduous, the heat and drought producing the same effect on foliage here as the cold does in the north of Europe. On my arrival at Ico I found that my friends the Pintos had pre- pared an empty dwelling belonging to them for my reception. In consequence of the non-arrival of my trunks, which were delayed by the breaking down of the waggon which conveyed them, I was how- ever detained here, as they only came three days ago. The town of Ico is of considerable size, containing about 7000 inhabitants, and situated in a plain, from which all vegetation has already disappeared, though it is not long since the rains have ceased. Of course there is little for me to do here, but I am assured by everyone that the case is quite otherwise at Crato, about 100 miles higher up the country, a town situated at the foot of the mountains which divide this province Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 253 (of Leira) from that of Piauhy, and where there is verdure all the year round. Should these accounts prove correct I will stay there a short time to botanize, if otherwise I shall push on immediately to Oceiras, picking up all I can by the way. The first rains (primeiras aguas) fall in Piauhy in October, and I shall try if possible to reach Oceiras before the end of that^month, and remain there till the rains are over, so as to be ready to start immediately for the westward. Should all proceed according to my wishes, I hope to spend some months in Piauhy, and then proceed to the Rio Tocintins, descending this river to Para. I have met with several persons who have been to Oceiras and beyond it, and especially an old man, who tells me that he has made the journey twenty-eight times. All represent the country as well- watered and fertile, but they add that fevers of a malignant and intermittent character prevail there, which are peculiarly fatal to strangers from other provinces. Such reports will not however pre- vent my undertaking the journey ; my only fear being lest my col- lections should not cover the expense, which threatens to be consi- derable, though my constant endeavour is to spend as little as pos- sible. My four horses have cost about 40/., and it is very proba- ble that when I start for Crato 1 may require another. My servant, an active and useful fellow, costs about 2/. IO5. a month, and it is often needful to have the assistance of another person, who may lend occasional help and act as a guide. While travelling, I always start at day-break, and about 10 o'clock, when the sun begins to get hot, I rest at some place where grass and water can be obtained for the beasts, and remain stationary till about 3, when I set OHt again, and continue proceeding till 6 or 7. When a house can be seen in the neighbourhood I take advantage of the shelter of its verandah, otherwise my hammock is slung under a tree. Nothing can be simpler than my diet ; a basin of tea and two biscuits for break- fast, dried beef and farinha of mandiocea for dinner, varied some- times by a stew of such parrots or pigeons as I can shoot, and my supper at night is of the same fare as my breakfast. Wine or spirits I never taste, having found by experience that they are rather inju- rious than otherwise when travelling. During the middle of the day, while the horses are resting, I shift and arrange my plants, and ge- nerally w^alk a little way to add something to my collections. The following is a list of a few of those plants which I gathered be- tween Aracaty and this place : — Angelordaprocumhens, Martius ; and another large and beautiful species of this genus, which I believe to be new ; Patagonula amcricana, in fruit and flower ; a very fine Hcrpestes, and a beautiful Evolvulus, growing about a foot high, very much re- 254 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. sembling Z/«wMm usitatissimum in the arrangement, size and colour of its blossoms ; Pithecoseris pacourinoides (of Martins in DC. Prodr. v. 5.) ; an undescribed species of Martins' new genus Stilpnopappa (DC. Prodr. V. 5.) ; Triplaris mexicana, with both male and female flowers ; two fine Polygalce ; a large yellow-flowered Utricularia ; a Villarsia, with white inflorescence ; and a Comhretum, perhaps C. micropetalum, DC. ; besides a number of other things, of which I am sorry not to have got complete sets, owing to the small quantity of paper that I took, not anticipating the leisurely manner in which I performed the journey between Aracaty and this place. I gathered the other day, in this neighbourhood, a species of Hyptis, that appears to me an anomaly in the tribe to which it belongs. So far as I am aware, all the Lahiatce have square stems, but the stem and branches of this one are quite round. It appears to be abundant here ; the heat and drought, however, have so destroyed all vegetation, that I could only procure two wretched specimens, with a few flowers on them. The blossoms are large and light blue. I however gathered a few of its seeds. As respects Cactea, I have seen nothing different from what I sent from the Rio San Francisco, but if I find any between this place and Oceiras I shall endeavour at least to obtain seeds of them ; while if this tribe inhabits the vicinity of the Tocantius it will be easy so to transport the living specimens to Para. It is of course out of the question to expect Orchidece in such a country as this. The province of Para may perhaps afford some, and their seeds at least I shall se- cure, for they are easily conveyed from place to place. On quitting Pernambuco, I requested Mr. Harrison's house to for- ward nothing after me, neither letter nor parcel ; thus for a long time to come I shall be deprived of all intelligence of my friends in England. The hope that good tidings will await my return to Per- nambuco must cheer me during my wanderings. If I have not the pleasure of addressing you again from Crato I will certainly do so from Oceiras, and give you a full detail of my past and present pro- ceedings. It is confidently stated that within a few months large steam-boats wiU have arrived from Britain, which will ply constantly between Pernambuco and Rio de Janeiro, and in one of these I can easily re- turn to the former place, and thence to Rio on my way to Monte Video. I only hope that health and strength will be granted to me to accomplish the journey to Para, and then I shall think no- thing of the dangers, toils and difficulties that I must expect to en- counter. Bibliographical Notices, 255 Not a single beetle have I seen since quitting Pernambuco ; the country is too arid and barren for them. I much regret that the few instruments which I wrote about some months ago did not arrive before T left Pernambuco, especially the Sympiesometer. It is always useful and interesting to ascertain the height of mountains in little-known localities, and I hope to find them on my return to that country. The thermometer here, at this time, never stands under 86°, and often so high as 93° at noon, but during the night it falls about 10^, so that the mornings and eve- nings are delightfully cool. There is a little, and but a very little, cotton cultivated between this place and Aracaty ; most of the country people being engaged in rearing cattle. The cotton is more grown further up, along the base of the mountains. [A subsequent letter from Mr. Gardner will be given in our next Number. — Edit. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Synopsis Florce Helveticee ; Auctore J. Gaudin ; Opus posthumum continuatum et editum a J. P. Monnard, Turici, 1836. 24mo. The * Flora Helvetica' of Gaudin, which extends to seven octavo volumes, is too well known and appreciated to require any praise from us, but we believe that this little work has not attracted any attention in Britain. It stands in the same relation to the ' Fl. Helv.' that Smith's ' Compendium' does to his ' Flora,' except that it enters more into detail. Generic and specific descriptions of 2313 Swiss flowering plants are given, and generally a few observations in ad- dition : the arrangement is Linnsean, and we can strongly recom- mend the book to botanists intending to visit Switzerland or re- quiring short descriptions of the plants of that country. Flora Cestrica ; or an Attempt to enumerate and describe the Flower- ing and Filicoid Plants of Chester County, in the State of Pennsyl- vania ; with brief Notices of their Properties and Uses in Medicine, Domestic and Rural (Economy, and the Arts. By William Darling- ton, M.D., &c. Botany is indeed making rapid progress in the United States. Practical and experienced botanists are now resident in the Northern, the Middle, and Southern States, busily engaged in investigating the riches of the vegetable kingdom in their respective districts, and communicating to each other and to foreigners the well- dried spe- 256 Bibliog7'aphical Notices. cimens, the result of their discoveries. The name of Dr. Darlington has been long known as the author of a little work under the unas- suming title of ' Florula Cestrica,' or an Essay towards a Catalogue of the Phaenogamous Plants of West Chester (1826) ; containing many valuable and original observations, which have in the present work been greatly extended. Accompanying every species in the • Flora' there is a full description and remarks, an excellent glossary, and a very neat map of the county, coloured so as to indicate the geological structure ; all, in short, that a botanist can wish who is studying the plants of that inland district. The arrangement in the body of the work is the Linnsean, and the author remarks, that ** whilst he freely admits that the true science of vegetables can only be attained by a well- disciplined and philosophical investigation of their structure, functions, and natural affinities, he cannot help think- ing, that even the superficial knowledge of genera and species, which is so readily acquired by the Linnsean system, may be advantageous to the cause, by exciting an early interest in learners, and facilita- ting the first steps of the uninitiated. When the young recruits are once securely enlisted, we may venture to exact a more rigid disci- pline." An appendix contains a list of the genera and the number of spe- cies comprised in the work, arranged according to the natural affi- nities ; from which it appears, that there are (exclusive of Cellulares) 128 orders, 482 genera, and 1073 species in West Chester County. But of these there are Cultivated 92 Introduced and naturalized, about. . 138 230 Indigenous 843 Total 1073 Noviiiarum Florce Suecicce Mantissa prima. E. Fries, Lundse, 1832. 8vo. We have only recently obtained a copy of this pamphlet, which we consider well worthy of its excellent author ; but although it has been now published for some years, it is scarcely, if at all, known in this country. In it he has followed up the plan which he had adopted in the two editions of his * Novitise ;' taking as his text the ' Flora Suecica' of Wahlenberg, he has written a commentary upon it in- troducing as he proceeded numerous recent discoveries. The first and shorter part of the present publication is chiefly occupied by the description of plants newly added to the Swedish Flora, and the Linncean Society. 25? second division (from page 21 to p. 80.) is entitled ' Commentatio de Salicibus Suecise.' Under Sar/?M5 multicaulis, Sm., is given a very detailed account of the mode of growth and structure of that plant and of Sc. palustris, pauciflorus, and ccespitosus. A new species of Cuscuta, considered as intermediate between C europcea and epilinon, which has been disco- vered by Mr. Blyth of Christiania, parasitical upon Chenopodiacece on the sea- shore of Norway, is described under the name of ** C. halo- phyta, caule simplici, florum glomerulis multifloris subbracteatis, co- rollse tubo globoso limbum sequante." We have seen specimens of this plant from Norway in the Herbarium of Mr. R. B. Bowman of Newcastle, and it is much to be wished, that that gentleman, or some other botanist, who may have the opportunity, would examine the structure of the scales in the interior of the corolla, as no notice is taken of that part by Fries. Zannichellia pedunculata and polycarpa are separated from Z. pa- lustris : the former we suspect is only a variety, but the latter ap- pears to be a good species, characterized by its very short styles. In the 'Commentatio de Salicibus' our author first endeavours to determine the species contained in ' Linn. Fl. Lapp.' and then pro- ceeds to'enumerate and describe all the Swedish species; and the syn- onyms of Linnaeus, Smith, Willdenow, Wahlenberg, and Koch are quoted throughout. It would occupy too much of our space to go in detail through this part of the book before us, nor indeed is it at all necessary, as we doubt not that it will soon be in the hands of all students of this very difficult genus. A new number of Reichenbach's * Icones Florse Germanicae' has just reached us ; it contains 23 plates, figuring 56 species and va- rieties of German Violets. The plates are executed with the usual care, and will be found most useful in determining the diflferent forms in this genus. PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. LINN^AN SOCIETY. March 5, 1839. — Edward Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. Read, " Observations on some Fungi or Agarici, which by de- liquescence form an inky fluid, drying into a bister-coloured mass, capable of being used as a water-colour for drawings, and of a very indestructible nature by means of common agencies." By John 258 Linncean Society. Redman Coxe, M.D., formerly Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Pennsylvania. Communicated by the Secretary. Dr. Coxe having gathered a Fungus and placed it on a sheet of white paper, leaving it until the next day, found several drops of an inky fluid, slowly trickling from the inner surface, which had as- sumed a black appearance ; by placing the Fungus in a glass, the whole except the outer skin liquefied. The colour of the fluid was rather a deep bister than black, and being left in the glass, in a few hours it separated into a solid sediment, with a lighter coloured fluid swimming above. Having afterwards collected a considerable quan- tity of fluid from the same species, he obtained by drying an extract of a pretty deep black colour of both parts conjoined, which would otherwise have separated. This on trial formed an admirable bister- like water-colour, well adapted for drawing when mixed with a little gum. Dr. Coxe used the " fresh inky fluid as ink, and from such fresh fluid the accompanying drawings were made ;" but it was soon found that its change was too rapid to think of depending on it for such a purpose, he therefore was led to dry it as quickly as possible by spontaneous evaporation, and then to use it diluted with water. Having exposed various portions of writing thus made to the direct rays of the sun for several months with little change, he tried the eff'ects of chlorine and euchlorine gas, muriatic acid, and ammoniacal gases ; from these but a trifling change ensued, except from the mu- riatic acid gas, which destroyed very considerably the dark tint of the writings. He also placed some small and recent specimens of the Fungus in a solution of corrosive sublimate, which preserved them and prevented any deliquescence : the same eflfect was produced by alcohol. The ink is fully formed and escapes in about three or four days. When received into a phial, in a short time the heavier and blacker matter was found to settle as a sediment ; the lighter brownish amber- coloured fluid surmounts it, and may be poured ofl^ from it to dry them separately. From a good- sized specimen nearly half an ounce of fluid has been obtained. The following chemical experiments among others were made ; — 1 . Two drachms of the fluid added to § 1 of hydrate gave a clear brown transparent solution, to which in separate glasses was added 2. Nitrate of Silver : no eff'ect at first, but in a few minutes dark brown flocculi subsided, leaving a transparent fluid above. 3. Muriate of Barytes : no efi^ect at first, finally a subsidence of dark brown flocculi. Linncean Society. 259 4. Acetate of Lead. Immediate dark brown flocculi, leaving a clear liquid above. 5. Carbonate of Potash. Transparency destroyed ; a trifling brown deposit in a few hours. 6. Alcohol. No apparent change from it. 7. Solution of Corrosive Sublimate. An apparent diffusion of brown- ish hue, gradually subsiding in dirty brown flocculi. 8. Dilute Muriatic Acid. The same, but much smaller in amount. 10. Lime Water. Light brown flocculi in a few hours. 1 1 . Liquor Ammonia. No efi^ect. 12. Succinate of Ammonia. Deep brown deposit in a few hours. 13. Prussiate of Potash. No efi^ect. 14. Oxalate of Ammonia. Clouds form and settle in a dirty brown sediment. From these experiments Dr. Coxe is disposed to think that an ex- cellent India Ink might be prepared for drawing ; perhaps its dried deposit mixed with oil might answer for engravings ; and as an ink, indestructible from any common agents, it might be well to try it in the filling up of bank notes and other papers of consequence, as he believes it cannot be extracted by any means without destroying the paper itself. The Fungus described, and on which the above experiments were tried, is referred with some hesitation to Agaricus ovatus, Schseff'er, ' Icones Fungorum,' fig. 7. A. cylindricus, fig. 8. A. porcellaneus, fig. 46. and 47. The drawings are named Agaricus ovatus*, March 19.— Edward Forster, Esq., V. P., in the Chair. Read, " A Notice of the Birds of Iceland, accompanied by speci- mens." By George Townshend Fox, Esq., F.L.S. It is perhaps not generally known that the Durham University has established a Museum as one of the necessary appendages of an academical institution ; the subcurator of which, Mr. Wm. Proctor, requested and obtained permission to go out to Iceland in the summer of 1837 to procure a collection of the birds of that island. Three months were passed on the most northern part of Iceland, this local- ity being chosen by Mr. Proctor as one least visited by naturalists, * The drawings evidently represent Agaricus fmetarius, Linn, and Curtis ; A. comatus, Mull, and Berkeley ; A. cylindricus, Sowerby ; to which A. cy- lindricus y Schseif. f. 8. and A. porcellaneus, figs. 46 & 47. belong; it is not so clear that A. ovatus, fig. 7. (the name adopted by Dr. Coxe) does. In the subgenus named by Berkeley Coprinus every species is deliquescent. Curtis observes, under his A. ovatus, which is A. atramentarius. Bull, and Berk., that the seeds may be seen in the black liquor if magnified. 260 Linncean Society, and therefore the most likely to repay his labours by the number or rarity of the specimens to be obtained. Skins of fifty-two species of birds were brought home, besides skins of six Rein Deer, three spe- cies of Seals, two large Fishes (Anarrhicas), and a Porpoise. Frederick Faber in his Ornithology of Iceland, published at Copen- hagen in 1822, enumerates eighty-four species of birds; of which about twenty are land birds, and sixty water birds. Faber adopted the nomenclature of Linnaeus, but an examination of the skins brought home by Mr. Proctor has led to the belief that several of Faber's birds are not identical with the Linnean species. The Iceland Falcon is considered by Mr. Hancock* as distinct from the whiter falcon of Greenland. The Iceland Grouse is correctly considered by Faber as peculiar to that island. The Bridled Guillemot, Uria lacrymans, Lapyl., is for various reasons believed to be a species distinct from the Common Guillemot, Uria Troile, Lath. Clangula Barrovii was found breeding on the ground in a nest formed of its own down, and placed among aquatic plants a little above high- water mark. Some rare eggs were also obtained, namely, those of the Iceland Falcon, Little Auk, Bridled Guillemot, and Sclavonian Grebe. Read also a paper, " On the Structure and Development of the Reproductive organs of Pihlaria globulifera." In a letter to R. H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S. and L.S. By WilHam Valentine, Esq., F.L.S. The author observes, that the involucrum of Pilularia glohulifera contains two kinds of bodies, which, however, occupy distinct sacs ; one kind are round, very numerous, and minute, not larger than the 460th part of an inch ; they are found principally in the upper part of the involucrum, and are about forty in each sac. The other kind are of an oblong pyriform shape, a little constricted near the middle, with a conical projection at one extremity, and are much less nu- merous, about sixty, and occur singly in each sac ; they are about the 80th part of an inch broad, and have the power of germination, which the former kind do not appear to possess. Both kinds are loose in their sacs, and have an opake, pure white, minutely granular, testaceous covering, and are imbedded in a kind of gelatin, which softens and expands by the action of water, but is not completely dissolved. The larger bodies, the undoubted sponiles, after a very slight maceration in water, (less than a minute is sufficient,) ar^en- * See Mr. Hancock's paper on this subject in the ' Annals of Natiural History,' vol. ii. p. 241. Linncean Society. 261 veloped by a well-defined covering of gelatinous matter, which be- fore the maceration existed in a concrete state. Further macera- tion does not appear to affect this gelatinous covering, as it remains unchanged long after germination, and gives to the sporule the ap- pearance of having a very delicate transparent border, whose breadth is about the 4th part of the diameter of the sporule. The sporule consists of three coats, the outer of which is white, opake, somewhat brittle, more or less incom-plete at the conical ex- tremity, but much thickened about the upper third of the sporule, where it exhibits traces of cellularity. The middle coat is mem- branous, elastic, of a light yellowish brown colour, and perforated at the apex of the conical projection which is essentially formed by this coat, the outer coat being gradually lost upon its surface, or in some instances being scarcely continued on to it, in which case the sporule appears truncated, the middle membrane not having sufficient firmness of itself to support the conical form. This conical projec- tion is more or less plicated, and in those instances in which the outer coat is very deficient the middle membrane exhibits lines radiating from the aperture. The third coat, or internal membrane, is similar in colour to the middle, differing from it however in being inelastic, and not being continued into the cone, but forming a short cavity, by passing directly across the base of the cone, at which point it is not in contact with either of the other membranes, and is marked by three lines, which radiate from the centre of the unsupported portion, and indicate a valvular structure to allow of the protrusion of the growing matter in germination. The cavity of the sporule is occupied by a quantity of grumous fluid and particles, which are of various sizes, the larger ones being mostly of an ovoid shape, but altering by pressure. I found many of these sporules in a germinating state, the major- ity having escaped from the involucrum, but in several instances I found them considerably advanced in germination before the rupture of the involucrum and whilst they were yet inclosed in their sacs. The first external sign of germination is either the appearance of four cells projecting through the apex of the conical projection or a general swelling of that part. By dissection, however, we can observe this process at an earlier period, and I find upon re- moving the conical projection that the first evidence of germination having commenced is an appearance of cellularity within the unsup- ported or valved portion of the internal membrane, which is transpa- rent ; and I now find for the first time a very delicate pellucid mem- brane lining the whole cavity of the sporule, and having the cells 262 Linncean Society, which give the appearance just mentioned either lying on its exter- nal surface or forming that portion of it which lies beneath the valves. From the appearances and impossibility of separating the cells from the membrane I am inclined to believe that the cavity formed by this membrane is completed by the cells, or, in other words, that the sac is partly membranous and partly cellular. It is possible that this last described membrane may exist before germination begins, notwithstanding the numerous unsuccessful dissections which I have made to discover it, the failure being owing to its extreme de- licacy ; but I am pretty well satisfied that it is a product of germi- nation, because I have not the slightest difficulty in demonstrating it after that has commenced, nor is there the slightest trace of it in any stage of the development of the sporule. However this may be, it is quite certain that fresh cells are gradually formed on the external surface of the cellular part of the sac, and that the valves of the third membrane are very soon ruptured and gradually turned back by the growth and protrusion of this button-like cellular germ. The enlarging cellular mass then distends the conical projection, unfolding the plicae of that body^ and at length appears externally, with four of its cells projecting beyond the general mass and com- pressed into a quadrangular form, I fancy by the pressure of the apex of the cone, the aperture in which is quadrangular. These projecting cells soon harden and acquire a reddish brown hue, and in the ad- vanced stage of germination appear like a brown quadrangular space, which I should have little hesitation in referring to the above cause did I not find several similar spaces on the germinating sporules of Isoetes lacustris, which I could not refer to such an origin : it must be observed however that I have not seen the earlier stages of germi- nation in Isoetes. Soon after the exposure of the entire germ, which is effected by the reflexion of the valves and conical membrane over the side of the sporule, where they lie quite concealed by the germ, little fibrillae or rootlets begin to shoot from one side. They are simply articulated tubes or elongated cells applied end to end with frequently a bulbous extremity, and each is produced from one of the cells of the germ. They differ much in length in different sporules ; in some they are not longer than the sporule, whilst in others they are three or four times that length, and, in common with the cells of the germ, contain granules which in these are colourless but in the germ green. The cluster-like appearance of the cells which form the germ, soon after the appearance of these fibrillae be- gin to change, the cells becoming flatter and more intimately con- nected with each other. At the same time an internal change is taking Linncean Society. 263 place, for by a gradual arching or receding upwards of that part of the germ w^hich closes the cavity of the sporule the germ becomes hollow, the hollow communicating with the cavity of the sporule, which is of course proportionably enlarged. The germ now gra- dually points in two places, which are by no means fixed, but occur in various situations according to the position of the sporule in rela- tion to the light. The direction of the first leaf is generally in the direction of the axis of the sporule, or rather a little inclined, and that of the first root at right angles or lateral, but very soon chan- ging to an opposite direction to that of the leaf. This would be the constant direction if the sporules were always left to themselves free from entanglements, on account of the peculiar structure of their outer coats ; the spongy fibro-cellular texture of the superior third of which, causing that end to be the most buoyant in the water, ex- poses the superior surface of the germ to the direct action of the light ; but as it cannot always happen that the sporules should be free, the direction of the leaf and root is sometimes quite the reverse, and at others both leaf and root are lateral, but proceeding from opposite sides of the germ. These two points gradually lengthen, and if dissected each will be found to consist of a closed sheath, con- taining in one instance the leaf, in the other the root in the form of a conical process like a finger in a glove. The young leaf, which is taper and its cells crowded with green granules, being in advance of the root, which is obtuse and destitute of green granules, bursts through the summit of its sheath when it has become rather longer than the sporule, whilst the root, although more backward in its de- velopment, pierces its sheath before it is as long as the sporule. The sheaths are not distinct, but communicate with each other ; and the only point of connexion between the sheath (there being in fact but one) and the germ is around its base close to the sporule, so that nearly the whole of the germ is inclosed in this sheath. Besides this sheath which embraces the upper part of the root, there is an exceedingly delicate expansion, which so closely embraces the ex- tremity of the root like a cap, that it is only by a careful examina- tion that it can be discovered. I am not aware that this has ever had any connexion with the sheath through which the root bursts, but, on the contrary, I believe it to be a distinct formation. After the leaf has grown many times the length of the sporule, or about 2 lines long, another leaf grows from the germ close to the first, to which it is in all respects similar, and then a bud begins to be de- veloped from some indefinite part of the germ, but like the leaves and root from within the sheath, which is now frequently much lace- 264 Linnaean Society. rated. This bud is covered by a peculiar kind of jointed hairs, whose attachments are lateral, at a short distance from their bases, and they contain a few colourless granules. This bud sometimes appears after the first leaf, in which case there is no second primordial leaf formed, and is the rudimentary stem, the first growth from it being a leaf which exhibits, although in a small degree, the first evidence of gyration, and shortly after a root which is furnished with its own sheath. As I have not seen more advanced specimens, I am unable to describe the succeeding steps; but as, up to this point, my obser- vations were made upon several hundred examples, I may safely affirm that the instances were sufficiently numerous for my purpose. All the leaves after the primordial ones, or those which grow direct from the germ, are developed in a similar manner to ferns, and even the running stem partakes in a slight degree of the same gyrate evo- lution. The roots are all formed in sheaths, through the apices of which they ultimately burst ; the sheath continuing to embrace the base of the root, whilst a distinct and far more delicate sheath closely embraces its point. Transverse sections of the stem, root, and leaves show them all to be hollow with the cavity divided longi- tudinally into separate channels. In the stem these longitudinal par- titions are about fifteen or sixteen in number, and in the leaf and root they are about ten or twelve, which in the latter are arranged in pairs. These partitions radiate from a central column of enlarged cells which surround a bundle of minutely dotted ducts that may be unrolled spirally, and the channels between these partitions are fre- quently divided by transverse partitions or diaphragms. The cells which form these partitions are curiously arranged — they are flat- tened on two opposite sides, and connected with each other by their narrow sides and extremities, but only at intervals, so that there are numerous holes formed which affi)rd a free communication between all the channels. In the partitions of the root the intervening holes are so large in proportion to the breadth of the cells that these have the appearance of a string of beads. Another peculiarity of the root is, that, in addition to the diaphragms formed of this tissue, which are also found in the stem and leaf, a peculiar body is fre- quently met with occupying a similar position to the diaphragms. These bodies (for they are sometimes numerous) are each formed of one or more cylindrical cells coiled up in a gyrate manner. They grow from the angle formed by the partition and the cuticle, and are developed subsequent to the other tissue, for they may be found in various stages of advancement in the same root. Their nature I have not been able to ascertain. LinrKBan Society. 