- £ 100 A 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. HOOKER'S • BOTANICAL COMPANION.') f CONDUCTED BY Sir W. JARDINE, Bart.— P. J. SELBY, Esq., Dr. JOHNSTON, Sir W. J. HOOKER, Regius Professor of Botany, RICHARD TAYLOR, F.L.S. 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. 1838. " Omnes res creatae sunt divinse sapientise et potentiae testes, divitiae felicitatis humanae: exharum usu bonitas Creatoris ; ex pulchritudine sapientia Domini; ex ceconomia in conservatione, proportione, renovatione, potentia majestatis elucet. Earum itaque indagatio ab hominibus sibi relictis semper aestimata; avere eruditis et sapientibus semper exculta ; male doctis et barbaris semper inimica fuit." — Linn. 60, A PROSPECTUS In undertaking the Annals of Natural History, the Editors are desirous of making them not merely a vehicle for original communications pertaining to the entire subject of Natural History, but a means of enabling their readers to keep pace with the progress of the science in every stage of its ad- vancement. Memoirs on Descriptive Zoology ; Monographs ; charac- ters of new Genera and Species ; notices of the habits, in- stinctive faculties, and geographical range of animals already known ; — as also Zootomical communications, in so far as they serve to correct or confirm the systematical station of species or entire groups, will occupy a due share of this Journal. With regard to the Vegetable Kingdom, besides the space which will be devoted to Monographs and to Descriptive Bo- tany, attention will also be given to Vegetable Physiology and Phytotomy. To all Naturalists, even to those who do not make Botany their peculiar study, these subjects must be in- teresting, and indeed indispensable for the acquirement of a general proficiency in Natural History. A portion of our pages, therefore, will be especially devoted to them, as well as to all that pertain* to the accurate characters of Families, their geographical' range, their uses in the arts, and in medi- cine. The investigation of Fossil Organic Remains stands in such intimate connection with Zoology and Botany, that the claim IV of this subject to a place in this Journal can hardly be ques- tioned. Due attention will therefore be given to those de- partments of descriptive Geology that come within the pro- vince of Natural History. Biographical sketches of illustrious Naturalists, and those who have travelled for the sake of advancing science, will be occasionally introduced ; and the Editors also hope to be en- abled to furnish the reader with matter of popular and gene- ral interest supplied by the correspondence of Naturalists who are engaged in voyages of discovery. Reviews of new works, and Notices of the most important British and Foreign Publications connected with any of these subjects, will be regularly brought before our readers. From the Foreign sources of Intelligence, which in Natural History are abundant and valuable, such a selection will be made as may give early and copious information of the labours and discoveries of the Naturalists of other countries. The kind assurances of co-operation which the Editors have received from eminent Naturalists, both in this country and abroad, warrant them in already entertaining a confident hope that this Periodical will prove in no degree inferior in inter- est and utility to those of the highest reputation on the Continent ; and they rely on the favourable disposition of those to whom such a work may seem desirable for the sup- port and encouragement requisite for its success. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. NUMBER I. I. On a new Oscillatoria, the colouring substance of Glaslough Lake Ireland. By James L. Drummond, M.D., Professor of Anatomy in the Royal Belfast Institution page 1 II. Some Remarks on the Germination of Limnanthemum lacunosum. By Dr. Griesbach. (With a Plate.) 6 III. Contributions to the Natural History of Ireland. By William Thompson, Esq., Vice-President of the Belfast Natural History Society 12 . IV. On some new Species of Quadrupeds and Shells. By John Ed- ward Gray, F.R.S . 27 V. Prodromus of a Monograph of the Radiata and Echinodermata. By Louis Agassiz, M.D. 30 » VI. Miscellanea Zoologica. By George Johnston, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. (With Plates.) 44 VII. Information respecting Botanical Travellers 56 New Books: — Poissons d'Eau douce d'Europe, par Louis Agassiz, M.D. ; Das System der Pilze, von Dr. F. Nees von Esenbeck und A. Henry ; Plantes Cryptogames de France, par M. I. Desma- zieres; Magasin de Zoologie, par F. E. Guerin-Meneville ... 69, 70 Proceedings of the Linnaean Society ; Zoological Society ; Royal So- ciety of Edinburgh ; Entomological Society ; Botanical Society. 71 — 78 On a new Trilobite (Calymene Roivii) ; Fossil Argonauta ; Generation of Pteroptus vespertilionis 79, 80 NUMBER II. VIII. On the Fructification of the Pileate and Clavate Tribes of Hymenomycetous Fungi. By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S. (With Plates.) 81 IX. Notices accompanying a Collection of Quadrupeds and Fish from Van Diemen's Land. By Ronald Gunn, Esq. With Notes and Descriptions of the New Species. By J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., &c... 101 X. On the existence of Spiral Vessels in the Roots of Dicotyledonous Plants. By the Rev. J. B. Reade, M.A., F.R.S Ill ► XI. Miscellanea Zoologica. By George Johnston, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. (With Plates.) 114 XII. On the Genus Torreya. By G. A. W. Arnott, Esq., LL.D. 126 XIII. On the Genus Procyon, with a Description of two new Spe- cies. By Prof. F. A. Wiegmann. (Extract.) 132 XIV. On two new Genera of Californian Plants. By Thomas Nut- tall, Esq 136 XV. Information respecting Botanical Travellers 139 New Books : — Molluscous Animals, including Shell-fish, by J. Fleming, D.D. ; Animals in Menageries, by W. Swainson, Esq., F.R.S. ; The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, conducted by Prof. Jameson r 147—149 Proceedings of the Linnaean Society ; Geological Society ; Botanical Society of London 152 — 155 Notes on Irish Birds ; Fossil Salamander and Coprolite ; Habits of the Blue Titmouse (Parus cceruleus) ; Zoological Garden in Edin- burgh ; Tweedside Physical and Antiquarian Society ; Meteorolo- gical Observations for 1837 156—160 VI CONTEXTS. NUMBER III. XVI. Observations on the Coregoni of Loch- Lomond. By Richard Parnell, M.D , F.R.S. (With a Plate.) page 161 XVII. An account of a Journey to, and a Residence of nearly Six Months in, the Organ Mountains, with Remarks on their Vegetation. By George Gardner, Esq 165 XVIII. Contributions to the Natural History of Ireland. By W. Thompson, Esq., Vice-President to the Belfast Natural History Society 181 XIX. On a new English Species of Urtica. By Charles C. Ba- bington, M.A., F.L.S., &c 195 XX. Notices of British Fungi. By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S. (With two Plates.) 198 XXI. On a new Species of Epilobium. By W. H. White 208 XXII. Florae Insularum Novae Zelandiae Precursor; or a Specimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By Allan Cunning- ham, Esq 210 XXIII. Observations upon some recent Communications of J. E. Gray, Esq., to the Annals of Natural History, with Descriptions of two new Kangaroos from Van Diemen's Land. By W. Ogilby, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c 216 XXIV. Information respecting Botanical Travellers 221 New Books : — A History of British Reptiles, by Thomas Bell, Prof. Zool. in King's College, London ; The Birds of Australia and the adjacent Islands, by John Gould, F.L.S 222, 223 Proceedings of the Zoological Society ; Botanical Society of Edinburgh ; Linnaean Society; Royal Academy of Berlin . 225 — 236 New British Zoophyte ; Speaking Canary-bird ; Laras minutus ; Syn- gnathus cequoreus\ Petromyzon Planeri; Meteorological Table 238 — 240 NUMBER IV. XXV. On the Snowy Owl (Surnia nyctea). By William Thomp- son, Esq 241 XXVI. The Natural History of the British Entomostraca. By William Baird, Esq. (With a Plate.) 245 XXVII. Notices of British Fungi. By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley. (With a Plate.)..' 257 XXVIII. Remarks on the Ant Tree of Guiana (Triplaris Ameri- cana). By Robert Schomburgk, Esq 264 XXIX. On the Root of the Madder. By M. Decaisne 267 XXX. A Catalogue of the Slender-tongued Saurians, with Descrip- tions of many new Genera and Species. By J. E. Gray, Esq 274 XXXI. Characters of nine new Species of Glumacece. By Dr. C. G. Nees v. Esenbeck ; communicated by Dr. Lindley 283 XXXII. An Attempt to ascertain the Fauna of Shropshire and North Wales. By T. C. Eyton, Esq 285 XXXIII. Remarks respecting Phalangista Cooltii. By J. E. Gray, Esq 293 XXXIV. Prodromus of a Monograph of the Radiata and Echino- dermata. By Louis Agassiz, M.D 297 XXXV. Descriptions of British Chalcidites. By F. Walker, Esq. ... 307 XXXVI. Description of a new Species of Tetrapturus from the Cape of Good Hope. By J. E. Gray, Esq. (With a Plate.) 313 New Books : — The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, super- intended by Charles Darwin, Esq., F.G.S. Part I. No. 1. Fossil Mammalia, by Richard Owen, Esq., F.R.S. ; A Geographical and Comparative List of the Birds of Europe and North Ame- CONTENTS. Vll rica, by Charles Lucian Bonaparte, Prince of Musignano ; Mala- cologia Monensis, a Catalogue of the Mollusca inhabiting the Isle of Man, by E. Forbes, Esq. ; Wiegmann's Archiv der Natur- geschichte page 314 — 321 Proceedings of the Zoological Society ; Linnaean Society ; Royal So- ciety of Edinburgh ; Royal Academy of Berlin 322 — 332 Fungi of India; Trachypterus Fogmanus; Otis tarda; Zoology of Java — Two species of Echidna; Meteorological Table 334 — 336 NUMBER V. XXXVII. — Florula Keelingensis. An Account of the Native Plants of the Keeling Islands. By the Rev. Prof. J. S. Henslow 337 XXXVIII. On Fishes new to Ireland. By W. Thompson, Esq. ... 348 XXXIX. On the Rhizophorece. By G. A. Walker Arnott, Esq. 359 XL. On Habenaria bifolia and chlorantha. By Charles C. Ba- bington, Esq 374 XLI. Florae Insularum Novae Zelandiae Precursor; or a Specimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By Allan Cunning- ham, Esq 376 XLII. Descriptions of British Chalcidites. By F. Walker, Esq.... 381 XLIII. A Catalogue of the Slender-tongued Saurians, with Descrip- tions of many new Genera and Species. By J. E. Gray, Esq. 388 XLIV. Illustrations of Indian Botany. By Drs. Wight and Ar- nott 395 New Books : — Ichthyologiske Bidrag til den Gronlandske Fauna, by Prof. J. Rheinhardt, Part I. ; Ordnance Survey of Ireland, by Colonel Colby, R.E. Superintendent, vol. i. ; The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, conducted by Prof. Jameson; A History of the British Zoophytes, by George Johnston, M.D 395 — 400 Proceedings of the Zoological Society; Botanical Society of Edinburgh ; Royal Asiatic Society ; Linnsean Society 401 — 409 Description of the new Genus Holopus, by M. D. Orbigny ; the Gi- gantic Japanese Salamander ; Zootoca vivipara ; Description of a new Species of Voluta ; Gigantic Echinus Spine ; Curtis's British Entomology ; Obituary ; Meteorological Observations ; Meteor- ological Table 412—416 NUMBER VI. XLV. — Further remarks on the British Shrews, including the distin- guishing Characters of two Species previously confounded. By the Rev. Leonard Jenyns, M.A., F.L.S., &c 417 XLVI. On the " Jatun condenado" {Lycopodium catharticum) , an efficacious remedy for the Leprosy among the Indians of Columbia. By Sir Wm. J. Hooker. (With a Plate.) 428 XLVII. Miscellanea Zoologica. By George Johnston, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. (With a Plate.) 431 XLVIII. On the Erythraa diffusa, Woods (Gentiana scilloides, Linn.JiL). By Sir W. J. Hooker. (With some remarks on the Genus. By Dr. Griesbach.) (With a Plate.) 437 XLIX. Prodromus of a Monograph of the Radiata and Echinoder- mata. By Louis Agassiz, M.D 440 L. Descriptions of British Chalcidites. By Francis Walker, F.L.S. 449 LI. Florae Insularum Novae Zelandiae Precursor; or a Specimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By Allan Cunningham, Esq 455 LII. Information respecting Botanical Travellers 463 Vlll CONTENTS. New Books : — A Monograph on the Anatidce or Duck Tribe, by T. C. Eyton, Esq., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; The Bee-Keeper's Manual, by Henry Taylor ; Monograph of the Genus (Enothera ; British Flora ; Linnaea, ein Journal fur die Botanik, &c .page 473 — 477 Proceedings of the Royal Society ; Linnsean Society ; Botanical Society of London 477—481 Trigonia of Van Diemen's Land ; the Sexes of Limpets ; Meteorolo- gical Observations ; Meteorological Table 481 — 484 PLATES. Plate I. Germination of Limnanthemum lacunosum. II. III. Scottish Mollusca. IV. V. Fructification of Hymenomycetous Fungi. VI. Coregoni of Loch Lomond. VII. VIII. British Fungi. IX. British Entomostraca. X. Tetrapturus Herschelii. XI. Stenotaphrum lepturoide. XII. Urera Gaudichaudiana. XIII. Solanum giganteum. XIV. Lycopodium catharticum. XV. Entozoa. XVI. Erythrsea diffusa. ERRATA. Page 56, line 20, for Luyon, read Luzon. — 62, 6 lines from bottom, for Mutisa, read Mutisia. — 63, first line, for Cartilleja, read Castilleja. — 63, line 11, for Schomburgh, read Schomburgk. — 66, line 3 of note, for Paraua read Parana. — 74, line 18, for Coregonus Marcenula, Jard., read C. Willoughbigii, Jard. — 75, line 7, for Dr. Pownell, read Dr. Parnell. — 82, line 9 and 10, omit though it is quite clear that his observations, as far as they go, are substantially the same as my own. — 96, line 12, for fruit-bearing hairs, read branchlets. — 152, line 13, for Cadnabranchia, read Caducibranchia. — 182, line 9 from bottom, for king, read ring. — 184, line 19 from top, for hunting, read haunting. — 186, line 2 of note, instead of for, read from. — 186, line 10 of note, and at p. 188 and 192, for Rutly read Rutty. — 191, line 14, after Esq. read of Dublin. — 195, line 15, for hairs, read haws. — 238, line 24, for thorny, read horny. — 41 1, line 9, for spine, read spire. ANNALS OP NATURAL HISTORY. I. — On a new Oscillatoria, the colouring substance of Glas- lough Lake, Ireland. By James L. Drummond, M.D., Professor of Anatomy in the Royal Belfast Institution, &c. XxAVING in the month of June last paid a visit to a friend resident at Glaslough, in the county of Monaghan, I embraced the opportunity of inquiring into the origin of the name of that place. It is a small town built on the borders of a lake, which occupies an area of about one hundred acres in extent, and from it the town has its name. Glas-lough signifies in the Irish language " the green lake," an appellation given to it from time immemorial, on account of the hue of its waters, which exhibit a green tinge equal to, or exceeding in intensity, that of the sea, though it is not at all times equally striking. The opposite banks of the lake, which are high but not rocky, are thickly clothed with a wood of noble trees, and on my first seeing this beautiful sheet of water I was inclined to suspect that its green colour might arise simply from the re- flexion of the rich foliage on its surface. On further inquiry, however, I ascertained that the colour resided in the water it- self, and was owing to what I believe is an undescribed Os- cillatoria. When a little of the water is lifted in the hand it seems per- fectly transparent, and it appears equally clear at the edges of the lake, in a depth of not more than a few inches, and there the pebbles at the bottom show perfectly distinct, without any intermediate cloud to obscure them. But at a depth of two feet the bottom is undistinguishable, and the water presents a sort of feculent opacity, accompanied with a dull, dirty, green- Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 1. March 1838. b 2 Mr. J. L. Drummond on a new Oscillatoria. ish hue. On lifting some of this in a glass, it seems at first sight quite transparent, but on holding it up to the light, in- numerable minute flocculi are seen floating through every part of it, and producing a mottled cloudiness throughout the whole. On examining these under the microscope their nature was at once obvious ; they consisted of excessively fine simple fi- brillar belonging to some species of Oscillatoria. On inquiry among my friends at Glaslough, I found that several theories were entertained respecting the green tinge of the lake, very wide of its true cause : according to one surmise it was owing to some mineral impregnation, probably of a copper mine at the bottom of the water ; and another, equally unfounded, at- tributed it to the drainings of a tan-yard running from the town. At first I could only find the plant diffused through the water, as above mentioned; but at length I discovered a wet ditch extending from the lake into an adjoining field, and there it appeared swimming on the surface in large masses several inches in thickness, and above a foot and a half in length. These seemed evidently to be produced by an agglomeration of the filaments floated in from the lake, matted together at the surface and increased in growth. The masses thus formed had a considerable degree of toughness, and were so slippery that they could not be lifted out on the point of a stick. The surface of these masses where dried by the contact of the air was of a bright blueish verdigris hue, while the parts immersed in the water were of a dull opake green. That these masses were formed by an aggregation of fila- ments which had previously floated through the lake, but now being freed from the agitation of the waves were allowed to congregate in the motionless water, I would infer from the tendency they show, when undisturbed, to ascend to the sur- face. This tendency I ascertained, not from any experiment of my own, but from the fact, familiar to every inhabitant of Glaslough, that when the water of the lake (which is much used for washing and other domestic purposes) has stood at rest in a vessel for a night or two, a green scum spreads over its surface, which it is usual to remove before use, either by Mr. J. L. Drummond on a new Oscillatona. 3 skimming as cream is skimmed off milk, or by straining the water through a fine cloth. Masses similar to those I found in the ditch are often seen floating at the sides of the lake, or cast ashore in large quan- tities ; but I could not ascertain with precision from the ac- counts I received, whether this took place especially at some seasons, or whether at all times after a continuance of calm weather. I am disposed to conjecture that the latter is the case; but on this head I could determine little from my own observation, as during the greater part of my visit the weather was wet and blustery, and calms of very short duration. The lake too was said to exhibit much less of the green tinge than is often observable. That the agglutinated masses alluded to are much more copious in the lake at some times than at others, is illustrated by a remark used by the inhabitants of its neighbourhood on their appearance, viz. that " the lake is purging itself." In the hope of detecting the stratum, if indeed there be any such, from which the floating filaments in the lake might have their origin, I attempted in a boat, in company with my friend the Rev. Mr. Smith of Glaslough, to bring up some debris from the bottom. Our instrument for dredging was indeed very imperfect, being only a fagot of branches with a weight attached. We tried various depths from forty-five feet (which seems to be the deepest part) to three or four, but the experiment was altogether fruitless, our instrument coming up as clean in general as it went down, and without any trace of the object of our search. Some years ago the late Colonel Leslie put a number of swans upon the lake, one only of which now remains, and it was observed that while they continued on it the peculiar pro- perties of the place were lost. This however can only, I pre- sume, refer to the disappearance of the glutinous masses, which the birds had devoured as fast as they were formed. Another observation which I have to make is, that although the County Monaghan abounds in lakes, the phaenomena now mentioned are peculiar to this alone, at least such was the confident assertion of every one with whom I conversed on the subject; and there is a beautiful little sheet of water called Kel- b 2 4 Mr. J. L. Drummond on a new Oscillatoria. vey Lake, the only one which I had an opportunity of exa- mining, situated about a quarter of a mile from Glaslough, in which I could trace no similar appearance. The history now given of the Glaslough Oscillatoria bears a striking resemblance in some points to that of the O. rube- scens of the Lake Morat in Switzerland, as described by De- candolle in the third volume of the Me'moires de la Socie'te de Physique etd'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve, from which I select the following particulars. It is stated in that account that the lake Morat during every spring presents the appear- ance of a reddish scum upon its surface, which the fishermen express by saying that the lake is in flower. But in the spring of 1825 this phenomenon was so very remarkable as to strike with astonishment the inhabitants of its banks, and an article published by Dr. Engelhardt respecting it excited the atten- tion of the Swiss naturalists, especially those of Geneva, In the year stated, the red appearance continued from the month of November till May, and its unusual exuberance was sup- posed to originate from the great mildness of the winter, and the consequent smaller elevation of the water of the lake being favourable to the development of the matter, which was evi- dently organic, and caused the redness. During the early hours of the day the lake presented no- thing remarkable, but soon after there appeared long, red, very regular and parallel lines along its borders and at some di- stance from the shore ; the breezes urged this matter into the little creeks, and heaped it up around the reeds. There it co- vered the surface of the lake like a fine reddish scum, forming patches of colours varying from greenish black to a beautiful red ; it was also seen of a yellow, a red, and grey of every shade ; some of them were marbled, and others presented fi- gures much resembling those produced by positive electricity on the electrophorus. During the day this mass exhaled an infectious odour, but during the night all disappeared, to be re- newed on the following day. When the lake was agitated by strong winds, the phenome- non disappeared, but again presented itself on the re-establish- ment of a calm. Many species of fish, as perch and pike, probably from ha- Mr. J. L. Drummond on a new Oscillatoria. 5 ving eaten of this matter, had their bones and flesh tinged red as if they had been fed on madder, but without any inconve- nience, as was remarked by Dr. Engelhardt. The same ob- server and M. Frechsel relate that other small fishes which came to the surface for air, or in pursuit of flies, perished after some convulsions when they traversed this matter, either, ac- cording to some, from having eaten of it, or according to others from the mephitic gas at the surface*. In the Oscillatoria of Glaslough, the thick conglomerated masses had a heavy but nothing of a mephitic odour like that of O, rubescens, and the plant, so far as I could learn, seemed to have no evil influence on any species of animal, the lough abounding in pike, ells, roach, and perch. I also observed sticklebacks in the shallow parts, and I believe there are also some trout. I found Helix stagnalis and some other lacustrine shells in abundance, and coots and water-hens were numerous. From the accounts I received, the green colour is evident in the lough throughout the year, and if I may judge from my own observation, every drop of it is impregnated with the os- cillatory filaments. On examining specimens in the micro- scope, I sometimes observed their motions to be very vivid, and in other instances little or no motion could be perceived. They are extremely minute ; their transverse striae very nume- rous, and at distances of about half a diameter from each other. The filaments in the conglomerated masses appeared to me to be many inches long, and running parallel together ; the broken fragments dispersed through the lake cross each other in all directions. Presuming that this is an undescribed spe- cies, I would suggest the specific name cerugescens, from its as- suming the blueish verdigris colour on drying, as being the most characteristic appellation. I have only to remark further, that I could perceive nothing peculiar about the lake at Glaslough to which might be at- tached a conjecture as to the growth of one aquatic more than another ; the shore being in some places composed of shelving clay banks, in others flat and muddy, and in others of small cal- careous stones and gravel : one considerable portion is of peat- bog. Among the plants fringing its edge I observed Arundo * Lib. cit. part. sec. p. 29 et seq. 6 Dr. Grisebach on the Germination Phragmites, Hippuris vulgaris, Menyanthes trifoliata, Alisma Plantago, Equisetum limosum and palustre, Scirpus lacustris, Chara hispida, Nymphcea alba, and several others. The following are all the characteristic marks of this species that I can recollect. O. cerugescens, Filaments extremely slender, opake green, con- glomerated in large toughish glutinous masses in sheltered calm situations, and nearly floating on the surface; in more open exposures broken into innumerable fragments, and sus- pended like cloudy flocculi in the water. Striae numerous, at distances of about half a diameter apart from each other. Os- cillatory motion often lively. Colour when dried a beautiful aeruginous blue; adheres strongly to paper, exhibiting a glossy surface ; filaments expanding by moisture so as to seem recent, and sometimes resuming the oscillatory mo- tion. Hab, Lake at Glaslough, County Monaghan, Ireland. Belfast, August 14, 1837. II. — Some Remarks on the Germination of Limnanthemum la- cunosum. By Dr. Grisebach. [With a Plate.] When I was preparing a year and a half ago a monograph on the Gentianece, I ventured to hope that my endeavours would be furthered by the assistance of such botanists as have larger materials at their disposal, this being the spirit of a science whose followers seem to participate in that bountiful and tran- quilly working principle which reigns over the Vegetable Creation. Far from finding myself disappointed in these views, I have received everywhere the most liberal, generous, and disinterested support ; and am only anxious lest my labours should not correspond with the unparalleled confidence which some of the most eminent naturalists were kind enough to show me. Among the very rich collections of Gentianece be- longing to Sir Wm. J. Hooker, all of which he entirely en- trusted to me by sending them hither, there were germina- ting specimens of Limnanthemum lacunosum, ( Villarsia, Vent.) Inn.AYft.Mst. Vol. I . PI. 1. ^V/7////^'// W .J'/;/ ///'//fys' //////// Ywaa Sc of Limnanthemum lacunosum. 7 collected at Boston, North America, by Mr. Greene, which, as they seem to afford a new example of very unequal cotyle- dons, are the more entitled to particular investigation, since the fuller development and the petiolar inflorescence of that genus has long excited the curiosity of botanists. I was able to ex- amine two germinating specimens hanging still to their seeds ; but unfortunately neither was quite entire, though one, how- ever, perhaps explains the other. One plant (Plate I. fig. 1.) is in a very young state ; it consists of the seed, which is laterally opened and encloses a small dark body, viz. one of the coty- ledons, connected with the radicle by a very short petiole ; the radicle is an inch long, very slender, and descends parallel to the seed : opposite to this enclosed cotyledon, rises, in an oblique direction, a very fine white filament, almost as long as the radicle, but mutilated or torn off at its tip. In the other specimen (fig. 2.), the radicle of which is very short and evi- dently in an injured state, this filament is almost two inches long, white, cylindrical, and scarcely half a line in diameter, and ends here in an oblong body, out of which three cylindri- cal long roots descend, while a petiole with its leaf and the ru- diments of a second ascend from it. Though it cannot be quite determined whether that oblong body has a foliaceous nature, nevertheless it seems certain that it embraces the base of the petiole, as well as that the roots arise from the same point : therefore I cannot but consider that body as the other coty- ledon, at the top of whose petiole, the germs of the new plant originate. For, first, the filament, which I think to be the petiole of the cotyledon, stands opposite to the cotyledon, inclosed in the seed, and has that situation towards the radicle, which cotyledons always have in exogenous plants. Secondly, Trapa affords a similar instance of unequal coty- ledons. Thirdly, the more advanced vegetation of Limnan- themum shows the strongest analogy with such a formation of petiolar development as that alluded to; namely, the seed and its filament being obliterated, more and more roots and leaves grow from the same point (fig. 3.), till one petiole attains a much greater length than the others (fig. 4.) ; this petiole, commonly half a foot high, while the rest are scarcely more than an inch, develops soon, not far from the origin of 8 Dr. Grisebach on the Germination the leaf, a new set of germs, some of which descend and form small and somewhat thick roots, of a very simple cellular tissue, while others put forth peduncles and flowers. Such a process is often repeated, for when the plant is in its full vigour and its base has become a thick rhizoma*, as many as twenty long petioles are not unfrequently to be met with, the leaves of which float as well as the flowers, the latter rising from the upper part of each petiole, all at the same point and opposite to petiolar roots. In some other species of this genus, viz. L. cristatum, between the floral buds not unfrequently one large branch shoots forth which does not end in a flower, but grows laterally to a great length and produces another leaf, which again bears floral buds and roots in the same way near the top of the petiole. It may easily be conceived that the develop- ment of buds on those points is highly analogous to the origin of the young plant from the petiolar top of the long-stalked cotyledon. Besides, it seems clear enough that the formation of germs from the petiole is owing to an union of a cauline organ with the petiole, as well as of the plumule with the coty- ledon in the latter case. If we compare this germination, if correctly understood, with that of Trapa, we see here also one cotyledon inclosed by the nut and the young plant at a great distance from it ; but here is this remarkable difference, that the inclosed cotyledon is the long-stalked one, while the other is most obliterated, and that the plant grows in the common way from the axis of both co- tyledons, the radicle being the real origin of the root. In Lim- nanthemum the radicle dies soon after the development of coty- ledons, and the true roots rise at another point, viz. from the petiole of the long-stalked cotyledon. This is indeed highly singular, and I know of nothing analogous to this fact ; but I am also as little aware of any analogy to the further vegetation of that genus. Another resemblance to Trapa lies in the for- mation of roots from the higher parts of the stem ; or in Lam- nanthemum from the petioles which perform the function of a * This rhizoma must be considered as the real caulis, and I cannot agree with M. A. de St. Hilaire {Voyage au Bresil, vol. ii. p. 413.) who takes for the stem that part of each petiole which is inferior to the inflo- rescence. This view is refuted by the younger plant. of Limnanthemum lacunosum. 