265 The author then proceeds to describe the development of the spo- rules. A transverse section of the involucrum when about the size of a small pin's head shows it to consist of four integuments, con- taining a mass of very delicate spongy compressible cellular tissue, subdivided into four equal triangular portions by four lines radiating from the centre. In the centre of each of these portions is a cavity, and projecting into each of these cavities are a number of nipple- like processes which are attached in each cavity to a common recep- tacle, whilst this again is connected with an open rigid cellular tissue that lies between the spongy tissue before described and the involucrum, and serves as a connexion between the two. As the involucrum advances, the spongy tissue recedes all round the four cavities, which consequently become larger and afford more space for the growth of the nipple-like processes. This recession of the spongy tissue is not caused by the pressure of the growing pro- cesses, for it is frequently in advance of them ; but it is produced by a gradual condensation inherent to the tissue around the cavities and along the radiating dividing lines, which, in fact, are nothing more than this condensation, which at maturity is so complete that the whole of the spongy tissue is condensed into four dissepiments, dividing the cavity of the involucrum into four equal loculi. The nipple-like processes are found upon a careful examination to be hollow sacs with obscurely cellular walls — those which occupy the lowest part of the involucrum being considerably in advance of the upper ones. These sacs contain a quantity of grumous matter, and *a number, perhaps about ten, of soft rather opake pulpy bodies, which are evidently compounded of four closely connected parts so placed on each other as to form a cone with a triangular base. April 2. — The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. Mr. Owen read a Paper on a New Species of the genus Lepido- siren of Fitzinger and Natterer. The author commenced by advert- ing to the first announcement of that anomalous animal, the Lepido- siren paradoxa, as the type of a new genus of Perennibranchiate Reptiles by Fitzinger at the meeting of the German naturalists at Prague in 1837, and to its subsequent description by its discoverer Dr. Natterer, the well-known South American traveller. With the generic characters assigned by these able German na- turalists to their Lepidosiren, the species described by Mr. Owen fully and closely agreed ; but it differed specifically in the greater relative length of the head and rudimental extremities, and its much smaller size. Ann. Nat, Hist. Vol. 3. No. 17. June 1839. u 266 Linncean Society. Mr. Owen observed, that since the time of the discovery of the Ornithorhynchus there had not been submitted to naturalists a spe- cies which proved more strongly the necessity of a knowledge of its whole organization, both external and internal, in order to arrive at a correct view of its real nature and affinities, than did the Lepidosiren, and as he had felt a reluctance to bring before the Society an in- complete description, which might only have served to raise new doubts in the minds of naturalists with regard to this animal, he had deferred since June 1837 the completion and communication of the present paper. He had however at that time prepared a brief descrip- tion of the specific characters of the specimen in question, under the name of Protopterus, and had referred it in the Catalogue of the Museum of the College of Surgeons to the Class of Fishes, on ac- count of its scaly covering and the condition of its nostrils as plicated sacs, and to the abdominal family of the Malacopterygian order of that class, in which it seemed to present an extreme modification or rudimental condition of the fins indicative of a transition from the abdominal to the apodal families. The anatomical details which formed the principal part of the present communication, confirmed the propriety of referring the Lepidosiren to the class of fishes ; but they also led, Mr. Owen observed, to a con- siderable extension in his original views of its affinities in that class. A minute description was then given of the external characters and peculiarities of the present species, which differed from the Le- pidosiren paradoxa in the greater relative length of the head and ru- dimental fins as compared with that of the trunk ; and in its general size, which is three-fourths smaller. The chief peculiarities of the skeleton consist in its imperfect, or rather partial ossification, and in the green colour of the ossified parts ; in which it resembles that of the gar-pike {Belone vulgaris). The parts which continue permanently in the cartilaginous condition are the petrous elements of the temporal bones containing the acoustic labyrinth, a portion of the articular pedicle of the lower jaw, the branchial arches, and the bodies of the vertebrae : these, moreover, are not separated to correspond with the neurapophyses and ribs, as in Plagiostomous Cartilaginous Fishes, but retain their primitive con- fluent condition as a round continuous chord, extending from the oc- ciput to the end of the tail : this vertebral chord consists of an ex- ternal firm, elastic, yellowish capsule, enveloping a softer subgelati- nous material, as in the Cyclostomous Fishes. The corresponding parts or basilar elements of the cranial vertebrae were ossified : and Mr. Owen then entered upon a detailed description of the skull. Linncean Society. 26? The ribs are thirty-six pairs, and consist of short, slightly curved, slender styles, encompassing, with the spine, about one-sixth part of the cavity of the abdomen. These ribs are attached to the lower part of the side of the fibrous sheath of the central vertebral chord ; their pointed free extremities are cemented to the intermuscular ligaments. The superior spines are throughout separated from the neurapo- physes, and these are not anchylosed together at their upper extre- mities. Haemapophyseal spines are developed in the caudal region, and both these and the neurapophyseal spines have articulated to them dermo-osseous spines, of equal length, with their distal extre- mities expanded, and supporting the transparent elastic horny rays of the caudal fin. The rudimental filiform pectoral and ventral fins were supported each by a single cartilaginous ray composed of many joints. The muscles of the head, jaws, hyoid and branchial apparatus were then described : the muscular system of the body consists of subvertical layers of oblique fibres separated at brief intervals by aponeurotic intersections. The following peculiarities of the Digestive system were then pointed out; — two long, slightly curved, slender, sharp-pointed teeth project from the intermaxillary bones, which are moveable. The upper maxillary bones support each a single dental plate divi- ded into three cutting lobes, by two oblique notches entering from the outer side : the lower jaw is armed with a single dental plate si- milarly modified, the produced cutting edges fitting into the notches above : these maxillary teeth somewhat resemble the dental plate of the extinct Ceratodus of Agassiz. The fleshy and sensitive parts of the tongue are more developed than in fishes generally. The jaws are adapted to minutely divide and comminute alimentary substances; the pharyngeal opening is contracted ; the entrance to the pharynx guarded by a soft semicircular valvular process. Gullet short, straight, narrow, but longitudinally plicated. Stomach simple, straight, with thick walls, in capacity corresponding with the oesophagus ; termi- nating by a valvular pylorus projecting with a scalloped margin into the intestine. No pancreas or spleen. Liver well-developed, partly divided into two lobes. A gall-bladder, and large ductus choledochus, opening by a valvular termination close to the pylorus. Intestine round, straight, at first of equal diameter with the stomach, but gra- dually contracting to the vent, with thick parietes ; traversed inter- nally by a spiral valve describing six gyrations ; the first of which is the longest. The respiratory organs consist of branchiae, and a double elon- u2 268 Linncean Society, gated air-bladder, with the usual vascular and cellular structure of the lungs of a reptile. The branchice consist of elongated, sub-compressed, soft, pendu- lous filaments, attached to cartilaginous branchial arches ; these arches are not joined together, or to the os hyoides by an interme- diate chain of cartilages or bones below, nor are they articulated to the cranium above. There are six branchial arches on each side, and five intervals for the passage of the water from the mouth to the branchial sac. All the branchial arches do not support branchial filaments ; but only the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth. The first and last branchial arches each support a single row, the fourth and fifth each a double row of branchial filaments. ITie second and third branchial arches have their full proportions, but offer not the slight- est trace of gills. The branchial sac is pretty large, and opens ex- ternally by a small vertical fissure immediately anterior to the ru- dimental pectoral extremities. The heart is situate below the oesophagus, in a strong pericardium ; it consists of a single auricle and ventricle and a contorted bulbus arteriosus, with a longitudinal valvular process as in the Siren. The two branchial arteries, which wind round the gill-less arches, after- wards unite together on each side, and give off branches which form the pulmonary arteries, or those which go to the air-bladders. The apparatus for aerial respiration commences by a short, single, wide and membranous trachea, or ductus pneumaticus, which com- mences by a longitudinal laryngeal slit, one line in extent, situated three lines behind the orifice of the pharynx : a single plate of car- tilage is continued from this laryngeal opening forwards to that of the pharynx : the plate is as broad as the floor of the pharynx, and its office seems to be to prevent the collapse of the parietes of that tube, and to keep a free passage for the air to the trachea. This tube dilates at its lower end into a sac with very thin parietes, which com- municates directly witli each division or lobe of the air-bladder. ITiese lobes or lungs are partially subdivided into small lobes at their anterior and broadest part ; and then continue simple and flattened, gradually diminishing to an obtuse point situated behind the poste- rior extremity of the cloaca. The whole of the parietes of the lungs is honey-combed : the cells are largest, deepest and most vascular and subdivided at the anterior and broader end of the lung. The lungs are situated behind the ovaria, the Iddneys, and the perito- neum, which is in contact with merely that part of their ventral Jtiattened surfaces, not covered by other viscera. The two kidneys are quite distinct, very long and narrow, but Linncean Society. 269 broadest towards the cloaca : the ureters communicate with the back part of the common termination of the oviducts. There were not any suprarenal bodies, nor any spleen. The ovaria are two long, flattened bodies, wdth ovisacs and ova of different sizes : many between 2 and 3 lines in diameter, scattered among clusters of other ova of smaller size. The oviducts are distinct tortuous tubes, which commence by a very wide and thin- coated portion, opening by a slit, 3 lines wide at their anterior extremity, and not communicating with each other before opening into the pe- ritoneal cavity, as in the Plagiostoraes. The oviduct contracts and performs many short undulations, adhering to the ovarian capsule as it descends : its coats become thicker, and oblique spiral folds are developed from the inner surface ; the capacity of the oviduct in- creases before its termination, which is by a single prominent open- ing, common to the two oviducts in the posterior part of the cloaca. A small Allantois is situated between the oviduct and rectum. The cloaca receives the above parts in the following order, — first, or most anteriorly, the common opening of the peritoneal canals ; se- condly, the anus ; thirdly, the AUantoid bladder ; fourthly, the ovi- ducts, with the ureters, which open into the back part of the ovi- ducts. The brain consists of two elongated subcompressed distinct cere- bral hemispheres ; a single elliptical optic lobe, or representative of the bigeminal bodies ; a simple transverse cerebellar fold, not cover- ing the widely- open fourth ventricle ; largely developed pineal and pituitary glands ; and a single corpus mammillare. The nerves given off from the brain, were the olfactory ; the optic, which arose from the same point at the middle line between the crura cerebri, and did not decussate ; the fifth pair ; the acoustic ; the pneumogastric ; and lingual nerves : there were no traces of the third, fourth, or sixth nerves ; there being no muscles to the eyeballs. The eyes are very small, and adhere to the skin, which passes over them without forming any projection : they have a small spherical lens, and no choroid gland. The organ of hearing consists of a vestibule enclosed in a thick cartilaginous case, without external communication except for the foramina transmitting the portio mollis : it consists of two large otolithic sacs, containing each a white chalky mass ; the external one being six times the size of the one next the brain : above these sacs are three small semicircular canals. No trace of tympanic cavity or Eustachian tube. The organ of smell consists of two oval membranous sacs, pli- 270 Royal Irish Academy, cated internally, and having each a single external aperture upon the upper lip ; but without any communication with the mouth, — a structure which the author observed was perhaps the only single character which unexceptionably proved the Lepidosiren to be a true fish. The remaining evidence of its ichthyic nature reposed rather upon the concurrence of many less decisive characters. These characters were stated to be, its covering of large round scales ; the mucous ducts of the head and lateral line ; the many- jointed soft ray supporting the rudimental pectoral and ventral fins ; the gelatinous vertebral chord, united anteriorly to the whole of the basi-occipital, and not to two condyles as in Batrachia ; a prse- opercular bone, the intermaxillary bone being moveable ; the lower jaw having each ramus composed simply of a post-mandibular and dentary piece ; the double row of spinous processes, both above and below the vertebral chord ; the green colour of the ossified parts of the skeleton ; the straight intestine, with its spiral valve ; the absence of pancreas and spleen ; the single peritoneal outlet ; the position of the anus ; the single auricle of the heart ; the number of branchial arches, and the internal position of the gills ; a long lateral nerve ; acoustic labyrinth with large otolithes. These characters, with the nasal sacs opening only externally, prove satisfactorily the Lepido- siren to be a true Fish, and not a Perennibranchiate Reptile. In the class of fishes, Mr. Owen pointed out the interesting rela- tions of the Lepidosiren as a link connecting the Cartilaginous fishes with the Malacopterygians, and especially with the Sauroid genera, Polypterus and Lepidosteus, and at the same time making the near- est approach in the class of fishes to the Perennibranchiate Reptiles. For the species here described Mr. Owen proposed the name of Lepidosiren annectens. It is a native of the river Gambia, Africa. ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY. January 28. — Sir Wm. R. Hamilton, A.M., President, in the Chair. Mr. Ball read a Paper on the Remains of Oxen found in the Bogs of Ireland. Having alluded to the occurrence of fossil remains of oxen in Britain, and the existence of the Auroch or Wild Ox, in some parks in that country, he remarked on the old and generally received opi- nion, that Ireland could not furnish any evidence of having ever pos- sessed an indigenous ox ; and he stated, that a specimen which he received from the sub-marine forest, in the Bay of Youghal, seemed to have been the core of a horn of the fossil ox, often found in Bri- Royal Irish Academy, 271 tain, and supposed to have been the Urus ; but this specimen having been lost, he alluded to it, to direct the attention of the Academy to the subject, in the hope of having his view confirmed. He then en- tered upon the principal object of his paper, which was to show, that the remains of oxen found at considerable depths in bogs in West- meath, Tyrone, and Longford, belonged to a variety or race, differ- ing very remarkably from any noticed in Cuvier's ' Ossemens Fos- siles,' or any other work with which he was acquainted. He con- cluded by expressing a conviction, that Ireland had possessed at least one native race of oxen, distinguished by the convexity of the upper part of the forehead, by its great proportionate length, and by the shortness and downward direction of the horns. As this fact seems to have escaped altogether the notice of British and continental na- turalists, and as analogy in the case of other Irish mammals justified the view, he urged the great probability of the race in question pro- ving to be one peculiar to Ireland. Mr. Ball exhibited specimens and drawings, and solicited the co- operation of Members of the Academy in effecting a perfect eluci- dation of the subject, by collecting specimens from the bogs of the country. April 8. — Dr. Wilde, a visiter, by permission of the Academy, read a paper on some Discoveries he had made at Tyre, relating to the manufacture of the celebrated Purple Dye. Dr. Wilde stated, that having been engaged in investigating the ruins of Tyre, he discovered several circular apertures or reservoirs cut in the solid sandstone rock close to the water's edge along the southern shores of the Peninsula. These in shape resembled a large pot, and varied in size from two to eight feet in diameter, and from four to five deep ; some were in clusters, others isolated, and several were connected in pairs by a conduit about a foot deep. Many of those reservoirs were filled with a breccia solely composed of broken up shells, bound together by carbonate of lime, and a small trace of strontian ; large heaps of a similar breccia were found in the vicinity of the pots. This mass, a portion of wliich Dr. Wilde exhibited to the Academy, is exceedingly heavy, of adamantine hardness, and the shells of which it is composed appear to be all of one species, and from the sharpness of their fracture, were evidently broken by art and not worn or water- washed. The portions of shell were examined by eminent naturalists, and are pronounced to be the Murex trun- cuius, which most conchologists agree was one species from which IheTyrian dye was obtained, but until now, no /^roq/" could be given of its being the actual shell. 272 Botanical Society of London, Dr. Wilde is of opinion that the reservoirs he discovered were the vats or mortars in which the shells were broken up, in order to ob- tain the dye (which lies in a sac in the neck of the mollusc inhabit- ing them,) and showed that it accurately accords with the descrip- tion of Pliny, who states, that the smaller shells (of which those in the specimen are examples) were broken in certain mills. BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. October 5th. — J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. Mr. Daniel Cooper, the Curator, exhibited a specimen of the natural living fence mentioned at a former meeting, vol.ii. p. 234. Mr. James Rich communicated a translation from the French " On the Forma- tion of Crystals in the Cellules of Plants," November 2nd. — The President in the Chair. Dr. F. Bossey read a paper, being the results of an excursion from "Woolwich to Cobham, Kent, made in company with several members of the Society. At the commencement of the paper Dr. B. alluded to the general imperfect manner in which the habitats of uncommon species were in general described, and proposed the use of the com- pass in defining particular habitats. Particular attention was directed to the habitat of Polypogon monspeliensis and P. littoralis, which were discovered in the marshes east of Woolwich, particularly in front of the south of the butt or mound in the Plumstead practice ground. On ditch banks, forming the east border of the practice ground, Poa distans, P. procumhens, and P. maritima, were observed, and in the water Zannichellia palustris, Potamogeton pectinatum and Scirpus la- custris with the Polygonum maritimum of Ray, see vol. ii. p. 234. In the hedge banks towards Plumstead a small patch of Erysimum cheiran- thoides was noticed. Passing over Plumstead Common to a road called the King's Highway, Dr. B. found in a little wood on the right the Orobus tenuif alius of Roth. This plant, which Willdenow, Smith, and Hooker agree in regarding as a narrow-leaved variety of O. tuberosus, is considered by Don and others as a distinct species. The characters which are permanent in cultivated plants are given by Mr. D. Don in the 3rd volume of the Memoirs of the Wernerian Society, and sufficiently distinguish it from the common species. In fields, near Darne Wood, the following plants were met with — Linaria minor, E la tine and spuria, Adonis autumnalis, Ajuga Chamee- pitys, Anagallis ccerulea, Galium tricorne, Papaver hybridum and som- Botanical Society of London. 273 niferuT^. In Dame Wood, Astragalus glycyphyllos, Asperula Cynan- chica, and Rubus casius. Towards Cobham Brachypodium pinnatum, Althea hirsuta, Salvia pratensis, &c. &c. November 16th. — The President in the Chair. Specimens of the fruit, bark, and liber of Bertholletia excelsa were announced, presented by R. H. Schomburgk, Esq. now in British Guiana. Mr. Chatterley read a paper on the importance of " Bota- nical Statistics," illustrated by the order ConifercB, which led to much interesting discussion. November 29th. — The President in the Chair. This being the second Anniversary of the Society, the Secretary read the report of the Council, from which it appeared that the pre- sent number of Members is 100, of which 42 are Resident, 34 Corre- sponding, and 24 Foreign, 47 having been elected since the last An- niversary. In the Treasurer's report it was stated that the receipts amounted to 71/. 16^. 6c?., and the expenditure to Qt^l. 16^. lOf/., lea- ving a balance in the hands of the Treasurer of 4/. 19^. M. exclusive of subscriptions for the ensuing year. The President congratulated the Society on its present condition as contrasted with the report of the state of the funds at the last Anniversary, when the Society were 35/. 17^. 6c?. in arrears. Donations to the library were announced from 13 Members, and to the herbarium from 42. The number of British plants received amount to 18,592 specimens, including a va- luable collection of British Salices from Mr. W. Baxter, A.L.S., of the Botanic Garden, Oxford. The number of foreign specimens received amount to upwards of 10,000, including 4000 species, principally received from H. B. Fielding, Esq., F.L.S., Baron Macedo, A.White, and the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. The report also announced that the Council had opened a correspondence with the Botanical So- ciety of Edinburgh, and that an exchange of specimens will annually take place between both Societies. The Council have also caused to be published a list of the Natural Orders and Genera of DeCan- dolle, together with the Linnaean Classes and Orders, in such a form as to allow of cutting out to paste on the labels of collections : this, together with the Edinburgh Societies' list of species, will form a complete printed index to British Herbaria. The report was una- nimously adopted. Ballot then took place for the officers of the ensuing year : J. G. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., was re-elected President, who appointed J. E. Children, V.P.R.S., &c., and Dr. D. C. Macreight, F.L.S., Vice-Presidents ; John Reynolds, Esq. was re-elected Trea- surer, together with Daniel Cooper, Esq., A.L.S., Curator, and George 274 Dublin Natural History Society. E. Dennes, Esq., F.L.S., Secretary. The President then delivered an address, in which he expatiated on the advancement the Society had made since the last year, and gave a brief sketch of the pro- gress of Botanical Science for 1837. DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. We have received the first annual report of the above-named As- sociation, established in March 1838, "for promoting the Investi- gation of the Natural History of Ireland," and were gratified to see the attempt made to institute a society of this character in the me- tropolis of Ireland. It already consists of one hundred and thirty- six members, and a museum and library have been founded. The rules are very ample, consisting of thirty-eight articles, which a little further experience in their wording may perhaps condense, while the chief aim of the society is stated to be " undivided attention to the study of the natural history of Ireland by forming a standard collec- tion of species ;" and the reading of papers at the evening meetings, *' when a free and unrestrained communication of facts would be en- couraged." The report above alluded to is unassumingly drawn up, and relates rather to statistics than to the transactions of the meetings. It is to be continued annually, we trust in the form of an address to the members ; and we would recommend a little detail being entered into of the proceedings of the bygone year, both as a useful sum- mary to the members themselves, and as valuable to persons at a di- stance interested in the zoology of the British Islands, and who could scarcely otherwise become acquainted with what discoveries had been made or what additional information had been obtained. NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY FOR THE WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE. Henry Denny, Esq. of Leeds, the author of a History of the British Pselaphida^, is at present attempting to establish a Society in the West Riding of Yorkshire, for the promotion of the local Natural History, and we trust he may be successful. This is one of the ob- jects which has been recommended by the British Association, as tending in an eminent manner to render our knowledge of the zo- ology and botany of the country complete, and the additions which have been made of late years both of new species and of valuable in- formation regarding some previously accounted rare or little known by the researches of local investigators, is ample testimony that the * We would anxiously recommend the work which Mr. Denny has at present in preparation on the British Nirmidm. Zoological Society. 275 recommendation should be attended to. The plan proposed is nearly that acted upon by the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, which has now continued for several years, holding five meetings annually, examining the adjacent country during the days of assembling, and bringing together after a frugal but always well-relished dinner the results of the different excursions. There is no subscription, and a few shillings from each member suffices to defray the expense of printing the Transactions and annual address, which already hold an important place in the literature of our natural history. Mr. Denny remarks, " I feel confident, that if such an association were formed for the West Riding, (than which no district of equal extent in the kingdom is richer for varieties of soil, suitable localities, di- versity and abundance of its productions,) a large mass of highly valuable materials might be collected, our knowledge of the organised beings surrounding us increased, and much friendly and scientific intercourse carried on, to the mutual benefit of all parties." It will give us satisfaction to learn that Mr. Denny's project has been realised. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. August 14, 1838.