9 stem. May not this analogy help to prove how erroneously some authors have considered those of Trapa to be stipules ? If we investigate more particularly the structure of Limnan- themum, a genus which adorns the waters of far the greater part of both hemispheres, we shall not without some interest inquire into the peculiarities of its organs. For my present purpose it seems sufficient to touch chiefly upon the structure of the seed in this genus, which certainly does not well corre- spond with the theory of its germination just proposed, or at least there are no characters in the seed by which the follow- ing phenomena may be foreseen. I am highly indebted to my friend Dr. Schleiden* for an examination of these parts ; as he has been for years, and with the fullest success, occupied in investigating the development of ovula; and the acknowledged precision and admirable acuteness of his microscopical re- searches afford the following observations a greater weight than my own inquiries, if unassisted, could do. The question whether the Menyanthidece really belong to the Gentianeae maybe solved more easily if we compare the essential parts of their flowers before we are biassed by a view of their vegetative organs. The Gentianece have an ovarium com- posed of two carpels, which bear an indefinite number of ovules at their sutures. The genera with a placenta centralis make no exception to this rule, the latter being combined of four placentae, whose vessels rise from the introflexed margins of the carpella in an earlier state. The seeds have only a single testa, are antitropous, and contain a small cylindrical embryo which lies in the middle of a fleshy albumen ; the latter being formed in the interior of the sacculus embryonis, while the nu- cleus is obliterated. The cotyledons in that state are oblong and somewhat thickish (fig. 14 — 16), and between them may be observed a thin layer of albumen, so that Mr. Brown called the cotyledons of Menyanthes and Gentiana lutea " semi-dis- cretae." This structure of the seed is quite identical in the Me- nyanthidece and in the other Gentianece ; there is not the least trace of disproportion in the cotyledons of Limnanthemum while still in their seed, though the radicle be very slightly * Dr. Schleiden's interesting paper on the development of the organiza- tion in Phsenogamous plants will be found in Phil. Mag. for February 1838. 10 Dr. Grisebach on the Germination bent, which I did not see in any other plant of the family. But another difference is afforded by the testa of the ripened seed, which is covered by a thick and somewhat woolly epidermis in all Menyanthidece, while the testa of the Gentianece is quite simple : the epidermis of the former is often muricated, a cha- racter which seems to be very constant, and may be employed for specific distinctions. If we consider that the Menyanthidece are aquatic, many of them even floating plants, we may ascribe the presence of the epidermis of their seed to their habitat ; for a similar one has not been observed in the Gentianece, nor can we consider this lobe a distinctive character, as it may disap- pear, when either one of the Gentianece is detected growing in water, or one of the Menyanthidece on dry ground. Finally, the placentae rise, in Menyanthes trifoliata, from the middle of the valves, which seems to result from an union of them with the interior surface of the endocarpium, and which occurs also in many Gentianece ; the seeds are commonly much larger, but in Frasera they are equally large : in the latter genus their number is subdefinite, and in Villarsia ovata it is reduced, lastly, to a single seed on each side. Finally the induplicative aestivation of the corolla affords a good character for the Meny- anthidece as a peculiar group of the family, being dextrorsum contorta in all Gentianece ; but the transition of these charac- ters takes place in those Gentianece which have a plica between the lobes of the corolla, these plicae having also an induplicate aestivation ; and, as in G. Andrewsii, the lobes disappear wholly by abortion : the corolla by the plicae remaining affords the same aestivation as in the Menyanthidece. So far with regard to the differences of these groups in their reproductive organs, for I know of no more than these, and I find besides strong ana- logies, as for instance, in the direction of the unequal sepalum being remote from the axis (fig. 7-) . As to what concerns the dis- parities of vegetation, these depend mostly on their aquatic or terrestrial station, viz., the development of a rhizoma, and ac- cordingly of alternate leaves (which are repeated in Swertia), the development of long petioles, so that the leaf may arrive at the surface of the water, and the verticillae of leaves in Meny- anthes trifoliata being remote from its stem for the same purpose, &c. I think an accurate examination of all these of Limnanthemum lacunosum. 11 points may be decisive for bringing the Menyanthidea and its congeners into a distinct tribe, but for retaining them in the same family. The regularity of the embryo of Limnanthemum lacunosum may be esteemed a strong argument against the correctness of my theory of its germination ; and though it is not decisive I was much disposed to believe my views erroneous, and to con- sider the body inclosed by the seed, either as consisting of both cotyledons (in which case the germination would be ana- logous, e. g. to that of Tropceolium), or as having lost already one cotyledon by mutilation ; but as both cases would have been made out by examination, and the analysis, so far as it depends on the materials, was against them, I could not but recur to my former opinion. Therefore I leave the matter, as it stands now, to those who may examine living specimens ; and until their decision the point may be deemed doubtful. 1 have still to add a few words on the reasons by which I was induced to propose a new nomenclature for these plants. After the discovery of Villarsia Cristagalli and some Indian Limnanthema, it seemed impossible to retain the old genera Menyanthes and Villarsia, as distinguished by the appendices of their corolla. I followed an observation of Mr. Brown, that the floating species have a nondehiscent fruit; when I proposed, according to their habit, to adopt three genera, one irregularly dehiscent, with the seeds affixed to the middle of the valves [Menyanthes), another with a capsule at the same time loca- licidal and septicidal, and the seeds hanging to the margins of the valves ( Villarsia) ; and a third, comprehending all floating species with an indehiscent fruit, and the seeds affixed as in Villarsia [Limnanthemum, Gmel.). The species of the latter genus have hitherto not been correctly distinguished, though some of them have lately been well defined by Sir W. J. Hooker, and Dr. Wight. I observe that there are many variations as to the largeness and surface of the leaves according to their age which are not to be applied as specific distinctions. Gene- rally the leaves are, in the first instance, smooth, then appear glands on the inferior surface, these are obliterated and more or less roughness remains ; sometimes the glands are to be seen in the bottom of small circular processes, from which appear- 12 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. ance the name lacunosum seems to have originated. But cha- racters which are not subject, so far as I know, to any obser- vation, are afforded by the appendices corolla, by their colour, by the form and length of the style, and by the surface of the seeds. Dr. Grisebach. Berlin, March, 1837. III. — Contributions to the Natural History of Ireland. By William Thompson, Esq., Vice-President of the Belfast Natural History Society. No. 5. — On the Birds of the Order Insessores*. [Continued from Magazine of Zoology and Botany, ii. p. 440.] The Redbreast — Sylvia Rubecula, Lath. — Is very common in Ireland. Well known as are its habits, a few notes illus- trative of them in the neighbourhood of Belfast may be se- lected: and first, with regard to its familiarity. In the very mild winter of 1831 — 32 a redbreast very frequently joined a friend and his lady residing in the country at breakfast, and without invitation, eat of the bread and butter on the table, and when not so employed, made itself quite at home by perching on the toasting-fork at the fire. In summer it built in one of the out-houses, and visited the kitchen daily ; its song was in August, poured forth in the hall. In this house also a redbreast once built its nest in the fold of a bed- curtain in an occupied chamber : such a proximity being held undesirable, the room window was closed against the intruder, and in consequence the first egg was laid outside on the bare window-sill. This circumstance caused pity for the bird, and the egg was placed in the nest, where the usual number was duly deposited and incubated. One young bird only was pro- duced, which was overfed to such a degree that it grew to a * The order in which the species appear in Mr. Jenyns's ' Manual of the British Vertebrata' is followed in these papers. In the MS. of the first of the series on the Raptores, one, two, or three synonyms were given to each species, with the view that some one of them might be known to every reader. The editors however considered one scientific appellation sufficient in every instance ; and being thus limited I adopt that used by Temminck as the most widely known, although I am partial to a much greater sub- division of genera than appears in his ' Manuel.' Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 13 most unnatural size, but did not long survive, falling a victim most probably to too good living. Butter is so great a dainty to these birds, that in a friend's house frequented during the winter by one or two of them, the servant was obliged to be very careful in keeping covered what was in her charge to save it from destruction : if unprotected it was certain to be dis- covered. I have notes of their visiting labourers at their breakfast hour and eating butter out of their hands, and en- tering a lantern to feast on the candle. But even further than this, I have seen the redbreast exhibit its partiality for scraps of fat, &c. Being present a few days ago (December 1837) when the golden eagle described at page 45 of vol. ii. of the Magazine of Zool. and Bot. was fed, to my surprise one of these birds took the eagle's place on the perch the moment he descended from it to the ground to eat the food given him, and when there it picked off some little fragments ; and this done, quite unconcernedly alighted on the chain by which he was fastened. I at the same time learned that it thus regu- larly visited the eagle's abode at feeding-time, and as yet there has not been any severity of weather. A plant of the Fuchsia tenella in the (C Falls" greenhouse was entirely deprived of its seed by these birds. Except at the moulting period the song of the redbreast is heard with us throughout the year, and in the grey morning as well as the dusk of the autumnal and winter afternoon ; by moonlight it was once heard by an ornithological friend at the last-named locality. I have more than once listened to the commencement of its song in the first week of June at a quarter before three o'clock. In fine autumnal mornings suc- ceeding wet nights, the favourite time for the harmony of this and many other birds, I have seen and heard about a dozen of redbreasts singing at once, when perched at pretty regular distances, twenty-five to thirty yards apart. So many of them sending forth their notes at one time — without reference to plumage, which sufficiently marks the adult from the imma- ture — satisfies me that the young birds of the year bear their part in the concert, and the fact of every individual in view trilling forth its notes, favours the idea that the female bird also is possessed of song. 14 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. That a single bird or pair of redbreasts have generally a particular beat or range I have had abundant evidence, (vide Dovaston in Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. vi. p. 3,) as also that they very frequently keep within it as spring advances, instead of retiring to the thickest woods to nestle as described by many authors. Within towns they have been known to me as frequenting a certain quarter throughout the year. For two seasons this occurred in our own office-houses at Belfast, and in both two broods were reared. In one instance the nest was placed on the top of a wall supporting the roof of the gateway, and in the other on the same part of the side- wall of a three-story building, their only approach to it being through small apertures, about two inches in diameter, that were cut in trap-doors on the first and second floors to admit the rope attached to a pulley. Perched on the neighbouring buildings these birds gave forth their song, and for about the latter half of the month of October 1831, when the days were very fine and bright, one regularly frequented the stable, and sang when perched upon the stalls without being in any de- gree disturbed by the general business of the place going for- ward, even within two or three feet of his station. A pair of redbreasts that were assiduously watched during their nidification in the conservatory attached to the town- house of an acquaintance, were one morning found in great consternation, produced, as it turned out, by the nest having been taken possession of by a bat, which they eventually com- pelled to change his quarters. Four particularly noted instances of the redbreast building within doors near Belfast in the summer of 1833 here follow. In all of them (and the country house already alluded to may be added) shrubberies and plantations are quite near to the chosen sites. The two first were communicated by my relative, (noticed in one of my former papers on birds,) and occurred at Wolfhill. He observes : " The nests of a robin that I examined in the car- penter's loft are placed on the corner of the wall which supports the roof; the foundation is large wood shavings, of which the sides of the nest are likewise formed, together with moss, beech leaves, wool, tufts of cow-hair, &c, but with horse-hair only are they lined. The mass of materials in which these two nests Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 15 are made is about a foot and a half in length, eight inches in breadth, and five inches in thickness. In wet days the male bird kept much within the loft and sang there. The carpen- ter tells me that one only flew in with the leaves and collected the shavings ; this individual he knew from its wanting the tail : it made very free with his pot of grease, and picked from it while in his hand. On another occasion the nest was built in the joist-hole of a wall, in the process of completing which it was necessary to remove it, when it was placed in an adjoin- ing aperture of the same kind. The parent bird after looking for some time about the spot where the nest had been, rejoined her young — of which one was killed by falling out of its do- micile in the course of removal — in their new situation ; and here she did not remain undisturbed, as in the breaking out of a door within a foot of the nest the mortar and stones fell pe- rilously near her, but she nevertheless deserted not her young/ 5 At Fort William, the seat of a relative, the following occurred. In a pantry, the window of which was kept open during the day, one of these birds constructed its nest early in the sum- mer. The place selected was the corner of a moderately high shelf among bottles, which being four-sided gave the nest the singular appearance exteriorly of a perfect square. It was made of moss, and lined with a little black hair, and on the side that was exposed to view, and that only, were dead beech leaves. When any article near the nest was sought for, the bird, instead of flying out of the window as might be expected, alighted on the floor, and there patiently waited until the cause of disturbance was over, and then immediately returned to its nest again. Here five eggs were laid, which, after being incu- bated for the long period of about five weeks without any suc- cess, were forsaken. The room above this pantry was occu- pied as a bird-stuffing apartment ; and after the redbreast had deserted the lower story, a bird of this species, and doubtless the same individual, visited it daily, and was as often expelled in the fear that the specimens might in consequence be inju- red. Finding that expulsion was of no avail, recourse was had to a novel and rather comical expedient. My friend had a short time before received a collection of stuffed Asiatic qua- drupeds, and of these he selected the most fierce-looking Car- 16 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. nivora, and placed them at the open window, which they nearly filled up, hoping that their formidable aspect might deter the bird from future ingress ; but the redbreast was not to be so frighted " from its propriety," and made its entree as usual. Its perseverance was at length rewarded by a free permission to have its own way, when, as if in defiance of the ruse that had been attempted to be practised upon it, the chosen place for the nest was the head of a shark, (the mouth being gagged may have prevented its being selected,) which was hanging on the wall, the tail of an iC alligator stufPd " serving to screen it from observation. During the operation of forming this nest the redbreast did not in the least regard the presence of my friend, but both worked away within a few feet of each other. On the 1st of June I saw it seated on the eggs, which were five in number : they were all productive, and the whole brood in due time escaped in safety. That the noisy operations of the ship-builder will not pre- vent the selection of a place in his immediate vicinity for nidi- fication, is shown by a circumstance which came under my own observation. On May 13, 1836, I saw a redbreast's nest containing young in a hole apparently where a knot had been in one of the timbers of the a Dunlop," then under repair in the dry-dock at Belfast. It was built inside the vessel about three yards from the top of the timber, (the deck was off,) and at the time of its construction, as at present, the deafening pro- cess of driving in the tree-nails was carried forward, and oc- casionally so close to the nest. An observant friend discovering a redbreast's nest in which the bird was seated, remarked its apparent stupidity, and ha- ving lifted it off the eggs and laid it on his open hand, it sought not, and indeed seemed to want the power, to escape. He placed it in the nest again, and returning the next day found the young brood out. The appearance of the bird on the previous day it was now presumed had been caused by its extreme intentness on the last stage of incubation. But in such an instance as the following, any notice of the well-known pugnacity of the redbreast would be supereroga- tory. On one occasion I saw two of these birds fighting most wickedly in the air, and then alighting to take breath, which, Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 17 when they had a little recovered, and were again within a foot of each other ready to recommence the charge, a duck that had witnessed the combat quickly waddled up, and in the most gentle and pacific manner shoved with its bill the one to the right further in that direction, and the one to the left further so, thus evidently separating them to prevent a renewal of the conflict. In snares set for small birds during frost, I have remarked that redbreasts were generally the first victims. Their ex- treme tameness before a fall of snow wherever we meet with them unerringly shows their sensibility to the coming change, and has in several instances led me to prognosticate it, and always with certainty, when no other indication was percept- ible. Black Redtail, Sylvia Tithys, Scop. — The redstart no- ticed by me in the Zoological Proceedings for 1834 (p. 30.) as the Phcenicura ruticilla, on the authority of Robert Ball, Esq., has since been proved by that gentleman to be the rare British species S. Tithys. I am likewise informed that in the autumn of 1818 or 1819 he shot five individuals of this species at Youghal, county Cork, but of which, un- fortunately, all that remains is one ill-preserved specimen. A redstart was subsequently taken in a corn-store at Youghal, and in June 1837 another was seen in a garden within the town ; but whether these also were the S. Tithys cannot now be determined. In the counties of Dublin and Armagh I have heard of the redstart's occurrence, but have been unable to learn anything satisfactory on the subject. It appears somewhat strange that the common species P. ruticilla should not be a regular summer visitant to any part of Ireland, for in no country are their localities apparently better suited to it : of these I judge from the haunts in which it has occurred to me in Westmoreland and Derbyshire, and those in which I very frequently met either with it, or some of the closely allied Phcenicura (Swainson) in Switzerland. Grasshopper Warbler, Sylvia Locustella, Lath. — Montagu states that he has found this bird in Ireland (Orn. Diet.), and Templeton remarks that it is and a few more were seen at the same time. The blackcap does not, so far as I can learn, appear annually in any part of Ireland. A drawing taken a few years ago from a bird so rare in one of the most southern counties as to be unknown to a scientific collector, was submitted for my opinion, and represented a female* of this species. It is sin- * Judging from Temminck's description in the 1st part of his 'Manuel': in the 3rd. part, since published, he adds, that the young males resemble the female, the red colour of the top of the head being only less decided* c 2 20 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland, gular, that of the occurrence of the blackcap on the few occa- sions here mentioned, it must in three instances be presumed to have wintered in Ireland, and further, that such should have been in the north, the centre (as to latitude), and the south. Being one of the latest summer birds appearing in England, it may I think be fairly concluded that the occur- rence of an individual on the 1st of March is rather indicative of a winter residence than of an unprecedentedly early vernal migration. The bird described in Rutty^s Natural History of the County of Dublin, vol. i. p. 317, as the " Blackcap," is obviously not the Sylvia Atricapilla. Greater Pettychaps, Sylvia hortensis, Lath. — The fol- lowing observations on this species are copied from the MS. of the late John Templeton, Esq. : " On the 21st of May 1820, I had the pleasure of seeing this bird, to whose haunt in my garden I was attracted by its pleasing melody. * * It was not very shy, coming near enough to be distinctly seen, but was extremely restless, flitting every moment from place to place, and only stationary on the branch while it gave out its song.* * The male continued to sing until the young were reared, when his song ceased for about a fortnight; then it was again renewed, as I suppose on the construction of a second nest." The Whitethroat, Sylvia cinerea, Lath., — Is a re- gular summer visitant throughout Ireland. Like the sedge warbler it appears about Belfast early in May, and has been reported to me by Mr. James Garrett of Cromac, near this town, as observed on the 24th of April* 1836 : by the same gentleman also one was seen on the 15th of September last, the latest date on which I am aware of its having been re- marked here. This bird is well known in Ireland. Mr. Stewart observes that in Donegal it is e( common," a term that may be generally applied to it in the north. In communications with which I have been favoured, it is stated by the Rev. T. Knox to have been obtained by him at * On the 21st of this month it was once heard near Carrickfergus. M'Skimmin's Cairickfergus, p. 354, 2nd ed. Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland, 21 Killaloe; by Mr. Robert Davis, jun., to be not uncommon about Clonmel ; and by Mr. T. F. Neligan, to be a regular summer migrant to the county of Kerry. Its song commences on arrival, and generally ceases early in the month of July. From its habits, and the gro- tesquely earnest appearance that the erected feathers on the crown of its head and the distended throat impart when singing, it is one of the most interesting of our warblers. When on one of its harmonious flights, the whitethroat, though generally so, is not always constant to returning to the same place again. I have seen it rise from a low bush, and singing in its upward and irregular flight, alight on a leafless tree at some little distance, and there continue to pour forth its notes without intermission, or as if it had been perched in one place all the time. Under the date of June 4, 1833, a note appears in my journal that two accurately judging friends had several times of late heard the whitethroat imitate the songs of other birds much after the manner of the sedge warbler. Early in July, 1837, a nest was discovered at the " Falls," within about ten paces of a public highway, and double this distance from an occupied dwelling-house. It was elevated about a foot above the ground, in a sloe-bush, and concealed by the growing grass of a late meadow : at this late period it contained eggs. Again, on July 11, 1833, when walking at the side of the river Bann, near Coleraine, a whitethroat, perched upon a hedge, and with a caterpillar in its bill, de- noting the vicinity of its nestlings, permitted my approach within about two paces, all the time keeping a great uproar, which was a mere repetition of the word churr. This species seems partial to placing its nest in thorny plants ; thus in the latter instance it was at the base of a whitethorn hedge, in the former in a sloe. In brambles it most commonly occurs here, and occasionally in the wild rose : grasses generally serve to screen it from observation*. * Sylvia Curruca, Lath. In a note added by the late Mr. Templeton to a copy of Dr. Patrick Brown's " Catalogue of the Birds of Ireland," pub- lished in Exshaw's Magazine for 1772, I find, — •* Motacilla Curruca, White-bellied Nightingale, seen about Ballydangan in May 1773, Brown." In the Catalogue the Mot. Sylvia, or Syl. cinerea, appears. Several of my 22 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland, Wood Wren ? Sylvia sibilatrioo ? Bechst. — Relying on the accuracy of a relative, who has bestowed much at- tention on birds and their nests, I should be disposed to give this species a place here with confidence but for one character, hereafter to be mentioned. On June 19, 1832, it is remarked of a nest he detected on the ground in a small meadow surrounded by a wooded glen, near Belfast, that it belonged to a bird most nearly approaching the willow wren, S. Trochilus, but larger, and with a whiter breast ; and that the eggs, instead of being marked with numerous very minute, and a few large specks of a dark pink colour, like those of the S. Trochilus, were dotted all over, so much so as to give the egg, at a cursory view, a light brown appearance. Sketches of these eggs and of those of the willow wren, made at the time, are now before me, and present the difference here pointed out. He observes that it was a very pretty nest, formed of moss, and lined with feathers*. On the morning of the 19th of June it contained one egg, on the 21st three, and on the 24th five eggs ; on July 7th the young were hatched, and on the 19th had left the nest : thus in six days the complement of eggs was laid, in thirteen they were incu- bated, and in eleven or twelve days the young were fledged. There was a second nest at the same place (Wolfhill) this season, containing similar eggs. The S. sibilatria? is not recorded as Irish. The Willow Wren, Sylvia Trochilus, Lath., — Is a regular summer visitant to Ireland, and is commonly di- spersed in suitable localities throughout the country. The remark has been made by Montagu, that " it is frequently found with the wood wren, but does not extend so far to the west in England, as it is rarely met with in Cornwall." But if there be thus a diminution of numbers to the west in England, the circumstance must, I presume, arise from some other cause than geographical position. In Ireland the wil- correspondents residing in the more southern portion of the country are disposed to consider the S. Curruca one of the regular summer birds of passage. * This is the only character against its being that of the S. sibilatrix, whose nest is stated by authors to differ from that of the S. Trochilus in not being lined with feathers. Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 23 low wren ranges equally to the counties jutting out to the extreme south-west and north-west of the island, being com- mon both to Kerry and to Donegal*. In the neighbourhood of Belfast this species generally ap- pears about the middle of April, when its presence is at once proclaimed by its song. In the years 1833 and 1834 it arrived within the first week of this month, but in the back- ward spring of 1 837 was later than ordinary. It is commonly seen until the middle of September. On the 24th of this month, and on the 10th of October 1832, 1 heard it sing ; on the former occasion incessantly for about half an hour, or so long as I gave attention. From the period of its arrival until the moult commences, the song of the willow wren is con- stantly heard ; and as soon as the moulting is over, is recom- menced, often in a weaker tone, and continued during fine weather until the very time of its departure. My friend at Cromac, who has had many nests of the willow wren, describes them all to have been composed of fine hay, — hence the name of " hay-bird" in some parts of England, — and lined with feathers. They were situated on the ground at the foot of trees, except in one instance, when the nest was placed in the open meadow, several yards distant from the hedge ; there was usually a long approach to them through the brake. Towards the end of August I was once amused on perceiving several willow wrens rising into the air from some pea-rods in a garden, after the manner of the spotted flycatcher when on its aerial captures, and thus two of them were occasionally occupied at the same time. A few flycatchers (Muscicapa grisola) were also on the pea-rods, from which they now and then sallied after their winged prey, having thus apparently prompted the S. Trochilus to these flights. In the north of Ireland this species frequents plantations, from those of the town-square to the most elevated on the mountains. Although from the circumstance of its general * In Mr. Stewart's Catalogue it is set down as " common" in Donegal, and so have T met with it there. By Mr. T. F. Neligan, of Tralee, it is stated to be very common in Kerry. 24 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland, occurrence in pleasure-grounds and gardens (these it frequents in the town of Belfast) the name of " willow wren" may be thought a unmeaning/' (vide note to White's Selborne, p. 84, ed. 183 7 J I cannot so consider it. This name was doubtless bestowed upon the bird originally on account of its partiality to willows. This 1 have particularly remarked, on which oc casions the twigs and branches of the common osier, Sail viminalis, abounding with aphides, were its chief favourite Never have I seen these birds so numerous anywhere, — am I include several continental countries, in addition to the British Islands, — as they were annually in a certain hedge row of these trees in the neighbourhood of Belfast. On somi scattered trees of the Salia? Smithiana, in the same locality they were for a similar reason almost equally plentiful. A young willow wren that was caught at the " Falls" last summer soon after it had left the nest, became at once, from its familiarity, very attractive. When at liberty in a room, and called by the name of " Sylvia" it immediately flew to and alighted on a finger held out for the purpose. So partial was it to this unnatural perch, that, like a hooded hawk upon the " fist, " it there remained stationary when carried out of doors to feed upon the aphides infesting some monthly roses near the house, and when so engaged it flew not to the plant, but rested by choice upon the finger. To the exceeding grief of its owners it soon died, in consequence of too frequent washing. In my possession is a specimen of the S. Trochilus, which flew on board a ship in 1834, to the north-west of the Azores, in latitude 44° N. and longitude 34° W. ; the date, unfortunately, was not communicated. The Chiff-Chaff, Sylvia Hippolais, Lath., — Is a regular visitant to certain localities in the north of Ireland, and also, as I am informed by Robert Ball, Esq., to the vicinity of Dublin. In the first week of April its notes are generally heard about Belfast ; but in the spring of 1837 they did not at- tract attention until some time after this period. In the middle of May I have been for the greater part of a day in Colin Glen, the great resort of the species in this neighbourhood, without Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 25 once hearing its notes, though during a similar time, a month before, they were almost constantly uttered, and when the days alluded to were equally fine. A certain progress of their broods may have caused this silence. The chief haunts of the chiff- chaff in the counties of Down and Antrim are wooded glens and extensive plantations, especially where there is cover from underwood, though it generally frequents the higher trees : hedge-rows too are occasionally visited. As a difference of opinion exists about this bird, (vide note to Whitens Selborne, pp. 80 et seq., ed. 1837) I had in- tended entering pretty fully into the subject ; but turning to the description of the species in the ( Manual of the British Vertebrata/ p. 112, I find it to accord so well with my speci- mens,— which, from being shot in the month of April, when uttering their notes, may be considered adults, — as to render further observation unnecessary. The terms Syl. Hippolais, Lath., and chiff-chaff have been correctly used as synonymous in the best British works. The original description in the ' Index Ornithologicus ' (vol. ii. p. 507.) in a few words marks the species ; Temminck how- ever, in his valuable e ManueP of the Birds of Europe, (part i. p. 222.) has adopted Lathanr's name for a continental Sylvia very different from the one to which it was applied by this author. Gold-crested Regulus, Sylvia Regulus, Lath. — This small and beautiful bird is common, and resident in plan- tations throughout Ireland. In the north its song is occa- sionally commenced in the month of February, and has been heard at the end of September. In the nuptial season the male erects his crest so as to make his whole head appear a blaze. My friend at Cromac on one occasion, when attending to the process of nidification adopted by a chaffinch that built within view of his window, discovered that he was not the only spectator, a regulus at some little distance (and, as it after- wards proved, with sinister intent,) being recognised as a looker-on. When the chaffinch took flight from the nest, this bird, in the most cunning manner, stole round to it in an opposite direction and carried off part of the materials. This 26 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. was its constant practice, as, in at least a dozen instances it was so observed; but the chaffinch eventually discovering the regu- lus in the act, gave it a severe chase through the plantation, and its mal-practices were never afterwards known to be re- peated. Of two nests of which I have notes, neither was domed ; one was neatly fixed to the branch of a silver fir, whose foliage shaded its little opening of one inch diameter ; and the other was placed in a laurustinus, the larger leaves of which afforded more efficient protection. Soon after the young can provide for themselves, they and their parents flit about in company, and ring their little changes throughout every plantation. In the first autumns that they thus came under my observation, I, from hearing them simul- taneously everywhere around Belfast, was rather disposed to believe in a migration from the north, (vide Selby's 111. Brit. Orn., vol. i. p. 230, 2nd ed.,) but having subsequently heard them in different years so early as the month of August, I now consider that it is our indigenous birds alone that by constantly uttering their little cries thus attract attention. The gold-crested regulus seems not to me the hardy bird that authors generally imagine. In the north of Ireland it has been frequently found dead in severe weather, and even after slight frosts*. Early in the winter of 1835 a friend brought me three of these birds, that had been captured by a cat in a small garden, in a very populous part of Belfast, and on the preceding day four or five had in the same place shared a similar fate. Of three stomachs of the regulus which have come under my inspection in the months of December and January, two were entirely filled with insects, among which some Coleoptera were apparent ; and the third contained, in addition to frag- ments of stone, only seeds, of which there were two or three kinds. [To be continued.] * In a note to White's Selborne (p. 180, ed. 1837), Mr. Herbert gives instances of the fatal effect of cold on caged individuals. 27 IV. — On some new Species of Quadrupeds and Shells. By John Edward Gray. The British Museum has lately purchased some very interest- ing skins of Quadrupeds from Sierra Leone, among which are the following new species. Antilope Zebra, Gray. Back bright fulvous fawn with broad glossy black transverse stripes, beneath pale fulvous ; outer side of legs grey-brown, darker beneath. — This is evi- dently the animal described by my late friend E. T. Bennett in the Proc.Comm. Science Zool.Soc, vol. ii. p. 123, from a very imperfect skin: the one now in the Museum has the tail com- plete, and shows that he was quite correct in thinking that it was probably an antelope, and it is certainly the most brilliant of that beautiful genus. His specimen was said to come from Algoa Bay, but this is probably a mistake, as that in the Mu- seum was sent direct from Sierra Leone. Felts neglecta, Gray. Fur very short, brownish grey, with small close blackish spots ; smaller, more elongated, and closer together down the rather darker dorsal line; sides rather paler; throat, belly, and inside of limbs white with larger black spots and stripes; nape darker, with close narrow rather darker lines ; outer side of legs and feet brownish grey not spotted ; tail rather slender, about half the length of the body, grey- brown with a darker central line and varied darker on the sides. Length of body, 3 feet; tail, 15 inches. — Hab. Sierra Leone. Unfortunately we have only an imperfect skin, wanting the face and claws, of this highly interesting animal, which must be as large as a small leopard. Among the skins received there is one also of another cat, very like the common domestic cat in appearance, but so regularly and peculiarly marked, as to make me inclined to believe it to be a distinct species, or a very decided variety. I will here describe some new Shells from the same country. Apporrhais Senegalensis, Gray. Shell regular, spirally stri- ated ; the upper whorls with one central, and the last with two subcentral, series of small nodules, with a series of much smaller tubercles in front of them ; outer lip, with two acute expanded lobes. Axis 13'". — Sierra Leone. My cabinet. Fusus elegans, Gray. Shell fusiform, white ; whorls nine, 28 Mr. Gray on some new Species of Quadrupeds and Shells. ventricose, rounded, with rather distant, acute, raised, narrow, brown topped spiral ridges, and regular broad rounded plaits ; canal subcylindrical, rather shorter than the spire ; inner lip rather raised with a few slight plaits, outer lip crenated ; throat grooved. Axis 2". — Sierra Leone. Brit. Mus. and my cabinet. Fusus niveus, Gray. Shell ovate, fusiform, regularly and closely spirally grooved ; spire conical ; whorls with a sub- posterior series of nodules and shelving to the suture ; apex small, subcylindrical, blunt ; canal short, rather oblique, in- ner lip rather thickened, smooth ; throat grooved. Axis 15"\ — Sierra Leone. My cabinet. S v /^~rvpe£ Nassa vitrea, Gray. Shell ovate, turreted, transparent, w with distant spiral striae ; whorls with equidistant nodulose varices, and a subanterior brown spiral band ; outer lip thick- ened, white, with a brown spot in front. Axis 5'". — Sierra Leone. Brit. Mus. and my cabinet. Cardium lave, Gray. Shell ovate-cordate, ventricose, pale brown, reddish spotted, smooth, with thirty to thirty-one very indistinct flat radiating ribs ; lozenge smooth ovate-lanceolate. Very like Cardium Icevigatum, but more ventricose. — Sierra Leone. Brit. Mus. Turbinella spinosa, Gray. Shell fusiform, white, covered with a smooth brown periostracum ; whorls 7> upper ones with a series of conical tubercles, the last with distinct spiral ridges and a subposterior series of conical spires ; canal sub- cylindrical with the mouth about as long as the spire ; throat ridged; pillar with three very slight plaits. Axis 15"'. — Sierra Leone. My cabinet. Drillia, Gray. (Pleurotomina.) Shell turreted ; mouth oval, linear; inner lip thickened, outer lip inflexed, thickened behind, with a deep thick-edged posterior sinus, and a small sinus in front, just before the short rather recurved canal. Drillia umbilicata, Gray. Shell white, closely and spirally striated; spire acute, half as long again as the mouth; whorls slightly raised, with a series of transverse compressed tuber- cles, the last with 6 or 7 larger tubercles ; axis umbilicated; lips sharp-edged; mouth reddish white. Axis 15'". — Sierra Leone. Brit. Mus. and my cabinet. Drillia clathrata, Gray. Shell dark brown, closely and spi- Mr. Gray on some new Species of Quadrupeds and Shells, 29 rally ridged and concentrically plaited; axis slightly perforated; outer lip strongly thickened behind; canal short. Axis l w 8. — Hab. ? My cabinet. Drillia bicolor, Gray. Shell black, spirally striated, with a subposterior series of angular tubercles crossed with a yellow spiral band; inner lip thickened; mouth slate colour. Axis 4"'. — Hab. ? My cabinet. Drillia suturalis, Gray. Shell yellowish white, closely spi- rally striated; whorls with a posterior groove near the suture, the upper whorls slightly nodulose; outer lip thickened be- hind ; canal rather elongate, scarcely recurved. — Hab. ? My cabinet. Demoulia, Gray, n. g. {Buccinidce). Shell ovate, subglo- bose, covered with a downy periostracum; spire short, conical; apex papillary; whorls compressed; mouth ovate; inner lip thickened, with a ridge behind, outer lip contracted, thicker ex- ternally, not variced, strongly plaited internally ; canal short, sharply recurved. — Intermediate between Nassa and Dolium, but differs from both in being covered with a velvety peri- ostracum, in having no distinct varices, in the large size of the spire, and in the contraction of the mouth. ^{T 5 Demoulia pulchra, Gray. Pale reddish, covered with a brown periostracum, slightly spirally striated; outer lip white, inner lip smooth; spire short; upper whorls rounded ; suture deep. Axis 10'". — Sierra Leone. My cabinet. Buccinum retusum, Lam. Encyc. Met. n. 24. t. 394. f. 3, and perhaps the fossil Buccinum Pupa and B. glabratum, should be referred to this genus; the latter has the inner lip strongly toothed or plaited, which unites it to Nassa. Pleurotoma tenuis, Gray. Shell fusiform, thin, pale, brown- ish, pellucid; whorls with a broad smooth posterior sutural concave band, convex in front, and marked with arched trans- verse ridges ; canal tapering; mouth and canal nearly as long as the spire; axis with a linear perforation in front. Axis 2". — Sierra Leone. (Mj cabinet.) t)7u . Mactra Sauliana*, Gray. Shell ovate-elongate, compressed, * I have named this species in honour of Miss Saul of Poplar, a most industrious and liberal collector of shells, to whom I am indebted for this species. 30 L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. thin, pellucid, pale, with whitish rays and darker submarginal streaks; covered with a thin pale brown laminar periostracum; lunule and lozenge smooth, keeled; lateral teeth very thin. — Hab. China. Very like M, Helvacea, but smaller and much more com- pressed. V. — Prodromus of a Monograph of the Radiata and Echino- dermata, By Louis Agassiz, D.M.* Having had occasion for some years to examine a great number of Echinodermata, and having paid particular attention to their general organization, but more especially to the solid portions of their integument, which have been hitherto consi- dered the most important of their external characteristics, I have felt induced by these circumstances, and others no less favour- able to inquiries of this kind, to publish the following outline of a survey of the genera of this class as an introduction to a more general and critical work, in which I purpose hereafter to treat of all the species and their comparative anatomy. The section of radiated animals to which the Echinodermata belong, should, in order to be characterised in a general man- ner, be reduced to three classes : the Polypi, the Acalephae, and the Echinodermata. Intestinal worms, and a great part, if not the whole, of the Infusoria should be restored to the section of articulated animals. That I may not be compelled for a moment to lose sight of the main object of this paper, I think it advisable, as M. de Blainville has already proposed some of these changes, to refer for information as to the limitation of these classes to the article " Zoophytes" in the 'Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles/ though there are several points of detail on which he and I disagree. The class of the Echinodermata confined within its natural limits should contain no more than the three genera Holothu- ria, Echinus, and Asterias of Linnaeus, which have become the * Translated from the extract in the ' Annales des Sciences Naturelles,' Mai 1837, taken from the ' Memoires de la Societe des Sciences Naturelles de Neufchatel,' tome i. L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. 31 types of as many families. It is therefore necessary to exclude from it the Sipunculi, &c, which constitute the second order of this class in the Animal Kingdom of Cuvier, and to place them amongst the Vermes. Thus reduced the class is charac- terised especially by the presence of retractile pedicles arranged in rows between the vertical segments of the integument of the body. On account of this peculiarity M. de Blainville has changed the name of Echinodermata, which is not really applicable to the Holothuria, into that of Cirrhodermata, al- though the nature and functions of these moveable organs, as well as their relations to the external integument, are too im- perfectly known at present to justify him fully in giving them that name. The name of Radiated, borrowed from Lamarck, and restricted to the limits which science now assigns to this class, seems therefore entitled to a preference. It has the advan- tage of being simple, and that of involving no systematic idea. The most general character commonly assigned to the Echi- nodermata is that all the parts of their bodies are disposed like radii about a common centre. This character they possess in common with the whole division of radiated animals. How- ever, on closely examining this radiated disposition of the parts, it is observable that in different genera the rays are not always alike, and do not always tend to a centre of the same nature. My first care has been therefore to discover the general laws of configuration and organization in this class, and to determine the analogies which the different regions of the body bear to one another and to those of other animals, in order thus to obtain an appropriate terminology for their description. The regular radiated disposition of the parts in most of the Radiata renders it difficult to fix such a terminology. I thought it best therefore to begin with the study of the forms most re- mote from the star type, (in which an anterior and posterior, a superior and inferior, and consequently a right and a left re- gion are naturally exhibited,) in order, if possible, by easy gradations to trace the same relations in the most regular and even in the spherical and star forms. If, for instance, we ex- amine the disposition of the parts in the Spatangi, we see at once that the form of their body, more or less elongated, is a consequence of the mouth and the anus being placed towards 32 L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. the two extremities, and that besides four ambulacral and four interambulacral series symmetrically placed in pairs on each side of a plain, which, if continued from the mouth to the anus, would divide the animal into two equal parts, there is an odd series of each kind. The odd ambulacral series, above the mouth, must certainly be the anterior series, while, in the pos- terior part of the body, it is the odd interambulacral series that occupies the middle of the disc. It is also a remarkable fact, that in these animals the anus is always placed amongst the plates of the latter odd series. In the Spatangi we have there- fore an anterior region indicated by the odd ambulacral series, and a posterior region indicated by the odd interambulacral series. On the two sides of the animal the series of plates are disposed in symmetrical pairs, so that on the left and on the right there are two pairs of ambulacral and two of interambu- lacral series. The first or anterior pair, which is contiguous to the odd ambulacral series, is a pair of interambulacral series, immediately behind which there are placed, first a pair of am- bulacrals, next a second pair of interambulacrals, and finally a second pair of ambulacrals, which includes the odd inter- ambulacrals, posterior and middle. Notwithstanding this ra- diated and at the same time symmetrical arrangement, the se- ries of plates not being of equal breadth throughout their height, the Spatangi have, between the mouth and the anus, a disc formed by the greater or less dilatation of the posterior interambulacral series, on which they creep, and which is, in fact, the lower side of the animal ; while its upper side is the region towards which all the series converge above the disc. As to the Clypeastres, the Galerites, the Neucleolites, &c, which have the mouth in the centre and the anus marginal or s ubmarginal, it is still easy to judge of the position of their parts, because the position of the posterior interambulacral series being given by that of the anus, there can be no diffi- culty in determining the symmetrical relations of the other series, both the odd and the even. There are even some differ- ences observable in the form of the plates and the ambulacra of the several pairs ; and the bilateral parity which these ani- mals still retain is rendered perceptible by this circumstance. At first sight it may seem more difficult to discover any L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. 33 traces of this bilateral symmetry in the Echini and the Asterice, whether simple or ramified, and consequently to determine the antero-posterior diameter in animals whose mouth is perfectly central, and the anus, when there is one, is likewise situated in the central but upper part of the body. Nevertheless, even in this case, nothing is easier than to determine the relations which all the radiated parts bear to the longitudinal axis of the animal. It is true that all their rays so closely resemble each other in their external aspect, that it might seem of little or no consequence whether we observe in their generic ar- rangement those traces of bilateral symmetry which are so clearly visible in the Spatangi. But if we take into account the differences of structure in some plates of the several series, we shall be convinced that the same symmetrical parity is pre- served here also, though under the appearance of a completely radiated disposition. We observe in fact on the upper part of the disc of the Echinodermata, especially in the Echini, the Cidarites, &c, in that region where the series of plates consti- tuting the testa become convergent, some plates of a peculiar form, which are called oviducal and interoviducal, and commu- nicate with the ovaria and the aquiferous system. These plates may serve as infallible guides in determining the regions of the body. The largest of them (generally to the number of five) alternate with the ambulacral series, so that they make two pairs and an odd one. The anterior pair is thus placed on the sides of the odd anterior ambulacrum ; the second pair between the anterior and the posterior pair of ambulacra ; and the fifth or odd plate, which is not always to be found in them, is situated between the two posterior ambulacra, that is to say, towards the anus or posterior part of the body. The structure of this fifth plate is of a peculiar porous kind analogous to that of the madreporiform body of the Asterice, and is found in the Echini also, but under a different form. In those which have but four oviducals, the plate which presents this peculiarity of structure is that which is wanting, and its place is then indi- cated by a depression or even a lacuna. Therefore, however regular the position of these plates in the Cidarites and cir- cular Echini may be, we can, nevertheless, always determine the posterior extremity of their body by the odd plate, which Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1.— No. 1. March 1838. d 34 L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. is also generally a little larger than the others : and in the ob- long Echinodermata, should they have the mouth masked (which is often the case in the fossil species), the posterior end of the body may still be ascertained by the circumstance that an odd oviducal plate does not present itself between two of the ambulacra ; for in this case, that these are always the two posterior ambulacra is evident from the position of the anus in those in which it is visible. We may therefore say that the direction of the anterior ambulacrum is always opposite to the odd oviducal plate, which is always placed towards the anus. The analogy observable between the structure of the madre- poriform body of the Asterice, and that of the odd oviducal plate of the Echini, is in these animals an important point of resemblance, which may help to guide us in determining the position of the parts in the first of these families, and enable us to discover in that also a bilateral arrangement. In fact, one of the five rays of the common Asteria is opposite to the madreporiform body, and must therefore be considered as the anterior ray, while the four others are placed in pairs on both sides of the longitudinal axis. The case is the same with the Solasteria, except that the number of rays arranged in pairs is greater, and that sometimes the odd rays are wanting. Thus, whatever may be the external form of the Echino- dermata, whether they are oblong like the Spatangi, and have the mouth and the anus placed towards two marginal extre- mities of the body opposite to each other, or are completely of the star form, circular, or even spherical, with the mouth and anus placed opposite to each other as the two poles of their spheres, it is still easy to observe in them a bilateral ar- rangement, and to determine which is the anterior and which the posterior region, as well as to see how all the parts are dis- posed in pairs on the two sides of the animal. M. de Blainville has already observed the relations existing between the arrangement of the plates in the testa of the Echi- ni and in that of the starfish, but has not formed a complete or precise idea of the connexion of those parts. He is perfectly right in giving the name of ambulacral plates to those which form the grooving of the inferior side of the rays, and that of interambulacral to those which are placed on their sides. In L. Agassiz on the Eckinodermata. 