— William Yarrell, Esq., in the Chair. A series of skins, belonging to species of the genus Sciurus, in- cluding, with one or two exceptions, all which are known to in- habit North America, were upon the table; and the Rev. Dr. Bach- man, of S. Carolina, brought them severally before the notice of the Members. Six of the species exhibited were new, and for these he proposed the specific names of Texianus, lanuginosus, fuliginosus, suhauratus, Auduboni, and Richardsoni. Dr. Bachman's manuscript notes upon the habits and characters of the North American Squir- rels, with descriptions of the newly characterized species, were also laid before the Meeting. The first species noticed by Dr. Bachman is the Sciurus capi- stratus of Bosc, or Fox Squirrel ; vulpinus of Gmel.; niger, Catesby; variegatus, Desm. ; the Black Squirrel of Bartram. Its essential characters consist in its large size, in having the tail longer than the body, the hair coarse, and the ears and nose white. The dental formula is inc. \, can. J^^, mol. ^. Sciurus Texianus. Texian Squirrel. This name is proposed by Dr. Bachman for an apparently undescribed species which he saw in the Museum at Paris. It was said to have been received from Mexico. In the Museums of Berlin and Zurich, he also found what he conceives to be the same species ; and in the British Museum 276 Zoological Society. there is a specimen obtained at Texas by Mr. Douglas, agreeing with the others in almost every particular. Dr. Bachman also states that, among his notes there is a description of a specimen received by a friend from the south-western parts of Louisiana, which, on a com- parison with memoranda taken from the other specimens, does not appear to differ in any important particular. Hence, he thinks it probable that this species has a tolerably extensive range extending perhaps from the south-western portions of Louisiana, through Texas, into Mexico. The Texian Squirrel is about the size of the Fox Squirrel. On the upper surface there is a mixture of black and yellow, and on the under parts deep yellow. The under sides of the limbs, and also the parts of the body contiguous, are whitish. Fore-legs externally, and the feet, rich yellow : ears, on both surfaces, yellow, with in- terspersed white hairs : nose and lips, brownish white : hairs of tail, rich rusty yellow at base, with a broad black space near the ex- tremity, and finally tipt with yellow. Dimensions. in. lines. Length of body 13 6 Tail to end of hair 15 Tarsus 3 Height of ears to end of fur 6| The Texian Squirrel bears some resemblance to the Sciurus ca- pistratus. The latter species, however, in all the varieties hitherto examined by Dr. Bachman, has uniformly the white ears and nose. This species would appear to replace the Capistratus in the south- western parts of America. Sciurus subauratus. Sci. corpore supra cinereo, flavo lavato^ infrd, austere aureo, caudd corpore longiore. Denies, inc. -g, mol. 4-4 4r-4* The designation " Golden-bellied Squirrel," and the specific term subauratus, are given by Dr. Bachman to a species, of which two dead specimens were procured in the markets of New Orleans by Mr. Audubon. Their size was between that of the Northern Gray, and the Little Carolina Squirrel. There was no trace of the small anterior upper molar generally found in the species of the genus Sciurus. The upper incisors are of a deep orange brown colour, and of moderate size : under incisors a little paler than the upper ; the head is of moderate size ; whiskers longer than the head ; the ears are short and pointed, and clothed with hair on both surfaces. The body seems better formed for agility than that of the small Carolina, in this respect approaching nearer to the Northern Gray Squirrel. Zoological Society, 277 The tail is broad and nearly as long as that of the last-named spe- cies. The colour of the whole upper surface is gray, with a distinct yellow tint. The hairs, which give this outward appearance, are grayish slate colour at their base, then very broadly annulated with yellow ; then black, and near the apex annulated with yellowish white. The sides of the face and neck, the whole of the inner side of the limbs, feet, and the whole of the under parts, of a deep golden yellow ; on the cheeks and sides of the neck, however, the hairs are obscurely annulated with black and whitish ; the ears are well clothed on both surfaces with tolerably long hairs of the same deep golden hue as the sides of the face ; hairs of the feet are mostly blackish at the root, and some are obscurely tipped with black ; hairs of the tail black at the roots, and the remaining portion of a bright rusty yellow ; each hair three times in its length annulated with black ; the under surface of the tail is chiefly bright rusty yel- low ; whiskers longer than the head, black. Sciurus magnicaudatus, Harlan's Fauna, p. 170. S. macrourus. Say. Long's Expedition, vol. i. p. 115. Of this species Dr. Bachman remarks, that although he has seen many specimens labelled under the above name, yet the only true ^. macrourus which has come under his own observation, is one in the Philadelphia Museum. Sciurus aureogaster, F. Cuv. et Geoff. Mamm. Californian Squirrel. Habitat Mexico and California. Sciurus cinereus. Gmel. Cat Squirrel, Pen. Arct. Zool. i. 137. A little smaller than the Fox Squirrel ; larger than the Northern Gray Squirrel ; body stout ; legs rather short ; nose and ears not white; tail longer than the body. Dental formula, incis. |, can. ^, mol. J^, =20. ** This squirrel has many habits in common with other species, residing in the hollows of trees, building in summer its nest of leaves in some convenient crutch, and subsisting on the same va- riety of food. It is, however, the most inactive of all our known species. It mounts a tree, not with the lightness and agility of the Northern Gray Squirrel, but with the slowness and apparent reluc- tance of the little Striped Squirrel (Tamias Lysteri). After ascend- ing, it does not mount to the top, as is the case with other species, but clings to the body of the tree on the side opposite to you, or tries to conceal itself behind the first convenient limb. I have never observed it escaping from branch to branch. When it is induced in 278 Zoological Society. search of food to proceed to the extremity of a Umb, it moves cau- tiously and heavily, and returns the same way. On the ground it runs clumsily and makes slower progress than the Gray Squirrel. It is usually fat, especially in autumn, and the flesh is said to be preferable to that of any other of our species. " The Cat Squirrel does not appear to be migratory in its habits. ITie same pair, if undisturbed, may be found taking up their resi- dence in a particular vicinity for a number of years in succession, and the sexes seem mated for life." Sciurus leucotis. Northern Gray Squirrel. Gray Squirrel. Penn. Arct. Zool. vol. i. p. 135. Hist. Quad. No. 272. Sci. CaroUnensis. Godman non Gmel. Sci. leucotis, Gapper, Zoological Journal, vol. v. p. 206, pub- lished in 1830. Larger than the Carolina Gray Squirrelj tail much longer than the body ; smaller than the Cat Squirrel ; subject to many varieties of colour. Dental formula, incis. -^, mol. ^, = 22. Sciurus CaroUnensis, Gmel. Little Carolina Gray Squirrel. This species is smaller than the Northern Gray Squirrel, and has the tail, which is the same length as its body, narrower than in that species. The colour above is rusty gray, beneath white, and not subject to variation. Sciurus Collim. For a description of this species, of which the original specimen is in the Collection of the Zoological Society, Dr. Bachman refers to Dr. Richardson's Appendix to Capt. Beechey's Voyage. Sciurus nigrescens. A species described by Mr. Bennett, in the Proceedings of the Zool. Soc. for 1833, p. 41. Sciurus niger, Linn, non Catesby. The Black Squirrel. A little larger than the Northern Gray Squirrel ; fur soft and glossy. Ears, nose, and the whole body, pure black ; a few white tufts of hair interspersed. Incis. |, canines ^, molars |=^, = 20. Sciurus Auduboni. Larger Louisiana Black Squirrel. Sciurus corpore supra nigro, subtiis fuscescente ; caudd corpus lon- gitudine tequante. A new species, for which Dr. Bachman is indebted to Mr. Audu- bon. It has the fur very harsh to the touch, and is rather less in size than the Sciurus niger. Sciurus fuliginosus. Sooty Squirrel. Sciurus corpore suprcl nigro et fuscescenti-fiavo irrorato, subtiis Zoological Society. 279 fuscescente ; caudd corpore valde longiore : denies inc. 2 mol, g. Dr. Bachman remarks of this species, " I am indebted to J. W. Audubon, Esq., for a specimen of an interesting little Squirrel ob- tained at New Orleans on the 24th March, 1837, which I find agreeing in most particulars with the specimen in the Philadelphia Museum, referred by American authors to Sciurus rufiventer. " Dr. Harlan's description does not apply very closely to the spe- cimen in question, but seems to be with slight variations that of Desmarest's description of Sciurus rufiventer. " The following description is taken from the specimen procured by Mr. Audubon. It was that of an old female, containing several young, and I am enabled to state with certainty that it was an adult animal. " I have given to this species the character of 22 teeth, from the circumstance of my having found that number in the specimen from which I described. The animal could not have been less than a year old. The anterior molars in the upper jaw are small ; the inner surface of the upper grinders is obtuse, and the two outer points on each tooth are elevated and sharper than those of most other species. In the lower jaw the molars regularly increase in size from the first, which is the smallest, to the fourth, which is the largest. Head short and broad ; nose very obtuse ; ears short and rounded, slightly clothed with hair ; feet and claws rather short and strong ; tail short and flattened, but not broad, resembling that of the Sc. Hudsonius. The form of the body, like that of the little Carolina Squirrel, is more indicative of strength than of agility. *• The hairs on the upper part of the body, the limbs externally and feet, are black, obscurely grizzled with brownish yellow. On the under parts, with the exception of the chin and throat, which are grayish, the hairs are annulated with brownish orange and black, and a grayish white at the roots. The prevailing colour of the tail above is black, the hairs however are brown at base and some of them are obscurely annulated with brown, and at the apex pale brown. On the under side of the tail the hairs exhibit pale yellowish brown annulations." Sciurus Douglasii, Gray. Oppoce-poce, Indian name. A species about one-fourth larger than the Hudson's Bay Squirrel ; tail shorter than the body. Colour : dark brown above, and bright buff beneath. Dental formula ; incis. ^, can.-^^, mol. ^^,=^20. Sciurus Hudsonius, (Pennant). The Chickaree Hudson's Bay Squirrel. Red Squirrel. 280 Zoological Society, The Hudson's Bay Squirrel, a well-known species, is a third smaller than the Northern Gray Squirrel ; tail shorter than the body ; ears slightly tufted. Colour, reddish above, white beneath. Dental formula : incis. |, can. ^, mol. j3|, = 20. Sciurus Richardsoni. Columbia Pine Squirrel. Small Brown Squirrel. Lewis and Clarke, vol. iii. p. 37. Sciurus Hudsonius, var. /3. Columbia Pine Squirrel. Richardson, Fauna Boreali- Americana, p. 190. Smaller than Sc, Hudsonius; tail shorter than the body ; rusty gray above, whitish beneath ; extremity of the tail black. This small species was first noticed by Lewis and Clarke, who deposited a specimen in the Philadelphia Museum, where it still exists. I have compared it with the specimen brought by Dr. Townsend, and find them identical. Dr. Richardson, who appears not to have seen it, supposes it to be a mere variety of the Sciurus Hudsonius. Dental formula : incis. |, can. ^, mol. "J^* = 20. " The body of this most diminutive of all the known species of genuine squirrel in North America, is short, and does not present that appearance of lightness and agility which distinguishes the Sciurus Hudsonius. Head large, less elongated, forehead more arched, and nose a little blunter than Sc. Hudsonius ; ears short ; feet of moderate size. The third toe on the fore-feet but slightly longer than the second ; the claws are compressed, hooked and acute ; tail shorter than the body ; the thumb-nail is broad, flat and blunt. *' The fur on the back is dark plumbeous from the roots, tipped with rusty brown and black, giving it a rusty gray appearance. It is less rufous than the Sc. Hudsonius, and lighter coloured than the Sc. Douglasii. The feet on their upper surface are rufous : on the shoulders, forehead, ears, and along the thighs, there is a slight tinge of the same colour. The whiskers, which are a little longer than the head, are black. The whole of the under surface, as well as a line around the eyes, and a small patch above the nostrils, smoke -gray. The tail for about one half its length presents on the upper surface a dark rufous appearance, many of the hairs being nearly black, pointed with light rufous : at the extremity of the tail, for about an inch and three-fourths in length, the hairs are black, a few of them slightly tipped with rufous. The hind-feet, from the heel to the palms, are thickly clothed with short adpressed light- coloured hairs ; the palms are naked. The sides of the body are marked by a line of black commencing at the shoulder and ter- Zoological Society. 281 minating abruptly on the flanks : this line is about two inches in length and four lines wide. SciuRUS LANUGiNOSUS. Downy Squirrel. Sciurus coiyore suprH flavescenti-griseo, laterihus argenteo-cinereis, abdomine albo : pilis mollibus et lanuginosis : auribus brevibus : palmis pilis sericeis crebre instructis ; caudd corpore breviore. *' A singular and beautiful quadruped, to which I have conceived the above name appropriate, was sent to me with the collection of Dr. Townsend. He states in his letter, * Of this animal I have no further knowledge than that it was killed on the North-west coast, near Sitka, where it is said to be common: it was given to me by my friend W. F. Tolmie, Esq., surgeon of the Hon. Hudson's Bay Company. I saw three other specimens from Paget's Sound, in the possession of Capt. Brotchie, and understood him to say that it was a burrowing animal.' Sitka is, I believe, the principal set- tlement of the Russians on Norfolk Sound and Paget's Sound, a few degrees North of the Columbia River. " The head is broader than that of the Sc. Hudsonius, and the fore- head much arched. The ears, which are situated far back on the head, are short, oval, and thickly clothed with fur ; they are not tufted as in the Sc. Hudsonius and Sc. vulgaris of Europe, but a quan- tity of longer fur, situated on the outer base of the ear, and rising two or three lines above the margins, give the ears the appearance of being somewhat tufted. In the Squirrels generally, the posterior margin of the ear doubles forward to form a valve over the auditory opening, and the anterior one curves to form a helix ; in the present species the margins are less folded than those of any other species I have examined. The whiskers are longer than the head ; feet and toes short; rudimental thumb armed with a broad flat nail ; nails slender, compressed, arched and acute ; the third on the fore -feet is a little the longest, as in the Squirrels. The tail bears some resemblance to that of the Flying Squirrel, and is thickly clothed with hair, which is a little coarser than those on the back. On the fore- feet the palms are only partially covered with hair ; but on the hind feet, the under surface, from the heel even to the extremity of the nails, is thickly clothed with short soft hairs. " The fur is softer and more downy than that of any other North American species, and the whole covering of the animal indicates it to be a native of a cold region. "Dental formula: incis. |, can. ^, mol. ~\, = 20. " The upper incisors are smaller and more compressed than those of Sc. Hudsonius; the lower ones are a little longer and sharper than Ann. Nat. Hist, Vol.3. No. 17- /?/?^e 1S39. x 282 Miscellaneous, the upper : the upper grinders, on their inner surface, have each an elevated ridge of enamel ; on the outer crest or edge of the to6th, there are three sharp points instead of two obtuse elevations, as in the Squirrels generally, and in this particular it approaches the Spermophiles . In the lower jaw, the grinders, which are quadrangu- lar in shape, present each four sharp points. " On the back and tail there are so many white hairs inter- spersed, the white spot on the head being merely occasioned by a greater number of hairs nearly or wholly white, that there is great reason to believe that this species becomes much lighter, if not wholly white, during winter. '• In the shape of the head and ears, and in the pointed projec- tions of the teeth, this species approaches the Marmots and Sper- mophiles ; but in the shape of its body, its soft fur, its curved and acute nails, constructed more for climbing than digging in the earth, and in the third toe being longer than the second, it must be placed among the Squirrels." Mr.Ogilby pointed out the characters of a new species of Muntjac Deer, which lately died at the Gardens. This species is about the same size as the common Indian Muntjac, but has a longer head and tail; has less red, and more blue in the general shade of the colouring, and is readily distinguished by the want of the white over the hoofs, which is so apparent in its congener. The specimen, a male, was brought from China by J. R. Reeves, Esq., to whom the Society is already indebted for many rare and valuable animals, and to whom Mr. Ogilby proposed to dedicate the present species by applying the name of Cervus Reevesi. A female specimen which accompanied that here described, is still living and has lately produced a fawn, which is interesting from exhibiting the spotted character common to the generality of the young in this extensive group. MISCELLANEOUS. FORMATION OF INDIGO IN POLYGONUM TINCTORIUM. Prof. Morren of Liege in a memoir read before the Academy of Sciences at Brussels, on the culture of, and method of obtaining the indigo from Polygonum tinctorium, makes the following statement with respect to the formation of the indigo in the leaves of this plant : — ** The indigo," he observes, " is contained in the mesophylle of the leaf especially. It is dissolved originally in a liquid which fills the cells, and in which float pure granules of chlorophylle either inclo- Miscellaneous. 283 sing nuclei of cells or bundles of crystals. The formation of the indigo is in connexion with the non-development of the fecula, so that the more there is of this substance the less there is of the blue product. Whence it follows that the young leaves being less feculi- ferous than the old ones, are more useful. " The chlorophylle is a formation prior to the fecula, which is developed in separate nuclei in the green granules ; but there is nothing to prove that the indigo is influenced by the chlorophylle, or that it is the anthocyan, the blue principle of the chlorophylle, which has any connexion with the indigo, so that the leaves of a bright and uniform green are also those which are best adapted for the extraction of indigo ; for the greener and more healthy a leaf is, the more it contains of the blue principle." — Extract from the Bul- letin de VAcad6nie de Bruxelles, 1838. ON A NEW SPECIES OF CYRENA. BY H. NYST. The species of this genus formed by Lamarck at the expense of Cyclas of Bruguifere, and belonging like those to his Conchiferes di- my aires lamellipcdes, are all inhabitants of rivers. They are at pre- sent all exotic, but formerly they must have been widely spread through Europe, since they are found in a fossil state with Melanics, Melanopsides , and Paludince, in layers of considerable extent : such is, amongst others, the Cyrena semistriata, Desh., which we have discovered in abundance at Kleyn Spauwen, near Maestricht, and which is figured in our " Inquiries on the Fossil Shells of Housselt and of Kleyn Spauwen," PI. III. fig. 13. The genus Cyrena has been subdivided by Lamarck into two sections, the one containing the species with lateral serrulated teeth, of which Megerle afterwards made his genus Corbicula ; the other comprehending those with entire teeth, which constitute the genus Pridonta, established by Schumacher. The shell under con- sideration belongs to the first of these sections. It should take its place by the side of the Cyrena cor, Lamk., if indeed it be not its fossil representative. Cyrena Duchastelii, Nob. — Testa cordata, subsequilatera, tumida ; scalariter sulcata ; natibus fere conjunctis. Shell cordiform, nearly equilateral, thick, probably grooved, traces of grooves visible towards the hinges in the injured speci- men which we have before us. The hinges are very near each other. We dedicate this species to M. F. Duchastel, who was so obliging x2 284 Miscellaneous. as to present us with the second specimen, which he possessed from the Crag of the County of Norfolk, where Mr. Wood, an English geologist had found it. — Bulletin de VAcadtmie de Bruxclles, 1838. ON A NEW EXOTIC SPECIES OF P9LYP0RUS. BY PROF. J. KICKX. Polyporus myrrhinus. Nob. — Graveolens, suberoso-coriaceus , pi- leo rufescente, strigoso-velutino, zonato, basi subtus tubercu- loso ; poris rotundis lutescentibus. Hah. Cuba. Sessile, unilateral, obliquely and irregularly reniform, plane, thin (its greatest thickness not surpassing 7 mill.), nearly 11 centim. long to 17 centim. broad. Pileus marked with zones of various colours ; some brownish-red with short hairs, very dense and soft, giving the surface a velvety appearance ; others alternating with the first, nar- rower, greyish, with stiff erect hairs. Lines of growth deep. Base in- feriorly tuberculous. Margin thin, straight, presenting now and then small perforations arising from foreign bodies inclosed by the plant during its growth. Hymenium yellow, of a deeper tint towards the outer margin. Pores very small, approximate, rounded, entire, de- current along the basal tuberosities of the pileus. Sporidia white. The Polyporus myrrhinus belongs therefore to the group of annual and coriaceous Apodes, and should take its place by the side of P. hirsutus, Schrad., Lundii, Fr,, and Polyzonus ^Fers. The odour which this species diffuses is that of myrrh. It is impossible to mistake it. Besides, there is a method which I have had recourse to more than once for the diagnosis of vegetable emanations, and with which I have almost always succeeded. It consists in passing the object over a bottle containing ammonia for some minutes. The experiment proves that by this process (the theory of which however I do not take upon myself to give), we strengthen without altering the aromas, the weakness of which would otherwise have hindered their being recognised. A character so easy to prove as the existence of the resinoso- balsamic odour, which we have mentioned, seemed to merit being ex- pressed in the specific name. — lb. ON THE VERNATION OF THE CYCADACEM, BY F. A. W. MIQUEL, In all botanical works, we find quoted, as one of the characters of the Cycadacea, the circinate arrangement of the young leaves, and from this at one period was inferred their affinity to Ferns. The au- Miscellaneous, 285 thor's researches have shown that this fact is not general. On a spe- cimen of Encephalartos affinis, Lehm., he found a bud composed of young leaves shortened, the points of which converged at their summit, and the leaflets on each side of the rachis were imbricate (on account of the shortening of the latter), and they were applied one against the other by their front surface. The same phenomenon is seen in the E. Altensteinii and horridus, Lehm. The terminal bud in the species of this genus is not in general developed except at intervals of two or even of several years : in the young plants and the lateral buds of great stems very often only a single leaf or a very small number of leaves is developed at a time. The growth of the young leaves is caused by the extension of the rachis and of the leaflets. The E. spiralis, Lehm., likewise presents the same cha- racters. In the Zamia, Lehm. the leaves present a development altogether diff"erent. In the Z. pumila, media, the young rachis in the bud is bent in the form of the head of a crosier, but the two series of leaf-, lets are imbricated on each side and applied one against the other, so that their summit is directed downwards by the gyrate arrange- ment of the rachis. Another disposition of the young leaves is noticed on Cycas circi- nalis and revoluta, Thunb. Their rachis as well as the leaflets are bent like the head of a crosier, each one having its own axis of in- volution as in the Ferns. These diff'erent characters in the disposition of the leaves appear to merit consideration with respect to their use in defining the ge- nera ; and M. Miquel, notwithstanding the small number of species which he has been able to observe, is induced to attribute some im- portance to these differences which have hitherto escaped most bo- tanists. — Extract from the Bulletin des Scienc. Phys. de Neerlande, t. i. p. 129. ON THE SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE CHRYSIDIDJE, M. Klug has given a systematic arrangement of the family of in- sects called Chrysidida, He first separates the genus Cleptes, which is sufliciently distinguished from Chrysis by the abdomen, arched be- low and above, terminating in a point and consisting of more than four segments, whilst in the latter the abdomen is flat beneath, blunt at the point, often broad, consisting only of three, or at the most of four segments : hence Cleptes might be separated as a sub -family, Cleptidce, and might then be considered as following Chrysis, and 286 Miscellaneous. thus the Oxyuri would be connected with Cleptes, as Chrysis is with the Chalcidites, and form a commodious transition to the Formi- caricE. Among the Chrysididce M. Klug first distinguished those which are characterized by the difference of the number of abdominal segments in the two sexes. The disappearance of the submarginal and dis- coidal cells in the fore wing here indicates an approach to the second chief division of the Chrysididce, yet it appears more suitable to place them not at the end but at the head of the first division, and thus entirely at the head of the Chrysididce. Only one genus belong- ing to that section Parnopes, which is distinguished by the porrect linear mouth, is yet known. To this a new genus is now added, An- thracias, a female, with two abdominal segments and wdth a short mouth more like that of Chrysis. The Chrysididce with an equal num- ber of abdominal segments in both sexes are divided from the form of the body into oblong and round, the first with distinct lower mar- ginal and discoidal cells in the fore wing and simple claws, the last with obsolete cells and cleft claws. In the divisions themselves the generic characters should be taken from the formation of the mouth alone, according to whether it, or especially the ligula as in Par- nopes, be linear and porrect or not, and at the apex emarginate or rounded, or lastly short and almost conical. In the first division with simple claws, next to Parnopes, or rather Anthracias, a new ge- nus Leptoglossa should follow, not dissimilar to JEuchroeus, with a porrect ligula and emarginate at the apex ; then Pyrochloris, also with a porrect ligula and rounded at the apex ; after vfKich. Euchroeus, subdivided according to whether the apex of the abdomen (as is usu- ally the case here) is serrated, or indented, or quite unarmed; and then the genus Stilbum, which hardly differs sufficiently from Euchroeus. The conclusion of the first division would be formed by the genus Chrysis, which is the most abundant in species, and which might be much subdivided from the structure of the mandibles, completeness of the marginal cells in the superior wings, and the direction of the nerves forming them, projection of the scutellum, and the armature of the apex of the abdomen, but is nevertheless well characterized by the short nearly conical ligula. In the section of Chrysididce with divided claws, the difference between the genera Elampus and Hedy- chrum consists either, as in Chrysis, in the short or conical ligula, or as in Euchroeus and Stilbum, only in the more projecting ligula emarginate at the apex and without regard to the projection of the scutellum. — From the Bericht der Berliner Akademie, S;c.,for 1839. Meteorological Observatiotis. 28? British Coleoptera Delineated, consisting of Figures of all the Genera of British Beetles, Drawn in outline by W. Spry, M.E.S. Edited by W. E. Shuckard, Librarian to the Royal Society. We have just seen the first two numbers of this work,which promises to be of considerable assistance to the British Entomologist ; it is to consist of a series of figures in outline of all the genera of British Coleoptera, drawn by Mr. Spry and edited by Mr. Shuckard. As the distinctions of form are sometimes so peculiar that it is scarcely possible for the most elaborate description to convey a correct idea of them, we consider this work a very happy conception ; and as we have no doubt that the execution will continue in the spirit and with the care with which it commences, we certainly think that it deserves the patronage of all who cultivate the delightful science of entomo- logy, for its very moderate price must meet the means of all. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR APRIL^ 1839. Chiswick.^A^rW \. Rain. 2. Overcast. 3,4. Bleak and cold. 5. Snow- ing. 6. Cloudy and cold. 7. Fine. 8. Snowing. 9. Bleak and cold. 10, IL Fine but cold. 12 — 14. Cloudy and cold. 15. Overcast. 16. Very fine. 17. Showery. 18. Boisterous with rain. 19. Very fine. 20. Sliowery. 21. Fine. 22. Very fine. 25. Rain. 24—26. Fine. 27. Dry haze. 28 — 30. Very fine. Boston, — April 1. Fine. 2. Stormy. 3 — 7. Cloudy. 8. Cloudy : sleet early A.M. 9. Cloudy. 10. Fine. 11—15. Cloudy. 16. Fine. 17, 18. Rain. 19. Fine: rain early a.m. 20,21. Fine: rain a.m. and p.m. 22. Fine: rain early a.m. 23. Rain. 24 — 26. Cloudy. 27. Cloudy : rain a.m. 28 — 30. Fine. Applegarlh Manse, Dunifries-shire. — April 1. A most inclement day : snow on hills. 2. The same: snow on hills melting. 3. The same : bitterly cold. 4. Another piercing day : cloudy p.m. 5. Still extremely cold : snow showers. 6. Wind fallen : more temperate. 7. Moderate day : still no vegetation. 8. Pier- cingly cold and withering. 9. Dry and cold: frosty mornings. 10. Sun warm, but wind cold and withering. 11. Milder, but still no spring. 12. Great in- crease of temperature. 13. Sun warm : wind moderate but parching. 14. Mo- derate day: vegetation commencing. 15. The same: temperature lower: cloudy. 16. Threatening rain : showery: very wet p.m. 17. Showers: rain: hail: cleared p.m. 18. Frequent showers : rain and sleet : snow. 19. Violent wind : showers of hail. 20. Dry and cold : vegetation at a stand. 21. Dry : temperature rising. 22. Foggy morning : drizzling day. 23. Clear: tempera- ture increasing. 24. The same : cool evening. 25. Temperature increasing : clear sun. 26. Cloudy: threatening: cleared up p.m. 27. Clear and fine : hoar frost morning. 28. The same : cloudy p.m. 29. Fine spring day. 30. Remarkably fine spring day. Sun 25 days. Rain 4 days. Snow 2 days. Hail 2 days. Frost 3 mornings. Wind easterly 13 days. Southerly 12 days. Northerly 2 days. Westerly 3 days. Calm 1 1 days. Moderate 7 days. Strong breeze 4 days. Stormy 5 days. Brisk 3 days. Mean daily range of l)arometer 0*092. Mean nightly range 0*080. Mean range of 24 hours 0'172. Mean daily range of thermometer 10*4. 5 >5 Ed K H » M g » Z S? S5 "^ -A Z K Z. ^ I !^ » ^ S ^ > ^ •QpcDI>•■^C0a^C^O0^0t>. ociDuocD'^-^O'^j'ihr^cor^'^rouo'^uDOOO — cJr^c^^CT\co.iOiOC» "^O '^CD'^OM^ r^oo o^touDCi ip cooo Tfrfipoo r^uoci ^tc^ -rfcp i;^cocoop»o for^qpop CO •<^COCDCOCO-^CO-^CO"^'<*'^-^-^r}OLO'rt6a^66o6666 0>l(MCI.OI-^lr^'^00'^OOLOO-HC^OiOOOC^roi>.iO(^lt^OOI^OOLCOt^t>CJ c^uDO^cuDoooooOT'^ccoor^ipc^ooo^ouDor^-rtipirjor^r^vo^ a^c^a^6^6^a^6 6^6 6 o a^6^6^a^6^cbdb <^6^a^<^c^a^a^6^c^q^g^CT^ 0«(MOIC"^(O^OL0l:^C0C0C0i-<00C0 -■--.- . '^O(p'^'5lp'rt<"^^0O007-C OO'-COOIUD— COI>-UD-^'^^--* c'8 . OlON'^QOUDOOt^OO'^OCDIr'-OOC^O'Ol^OOiOincOO"^-' O O^CJiOC^tO t>.c^t^cplpcpl, a yielding, elastic movement may still take place between these vertebras. The cervical vertebra: present all the peculiarities of the type of Birds ; the inverted bony arch for the protection of the carotid ar- teries, is first seen developed from the inner side of the inferior trans- verse processes of the twelfth cervical vertebra, but the two sides of the arch are not anchylosed together. The sternum is reduced to its lowest grade of development in the Apteryx. In its small size, and in the total absence of a keel, it re- sembles that of the struthious birds, but differs in the presence of two subcircular perforations, situated on each side of the middle line, in the wide anterior emargination, and in the much greater ex- tent of the two posterior fissures. The anterior margin presents no trace of a manubrial process, as in the Ostrich, the interspace between the articular cavities of the coracoid being, on the con- trary, deeply concave. After concluding the description of the osteology of the Apteryx, of which the preceding is an abstract, Prof. Owen proceeded to ob- serve, " that so far as the natural affinities of a bird are elucidated by its skeleton, all the leading modifications of that basis of the organi- zation of the Apteryx connect it closely with the struthious group. In the diminutive and keel -less sternum it agrees with all the known struthious species, and with these alone. The two posterior emar- ginations which we observe in the sternum of the Ostrich are present in a still greater degree in the Apteryx ; but the feeble development of the anterior extremities, to the muscles of which the sternum is mainly subservient, as a basis of attachment, is the condition of a peculiarly incomplete state of the ossification of that bone of the Apte- ryx ; and the two subcircular perforations which intervene between the origins of the pectoral muscle on the one side, and those of a large inferior dermo- cervical muscle on the other, form one of seve- ral unique structures in the anatomy of this bird. We have again 346 Zoological Society, the struthious characters repeated in the atrophy of the bones of the wing, and the absence of the clavicles, as in the Emeu and Rhea*. Like testimony is borne by the expansively developed iliac and sacral bones, by the broad ischium and slender />m6z5, and by the long and narrow form of the pelvis : we begin to observe a deviation from the struthious type in the length of t\ie femur, and a tendency to the gallinaceous type in the shortness of the metatarsal segment ; the development of the fourth or inner toe may be regarded as another deviation, but it should be remembered that in the size and position of the latter the Apteryx closely corresponds with the extinct stru- thious Dodo. The claw on the inner toe of the Apteryx has been erroneously compared with the spur of certain Gallince, but it scarcely differs in form from the claws of the anterior toes. *' In the broad ribs (see the Cassowary), in the general freedom of anchylosis in the dorsal region of the vertebral column, and the nu- merous vertebrcB of the neck, we again meet with struthious charac- ters ; and should it be objected to the latter particular, that some Palmipeds surpass the Ostrich in the number of cervical vertebra, yet these stand out rather as exceptions in their particular order ; while an excess over the average number of cervical vertebra in birds is constant in the struthious or Brevipennate order. Thus in the Cas- sowary 1 9 vertebra precede that which supports a rib connected with the sternum, and of these 19 we may fairly reckon 16 as analogous to the cervical vertebra in other birds. In the Rhea there are also 16 cervical vertebra, and not 14, as Cuvier states. In the Ostrich there are 18, in the Emeu 19 cervical vertebra. In the Apteryx we should reckon 16 cervical vertebra if we included that which sup- ports the short rudimental but moveable pair of ribs. Of the 22 true grallatorial birds cited in Cuvier's Table of the Number of Ver- tebrae, only 9 have more than 14 cervical vertebra ; while the Apte- ryx with 15 cervical vertebra, considered as a struthious bird, has the fewest of its order. The free bony appendages of the ribs, and the universal absence of air-cells in the skeleton, are conditions in which the Apteryx resembles the Aptenodites, but here all resemblance ceases : the position in which the Apteryx was originally figured f is incompatible with its organization. ** The modifications of the skull of the Apteryx, in conformity with the structure of the beak requisite for obtaining its appropriate food, * In the Ostrich the clavicles are undoubtedly present, though anchylosed, with the scapula and coracoids, and separate from each other. In the Cas- sowary they exist as separate short styliform bones. ^ t Shaw's Miscellany, xxiv. pi. 1075. Zoological Society, 34? are undoubtedly extreme ; yet we perceive in the cere which covers the base of the bill in the entire Apteryw a structure which exists in all the struthious birds ; and the anterior position of the nostrils in the subattenuated beak of the Cassowary is an evident approach to that very singular one which peculiarly characterizes the Apteryx. With regard to the digestive organs, it is interesting to remark, that the thickened muscular parietes of the stomach of the most strictly granivorous of the struthious birds do not exhibit that apparatus of distinct Musculi digastrici and laterales which forms the characteristic structure of the gizzard of the gallinaceous order : the Apteryx, in the form and structure of its stomach, adheres to the struthious type. It differs again in a marked degree from the Gallince, in the absence of a crop. With respect to the ccecal appendages of the intestine, though generally long in the Gallince, they are subject to great variety in both the struthious and grallatorial orders : their extreme length and complicated structure in the Ostrich and Rhea form a peculiarity only met with in these birds. In the Cassowary, on the other hand, the caca are described by the French academicians as entirely absent. Cuvier* speaks of ' un caecum unique' in the Emeu. In my dissec- tions of these struthious birds I have always found the two normal cceca present, but small ; in the Emeu measuring about five inches long and half an inch in diameter ; in the Cassowary measuring about four inches in length. The presence of two moderately de- veloped aeca in the Apteryx affords therefore no indication of its re- cession from the struthious type : these cceca correspond in their condition, as they do in the other struthious birds, with the nature of the nutriment of the species. It is dependent on this circum- stance also, that in the grallatorial bird (Ibis), which the Apteryx most resembles in the structure of its beak, and consequently in the nature of its food, the cceca have nearly the same relative size ; but as regards the Grallce, taken as an order, no one condition of the cceca can be predicated as characteristic of them. In most they are very small ; in many single. " What evidence, we next ask, does the generative system afford of the affinities of the Apteryx ? A single, well- developed, inferiorly grooved, subspiral, intromittent organ attests unequivocally its rela- tions to the struthious group ; and this structure, with the modifi- cations of the plumage, and the peculiarities of the skeleton, lead me to the same conclusion at which I formerly arrived f, from a study of the external organization of the Apteryx, viz. that it must rank as • Lemons d'Anat. Comp. 1836. iv. p. 291. t Art. Aves, Cycl. of Anat. and Phys., i. 1836, p. 269. 348 Zoological Society. a genu? of the cursorial or struthious order ; and that in deviating from the type of this order it manifests a tendency in one direction, as in the feet, to the gallinaceous order ; and in another, as in the beak, to the Grallce ; but that it cannot, without violation of its na- tural affinities, be classed with either." A living specimen of the Gymnotus electricus, from the Amazon, was exhibited by Mr. Porter. September 11th, 1838. — Lieut. Col. Sykes, in the Chair. Some notes were read by the Chairman upon three skins of digi- tigrade carnivora, which were on the table for exhibition : one of these was a beautiful skin of the Aguara Giiazu of Azara, (Canis juhatus, Desm.) and the other two, those of the Felis Pardina, Temm., in an adult and nonadult state. Respecting the first of these Col. Sykes offered the following observations : '* Azara in his preliminary notices of the two species of Canis, C. ju- hatus and C. Azara, says, I prefer for the family the Spanish names of. Zorro or Fox to the Guaranese name Aguara, which also means fox ; and he accordingly heads the notices with the words ' Zorros or Foxes.' The C. juhatus, measuring 5 feet to the tail, and the tail of which is 19 inches, is certainly a Brobdignag Fox. I mention this circumstance in illustration of the fact, that Azara, in his classi- fication, appears to have overlooked analogies. And this remissness I hope wiU authorize me, without the imputation of presumption, in venturing upon the remarks I am about to make. " The skin I put before the Society is that of AzsiTQ.'s Canis jubatus, and as it and a fellow skin in my possession are the only specimens of the kind in England (indeed I believe there are only two other speci- mens in Europe, one in Paris, the other in Cadiz), and as it will most probably have been seen but by few of the gentlemen present, I shall be happy to find that its exhibition is acceptable. Azara states that the Canis juhatus has 6 incisors in the upper jaw, then on either side of a vacant space follow 2 canines and 6 molar teeth, three of which, however, look more like incisors than molars ; the lower jaw is in all respects similar to the upper, except that the interval is wanting between the canine teeth and the incisors, and there is one additional molar tooth ; in other respects the form and general cha- racter of these animals are those of the Dog : they differ, however, chiefly in being unsociable and nocturnal. The tail is much thicker and more bushy, and they never raise or curl it ; the body and neck are shorter and covered with longer fur ; the neck is also thicker ; the hair too is thicker ; the eye is smaller, the face flatter ; the head Zoological Society. 349 rounder and more bulky as far as the front of the eyes, where the thick part diminishes more speedily and terminates in a sharper muzzle, furnished with whiskers ; the ear is broader at its origin, and thicker and stiffer, and when they are on the look-out they pre- sent the hollow part forwards and approximate their ears much more than Dogs. They do not bark nor howl like Dogs, nor is their voice heard often; in fact they so cry but seldom, and submit to be killed without uttering a sound. Other discrepancies between his two * Zorros' and Dogs are added, but it is unnecessary to specify them. I perfectly agree with Azara that he has afforded sufficient proofs of the wide difference between the Canis jubatus and Dogs (the most striking part of which difference, however, he has omitted to characterize, viz. the long mane), but here my coincidence in opinion ceases, for it is evident that the animal of which the skin lies upon the table has not the slightest approximation to the cha- racter of a Fox, which Azara would make it. A question is thus opened, to what genus or subgenus of the second division of digiti- grada does the animal belong.'' Unfortunately the skins in my pos- session do not afford the means of fixing definitively its place in the family, there being neither skull nor teeth, no toes, and no means of determining whether or not an anal pouch existed. Azara's dental characters are applicable to the genus Canis, but he has omitted to notice those minute points which might constitute sub- generic differences. One fact mentioned, that the canines of the only adult he examined were ten lines long, although they were very much worn, would apply rather to Hyana than to Canis. The number of toes is omitted. Buffon calls the Canis jubatus the Red Wolf ; but, were not its solitary and nocturnal habits and its predilection for certain fruits and vegetables sufficient to separate it, the remarkable mane at once prevents the alliance. Apparently, therefore, being neither fox, dog, nor wolf, it may be permitted us to look to a neighbouring genus, to see whether or not there are more characteristics common to the animal under consideration and species of that genus than we have yet met with. " While residing with my family at Cadiz during the spring, three beautiful skins were imported from Buenos Ayres ; they were quite unknown to the owner and his friends, and learning that I took an interest in natural history, 1 was asked to examine and give my opi- nion upon them. The heavy head, the large ears, the bulky body and comparatively slender hind-limbs, the short neck, the shaggy hair, but particularly the singular mane, fixed my attention ; and in the absence of primary generic characters, I would have pronounced the 350 Zoological Society, skins to be those of a beautiful species of Hyana : but the few natu- ralists who have examined the New World have not yet discovered the Hyaena, and it would have been rash, with the slender data before me, to have expressed a definitive opinion. Nevertheless on returning to England and deliberately examining Azara's description of the form and habits of the Canisjubatus, my original opinion is so much strengthened that I am induced to submit the whole question to the consideration of naturalists, in the hope that on an opportunity occur- ring it may be taken advantage of to determine the primary generic characters, with a view to the allocation of the animal into its exact place in the digitigrade family. But to me it is a matter of indiffer- ence whether or not the animal has the technical characters of Canis or Hyana. Nature, in her wondrous chain of animated beings di- spersed over the world, is never defective in a link (at least on the great continents), for if the identical species of one continent be wanting, in another we surely find its analogue. The Ostrich of Africa has its analogue in America in the Rhea, and in the Emu and Cassowary of Australia : the Llama replaces the Camel, and the Fe- lis concolor, the Lion in America ; but the numerous cases are fami- liar to all naturalists and need not be enumerated ; and with respect to the Aguara Guazu (Canisjubatus), if it be not an Hycena, it is at least the analogue of the Hyeena. The multitudinous reasons of Azara already quoted against his two Zorros being Dogs, may be applied almost verbatim in proof of one of them being an Hycena ; and in his detailed description of the Aguara Guazu he mentions many of its habits that are common to the Hycena vulgaris — its walk with long paces, its absence of a predal disposition on living animals (Azara in- stances poultry not being touched while passing within reach of the animal he had chained up) in its wild state, not committing havock amongst herds or lesser flocks, and its indifference to a meat or vegetable diet, indeed its predilection for fruits and sugar cane. An Hyana I brought from India with me, and which is now living in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, London, and which is as affec- tionate to me as a spaniel dog w^ould be, was fed during the whole voyage from India on boiled rice and a little ghee (liquid butter;) and these instances of a community of habits between the Hyaena and Canis jubatus could be greatly multiplied. If Azara's dental formula be right, the Aguara Guazu cannot technically be an Hycena, and it may be desirable to constitute it a subgenus ; but as I before said, it will suffice if my speculations assist in any way to rivet a link in the chain of nature." With respect to the skin of Felis Pardina Col. Sykes remarked. Zoological Society, 351 *' Although Temminck, in his Monographie de Mammalogie, p. 116, in a note, says the skin of this European Felis is well known amongst the furriers as the Lynx of Portugal, I have nowhere been able to meet with a specimen in London ; and as amongst my friends scarcely any one appeared to be aware of the existence of a Spanish Lynx, I thought it might be acceptable to the members to exhibit specimens in a state of maturity and nonage. In Andalusia, whence the speci- mens come, it is called Gato clavo (clavo meaning the pupil of the eye), illustrative of the spotted character of the skin. Some pea- sants in Andalusia make short jackets of the skins, llie animal inhabits the Sierra Morena. I bought both skins at Seville for thirty reales, about 6s. 3d. Neither the British Museum nor the Zoological Society have specimens. " Temminck describes the Pardina as ' Toutes les parties du corps lustre, a peu pres de la m^me teinte que dans le caracal.' This is certainly not the description of my animal, the colour of the adult being reddish gray, and that of the non- adult light fawn ; never- theless there are so many other points common to both, that it would be unadvisable to consider them distinct." A specimen of the Alauda Calandra, Linn., from Andalusia, was afterwards exhibited by Col. Sykes, accompanied with the following notice : " I brought two specimens of these delightful singing-birds from Andalusia with me this spring ; and on comparing them with the type of the genus, I am satisfied they approximate more closely to the genus Mirafra than to that of Alauda. The bill is infinitely more robust than that of Alauda. The size of the bird is larger, and its ensemble rather that of Mirafra than Alauda, and the inter- nal organization has a close resemblance to the former, in the propor- tional length of the intestines and the colon, in the form of the lobes of the liver, in the spleen, in the size of the gizzard and substance of the digastric muscles, and particularly in the form and position of the cceca. Mr. Yarrell very justly remarks, that the bird in depart- ing from the type of Lark approaches to that of Plectrophanes of Meyer ; but differs from the latter in not having a curved long hind claw, and also in its more robust character ; in short, it has a station between the Larks and the Finches ; it difi^ers also slightly from Mi- rafra in its hind claws being those of a Lark, while its bill and other external and internal characters are those oi Mirafra. On the whole, therefore, it appears desirable to divide the genus Alauda into sub- genera, and constitute the Londra a new subgenus, to which the 352 Zoological Society, name of Londra may be given. The Andalusian bird would thus be the Londra Calandra, and an undescribed species from China, now in the gardens of the Society, appears to form a second example of this genus. The generic characters of Londra are as follow : Londra. Genus novum. Rostrum crassum; capitis longitudinem sequans; basi altum, sub- compressum ; maxilla arcuata; tomiis integerrimis. Nares plumis anticum versus tectae. AlcE cox^oxQ longiores, acuminatae ; remigibus, prima sub- abbreviata, tertia longissima, secunda et quarta fere sequalibus ; reliquis gra- datim brevioribus. Cauda cuneata. Pedes robusti ; unguis hallucis rectus elongatus. Typus est, Alauda Calandra. " The specific characters of Londra Calandra as published are suffi- ciently accurate. " The following are the measurements of a male bird ; and as I have seen many scores of them, I think I may say they would apply to the generality of individuals of the species. " Length, from the tip of the bill to the rump, 5 inches ; bill, 44; tail, Scinches; tihia, l-^V; tarsi, including nail, 1-rV; hind claw, 4-4- inch ; liver of two lobes, one much longer than the other ; gall-bladder fully developed ; spleen cylindrical, -^ inch ; intestines, 9 -^ inches ; duodenum very wide ; small intestines narrow ; cceca, -^, little more than oblong specks ; colon, i inch long ; gizzard very small ; but di- gastric muscle, vV inch thick ; testes very large, nearly globular ; irides black. These birds are fed upon canary seed in Andalusia, but in Lisbon they are fed upon wheat ; nevertheless they are fond of raw meat, flies, and worms. They are soon accustomed to confine- ment, and they sing unconcernedly, although surrounded by spec- tators; their notes, some of which are a kind of double-tongueing in the phrase of flute players, are remarkably rich and full." Mr. Blyth made some remarks on the plumage and progressive changes of the Crossbills, stating that, contrary to what has ge- nerally been asserted, neither the red nor safl^ron-tinted garb is in- dicative of any particular age. He had known specimens to acquire a second time the red plumage, and that much brighter than before ; and he exhibited to the Meeting two individuals recently shot from a flock in the vicinity of the metropolis, which were exchanging their striated nestling feathers for the saffron- coloured dress commonly described to be never acquired before the second moulting. Zoological Society, 353 He also exhibited a Linnet killed during the height of the breeding season, when the crown and breast of that species are ordinarily- bright crimson, in which those parts were of the same hue as in many Crossbills ; and observed that the same variations were no- ticeable in the genera Corythraix and Erythrospiza. Mr. Blyth called attention also to the fact, that in the genus Linota the females oc- casionally assumed the red breast, supposed to be peculiar to the other sex, and that they continue to produce eggs when in this livery ; a circumstance very apt to escape attention, as most natu- ralists would at once conclude such specimens to be males without further examination. October 9, 1838 — Rev. F. W. Hope in the Chair. The reading of a paper by Richard Owen, Esq., on the Osteology of the Marsupialia, was commenced. Mr. Martin drew the attention of the Meeting to the crania of the Sooty and White-eyelid Monkeys, Cercopithecus fuliginosus and C, JEthiops, which were placed upon the table, and upon which he proceeded to remark as follows : " It is now some years since I stated to the late Mr. Bennett that in the skeleton of a Sooty Monkey I had discovered the presence of a distinct fifth tubercle on the last molar of the lower jaw ; recently I have observed the same fact in the skull of the Collared or White- eyelid Monkey ( C. jEthiops)^ circumstances of some interest, as this tubercle appears to be always absent in the Cercopithecif and also in such as the Malbrouck, Grivet, and Green Monkeys, &c., which have been separated from the Cercopitheci under the subgeneric title Cercocebus, Geoff., the Sooty and the White-eyelid Monkeys being included ; though, as far as we can see, on no feasible grounds, dif- fering from the foregoing species, as they do, in physiognomy and also in style of colouring. However this may be, the Sooty and White-eyelid Monkeys approximate to their supposed congeners in a more remote degree than has hitherto been supposed. Now with re- gard to t\ie^enev2i SemnopitJiecus a.nd Macacus, both of which are from India, and the African genera Inuus and Cgnocephalus, this fifth tu- bercle is a constant character and accompanied by the presence of laryngeal sacculi; and in another African genus, viz. Colobus, a fifth tubercle also exists, but whether accompanied or not by laryngeal sacs is still to be determined. May not this fifth tubercle, it may here be asked, bring the Sooty and Vv hite-eyelid Monkeys within the pale of the Macaci ? and the question will bear considering. Our reply, however, would be in the negative ; for as we have ascertained Ann. Nat, Hist. Vol.3. No. 18. July 1839. 2 c 354 Tweedside Physical and Antiquarian Society, by dissection, the Sooty Monkey, at least, is destitute of laryngeal sacs, (but has large cheek pouches) and we may readily infer the same of the other species, its immediate ally. The relationship, as it appears to us, between these two animals and the Indian Macaci, is that of representation. They have not indeed the muzzle so pro- duced and the supra- orbital ridge so developed as in the Macaci; but in these points they exceed the African Guenons generally, and are also we think stouter in their proportions. They appear, indeed, to constitute a form, intermediate between the Macaci and Cercopi- theci, on the one hand ; as are the Colobi between the Semnopitheci and Cercopitheci on the other. What the Colobi of Africa are to the Semnopitheci^ these two monkeys (and others have perhaps to be added) are to the Macaci, With respect to the genus Cercocebus, I should be inclined to restrict it, excluding from it the Grivet and Green Monkeys, and modify its characters accordingly, taking the Sooty and White-eyelid Monkeys as its typical examples, a plan which, it appears to me, is preferable to the creation of a new ge- neric title, which often leads to confusion." Mr. Owen exhibited a preparation of the ligamentum teres in the Coypou, which he had received from Mr. Otley of Exeter. TWEEDSIDE PHYSICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. A stated Quarterly meeting of this Society, the establishment of which we mentioned in vol. i. p. 159, was held at Kelso on Monday last, Major Watson, Woodside, in the Chair. The donations re- ported as received since last meeting, and those announced as now on their way from various contributors, were of a description equally interesting and valuable with any that have been noticed at the pre- vious meetings of the Society. From Mr. Herman, London. — Magnificent tiger skin. The ani- mal, when alive, must have measured fully 11 feet from tip to tip. From Mr. Wilkie of Ladythorn. — Three fine specimens of foreign shells (Pearl Nautilus and Leopard Cowries). It was announced to the meeting that Mr. Selby of Twizel, one of the most distinguished of our native naturalists, had signified his intention of presenting to the Society the appropriate and valuable donation of a collection of Scottish insects. Specimens of native birds have been received from the Rev. Joseph Train; Mr. Gilbert Bruce; Mr. John S. M'Dougal, Coldstream; Mr. Johnston, Todrig, &c. Of these we may mention the follow- ing :— Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 355 The Shieldrake (Tadorna Bellonii), M. and F. Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax cristatus), M. and F. Little Grebe (Podiceps minor), M. Jack Snipe {Scolopax Gallinula), M. Long-tailed Titmouse {Parus caudatus), M. and F. Black-headed Bunting {Emheriza Schceniculus), M. and F. Mountain Finch {Fringilla Montifringilla), M. and F. Common Linnet {F. cannahina), M. and F. Contributions towards the ornithological department of the collec- tion are received with gratitude, and we are glad to perceive that the friends of the Institution do not weary in their exertions. It is always agreeable for us to dwell upon the continued pros- perity of the Institution whose proceedings we are now noticing. We have stated, that even the attempt to establish it was creditable to the district, and that it is doubly creditable that it should have been hitherto constantly supported in so efficient a manner by nearly every grade of the community. We ought to mention that the prospect of the Society's being able to present the new building to the public, free of debt, is daily im- proving, though not yet fully realized ; but as the Institution conti- nues to find additional friends, in proportion as it shows more sure tokens of permanence and usefulness, we do not doubt that at the period of our next report we shall have it in our power to state that the whole of the necessary funds have been collected. BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. April 11, 1839. — Prof. Graham, President, in the Chair. His Majesty Frederick William III. King of Prussia, was elected a Foreign Honorary Member, by unanimous acclamation. The President read the conclusion of his report on the Progress and State of Botany in Britain during the last twelve months, which we have already had occasion to notice at p. 53 of the present volume. The Secretary read a communication from Mr. William Gardi- ner, jun., of Dundee, accompanying a specimen of Mucor new to the British Flora, found in the neighbourhood of Dundee in 1836, and supposed by Sir William Hooker to be Phycomyces splendens of Fries, or perhaps the Ulva nit ens of Agardh. Mr. Brand read a communication from Mr. George Dickie, of Aberdeen, on the Vegetation of Davis' Straits, in which the author noticed various circumstances, and suggested some inquiries of an interesting nature connected with the range and distribution of spe- cies in that region. Mr. Thomas Wood Morrison laid before the Society engravings 2c 2 356 Miscellaneous, of some rare plants, splendidly figured in Audubon's great work on North American Ornithology, viz. Platanus recemosus, Columbia ri- ver ; Cornus Nuttali, Columbia river ; Iris cuprea, Louisiana ; Nym~ phceaflava, Florida. The President requested Mr. Morrison to con- vey to Mr. Audubon the thanks of the Society for his kindness in allowing the engravings to be exhibited. Mr. Edward Forbes read a second notice on certain Continental plants allied to British species. Specimens of the following were exhibited, and their alliances and synonyms amongst British species pointed out. 1. Silene Pseud- Otites, Bess, from Monte Spaccato ; 2. Silene livida, Willd.', from Monte Spaccato ; 3. Gentiana angulosa, Bieb., from Carniola ; 4. Plantago carinata, Schrad., from Adelsberg in Carniola ; 5. Plantago altissima, Jacq., from Gaule, near Trieste ; 6. Holoschcenus australis, Reich., near Trieste ; 7. Bupleurum pro- tractum, Link, from Istria; 8. Lotus cillatus, Ten., from Trieste ; 9. Onohrychis arenaria, Kitt, near Trieste. The Society then adjourned till Thursday, the 9th of May, when the summer meetings at the Royal Botanic Garden will be resumed. MISCELLANEOUS. ON THE WILD CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. As an addition to the notices of the wild cattle of Great Britain, for which our Journal is indebted to the contributions of Mr. Hind- marsh, the Earl of Tankerville, and Sir Philip Grey Egerton *, the following passage from Matthew Paris may be of some interest, as showing that herds of these " boves sylvestres f existed not only in the forests of Caledonia and the north of England, but in the mid- land districts. In his account of Leofstan, one of the abbots of St. Albans in the time of Edward the Confessor, he says ; " Opaca nemora quae a limbo Ciltria usque Londoniam fere, a parte septentrionali ubi prsecipue strata regia quae Watlingestrata dicitur, fecit resecari, salebras explanari, pontes fabricari, et abrupta viarum in planitiem redigi tutiorem. Abundabant enim eo tempore per totam Ciliriam nemora spatiosa, densa et copiosa, in quibus habi- tabant diversse bestise, lupi, apri, tauri sylvestres, et cervi, abun- danter." — Vitce Sancti Albani Abbatum, p. 28. These great forests of the Chiltern district of Buckinghamshire, Herts, &c., were those in which the Saxon chieftains, aided by some of the citizens of London, for a long time held out against the Norman conqueror, under the countenance of Abbot Fretheric ; and where, in subsequent times, the citizens maintained their right of hunting, * Vol. ii. p. 274; iii. 241. t See the passage from Bishop Leshe, vol. ii. p. 282. Miscellaneous, 3 5 7 which was thus recognised in the charter of Hen. I. and those of se- veral succeeding reigns : " et cives London" habeant fugaciones suas ad fugandum sicut melius et plenius habuerint antecessores eorum, sc. in Chiltre, &c."