35 k o order however to complete the analogy, the starfish must be represented as if swelled ; then its back answers to the dorsal summit of the Echini, whence the ambulacra radiate even to the mouth, by passing in the starfishes through the extremities of the rays. We have thus, as in the Clypeastres and the Spa- tangi, two sorts of ambulacra, one at the upper and the other at the lower part of the animal. So far the analogy is com- plete ; but in order to be justified in saying that the lateral plates of the rays are analogous to the interambulacral plates of the Echini, we must not consider the upper and lower plate of each side of a ray as forming a whole, though M. de Blainville seems to admit this ; but we must conceive the upper lateral plate of a ray as if soldered to the corresponding upper part of the next ray ; and the lower lateral plates are to be viewed in the same manner, by always supposing the two sides of the rays which bound the channel between two neighbouring rays to be united. It is in these interambulacral plates that the large thorns of certain starfishes are fotind, and these thorns are analogous to the spines of the large mammellae to be seen in interambulacral plates of the Echini. In the starfishes there are also secondary spines surrounding the principal spines in greater or less regularity. Besides the five oviducal plates, we observe at the summit of the Echini five other smaller plates, situated at the extremity of the ambulacra with which they are connected, and likewise per- forated at one point, but all of the same structure as the larger. Mr. Gray has given them the name of inter oviducal plates. As to the membranous tubes issuing from the holes of the ambulacra, it is proper to remark that they do not in any way contribute to locomotion. It is rather amusing to trace the history of their advancement to the honours of this function. As they are placed, in the Echini, in bands, more or less nar- row, between the large mammellated plates which bear the spines, the old naturalists, fancying that they bore some re- semblance to the alleys or walks in a park, gave them the name of ambulacra, without describing with greater precision their nature and destined use. More recently the idea attached to the word ambulacra was extended to the organ which is placed amongst them, and has been, since then, most erroneously con- d2 36 L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. sidered as a locomotive organ. How, in fact, could these small tentacula, with all their softness of texture, situated as they generally are in that part of the body which is never brought into contact with the ground when the animal moves, and overhung (de^bordes) by calcareous solid spines, — how, I ask, could these flexible tubes be used as organs of motion ? It is an undeniable fact, and I have often observed it myself, that it is with their spines the Echini move themselves, seize their prey and bring it to their mouths, by turning the rays of their lower edge in different directions. But the correction of an error respecting the functions of the ambulacral tubes does not solve the problem relating to their nature and use. This pro- blem we are yet unable to solve, as we know nothing more re- specting them than that they are connected with the aquife- rous system. The position of the anus, in the true Echini, between the oviducal and interoviducal plates and those additional plates which surround the orifice at the dorsal summit, where the ambulacra terminate, has suggested the notion of a relation of dependence between the ambulacra and the posterior orifice of the alimentary canal. But this is far from being a correct no- tion ; for the ambulacra, which have been often represented as extending from the anus to the mouth, invariably converge to- wards the upper part of the disc, where they appear in the form of a rosette more or less distinct, while the position of the anus varies considerably. It is not even median and su- perior except in the Echini properly so called and in the Cida- rites. In all the other Echinodermata, in which it exists, it is situated between the two series of plates which form the pos- terior interambulacral space and diverge more or less from each other at its issue. In this case, which is the more fre- quent of the two, the anus has no direct communication with the ambulacral spaces. The position of the dental apparatus, and particularly of the teeth themselves, with respect to the rays of the body, is an object which I would recommend to naturalists as well worthy of their attention ; for at present I myself am unable to solve all the difficulties connected with the comparison of the differ- ent modifications of the dental system in the several genera of L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. 37 Echinodermata. I shall therefore merely remark, in general, that the teeth alternate with the ambulacral spaces and are placed directly opposite to the middle of the interambulacral spaces, between the two series of plates which compose these, and to which they are attached by means of a very compli- cated apparatus. The structure of this apparatus, which is dif- ferent in different genera, I shall describe as soon as my re- searches respecting it are more complete. As the teeth corre- spond to the interambulacral spaces, it is obvious enough that there must be an odd one. It is this odd tooth that is found behind on the antero-posterior axis itself. Its motion is di- rected forwards from the hinder part. The four other teeth are in pairs, and move laterally from right to left and from left to right in contrary directions on both sides of the mouth. Their motion may therefore be compared with that of the max- illae of articulated animals, while the odd tooth may be consi- dered as bearing some analogy to the lower lip of some of these. The space between the teeth and the lower orifice of the testa is covered with small moveable plates similar to those which surround the anus. It is scarcely necessary to observe that the determination of these points must be of the utmost importance in examining the situation of the intestines and their mutual relations. Un- fortunately, the state of the specimens which I had intended for dissection, did not allow me to investigate thoroughly all those points which I had wished to decide ; and when I was dissecting some fresh specimens at the sea-side, I was not yet aware that it was possible to determine so precisely and posi- tively the relation of the different regions of the body of these animals. 1 am therefore now obliged to postpone all further detail until I have completed this part of my labour. The facts which I have just stated appeared to me sufficiently re- markable to warrant their separate publication without an im- mediate review of the whole organization of this class. As to the manner in which I have designated the several regions of the Echinodermata, it may be objected that, most of these animals having the mouth beneath the disc, the side on which it is found cannot be considered as the anterior region of the body. But this denomination is no less correct on that ac- 38 L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. count ; and that the position of the animal in walking or swim- ming is not sufficient to guide us with reference to this point is evident from the case of the Mollusca and certain insects which swim on the back. Moreover, the anus of the Echino- dermata is placed on the upper side, a situation different from that of the same organ in other animals. I feel therefore suf- ficiently warranted in considering the mouth as the principal point of departure and as determining the anterior part of the body. Do we not, in fact, see it placed in the fore part of the Holothuria, which by habitually moving on the same side ap- proximates to the Vermes, and in the pedunculated starfishes, which, though fixed to the ground, uniformly put the mouth forward in balancing themselves on their stems ? If, neverthe- less, it were deemed advisable to adopt a different nomencla- ture, and to call that side on which the mouth is placed the lower side, that would make no change in the relations already pointed out : that which I call the upper would then become the forepart, that which I call the hind part would become the upper part, and the lower would become the hind part. As I know not that anything has been yet published re- specting the growth of the Echinodermata, I am the more in- clined to think that the few observations which I have col- lected on this subject will be found interesting, at the same time that they will show the Echinodermata, whatever be their form, to be all subject to the same mode of development. The only known fact bearing on this point is, that the Echini and the starfishes consist of fewer pieces when they are young than at a more advanced age. It does not appear even that that there is any positive limit to their growth, though the se- veral species habitually exhibit a sort of middle size which is proper to themselves, and from which the extremes are not very far removed. It is in the Echini more than any others, and especially in the Cidarites, that we find it most easy to decide on the exactness of this indication, although several authors appear to have sometimes forgotten it, particularly when their object has been to establish new species. But we have been told by no one where and how the new plates grow, and in what manner they are developed. In order clearly to comprehend the mode in which the Echinodermata grow, we L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. 39 must steadily keep in view the general disposition of the solid pieces which form their integument. In the Echini these are plates, of larger or smaller dimensions, arranged in vertical zones which diverge from the mouth towards the periphery of the body, and thence seem to converge towards the superior centre. In the starfishes they are plates, the smallest of which are placed at the top of the rays, and the largest at the centre of the channel by which the rays are separated. We mark however three distinct types in the form of these animals : some tubular (the Holothuria), some spheroidal (the Echini) > and others of the starform (the Asterice) ; but these types may be reduced to two, inasmuch as the tubular form may be con- sidered an elongated spheroid ; yet further, these two types may be reduced to the same plane of organization, since the large growth of the plates in the summits of a spheroid com- bined with the contraction of the interradial planes would pro- duce a starfish ; while, vice versa, the increase of the interradial planes and the reduction of the central plates in the starfish would produce a spheroid. Nor is this a mere hypothesis ; we shall see hereafter that the essential difference between the Echini and the Asterice consists in the different modes of their growing. As to the disposition of the plates, there are in the Echini twenty series of them, forming ten zones, five of which are perforated and five not perforated. The five zones or double series of perforated plates are called the ambulacral, and the others the inter ambulacral series. In the starfishes the series formed by the solid plates are less regular and vary in number : however, in those starfishes that have large plates at the edges of the rays, we see that these plates correspond with the interambulacral series of the Echini, while each ray has a complete ambulacral series which extends from the mouth along the extremity of the ray to the superior centre, and the middle of which, at the extremity of the ray, is con- sequently narrower than the ends : in the Echini, on the con- trary, each series is broadest in the middle and narrowest at the extremities. If we now attentively examine an Echinus of the middle size (among those of its own species), we shall find, especially in the genera Cidaris and Echinus, that the plates of the several series are not so strongly attached to each other 40 L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. at the dorsal summit, and that the spines which they bear in this region are less fully developed. If, carrying the examina- tion still further, we remove the spines, we shall then observe that amongst the oviducal and interoviducal plates and the interambulacral plates that bear spines there are some less fully developed, irregular in form, wanting even the mamellae and the spines, and taking their place among the mammellated plates only in proportion as they gradually attain to a larger size. The new plates are at first very small, and may be com- pared to points of ossification which at first grow simulta- neously in all directions, though their lower side completes its formation sooner than the upper, and the upper side is some- times yet incomplete, even when an incipient mammella is ob- servable in the middle of it. In the region of the body where this increase takes place, the membrane which unites all the plates and spreads itself over their surface, forming an articular capsule about the base of the spines, is softer and more spongy than it is in the inferior part where the plates are consolidated and immoveable. It is in fact this spongy mass that deposits the calcareous matter of which the plates are composed : and the spines shoot out in the centre almost in the same manner as the horns of a stag. They do not become moveable until they have attained a certain stage of development, and there is a period in their growth after which their size does not in- crease. Those however which drop off accidentally are replaced by others, formed, as those had been, by the tumefaction of the membrane which covers the plates. We may always ob- serve in a single specimen of the Cidaris all the gradations of increase, from that of the plates which have completed their growth and bear spines several inches long, down to the smallest points of ossification of the plates yet unfurnished with spines. These facts I have ascertained by examining se- veral individual specimens which exhibited all the interme- diate stages of development through which the pieces in ques- tion must pass : and indeed, when we have no direct means of observing the growth of an animal in one individual, the only resource left us is to compare a great number of individuals representing a complete series of all the stages through which the species to which they belong has to pass before their L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. 41 growth is completed. The only difference between this pro- cess and the direct observation of any development is, that in the one case we observe in one and the same individual that succession of changes, which in the other we trace through a series, as complete as possible, of several individuals. Such is the course that I have taken with respect to the Echinoder- mata. The young Echini have a small number of plates in each of their vertical series; they appear to be slowly increased in size by the deposition of calcareous matter at their circumference until those which surround the mouth have completed their growth and are entirely consolidated. The superior plates con- tinuing to grow, increase, from the top dow T nwards, the peri- phery of the body, which remains depressed so long as the in- ferior are the only plates consolidated ; but in proportion as a greater number of plates become immoveable, and as there is formed, in the upper region, a greater number of plates reach- ing down to the circumference of the spheroid, the testa be- comes rounded and finally assumes a spherical form. It is to this cause that we are to ascribe the differences of contour ex- hibited by the Echini at different ages. In some species there are found individuals presenting even a pyramidal shape, and this takes place when there is still formed a great number of plates subsequently to the consolidation of those occupying the greater diameter of the animal's body. These facts suffi- ciently explain the gradual growth of beings which approximate more or less nearly to the spherical form, and show how care- fully we should guard against the introduction of nominal spe- cies in consequence of a mere difference of form resulting from age only. It would be interesting to trace the development of these animals ah ovo. But no naturalist has yet observed the state of the Echini on their first issuing from the egg. As to the spines, it is evident, especially in the Cidarites, that those sur- rounding the mouth are the first that attain their full growth, while the largest are those in the upper tier of the disc ; and those which have not yet completed their growth are found around the oviducal plates on the outside. The correctness of these observations will be demonstrated by comparing the dif- ferences of development exhibited in this region by the spines 42 L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. that stand nearest to each other. We should be mistaken how- ever as to the growth of the Echinodermata, did we think that there is a generic connexion between the plates, on account of their forming vertical series from the mouth to the summit of the disc. It has been already remarked that the plates of each space are alternately a little more elevated than each other, but no attention has been paid to the manner in which the plates of all the spaces succeed each other in the same Echinus ; and yet, if we consider it closely, we shall see that the new plates are developed in spiral lines, passing, without interruption, from one series to another through all the spaces from the circumference of the mouth to the dorsal summit, so that those which rest on each other in a vertical line do not make their appearance in immediate succession. It appears to me well worthy of remark, that in these animals, holding so low a rank among organized beings, we should find the succession of the solid parts composing their integument so strikingly analogous to the arrangement of the leaves around the stems of plants ; — an arrangement, the laws of which have been recently disco- vered by M. Schimper, and explained, so far as regards the Co- niferce, in a memoir of M. Braun on the arrangement of the scales of their cones. The small plates surrounding the mouth and those around the anus are arranged in a peculiar manner ; they are easily moved, and thus facilitate the deglutition of the food and the voiding of the excrements. In general the testa of the Echini is not so immoveable as one who had not observed them in a fresh state might be led to suppose. All the plates forming the upper part of the disc are often set in motion : sometimes they sink, sometimes they rise, and, in the oblong species, the lon- gitudinal diameter is often extended beyond its ordinary length. The great mobility of the spines, the variety of their move- ments, and the manner in which they help the animal to seize its food, have been already noticed. The growth of the starfishes and the Crino'ides will appear to be carried on by a process exactly the same, as soon as H is agreed that an ambulacral space of an Echinus answers to an ambulacral surface of a starfish, and that an interambulacral space of the former answers to the large marginal pieces of L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. 43 two contiguous rays in the latter : for the pieces exhibiting its growth are formed in the angles of the rays on the upper and lower surface of the body, and, becoming larger and larger, elongate the rays and drive the extremities of them to a greater distance ; so that the number of the plates continually in- creases and cannot be considered as a specific characteristic. The growth of the summit in the Asteriae and of the stem in the Crinoides, as well as that of the moveable pieces of the mouth, is also independent of the rays in these animals, and accompanied by a peculiar position of their parts, as in the Echini. Hence it is easy to conceive how a body of the star kind may grow larger and still retain its form. The study of the organization of the Echinodermata has led me to introduce in their classification and in the defining of their genera some changes, which I shall also exhibit in a synoptical table. I found that the characters deduced from the combi- nation of the plates and the arrangement of the ambulacra formed groups more natural and better defined than those de- duced from the position of the mouth and the anus. The class of the Echinodermata is divided into three orders: the Stellerides, the Echinides, and the Fistulides, which re- semble in the degree of their organization the three classes of the Radiata. The Stellerides answer to the class of the Polypi ; the Echinides to that of the Acalephae, which connect the sec- tion of the Radiata with the Mollusca ; while the Fistulides ? as the culminating point of this division, represent the section of the articulated animals, and more especially the Vermes. As to the genera established in this class, I found that the characters deduced from the combination of the plates and the disposition of the ambulacra formed groups more natural and better defined than those deduced from the situation of the mouth and the anus. My observations on this subject I shall publish in a monographic paper (accompanied with plates);, for which I have already collected most of the necessary ma- terials. [To be continued.] 44 VI. — Miscellanea Zoologica. By George Johnston, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Plates II. and III. (Continued from Magazine of Zoology and Botany, ii. p. 73.) IV. — The Scottish Mollusca Nudibranchia. Character. Mollusca gastropodous, shelless, bisexous : branchice external, dorsal, always symmetrical, placed either posteriorly in the median line or along the sides : tentacula from one to three pairs, more or less retractile : eyes sessile or none : head scarcely marked. Nudibranches, Cuvier,Reg. Anim. iii. 50. Rang, Manuel, 124. — Tritoniens, Lamarck, Anim. s. Vert, vi. i. 298. The Nudibranchia are all natives of the sea, where they re- present the land slugs, to which they have a considerable degree of outward resemblance, and are otherwise allied to them in structure and habits. Like the slugs they crawl on a muscular disk or foot which occupies the entire length of the body ; their mode of progression is of the same slow and continuous na- ture ; a glairy fluid exudes from miliary glands imbedded in the skin to render the surface lubricous, less resistent, and less liable to injury from friction ; both tribes are equally vege- table feeders ; and they are also hermaphrodites after the same remarkable fashion. What peculiarly distinguishes the pre- sent order is the external position of the branchiae or breath- ing organs, where placed on the back they float in the oxygen- ating medium, and require no subsidiary apparatus to bring this into contact with the blood. In form and location these organs are exceedingly diversified, becoming, when fully dis- played, the creature* s principal ornament, and its most obvious claim to our notice and admiration. They are placed on the posterior part of the body in the Dorides, where they form a circle of arborescent leaflets, which can be drawn within at pleasure and removed from injury ; but in all the other genera they are incapable of retraction, and are distributed on the sides and over the back in a pattern each after its kind. To aid them in their important function, we find that the surface of these branchial leaflets or filaments is clothed with minute cilia, which by a quick and constant succession of vibrations in . /////. /^////s/. Vol. 1. FIJI. Scottish Moll ii sou C Johnston ifc, ' * I JJ ^tnn . JVa t.Jfist. Toll . PI . Ill . I Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 45 a determinate direction propel the water over it in corre- sponding currents, and thus supply a never-failing stream of unbreathed water*. The varied position of the branchiae necessarily implies some corresponding peculiarities in the arrangement of the circulating system. It is a general rule in physiology that the heart shall be placed in the immediate vicinity of the organs which air the blood ; and accordingly it is found situated, in the Doris, far backwards, just anterior to the branchial circle ; while in the other genera, which have the branchiae distributed along the sides, its position is more forwards and nearly cen- tral. It is a strong muscular organ, consisting of an auricular and a ventricular cavity, separated by two semilunar valves, and its inner surface is netted with numerous fleshy columns, like the heart of a vertebrate animal. Receiving the blood, or what, because of its cold and colourless qualities, Linnaeus called the sanies, from vessels bringing it in a purified condi- tion from the gills, it propels the stream forward into an aorta, by whose divergent ramifications this is led to every part and organ of the body. By venous vessels, nearly parallel but run- ning in the contrary course, the blood is again returned, the (—vessels as they trend inwards uniting repeatedly, until, after many unions and coalescences, they form two or one large trunks that serve the place of a pulmonic heart. In the Trito- niada these vessels run parallel, two along each side of the body, in correspondency with the position of the branchiae, and give off a small branch to every tuft and filament of them ; but in Doris they keep a more central and medial course. The blood collected in them is effete and unfit to continue fife ; but by numerous branchlets which depart from these trunks and ramify through the gills, it is again dipersed and exposed to the oxygenating medium before it re-enters the heart to begin again the ceaseless circuit. The nervous system consists of four ganglions placed over the origin of the oesophagus, from which filaments are sent to the different organs, to the foot, and cutaneous envelope. There is neither other ganglion nor plexus. From this sim- * Sharpey in Cyclop. Anat. and Phys. i. 620. 46 Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. plicity of plan, it is probable that the instincts and sensibilities of these mollusca are few and of a low character*, animal sine fraude, dolisque, Innocuum, simplex,. .* and we know no trait in their habits that is repugnant to this inference. Cuvier says he could detect no evidence for the existence of more senses than sight and touch : the former is seated in the small black specks which may be seen, in some of the genera, at the bases of the tentacula ; the latter sense has no particular locality, but is diffused over the whole sur- face, though exercised more especially, and with greatest de- licacy, by means of the endermoid processes, such as the ten- tacula and branchial fringes. I cannot, however, but suspect that the tentacula have some more specific use ; for their struc- ture, in Doris and Tritonia at least, is complex, and their po- sition ill suited to organs intended to be employed as tactors. Blainville supposes, with some show of reason, that they may be organs of smell t; and, we may add, perhaps of hearing also. Cf The slow-moving molluscous animals," says Professor Grant, a are less provided with organs for perceiving the properties of outward bodies than the active articulated classes ; but many of the higher pulmonated gasterops seem both to hear and to smell, although the precise seats of these feelings have not been determined, and Tritonia arbor escens emits audible sounds under water, which are, without doubt, intended to be heard by others of the same species, as we see in insects, and pro- bably to serve as a means of communication between these hermaphrodite and almost blind animals, although the organs have not been detected which are appropriated to their per- ception J". Some foreign species are rapid in their movements, swim- ming with ease in the ocean and on its surface, but the pro- * Lamarck, Anim. s. Vert. vi. i. 265. f " Enfin une autre opinion qui est la notre, c'est que c'est l'extremite des tentacules veritables, ou de la premiere paire d'appendices qui est l'or- gane d'olfaction. La peau y est en effet encore plus molle, plus lisse, plus delicate que dans aucun autre endroit, et le nerf qui s'y rend est plus con- siderable." — Man. de Malacologie, 107. Carus's objection to this opi- nion appears to be founded on a verbal quibble. — See Comp. Anat. i. 73. Trans. X Outlines of Comp. Anat. 279. Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 4 J gression of our natives is usually slow, even, and continuous. They creep along the bottom or among the branches of coral- lines; but when confined in a basin they ascend to the surface, place themselves in a reversed position, and thus glide along it with ease, aiding themselves by undulations of the cloak and its expansions. Lamarck erroneously asserts that the Bolides and Tritonia cannot swim *, for this seems in fact to be their favourite mode of progression, and in which they exert their locomotive powers with most success. When laid on the sur- face I have seen several of the smaller sorts form the posterior edge of the foot or tail into a kind of circular sucker, and by its means hang pendent for some time. The mouth is situated in the front of the nearly acephalous body between the overlapping cloak and the foot : it is a sub- circular or vertical aperture with fleshy lips, which the Doris can protrude to a considerable extent to form a short proboscis. At the sides of the mouth there is usually a pair of fleshy fila- ments, more or less elongated, which appear to perform the office of feelers to guard against the entrance of noisome food, and to select what may be agreeable ; and above it we perceive a development of the cloak with a laciniated margin which has received the denomination of the oral veil. The mouth is either emaxillary, or, as in Tritonia, furnished with a pair of large corneous jaws, which, moved by powerful transverse muscles, serve to divide the sea-weed on which the animals feedf ; the fare of the others being presumed to be of a softer nature and less restricted in kind J. Forced by appropriate muscles down the oral or proboscideous canal, the food is next laid hold on by the tongue, a broad membrane of the most delicate and beautiful mechanism, consisting of a lace-work of minute prickles set in regular array with their sharp points all pointed backwards §. Passing over this membrane the vegetable tex- * Anim. s. Vert. vi. i. 301 and 304. \ " Ces deux lames sont fort tranchantes, et il n'est rien de vivant qu'elles ne puissent couper lorsque l/animal en fait glisser les deax tranchans l'un sur l'autre." — Cuvier, Mem. sur la Tritonia, p. ] 1. \ Risso says that the nourishment of the Nudibranchia consists of small zoophytes. — Hist. Nat. de l'Europ. Merid. iv. 40 ; see also Loudon's Mag. Nat. Hist. viii. 78. § Dr. Fleming says that the tongue of Tritonia " differs remarkably from the same member in the Doris. In the latter, the spines with which it is 48 Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca, ture is rasped and frittered down, and in this dissolved state the mass is again brought forward by the regulated contrac- tions of the adjoining muscles, and the peristaltic motions of the tongue itself, to be forced down the oesophagus into the stomach, which is simply a membranous dilatation of the ali- mentary canal. This canal is very short, scarcely equal to the length of the body, a fact which may seem irreconcilable with the unnutritive character of their fare ; but the want of length is probably compensated by the unusual size and complexity of the salivary glands, and perhaps also of the liver*, which lies in the immediate proximity of the stomach, and more or less envelops it, pouring in its copious secretion by several apertures. In Doris there is another singular organ which sheds its secretion into the stomach, a vesicle with the inner surface roughened with conical papillae, but which has no di- rect communication with the substance of the liver. Dr. Grant considers this organ to be analogous to the pancreas in higher animals f. The Nudibranchia are hermaphrodites of a peculiar kind : each individual possesses the organs of both sexes, but is in- capable of self-impregnation, and requires the aid of another to render the ova fruitful. These are deposited on the under sides of stones, on shells, and on the roots and fronds of sea- weed, in glutinous masses, which are sometimes broad and flat like a ribbon, and at other times more like ravelled thread. The number of ova in each mass is prodigiously great, and they are usually arranged in regular lines, straight or zig-zag, each ovum, or perhaps two or three, inclosed in a separate vesicle imbedded in the common mass, which is itself covered by a membrane of the most perfect transparency. The embryo, beset are reflected, and draw the food to the gullet ; while in the former, the spines are deflected, and serve to keep the food within the reach of the aws. The tongue'of the Doris, therefore, serves for deglutition, that of the Tritonia for mastication." — Phil, of Zoology, ii. 469- I have not noticed this distinction ; and it should be remembered that the prickles are move- able and may be directed either backwards or forwards, though the former is their ordinary position. • According to Cuvier the liver is not comparatively large, at least in Tritonia. — Mem. p. 12. But Blainville says that the liver has always ap- peared to him to be larger in phytophagous than in zoophagous mollusca. — Man. de Malacologie, 124. f Loudon's Mag. Nat. Hist. viii. 79. Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 49 while in the ovum, has been observed to have a rotatory mo- tion produced by vibratile cilia placed on the exterior ; a mo- tion, which appears destined to bring a constant supply and renewal of sea-water into the interior of the organization, in order to perfect the animal before it is, as it were, launched into the ocean. Possibly, also, the continued friction of the cilia against the interior of the egg may tend to abrade it, and open a passage for the young animal*. There are few Scottish species of the order hitherto ascer- tained, but I have found the task of determining them, and their synonymy, very difficult and irksome. This has resulted partly from the meagreness of their descriptions in Linnaean authors, partly from the want of access to some expensive works containing figures that might have supplied this de- ficiency of detail, and partly from the difficulty of ascertaining the extent of variation in the species themselves. In the hope, however, of drawing attention to so interesting a tribe, and of laying a foundation for a more accurate knowledge of it, I offer the result of my study to the British naturalist, persuaded that he will receive with indulgence an essay that neither care nor industry has been able to free from imperfection and doubts. Family I. DORID^E. BranchicB retractile, posterior and dorsal, placed in a circle round the anus. Cyclobranchiata, Blainville, Man. 488. — Urobranchia, Latreille, Fam. du Reg. Anim. 173. — Les Doris, Rang, Man. 131. 1. Doris. Dorsal tentacula lamellated : anus without scales. Family II. TRITONIAD.E. BranchicB non-retractile, lateral and dorsal : anus lateral and anterior. Polybranchiata, Blainville, Man. 484. * Branchia arbuscular : dorsal tentacula two, retractile within a sheath at their base. Dicerata, Blainville, Man. 48/. — Seribranchia, La- treille, Fam.du Reg. Anim. 174. — Les Tritonies, Rang, Man. 128. 2. Tritonia. Branchiae arborescent : tentacula fissile and pectinate. 3. Melibea. BranchicB ovate, muricate : tentacula filiform, simple. * Roget, Bridgew. Treatise, i. 216. Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1.— No. 1. March 1838. e 50 Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. ** Branchiae papillary : tentacula two or three pairs, sheathless, contractile, simple. Tetracerata, Blainville, Man. 484. — Phyllobr anchia, La- treille, Fam. du Reg. Anim. 175. — Les Glauques, Rang, Man, 125. 4. Eolidia. Branchiae papillary, undivided. *** Br anchice papillary, scattered: dorsal tentacula two only, imbricate. 5. Triopa. Branchiae simple, and, as well as the tentacula, without a sheath. 1, Doris -f, Linnceus. Character. Body acephalous, ovate-depressed with the margin of the cloak free, or prismatic and limaciform : mouth proboscidiform with a pair of labial tentacula : dorsal tenta- cula 2, lamellated and retractile : anus posterior, dorsal and mesial, encircled with the arborescent or pinnate branchiae, which are retractile within a sort of cup : foot plane : orifice of the organs of generation on the right side and anterior. Cuvier,Reg. Anim. iii. 51. Lamarck, Anim. s. Vert. vi. i.'309. Rang, Man. 132. Blainville, Malacol. 488. * Margin of the cloak overlapping the foot. 1. D. tuberculata, body ovate-depressed, above closely tu- berculate, the margin of the cloak rather narrow ; orifices of the tentacula without sheaths ; leaflets of the branchiae 8, plu- mose. Plate II. fig. 1 — 3. , Doris tuberculata, Cuv. Mem. v. 23. pi. 2. fig. 5. Lam. Anim. s. Vert. vi. i. 311. Johnston in Zool.Journ. iv. 416. — Doris Argo, Pen. Brit. Zool. iv. 82. pi. 24. male. Jameson in Wern. Mem. i. 556. Stew. Elem. i. 38/. Turt. Gmel. iv. 11. Turt. Brit. Faun. 133. Blumen- bach, Nat. Hist. 245. Fleming in Edin. Phil. Journ. viii. 295 ; and Edin. Encyclop. xiv. 618. Grant in Edin. Phil. Journ. xiii. 198. Flem. Brit. Anim. 282. — D. Argus, Stark, Elem. ii. 68. — D. Pseudo-argus, Rapp in Nov. Act. Phy. Med. Acad. Cces. Leop. Car. Nat. Cur. xiii. 519. Hab. " Among the sea- weeds and crevices of rocks near low-water mark, common," Rev. Dr. Fleming. On the rocks near the Beacon at Leith, Prof essor Jameson. Frith of Forth, Dr. Grant. Bell-Rock and Isle of May, common, Rev. Dr. Fleming. On the E. shore of Bute, Dr. Coldstream. Coast of Berwickshire, occasionally. Desc. Body sometimes three inches long and nearly two broad, ovate-depressed. Cloak usually grey, sometimes straw- coloured or sulphur-yellow, marbled with cinereous and pink blotches, and closely covered with small round unequal tuber- t The mother of the sea-nymphs called Nereides. Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 5 1 cles of a bluish colour ; its margin entire, somewhat undu- late, overlapping. Space between the cloak and foot white or yellow, smooth ; the foot varying from pale yellow to an orange, plane and broad. Dorsal tentacula conical, short, the upper half yellow and lamellate*, the base white and smooth, issuing from sheaths level with the surface. Branchiae of 8 large tri- pinnate plumose leaflets, some so deeply divided that the leaf- lets appear to be eleven or twelve % of a light blue colour ir- regularly spotted with white and yellow about their bases. Anus prominent, tubular, whence, in many specimens, lines of a sulphur colour diverge to the branchiae. When handled the cloak has a cartilaginous somewhat gritty feel, from containing in its texture a vast number of crystalline spicula, clustered more especially in the tubercles. These spi- cula are cylindrical, slightly curved, obtuse at both ends, some- times bulged about the middle, colourless, pellucid and calca- reous, for they dissolve readily in weak acids. Similar spicula are to be found in the tentacula radiating from the centre, in the branchiae and in the foot ; but less thickly set than in the cloak, and perhaps less regular in their figure. D. tuberculata is a very sluggish creature. When kept in a vessel until the water becomes unfit for respiration, it dis- charges, in dying, a large quantity of a gelatinous fluid from the skin, and some dirty greenish liquor from a small aper- ture placed before and a little to the right of the anus. This is the orifice of a duct which takes its origin from the liver, so that this viscus, besides the bile, appears to prepare another excremental secretion, that may, perhaps, be of use to the ani- mal in rendering it disagreeable to its enemies. Of such a combination of functions there is no other example among animals, and the fact was so strange and anomalous that re- peated careful dissections were required to convince Cuvier of its reality ; and, after no further doubt could be entertained, he suggested a possibility of two glands being here so inti- * Cuvier says, these tentacula " sont toujours composes de petits feuil- lets extraordinairement minces, empiles les uns sur les autres, et comme enfiles dans un pedicule coramun." — Mem sur le Doris, p. 12. f Rapp, under his description of Doris gra?idiJlora, says that the number of branchial leaflets cannot be used as a specific character, because they vary considerably in this respect in different individuals, — an observation which I believe to be applicable to the genus. E 2 52 Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. mately interlaced that no dissection could unravel the portions that belonged to each*. Cuvier^s description and figure of his Doris tuber culata ap- ply with such sufficient exactness to our Scottish species as to render their identity scarcely doubtful. I have been informed by Mr. J. E. Gray, to whom a specimen was sent, that it is the same as the English ones from the coast of Devonshire, usually confounded with the D. Argus, but which are, or were, labelled in the British Museum as D. Britannica or D. Mon- tagui. The D. tuberculata of Rapp in Nov. Act. Acad. Nat. Cur. torn. xiii. p. 521. tab. 27. fig. 4. 5. appears to me distinct from Cuvier's, in having the cloak sprinkled with granules merely and not tuberculated, and in the greater proportional breadth of the margin. It seems to be nearly allied to the fol- lowing species. 2. D. obvelata, body ovate-depressed, the cloak even and finely granulated with a rather broad margin ; tentacular sheaths level with the surface; branchial leaflets bipinnate, about 15, forming a cup when expanded. Plate II. fig. 4 — J, Doris obvelata, Mull. Zool. Dan. Prod. 229. Turt. Gmel. iv. 79- Lam. Anim. s. Vert. vi. i. 311. Hab. On rocks under sea-weeds near low- water mark. Berwick Bay, where it was discovered by Mr. J. Alder of Newcastle. Desc. Body nearly one inch long, one third as broad, ellip- tical, depressed, equally rounded at both ends, of a uniform yellowish- white colour, usually dashed with a few dusky spots. Cloak even, smooth and punctate to the naked eye, but really finely granulated, as it appears through a common magnifier, the border rather broad, undulated and plain. Space between the cloak and foot smooth. Dorsal tentacula short, ovate, bulged, obscurely lamellated, issuing from apertures without any sheaths. Branchiae surrounding the nipple-like vent in an entire circle, forming by their union a beautiful cupped blos- som : there are fifteen leaflets of equal size, bipinnate, not * " En voila le premier exemple dans la nature, et la chose etait assez singuliere pour me faire douter long-temps, et pour me faire mettre dans cet examen toutes les precautions possibles. II n'y a qu'une seule sup- position a faire qui soit contraire a mon idee ; c'est que les lobules de deux glandes differentes seroient tellement entrelaces, qu'on ne pourroit les di- stinguer a la vue ; une partie de ces lobules seroit hepatique, et produiroit la bile ; l'autre donneroit la liqueur que le canal en question transmet au dehors."— Cuv. Mem. sur le genre Doris, p. 16. Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 53 spreading, white. Foot ovate, white, undulated. Innume- rable calcareous spicula enter into the composition of the cloak and skin. This is readily distinguished from every variety of the pre- ceding by the chaliced form which the branchiae assume when displayed and by the smoothness of the cloak. I have not seen Mutter's figure of D. obvelata, but the specific character which Lamarck gives of it is very suitable to our species : — " corpore ovali-oblongo, supra tuberculis parvis punctato; velo marginali lato repando." 3. D. bilamellata, body ovate-depressed, the cloak rough, with equal tubercles ; branchiae short, numerous, simply pec- tinate, forming an uninterrupted circle. Plate II. fig. 8. Doris bilaraellata, Linn. Syst. 1083. — D. fusca, Mull. Zool. Dan. Prod. 229. Zool. Dan. tab. 47- fig. 6—9. Lam. Anim. s. Vert. vi. i. 312. D. verrucosa, Pen. Brit. Zool iv. 82.pl. 23. Jig. 2. male. Turt. Grnel. iv. 77- Turt. Brit. Faun. 133. Fleming in Edin. Encyclop. xiv. 618. Stew. Elem. i. 386. Flem. Brit. Anim. 282. — Tritonia verrucosa, Jame- son in Wern. Mem. i. 556. Hah. On rocks near low- water mark. The sea near Aberdeen, Pennant. Leith shore and Shetland Islands, Prof. Jameson. Coast of Berwick- shire, not uncommon. Desc. Body about an inch long, oval, depressed, nearly equal in breadth at both ends, which are rounded and plain. Cloak mottled and clouded generally with brown of various tints, rough or muricated with numerous nearly equal small tubercles, the margin rather narrow. Dorsal tentacula conical, smooth towards the base, closely imbricate on the upper half, retractile within a simple cavity that sometimes appears like an ocellated spot. Branchiae forming a circle of not less than twelve simply pectinated short leaflets retractile within a de- pression with an entire rim. Foot oval, white except where stained by the interranea. As in the preceding species, the cloak contains an immense number of calcareous spicula, of un- equal sizes, and aggregated more particularly in the tubercles. This pretty species is subject to great variety in colour, and I have seen one or two individuals which were entirely white. It agrees so well with Linnaeus's description of D, bilamellata that I have not hesitated to adopt his name ; and the figure of Pennant is sufficient to enable any one conversant with the 54 Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. appearance and habits of the creature to identify it as his D. verrucosa. The wonder is how this should ever have been considered the same with the D. verrucosa of Linnaeus and Cuvier, — a large species found in the Indian seas, and differ- ent in every respect. Dr. Fleming says the branchial plumes are about twenty-four in number, " arranged in a semicircle, those at each end shortest." It is very difficult to ascertain their exact number from their close apposition, but I think they do not much exceed twelve. 4. D. lavis, " cloak smooth in the middle, slightly tuber- culated towards the margin ; branchial plumes eight in num- ber." Fleming. Doris laevis, Lin. Syst. 1083. Mull. Zool. Dan. Prod. 229- Turt. Gmel. iv. 79. Cuv. Mem. v. 26. Fleming in Edin. Encyclop. xiv. 618. Lam. Anim. s. Vert. vi. i. 312. Flem. Brit. Anim. 282. Hab. " Common among the Zetland Isles," Rev. Dr. Fleming. Desc. " Length about half an inch, rounded in front, nar- row behind ; of a milk-white colour." Fleming. 5. D.pilosa, body ovate, tumid, the cloak tomentose with an ample margin ; branchiae from 7 to 9, plumose. Plate II. fig. 9, 10. Doris pilosa, Turt. Gmel. iv. 79. Lam. Anim. s. Vert. vi. i. 312. Cuv. Mem. v. 26. — D. tomentosa ? Cuv. he. cit. 26. Hab. Under Algse between tide marks. Coast of Berwickshire, occa- sionally. Desc. Body less than an inch in length, oval, very convex dorsally, snow-white, but so pellucid that its purity is slightly stained by the opacity of the internal viscera : the cloak tomen- tose with ^mall papillae, the margin ample and plain. Foot oval, obtuse. Dorsal tentacula yellowish, cylindrical, lamel- late, without sheaths. Veil above the mouth large, somewhat triangular, produced at the superior angles. Branchia white like the body, beautifully plumose, the leaflets about seven, but it was difficult to ascertain the number exactly. — The spe- cific name tomentosa so well expresses the white woolly ap- pearance of the cloak in this species that it seems preferable to pilosa, but I feel so far persuaded that the names have been applied to variations of the same animal as to prefer that which has the claim of priority. Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 55 6. D. nodosa, " cloak with four equidistant papillae on each side the medial line." Fleming. Doris nodosa, Montagu in Linn. Trans, ix. 107. pi. 7. fig- 2. Fleming in Edin. Encyclop. xiv. 618. Pen. Brit. Zool. iv. 85. Flem. Brit. Anim. 282. Hab. " Among the rocks at St. Andrew's," Rev. Dr. Fleming. Desc. 7. D. nigricans, " cloak thickly covered with short lan- ceolate tubercles ; branchial plumes about eight in number." Fleming. Doris nigricans, Fleming in Edin. Encyclop. xiv. 618. Flem. Brit. Anim. 283. Hab. " Zetland/' Rev. Dr. Fleming. Desc. "Length about half an inch, pale, freckled with dusky; cloak emarginate anteriorly ; sheath of the superior ten- tacula notched in the margin." Fleming. May not this be a variety of D. pilosa ? ** Body prismatic. 8. D. Barvicensis, body smooth; branchial leaflets eight, plumose. Plate II. fig. 11 — 13. Doris electrina?? Pen. Brit. Zool. iv. 83. pi. 26. fig. 1. Stew. Elem. i. 387.— D. bilaraellata ? ? Turt. Brit. Faun. 134. Hab. Amongst corallines in deep water. Coast of Berwickshire, rare. Desc. Body prismatic, y^tus of an inch long, about one-third as broad, of a white watery colour irregularly clouded with sul- phur-yellow and pink, (the latter dependent on the viscera,) and sprinkled all over with minute white dots. Back smooth, the cloak adnate, thickened at the sides, where it forms a sort of narrow membranous rim. Sides abrupt, smooth. Foot elongated beyond the cloak and tapered to an obtuse depressed tail, white, with a yellowish medial line and a thin pellucid edge, the anterior angles produced into two distinct tentacular processes. Dorsal tentacula cylindrical, yellowish, the upper half lamellated with the shaft lengthened into a small mucro ; they issue from wide sheaths emarginate on their inner sides. Branchial leaflets eight, when moderately extended like papillae or tubercles, but when fully expanded they are somewhat plu- mose and encircle the prominent tubular vent, from which white lines radiate to the branchiae : just behind the branchial 56 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. circle and behind the anus there is a small but distinct orifice of a deep red colour. This description is taken from a single specimen, the only- one I ever saw, and it is probable that the colour may vary in different individuals. It seemed fond of swimming in a re- versed position; and evacuated some small pellets of a bright red colour while in confinement, but it was not ascertained whether these came from the vent or the adjoining excremental orifice. [To be continued.] VII. — Information respecting Botanical Travellers. Letters have lately been received from Mr. Cuming, (so well known by his splendid South American collections of Natural History,) dated Manilla, Dec. 24, 1836; from Dr. Schomburgh, dated New Amster- dam, Berbice, April 8th, 1837, Demerara, August 8th, 1837; from Mr. Gardner, dated Organ Mountains, Brazil, April 5th, 1837. Mr. Cuming had reached Manilla in July of last year, just as the rainy season had set in, when he was unable to make any excursions until the end of September. He then left Manilla for the Hacienda of Calaguan in the centre of Luyon, where he remained until the 15th of December, visiting and exploring the woods and mountains in the neighbourhood, and then returned to Manilla with his collec- tions. These consist of about 1150 species found in the island of Luyon ; and of these nearly one-tenth are ferns of the most varied and beautiful forms ; two of them are tree-ferns ; and one he de- scribes as constituting a shrub, throwing out branches like the fir ; and with the exception of a few, they were all found in fructifica- tion. He secured about 60 species of Orchideae, of which the greater part were not in flower ; many species of Mosses, and 1 25 Fungi. Many trees afforded specimens with splendid inflorescences, some blossoming twice in the year ; but others flower principally in March, April and May, and could not be collected in a satisfactory state at a later season. Without having then visited the coast, he had col- lected no less than 250 kinds of Shells, and a proportionate number of Insects, Reptiles, Crustacean, &c. His reception from the Government (which hitherto had been so jealous of foreigners visiting their country, that I know of no natu- ralist who had ever penetrated into the interior of the island except Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 57 Mr. Cuming) was flattering in the extreme ; every facility had been afforded to his researches, and the hospitality of the resident Spa- niards was even greater than what he experienced from the same na- tion in South America. Although Calaguan is deemed the most un- healthy spot in the island, and although Mr. Cuming explored the woods, mountains, marshes and river-banks, frequently exposed to torrents of rain during a whole day, he never suffered an hour from illness, nor experienced a moment's pain, except from the bites of venomous insects. Mr. Cuming's return to England with his col- lections may shortly be expected. f t Mr. Gardner, whose intention of visiting the Organ Mountain is noticed at p. 346, vol. ii. of the Companion to the Botanical Maga- zine, writes from his residence of " Fazenda de St. Anna de Paque- quer" in that range, at an elevation of 3100 feet above the level of the sea. He says in his letter, — "I have to acknowledge the receipt of your long and highly wel- come letter of the 25th of October, which I had not intended to an- swer at this time, not expecting an opportunity of despatching my reply. I have however just heard that a vessel is to sail direct for Liverpool in about three days ; and a Swiss planter, a very kind friend of mine, whose estate lies about three leagues distant from this Fazenda, having arrived here to-night on his way to the city, and offering to convey anything I may wish to send thither, I sit down to write you a few hurried lines, to inform you that I am in the enjoyment of good health, and busily employed in an excellent botanical field. It will be impossible for me now to dilate on all I have seen and collected upon this mountain range. This informa- tion I trust to be able to give on my return to Rio, which will pro- bably take place in about a month, when it is my intention to ar- range and pack up all my collections, — a process for which both house-room and paper are wanting here. " When sailing up the bay to this Fazenda, we passed many little rocky islands, on which I observed a number of Cacti ; and on my return to the city I hope to take a boat, and spend a day or two in surveying them. Should any new species of the Cactus tribe, as I expect, reward my researches, they shall be sent to my generous patron the Duke of Bedford, to whom I regret that there has been no opportunity of forwarding a box of living Palms. " There are very few Mosses on these mountains, and not many Li- chens, but an abundant harvest of Ferns, many of which, I have no doubt, you will find to be new. Several of those I have examined 58 Information respecting Botanical Travellers, are undescribed by Sprengel. Among the most remarkable is a very fine Osmunda, and a curious bipinnate species, with a habit corre- sponding to that of Lygodium, but the fructification of a Blechnum. I have met with a few Fungi, but have not collected any. Agaricus campestris is very abundant just now on the pastures of this estate. '! Among my recent discoveries are two most beautiful species of Cattleya, both of them, I believe, new. A single living plant of each was all I could secure ; but I dried and preserved in spirits some of the blossoms. " Your obliging suggestions as to my future movements have met with my best attention ; but I am yet undecided what plan to pur- sue. Since receiving your letter, my opportunities of obtaining in- formation respecting the route to Goyaz have been very small ; and all I have heard is, that the journey would occupy several months, and be attended with heavy expense. From our mutual friend, Dr. Loudon, I had a letter a few days since, containing a most pressing invitation to visit him in that province ; and as Von Martius seems to consider the interior from thence as a good botanical field, I feel inclined to proceed thither when quitting Rio, as from the immediate vicinity of Pernambuco much might be obtained, which could not fail to prove acceptable to my subscribers, whether for living or dried plants. After spending four or five months there, it would be time to think of exploring the interior. But although I may remain in Brazil two or three years more, I shall not resign the idea of a trip across the Pampas and Andes to Chili. On all these points you shall hear further when I have the honour to write, along with my Organ Mountain collections. " Ever since Christmas day I have been residing at this Fazenda ; and when my stay is completed, which will be in a month, I hope to send home 400 or 500 species. I now enclose in a box contain- ing insects, two capsules of a species of Talauma. This is a grand and handsome tree of frequent occurrence in this vicinity, which bears abundance of large yellowish white, highly fragrant flowers. I arrived just in time to secure a few specimens, which I succeeded, after much trouble, in drying. This spot is at an elevation of 3100 feet above the level of the sea ; but the highest peak of the Organ Mountains attains twice that altitude. It has never yet been as- cended ; but I hope this will not continue to be the case, as the En- glish clergyman at Rio projects an excursion to the summit next week, and kindly permits me to accompany him. We expect to be absent at least three days and two nights ; and since many miles of the route lie through a dense virgin forest, where it will be neces- Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 59 sary to cut our way, we shall take four negroes with us, who will also carry provisions, &c. I expect to find many curious things, and only regret that our mode of travelling must preclude the possibility of making large collections. My friends would, I dare say, hardly recognize me in the garb that I assume during these excursions, which consists of only a shirt, thin trowsers, linen shooting-jacket with wide pockets, and a straw hat as broad as the Culross girders used for baking the oat cakes of my native land. Neckcloth and vest are incumbrances here : instead of the former, a string suspends round my neck a large knife ; while a cutlass for cutting down trees hangs by my side, and a huge botanical box is strapped to my back. I should also mention that deep Brazilian boots of untanned yellow leather incase my legs, and come up as high as the body. My ex- cursions generally extend to a distance of ten or more miles, as I often ride on a mule ; and when I tell you that the woods here are most beautifully adorned with several arborescent species of Mela- stomacea, principally of the genus Lasiandra, whose deep green foli- age and purple blossoms give them the appearance of gigantic Rho- dodendrons, and which are mingled with large trees of the genus Cassia, covered with lovely yellow flowers, you will easily believe that I return home at night loaded with novelties. "April 5th, 1837. " George Gardner." A more recent communication from Mr. Gardner has put us in possession of his journal, written during his residence in the Organ Mountains, which will be given in an early number of our Annals ; and of a letter, dated partly at sea and partly on his arrival at Per- nambuco, from which we make the following extracts. " On board Her Majesty's Packet Opossum, between Bahia and Pernambuco, October 6, 1837. C( By the last packet I wrote, stating that I had determined to visit Pernambuco before going south, having been advised not to think of proceeding to Buenos Ayres, in consequence of the present unsettled state of the country between that place and Chili. Seve- ral friends, well informed on the point, concurred in this opinion ; and while it is with reluctance that I give up my first intention, I still think that twelve months will not be unprofitably spent in the north of Brazil. Pernambuco and the adjoining provinces have been less visited than the rest of this country ; and M. Riedel, the bota- nist attached to M. Longsdorff's expedition, with whom I have just been conversing, states, that while he has explored all the rest of Brazil, he did not visit Pernambuco, a district, with which though 60 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. he is personally unacquainted, he understands to be peculiarly rich in plants. " I am carrying letters to several of the merchants in Pernambuco, one of whom happens to be a fellow-passenger with us from Bahia. This gentleman informs me that he possesses a country house not far from a large fresh-water lake, eight miles inland from the city, where he has kindly invited me to spend some time. Another of the passengers from Rio is a young Spaniard, who has a large Es- tancia or farm in the republic of Monte Video, situated about 160 leagues up the Uraguay river. He was educated in England, and is now on his way to visit his father who lives in London. From this individual, with whom I have formed some intimacy, I have re- ceived a most hospitable invitation to make use of his house for as long a time as I may remain in that quarter. It is situated only three days journey from the Missiones, where Bonpland resides; and abundance of the Mate ox Tea plant of Paraguay, {Ilex Paraguay en- sis) is cultivated there. As this gentleman intends to return in less than twelve months, I shall not prolong my stay in the north beyond that period. By this arrangement I hope to reach Buenos Ayres about the beginning of what is the summer season there. I antici- pate that this gentleman's kindness will be of the utmost service to me, as he is acquainted, not only with all the Spaniards who possess large farms in that country, but with the greater part of the English also ; and in case of his not having returned so soon as my arrival shall take place, he has given me letters to the manager of his estate, who, like himself, is an Anglo- Spaniard, and to some of his relations in Buenos Ayres. He informs me that, however dangerous travel- ling may be in the country between Buenos Ayres and Mendoza, Cordova and Tucuman, it is perfectly safe to do so in the Banda Oriental and Entre Rios. "While at Bahia, I saw in one of the numbers of Silliman's North American Journal a drawing and description of the new plant-press * which you propose to me. It is certainly constructed on a much superior plan to any of those now used, and for an individual who is stationary, excels all others ; but I incline to think that, for the pur- pose of travelling, no mode of drying plants is so ready and commo- * Of the usefulness of this newly-invented plant-press I can speak with confidence, after nearly twelve months' experience in the use of it. It was presented to me by its inventor, Dr. Locke of Cincinnati, state of Ohio, a gentleman who has lately visited England, and who is distinguished for his extensive mechanical knowledge. A figure and description will be offered in a future number of our Journal. — W. J. H. Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 61 dious as that afforded by two thin boards the same size as the paper, with strong cross bars, a couple of leathern straps, and a big stone. " I trust that my second shipment of specimens will have arrived ere you receive this letter. I have yet a few Rio plants to send, most of them collected just before I left that city, and dried during the passage to Bahia, which occupied thirteen days. At the latter place we spent forty-eight hours, during which I made two short botanical excursions, and found several novelties ; among them two species of Eriocaulon, a yellow-flowered shrubby Cuphea, (C. flava ? Sprengel), Pistea stratiotes in flower and seed, Angelonia Mr tea (of Chamisso), and some others which I have not yet had time to exa- mine. Here also were several specimens of what seems to me Cory- anthes speciosa, (Hooker), growing on the Mangrove, Cocoa-nut, and other large trees on the Victoria Hill. The country round Bahia is much lower than the neighbourhood of Rio ; but its vegetation is ranker and far more luxuriant. The Mangoes, the Jacka (Artocar- pus integrifolia), the Cocoa-nut and other Palms attain nearly twice the size they do about Rio ; and the general Flora is also quite dif- ferent, the common plants being altogether dissimilar in the two places. On my second botanizing trip I was accompanied by a young man from Glasgow, who has been eight years in a merchant's house here. Though he attended the lectures of the Professor of Botany in that city, he has forgotten all about that science : but his ac- quaintance rendered him a useful companion. These plants will be sent with the first collection from Pernambuco. ' * B efore quitting Rio , I again went up to Tej u ca, in order to procure, if possible, a few plants of Oncidium Russellianum ; but though I staid three days and explored every probable spot, I had but little success. The few Orchidece that I obtained are sent home, packed with all the skill and care of which I am master, by H.M. ship Blonde, which is expected to make a short passage. ***** j j e ft- ^ wo Doxes to be forwarded from Rio to Liverpool, containing reptiles and shells : in the former are two birds of the country ; one of them the Jacutinga (Penelope Jacutinga of Spix), a small monkey and a squirrel. I have also collected several insects ; among them another fine species of Ceutrotus, which is only found on the small branches of Carolinea alba : it is much larger than any of the others. " George Gardner." Five days after the date of the above letter, i.e. in twenty-five days after quitting Rio, Mr. Gardner reached Pernambuco, where he was kindly welcomed by Dr. Loudon, a gentleman from Glasgow, now resident in that city, who is well known to ourselves, having joined 62 Information respecting Botanical Travellers, us in several botanizing parties to the Highlands of Perthshire, and who has paid much attention to the natural history of Brazil. Dr. Loudon assured Mr. Gardner that he thought there would be no difficulty in exploring the interior of the province, by making some cotton or sugar plantation his head-quarters : he offered him all the assistance in his power. As soon as Mr. Gardner should have col- lected two hundred species, he intended to despatch them home, so that we may soon look for specimens from him. I may here remark that Mr. Gardner's extensive harvest of Organ Mountain plants have reached London, where such parcels as are ad- dressed to the English and continental subscribers will be taken out by Mr. Hunneman: the rest will be forwarded without delay to Glasgow. Since the above was written we have had the pleasure of receiving Mr. Gardner's collection of Organ Mountain plants, which will be distributed to the different subscribers with as little delay as pos- sible. It is, as we anticipated, extremely rich in rare and novel spe- cies, remarkably well preserved. The number of the fullest sets ex- tends from 301 to 735 phsenogamous plants, together with a very fine collection of Ferns, and some good Mosses (which latter are not distributed). Little, comparatively, as is the distance between Rio and the Organ Mountains, yet, on account of the elevation, the vege- tation of the latter is considerably different from that of the former place. Among the genera we find two of Clematis, a magnificent Talauma, two singular species of Viola (one V. balsaminoides, Gardn. MS.), a Qualea, a Platanthera (ciliosa, Mart.), a Chorisia (speciosa, St. Hil.), several Clusice, or perhaps Schweiggerice, St. Hil., Noran- tea (Brasiliensis) , a Trigonia, some fine Sapindacece, a Stematosiphon, Pohl ; Ilex Paraguensis (!) ; several Casearice ; numerous Leguminosce, especially Cassia ; a Rubus, Cerasus, Fuchsia, many exceedingly beau- tiful Melastomacece and Myrtaceae ; four Passion-flowers, one with an unusually large and handsome blossom ; Cereus truncatus, and a new species (C Russellianus, Gardn. MS.) ; Hydrocotyle macrophylla, Pohl ; an Eryngium, four Loranthece, several Rubiacece, two Valerians, some very handsome Lobelia and Gesneriacece, a Gaultheria, a Vac- cinium and Andromeda, numerous and very fine Composite, particu- larly a Baccharis with large coriaceous cuneate leaves (perhaps B. pla- typoda, DL), and a Mutisa, Cybianthus (cuneifolius, Mart.), some Asclepiadea and Apocynea, a noble Lisianthus, Talbachia (among Gen- tianea), and a magnificent Prepusa (of the same family, very differ- ent from the P. montana, Mart. Nov.Gen t. 190.), P. connata, Gardn. MS. ; several Solanea ; Franciscea, two species, (one of them the very handsome and little -known F. hydrangeeeformis, Pohl) ; two Virgu- Information respecting Botanical Travellers, 63 lariae, a Cartilleja, Peltodon, Hyptides, four Salvia:, a new Cyrtan- draceous (?) plant, some singular Utricularice, one with a large cordate leaf, several curious species of Begonia, Laurinece, a Rhopala, an Ari- stolochia (cymbifera, Mart.) ; a caulescen Dorstenia, two Alstrcemerice, an Eriocaulon, several Monocotyledoneae, and among them no less than fifty-eight species of remarkably well-preserved Orchidece. Sel- dom have we received a more interesting collection from any country ; and we trust that Mr. Gardner's researches in Pernambuco will be rewarded with similar success, and he cannot fail to extend greatly our knowledge of the vegetable riches of Brazil. We heartily wish that Dr. Schomburgh had been equally fortu- nate in his travels with Mr. Cuming and Mr. Gardner ; but he has had difficulties to contend with of no ordinary character, as will be seen in the following extracts from the letter above-mentioned, dated " New Amsterdam, Berbice, April 8, 1837. "I acknowledge with the greatest gratitude your kind letter of November the 12th, 1836, which I received a few days ago on my return to the colony. It evinces in the most flattering terms the interest you take in my proceedings, and stimulates, as it ought to do when I consider the source whence it proceeds, my ardent desire to make myself worthy of that interest. I have to contend with a thousand difficulties ; months elapsing, during which I have had no other habitation than an oil- cloth roof and some poles taken from the wood as uprights whereon to sling my hammock. The interior of British Guiana is uninhabited ; and while ascending the Berbice, we saw no appearance of human beings from the commencement of December till our return a few days ago. This circumstance alone may show the difficulty which attends the collecting and drying of plants in these regions. Let there be but a hovel which affords shelter and the means for preserving the specimens which have been collected with so much toil, and it is preferable to our late temporary habitations. The greatest traveller of his own time, or of anytime, the celebrated Humboldt, found Indian settlements along the wild- est part of his tours ; yet I have been for months past in districts where human foot never trod before, and starvation looked us pretty earnestly in the face. There is little doubt that part of the river Berbice has never been visited. No person can be more anxious than myself to send large and good collections of plants to Europe ; and during my late expedition everything has been done to fulfil this wish. An assistant was engaged by me, and no op- portunity neglected for collecting : still the number of species does 64 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. not exceed 220 to 230, exclusive of those which had been previously found on my visit to the Essequibo. It is quite a mistaken idea to conclude that a tropical heat is qualified to dry specimens better than the temperate zone. I can assure you that the contrary is the fact ; and I am but too frequently compelled to have recourse to ar- tificial heat, to prevent the plants from spoiling. The dense wood generates moisture at all times, even when the atmosphere appears most clear and serene, which, alas ! has been a rare circumstance during my stay in British Guiana, much to the injury of my astro- nomical observations and botanical stores, During my visit to the Berbice it rained almost daily, and from Christmas to the commence- ment of April wet weather was incessant. I cannot sufficiently regret that many of the Essequibo plants were in such a bad condi- tion, as I would have made any sacrifice rather than cause dissatis- faction to my subscribers ; and to obviate this, I have offered to de- duct the amount of such, or to replace them, where practicable, with more perfect samples, in order that botanists may become acquainted with all that I have found, and have no reason for complaint. Of No. 156, to which one of my subscribers objects as being without inflorescence, I may state that I could only find three plants in flower, which were, of course, destined for my first three subscribers ; but as the juice of the species itself forms one of the ingredients in the famous Wonrali poison, I considered it of sufficient interest to war- rant my sending it. No. 157 is of similar interest, being the tree which gives the Amapaima or Caska preciosa. Of No. 160 I have only transmitted a portion of the leaves ; but Palms must not henceforth be expected from me ; for if foliage, spathas and fruit are looked for, how could these be transported in corials ? No. 168 has leaves only, no flower ; but I considered that the tree which yields the Guiana vegetable milk, and of which the juice is also used by the natives as a varnish, was surely worth sending. I am thankful to the individual who has drawn my attention to these and other Nos. ; in some instances I may have been in fault, and I can only repeat my offer that twelve specimens be deducted from my Berbice plants, and that any sample to which a well-founded objection can be made, should be rejected. If cabinet botanists, those who work at home, did but know what trouble it costs to collect plants, espe- cially in the tropics, where Nature seems only to exist in the ex- tremes of either a burning sun or pelting rain, they would be lenient in their judgments respecting those individuals, whose time, labour and expenses it is out of the question to think of repaying. The dense forests of this country are not very productive of those plants Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 65 which are most easily collected and preserved ; I mean the herba- ceous kinds. In these the Savannahs are far richer, while they also yield an equal number of shrubs, &c. "An abridgement of my reports to the Royal Geographical Society, to which all papers connected with my journey justly belong, has appeared in the Journal of that body. I have, however, protested against any more being published for the present, as my views may change with respect to the country and its productions; and with regard to the character of the natives, it cannot be studied during a six months' journey. My investigations of British Guiana will be concluded in 1838 or 1839 ; so that if the Almighty spares my health and strength, I hope to have many opportunities before me of in- creasing my stock of knowledge. I have gone to the expense of engaging a draughtsman, who, under my own inspection, executes drawings of such plants as I may consider interesting ; the parts of fructification I delineate myself. Upwards of fifty have been done, many of them new ; and I have preserved the inflorescence, and otherwise paid the greatest attention to the faithful representation of the whole plant. "J am glad to hear that the Cacti reached Woburn in good order, though I much doubt that the first I sent was C. semper angular is, as the numeral classification, according to the sides which the stem presents, is highly deceptive. M. Otto of Berlin pronounces three of those which I sent from Tortola to be new. Not a Melocactus nor Echinocactus have I seen since I reached this country ; the gra- nitic regions sometimes present a Cercus or one of the Rhipsalidea, but scarcely anything of the Cactus tribe. The islands are doubt- less the region of the latter, and these I hope shortly to visit ; for, as you are probably aware, Cuba, St. Domingo and Portorico have never been sufficiently investigated, though these are among the largest and most fertile of the West India islands. It is true that Poppig has been in the first and Bertero in the two latter ; but their labours were limited. It is therefore my plan, after returning early in the year 1839, to commence a tour through the islands, from Tri- nidad to the Bahamas. Have the goodness to tell me candidly whe- ther the collections of plants from these countries would find pur- chasers. The mountain chain of Cuba, but chiefly that of San Do- mingo, is yet unexplored. " Now for the discoveries made during my late expedition. At the head stands a new Nymphaa, the most wonderful production I have seen since my botanical researches commenced. I observed it first in the upper regions of the river Berbice ; it is generally found where Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 1. March 1838. f 66 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. the river is currentless, the membranaceous leaves being a lively- green on the surface and bright crimson beneath, and from 5 to 6^ inches in diameter ; the rim is turned up, and from 2 to 6 inches high : the salver-like form of the foliage is most regular, and the flower vies in beauty and singularity with the leaf. It is from a foot to fifteen inches in diameter, of a lovely pink in the middle, and pure white externally. Extensive stretches of the river are covered with this splendid Water Lily, affording so singular an appearance, that when I saw it for the first time, I could have wished my corials had wings, to enable me to ascertain what this beautiful inmate of the waters could be. The sensations of astonishment and delight with which I first surveyed this vegetable wonder are not to be described. I had a faithful drawing taken, and attempted likewise to preserve the leaves and flowers. The former failed utterly; but the blossoms, which are in strong brine, are tolerably well preserved. In a short time you shall hear more of it*. " My second discovery of interest is a genus of Fern, which I have not previously observed nor seen described in any of the botanical works I. possess : it seems to connect the Ferns with the Mosses. Of that curious tribe, the Balanophorce, I possess a species ; but all my * Probably it is this very Water-Lily to which M. d'Orbigny alludes in his Voyage dans VAmerique Meridional* , when he says, " Le 3 Mars je recommence ma navigation, et descendant le Paraua, j'arrivai a l'em- bouchure du petit ruisseau de San Jose, qui forme un immense marais avant de se reunir au fleuve. La je trouvai une plante qui est peut-etre Tun des plus belles d'Amerique. Cette plante, qui parait appartenir a la famille des NympheacSes, voisine du Nenuphar de France, mais dans des dimensions gigantesques, est connue des Guaianais sous le nom de Yrupe, qu'elle doit a son sejour habituel et a l'analogie de la forme de ses feuilles avec celles de certains grands plats ou avec la couverture de certains pa- niers ronds fabriques dans le pays. Qu'on se figure, sur une etendue de pres d'un quart de lieue de long, et de plus de largeur, des feuilles arron- dies, flottant a la superficie des eaux, toutes larges d'un a deux metres, et dont le pourtour est muni de bords releves perpendiculairement a deux pouces au-dessus de l'eau comme un plat. Ces feuilles, lisses en dessus, se divisent en dessous en une foule de compartimens reguliers, qui forment des cotes tres-saillantes, remplies d'un air qui les soutient a la superficie de l'eau. Toute la partie inferieure de la feuille, ainsi que sa tige et ses fleurs, sont couvertes de longues epines. Au milieu de cette vaste plaine, brillent, dans la proportion des feuilles, des fleurs larges de plus d'un pied, de couleur tantot violaree, tantot rosee, tantot blanches, toujours doubles, et exhalant un parfum delicieux. Ces fleurs produisent une espece de fruit spherique, qui, dans samaturite, est gros la moitie de la tete, et plein de graines arrondies tres farineuses ; ce qui a fait donner a cette plante le nom de mais del agua (mais d'eau) par les Espagnols du pays, qui, a ce qu'ii parait, receuillent ces graines et les font rotir pour les manger. Je ne pouvais me laisser d'admirer ce colosse des vegetaux, dont je recueillis des fleurs, des feuilles et des fruits, et je m'acheminai vers Corientes, ou j'arrivai a quatre heures du soir." Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 6 J attempts to preserve were fruitless ; it is, however, among my draw- ings. No less interesting are three new species of Podostemea, of which my first subscribers will receive specimens. I am just occu- pied in arranging my plants, and must acknowledge with what dis- tress I see the damage which the moisture has caused them, in spite of the chests being tinned inside. Nothing can effectually guard against this evil, and it is needless to complain. I had taken every precaution, and exposed the boxes to the sun whenever there was an opportunity ; though, sad to say ! a sunbeam did not occur above four or five times during the whole two months of my journey. " There is little doubt that my steps will next be turned to the mountains near the equator. In my ascent of the Essequibo I may meet with many of the plants I found before, and I shall be obliged by^our pointing out to me such among them as you deem worthy to be drawn and described on the spot. " I have been very unfortunate with my entomological collections ; they fared worse even than the plants. The wreck of those collected in my last expedition were sent to the Entomological Society, while those which I got together during the Berbice and Conrantine trip were, with the exception of a very few, completely ruined by the corial being swamped ; when, unfortunately, in the agitation of the moment, the box was neglected to be secured. I hope to be less unlucky another time. I had almost forgotten to mention that I have three Cacti for Woburn : a number of seeds of Palms, and other plants shall accompany them. It will probably be necessary to send these things via Demerara, where I shall be in the commencement of May, as there is no communication from Berbice to Glasgow and iv rpoo . (( Robert H. Schomburgh." Since the above extracts were penned for publication, much valu- able information has been given at the late meeting of the British Association at Liverpool respecting the splendid Nymphaeaceous plant discovered by Dr. Schomburgh in the river Berbice. A new genus has been formed of it, which has been dedicated to our young queen. It is the Nymphtea Victoria of its discoverer; Victoria Re- gina of Mr. Gray ; Victoria regia of Dr. Lindley, who has done am- ple justice to Dr. Schomburgh' s. drawings by having it engraved on an imperial atlas size, at his own expense, and accompanied by a description for private distribution. It detracts nothing from Dr. Schomburgh's merits, if it be really the case,, as stated in some of the foreign Journals, that the same plant was also found by Dr. Pop- pig in the Amazon river, and named Euryale Amazonica ; a genus f 2 68 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. from which Professor Lindley has found it necessary to distinguish it. Dr. Schomburgh's letter to the Botanical Society of London re- specting this plant, together with an accurate and coloured figure, have also appeared in the 11th number of Sir William Jardine's Magazine of Zoology and Botany. By the latest account that we have received from this courageous and scientific traveller, dated Demerara, August 28th, 1837, we learn that he was then about to undertake another expedition, and to pro- ceed, without delay, to ascend the Essequibo to William the Fourth's Cataract, which he had reached in 1835-6; thence to continue the survey of that river to its sources, which are considered to be in the supposed mountain chain near the equator. If time and circum- stances permit, he will then prosecute his researches to the eastward, return to the junction of Rupernuny in January 1 838, and select his tropical winter- quarters (i.e. during the rainy season) at the Brazilian Fort San Joaquim. He then trusts to be enabled, as soon as the dry season sets in again (in August 1838), to start towards the mountain chain where the Orinoco is supposed to have its sources, and to return to Demerara in February or March 1839. In this difficult enterprise we fervently wish him success. Botany has al- ready benefited considerably by his researches, notwithstanding his heavy losses and the difficulties he has had to encounter ; and he has sent to his subscribers in England many valuable plants besides the Victoria above alluded to, and amongst them specimens and draw- ings of four species of that highly curious aquatic genus Lacis (Po- dostemon, Mirb.), of which further notice will be taken in a future number of our Annals. Mr. Mathews, the indefatigable Peruvian traveller, has lately des- patched another collection of dried plants from the neighbourhood of Moyobamba. The specimens are in beautiful preservation, rich in Melastomacece and Composited ; but by no means so numerous in species as we could have wished. Mr. Mathews has neglected to number them, which will occasion some delay in the distribution to the Subscribers. ■ Mr. Tweedie, by whose researches in extra- tropical South America our gardens as well as our herbaria have been so much enriched, has recently performed a journey of some little difficulty to the south- ward of Buenos Ayres, beyond the Rio Saladillo, to a ridge of hills called Serras de Tandil, a country, as far as we know, never before visited by a botanist. The account with which he has favoured us of this journey will be given in our next number. 69 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Poissons oVEau douce a" Europe. Par Louis Agassiz, M.D. This work is now far advanced, and the publication will be com- menced immediately. It will be completed in six livraisons of thirty- plates each, giving in the whole work one hundred and eighty for the illustration of species and varieties. The first livraison will be devoted to the Salmonidee, and will contain the species of Salmon, Thymalus, and Coregonus which are at present known to exist in the European waters, accompanied with the requisite details. Das System der Pilze, Durch Beschreibungen und Abbildungen er- liiutert, von Dr. Th. Friedr. Ludw. Nees von Esenbeck und A. Henry. 8vo. Bonn, 1837. Erste Abtheilung. 12 Tab. Much expectation was raised by the announcement of the present work in consequence of the great merit and originality of the Genera Plantarum Flora Germanice published under the same auspices, and especially because of the well-known System der Pilze und Schwdmme of the author's brother. This expectation however has been by no means answered, the figures being with very few excep- tions mere copies and illustrations which have been repeatedly before the public, and frequently not the best which might be selected. The genera are often too vague and adopted on slight and insuffi- cient grounds. We think moreover that affinities enunciated by the great Swedish Mycologist have sometimes been rejected with evi- dent loss to systematic harmony. Indeed it is to be regretted that many hints thrown out by Fries, such as the identity of Ncemaspora and Libertella, a fact to the truth of which we can ourselves bear testimony, have been neglected. Though, however, but little addi- tion is made to our knowledge of the structure or affinities of Fungi in the present publication, as a compendium of genera and store- house of illustrations it will be of great use to students who have no ready access to the works to which the authors have had recourse. The price is very moderate. Plantes Cryptogames de France. Par LB. H. I. Desmazieres. Fasc.XVII. Lille, 1836. This admirable publication, resembling in its nature that of Bulliard upon the Cryptogamic plants of the Vosges Mountains, is the con- tinuation of one well known to all Cryptogamists, Plantes Crypto- games du Nord de France. The new title of the work indeed is a consequence of the great importance to which the more partial one 70 Bibliographical Notices. had arrived, comprising as it does eight hundred species. The spe- cimens are extremely good and in several cases are accompanied by beautiful lithographic sketches, the execution and accuracy of which cannot be too highly praised. Copious notes frequently are subjoined to the species, of which the principal synonyms are indicated. We cannot better show what may be expected from its enlarged scope, than by giving a list of the species which the present Fasciculus con- tains. It is greatly to be regretted that it is not possible to procure many of the earlier Fasciculi, of which we hope that the excellent author will be induced to give a second edition. Those marked with, an asterisk are accompanied by figures. The price of each fasciculus at Lille is 10 francs. •801. *802. *803. *804. *805. 806. 807. 808. 809. ♦810. *811. 812. 813. 814. 815. 816. 817. 818. 819. 820. 821. 822. 823. 