— R. T. ON A NEW SPECIES OF SEPJOLA. MM. Gervais and Vanbeneben have lately presented to the Acad, des Scienc. de Bruxelles a memoir on the genus Sepiola, and in a subsequent note have described a new species under the name of macrosoma from the Bay of Naples, and figured in Delia Chiaje's * Memorie sugli animali senza vertebre/ pi. 71. fig. 1 — 2. The most remarkable fact found by the authors in examining this species was the existence of an inferior eyelid, which in a certain degree calls to mind the principal character on which R. Owen established his Rossia palpebrosa. The Sep. macrosoma has moreover in common with this a very extraordinary size. It would perhaps be necessary, did we not place entire confidence in the accurate descriptions of the learned Englishman, to compare individuals of the two species. How- ever their geographical distribution alone would authorize their se- paration, the one having been discovered by Capt. Ross at the Arctic Pole, while our species inhabits the Bay of Naples. The body is globular and perfectly rounded at its posterior part. The arms are placed about middle way, they are by some lines closer together beneath than above. The mantle does not present any point of adhesion with the body in its inferior or anal portion ; it is only at the nuchal or superior part that a junction of a small extent is perceived. The dorsal plate is larger in front than behind, and gra- dually becomes narrow. It is undoubtedly the largest species of the genus. If we compare it with the S. palpebrosa we first see the eye-ball protected by a palpebral fold in both species, but in the northern one the eyelids completely hide the eyes, and there exists one above and one below, although the latter is the largest. In our species we cannot find a trace of any superior eyelid, conse- quently the eye is not completely closed. R. Owen supposes that these eyelids serve the species inhabiting the cold countries to protect the eye-ball against the fragments of ice, but the existence of eyelids in a Neapolitan species necessarily destroys this supposition. The body is much less elongated in our species, and the arms are not inserted so near the front margin of the mantle, they are also perfectly rounded. The arms have the same proportions in the two species, with this exception, that in the northern species the third pair surpasses the fourth considerably. The tentacula are longer in the Neapolitan species. 358 Miscellaneous. inch. lin. Length of body and head without the arms . 3 of the longest arms 1 9 of the tentacula 4 5 of the dorsal plate 8 Breadth at the root of the arms 1 of the arms 9 M. Delle Chiaje possesses one double the size of this. — Bulletin de VAcad. de Bruxelles, Jan. 1839. [We do not see how the existence of a Cephalopod in the Medi- terranean with one eyelid inadequate to protect the eye-ball is con- clusive against the use assigned by Mr. Owen to a peculiarly perfect defensive palpebral organization in a Cephalopod inhabiting seas which in the summer are crowded with spicular crystals of ice. — Edit.] ON THE NEMATOIDEA. BY DR. CREPLIN. I take this opportunity of drawing the attention of naturalists to a law which from many years' personal observations, as well as from those of others, I have constantly found to hold good : viz. that a Nematoidean living singly in a cyst, inclosed on all sides, or enve- loped closely in a membrane, never possesses sexual organs. Rudolphi everywhere states, when speaking of Nematoidea so in- closed, that he had never been able to discover generative organs in any of them. It is true that he mentions in his * Entoz. Hist. Nat.* ii. p. 152. a sexual difference in Ascaris (e mesenterio Cotti scorpii) angulata, but he does not prove by his remarks the accuracy of his as- sertion ; and when Zeder * Naturgeschichte,' § 53, 54 talks of an ova- rium and probable seminal vessels in his Capsularia, he by no means proves that the organs observed possess the functions he ascribes to them. I confine myself at present to this short notice without enumerating those species which I have examined, as I think of describing them elsewhere, and take the liberty of requesting hel- minthologists to be so kind as to give publicity to their observations, with a view to the confirmation or refutation of the universality of the above law. — Wiegmann's Archiv, vol. iv. part V. [We may observe that the organization of the incysted micro- scopic Entozoon (Trichina spiralis, O.), discovered by Mr. Owen in the human muscles, accords with the generalization enunciated by Dr. Creplin.— Edit.] ACTION OF FROST ON PLANTS. M. Morren has recently laid before the Academy of Brussels an account of his investigations relative to the action of cold on plants, the results of which are, that how^ever delicate the organization of the plants, not one of their elementary parts is ruptured by the action of the frost, but the functions are entirely deranged ; thus the organs of respiration are filled with water, and those of nutrition with air; so that the natural order is perverted, and death is the consequence. Meteorological Observations, 359 BIRTH OF A GIRAFFE AT THE GARDEN OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. The following particulars of the birth of the young Giraffe were communicated to the Zool. Soc. at the Meeting on Tuesday evening last by Professor Owen. ** The Giraffe brought forth a young male June 19th, after a gestation of 15 lunar months. The young animal was able to stand a few hours after birth, and could reach the height of six feet. He was capering about the day after he was born, and shows a remark- able degree of development and strength, as might be expected from the long period of gestation. The mother, though not unkind to her offspring, refuses to suckle him ; but there seems to be no difficulty in bringing him up by hand. Admeasurements of the different parts of the young animal were given, and the anatomy of the foetal mem- branes and cotyledons described. Drawings of the mother and her young, by Mr. Hills, the well-known animal painter, were exhibited to the meeting." METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR MAY, 1839. ChiswicL — May 1 — 6. Very fine. 7. Clear and dry. 8. Fine : much thun- der and lightning at night. 9,10. Cloudy and cold. 11. Fine, but cold. 12. Cloudy: rain. 13. Clear. 14. Cold rain. 15,16. Clear: cloudy and cold : frosty at night. 17. Fine: frosty at night. 18. Very fine. 19. Overcast. 20. Very fine. 21. Dry haze. 22 — 25. Cold and dry. 26. Dry haze : fine. 27 — 31. Fine. — The weather at the commencement of the month was very fine, but after the thunder on the Sth it became cold and unseasonable. The nights were generally cold, and between the 14th and 17th they were successively frosty. Boston. — May 1. Fine. 2. Cloudy: rain p.m. 3. Cloudy. 4 — 8. Fine. 9. Cloudy: rain a.m. and p.m. 10. Stormy: rain early a.m. 11. Cloudy: rain P.M. 12. Rain: rain early a.m. : rain a.m. 13. Cloudy. 14. Cloudy: rain and hail P.M. 15. Cloudy. 16—18. Fine. 19. Cloudy: rain early a.m. 20. Fine. 21. Cloudy. 22. Rain. 23. Fine. 24. Rain. 25. Cloudy. 26, 27. Fine. 28. Cloudy. 29. Fine. 30, 31. Cloudy. Applegarth Manse t Dumfries-shire. — May 1. Beautiful summer day: heavy dew. 2. The same, but droughty. 3. Still fine, though getting cloudy. 4. Gentle rain all day : everything refreshed. 5. Moist a.m. : cleared up p.m. 6. Fine day: evening cool. 7. Hoar frost early a.m. : clear and calm. 8. Very warm: air electrical : cool p.m. 9. Dry and parching : very chill. 10. Wither- ing day : wind piercing. 11. Wind changed to N.W. : returned to E. p.m. 12. Calm and warm : cool p.m. 13. Cloudy: very slight showers. 14. Frost: ice on the pools : slight snow showers. 15. Strong frost a.m. : getting cloudy : slight showers. 16. Temperature rising, but still cold. 17. Getting cloudy, but barometer still rising. 18. Fine soft rain nearly all day. 19. Warm and sunny throughout. 20. Beautiful summer day. 21. Very droughty, though one or two slight showers. 22. Withering day. 23. Boisterous weather and withering. 24. Temperature improving : cool p.m. 25. Quiet day : bright sun- shine. 26. The same : rather sliowery p.m. 27. Droughty in the extreme, 28. Atmosphere highly electrical. 29 — 31. Not a cloud visible. Sun shone 29 days. Rain fell 4 days. Frost 2 days. Snow 1 day. Wind northerly 13 days. Southerly 11 days. Easterly 5 days. Westerly 2 days. Calm weather 1 1 days. Brisk 6 days. Moderate 9 days. Boisterous 3 days. Strong steady breeze 2 days. & c i -it^S • loo 0>^ O (M C CO g •ajiqs o • ■ • 6 uo;soa : :^ : : : : : :^ i^'g :a : : :^ •5lomsTq3 . 00 f) ip tp ip if) to ^ in "I'^rS ^t^ol^.c^^c^co^^ou^usco^o■^^-0r5tototootco^o'o»o»r5>o'oi:^^OLoior^ o-^^cp7tl>•■^o^c^■^^^<^<^l(N<^^■^o^^^^^co<^^Ytl(» lb 6 cocM^a^>bi^r^»oi>-db (^OMJo^b 6 cocoo oo 6 cric r^oo 0'0 iOLO-^^O-'^'^lOiO'^iOiO (^^ooa^l>-0locoooco^oc^-^ cpi^ op t^<-^ (^ c> <^ 0»(NCIC»COCOCOCO(NfOCOCOCOCOCOCOCO in<:Mcococo<0(NaMoa^ -^c^t:^^ooc•l>•LocoQO'-''^0'-^ln<:^^co o^o^o^'0<0'^'7<<^07H(^^^I-»(Ococo^^Qpc^(^l'7<';'00 6^c^6^6^6^oo6^oooo6^ci^l6^6^6^6^o^oooooooooc>oo OI.'^^^>.ooto'00^>-OLoo^(NfO•'^o^oo^t^coo^oo^<^^ (MCN(N(NCOirocococNOIC.00 <^o '-^ — — — ' — — <^-^-H^ — Q ANNALS OF NATURAL HLSTORY. XLl.— The Fauna of TwizelL By P. J. Selby, Esq., F.R.S.E., F.L.S., &c. &c. [Continued from the ' Magazine of Zoology and Botany,' vol. ii. p. 387.] In the ^ Magazine of Zoology and Botany^ the attention of naturalists was directed to the advantage that the zoology of our own islands could scarcely fail to derive from local Faunas, provided they were undertaken and conducted with accuracy and care ; and an attempt was made to point out the precau- tions necessary to be observed in order to render such Faunas of the greatest possible utility to science. Upon a plan of the kind proposed, the investigation of a small district was under- taken by the writer, and lists of the animals, birds, reptiles and fishes* were given in a second communication in the same work, with a few observations upon the oeconomy of such spe- cies as seemed to require additional notice. As a continuation of this Fauna may not be altogether useless or devoid of inter- est to some of the readers of the ^ Annals of Natural History,^ it is proposed to continue it at intervals so as to embrace the various divisions of the invertebrate animals. In the present communication catalogues of the coleopterous and lepidopterous insects already found within the precincts of the district subjected to investigation are given; and, as these two divisions have been assiduously attended to for the last three years, it is expected that they contain a great majority of the species inhabiting the district, at the same time the writer is aware that many must have escaped his notice and search, particularly those of minute size, belonging to the Ni~ tidulidce, Anisotomidce, &c., as well as those of rare occurrence in the groups of the Pselaphid(B, Tachyporidce, Btenidce, &c. The catalogue of the coleoptera, so far as they have been veri- * In the list of fishes the eels were omitted ; we have the two species Anguilla acutirostris and latirostris. Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 3. No. 19. Auff. 1839. 2 d 362 Mr. P. J. Selby oji the Fauna of Twizell. fied, enumerates upwards of six hundred species, being in the proportion of nearly one sixth to the whole of the British co- leoptera contained in Stephens's Nomenclature, a list of tole- rable extent^ taking the small size of the district and its north- ern latitude into consideration. As might be expected, we find the list to be most deficient in those forms whose pa- bulum either in the larva or perfect state is wanting, or only to be found in very diminished quantity within the district, or in such insects as are restricted within distribution to the southern and warmer parts of the kingdom. Thus of the Lon- gicornes, whose food in the larva state consists of wood in progress of decay, we only possess three species, two of which, Leptura A-fasciata and Rhagium inquisitor^ live upon the de- cayed trunks and roots of the birch, one of our indigenous trees ; the other, the Rhagium bifasciatum, prefers the rotten fibre of the Scotch fir {Pinus sylvestris), though it is sometimes met with in the rotten sap or white wood of the oak. No ex- ample of the Buprestidce has yet been detected, and the same may be added in regard to the Tenebrionidce, Melandryadce'^^ Mdemeridce, PyrochroidaBy and a few other families. Of the PselaphidcB only one species has yet been met with ; but as the habits of these curious insects are very retired, others in all pro- bability remain to be added, and this we also take to be the case with the Tachyporidce, Stenidae, and Omalidce, in which our list is comparatively very deficient. In the first division, or Geodephagous beetles, we have species of the majority of the genera, and of those that are wanting some are inhabitants of maritime districts, or restricted by something peculiar in their ceconomy to confined localities. The same may be said of the Hydradephagous division, as well as of the Phylhydrida and Necrophaga. Of the Varicornes or Helocera, examples of the genera Cistela, Onthophilus and Hister only have been met with, and among the Lamellicornes we possess no repre- sentatives of the Lucanidce^ Scarabeoidcef, Trogidce, Dunas- tyd(B or Cetoniadce X . Of the Rhincophorce or Curculionidce our * Lagria hirta, belonging to this group, is common upon the coast near Bamburgh. f jEyialia glohosa occurs plentifully upon the sea coast. X Cetonia aurata has however been met with in nearly the same parallel, having been taken by Dr. Greville in Galloway. Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of Twizdl. 363 list boasts of a considerable number of generic forms as well as species, and if our researches extended to tlie coast several others might be added, such as Cleonus sulcirostris, Philope- dongeminatus^ and plumbeus^Otiorhynchus tenebricosus^Scc, &c. Few species of the numerous genus Apion have been deter- mined, but we have many more which require further investi- gation and are therefore not included in the list. Cryptorhyn- ehus Lapathi has only once occurred, the larvae were found in the stem of a black poplar, and were first detected by the saw- dust produced by the grub, and which was observed protru- ding from the holes in the bark of the tree. Among the Bos- tricidce it will be observed that we have several species of the •genus HylurguSy and among them Hyl. piniperda and H. ater, insects which have been considered as very destructive and fre- quently the cause of the death of the Pinus sylvestris. Of the truth of this accusation we from the first entertained doubts, which further observations for several years past have fully confirmed, and we now feel convinced that the Hylurgus is not the cause of the decay or death of the plant, but that it is in- duced to deposit its eggs beneath the bark of the tree in con- sequence of a prior disease from some other cause, and which has brought it into that condition, in which it becomes the ap- propriate nidus or breeding receptacle of these insects. I have never found a healthy tree infected or attacked by them in the larva state, every instance having occurred in such as had previously shown decisive indications of ill health and decay, a fact plainly exhibited in the colour of their leaves and stinted growth. That they do some injury in the perfect state by boring into and eating away the internal part of the slender shoots in summer is not denied, but we never met with a plant so severely injured in this way as to be the cause of its death or indeed of any permanent injury. The catalogue of the Lepidoptera amounts at present to 370 species and up- wards, or full one-fifth of the whole order recorded as British, and we think it not improbable from the number of species, particularly the smaller yet to be added, that the proportion may be increased to a fourth, an amount which would scarcely be expected in so limited a tract of country ; had our confines however been extended a few miles further, so as to embrace 2d2 364 Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of TwizelL the coast and that tract of thin trap formation which prevails to such an extent round Bamburgh and Belford, several ad- ditions both of diurnal and nocturnal Lepidoptera might have been added to the list, amongst which may be noted Sphinx Convolvuli, Hipparchia Semele,PolyommatusArtaxerxes,AgrO' tis luniffera, Heliothis Peltigera, &c. Of the PapilionidcB it will be observed that Pap» Machaon, Gonepteryx Rhamni, the species of the genus Colias and Pieris do not reach so high a latitude, and the same holds good as to Vanessa Polychloros and Antiopa, Apatura Iris, and Litnenitis Camilla, Among the Nymphalidce no instances of Hipparchia Galathea and Ti- thonus have been found so far north, and though the Thecla Rubi possesses a more extensive geographical distribution, having been found by us upon the confines of Sutherland, it has not been detected in this neighbourhood. Of the beautiful genus Polyommatus, P. Alexis and P. Alsus are the only spe- cies found upon Twizell, and Thymele Tages (the only exam- ple we have of the Hesperidce), though some years abundant, is confined to a particular field, where the Lotus corniculatus, the plant upon which the larva subsists, constitutes the princi- pal herbage. Of the Sphingidce we boast of the Acherontia Atropos and Deilephila Galii, the latter an insect of great ra- rity even in the south of England. Deilephila Elpenor has once occurred, and is one among the very few instances in which it has been met with in so northern a latitude. Veil. Porcellus is not uncommon, and it is sometimes bred from the larva which is found feeding upon the Gallium verum. The only species of the uEgeriadce is the Trochilium Crahroni- forme, whose larva is reared in the lower part of the trunks of the Salix caprea, and there is scarcely a tree of this species to be found that has not been bored by the caterpillar of this beautiful insect ; it is probable also that another species is yet to be detected which breeds in the alder, a common tree upon the margin of our brooks, as specimens have been obtained by Sir William Jardine in Dumfries-shire, from trees on his plantations. Among the Notodontidce, Pterostoma palpina and Notodonta Dromedarius have but rarely occurred, and the specimens we possess have mostly been reared from the larvae. Lasiocampa Rubi abounds upon the heaths and adjoining Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of Twizell, 365 grassy fields, and in some autumns the caterpillars are seen in hundreds feeding upon the heath, willow, &c. It is, however, an insect we have rarely succeeded in rearing from the larva, as in despite of every attention they generally die before as-» suming the pupa state. The extensive list of the NoctuidcB, which amounts to 132 species, is to be attributed to the suc- cess which has attended our mode of enticing and securing them during their early nocturnal flight ; this is effected by the free use of honey, smeared upon some receptacle which is placed in situations supposed to be favourable to the flight of the moths. An old bee-hive, or as it is called in the north ' a skep', is preferred to any other article, as it offers a larger surface, and from its circular form allows the moths when set- tled upon it to be easily captured by the flappers. By this device we have sometimes taken several dozen specimens in an evening, many of them considered of great rarity, and which but for this irresistible trap would probably have remained undiscovered ; for although we had paid considerable attention to the nocturnal Lepidoj)tera before this plan was adopted, not a fourth part of the species had been obtained which a single season afterwards brought to light. But besides the certainty of attracting the various species of the Noctuidce and affording in a good season an abundant supply of fine specimens for the cabinet, this plan is attended with other results, interesting as connected with their natural history ; thus it shows the periods of duration of the various species, and the apparent influence which season has upon their longevity, as well as the general proportion of the sexes to each other. In summer and the early autumnal months we find that three weeks is about the average duration of a species, reckoning from the first appear- ance of the insect till it ceases to visit the honeyed skep, and as it does so in all appearance fresh from the chiysalis no mis- take can be made. Later in autumn the time becomes ex- tended, and the few species that fly in the milder evenings of the winter months continue to be taken from November to the end of February, as we have captured examples of Calocampa exoleta, Glcea Satellitia and Glcca Vaccinii during all the in- termediate months. In March Orthosia stabilis appears, and is soon succeeded by Semiophora gothica and one or two- 366 Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of Tivizell. others, which continue to the beginning of May, from which period till the 8th or 10th of June very few species of Noc- tuidece are on wing ; but the scene is changed as soon as mid- summer approaches, as it is ushered in by a vast variety of forms, which come forth in rapid and daily succession. None of the Sphingidco have yet been attracted by this device, nor have any of the Bombycidce or other groups in which the ci- barian organs are small and imperfectly developed been seen upon it. Many of the Geometridce and Tortricidce however have been captured, and among them some of our rarest spe- cies. The Geometridce amount to nearly 100 species, and among these will be found several which have been considered as only locally distributed or rare. To this division several additions may be expected to be made, as also to those which follow it, as the same degree of attention has not yet been be- stowed upon them which has been given to the larger though not more beautiful or extraordinary forms of these gems of nature. A List of Coleopterous Insects taken upon the Twizell Estate. I. Geodephaga. 1. CiCINDELIDiE. C. campestris. 2. BRACHYNIDiE. Dromius linearis. quadrimaculatus. fasciatus. ■ ■ agilis. melanocephalus. 3. SCARITID^. Clivina fossor. 4. Carabid^. Cychms rostratus. Carabus catenulatus. monilis. granulatus. violaceus. hortensis. nitens. Helobia brevicoUis. nivalis aut Gyllenhalii. Leistus fulvibarbis. rufescens. 5. Harpalid^. Loricera pilicornis. Badister bipustulatus. Anchomenus prasinus. .■■■I albipcs. Platynus angusticoUis. Agonum parunipunctatum. viduum. versutum. laeve. emarginatum. piceum. Calatbus melanocephalus. Cisteloides. mollis. Argutor pullus. Poecilus cupreus. rufifemoratus. versicolor } Omaseus aterrimus ^ nigrita. melanarius. Steropus madidus. Ethiops ? Stomis pumicatus. Patrobus rufipes. Platysma niger. Amara lata. similata. vulgaris. trivialis. — — plebeia. communis. familiaris. Bradytus apricarius. Ilarpalus rufimanus. Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of TwizelL 36? Harpalus limbatus. scneus. ruficomis. Ophonus puncticollis. Trechus fulvus. collaris. minutus. Blemus longicornis. 6. Bembidiad^. Tachys binotatus. vittatus ? immunis. biguttatus. Guttula. Peryphus femoratus. littoralis. viridi-aeneus. agilis. tibialis. Lopha 4-guttata. Tachypus celer. properans. cbalceus. Bembidium paludosum. 7. Elaphkid^. Notiopbilus aquaticus. biguttatus. palustris. Elaphrus cupreus. riparius. II. Hydradephaga. 1. Dytiscid^. Haliplus ferrugineus. lineato-collis. ruficollis. Hygrotus infequalis ? scitulus. pictus. Hydroporus frater. depressus. — — lineatus. dorsalis. ■ 6-pustulatus. deplanatus. melanocepbalus. erythrocephalus. flavipes. holosericeus ? pubescens. fuscatus. piceus. Laccophilus interruptus. Colymbetes fuscus. guttatus. chalconotus. maculatus. 2-pustulatus. Sturmii. Ilybius fuligiuosus. fenestratus. Dyticus punctulatus. Acilius sulcatus. 2. Gyrinid^. Gyrinus natator. 3. PARNlDiE. Parnus prolifericornis. 4. LlMNHD^. Elmis Volckmari. tuberculatus. lacustris. parallelipipedus. seneus. 5, Helophorid.e. Helophorus aquaticus. granulans. griseus. viridicollis. fennicus. nubilus. Enicocerus viridi-aineus. Gibsoni. Hydrsena riparia. 6. HYDROPHILID.E, Hydrobius fuscipes. chalconotus. orbicularis. 2-punctatus. Colon. minutus. 7. SPH^RIDIID^. Cercyon littorale. apicale. obsoletum. piceum. melanocephalura. conspurcatum. atomarium. convexiusculum. minutum. quisquilium. Sphaeridium scarabajoides. 2-pustulatum. 8. Anisotomid^. Leiodes testacea. ferruginea. humeralis. III. Necrophaga. 1. SCAPHIDID^. Ptomapbagus truncatus. Catops fornicatus. chrysomeloides. 368 Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of TwizelL Catops Leachii? Choleva angustata. Necrophorus Huraator. vestigator. — — Mortuorum. Vespillo. Necrodes littoralis, Oiceoptoma rugosa, Silpha obscura, — — tristis. nigritas. opaca. Phosphuga atrata- 3. NiTIDULID-*. Nitidula discoidea» 2-pustulata. oblonga. aestiva. Strongylus fervidus. Campta latea. Meligethes viridescens, coeruleus. subrugosus ? erythropus. Cateretes Urticae. nitidiis. pedicularius. Micropeplus porcatus. — — tesaerula. 4. Engid-*. Trichopteryx atomaria. pusilla. minuta. Atomaria castanea. — ruficornis. atra. Typhaea fumata ? Antherophagus pallens. sDaeeus. Cryptophagus Populi. humeralis. fumatus. Ulicis. Abietis. Byturus tomentosnsv Tetratoraa Fungorum. Ips ferruginea. Rhyzophagus ferrugineus. cylindricus. rufus. dispar. 2-pustulatus. Silvanus dentatus. Corticaria crenulata. Latiidius lardarius. transversus. testaceus. Dermestes vulpiniis. IV. Varicornes, HELOCERA. 1. BYRRHIDiE, Byrrhus Pilula. — — sericeus. 2. HlSTERID^, Onthophilus striatus. Hi&ter unicolor. cadaverinus. carbonarius. nitidulus. LAMELLICORNES. 1. Geotrupid^e, Geotrupes sylvaticus. punctato-striatus ? stercorarius. 2. ArHODIIDiB. Aphodius Fossor. liaemorrhoidali* fimetarius. scybalarius. ochraceus, terrestris, rufipes. nigripes, luridus. contaminatus, prodromus. spbacelatus. merdarius. 3. MELOLONTHIDier, Serica brunnea. Melolontha vulgaris. Phyllopertha horticola. STERNOXI. 4. ELATSRIOiE. Cataphagus limbatus. acuminatus. Dolopius marginatus» Agriotes sputator. obscurus. lineatus? Limonius aterrimus, Hypnoidus riparius. rivularis. Clenicenis cupreus. Caloderus Equiseti. Aplotarsus testaceus* rufipes. Athous niger. nigrinus. haemorrhoidalis. elongatus. subfuscus. vittatus. angularis. Campylus linearis. Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of Twizell, 369 MALACODERMA. 1. Cebrionid^. Atopa cervina, 2. Cyphonid^. Cyphon melanurus. assimilis. obscurus. marginatus. griseus. immunis. Lampyris noctiluca. 3. Tklephorid^. Telephorus ater. flavilabris. testaceus. pallidus. melanurus. pilosus. nigricans. pellucidus. rusticus 1 lividus I one species. lituratus? bicolor. 4. TiLLIDJE. Nccrobia quadra. 5. Ptjnid^. Ptinus germanus } 6-punctatus. Fur. crenatus. Anobium castaneum. striatum. moUe. Abietis. Boleti. 6. BOSTRICID^. Hylesinus Fraxini. Hylurgus piniperda. ater. angustatus. rufus. rhododactylus. V. Helminthomorpha. RHINCOPHORA. 1. CURCULIONID^. Cionus Scrophularise. Ceutorhynchus melanocephalus. Geranii. didymus. guttula. Nedyus assimilis. obstrictus. Erysimi. chloropterus. contractus. • floralis. Nedyus pollinarius. — — Troglodytes. Rhinonchus Pericarpius. Cryptorhynchus Lapathi. Orchestes Quercus. Calcar. Tachyerges Saliceti. Anthonomus fasciatus. Hydronomus Alismatis. Grypidius Equiseti. Erirhinus Arundineti. Notaris acridulus. 2-maculatus. Dorytomus Tortrix. melanophthalmus. majalis. Procas picipes. Orthochaetes setiger. Hypera punctata. Polygon!. Arator. canescens. picicornis. Pollux. murina. nigrirostris. Plantaginis. haemorrhoidalis. elongata. Ellescus 2-punctatus. Leiosoma punctata. Hylobius Abietis. Alophus 3-guttatus. Barynotus Mercurialis. Merionus obscurus. elevatus. Leiophloeus nubilus. Otiorhynchus sulcatus. notatus. ovatus. tenebricosus. caliginosus. piceus. scabrosus. scabridus. rugicollis. raucus. Philopedon geminatus. Strophosomus Coryli. squamulatus. Sciaphilus muricatus. Brachysomus hirsutulus. Sitona Ulicis, "j Spartii, L one species. femoralis, J hispidula. lineata. grisea? ■ ruficlavis. canina, flavescens, puncticollis, 1 uiiuiavis. canina, "| flavescens, l puncticollis, J one species. 370 Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of TwizelL Sitona tibialis. humeralis. Pisi. crinita. lineella. Polydrusus cervinus. undatus. Neraoicus oblongus. Phyllobius Pyri. Alneti. maculicomis. argentatus. MaU. — — uniformis. parvulus. viridicollis. Tanyniecus palliatus. Apion Pomona;. Liraonii. Spartii. curtirostre. violaceum. . velox. sanguineum. haematodes. bifoveolatum. <■ Radiolus. aeneum. Pisi. pallipes. — — flavipes. assimile. sestivum. ■■■ subsulcatum. punctigerum. I vorax. virens. foveolatum. intrusum. nigritarse. Oxystoma Ulicis. Betulae. cupreus. — — curculionoides. 2. Salpingid^. Salpingus ruficollis. . planirostris. Sphaeriestes ater. LONGICORNES. 1. CERAMBYCIDiE. Clytus Arietis. 2. LEPTURIDiE. Rhagium inquisitor. bifasciatum. Leptura 4-fasciata. VI. Anoplurimorpha. EUPODA. 1. Criocerid^. Donacia Proteus. Donacia linearis. Crioceris cyanella. obscura. melanopa. CYCLICA. 1. Galerucid^. Galeruca Tanaceti. Caprea;. Crataegi. Nympbese. Calmariensis. Lythri. lineola. tenella. Luperus rufipes. flavipes. Haltica Nemorum. nigro-aenea. caerulea. Pseudacori. striatula. brunnicornis. ferruginea. flava. rufipes. Helxines. oleracea. indigacea. Thyamis tabida. atricilla. picipes. atriceps. Nasturtii. fuscicoUis. livida. castanea. laeta. parvula. Pulex. Holsatica. Macrocnema Hyoscyami. Napi. apicalis. picina. Mantura semi-aenea. acnea. Chaetocnema eoncinna. Spbacroderma testacea. Cardui. Mniopbila Muscorura. 2. CHRYSOMELIDiE. Phaedon Armoraciac. — — Betulaj. tumidula. aucta. marginella. VitelUnffi. unicolor. Polygoni. fastuosa. Mr. P. J. Sclby on the Fauna of Twizell. 371 Chrysomela pallida. Litura. marginata. Staphylaea. polita. Helodes Phellandrii. Beccabungse. 3. Cassidiid^. Cassida rubiginosa. equestris. TRIMERI. 1. COCCTNELLIDJE. Cliilochorus 2-pustulatus. Coccinella 12-punctata. 14-pimctata. 10-guttata. oblongo-guttata. ocellata. 7-punctata. 22-punctata. variabilis. dispar. 11 -punctata. 18-guttata. 13-punctata. Rhyzobius Litura. Cacicula pectoralis. — — scutellata. 2. Endomychid^. Endomychus coccineus. VII, Heteromera. 1. Blapsid^. Blaps mortisaga. Cistela castanea. murina. maura ? 2. MORDELID^. Anaspis ruficollis. raelanopa. pallida. fasciata. 3. Cantharid^. Proscarabseus vulgaris. 4. NoTOXIDiE. Anthicus fuscus. VIII. Brachelytra. 1. TACHYPORIDiE. Autalia impressa. Zyras Haworthii? Bolitochara lunulata. tricolor. nigripalpis. corticalis. nigrofiisca. Bolitochara cinnomomea. atriceps. Aleochara concolor. 2-punctata. fuscipes. Megacronus merdarius. Mycetoporus splendens. Bolitobius atricapillus. 3-maculatus. apicalis. 2-guttatus. Tachyporus nitidus. atriceps. nigripennis. chrysomelinus. marginellus. obtusus. analis. marginatus. nitidulus. — r— Hypnorum. lateralis. Cyplia rufipes. Tachinus Silphoides. coUaris. marginellus. brunnipennis. apicalis. rufipes. cinctus. subterraneus. aterrimus. elongatus. 2. Staphylinid-e. Creophilus maxillosus. Trichoderma nebulosa. murina. Staphylinus erythropterus. castanopterus. stercorarius. sericeps. seneocephalus. Cantianus ? Goerius olens. Ocypus similis. ■ picipes. compressus. Tasgius rufipes. Quedius tristis. picicornis. lateralis. hsemopterus. impressus. rufitarsis. piceopennis. caliginosus. Philonthus lamiuatus. splendens. — — aeratus. l)uncticollis. politus. 