824. Frustulia major, Kutz. Closterium lunula, Nitz. lamellosum, De Breb. Micrasterias denticulata, De Breb. Anabaina Brebissonii, Desm. Corynephora marina, Ag. Rivularia nitida, Ag. /?/a«a,Harv.inHook. Br. Fl. Desmidium mucosum, De Breb. Gaillonella varians, Desm. ? subflexilis, Desm. Asperococcus rugosus, Lam. : 1 bullosus, Lam. Dumontia incrassata, Lam. ■ — capillaris, Crouan, Delesseria ruscifolia, Lam. sinuosa, Lam. . arborescens, De La Pylaie. sanguinea, Lam. Laminaria bulbosa, Lam. saccharina (junior), Crouan. Cystoseira granulata, Ag. barbata, Ag. ericoides, Ag. 825. 826. 827. 828. 829. 830. *831. 832. 833. 834. 835. 836. 837. 838. 839. 840. 841. 842. 843. 844. 845. 846. 847. 848. 849. 850. Racodium rubiginosum, (var.) Fr. Peziza brunneo-atra, Desm. Tami, Lamy. culmicola, Desm. insidiosa, Desm. Vibrissea truncorum, Fr. Agaricus radians, Desm. (Lycoperdon radiatum, Sow.) Uredo utriculosa, Duby. Artemisia, Che v. Umbellatarum, Chew cylindrica, Strauss. epitea, Kz. Tropceoli, Desm. Sphceria salicina, Pers. — Lamyi, Desm. • Laburni, Pers. Berberidis, Pers. atrovirens, ec. A. & S. Phoma Phaseoli, Desm. Lecidea aromatica, Turn. albo- ccerulescens, Ach. speirea, /3. cretacea, Ach. anomala, Ach. erythrocarpia, Ach. subcarnea, Ach. canescens, Ach. Magazin de Zoologie, Journal destine a faciliter aux Zoologistes de tous les pays, les moyens de publier leur Travaux, et les especes nouvelles ou peu connues qu'ils possedent. Par F. E. Guerin- Meneville. 8vo. Paris, Septieme annee, Livs. 3. 4. # Livraison 3 me , 7 me annee. 1 . — Notice sur le groupe des Tangaras Rhamphoceles, et sur toutes Proceedings of Learned Societies. 71 les especes qui le composent, et description d'une nouvelle espece de cette division. Par M. De Lafresnaye. — The author makes out six species, including his undescribed one, to be now known in this li- mited South American genus. The new species figured under the name of M. dimidiatus seems to be identical with the R. melanogaster of Swain, described in Lardner's * Animals in Menageries/ p. 359, and if so the latter name must give way. It is said by Lafresnaye to be brought from the southern part of Mexico, and is entirely of a bril- liant/carlet, inclining to rich purple on the head and neck, and with the wings, tail, and centre of the belly deep black. Mr. Swainson gives Peru as the locality for his species. — 2. Continuation of the "Synopsis Avium, ab Alcide D'Orbigny." — 3. Continuation of " Voy- age de la Favorite," Classe III. Reptiles, illustrated by five plates. Livraison 4 me , 7 me anne.e. 1. Documents pour servir a Vhistoire naturelle des Cephalopodes cryptodibranches, par M. Rang. These " documents" are not com- pleted ; what we have published commence a series of notes on the genus Argonauta, and are accompanied by three figures of the A. Argo in different positions in the shell. — 2. Description de trois nouvelles especes de Paludinesfossiles, par M. Charles D'Orbigny, with figures. — 3. Forficula parallela, Westwood. A native of Mexico. Figured. — 4. HelopsLanipes, Fabricius: description and figures of the states of the imperfect insect. — 5. Insectorum nonnullorum exoticorum efami- lia Cynipidarum descriptiones, auctore J. O. Westwood. Leiopteron peras, West. Italia scalpellator, West. Shortly described. The two first figured in outline. — 6. Genus Conura, Spinola. Conura flave- s cens, shortly described and figured. — 7. Xiphicer a, hsitreiWe. X. Cater - naultii, Leisthamel, n. s., described by Baron Leisthamel, and illus- trated with a coloured figure; and X.Pierrettii, described by Blanchard, and also illustrated by a coloured engraving : both are considered new to science, and of the last the describer is aware of only a single spe- cies. The first is a native of Cayenne, the latter of Brazil. PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. v LINN^IAN SOCIETY. Jan. 16, 1838.— Mr. Forster, V. P., m the Chair. Read a Paper on the Structure of Cuscuta europcea. By Charles C. Babington, Esq., M.A., F.L.S. The descriptions and figures of this plant given in the various works on our native plants are very imperfect, Mr. Babington's 72 Linncean Society, observations on recent specimens gathered in Sussex, in company with Mr. Bower, confirm the statement of Mr. Brown as to the ex- istence of scales in the tube of the corolla, a fact denied both by Sir J. E. Smith and Sir W. Hooker, who, however, appear to have examined dried specimens. These scales are transparent, closely pressed to the corolla, and very minute, so that they are easily over- looked, even in recent specimens, and in dried ones it is scarcely possible to discern them. They are bicuspidate, erect, and situated at the inner base of the filaments, which they partially inclose. Their form and position appear to have been first accurately described by Raymond, as recorded by Romer and Schultes. Reichenbach describes and figures them as palmate, and as situated at the base of the tube, so that it is probable his plant is different from ours, as Mr.Babington suggests. The nature of these scales is not well under- stood : by most botanists they are regarded as a vorticil of abortive stamens, and by Reichenbach as petals ; but their situation always within the stamens, and opposite to them, appears to refute both these opinions. Analogous scales occur in Hydrophyllece. The following characters are given by Mr. Babington of our British species : C. europcea, florum glomerulis bracteatis sessilibus, squamis bifidis erectis, tubo corollae per anthesiu cylindrico, fructiferse ventricoso, adpressis. C. Epithymum, florum glomerulis bracteatis sessilibus, squamis palmato- sectis conniventibus, tubo corollae cylindrico limbo campanulato. A third species of this curious genus has very lately been added to our Flora by Mr. J. E. Bowman, F.L.S., namely the C. Epilinum of Weihe. (Reich. Ic. t. 500./. 693.) Feb. 6, Mr. Forster, V.P., in the Chair.— Mr. Newman, F.L.S., exhibited a specimen of a variety of Nephrodium dilatatum gathered in Ireland, and remarkable for the great size of its sori. Mr. Henry Doubleday exhibited a specimen of Lav at era Olbia, from the banks of a road lately cut through Epping Forest, where the plant was growing in abundance, and apparently naturalized. Read the commencement of a paper by John Hogg, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., on the classification of Amphibia. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. September 12th, — Dr. Bostock in the Chair. — Some observations were made by Dr. Andrew Smith, Corresp. Member, on the necessity for a revision of the groups included in the Linnsean genus Squalus. Dr. Smith commenced with stating that in the course of his ex- amination of the Sharks which he had obtained while at the Cape, Zoological Society. 73 he found that although they could all readily be referred to the ge- nus Squalus, as denned by Linnaeus, yet there were many forms among them which would not admit of being placed in any of the subdi- visions proposed by Cuvier. This led him to perceive the necessity of either altogether remodelling Cuvier's groups, or of establishing additional ones for the reception of the new species. After mature consideration, he determined upon the adoption of the latter course, finding the new forms so distinct and numerous that they could not with propriety be included in any divisions which only ranked as sub-genera. Dr. Smith stated that he could not attempt to indicate the higher groups of the family of Squalida, but he was satisfied that all the sub-genera of Cuvier would receive such alterations and additions as would raise them to the rank of sub-families. In the very first sub- genus Scyllium, he had detected nine distinct minor groups, most of which included several well-marked species. Since fixing upon names for these groups, he had learned that several of them had been de- scribed as genera about a month previously by Prof. Miiller and Dr, Henle of Berlin, and he had consequently adopted their nomencla- ture in preference to the terms under which it was his intention to have characterized them, with only this difference, that he regarded these divisions as sub-genera rather than genera. ' Dr. Smith enumerated the sections above tefeixad to of the genus Scyllium as follows : ■■<,.. 1. Scyllium, restricted, include- f mr sp cies, y .-re, Linn., Squalus Canicula, Bloch, Scyllium vapense, Smith. 6< ;L utvivm, id. 2. Catulus, Willoughby, (three species,) tuualus Cauicula, Linn., Scyl. marmoratum, Bennett, Catulus Edivardii, Smith. 3. Poroderma, Smith, (four species, all found in the Cape seas,) Scyllium Africanum, Cuv., Poroderma pantherinum, Smith, Por. sub- maculatum, id. Por. varieyatum, id. 4. Ginglymostoma, Miiller and Henle, (one species) Squalus Gata, Garra. 5. Chiloscy Ilium, Miiller and Henle, (two species) Scyllium plagi- osum, Bennett, Le Squale dentele, Lacep. 6. Stegostoma, Miiller and Henle, (two species) Squalus fas ciatus, Bloch, Squal. maculatus, id. 7. Hemiscyllium, Miiller and Henle, (one species) Squalus ocella- tus, Bloch. 8. Chrossorhinus, Miiller and Henle, (one species) Squalus lobatus, described in Phillips's Voyage to Botany Bay. 74 Proceedings of Learned Societies. 9. Pristiurus, Bonaparte, (one species) Scy Ilium melanostomum, Bonap. Some drawings were exhibited by Dr. Smith, of the fonns pre- sented by the teeth of the species composing several of the above sections, and he remarked that on a future evening it was his in- tention to lay before the Society some further observations upon other groups of the cartilaginous fishes. Professor Muller of Berlin being present confirmed the views en- tertained by Dr. Smith as to the number of divisions which might properly be made of the family Scyllium, several of which he had already published, as mentioned by Dr. Smith. As to the rank which these groups should hold in a systematic arrangement, he considered this a point upon which we are hardly in possession of sufficient evi- dence to justify a decided opinion. ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. Dec. 4, 1837. — Sir Thomas Brisbane, Bart., President, in the Chair. On the Food of the Vendace, Herring, and Salmon. By John Stark. 1 . Food of the Vendace (Coregonus Maranula, Jardine). The author observed, that fishes in lakes, and feeding on animal food, must ne- cessarily subsist on the small aquatic animals found in these lakes ; that there is no reasonable analogy between the vendace and herring, because they live in different mediums, the one in salt the other in fresh water, and that their food cannot therefore be the same, none of the animals upon which fishes feed being common to both ; that writers on Natural History state the animalcules which are found in the stomach of the vendace, and other minute animals found in lakes, to be the food of freshwater fishes generally ; and that Leuwenhoek had even figured the identical animal lately found in the stomach of the vendace more than 130 years before, stating that it and the other minute animals in similar localities formed the food of the larger fishes. 2. Food of the Herring (Clupea Harengus, Linn.). The author stated that the food of the herring was better known than that of any other fish : that the food of the herring was, in particular, known to and described from personal observation by Paul Neucrantz previous to the year 1654, by Leuwenhoek in 1696, by Muller in 1785, by Bloch about the same period, by Fabricius in 1781, by Latreille and Lac6pede in 1798, by the Rev. Dr. Scoresby in 1820, by Pennant and others, and in fact is mentioned by every writer who treats of the na- tural history of fishes ; and that what had been stated by all writers on Royal Society of Edinburgh. 75 the subject, is corroborated by the examination of the stomach and intestinal canal of the herring, and the stomachs laid on the table of the Society. 3. Food and Reproduction of the Salmon (Salmo Salar, Linn.). The author stated on this head what had been remarked by the most esteemed authors on natural history to form the food of the salmon ; and exhibited preparations by Dr. Pownell confirming the statements of these writers. He next noticed the valuable evidence taken before a Committee of Parliament in 1824-25, regarding the food and na- tural history of the salmon, which also corroborated the statements of systematic writers ; and remarked, that when these fishes prey upon animals in roe, such as the Asterias, the ova often remain in the stomach and intestinal canal after the other portions of the food are wholly digested. He next gave an abstract of the evidence laid be- fore the Parliamentary Committee as to the periods of the ascent of the salmon in the different rivers for the purpose of spawning and the descent of the fry to the sea ; and pointed out the experiments made on the development of the ova by Mr. John Hogarth, jun., in the Appendix to the Report of the Committee, and those detailed by Mr. Schonbergin Sir David Brewster's Journal of Science. Dec. 18, 1837.— Dr. Hope, Vice-President, in the Chair. Experiments on the Growth of the Fry of the Salmon, from the exclu- sion of the Ova to the age of seven months. By Mr. John Siiaw. Communicated by Mr. Stark. The author of this paper had formerly made experiments on the growth of the salmon fry, by procuring spawn from the river bed where it had been deposited by the salmon. Not considering these experiments, however, as entirely unobjectionable, he procured two fishes from the river Nith in the act of spawning ; and having ex- pressed the ova of the female in a convenient place, the milt of the male fish was made to impregnate them as nearly as possible in imi- tation of the natural process. The ova were then placed in ponds prepared for the purpose, and so arranged as to exclude all chances of error as to the species or the nature of the progeny. The ponds were two in number; one twenty- five by eighteen feet, the other fifty by thirty feet, and two feet deep. The bottom was thickly imbedded with gravel ; and a small stream of spring water entered the ponds at the upper corner, and escaped by an opening at the other end. Both apertures were covered by a wire grating. The ova in one ex- periment were deposited on the 20th of January 1 737. On the 10th of March (fifty days after deposition) the embryo fish were visible. 76 Proceedings of Learned Societies. On the 27th of April (ninety-eight days after deposition) they were excluded from the egg. Specimens were exhibited of thirty days old, taken on the 26th of May, measuring nearly an inch in length, and the ovum still adherent. On the 27th of June, at two months old, the fry measured an inch and a half in length ; and on the 27th of October, at six months old, a specimen exhibited measured about x four inches in length. The temperature of the pond and of the air was noted at the periods of examination. Another experiment in a different pond afforded analogous results. Mr. Shaw is of opinion, from what he has observed in these and former experiments, that the young salmon remains in its native stream for two years after being hatched ; and that the Parr, or what is termed the Parr in his neigh- bourhood, is the young of the salmon. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Extract from an Address on the Fourth Anniversary, January 22nd, 1-828. By James Francis Stephens, F.L.S., President. " With regard to our Collection of Insects, it is with unusual satis- faction I announce that, from the prosperous state of our finances, as you have heard from the report of our worthy Treasurer — (ap- pended at the end) — we shall be enabled to command the services of a paid assistant to those gentlemen who have so kindly and so libe- rally undertaken gratuitously to superintend its arrangement ; and as we are now in possession of several excellent cabinets, I hope be- fore the recurrence of another anniversary, the entire collection will be so far arranged as to be available to the student ; for I speak ad- visedly when I add, that several individuals have hitherto declined joining our Society, and one has actually tendered his resignation, in consequence of our collection, extensive though it is, remaining in an unarranged condition. I need not, therefore, impress upon our valuable curators the boon they will confer upon the Society, by ex- pediting as much as in their power the labours they have so hand- somely undertaken to perform ; though at the same time, knowing the various difficulties they have to encounter, we cannot expect their progress will be very rapid, from the very limited time they can afford to devote to the subject ; at all events, I feel that the thanks of the Society are justly due to them for the exertions they have already made in furtherance of the task voluntarily imposed upon themselves, and, let us hope, that they will merit a reiteration of the same from their increased exertions on our behalf during the present year. " The design and objects of this Society have already been re- Entomological Society. 77 peatedly alluded to by my predecessors ; nevertheless, I cannot avoid reverting to the fact, that one of its immediate, and, as it appears to me, most momentous objects, is the publication of the labours of its members ; and I am, therefore, happy to announce that the Fourth Part of our Transactions is now upon the table ready for distribution, and, I feel assured, that several of the papers will reflect great credit upon the writers, from their practical utility, and tend considerably to advance the views contemplated by the Society. " Amongst the latter, the Prize Essays established by the Society may be referred to for their practical importance to the Agriculturist ; the Essay proposed for the past year, was an investigation into the habits, &c. of the "Nigger," or black caterpillar of the Turnip-Fly (Athalia Centifolite) , towards the prosecution of which the Agricul- tural Society of Saffron Walden joined us, by proposing an addi- tional Five Guineas for the successful Essayist. " Surrounded as I am by individuals fully competent to judge of the vast and almost boundless extent of the subjects comprehended within the scope of the Society's investigation, it may not be thought useless to suggest to them the adoption of the most simple methods of carrying their inquiries forward. Most of you, doubtless, have ex- perienced, at one time or other, the vexatious loss of time consequent upon being compelled to wade through voluminous works for the purpose of ascertaining whether any account or description of the insect, then under your investigation, was therein contained, and after the most laborious research have been frequently disappointed in your endeavours to extract the wished-for information, arising from the diffused and miscellaneous character of such publications ; and, as I trust that our Transactions will eventually become volu- minous, would it not be advisable for the working members of the Society to confine their labours, as far as practicable, to groups, in preference to the mere description of new and isolated species ? thereby gradually laying the foundation of a valuable series of Es- says, by preparing a succession of monographs of such groups of in- sects as are but little known, and of which the descriptions, so far as they have appeared, lie scattered over numerous bulky volumes. I would, however, except from this rule all notices or descriptions of new species, regarding which any important fact of ceconomy, phy- siology, structure, &c, may present itself; but in this case, as well as in the previous instances of monographs, I would recommend that an occasional abstract of the species described in the preceding vo- lumes of our Transactions should be prepared in an arranged form as an index to their contents, and as a guide to the student, and that 78 Botanical Society of London. this arranged index should be occasionally continued, and the pre- vious abstracts incorporated : indeed the necessity of rendering the results of our exertions accessible cannot be too much insisted upon. The astounding number of works, relating to Entomology, enume- rated in Percheron's Bibliographie Entomologique, is sufficient evi- dence of the drudgery required by the investigator into the ascertain- ment of new species, &c. ; but numerous as are the works recorded by that author, there appear to be so many serious omissions, that I cannot do better than reiterate the suggestion of my predecessor, that a Manuscript Catalogue should be formed as an Addendum to to the above-mentioned work. " With respect to the various papers which have been presented to the Society, and have contributed towards our instruction or en- tertainment at our meetings during the past year, I have no particular remarks to make, than to observe, in general terms, that the most valuable of them will shortly appear in your Transactions ; and I have great satisfaction in saying, it is the intention of your Council to publish our fasciculi at shorter intervals than has hitherto been the practice." BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. Extract from the First Annual Report, read 29th November, 1837 ; President, J.E.Gray,F.R.S . — ■ ' The number of British plants received amount to 4819 specimens, including ferns; 767 species, including 1313 specimens, have been arranged in the Herbarium, according to the system of De Candolle. The remaining 3506 duplicates, in- cluding 515 species, will be distributed to those persons who have favoured the Curator with lists of desiderata for that purpose. This distribution will take place under the direction of the Council in the months of December and January every year, when each member will receive such of his desiderata as may be contained among the dupli- cates in the Herbarium in proportion to his contributions : those gentlemen who have not contributed to the Herbarium receiving their duplicates after the distribution to the contributors has taken place. The Council beg also to inform the members, that in order to afford every facility for examining the Herbarium and Library, the rooms of the Society will be open one hour and a half previous to the ordinary meetings of the Society, when the Curator and Se- cretary will attend to render any assistance that may be required, and to circulate the books. In addition to the extensive and valu- able collection of British plants, the Council beg to announce the receipt of a large collection of French plants, supposed to be a por- Miscellaneous. 79 tion of the Herbarium of Jean Jacques Rousseau, together with some plants from Mahon, Minorca, presented by the Secretary. Another collection of foreign plants from America, collected by the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, has been presented by Joseph Freeman, Esq. Also specimens of Lycopodium Circinnatum, from the President, sent by Dr. Forbes, F.R.S., of Chichester. Specimens of three new British plants have been received, viz. Claytonia Alsinoides, from Mr. W. Baxter of Oxford ; also a moss new to Britain, Cinclidium Stygium, from Mr. Leyland of Halifax ; and specimens, of which there are many duplicates, of Spartina Alternifolia, from Itchin Ferry, Southampton, presented by Dr. Macreight, V. P. The Society have also received from Mr. R. H. Schomburgh, now travelling in British Guiana, papers accompa- nied with drawings on the two following interesting plants, which were read before the Society, viz. Victoria Regina and Loranthus Smythii. Also donations of seeds from the Cape of Good Hope, presented by M. Schmidt. " On the first Friday in March the Curator, Daniel Cooper, Esq., will commence a course of Lectures on the Practical Part of Botany, which will be continued every night of meeting one hour previous to the chair being taken." MISCELLANEOUS. DESCRIPTION OF A NEW TRILOBITE. Calymene Rowii, Green. — The outline of this fossil as it lies upon the rock presents a very regular oval figure. The buckler and the body are a good deal elevated, and measure longitudinally nearly an inch and two thirds. The buckler is lunate, and is edged round its whole border with a little groove or channel. Its front or middle lobe is elevated above the cheeks, is rounded at its anterior part, and gradually enlarges as it approaches the middle lobe of the abdomen. There are no tuber- cles or folds upon it, but its posterior angles are so truncated as to form a subtriangular protuberance on each side of the commencement of the vertebral column. The cheeks are shaped like spherical tri- angles, and seem from our specimen to have projected on each side to the fourth articulation of the abdomen. The oculiferous tubercles are large and lunate ; they are placed close to the front, and seem almost to form a part of it ; they are situated just before the protu- berances above mentioned. The abdomen and tail can readily be distinguished. There are twenty- three articulations in both. The middle lobe is very promi- 80 Miscellaneous. nent, is separated from the lateral ones on each side by a deep chan- nel, and gradually and regularly tapers to its termination, which is near the end of the body. The lateral lobes are rounded. The costal arches of the abdomen have a furrow scooped out of their up- per surface, and their outward extremities terminate in obtuse points, between which there is a raised line. The caudal arches are not grooved, but there is a faint impressed line running along their up- per surface, which is slightly bifurcated at their termination. This beautiful and highly interesting trilobite was found by Mr. George L. Le Row, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to whose kindness I owe this opportunity of describing it. The specific name is given in compliment to the discoverer. There is a strong analogy in some leading particulars between this species and our C. Diops. Pro- fessor Dalman's C. concinna represented on his first plate, fig. 5, a, b, and c, comes very near it, but there are many marked differences be- tween them. It was found imbedded in a layer of soft argillite, slightly ferruginous, and of such is the fossil composed. The strata in which it was found was filled with Orthocer Fistulina, Sistotrema, Hydnum (fig. 61), Thelephora, Stereum, Merisma, Clavaria are also described as thecigerous. u Omnibus fere series unica sporidiorum in theca excepto Coprinus et paucis aliis." Of Coprinus, he says, " Ab omnibus fere Fungis charactere singulari thecarum differt. Hae enim non juxta positae sunt ut in Agaricis, nee unica sporidiorum serie farctae, sed segregatae majores quadruplici sporidiorum serie refertae. Hinc sporidia dum effunduntur quaternatim disposita sunt, donee nimia prodeuntium copia ordo turbatur." The figures, it should be observed, are by Ditmar. The same year produced another memoir on the same subject from the same penf. The analyses of Hymenomycetous genera are upon the whole more clearly made out. In Amanita bulbosa tab. 1, fig. 14, the sporidia are represented as contained at first in the thecae and then escaping. Of Coprinus he says, <( Thecae magnae sporam regulariter emittentes in frustulis segmenti parum obliqui apparent, unde satis patet quamlibet thecam quaternam sporarum seriem amplecti, et hanc ob causam, sporam ad quatuor orificii latera excutere." It is clear from this that his figure of the contents of the thecae in Coprinus is ideal, representing what was supposed to be the structure, and not what was actually seen. The united au- thority of Link and Ditmar has prevailed to hand down this notion almost to the present moment. In the same year, however, Mr. Sowerby J figured the spores in Merulius lamellosus (Ag.panuoides, Fr.) as naked and seated upon short hairs. The same appearance is represented in the figure of Hydnum membranaceum published in 1801. In both cases the bodies are called glands in the text. In 1813 Ditmar § ascribed thecae to Agaricus phlebophorus. * Der Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin Magazin. Drittcn Jahrgangs, crstes Quartal. Berlin, 1809. Observationes in Ordines Plan- tarum Naturales. Dissertatio prima. f Nova Plantarum genera e classe Lichenum, Algarum, Fungorum ; in Schrader's Neues Journal fur die Botanik, vol. iii. Erfurt, 1809. % Coloured figures of English Fungi, tab. 403. Supplement. London, 1809. § Deutschlands Flora. 3 te Abtheilung. Nurnberg, 1813. Pileate and Clavate Tribes of Hymenomycetous Fungi, 87 He has not however represented sporidia within them. In 1814 he represented sporidia within the thecae in Ag. pluteus, and, amongst the thecae, urn-shaped bodies crowned with two or three spicules. This was, in more modern times, the first step, however distant, — for he does not consider them as hav- ing any immediate connexion with the sporidia, but compares them with the utricles in Coprini, — towards a knowledge of the true arrangement of the spores in the rest of the Agarics. Under Cantharellus villosus, Pers., thecae are also represented as containing from one to three globose sporidia. Nees von Esenbeck's* important work appeared in 1817. His original designs of analyses of various pileate and clavate genera are on the whole in perfect accordance with those co- pied from Link. Under Thelephora ccesia, the figure of which is copied from that of Persoon alluded to above, it is remarked that the quaternary arrangement of the sporidia forms as it were a prelude to that in Coprini. From this it should seem that he regarded them as contained in thecae (asci). Fries f in 1821 describes the asci generally in his Hymeno- mycetes evoluti as " in superficie collocati immersi. Sporidia in ascis seriatim disposita." Under Thelephora, {3 Phylacteria, he writes, " Sporidia quaterna serie Coprinorum instar dispo- sita." Dr. Greville % commenced his great work in 1823. Twenty pileate and clavate Fungi are there more or less analysed ; the figures according entirely with the observations of Link, Dit- mar, and Nees von Esenbeck. In 1825 Fries § separated The- lephora from Auricularia on account of the quaternary ar- rangement of the sporidia. Dr. Greville followed him in this separation, but apparently did not understand Fries correctly, as the asci of Thel. laciniata are figured as containing a single row of four sporidia, whereas Bulliard figured to a certain degree correctly their quaternary arrangement on a peduncle, a fact which Fries could not have overlooked. Indeed expe- rience has clearly shown that Dr. Greville must have been * System der Pilzeund Schwamme. Wurzburg, 1817. f Systema Mycologicum, vol. i. p. 1. Gryphiswaldiee, 1821. % Scottish Cryptogamic Flora. Edinburgh, 1 823, &c. § Systema Orbis Vegetabilis, p. 1. Lundae, 1825. 