372 Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of Twizell. Philonthus cognatus. melanopterus. microcephalus. maculicornis. decorus. carboiiarius. pilipes ? chalcopterus. fimetarius. subfuscus. marginatus ? varians. intaminatus. rubripennis. sanguinolentus. micans. Watsoni ? punctus. Bisnius cephalotes. rotundiceps. simplex. Gabrius suaveolens. pygmaeus. pallipes. Othius fulgidus. alternans. glabricornis. angustus. Gyrohypnus longicollis. cruentatus. affinis. tricolor. linearis. -^— punctulatus. Gyrohypnus parumpunctatus. Lathrobium brunnipes. atriceps. rufipenne. Cryptobium fracticorne. 3. SxENIDiE. Stenus oculatus. nigriclavis. unicolor. picipes. circularis. nitidiusculus. subrugosiis. tenuicornis. Aceris. brunnipes. pubescens. punctatissimus. melanarius. nitidus. pusillus. bipunctatus. Platystethus morsitans. Oxytelus rugosus. fuscipennis. sculpturatus. depressus. 4. Omalid^. Anthobium Sorbi. tectum. Lesteva caraboides. obscura. Omalium caesum. List of Lepidopterom Insects taken upon the Twizell Estate, PAPILIONIDjE. Pontia Brassicae. Rapae. Napi. Sabellicae. Cardamines. Argynnis Aglaia. Vanessa Urticae. Id. Atalanta. Cynthia Cardui. Hipparchia Egeria. Megaera. — — Janira. Hyperanthus. Pamphilus. Lycaena Phlaeas. Polyommatus Alexis. Thymele Tages. ZYGJENIDJE. Antlirocera Filipendulae. SPIIINGJDJE. Smerinthus Populi. Acherontia Atropos. Deilephila Galii. Elphenor. Porcellus. SESIAD^. Macroglossa Stellatarum. EGERIADjE. Trochilium Crabroniforme. HEPIALIDjE, Hepialus Hectus. Lupulinus. Humuli. Velleda. carnus, sylvinus. NOTODONTID^. Pygaera bucephala. Clostera reclusa. Episema cceruleocephala. Cerura Vinula. Notodouta ziczac. Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of TwizelL 373 Notodonta Dromedarius. Leiocampa Dicta?a. Ptilodontis palpina. Lophopteryx Caraelina. BOMBYCIDjE. Saturnia Pavonia. Lasiocampa Rubi. Roboris. Eriogaster Lanestris. Odonestis Potatoria. ARCTIIDM. Demas Coryli. Orgyia antiqua. Lffilia Salicis. Euthemonia Russula. Arctia Caja. Nemeophila Plantaginis. Spilosoma Menthastri. LITHOmBM. Callimorpha Jacobaeae. Lithosia griseola. NOCTUIBM. Triphaena orbona. subaiqua ? pronuba et innuba (1 species). fimbria. Janthina. Cerigo texta. Lytea umbrosa. Charanas fusca. nigra. graminis. corticea. aequa ? segetuni. suffusa. sagittifera. vitta. Tritici. Hortorum. nigricans. exclamationis. Grapbiphora pyrophila. Augur. brunnea. baja. festiva. C. nigrum. plecta. Semiophora Gothica. Orthosia sparsa. stabilis. miniosa ? litura. limosa. lota. flavilinea. macileiita. Othosia Upsilon. Mythimna grisea. conigera. Grammesia trilinea. bilinea. Segetia Zanthographa. neglecta. Caradrina Alsines. implexa et laevis. Sepii ? Cubicularis. superstes. glareosa. Glaea rubricosa. Vaccinii. spadicea. Satellitia. Pyropbila Tragopogonis. tetra "i Naenia typica. Calocampa exoleta. Xylophasia lithoxylea. subbistris. rurea. polyodon. combusta. Hadena adusta. satura? ■ remissa. Thalassina. Genistas. Plebeia. Capsincola. Heliophobus popularis. Mamestra Pisi. oleracea. Suasa. Brassicae. Cbenopodii. Euplcxia leucipara. Hama aliena. basilinea. Apamea nictitans. secalina. didyma. oculea. I. niger. furca. Ophiogramraa. Miana iiterosa. strigilis. yEthiops ? humeralis. rufuncula. minima. Scotophila Porpbyrea. Miselia Oxyacanthae. aprilina. compta. PoUa bimaculosa. occulta. berbida. 374 Mr. P. J. Selby on the Fauna of TivizelL Polia Chi. Acronycta Psi. Menyanthedis. Rumicis. Euphorbiae ? Thyatira Batis. Calyptra libatrix. Bombycia Viminalis. Xanthia fulvago. flavago. gilvago. Gortyna micacea. Leucania Comma. impura. arcuata. pallens. ochracea. pallida. neurica. Phlogophora Meticulosa. Cucullia Tanaceti. lucifuga, i Absintliii. Abrostola Urticaj. Plusia Iota. percontationis. Gamma. circumflexa ? chrysitis. i Festucae. Mormo Maura. Euclidia Mi. glyphica. GEOMETRID^. Bupalus Piniarius. Fidonia atomaria. carbonaria. Anisopteryx leiicopha^aria. Hybernia capreolaria. Lampetia prosapiaria. defoliaria. Biston Betularius. Himera pennaria. Crocallis elinguaria. Odontopera bidentaria. Georaetra illunaria. Rumia Crata^gata. Campsea margaritaria. EUopia fasciaria. Alcis repandariae^ muraria (1 species.) Halia Vauaria. Numeria pulveraria. Cabera pusaria. rotundaria. Ephyra pendularia. Larentia eervinata. Chenopodiata. bipunctaria. Cidaria Didymata. munitata. unidentaria. Cidaria latentaria. salicata. Miaria. olivata. montanata. fluctuata. Harpalyce fulvata. ocellata. tristata. subtristata. ■ biangiUata. silaceata. Corylata. Polyphasia immanata. amocnata. marmorata. concinnata. comma-notata. centura-notata. Steganolophia Prunata. Lampropteryx suffuraata. badiata. Anticlea derivata. Electra comitata. populata. testata. Achatma. Pyraliata. Anaitis prajformata. Abraxas Grossulariata. Melanippe hastata. Zerene rubiginata. Euthalia miata. Psittacata. impluviata. elutata. Lozogramma petraria. Triphosa cinereata. Camptogramma bilineata. Cliesias Spartiata. Thera simulata. variata. fulvata. Oporabia dilutata. Cheimatobia brumata. rupicapraria. Eupithecia rectangulata. exiguata. abbreviata. albipunctata. innotata. Minoa Chairophyllata. Emmelesia decolorata. — — rivularia. albulata. Ptychopoda dilutaria. cinereata. immutata. Acidalia inornata. — — aversata. remutata. lactata. jT^n. Ml/Ms/. MMf/. M/. .^iZz^ tf fi^u^m IM Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, 375 Poccilopliasia marginata. Macaria liturata. PLATYPTERICIDjE. Cilix impressa. PYRALIBM. Ilypena proboscidalis. Simacthis Fabriciana. Hydrocampa Potomogeta. Mesographe forficalis. fimbrialis. institialis. sericealis. olivalis. TORTRICID^. ITylophila prasinana. Tortrix viridana. pullidana. Lozotainia Corylana. laevigana. oporana. Rosana. Holmiana. Antitliesia Betuletana. Spilonota Cynosbatella. Sylvan a. trigeminana. sticticana. quadrana. Pseudotomia lunulana. aurana. Steganoptycha cineraria. Anchylopera Lundana. siculana. Cnephasia Penziana. inter) ectana. Orthotoenia striana. Sericoris micana. politana. pulchellina. Poecilochroma communana. Lophoderus ministranus. Pjeronea variegana. Schalleriana. Gnomana. Peronea tripunctulana. Glypliisia effractaria, caudana. Dictyopteryx ciliana. Forskaleana. Cheimatophila castaneana. Argyrotoza Conwayana. Daldorfiana. Argyrolepia Bentleyana. Xanthosetia Zoegana. Hamana. diversana. YPONOMEUTID^. Depressaria Heracleana. gilvella. aplana. Sparmanniana. curvipunctosa. albipunctilla. Alstroemeriana. costata. Anacampsis aleella. Diurnea Fagella. Yponomeuta Evonymella. comptella. Argyrosetia Gcedartella. semitestacella. Argyromiges Rajella. fficophora Reesella. Ilitbya sociella. Eudorea lineola. murana. Phycita Abietella. hybridalis. Crambus pratellus. angustelhis. horticellus. cespitellus. montanellus. marginellus. culmellus. petrificellus. aquilellus. Harpipteryx dentella. Cba)tochilus vitellus. [To be continued.] XLII. — Descriptions of Exotic Fungi in the collection o/Sir W. J. Hookerj/rom Memoirs and Notes o/J. F. Klotzsch, with Additions and Corrections, By the Rev. M. J. Berke- ley, M.A., F.L.S. [With a Plate.] The memoirs on which the present paper is founded appeared in the * Linnaea/ vol. vii. p. 193, and vol. viii. p. 478*. The * MycologischcBerichtungen ziider nucligelassenen Sowerbysclien Samm- 376 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, notes are appended to the several species in their place in the Herbarium. It seems desirable that the record of so many interesting species existing in a British collection should not be confined to a foreign journal^ and there is the greater rea- son for giving the results of M. Klotzsch's labours in an Eng- lish form, since the species in th6 Herbarium, which from its richness and the extreme liberality of its possessor, may al- most be regarded as national, appear frequently under per- fectly different names, and in some instances the specific names have been transferred from one species to another. I have made corrections where they appeared necessary, and have taken the opportunity of describing some species either received subsequent to the completion of M. Klotzsch's revi- sion or left by him undetermined. It has been thought right to add descriptions of a few of the species collected by M. Humboldt, where the specific phrases given in the ^ Synopsis Plantarum aequinoctialium orbis novae' are too short. It has been found almost impossible to mark the additions which it has been thought right to make in any case to the descriptions already published, I am anxious however to state that I have no wish to rob the learned author of the slightest portion of the praise which is due to his labours, or to put forth his de- scriptions as my own. Agaricus. 1. Agaricus (Leucosp. Clit, Rhizop.) rheicolor, Berk. Rhu- barb-coloured. Pileus thin, striate, wrinkled in the centre, at length umbilicate ; gills rather broad, adnato-decurrcnt, beau- tifully connected by strong veins, their bases velvety. Stem long, slender, more or less grooved, slightly thickened at the base, clothed with fine velvety, obscurely fasciculate pube- scence. Pileus scarce 1 inch broad, more or less wrinkled especially in 7 centre, as in Ag, radicatus, from the contraction of the substance of the pileus ; margin grooved and striate. Gills rounded, velvety at the base from running down for a very short distance into the pubescence of the stem, most beau- lung, so wie zu der wenigen im Linneisclien Herbarium vorhandeiien Pilzcn, nebst Aufstellung einiger auslandiscben Gattungen iind Arten, 1832. Fungi exotici e collectionibus Britannorum auctore Klotzscb, 1833. Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi. 377 iifully connected by strong veins, as in the section Calodontes, Stem 3 inches high, about two hnes thick. Apparently nearly related to A, velutipes, but I believe truly distinct. The stem is not always rooting, but neither is this constantly the case in that species. On trunks of trees. Brazil. Hook. Herb. 2. Agaricus {Leucosp, Myc. Hygrocyb. [Leuc. Omph, Myc. Kl.)) umbraculwn, Kl. in Linn. vol. viii. p. 478. Ag, [Colly- bia) umbraculatus, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Fasciculate. Pileus convex, umbilicate, slightly striate, membranaceous, somewhat tawny [fuscescente-albo, Kl.) ; gills when dry tan-coloured decurrent; stem fistulose, bay, ex- tremely viscid, confluent at the base and blackish. Stem 2 — 2| inches high, even. Pileus submembranaceous, 3 — 4 lin. broad, tough. Gills rather distant, sometimes di- chotomous near the margin. On trunks of trees. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. This species belongs clearly, as to habit, to the section Hy- grocyboidecB of the subgenus Mycena. M. Klotzsch appears not to have suspected this and therefore did not moisten the stem, which drips when wet wdth pellucid slime like Ag, ro- ridus. The pileus has rather a tawny than fuscous hue ; the gills in the recent plant are probably nearly white. It appears very nearly allied to Ag. roridus, yS. stillans. 3. A, [Omphalia) strigdlus, Berk. Pileus tough, entire, infundibuliform, red-brown, sprinkled, especially towards the margin with minute setulose scales ; margin slightly waved, thin, subinvolute. Gills narrow, decurrent, entire, scarcely anastomosing at the base. Stem short, clothed with coarse, velvety, fawn-coloured pubescence, Pileus 2^ inches broad, nearly of the same colour as Ag. vac- emus, apparently very obscurely zoned; gills crisp when dry and wood-coloured, running down till they are lost amongst the down of the stem. Stem 1 inch high, ^ thick, rather swollen at the base. This species appears to be nearly allied to Ag. velutinus, Fr. in Linn., and for the same reason is placed in the subgenus Omphalia, though its affinities are with Pleuropus. The gills are crisp when dry and entire ; the habit too removes it from Lentinus. Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 3. No. 19. Aug. 1839. 2 e 878 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, On trunks of trees. Brazil. Hook. Herb. 4. A. [Pleur, Conch,) pycnoticus, Kl. 1. c. p. 479. A. pyc- nosuS) Kl. in Hook. Herb. Caespitose. Pileus entire, pulvi- nate, subinfundibuliform, excentric, reddish in consequence of being frosted with a grey-lilac bloom. Gills broad^ dirty white, decurrent. Stem smooth. Substance extremely tough. Stem dirty white. Pil. 1 — 2 inches broad, smooth. Gills entire. On trunks of trees. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. One speci- men in the herbarium exceeds the above dimensions, the pileus when expanded being more than three inches across. The stem in this is scarcely half an inch thick, and indeed in any case can scarcely be called thick in proportion to the pi- leus. The colours in the specific character are to be under- stood of the dry plant. The grey-lilac bloom is very remark- able. Lentinus. 1. L, (Mesop.) nigripes, Fr. inLitt. Kl.l. c. p. 479. L.Ber- fieri, Kl. in Hook. Herb. L. villosus, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Cer- vino-ferruginous ; pileus coriaceous, infundibuliform, clothed with curled hairs ; gills denticulate, terminating together ; stem firm, solid, tomentose, blackish at the base. Solitary ; stem almost 2 inches high, 2 lines thick, dilated above. Gills crowded, narrow, denticulate. Pileus 2 inches broad, deeply umbilicate ; margin involute. On trunks of trees. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. Brazil, Gui- ana. 2. L» [Mesop.) villosus, Kl. 1. c. Brown ; pileus coriaceous, infundibuliform, clothed wdth very dense straight hairs ; gills narrow, entire, very distant, decurrent, all ending together abruptly ; stem firm, villous, dilated at the apex. Stem hir- sute, 2 inches high, 3 — 4 lines thick. Pileus 2 inches broad with the margin involute, clothed with straight, not squarrose, nor curled hairs. On trunks of trees. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 3. L, {Mesop.) stupeus, Kl. I.e. p. 480. Bay; pileus deeply umbilicate, clothed with very crowded squarrose hairs ; margin involute ; gills crowded, denticulate^ decurrent, all interrupted Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Eosotic Funyi. 379 together; stem slender, subtomentose, fawn-coloured, with longer bay hairs intermixed. Pileus 2 inches broad, squamuloso-pilose. Stem scarcely exceeding 1 line in thickness, very much dilated above, in age quite smooth. On trunks of trees. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 4. L, {Mesop.) crinitus, Fr. Syst. Myc. vol. i. p. 175. On trunks of trees. Mauritius. Mr, Telfair. 5. L. exUis, Kl. MSS. in Hook. Herb. Pileus thin, of a tough fleshy substance, smooth, ochraceous-tawny; gills equal, decurrent, distinct, entire ; stem even, smooth. Pil. 2 — 4 inches broad, margin lobed. Gills crowded. Stem ^ an inch high ; 3 — 4 lines thick. On rotten wood. Mauritius. Mr, Telfair. Favolus. 1. F, (Pleuropus) Humboldtii, Berk. Stem short, lateral, gradually expanding into the thin, obovate, somewhat lobed, smooth, tawny, pileus ; alveoli small, elongated, of the same colour as the pileus ; dissepiments thin. Pileus with the stem Ij inch long, l|^inch broad, with three rounded lobes. Stem not i an inch long. The specimen from which the above character is drawn up is clearly a Favolus, but it is unfortunately not in a good state of preservation. It is marked in Sir W. J. Hooker's Herbarium, Humb. No. 179. The alveoli are far smaller than in either of the two following species, to which it is closely allied. In form and colour it is much like Favolus braziliensis, Fr., which how- ever differs in several respects. From F. flaccidus it differs in being stipitate, and from F, tenuicaulis in not being reniform. 2. F, {Pleuropus) hepaticus, Kl. in Linn, vol. Vii. p. 197. Of a tough fleshy substance ; pileus reniform, Hver-coloured, smooth, lobed in free-growing specimens ; stem extremely short, lateral ; alveoli 6 — 4-angled, elongated, dirty white ; dis- sepiments very thin. Favolus canadensis and Polyporus cel- lulosus, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Solitary, variable but more or less reniform. The colour of the pileus is darker towards the base. Pil. 2 — 5 inches broad, 1 1 — 3 inches long, smooth. Stem very short, 3 lines thick. 2 E 2 380 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, Alveoli 1 line broad, 2 lines long, 2 — 3 lines deep. The most obvious mark of distinction between this and the following species resides in the less rigid dissepiments. I think it very doubtful whether the living plant is at all liver-coloured. I suspect it is rather ochraceous. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 3. F, {Pleuropus) canadensis, Kl. 1. c. Nearly sessile, with only the rudiment of a stem, of a tough, fleshy substance, rigid; pileus reniform, at first minutely squamose, tawny ; margin entire ; alveoli deep, 6-sided, elongated, dirty white ; disse- piments rigid. Pileus 1 J inch broad, ^ inch long. Canada. Messrs. Shepherd and Pursh. Cantharellus. C, {Mesopus) canadensis, Kl. MSS. in Hook. Herb. Pi- leus, together with the stem, turbinate, fleshy, smooth, even, w hite, deeply infundibuliform ; folds forming elongated alveoli, dichotomous above ; stem confluent with the pileus, compact, smooth. Pileus nearly 2 inches high, i an inch thick. Canada. Hook. Herb. It is impossible to say what the colour of the folds may have been in the fresh plant. When dry the pileus is pallid ; the folds are darker and run for some distance down the stem. The nearest affinities of this species appear to be with C. cla- vatus. If it were not so much depressed it would form an ad- dition to the section Gomphus, D^DALEA. 1. D. [Pleuropus) Icevis, Hook, in Kunth. Syn. vol. i. p. 9. Stem short, thick, lateral. Pileus thin, suberoso-coriaceous, expanded, reniform, emarginate, quite smooth, zoneless, even; margin acute. Gills broader than the flesh, straight, ex- tremely close, anastomosing. Stem | of an inch long, and broad. Pileus 1| inch long, 2^ inches broad, scarce ^ of an inch thick. Sinuli mostly linear. Colour in the dry plant yel- low brown, in the fresh plant it is probably pallid ochraceous. Andes, between Popayan and Almaguer. Humboldt, Hook. Herb. Specimen unicum. Allied to D, applanata, Kl., and D.polita, Fr. in Linn. Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, 381 . 2. D. (Apus) betulina, var, velutina, Berk. Pileus hard, sessile, dimidiate, lobed, deeply zoned, tawny, velvety. Gills rather thick. New Orleans and other parts of North America, Hook. Herb. The pileus is by no means tomentose, but clothed with short close velvety pubescence. Vertex sometimes lengthened out into a sort of stem. Thelephora lobata varies in the same way. 3. D. {Apus) aspera, Kl. in Linn. vol. viii. p. 480. Pileus sessile, dimidiate, coriaceous, zoned, rough, pale ; gills very broad, white, straight, with shorter ones intermixed. Pileus horizontal or somewhat pulvinate, obsoletely downy, 3 inches broad, 21 inches long. Gills coriaceous, thin, distant, 1 inch broad towards the base, narrower in front, rarely anastomosing. On trunks of trees. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. /3. alutacea, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Darker ; gills thick, fre- quently anastomosing. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 4. Z). {Apus) applanata, Kl. 1. c. p. 481. Stem central, la- teral, or altogether wanting; pileus rather thin, reniform, smooth, dirty white, sometimes papillate ; margin somewhat zoned ; gills dirty white, very narrow, close, repeatedly dicho- tomous, anastomosing towards the base. D. applanata, Fr. in Hb. Willd. an jD. polita, Fr. in Linn, vol. V. p. 514? D. Candida, Kl. MSS. in Hook. Herb. Size very variable. Pileus thin, 16 inches broad, generally plane, rarely imbricated. Margin thin, straight, substance coriaceo- suberose. On trunks of trees. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. Brazil. This species has very much the habit oi Dcedalea gibbosa, Fr. 5. D. {Apus) sanguinea, Kl. 1. c. Pileus thin, slightly wrinkled, smooth, zoned, blood-coloured ; margin obtuse, pale, minutely velvety ; hymenium dull wood-coloured ; sinuli mi- nute, labyrinthiform, mixed with elongated pores. Substance coriaceous. Pileus subreniform, sometimes spotted and losing its colour, 3 inches broad, 2 inches long. Sinuli towards the margin poriform. East Indies. Dr. Wight. Klotzsch does not seem to have noticed the extremely strong 382 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi. resemblance of this species to Boletus angustatus, Sow., 1. 193, whose figure would be an excellent representation of it in every respect if the pores were smaller. Fries's character of Dceda- lea angustata conveys an entirely wrong notion of the species, which is one of the most beautiful of European Fungi. The colour is not, as characterized by Fries, who had only seen the figure, ^' fuscescenti-cinereus,^^ but as figured and described by Sowerby, " dull crimson, somewhat satiny on the edges, which are of a silvery brown. ^^ 6. D. [Apus) discolor, Fr. El. Fung. p. 68. D. albida^ Schwein. Car. n, 851. On trunks of birch. North America. Dr. Richardson. 7. D. {Apus) striata, Fr. Syst. Myc. i. p. 334. On tmnks of trees. North America. Hook. Herb. 8. D, {Apus) unicolor, Fr. Syst. Myc. i. p. 336. On trunks of trees. North America. Dr. Richardson*. 9. D. {Apus) corrugata, Kl. 1. c. Pileus carnoso-coriaceous, zoned, longitudinally corrugate, smooth, pale ; sinuli unequal, flexuous, at length torn, brownish. Imbricated, sessile. Pileus 1 — 2 inches broad, margin much dilated, 2 — 3 lines thick; zones of the same colour. Gills thin, labyrinthiform, poriform near the margin. Trunks of trees. North America. Dr. Richardson. 10. D. {Resup.) latissima, Fr. Syst. Myc. i. p. 340. D. microsinulosa, Kl. MSS. in Hook. Herb. Wood-coloured, effused, corky, margin obscurely lobed, minutely byssoid, more or less free ; silky above, at length nearly smooth, rather rough with radiating branched raised lines. Pores at first round, at length sinuous ; edges entire. East Indies. Dr. Wight. Forming elongated efiused patches, evidently arising from many distinct confluent peltate individuals. A new layer is formed from the dead subjacent plant. POLYPORUS. 1. P. {Favolus) tenuis, Hook, sub Bol. Kunth. Syn. vol. i. p. 10. Bol. reticulatus, 1. c. p. 9. B, Favus, Linn. Herb, not * The Fungi from Dr. Richardson are the result of his own and Mr. Drummond's labours in Franklin's Second Journey to the Polar Sea. Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, 383 of Spec. Plant. EiFuso-reflexed or resupinato-affixed. Pileua 2 — 3 inches in diameter^ suberoso-coriaceous, suborbicular, zoned, quite smooth, sometimes longitudinally rugulose, thin, greyish wood-coloured, blackish towards the margin. Pores cinereous, 6-sided, those towards the margin imperfect and pale. Andes between Popayan and Almaguer, Humboldt. Mau- ritius, Mr. Telfair. Calcutta, Dr. Wight. Klotzsch has very rightly referred BoL reticulatus, Hook., to this species. The reticulated appearance arises from the specimen having been accidentally reversed, and in conse- quence a new hymenium is in the act of formation on the pi- leus, while on the other hand many of the pores are stopped up with a new incipient pileus. The plant from Calcutta is somewhat different, the pileus being dark brown. The size of the pores is very variable. 2. P, {Favolus) Klotzschii, Berk., P. sinensis^ Kl. 1. c. and MSS. Hook. Herb, not Fr. Syst. Myc. Pileus subreniform, zoned, brown black, clothed with compressed branched bristles, pores brown, rather large, rotundato-hexagonal. Allied to Polyporus hynoideus, but differs in the larger hexagonal pores, which are however many times smaller than in the next spe- cies. The vertex is sometimes lengthened out into a short spurious stem. Pileus 5 inches long, 7 inches broad, ^ — f of an inch thick at the base, thin in front, vaulted, not flattened as in the next species, margin acute. Much more strongly zoned than PoL sinensis, Fr., and more hispid. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 3. P. {Favolus) sinensis ) Fr., PoL (Scenidium) Wightii, Kl. Linn. vol. vii. p. 200. tab. 10. Sessile, thin, mostly reniform; pileus flat, brown shaded with reddish-grey ; margin zoned ; bristles compressed, dichotomous at their apices, fastigiate, brown; alveoli 6-sided, elongated, pinkish-brown. Pileus sometimes effused at the base, 2i inches long, 5 inches broad, emarginate, in an early stage of growth crested with the rigid recurved bristles ; these at length are more scattered, com- pressed, wedge-shaped, or palmate, incised above, fastigiate, brown, vanishing towards the margin. Alveoli 3 lines long, 2 lines broad, those in the centre deepest, shallow towards the 384 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, margin ; dissepiments thin, very rigid, clothed with scattered solitary bristles. Substance brown, ferruginous, fit for tinder. East Indies. Dr. Wight. This is probably the true Pol. sinensis, Fr., and conse- quently Pol. FavuSy Linn. Sp. PI. It is certainly quite distinct from the foregoing, which is marked Pol. sinensis in Sir W. J. Hooker's Herbarium, and is published under that name in the ^ Linnaea,' having, besides other points, the pores nearly ten times larger. As Scenidium of Klotzsch appears to be in- tended merely as the name of a tribe, the name of sinensis should have been retained. In the following year the Mau- ritius plant was published as the P. sinensis, Fr. without any reference to P. Wightii. I have endeavoured to do away with the consequent confusion by giving the former the name of the learned German mycologist. 4. P. (Favolus) sericeo-hirsutus, KL, Linn. vol. viii. p. 483. Pileus effuso-reflexed, very thin, coriaceous, sericeo-villous, zoned, pale tawny ; pores rather large, angular, unequal ; dis- sepiments very thin, sometimes torn. Pileus very often fixed by the centre, 2 — 3 inches across, suborbicular, emarginate. Perfectly free specimens are beautifully sericeo-strigose, with the flocci more or less matted and fasciculate, so as to give it a shaggy appearance. Some specimens are merely velvety. On bark. New Orleans. Hook. Herb. 5. P. {Mesopus) gracilis, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Small. Pileus carnoso-coriaceous, orbicular, very thin, quite smooth, even, pallid ; pores extremely minute, suborbicular but more or less sinuous ; stem exactly central, very slender, flexuous, equal, pruinose. Pileus ^ an inch broad, so thin that the pores are visible through it, pale dull ochre. Pores deep in proportion to the thickness of the pileus; dissepiments thin, waved. Stem 1 inch high, ^^^th of an inch thick. India Occid. Probably from Rev. L. Guilding. Allied to Pol. flexipes, Fr. in Linn. The above description is drawn up from two individuals in Sir W. J. Hooker's Herbarium, marked by Klotzsch P. gracilis, Kl. The base of the stem is broken off\, therefore I cannot state whether it is blackened. 6. P. {Mesopus) parvulus, Kl. Linn. 1. c. Pileus thin, co- riaceous, obsoletely silky, obscurely zoned, striato-rugosc ; Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic FungL 385 margin jagged ; pores rather large, at length torn, cinnamon ; stem cinnamon, slender, subtuberous, velvety. Pileus 4 — 8 lines broad, deeply umbilicate, subcyathiform, shining, some- times confluent. Pores irregular, angular, torn, very shallow towards the margin i dissepiments very thin. Stem ^ — 1 inch high. Amongst moss. North America. Dr. Richardson. Allied to PoL perennis, but very distinct. 7. P. [Mesopus) perennis, Fr. var» canadensis, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Deeply infundibuliform, zoneless. 8. P. (Mesopus) umbraculuniy Fr. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 9. P. (Mesopus) xanthopus, Fr. BoL Katui, Ehr. Hor. Phys. Ber. t. 19. f. 12. Hook, in Kunth. Syn. vol. i. p. 9. East Indies, Dr. Wight. Near Acapulco, Humboldt. 10. P. (Pleuropus) spathulatus, Hook, in Kunth. Syn. vol. i. p. 9. sub Boleto ; small, tawny. Pileus convex, broadly ob- ovate, coriaceous, rather hard, minutely velvety ; pores minute, punctiform, subangular ; dissepiments extremely thin, their borders minutely downy ; stem lateral, velvety, rather stout, elongated. Pileus about 3 lines broad, sometimes very obso- letely zoned, in one specimen lobed from the confluence of two individuals. Stem J — | of an inch high, ^ thick, clothed with a dense spongy down. Near Loxa in Peru. Humboldt. Resembling in colour and substance PoL perennis, 11. PoL (Pleuropus) coffeatus, Berk. Caespitose. Pileus hard, corky, suborbicular, oblique, even, dingy red-brown ; margin paler, tawny; substance wood-coloured; pores mi- nute, punctiform, dirty white ; stem elongated, nearly even, dingy brown frosted with coffee-coloured bloom. Pileus |- of an inch broad, not lacquered, at least in the specimens before me. Stem 2^ inches high, | of an inch thick, lateral. Hy- menium decurrent. On rotten trees, rare. St. Vincent's. Rev. L. Guilding. The specimen before me consists of a group of three, of which the larger pileus is unfortunately broken off. 12. P. (Pleuropus) lucidus, Fr. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. Confluent, umbilicate, concentrically undulato-rugose, with the stem central, resembling in habit Polyp, rugosus, Nees, but 386 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, much larger and thicker. Pores more or less yellow. In Sir W. J. Hooker's Herbarium there is a curious stemless ungu- late pitch black variety with brownish pores gathered in North America by Dr. Scouler. Dr. Richardson also gathered an extraordinary form at the Slave Lake on the white spruce 4^ inches long, 7 inches broad, 2^ inches thick at the base, en- tirely stemless, decuiTcnt at the base, with a strongly raised convex border. Surface veiny, varnished ; the older portions dull and slightly cracked. Substance, hard, corky, pale, not at all red. Pores very minute, dirty white. 13. P. [Pleuropus) Amboinensis, Fr. Mauritius. Mr. Tel- fair. Some states of this species approach so near to P. lu- cidus that it is difficult sometimes to believe it distinct. There are specimens in Sir W. J. Hooker's Herbarium almost ex- actly intermediate. 14. P. (Pleuropus) flabelliformis, Kl. 1. c. Pileus rigid, thin, obsoletely tomentose, zoned, tawny-bay, at length blackish ; margin acute ; pores extremely minute, dirty white ; stem very short. Pilei 2 — 4 inches broad, sometimes laterally connate, flabelliform, coriaceous-rigid, elegantly zoned, the interstices coarsely velvety, emarginate, plane or depressed, very variable in colour, generally brown variegated with chestnut. Hyme- nium pale tan. Pores perfectly round or elliptic. Stem ab- ruptly black at the base, where it is sometimes dilated. Mauritius, where it appears to be a common species. Mr. Telfair. Analogous to Pol, versicolor, 15. P. [Merisma) discolor ^ Kl. 1. c. Imbricated, confluent, subsessile. Pilei Qabelliform, connate at the base, longitudi- nally rugulose, plicate, lobed, dirty white ; pores brown-olive, plane, extremely minute, subrotimd, sometimes torn. Sub- stance fleshy, white, when brittle old. Pilei irregular, lobed, growing together at the base, longitudinally rugose, 3 — 6 inches broad. On trunks of trees. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 16. P. [Merisma) Telfairii, Kl. 1. c. p. 484. Imbricated, confluent, sessile 5 pilei minutely tuberculoso-rugose, obso- letely zoned, white, subpubescent ; pores minute, plane, some- what toothed, of the same colour. Substance carnoso-coria- ceous. Pilei subpubescent, sometimes sericeo-striate and shi- Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Eoootic Fungi, 38/ ning, densely imbricated, lobed, thin, 2 — 3 inches broad, 1 inch long, white or wood-coloured ; dissepiments extremely thin. Pores sometimes strongly toothed. Margin sometimes very thin, torn, and inflexed when dry. Trunks of trees. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 17. P. {Merisma) cristula, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Dull ver- milion, imbricated, confluent, coriaceous. Pilei zoned towards the margin, irregular, smooth. Pores shallow, minute, irre- gular, angular, dissepiments thin, torn. Pilei confluent, % — 1 inch broad, their disk crested with numerous smaller pilei, many of which are cylindrical and abortive; margin thin, acute, barren. Pores of the smaller pilei decomposed into hydnoid bristles, so that some parts of the mass appear bristly. Sub- stance firm with a slight ferruginous tinge. On decaying Bamboo. Dr. Wight. Allied to Pol, cinna- barinus, which does not appear to occur in the tropics. The colour however is much duller. 18. P. {Apus, Perenn.) ligneus. Berk, Wood-coloured. Pi- leus convex, ungulate, hard, ponderous, rugose, zoned; hyme- nium narrower with age ; pores extremely minute, round. Pi- leus 3|- inches long, 5 J inches broad, 2^ inches thick. Sub- stance wood-coloured, very hard, but velvety like cork. Mar- ginal zones very narrow; those in the centre about three, much raised, brown. Hymenium becoming narrower every year. Sometimes cylindrical from the elongation of the vertex. St. Vincent^s, Rev. L. Guilding. Mauritius, Mr. Telfair. 19. P. {Apus, Perenn) australis, Fr. P , foment arius, ^,ap' planatus^ Kl. in Hook. Herb. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. A very extraordinary fungus oc- curs in Mauritius which I think is clearly referable to this species. It is furnished with a long lateral stem. Pileus much longer than broad. Hymenium narrow with a broad sulcate sterile border. Pores pale. Some specimens are altogether stipitiform, pointed with an obhque abortive hymenium. I have gathered Polyporus fomentarius more than once with a long, distinct, lateral stem. Plate VIII. 20. P. [Apus, Perenn.) fomentarius, Fr. North America. Dr. Richardson. Var, excavatus, Bevk. Hard, ungulate. Hymenium hoi- 388 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungu lowed out. Pileus 1| inch across, 1^ high, dirty white, banded with brown ; bands scarcely at all depressed, quite smooth, nearly even. Margin rather obtuse. Pores small, perfectly round, fawn-coloured, cinnamon within. Old specimens have four or five smooth, even, convex, black-brown ridges. Sub- stance cinnamon coloured. On birch. Isle a la Crosse. Dr. Richardson. 21. P. {Apus, Perenn.) nigricans, Fr. Ondeadbu-ch. Isle a la Crosse, Jan. 1827. Dr. Richardson. 22. P. {Apus. Perenn.) igrdariusy Fr. On birch. North America. Dr. Richardson. A resupinate state of this species with a very narrow dark border was found April 1830, by Bertero in Juan Fernandez, marked No. 1682. 23. P. [Apus. Perenn.) pectinatus, Kl. 1. c. p. 485. Small. Pileus triquetrous, imbricated, bay, crested with concentric thin velvety folds ; pores short, minute, yellow. Pol. indicus, Kl. MSS. in Hook. Herb. Pileus effused at the base, scarce one inch broad. Substance of the colour of turmeric. The folds arise from the successive reflexed borders of the pileus, calling to mind Cytherea Dione. East Indies. Dr. Wight. Nearly allied to the last. 24. P. {Apus. Perenn.) spadiceus, Berk. Hard, coriaceo- suberose. Pileus thin, bright brown, minutely velvety, closely zoned. Hymenium ferruginous-cinnamon ; pores very mi- nute, subrotund, cinnamon within. Pileus \\ inch long, 2 J inches broad. Substance rhubarb-coloured. A very neat spe- cies, resembling P. tabacinus. Allied to the last. East Indies. Dr. Wight. 25. P. [Apus. Perenn.) rhabarbarinus, Berk. Horizontal, heavy, hard. Pileus flattened, broad, rugose, deeply and re- peatedly zoned, black-brown, almost lacquered. Hymenium cinnamon-brown. Pores round, extremely minute, almost in- visible to the naked eye. Substance rhubarb-coloured. Pileus 5 inches long, 8 inches broad, f of an inch thick. There is a rudiment of a lateral stem. The species is clearly related to P. igniarius. This fine species has unfortunately no label at- tached to it. It is probably from Brazil. 26. P. {Apus. Perenn.) sanguinarius, Kl. 1. c. p. 484. Corky, Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, 389 hard. Pileus thin, sometimes papillose, brown-blood-eoloured, at length pale, effused at the base ; pores extremely minute, pale, with a brownish tinge. Very like P. igniarius. Pileus effuso-reflexed, rather thin, zoneless, tuberculated, smooth, margin subacute, brown-blood-coloured, 3 — 4 inches broad. Mauritius, Mr. Telfair. Of this I have seen no specimens. 27. P. {Apus. Perenn.) marginatus, Fr. On birch. North America. Dr. Richardson. 28. P. [Apus, Perenn,) fraxineus, Fr. On ash. North Ame- rica. Dr. Richardson. 29. P. [Apus, Perenn,) hydnoides, Fr. Pol. ur sinus, P.vuU pinus, Link in Berl. Mag. Mauritius, Mr. Telfair. St. Vincent^s, Rev. L. Guilding, Demerara, Mr. Parker. The hymenium of this species varies very much. The pores are sometimes close and angular with thin dissepiments ; sometimes they are perfectly round and distant as represented by Bosc under Bol, hydnatinus, with the dissepiments thicker in consequence of the cellular sub- stance of the fungus beginning to grow again after the perfec- tion of the hymenium, and thus partially obliterating the pores. There is a triquetrous variety from Brazil. 30. P. [Apus, Perenn.) fibrosus, Hook, in Kunth. Syn. vol. i. p. 10. sub Boleto, Subreniform, somewhat lobed, undulated. Pileus brown shaded with reddish-grey, zoned, clothed with scattered branched concentrically disposed fibres, sericeous beneath ; margin very thin, acute, fimbriated ; pores minute, subangular, umber; dissepiments very thin. Pileus 1|. of an inch long, 3|^ broad, flattened, thin ; substance much softer than in the last, which is hard and woody, ferruginous-umber. Pores not stratose. Certainly distinct from the foregoing. This is placed next to P. hydnoides on account of its close affinity, but I doubt whether either is truly perennial. With P. tenuis, Humboldt. Demerara, Mr. Parker. 31. P. [Apus, Bienn.) gilvus, Fr. Suberoso-coriaceous. Pileus reniform, obscurely zoned, rugoso- striate, subsericeous, red grey ; substance rhubarb- coloured ; pores small, subfer- ruginous. Var. scabro-rugosus, Berk. Imbricated ; pileus dimidiate, more or less zoned, radiato-rugose and coarsely scabrous, red- 390 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, dish-grey, here and there ferruginous ; substance rhubarb- coloured ; pores small, greyish-umber. Pilei \ — | of an inch thick, 4 inches broad, 2^ inches long, suberoso-coriaceous, wrinkled, coarsely scabrous, in parts as if overgrown with a small Isidium, reddish-grey ; margin paler ; extreme margin and base sometimes ferruginous. New Orleans. I have drawn up a character for P. gilvus, from an original specimen of Schweinitz, as Fries's specimens appear to have been very imperfect. The New Orleans plant is certainly the same as the Pennsylvanian, but it acquires a much larger size. 32. P. {Apus, Bienn.) calvescens, Berk. Fawn-coloured, father thin, hard, suberoso-coriaceous. Pileus dimidiate, sub- imbricate, rather rugged, older part naked ; border bright zoned, beautifully velvety. Hymenium uneven ; pores rather minute, angular, dissepiments thin ; margin abruptly barren. New Orleans. Pileus 1| inch long, 2^ inches broad. Al- lied to the foregoing. 33. P. (Apus, Bienn.) cinnabarinus, Fr. Carlton House. North America. Dr. Richardson. 34. P. [Apus, Bienn,) ulmarius, Fr. North America. Dr. Richardson. 35. P. [Apus, Ann, Suberosi) suaveolens, Fr. North Ame- rica. Mr. Drummond in Capt. Franklin^s expedition. 36. P. (Apus, Ann. Suberosi) obtusus, Berk. Pileus thick, pulvinate, fleshy, spongy, soft, tomentose, white ; margin very obtuse; pores unequal, rather large, irregular, subgyrose, tawny when dry. Pol, Drummondii, Kl. MSS. in Hook. Herb. Pileus 4 — 6 inches across, 2 inches thick at the base, minutely tomentose; substance soft but tough, white. Hymenium rather convex; dissepiments jagged, often projecting like teeth ; pores very unequal, ^ hne broad, 1 inch deep. Allied to Pol. suaveolenSy but the habit is diiFerent, and the pores much larger and more irregular, and the substance denser. North America. Mr. Drummond. 37. P. (Apus, Ann, Sub.) leoninus, Kl. 1. c. p. 486. Pileus effuso-reflexed, fleshy, spongy, fibroso-hairy, tawny; pores rather large, deeply jagged and sinuated, dissepiments deeply toothed. Pileus effused for several inches, zoneless, clothed Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, 391 with dense strigose tawny pubescence. Pores brownish, with large acuminate teeth, giving the hymenium an hydnoid ap- pearance. East Indies. Dr. Wight. It is allied to Pol, suaveolens. The specimen before me is resupinate, with the margin broadly reflexed. The portion of the pileus next to the tubes, which is very thin, is corky ; the rest consists of a spongy mass of fibres like Ozonium auricomum of authors. 38. P. [Apus. Ann, Sub,) betulinus, Fr. On birch. North America. Dr. Richardson. 39. P, [Apus, Ann. Cor,) caperatus, Berk. Hard, ligneo- coriaceous, thin, effused at the base. Pileus zoned, variegated with brown, at first velvety, at length quite naked, some- times shining. Hymenium pale fawn-coloured ; pores minute, nearly round, dissepiments thin. Pileus 4 — 5^ inches across, 3 inches long, sessile with the vertex sometimes prominently marked with narrow concentric fasciae, some of which as the fawn-coloured down disappears become wrinkled. Substance hard, brownish bay. Very smooth specimens have a sericeous gloss. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. This species is more properly biennial, but it accords, though hard and woody, better with the coriaceous section than any other allied to P. gilvus, 40. P. [Apus, Ann, Cor,) glahrescens^ Berk. Suberoso-co- riaceous, rather thick. Pileus pale ochre, very minutely vel- vety, zoned ; pores minute, round, pale cinnamon j dissepi- ments thin. Pileus 6 inches broad, 4 inches long, sessile or furnished with a short lateral stem, much incurved when diy. Substance wood-coloured. Much thicker than most of the species in its section, in which it is placed on account of its zoned pileus. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 41. P. [Apus, Ann. Cor.) subcinereus, Berk. EfFuso-reflexed, suberoso-coriaceous, imbricated ; pileus dirty white, minutely downy ; margin acute, obsoletely zoned, barren ; pores minute, short, cinereous. Forming longitudinally effused imbricated masses, with the margin more or less reflexed. Pileus f of an inch long, sometimes, but rarely, quite free and reniform, sofl to the touch, minutely downy, with two or three indistinct 392 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi. zones^ generally confined to the margin. Often quite resupi- nate. Pores cinereous, perhaps tinged with violet when fresh. Substance corky, dirty white. On Populus balsamifera. Carlton House. North America. Dr. Richardson. 42. P. {Apus, Ann. Coriacei) versicolor, Fr. Juan Fernan- dez. Bertero, No. 1686, May 1830. An ochraceous variety. This is not in Montagne^s ^ Flora Fernandesiana.' 43. P. {Apus. Ann. Cor.) pavonius, Hook, in Kunth. Syn. vol. i. p. 10. sub Boleto. Coriaceo-membranaceous; Pileus flabelliform, lobed, fusco-ochraceous, elegantly zoned, velvety ; hymenium of the same colour as the pileus ; pores very mi- nute, angular. Pileus 2 inches long and broad, very much narrowed towards the base, very thin, spreading out from the substipitiform vertex. New Granada. Humboldt. 44. P. {Apus. Ann. Cor.) striatus, Hook. 1. c. p. 11. sub Boleto. Small, subimbricated, coriaceo-membranaceous ; pi- leus dark brown, zoned, radiato striate ; pores cinereous, brown, angular. Pileus ^ an inch broad. Near Loxa. Humboldt. A very curious and distinct species. 45. P. {Apus. Ann.) abietinus, Fr. Isle a la Crosse. North America. Dr. Richardson. 46. P. {Apus. Ann. Coriacei) hiformis, Fr. in litt. Pileus efFuso-reflexed, coriaceous, villous, white, zoned ; pores mid- dle-sized, toothed, dirty white. Imbricated. Pileus 2 — 4 inches broad, 1 ■— 2 inches long. Pores irregular, sometimes brown tinged with violet. On birch. North America. Dr. Richardson. y8. Populi balsamiferm. Pileus obsoletely villous, white; pores rather large, brownish. Pileus constantly thicker at the base, towards the margin void of pores. Isle a la Crosse. Dr. Richardson. Nearly allied to Pol. abietinus. The pubescence sometimes vanishes in great mea- sure, and it then resembles Pol. versicolor. 47. P. {Apus. Ann. Cor.) laceratus, Berk. EfFuso-reflexed, thin, zoned, smooth, rugo so- striate, wood-coloured. Pores rather large, angular, soon torn, brownish. Dissepiments thin, toothed. Pileus 2 inches broad, j of an inch long, alUed to Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic FungL 393 the two last^ but differing in the characters of the pileus. The pores are probably tinged with purple when fresh. A very pretty species. The pileus when young is probably tomen- tose as in the allied species. New Orleans. Hook. Herb. 48. P. [Apus. Ann. Cor.) occidentalis, Kl. 1. c. Effused at the base^ thin^ coriaceous, yellow-brown. Pileus zoned, reni- form, villous, at length velvety. Hymenium even. Pores nearly round, shallow. Nearly of the same tawny yellow throughout. Pileus 4 — 6 inches broad, 2 — 3 inches long, with zones of the same colour. Klotzsch describes the disse- piments as very thick, w^hich is the case in some specimens, but when perfect they are thin and the pores middle-sized and angular. The same remark indeed is applicable here as in Pol. hydnoides. Some specimens are perfectly resupinate and have the pores arranged concentrically. St. Vincents, where it is a common species. Rev. L. Guild- ing. 49. P. {Ap. Ann. Cor.) cupreus, Berk. Thin, coriaceous, flexible. Pileus rounded, effused at the base, slightly lobed, zoned, smooth, coppery-ferruginous. Substance ferruginous. Hymenium ferruginous-cinnamon. Pores very minute, shal- low ; margin barren. Pileus 2\ inches broad, 2 inches long, very thin, of the same sort of glaucous coppery tint as the hymenium of Thelephora rubiginosa. East Indies, Dr. Wight. 50. P. {Ap, Ann. Cor.) tabacinus, Mont. Ann. d. Sc. Nat. n. s. vol. iii. p. 349. Mauritius, Mr. Telfair. Differing from the Juan Fernandez plant in being a little less zoned. The substance of this is rich brown, very different from that of Pol. spadiceus de- scribed above. 51. P. [Apus. Ann. Cor.) pruinatus, Kl. 1. c. Pileus effused at the base, gilvo-fuscous, pruinose ; margin obsoletely zoned ; pores extremely minute, round, fuliginous. Imbricated. Pi- leus 1 inch long and broad, sometimes tuberculated. Pores 2 lines long. Substance thin, leathery. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 52. P. [Apus. Ann. Cor.) Friesii, Kl. I.e. p. 487- tab. 11. Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 3. No. 19. Aug. 1839. 2 f 394 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, Pileus coriaceous, thin, reddish-grey, silky, elegantly zoned, flabelliform, lobed ; margin incised ; pores brown, deeply torn, towards the jnargin plane, entire. Pileus obsoletely zoned, 2| inches long and broad, narrowed behind, at length smooth. Margin very thin, sometimes toothed. Dissepiments forming long ligulate processes. In the warmer parts of North America. It is also marked Polyp, amcenus, Klotzsch, from the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. MuUer. 53. P. [Apus, Ann, Cor.) Drummondii, Kl. 1. c. Pileus im- bricated, obsoletely zoned, white tinged with red-brown, thin, subpapyraceous, attenuated at the base ; margin dilated, in- cised, pendulous ; pores of the same colour, unequal, toothed, plane towards the margin. Pilei 3 — 6 lines broad, 8 — 15 lines long, obsoletely zoned, longitudinally rugulose, often laterally connate, attached at the base by a few byssoid fibres. Disse- piments very thin, inciso-dentate. New Orleans. Mr. Drummond. 54. P. [Ap. Ann, Cor.) palmatus, Hook. 1. c. sub Hydno, Pileus palmate, deeply incised and fimbriate, rufescent, shghtly zoned, smooth, shining; pores middle-sized, shallow; disse- piments thin, toothed. Pileus 1\ inch long, 2 inches wide. A very elegant species. By an error of the press lines have been substituted for inches in Kunth's synopsis. The colour of the pileus is rufescent rather than yellow-brown. New Granada. Humboldt. 55. P. [Apus, Ann, Cor,) theleplioroides, Hook, in Kunth. Syn. vol. i. p. 1 0. sub Boleto, Flabellate, plicate, very thin, longitudinally rugose, somewhat flexuous, brown; pores of the same colour, microscopic. Pileus 2 inches long, 4 inches broad. Hymenium even. Pores quite invisible to the naked eye, so that it looks like a Thelephora, Near Loxa. Peru. Humboldt. A most distinct species, resembling none with which I am acquainted. Without more perfect specimens it is not easy to say what are its nearest af- finities. 56. P. (Resup.) arenarius, Kl. 1. c. Very widely efiused ; pileus resupinate, dirty white with a slight rufous tinge ; pores rather distant, plane, unequal, sinuous. Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, 395 Running over grass^ and in consequence having the hyme- nium rugged, with variously shaped protuberances. Pileus 6 — 8 inches broad and long, i an inch thick, of the same co- lour within. On sandy soil. East Indies. Dr. Wight, No. 85. 57. P. {Resup.) vulgaris, Fr. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. Carlton House, North America. Dr. Richardson. Juan Fernandez. Bertero. Hydnum. H, {Resup.) delicatum, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Orbicular, effused, with the border slightly reflexed ; tomentose above, ochraceous ; hymenium dirty-white ; prickles purplish-grey, scattered, simple, short, conical, with sub-clavate tips. On decaying Jatropha Curcas. Madras. Dr. Wight. Irpex. 1. /. [Effuso-ref,) fasco-violaceus, Fr. Irpex Richardsonii^ Hook. Herb. On pine trunks. North America. Dr. Ri- chardson. 2. /. {Effuso-ref.) lacteus, Fr. North America. Dr. Ri- chardson. 3. /. [Resup.) flavus, Kl, 1. c. p. 488. Pileus resupinate, yellow, of a soft spongy texture, margin villous, slightly re- flexed, teeth oblique, compressed, unequal, incised, connected by a network of veins, widely effused, confluent, often thickly clothing the branchlets of trees. My specimens have the mar- gin slightly reflexed, on which account I am inclined to con- sider them imperfect, and referable to the preceding tribe. North America. Dr. Richardson. Thelephora. 1. T. (Apus) striata, Fr. North America. Dr. Richardson. 2. T. (Apus) lobata, Kze. Fr. in Linn. T. affinis, Kl. in Hook. Herb. North America. Dr. Richardson. New Or- leans. Mr. Drummond. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. 3. Th. [Apus) complicata, Fr. in Linn. T. delicatula, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Resupinate, free, pendulous, papjrraceous ; margin lobed, often crisped and plicate, sericeo-striate, deli- cately zoned, red-brown ; hymenium smooth. At first gene- 2 f2 396 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, rally forming orbicular resupinate patches which soon be- come confluent, with the border free almost to the centre, lobed, often multipartite, crisped and plicate ; sometimes flabellate, adhering only by the vertex, which assumes the form of a stem. The older portions are clothed with whitish down, the newer are smooth and shining bright red-brown, elegantly zoned. On twigs. New Orleans. Fries appears not to have seen orbicular roundly-lobed specimens in which the pileus is closely and most elegantly zoned. In plicate individuals the zones are obscure. New Orleans. Mr. Drummond. Klotzsch says N. A., Dr. Richardson, but I suspect this is a mistake. Geoglossum. G, hirsutum, var. hirsutiusculum, Berk. A smaller plant than the European, but diifering in no re- spect from it except in the bristles being shorter. The ana- lysis of both is similar, the asci being shorter and stouter than in G. glabrum. The sporidia in both species are very di- stinctly septate. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. Peziza. 1. P,anomala, Pers. P.solenia? videtur diversa et for- tasse n. sp. Bertero. No. 17OI. On bark and Sphcerice, Juan Fernandez. 1830, May. Not in Fl. Fern. 2. P. {Phial, Hymenosc.) utriculus, Bert. Mss. No. 1702. Scattered; cups white, hemispherical, membranous^ smooth, crisped ; stem slender, rather long. On dead wood. Juan Fernandez. Bertero. 1830, May. Not noticed by Montague. Resembling Peziza Campanula, but much smaller. ExiDIA. 1. E, hispidula, Berk. Globoso-campanulate, oblique, ses- sile within, brown-black, externally fawn-coloured, clothed with short bristly down. Peziza nigricans, Hook, in Kunth. Syn. vol. i. p. 13. New Granada. Humboldt. Mauritius. Mr. Bojer. St. Vincents. Rev. L. Guilding. Nearly allied to E. auricula Judce, but the down is longer and more bristly. Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi. 397 NiDULARIA. JV. striata, Bull, var. pusilla, Berk. Smaller, only ^ an inch high. Furfuraceous above. Striae confined to the mar- gin. Colour dull umber, not bright brown. Very near to N, plicata, Fr., a Brazilian species. That however appears to be even more strongly grooved than N. striata. West Indies. SPHiERIA. 1. B. [Cordyceps) digitata, Fr. Negapatam. Dr. Wight. 2. S. [Cordyceps) allantodia, Berk. Corky; stem ex- tremely short, almost obsolete, smooth ; stroma clavate, ob- tuse, thick, coated with a thick rigid brown-black bark ; pe- rithecia small, globose ; ostiola minute, prominent ; about 4 inches high, 1 inch thick, attenuated below, often curved, at first solid throughout, with the inner substance firm and pale brown, at length more or less hollow, resembling closely a small black-pudding. Some specimens are more elongated and thinner. Outer coat black, w^ith a brown bloom like that of some exotic Polypori, very hard and rigid, distinct from the substance, in old plants sometimes contracted. Perithecia small, crowded. Ostiola minute, rather prominent. Brazil. 3. S. {Cordyceps) Telfairii, Berk. Corky, club-shaped, more or less obtuse above, clothed with very brittle fawn-coloured bark dotted with the black orifices of the rather large peri- thecia. About 2 J inches high, J an inch thick ; solid ; bark extremely brittle, black coated with a thin distinct fawn-co- loured coat, apt to become involute. Perithecia rather large, subglobose. Ostiola black, slightly prominent. Asci long, linear, slender, containing eight segmentiform sporidia, which occasionally contain a single central sporidiolum. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. This is marked by Klotzsch S. involuta, spec. nov. I have thought it best not to adopt the manuscript name, as the bark in other allied species is often involute. 4. S. {Cordyceps) obovata, Berk. Stem short, smooth, gra- dually swelling out into a short obovate club, hollow, lined with a papyraceous coat ; bark black ; perithecia rather large, scattered -, ostiola very minute. Whole plant not | of an inch 398 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, high, I an inch thick above, extremely obtuse ; bark brittle, black ; ostiola not visible to the naked eye ; perithecia rather large, globose. Asci and sporidia as in S, Telfairii. Nearly allied to S, papyracea, but differing in size and form. St. Vincents. Rev. L. Guilding. 5. S, [Cordyceps) gracilis, Kl. in Hook. Herb. /S. digitata, Hook, in Kunth. Syn. vol. i. p. 7. Corky ; stem smooth, forked, fastigiate, slender, subacute, barren at the apex. In- termediate between S, digitata and S, multiplex, Kz. About IJ inch high, 1 line thick, dull black; bifid or trifid, caespi- tose. Perithecia extending sometimes below the origin of the forks. Andes. Humboldt. 6. S, {Connatci) pruinata, Kl. in Linn. I. c. p. 489. Peri- thecia globose, effused, growing together, emersed, clothed with white meal, black within ; ostiola black, prominent. S, farinosa, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Forming small round pruinose patches, dotted with the black ostiola. Allied to S, serpens. Certainly not belonging to the tribe Concrescentes, North America. On poplar. Dr. Richardson. 7. S, (Globosce) nummularia, Dec. On dead branches. Juan Fernandez, No. 1726. May, 1830. Not in Fl. Fern. 8. >S. [Depazea) Drymidis, Berk. Epiphyllous, spots white, orbicular, with a distinct brow^n raised border; perithecia black, mostly disposed in a single ring near the margin. On dead leaves of Z)r2/mi5. Juan Fernandez, May, 1830. No. 1727. Not in Mont. Fl. Fern. A very pretty species. DOTHIDEA. 1. D, (Erumpentes) granulosa, Kl. in Hook. Herb. Hypo- phyllous, suborbicular, confluent, very thin, depressed, black, most minutely granulose with the superficial cells. Forming little patches, scarcely 1 line broad. On leaves of Eugenia Temu, Hook, and Arn. Valparaiso in Chili. 2. D. [Xyloma) Musce, Kl. 1. c. Epiphyllous, black, con- sisting of distinct cells, either scattered or collected in round spots. Spots 1 line broad. Cells very minute, shining. Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi, 399 On leaves of Musacecs, East Indies. Dr. Wight. Cells arranged in lines^ following the nervation of the leaf. 3. D, {Aster oma) conspurcata, Berk. Flat^ membranous, uniform, orbicular, dull pitch-brown; perithecia few, scattered, hemispherical, of the same colour. Forming small brown spots on the under and upper side of the leaf, exactly like fly- specks. The margin though irregular is not the least fimbri- ate, or it would more properly be placed in the genus Aste- roma. On the leaves of a myrtle called Lwm^, in hilly woods. Juan Fernandez. Bertero. May, 1830. No. 1728. Not in Mont. Fl. Fern. Phacidium. p. depressum, Hook. Mss. Sph, ? depressa^ Hook, in Kunth. Syn. vol. i. p. 7. Scattered, orbicular, depressed, opening with 5 — 6 black acute laciniae ; disk black, at length naked, bordered by the excipulum. About the size of P. co- ronatum, Asci short, linear, obtuse. I do not find curved paraphyses as in that species. Andes, with S* gracilis, Humboldt. EXCIPULA. E, gregaria, Fr. in Linn. 1. c. p. 552. On petioles of Ca- rica Papaya, Mauritius. Mr. Bojer. Geasteb. 1. Geaster plicatusy Berk, Geaster striatus^y plicatus,Kl, Mss. in Hook. Herb. Outer peridium soft, papyraceous, pale umber, smooth ; laciniae about 'J, acute ; inner peridium seated on a long peduncle, globose, dark umber, smooth, strongly plicate at the base ; orifice seated in a circular depression, co- nical, plicato-sulcate. Sporidia brown. Madras. Dr. Wight. Nearly allied to G, striatuSy /?. mi- nimus, but certainly distinct. The folds at the base of the inner peridium are very remarkable. 2. G, limbatus, Fr. North America. Dr. Richardson. 3. G. minimus, Schwein. ! North America. Dr. Richardson. 4. G, rufescens, Pers. G, fimbriatus, Kl. in Linn. North America. Dr. Richardson. 5. G. hygrometricuSjFers, North America. Dr. Richardson. 400 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on Exotic Fungi. BOVISTA. J5. argentea, Berk. Oval, depressed ; inner peridium ex- tremely thin, papyraceous, shining, silvery without ; within as well as the minute sporidia and capillitium of a pale dingy red-brown. Larger diam. 2| inches, smaller 2 J ; depth about 1 inch. Inner peridium resembling very thin paper which has been washed with silver. The sporidia and flocci resem- ble in colour coffee and cream. Madras. Dr. Wight. In the herbaria of Sir W. J. Hooker and N. B. Ward, Esq. Lycogala. L, epidendrum, Fr. St. Vincents. Rev. L. Guilding. Both the common state, and one with grey-green sporidia. DiACHEA. D. elegans, Fr. On the leaves of a Paulinia. Brazil. Mr. Boog. Stemonitis. S. fusca, Roth. Tilostylus jungermannioides, Kl. Mss. in Hook. Herb. Mauritius. Mr. Bojer. Carlton House. North America. Mr. Drummond. Onygena. O. equina, Pers. On buffaloes^ horns. North America. Dr. Richardson. Testicularia. Pseudoperidia aggregate, forming a dense mass. Sporidia more or less mixed with simple flocci. T. Cyperi, Kl. in Linn. vol. vii. p. 202. Parasitic on Cyperi, occupying the place of the seed, soli- tary or two together, ovate or oblong, about the size of a large pea or acorn. Outer coat white, papyraceo-corneous, brittle, at length bursting at the apex, farinoso-floccose, filled with naked black pseudoperidia resembling gunpowder. Sporidia globose, accompanied by simple flocci. On Cyperi. North America. This extremely curious genus is considered by Klotzsch as uniting the Angiogastri with the Trichospermi. I cannot con- cur in this notion. I feel Httle doubt that its proper situation On the British Hydromyzidae. 401 is amongst the epiphytous Coniomycetes^ and that it is indeed nearly allied to Uredo urceolorum, &c. It will be seen, on look- ing at Corda^s figure, Ic. Fung. tab. 8. fig. 12, that the spo- ridia in that species are clothed with a cellular integument. Testicularia is a compound Uredo, the cellular integument of its globules being a pseudoperidium, and the contained gra- nules sporidia. I have not been able to see the flocci as di- stinctly as they are represented by Klotzsch. There are traces of flocci in U, urceolorum, iEciDIUM. u^, EuphorbicB, Dec. Mauritius. Mr. Telfair. XLIII. — Remarks on the Generic Distribution of the British Hydromyzidae (Diptera). By A. H. Haliday, Esq. [Continued from p. 224.] Gen. 3. HYDRELLIA. Caput oblatum. Oculi confertissime pilosi, quasi velutini. Men- turn parum incrassatum. Antennae articulo 2® exunguiculato. Alae exunguiculatse. Every facet of the compound eyes appears to produce a short erect hair from its centre, which gives a velvety pile to the whole, and an indefinite outhne when viewed by a mag- nifier, unless in the direction of a row of the lenses. Subgenerum Synopsis. Arista fdorso pectinata J r ' Jconvexa 1. Hydrellia. I *^^^®^ Liinpressa 2. Atissa. Lsubtilissime pubescens 3. Glenanthe. Subg. 1. Hydrellia, Desv. Antennse articulo 3° ovato aut orbiculato, compresso, deflexo ; arista dorso pectinata. Facies convexa, superne attenuata, squamu- loso-micans, puncto lucido antennarum basin superante. Palpi sub- dilatati. Alse apice rotundatae. Nervus discoidah-recurrens ab alae margine parum distans. As the species of this group are subject to some variation in the colour of the face, antennae and mouth, a more parti- cular examination of the specific characters is required. This will not be difficult, as they generally occur in great profusion 402 Mr. A. H. Haliday on the generic distribution in their favourite localities. The general colour of the body is rather uniform, ranging from a dull olive or cinereous shade to a shining black. The halteres are sulphureous, with the base black in the dark-coloured species, brown or tawny in the others. Sp. 1. cardammes, H. nigro-aenescens, antennis subtus facie ore palpis coxis et tibiis anticis totis tibiis posterioribus apice tar- sisque basi fulvis ; m.f. 4 — 1-^ lin. Var, /3. Facie albo-micante. Var. y. Antennis et mento nigris. Among aquatic plants, Hollywood ; local but not rare. Sp. 2. flaviceps, H. obscure viridis antennarum articulo 3^ tibiis tarsisque fulvis, tibiis'posticis annulo fusco, ore palpisque flavis, facie flava albo-micante. Notiphila flaviceps. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 72. — Discocerina id. Macq. S. k B. ii. 527. — Hydrellia aurifacies. Desv. Myod. 791. In marshes about Hollywood ; June ; rare. Sp. 3. hydrocotyles, H. obscure viridis tibiis anterioribus et posti- carum apice palpis tarsisque fulvis, facie albissima ; /. 1 Un. Hydrellia communis. Desv. Myod. 791 ? Hollywood ; extremely rare. Sp. 4. porphyrops, H. nigricans antennarum articulo 3° tibiis apice tarsis basi fulvis, facie ore palpis flavis, puncto frontali albo, ocu- Hs hyacinthinis ; m. -I lin. This distinct and beautiful species has occurred but once at Hollywood among Mentha sylvestris in a ditch. The eyes are large and of an exquisite purple tint, and the face remarkably small. The eyes are dark green or brassy in most other species. Sp. 5. thoracica, H. thorace cinereo obsolete lineato, facie alba, palpis nigris, tarsis posterioribus ferrugineis; m.f. 1| lin. On the sea-coast, Hollywood ; June ; rare. A very distinct species, of robust form, and the only one which has any vestige of markings on the body. The middle and hind tibiae are evidently thicker than the fore pair. The discoidal recurrent nerve is veiy near the margin. Sp. 6. Ranunculi, H. nigro-olivacea facie alba, tarsis posterioribus basi palpisque ferrugineis, nervo transverse subobliquo : m.f. 14 lin. Abundant in meadows and marshes. This is probably the of the British Hydromyzidae. 403 variety of H. griseola with a white face, of which Fallen makes mention, but he is mistaken in considering it as a sexual di- stinction. Sp. 7. griseola, H. viridi-cinerea, subtus schistacea, facie flavi- cante, puncto frontali albissimo, tarsis posterioribus basi palpis- que ferrugineis, alls hyalinis nervo transverse perpendiculari. Macq. S. a B. ii. 523. pi. 21. fig. 10. — Notiphila id. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813. p. 250. Hydrom. 9. Meigen, Dipt. Eur. vi. QQ. The most abundant species in meadows. The wings and legs are particularly long. The palpi usually dusky at the base. The distinct white dot above the antennae is rarely wanting. Sp. 8. chrysostoma, H. nigro-olivacea facie flavicante palpis fer- rugineis, nervo transverso subobliquo. Notiphila id. Meig. vi. 67. — Hydrellia viridescens, Desv. Myod. 793? Not rare in marshes. Sp. 9. tarsata, H. nigro-olivacea facie palpisque flavis ; femoribus anticis validis, tarsis iisdem subtus flavo-tomentosis, onychiis longiusculis rufescentibus ; m. 1^ lin. Distinguished particularly by its onychii ; those of the other species being short and white in both sexes. Found but once at Hollywood. Sp. 10. albiceps,H. nigro-senescens facie alba, palpis ferrugineis, alis obscuris, halteribus basi nigris. Variat labellis ferrugineis et antennarum articulo 3° subtus vel etiam toto fulvo. Macq. S. £1 B. ii. 526. — Notiphila id. Meigen, Dipt. Eur. vi. QS, Hydrina fuliginosa. Desv. Myod. 793 ? Common in marshes. Sp. 11. erythrostoma, H. nigro-senescens antennarum articulo 3<* facie palpisque fulvis, puncto frontali albissimo, alis obscuris, halteribus basi nigris. Variat puncto frontali flavicante ; etiam antennarum articulo 3° fusco. Macq. S. k B. ii. 526 .—Notiphila id. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 69. Common on moist grassy slopes of mountains and in marshes. Sp. 12. Cochlearia, H. nigro-senescens facie flavicante, palpis ni- gris, alis obscuris, halteribus basi nigris ; /. 1 lin. Very like the last, but I am inclined to consider it a distinct species. Hollywood ; June ; rare. 404 Mr. A. H. Haliday on the generic distribution Sp. 13. albilahris, H. nigra nitida facie alba, antennarum arti- culo 3° fulvo, halteribus basi palpisque nigris. Notiphila id. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 71. — Discocerina id. Macq. S. a B. ii. 528. — Hydrellia argyria. Desv. Myod. 793. The third joint of the antennae is more orbiculate than in the rest, and the wings nearly lanceolate, with the radial nerve shorter. In meadows ; Hollywood ; very rare. Subg. 2. Atissa, Curt. Guide App. Antennae articulo 3° sphseroideo subcompresso, arista dorso brevi- ter pectinata. Facies brevis sub antennis utrinque impressa margine infero prominulo. Alee lanceolatse. Nervus discoidali-recurrens a margine remotus. Sp. 14. pygmcea, H. A. cinerea facie albida, antennis tarsisque ferrugineis. ^ lin. Ephydra id. Ent. Mag. i. 174. In a salt marsh, Hollywood. Subg. 3. Glenanthe. Antennae articulo 3° orbiculato compresso, arista brevi subtilissime pubescente. Facies sub antennis utrinque impressa, medio longi- trorsum convexa. Oculi inferne attenuati, subangulati. Nervus discoidali-recurrens ab alae margine distans. Fern. Abdomen apice rima longitudinal! tuberculum muricatum includente. Sp. 15. ripicola, H. G. cinerea fronte thoraceque ferruginosis, antennis tibiis tarsisque ferrugineis, facie albida ; m.f. 1 lin. On the muddy sea- coast, Hollywood. Gen. 4. EPHYDRA, Fallen. Oculi glabri s. vage pubescentes. Antennae articulo 2° exungui- culato. Proboscis magis incrassata. Femora subaequalia. Subgenerum Synopsis. Areolse probrachialis et analis parvse completse, 11. Canace. incompletse ; — ungues subrecti onychiis obsoletis, 10. Epliydra. curvati onychiis hirsutis ; — caput parum depressum : — nervus transversus prope marginem alse, 4. Pelina. a margine remotus ; — facies lateribus ciliata, 1. Hydrina. vix nisi nuda ; — nervus costalis alae apicem ambiens, 2. Hyjidina, in alae apice desinens, 3. Axysta. of the British Hydromyzidae. . 405 [Caput] depressum ; — clypeus exertus, 5. Napaea. reconditus ; — peristoma margine nudum, 6. Ilythea. villosum s. pectinatum : — arista dorso pectinata, 7. Ccenia. pubescens, 8. Scatella. glabra, 9. Teichomyza. Subg. 1. Hydrina, Desv. Facies proclivis subtriangularis convexa, lateribus subtiliter ciliata. Antennae mediocres articulo 3° subdeflexo, oblongo, dorso subira- presso ; arista pubescens aut dorso pectinata. Palpi parum dilatati. Abdomen 5-annulatum convexum, apice glabrum. Nervus discoi- dali-recurrens ab alse margine distans. * Arista dorso longe villosa s. pectinata. The minute species belonging to this section are remark- able for the distinct variegation of their colours. The only European species described is the following : Sp. 1. picta, E. Hydr. thorace fusco utrinque linea alba, scu- tello aterrimo, antennis subtus pedibusque testaceis. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 125. — Notiphila id. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813. p. 254. Hydrora. ii. Variat femoribus nigris, aut pedibus nigris tarsis basi rufescen- tibus. Common on grass in shady places. ** Arista pubescens, Sp. 2. punctato-nervosa, E. Hydr. thorace cinereo, antennis pe- dibusque flavis, alis seriatim fusco-punctatis, nervis transversis fuscis. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 123. — Notiphila id. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813. p. 254. Hydrom. 12. In sandy places ; Portmarnock ; Hollywood. Sp. 3. flavipes, E. Hydr. thorace cinereo, facie antennis pedibus flavis ; nervis transversis fuscis. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 123. Fallen, Hydrom. 12. Not rare in meadows. Sp. 4. stictica, E. Hydr. thorace cinereo fusco-vittato, facie an- tennis pedibus flavis, alarum nervis transversis et puncto fuscis, Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 121. Macq. S. a B. ii. 539. Common in meadows. Sp. 5. interstincta, E. Hydr. thorace fusco-cinereo, tibiis tarsis- que ferrugineis, alarum nervis transversis et punctis 6 fuscis. 406 Mr. A. H. Haliday on the generic distribution Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 122. Macq. S. a B. ii. 539.— Noiiphila id. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813. p. 254. Hydrom. 12. — Hydrina maculi' pennis. Desv. Myod. 795. Common on grass. Sp. 6. interrupta, E. Hydr. thorace cinereo fusco-vittato, facie antennis tarsisque flavis, alls fuscis disco hyalinis nervis trans- versis fuscis. Ent. Mag. i. 176. Sandy shore of Killiney bay, county Dublin ; Hollywood ; rare. Sp. 7. posticata, E. Hydr. cinerea abdominis apice nigro, facie antennis tarsisque flavis, alis hyalinis. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 124. Macq. S. a B. ii. 539. Not uncommon. Subg. 2. Hyadina, Curtis, Guide, App, Facies perpendicularis superne parum angustata vix nisi nuda. Arista pubescens. Abdomen 5-annulatum segmento b^ magno gla- berrimo. Nervus costalis alse apicem ambiens. Nervus discoidali- recurrens ab alse margine distans. Nervi brachiales ibidem sinu ap- proximate Sp. 8. guttata, E. Hyad. nigra subnitida scutelli lateribus ater- rimis, antennis subtus pedibusque testaceis, alis albo-biguttatis. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 125. — Notiphila id. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813. 253. Hydrom. 11. — Ephydra nitida. Macq. S. a B. ii.539. Hydrina vernalis. Desv. Myod. 795. Varies, with the legs dusky, also with the face silvery-white or straw colour. The clear dot above and below the trans- verse nerve is not very evident unless when the wings over- lap. Common in swampy spots. Sp. 9. scutellata, E. Hyad. nigra subnitida scutello aterrimo, an- tennis subtus pedibusque testaceis, alis albo-biguttatis. — vix 1 lin. Hollywood ; very rare. Subg. 3. AXYSTA. Facies perpendicularis medio subconvexa, superne parum angus- tata, vix nisi nuda. Arista pubescens. Abdomen quasi tri-annula- tum, i. e. segmentis P et 5° minimis, basi marginatum. Nervus costalis in alse apice evanescens : nervus discoidali-recurrens ab alse margine distans : nervi brachiales ibidem sinu approximati. Sp. 10. viridula, E. A. nigra nitida abdomine punctatissimo cya- nescente, facie albida vitta nigra. of the British Hydromyzidae. 407 Hydrina viriduta. Desv. Myod. 795? — Ephydra cesta. Ent. Mag. i. 177. — Trimerina coeruleiventris. Macq. S. aB. ii. 529. pi. 21. fig. 12 .? On grass ; Hollywood ; rare. Subg. 4. Pelina, Curt. Guide, App. Facies latissima perpendicularis lateribus tenuisslme ciliata ; cly- peus subexertus. Arista subtilissime pubescens. Abdomen depres- sum. Nervus discoidali-recurrens prope marginem alse. Sp. 11. eenea, E. P. obscure senea facie albicante, tarsis flavis, alis hyalinis. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 124. -^Notiphila id. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813. p. 253. Hydrom. 11. — Ephydra glahricula. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 121. Macq. S. a B. ii. 538. Common among aquatic plants. Subg. 5. Nap^a, Desv. Caput depressum : facies proclivis latissima vix nisi nuda ; clypeus exertus. Mentum valde incrassatum. Arista basi pubescens. Corpus pedesque subglabri. Abdomen depressum suborbiculatum. Nervus prsebrachialis-recurrens fere in medio alse. * Nervus radialis apice appendiculatus. Sp. 12. coarctata, E. N. fusco-senea tarsis basi ferrugineis, alis fuscanis nervis transversis obscuris, arista nisi basi nuda. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813, p. 247. Hydrom. 4. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 116.—^;?^. rufitarsis. Macq. S. k B. ii. 536. pi. 22. f. 2,—Na' pcea stagnicola major. Desv. Myod. 800. Abundant on pools. Sp. 13. litoralis, E. N. obscure senea tarsis basi ferrugineis, alis fuscanis, nervis transversis obscuris utrinque hyalino-guttatis, arista villosa. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 116. tab. 60. fig. 8. Macq. S. a B. ii. 536. Less common than the preceding. E. ^-punctata, M., also belongs to this group. ** Nervus radialis simplex. Sp. 14. Aquila, E. N. fusco-senea alis fuscanis, nervis transversis obscuris, tibiis basi apiceque albis, tarsis ferrugineis. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813, 247. Hydrom. 4. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 117. Macq. S. aB. ii. 537. Not rare on pools at Hollywood. Sp. 15. fossarum, E. N. fusco-senea tarsis basi ferrugineis, alis fuscanis, nervis transversis obscuris. 408 Mr. A. H. Haliday on the generic distribution Ent. Mag. i. 175. — Napma stagnicola minor. Desv. Myod. 800 ? Abundant on pools. Sp. 16. hecate, E. N. fusco-senea tarsis basi ferrugineis, alis fus- canis, nervis transversis obscuris utrinque hyalino-guttatis. Ent. Mag. i. 175. — Eph.fuscipennis, Macq. S. a B. ii. 540. Hollywood : very rare. Sp. 17. pusilla, E. N. nigro-senea facie albicante, pedibus nigris, alis fuscanis nervis transversis obscuris. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. V26.—Eph. infecta. Ent. Mag. i. 175. Hollywood, &c., rare. Subg. 6. Ilythea, Curt. Guide, App. Caput depressum, facie convexa inter antennas elevata, nisi late- ribus nuda ; clypeo recondito. Mentum incrassatum. Labella crassa, retro-producta obtusa. Arista dorso pectinata. Sp. 18. Spilota, E. I. nigra facie ferruginosa, tarsis flavis, alis nigro-punctatis. Curtis, Brit. Ent. 413. Not rare about pools and ditches. Subg. 7. CcENiA, Desv. Caput depressum facie protuberante et margine peristomatis vil- losis aut setosis ; clypeo recondito. Arista dorso pectinata. Men- tum valde incrassatum. * AntemKB articulo 3* ohtuso. Sp. 19. alhula, E. Coen. thorace obscure aeneo, abdomlne glauco incisuris obscuris, facie cinerascente, halteribus albidis. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 115. Loch Fad, Isle of Bute ; August. Sp. 20. palustris, E. Coen. nigro-senea facie setosa, capite pedi- busque nigris, halteribus fuscanis. Fallen, Hydrom. 4. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 115. — Cosnia, id. Macq. S. a B. ii. 530. pi. 21. fig. 14.— Ccenia caricicola, Desv. Myod. 800. Common in marshes. Erroneously cited as Eph. curvicauda in my list of Diptera occurring about Hollywood, * Ent. Mag.' i. 150. Ephydra obscura, Meig.^ which has been found in England by Mr. F. Walker^ belongs to the same section. ** Antenna articulo 8° suhconico. Sp. 21. defecta, E. Ccen. nigro-senea scutello cyanescente, an- tennis subtus tarsisque luteis, alis obscuris hyalino-guttatis. Ent. Mag. i. 1 74. Common in swampy spots. of the British Hydromyzidae. 409 Subg. 8. SCATELLA, DcSV. Caput depressum facie buccata et margine peristomatis villosis •aut setosis ; clypeo recoadito. Arista arcuata pubescens. Antennae articulo ^^ obtuso. Ungues curvati divaricati. Onychii manifesti. Sp. 22. sibilans, E. S. ferruginosa abdomine senescente, facie flavida setosa, alis obscuris. Ent. Mag. i. 175. Very common on the sea-coast, Hollywood. Sp. 23. leucostoma, E. S. olivacea facie villosa albicante, alis ob- scuris nervo transverso a margine remoto. Meig. Dipt. Eur. 121. Not uncommon on marine rejectamenta. Sp. 24. sorbillans, E. S. olivacea facie pubescente alba, alis ci- nerascentibus indistincte hyalino 5-guttatis, m.f. 1^ lin. Not rare on the sea-coast. Sp. 25. (EstuanSy E. S. cinerea fronte thoracisque dorso ferruginosis, facie flavida, tarsis ferrugineis, alis ferruginosis guttis 5 albis anterioremajore quadrata. Ent. Mag. i. 176. Common on fuci. Sp. 26. buccata-, E. S. nigra fronte thoraceque fuscis, facie fla- vicante, alis fuliginosis hyalino 5-guttatis. Scatella buccata, Desv. Myod. 801. — Ephydra stagnalis} Fallen. Act. Holm. 1813, p. 248. Hydrom. 5 ? Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 118 } Macq. S. a B. ii. 537 ? The most abundant species. Fallen has probably con- founded with his E. stagnalis all the species with hyaline dots on the dark ground of the wings ; and though Meigen has very fully distinguished many species of this character^ I can scarcely identify any of mine exactly with his descriptions. Sp. 27. lutosa,'Ej. S. fasco-cinerea fronte thoraceque ferruginosis, facie flavicante, tarsis ferrugineis, alis infumatis hyalino 5-gut- tatis. Ent. Mag. i. 176. Found along with the last and almost equally abundant. Sp. 28. despecta (Curt. App.), E. S. cinerea thorace fusco li- neolis albidis, facie albida, alis cinerascentibus obsolete hyalino- guttatis, m.f. femoribus mediis subtus basi pectinatis, m. 1 lin. On the sea-coast and in sandy places : not common. Sp. 29. noctula, E. S. nigricans thorace fusco lineolis albidis, facie flavicante, tarsis ferrugineis, alis fuscanis hyalino guttatis. Ann, Nat. Hist, Vol.3. No. 19. Aug, 1839. 2 g 410 On the British Hydromyzidae. Meig. Dipt. Ear. vi. 119. Macq. S. U B. ii. 537. Common in moist places. Sp. 30. comta, E. S. nigra thorace fusco, facie albida, alis fus- canis hyalino guttatis. Ent. Mag. i. 176. — Scatella cinerea. Desv. Myod. 801 } Generally one half less than the last species, of which it may be a variety. Sp. 31. quadrata, E. S. nigricans thorace fusco lineolis albidis, tarsis ferrugineis, alis fusco nubeculosis margine antico nigro- tessellato. Fallen, Hydrom. 5. Meig. Dipt. Eur. vi. 119. Macq. S. aB. ii. 538. — Notiphila id. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813, 255. — Eph. grami- num, Ent. Mag. i. 176. Common. Varies with the face yellowish or whitish. To the same group belong £. paludum, E, lacustris, and E, 4i-guttatay Meigen, Subg. 9. Teichomyza, Macq, Caput depressum, facie longe porrecta fomicata setosa, sub an- tennis impressa ; clypeo recondito. Peristomatis margo pectinatus. Antennae arista elongata glabra tenui. Ungues validi curvati, ony- chiis conspicuis hirtis. Abdomen feminse apice subcompressum rima verticali. Sp. 32. fusca, E. T. fusco-olivacea thorace lineolis 2 anticis ci- nereis, alis fuliginosis, m. /. Femoribus mediis subtus pecti- natis, metatarso antico incrassato, m. Teichomyza fusca. Macq. S.aB. ii.535. On the walls of damp outhouses, in winter ; where the larvae (as observed by Macquart) are fed among the decomposed mortar. Subg. 10. Ephydra. Caput depressum, facie porrecta fornicata villosa ; peristoma mar- gine pectinatum. Mentum canaliculatum, labella in quiete retrocus- pidata excipiens. Antennee articulo 3° conico ; arista basi villosa. Ungues subrecti. Onychii obsoleti. The singular larvae of this group are figured by Bouche. The posterior spiracles are placed each at the extremity of a slender conical shaft, springing from a common stem, and v^^ith it longer than the rest of the body. Sp. 33. riparia, E. obscure senea aHs fuscanis, facie alba aut fla- vicante, arista villosa. Prof. C. Morren on the Morphology of the Ascidia, 411 Var. a. tibiis tarsisque basi testaceis. Var. p. thoraceque ferruginoso. Var. y. pedibus nigris. Fallen, Act. Holm. 1813, p. 255. Hydrom. 5. Melg. Dipt. Eur. vi. 117. Macq. S. a B. ii. 537. — Ephydra salinarum. Bouch^, Na- turg. Ins. i. 99. tab. 6. fig. 13 —14, larva and pupa. Sp. 34. micans, E. obscure viridis pedibus nigris, alis fuscanis, arista nonnisi basi pubescente, facie alba aut flavicante. Ent. Mag. i. 175. This may be a mere variety of the last species ; as such Fallen has considered it. Subg. 11. Canace, Curt. Guide, App. Caput depressum. Facies transversa, perpendicularis, subimpressa, lateribus ciliata ; clypeus exertus ; peristoma magnum. Oculi ellip- tic! transversi. Arista pubescens. Abdomen conicum, 7-annulatum, segmento 2^^ maximo. Areolae praebrachialis et analis parvae completae. Sp. 35. nasica (Curt. App.), E. Can. cinerea fronte thoraceque ferruginosis, facie albida, tarsis basi ferrugineis. l^ lin. England ; communicated by F. Walker. Authors cited or referred to. DeGeer, Memoires. — Fabricius, Entomologia Systematica ; Sy- stema Antliatorum. — Latreille, Histoire Naturelle Gdnerale, &c. ; Genera Crustaceorum et Insectorum; Regne Animal, Ed. 2^^ — Fallen, Diptera Suecise, Hydromyzides ; Methodus Dipterorum ; Act. Holm. 1813, Hydromyzides Sueciae.' — Meigen, Europaischen Zwei- fliigeligen Insekten. — Macquart, Suites k BufFon, Insectes Dipteres. — Robineau Desvoidy, Myodaires. — Entomological Magazine, vol. i. : Catalogue of Diptera, &c. — Bouche, Naturgeschichte der Insekten. — Curtis's Guide, 2nd Edition, Appendix. XLIV. — Further Remarks on the Morphology of the Ascidia of Plants. By M. Ch. Morren, Professor of Botany at Liege, Member of the Royal Academy of Brussels. From the notice on the morphology of the ascidia which I re- cently presented to the Academy* it may be seen that I con- sider the cuculliform pitcher of plants as a variation in form * A translation of which appeared in No. XVIII. of this Journal. 2 G 2 412 Prof. C. Morren on the Morphology of the Asctdia, of the blade of the leaf. The leaf coheres by its margins and above, absolutely as in the formation of carpels, Avhich made me say that the ascidium is a tendency to the floral form. Since this period new facts have confirmed this theory. Du- ring my stay at Newcastle in Northumberland, at the Meet- ing of the British Association, I had an opportunity of study- ing the diiFerent preparations of monstrosities which the Rev. W. Hincks of York, known by his ^ Monograph of the (Eno- thercs^ had brought there. Amongst these specimens were two of the most remarkable accidental ascidia, and which per- mit us to classify these extraordinary deviations. One was on a specimen of Tulipa gesneriana. The leaf which, as is well known, sheaths the peduncle in this plant, had cohered at its free margins along its w hole length, so that the outer surface of the pitcher thus formed was alw^ays the under surface of the leaf. But it resulted also from the complete cohesion of the margins of this organ that no aperture allowed of any communi- cation between the outward air and that inclosed in its cavity. Nevertheless a flower and its peduncle were inclosed in this ca- vity, and the perianth was not less finely coloured through this envelope than are the petals of Papaver rhoeas under the thick tunics of their caducous calyx. As the flower deve- loped, it was necessary that the jjeduncle should grow larger, which it did to a greater degree than the ascidimorphous leaf, which remained small ; but then it was also necessary that the peduncle should twist itself or that the ascidium should burst. The peduncle prevailed, and the ascidium opened j but not, as would have been supposed, by a longitudinal rupture occasion- ed by a dislocation of the cohering margins, but by another very curious way of dehiscence. The ascidium formed an elon- gated bag, tumid in the middle, tapering at its two extremi- ties, above and below : now this bag was split across with ■a horizontal rupture, just as in the ascidium the lid is de- tached from the pitcher, or rather as in mosses the calyptra falls off from the urn. The flower indeed carried this cap with it and could not rid itself of it, so that the perianth remained curled up beneath and within. At sight of this tulip, having at its base a conical foliaceous hollow body, from the centre of which arose a long peduncle, terminating in its turn in Prof. C. Morren on the Morphology of the Ascidia. 413 another cone, which disclosed the organs of fecundation, I could not help comparing it to a large moss armed with its calyptra. In Nepenthes and Sarracenia the ascidia also are at first shut up, and at Edinburgh, upon the beautiful plants of Nepenthes, cultivated with so much skill by Mr. MacNab, I was able to learn how their dehiscence takes place. The part which the circular struma acts, with its numerous small trans- verse ribs, then becomes very easy to understand. Before the operculum is detached its thin margins are folded round this struma, which holds them very strongly fixed, as a bladder is fastened over the opening of a vessel by the inflected margin. When once the operculum is freed it cannot again fasten itself above the struma. This dehiscence of the lid is therefore horizontal or in a small degree oblique, like the direction of the struma itself, and it is nearly the same in all ascidia. On that of the tulip formed by monstrosity, the opening, although in this case it was an actual rupture caused by internal violence, took place notwithstanding in the same manner. This com- parison deserves some attention, especially if further observa- tions tend to confirm it. The other accidental ascidium which I had the pleasure of seeing among the preparations of the Rev. Mr. Hincks, was of a kind altogether singular. It belonged to the Polygonatum multiflorum ; but it had not shown itself, like that which I had myself gathered upon the same species of plant, at the upper part of the plant, but at the lower part of it. It was an en- casing of three ascidia one in the other, through the centre of which passed the stalk, which when once free above them had become covered with its usual leaves and flowers in their nor- mal form. Imagine therefore a foliaceous pitcher ending in two lateral and opposite auricles^ serving as a case to two other pitchers which also have two opposite auricles, and above them a bunch of leaves and flowers, and we shall have a represen- tation of this beautiful monstrosity, of this curious anomaly. Here again the outer surfaces of the ascidia were the under surfaces of the leaves, so that this condition never contradicts itself, and thus it acquires the value of a well-established law. It is always the cai^pellary state which is repeated, the floral 414 Prof. C. Morren on the Morphology of the Ascidia, structure which is shown, and thus the ascidium is always a dependence, a result of the retrograde metamorphosis. It ap- pears to me that these are facts irrevocably added to the study and science of vegetable monstrosities. But what rendered the ascidium of the Polygonatum of Mr. Hincks to me extremely curious, was to see it composed of two leaves instead of one. The two terminal auricles, which were in extent about a quarter of the total length of the asci- dium, are in fact the tops of the two leaves, which by their cohesion had formed these ascidia ; each of these auricles cor- responded with a principal nerve. The leaves of the Polygo- natum, instead of originating at different heights, are here al- most perfectly opposite ; they have then cohered two by two at their margins, which were primitively and normally free, so as to make a common cavity of their upper surfaces. This same fact is repeated in three successive pairs. This binary origin of the ascidium is, I believe, unique in the known cases of monstrosity, and in spite of its apparent deviation it comes within the general law in the most com- plete manner : the lower surface of the leaf remains the out- side ; it is the blade which has formed the pitcher ; and the latter is only owing to a cohesion of the margins. These three circumstances, which are in perfect accordance with what I have before established, are worthy of remark. Hence it is evident that the following classification may be established amongst the anomalous ascidia hitherto observed : The ascidia are either formed of one leaf only or of several ; The monophyllous are the first ; The polyphyllous the second. A. The monophyllous ascidia, are, 1. either sarraceniform when they are formed by a leaf cohering at its margins to form a pitcher, so that the blade exceeds the aperture of the urn at its summit as the opercular blade does in Sarracenia, The ascidia of Vinca rosea and Polygonatum mentioned in my former paper belong to this class of ascidia. 2. Or calyptrimorphous, when they are formed by a leaf cohering at its margins, but the upper part of which is de- tached horizontally, as in the Tulipa gesneriana of Mr. Hincks. This form, instead of reminding us of the Sarracenia, ap- Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. 415 preaches nearer to Nepenthes, where the dehiscence of the operculum and of the pitcher is also horizontal or very nearly so. Only here the operculum continues, whilst elsewhere it is removed. B. The polyphyllous ascidia are formed of several leaves. Up to the present time diphyllous alone have been observed, but the study of the conditions in which they arise evidently proves that there is great probability of our finding triphyllous, tetraphyllous, pentaphyllous, and in short polyphyllous, espe- cially in plants where the leaves are verticillate. It is thus that a just appreciation of things anticipates ulte- rior discoveries, audit is the best proof that a science of obser- vation is quite as exact as a science of calculation. XLV. — Descriptions of British Chalcidites. By Francis Walker, F.L.S. [Continued from p. 1 82.] Sp. 59. Cirrospilus Rapo. Viridk aut cyaneus, abdomen cupreum, an- tennce niyrcs aut picece, pedes picei, tarsi pallidiores, femora cyanea, alee Mas. Viridi-cyaneus : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennse nigrsB ; articuli 1"« et 2«s nigro-cyanei : abdomen nigro-cupreum : pedes picei ; coxae virides ; ge- nua fulva ; tarsi flavi, apice fusci ; propedum tibiae fuscae, tarsi fulvi ; alaB limpidae ; squamulae piceae ; proalis nervi fusci, metalis fulvi. Fern. Cyaneus: antennae nigro -piceae ; articuli 1"* et 2"* cyanei : pedes coxis et femoribus nigro-cyaneis. (Corp. long. lin. f ; alar. lin. 1.) Far. /8. Fern. — Meso- et metatarsi fusci, basi fulvi. Var.y.Fem. — Abdomen cyaneo-varium : pedes nigro-cyanei; trochan- teres picei ; genua flava ; tibiae piceae ; tarsi fusci ; protibiae fuscae, basi su- pra fulvse. Var, 8. Fem. — Obscure viridis : antennae nigro-picese ; articuli I"* et 2"« virides : abdomen cyaneo-cupreum ; trochanteres fulvi, tarsi fulvi, apice fusci ; protarsi obscuriores. Found near London. Fem. Corpus sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum ; ca- put transversum, breve, convexum, juxta tlioraci latum : antennae clavatae, corporis dimidio breviores ; articulus 1"* gracilis, sublinearis ; 2"^ longicya- thiformis ; 4"* 3° brevior ; 5"^ adhuc brevior ; clava fusiformis, acuminata, articulo 5° duplo longior : thorax brevi-ovatus, convexus: prothorax brevis- simus, supra vix conspicuus : mesothoracis scutum latitudine longius ; par- apsidum suturae bene determinatse ; scutellum brevi-conicum : metatliorax transversus, mediocris : petiolus brevissimus : abdomen longiovatum, tlio- 416 Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. rdce multo loiigius vix latius, supra planum, subtus carinatum, apice acumi- natum : pedes graciles : proalae latss ; nervus ulnaris humerali longior, ra- dialis vix ullus, cubitalis sat longus. Sp. 60. Cirr. Aristaeus, Fern. Cyaneo-viridis, abdomen cupreum, antenna jncece, pedes fusco-picei, femora viridia, alee limpidce. Cyaneo-viridis : oculi et ocelli rufl : antennae piccas ; articuli 1"* et 2"* vi- rides : abdomen cupreum, apice viridi-varium : pedes virides ; trocbanteres fulvi ; genua fulva ; tibia; piceae ; tarsi pallide fusci ; protibiae fulvae : alae limpidae ; squamulae piceae ; nervi fusci. (Corp. long. lin. ?^\ alar. lin. 1.) Var. /3. — 'J'ibise fuscae ; protibise pallide fulvae. May ; Hampshire. Fern. Corpus sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : ca- put transversum, breve, convexum, juxta tlioraci latum : antennae subcla- vatae, corporis dimidio non longiores; articulus 1"* gracilis, sublinearis ; 2"' longicyathifo