88 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on the Fructification of the misled by a confidence in Fries 5 correctness, who however ap- pears not to have had himself a very clear perception on the point. Fries 5 real notion, though nowhere expressed very di- stinctly, is perhaps sufficiently clear from the expression* " Hymenium e setulis quaternatis," under the subtribe Phy- lacteria of Thelephora. In 1828 M. Desmazieresf described the sporidiaof Ag. ra- dians just as Link had done those of the Coprini, " les sporules sont, comme dans les Coprini avant la destruction de Fhyme- nium, disposees sur quatre rangs dans des theques distantes les uns des autres." In 1830 Fries J still described and figured Favolus Brasi- kensis and Cyclomyces fusca as ascigerous. In the latter spo- ridia are figured in the asci. In 1831 Krombholz§ published figures by Corda of the fruc- tification of Agaricus, &c. I have not seen the work myself, but from the account of it in the Linnaea I conclude that it accords with the observations of Link and Ditmar. Articu- lations are figured in the fruit-cells of Ag, alutaceus, but evi- dently from incorrect observation, though he is borne out by Nees v. Esenbeck. See fig. 199 B. In 1833 Klotzsch|| figured in Favolus Boucheanus clavate asci containing sporidia. Wallrotlr's Flora Crypt. Germanise published in the same year follows the views of Link. In the third volume of Nouv. Ann. du Museum are some observations on Fungi by Dutrochet, republished in the col- lected Memoirs, vol. ii. in 1837, with the author's latest cor- rections. Turpin there figures the reproductive bodies of Can- tharellus Dutrochettii, Mont., (which is apparently a state of Ag. panuoides, Fr.) as attached to the walls of the filaments of which the gills are composed. There is also a memoir on the same Fungus by M. Turpin, vol. xiv. des Mem. de PAc. des Sciences Naturelles, which I much regret that I have not seen. The second part of the fifth volume of the English Flora * Elenchus Fungorum sistens Commentarium in Systema Mycologicum, vol. i. p. 170. Gryphiswaldiae, 1828. f Annates des Sciences Naturelles, vol. xiii. p. 215. % Linn sea, vol. v. p. 511, 512. § Krombholz naturgetreue Abbildungen der essbaren, scliadliehen und verdachtigen Schwamme. Heft I. Prag. 1831. || Linnaea, vol. viii. p. 316. Pileate and Clavate Tribes of Hymenomycetous Fungi. 89 was published in 1836. Under Ag. prunulus, p. J 6, I have given the following description : ci Gills covered with very mi- nute conical papillae, ending in four spiculae. Sporules often seated upon the spiculae/ 5 The fructification of Ag. cernuus, Ag. bifrons, Ag. gracilis, and Ag. disseminatus is described as quaternate. In Ag. semiovatus the reproductive bodies are described as quaternate, the major axis perpendicular to the gills. Under Ag. panuoides it is remarked that ei the gills are beset with minute hairs, upon which the sporules are often seated, as in Ag. prunulus." A paper by M. Montagne* was read before the Academy of Sciences at Paris on January 2, 1837> in the report of which are the following observations : " Des planches dessinees a la chambre claire du microscope compose de M. Charles Cheva- lier sont destinees a montrer tous les degres par lesquels passe une sporidie avant de se detacher de Putricule ou elle a pris naissance. Avant sa chute, cette sporidie est ordinairement supportee par un pedicelle plus ou moins long, qui se forme peu a peu, quoique d'une maniere tres prompte en egard a la vie ephemere de ces vegetaux, aux depens du sommet de Putri- cule, qu'elle chasse devant lui." The latter sentence is so con- fused that the reporter's meaning is not clear; but judging from the observations on the evolution oiBotrytis Bassianaf, with which it is expressly compared, it should seem that M. Mon- tagne considers the reproductive bodies as essentially internal ; in other words, as sporidia and not spores. " Les sporidies," he says, speaking of Bot. Bassiana, " se forment a l'interieur des filaments, et en sortent et se groupent symmetriquement a Pextremite des ramules par un mecanisme que nous avons tente d'expliquer. Elles s'echappent de Pextremite des fila- ments et des rameaux par un mecanisme particulier qui con- sisterait en ceci. Chaque seminule arrivee a Pextremite du tube, avant de s'en separer, en emprunterait une seconde en- veloppe qu'elle conserverait." It is clear that when the notices given above from the En- glish Flora were published, I was not satisfied with the cha- * Recherches anatomiques et physiologiques sur l'Hymenium, &c. f Experiences et Observations sur le Champignon Entomoctone, ou hi- stoire botanique de la^Muscardine. Par M. Montague, Aug. 16, 1836. 90 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on the Fructification of the racters assigned to the hymenium of Agarics ; but the great body of authority in favour of the received notions prevented my doing more than recording such isolated observations, which indeed are accompanied in the text with other circum- stances which are not always perfectly correct. The acquisi- tion of a more powerful doublet than I before possessed de- termined me to examine accurately the structure in Coprinus, in Link's account of which I did not feel confidence ; and the result was such as to lead to a more extended examination of species of the genus Agaricus belonging to different tribes, and those of other pileate genera. The clavate Hymenomy- cetes were then reviewed, and the investigation has ended in a conviction that, notwithstanding the vast body of authority and evidence which existed on the point, the structure has been almost uniformly mistaken since the publication of Link's observations, and that in true pileate and clavate Fungi asci do not exist, but that the reproductive bodies are naked, and consequently are, properly speaking, neither sporules nor spo- ridia, but spores, and that with very few exceptions they are quaternate as in the Coprini. In proof of this position I will begin by stating what I find to be the structure in Coprini, in which it is most easy to form a correct estimate ; and then, in order, give the result of my observations in other tribes of the genus Agaricus, and as many genera as I have been able to examine of pileate and clavate Fungi. It is perhaps right that I should state that, with the excep- tion of the few similar facts published in the English Flora, all my observations have been made subsequently to the pre- sentation of Montagne's Memoir, though without a know- ledge of its existence. The agaric first examined was a form of Ag. micaceus, dif- fering from the ordinary state of that species in having the pileus minutely pilose instead of being sprinkled with mealy particles. As it grew in dense clusters consisting of indivi- duals in every stage of growth, it afforded me a good oppor- tunity of tracing the development of the hymenium. In very young specimens it consisted of oblong, obtuse, transparent cells, disposed side by side like the pile of velvet with their tips all level. It was not possible with a magnifying power of Pileate and Clavate Tribes of Hymenomycetous Fungi. 91 600 diameters to trace the cellular texture of the substance in- terposed between the two layers of the hymenium, though in an extremely thin slice cut in the direction of the gill there was a faint trace of lines running in the direction of the section. There was scarcely any change so long as the margin of the pileus was not detached from the stem ; but in an individual a little more advanced some of the cells were found to have acquired a more cylindrical form, having grown faster than the others, and in consequence to project beyond them. The intermediate sub- stance was now seen to consist of elongated, somewhat anasto- mosing cells, coated on either side by a layer of shorter ones, which are subglobose. The contents of the cells of the hyme- nium are grumous. As the pileus expands, the tips of some of the more elongated cells, or, if I may so call them, sporo- phores, show four minute points disposed nearly in a square, which rapidly increase in length till they are about half as long as the portion of the sporophore which is emersed. In this stage of growth they are slightly curved inwards. On the tip of each of these a minute globule is soon developed, which is at first perfectly pellucid. This rapidly increases, acquiring an oval form, though more gibbous on the side which is turned from the axis of the sporophore, so that the position of the perfect spores upon the spicules is oblique. The apex becomes minutely papillate, and at the base there is a very short peduncle. The grumous contents of the spores, which were at first almost colourless, acquire in the perfect fruit a rich purple brown. The contents of the sporophores as they increase become more distinctly granular, and are at- tracted towards the apex as the spores are developed, which appear to be nourished by them. When the spores are per- fected the sporophores are nearly empty. It is to be observed that the sporophores in the mature plant are not all of the same height. In looking down upon a thin slice from the surface of the gill, the lowest, which are frequently without spores, appear like circles ; others are ob- served to be furnished with four spiculae ; and it is not uncom- mon, when the gill has not acquired its deepest tint, to see the spores themselves in various stages of development. The 92 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on the Fructification of the large utricles so conspicuous in most Coprini were here ex- tremely few. The arrangement of the sporophores appears to be by no means vague. Link figures the spaces between the sori as square. This does not accord with my own observa- tions. I find them triangular in Ag. striatus, Bull., five or six being arranged around each sporophore, so that the sporo- phores are arranged round a central one in pentagons or hex- agons. In Ag. macro cephalus, Berk,, the sporophores are urn- shaped and supported upon long peduncles. The cellular layer beneath the hymenium is here exceedingly obscure, and the central stratum very thin and consisting of filaments much more slender in proportion than in Ag. micaceus. In that spe- cies there are about three layers of subglobose cells between the hymenium and the central stratum. In Ag. momentaneus the sporophores are similar ; and the utricles large as in Ag. macrocephalus. The quaternary arrangement of the spores has been recog- nised from the time of Micheli, but no one appears to have suspected how general it is in Agarics. It may, however, be very readily seen with a good doublet, if a thin slice from the surface of the gill be examined ; and a thin transverse section will show them to be arranged on the spiculae of the sporophores exactly as in the Coprini. Taking the tribes as they stand in Fries, I will mention the species which I have had under observation, making occa- sional notes where requisite. The quaternary arrangement then has been verified in Ag. phalloides, Fr. — vaginatus, Bull. — pantherimts, Dec. — rubescens, Fr. — muscarius, Linn. — procerus, Scop. — erubescens, Fr. — hypothejus, Fr. Ag. Columbetta, Fr. — emeticus, Schaeff. — fcetens, Pers. — volemum, Fr. — theiogalas, Bull. — rufus, Scop. — pyrogalus, Bull. — fuliginosus, Fr. — piperitus, Bolt. — luridus, Schaeff. In most, if not in all the Galorrhei, the spores are minutely echinulate. In Ag. flexuosus, Fr. alone, the arrangement of Pileate and Clavate Tribes of Hymenomycetous Fungi. 93 the spores appears to be uniformly binary, the one being ex- actly opposite to the other. The other pair appears to be sup- pressed. The arrangement is quaternary again in Ag. nebularis, Batsch. — grammopodius, Bull. — ceraceus, Wulf. Ag.pelianthinus, Fr. — balaninus. Berk. In the two latter, which belong to the section Calodontes, besides the fertile sporophores, there are barren ones or utri- cles, which are coloured, and give the peculiar character to the section. Ag. radicatus, Relh. Ag.pudens, Pers. The gills are studded with cells much longer than the spo- rophores, which in some states are surmounted by a large pel- lucid globule. This at length vanishes and leaves the tip of the utricle denticulate. Ag. velutipes, Curt. — peronatus, Bolt. — oreades, Bolt. — tenacellus, Pers. The gills have utricles like those of Ag. radi- catus. — Rotala, Scop. — ostreatus, Jacq. Ag.prunulus, Scop. — fertilis /3. intybaceus, Fr. Occa- sionally in this species there appear to be only three spiculse and three spores. — rhodopolius, Fr. chalybt Pers. — asprellus, Fr.. or an allied species. In most of the HyporrJiodia the spores are very irregular in form, with a globose central nucleus (sporidium) which is small in proportion to the spore itself. Ag.ge?itilis, Fr. — scaurus, Fr. In this species there are sometimes five spores to- gether. — rimosus, Bull. — cucumis, Pers. — tener, Schaeff. trechisporus, Berk. The spores have little granules upon them. The utricles are like those of Ag. pudens. involutus, Batsch. Gills with large pointed transparent utri- cles many times longer than the sporophores. Ag.pusillus, Dec. Cylindrical utricles. Spores occasionally reduced to two. campestris, Linn. — lateritius, SchaefF. — stipatus, Pers. — gracilis, Fr. — semiovalus, Sow. — titubans, Bull. — disseminatus, Pers. {Gomphus) rutilus, Spores elongated ; SchaefF. grumous, contents disposed in two masses. 94 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on the Fructification of the In all these species it will be observed the reproductive bodies are naked spores, and that, except in Ag. flexuosus, the arrangement is almost uniformly quaternary. The exceptions are very rare, and no more invalidate the general rule than occasional additions or suppressions of parts in phaenogamous plants. In all, the major axis of the spores is vertical to the gills, and in general they are placed rather obliquely upon the spicules. But this description of the spores and their arrangement applies with slight modifications to other pileate Hymenomy- cetes. In all, the reproductive bodies are naked spores seated upon spicules which crown the sporophores, and in the ge- nera which most abound in species the arrangement appears to be in general quaternary, though in some genera the num- ber four does not prevail. It must be confessed, however, that a sufficient number of species have not yet been examined to warrant any general conclusion. In Cantharellus cibarius, Fr., and C. tubaformis, Fr., the spores are six, seated upon rather long spicules disposed in pairs so as to form an ellipse, two pairs forming a square in the narrow part of the ellipse, and the other seated at the apices of the major axis • : : • ; or five by the suppression of one of the spores belong to the single pair. In Canth. cornu- copioides, Fr., there is only a single pair, apparently from the suppression of the four which form a square. In Canth, fis- silis, Fr., the spores are solitary, but still seated on spicules. Polyporus squamosus, Fr., has quaternate spores. Boletus subtomentosus, Linn. Boletus luridus, Schaeff. ■ pachypus, Fr. scaber, Bull. Have the spores quaternate. There are also acuminate utri- cles, generally furnished with an articulation towards the tip. In Hydnum repandum, L., the spores vary from three to five. In Hydnum farinaceum, Pers., they are solitary, which is pro- bably the case in most of the lower resupinate Fungi. Thelephora laciniata, Pers. Thelephora purpurea, Pers. - ■ cristata, Fr. The arrangement is in these quaternate. In the latter there are cylindrical utricles, and probably the bristles in Thel. rubi- yinosa, &c. are of the same nature. ) Pileate and Clavate Tribes of Hymenomycetous Fungi. 95 Phlebia vaga, Fr., has quaternate sporiclia. We have now to inquire what is the arrangement in the clavate Fungi which are clearly very closely related to the Pileati. In point of structure the hymenium is just like that of the pileate species. In Clavaria cristata, Pers., the spores are binary, or occasionally ternary. In Clav. crispula, Fr., ter- nary or quaternary. In Clav . vermicularis, Swartz., binary. Calocera viscosa, Fr., has solitary spores curved like those of some Tremellce. In Typhula gyrans, Fr., the spores are qua- ternate. In Geoglossum, Spathularia, and Mitrula it is well known that the reproductive bodies are not spores, but sporidia con- tained in distinct asci. In Geoglossum they are curved and septate. Spathularia has very long and slender sporidia, which are filled with sporidiola, thus approaching very near to Leotia, in which they are cylindrical, containing four glo- bose sporidiola. At present I have not seen perfect sporidia in Mitrula. It is clear then that these genera, which differ so essentially in their fructification, are not properly associated with the clavate Hymenomycetes. The essential character of hymenomycetous Fungi appears then to consist in a hymenium composed of closely packed sporophores, which support on spicules a generally determi- nate number of spores. If this be deemed of the importance I am inclined to attribute to it, the elvellaceous Fungi, as also the Cupulati, cannot be included in the same primary division. The Tremellini, on the contrary, appear to me to be true Hy- menomycetes. In Tremella albida the curved spores are superficial, vertical with regard to the hymenium, and seated obliquely upon spicules, almost exactly as in Calocera viscosa. At present I have not had sufficient leisure to examine their structure attentively, and there are some peculiarities in it which I do not understand. The Sclerotiacei I consider an- other tribe of true Hymenomycetes, though very imper- fectly organized. I have stated in the English Flora that I believe the true " ideal notion" of their structure is that of highly condensed Hyphomycetes, which, if the analogy of the spores in Botry lis be taken into consideration, confirms greatly the present view. The abbreviated flocci of Botrytis curta, Berk., with their two or three spicuke-form branchlets, each 96 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on the Fructification of the bearing a spore, resemble very closely the sporophores of pileate and clavate Hymenomycetes. The notion that they are condensed Coniomycetes arises from the consideration of one or two obscure epiphyllous species, which are scarcely more than abortive Uredos. We have then, as the typical group of Hymenomycetes, Agaricus and allied genera. The subtypical consists clearly of the clavate genera Clavaria, Calocera, &c. The Tremellini and Sclerotiacei form two aberrant groups. The third aber- rant group consists, if I mistake not, of Isaria and certain al- lied genera. It is only necessary to compare the prickles of one of the resupinate Hydna with the fruit-bearing hairs of Isaria citrina, or, what is better, some of the more obscure Pistillaria and Typhula, to be convinced of the propriety of such an arrangement. Anthina, with its subgenus Pterula, is still more evidently allied. Ceratium again has spores dis- posed on short bristles, altogether reminding us of the Hyme- nomycetes. The sporidia, of the second order mentioned by Greville and Fries, are merely the tips of the spicules from which the spores have fallen. It is remarkable that these spicules are distinctly disposed in quincunxes. The spores too, when seen with high powers, are much narrower at one end, and have their longer axis vertical to the hymenium. The pileate Fungi pass evidently into the Tremellini by means of Phlebia mesenterica, which scarcely differs generi- cally from Exidia Auricula Judas, The Tremellini are con- nected with Sclerotiacei by means of Pyrenium, and these again with Isariacei by means of Periola. If we now turn to the cupulate and mitrate Fungi excluded* from Hymenomycetes, we have in them, if I mistake not, the typical and subtypical groups of another grand division cha- racterized by the presence of true asci ; Peziza and its allied genera forming the first, and Helvetia, Leotia, &c, exactly analogous to Clavati, forming the second. We shall then have as the aberrant groups the Scleromycetes, Perisporiacei, and that part of Angiogastres comprising the truffles, Carpoboli, and Nidularice. * In the new Systema Fungorum, the twelve first sheets of which I have received from the author since the above was printed, these are, in fact, now separated by Prof. Fries from Hymenomycetes, under the title of Discomy- cetes. The Hymenium in the former is still described as aacigerous. Pileate and Clavate Tribes of Hymenomycetous Fungi. 97 We cannot doubt the very close relation of the cupulate and scleromycous groups. The Scleromycetes evidently pass into the Perisporiacei by means of some of those epiphyllous species whose asci are reduced to the form of sporidia, and the sporidia in consequence mere sporules. This makes way through Perisporium for a new form of free asci, the so- called sporidia of Erysiphe. The transition from thence to Angiogastres is very easy through Polyangium. The Carpo- boli, as Fries has admirably pointed out, are Perisporia with avolva. The circle returns to Mitrati through Tuber and Rhizina. The Hymenomycetous and Uterine circles are con- nected by Tremella and Tuber. I have reason to think that this will appear much more evident than it does at first sight, when the structure of Tremella shall have been more perfectly studied. The intimate structure of the Phalloid Fungi, as I hope to show at some future opportunity, is exactly that of Tricho- gastres, as appears from the examination of both before ma- turity. Indeed the transition from them through Battarea and Geastrum is far from abrupt. I am inclined then to think that the typical and subtypical groups of the Gasteromycetes consist of Trichogastres and Phalloidei; two of the aberrant groups being Myxogastres and Trichodermacei. The phalloid group is connected with Trichodermacei by Spadonia and the curious fungus figure by Battara, tab. 40, A — E, a Phallus, without a volva. The gasteromycous circle is evidently connected with the uterine by JEgerita. The group Myxogastres, as Fries remarks, differ in their singular vegetation * from all other Fungi, and have but few and remote analogies. The old notion of their connexion with Hypodermii is, I believe, correct, and by means of these they pass either into Coniomycetes, or through them to Trichoder- macei. At present, however, I dare not venture to remove them from Coniomycetes. The fifth group, therefore, is left blank in the diagram. I do not attempt to indicate the groups of Hyphomycetes * It is curious that spiral vessels, differing in no respect, as far as I have been able to discover, from those of phrenogamous plants, have been observed by M. Corda and myself, to compose the flocculent mass in the genus Trichia. Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1.— No. 2. April 1838. h 98 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on the Fructification of the or Coniomycetes, as so much uncertainty still exists with re- gard to many of them. Indeed, notwithstanding all the at- tention that has been paid to Fungi, it may be asserted with- out fear of giving offence, that the modern improvements of microscopes have opened quite a new field to the mycologist. All the genera require an accurate revision, and in such case, I am sure from my own experience, that the structure of many would be found to differ much from received notions. If it had not been from the imperfection of instruments, it is quite impossible that it should have fallen to the lot of any one at the present day to describe the true structure of the hyme- nium in Agarics, or that the quaternary arrangement should have been scarcely recognised except in the Coprini. The annexed is a tabular view of the affinities of Fungi as indicated above. Pileate and Clavate Tribes of Hymenomycetous Fungi. 99 I am by no means positive as to its correctness in all points. I have probably in some instances confounded analogies with affinities; but they are thrown out at least as hints. It would carry me to greater length than is desirable to state fully the grounds on which they are indicated. My object is principally to call the attention of students to the room which still remains for investigation, even in the field which has been so successfully trod by Fries. Too much attention can- not well be paid to any of his suggestions, to which every my- cologist must acknowledge the deepest obligations. It seems, however, almost impossible that any system can be right in all its parts which is founded on false notions of the struc- ture of the group of highest importance. The facts stated above confirm in a striking degree the theory that a quaternary arrangement prevails in Cryptogamic plants. It will be seen from the anomalous cases mentioned above that the spicules have a definite arrangement, even when the number exceeds four. Few facts are more curious than that the number four should prevail when the fructifica- tion consists of spores, and a multiple of four when it is con- tained in asci. How far modifications of the form of the sporophores may be found of use in distributing the species of the genus Aga- ricus I am not prepared to state, not having made a series of observations with a view to that especial point. M. Montagne, it appears, is distinctly of opinion that they are of great value, taken in connection with the structure of the inner substance of the gills. Link pointed out nearly thirty years since that an easy distinction is afforded by the nature of the cellular substance between the Russula and Ag. Russula. The sub- ject is one of considerable interest, but of extreme difficulty, and requires for its investigation all the aid that can possibly be afforded by the best instruments and the most dexterous manipulation ; and no attempt at generalization can well be expected to be successful till some hundreds of species have been examined. It cannot be in better hands than in those of the learned French mycologist, the publication of whose memoir we wait for with great anxiety. h2 100 On the Fructification of Hymenomycetous Fungi. EXPLANATION OF PLATES. PLATE IV. Fig. 1, Section of gill from a very young specimen of a var. of Ag. micaceus, showing the young sporophores not yet distinct from the other cells of the hymenium. 2. Ditto, in a specimen rather more advanced. The sporophores have become more cylindrical, and are longer than the other cells. The central cellular substance of the gill is distinctly marked. 3. The sporophores have acquired four spicules. 4. Section very highly magnified, showing the spores just beginning to be developed, and a sporophore with four spores more advanced. 5. Tip of sporophore, with four infant spores, magnified 600 diameters. 6. Ditto, with four mature spores. 7. A spore seen from one side. 8. Ditto seen from behind. 9. Portion of gill of Ag. momentaneus, with two sporophores and an utricle. 10. Ditto of Ag. macrocephalus, showing an utricle, with sporophores and spores in various stages of growth. 11. A form sometimes assumed by the utricles in very young plants. 12. Utricle. 13. Part of a gill of Ag. striatus, showing the disposition of the sporo- phores, each of which is marked with four dots, which are the tips of the spicules. 14. Sporophores in Ag. Phalloides. 15. Tip of sporophore, with its four spores in Ag. nebularis. 16. Portion of gill of Ag. velutipes, from a sketch by Mr. Cornelius Varley, very highly magnified. 17. Tip of sporophore of Ag.fiexuosus, with its two echinulate spores. 1 8. Sporophore of Ag. Volemum with its four echinulate spores. 19. Spore of the same. 20. Portion of hymenium of Ag. pudens. Two of the utricles are crowned with a transparent globule ; in one the globule has va- nished, and another is obtuse without any crown. 21. Portion of hymenium of Ag. balaninus, with its coloured utricles. The structure of Ag. pelianthinus is similar. 22. Sporophores of A g.fer tills, var. intybaceus. 23. Spores. 24. Spores of Ag. chalybeus and Ag. asprellus with their nuclei. 25. Portion of hymenium of Ag. tener. 26. Portion of hymenium and pileus of Ag. rimosus. 27. Hymenium of Ag. involutus, with utricles. 28. Spores of ditto. PLATE V. 29. Hymenium of Ag. pusillus, with an utricle and a sporophore bear- ing two spicules. 30. Hymenium of Ag. semiovatus. 31. Hymenium of Gomphus rutilus, with utricles. 32. Sporophore of ditto. 33. Spore. 34. Tip of sporophore of Ag. ostreatus. 35. Spore. 36. Portion of hymenium of Cantharellus cibariut. 37. Ditto of Cantharellus comucopioides. ////>.. Mil. 7/i.u. Voi.i. n. t\: dm k. m .ooj mm " ^ (L$'$> sr ^3 ^« r£ > ■'/ ' v y/^r/?y n \^/^>> issuing from tubular sheaths: branchiae forming a fringe or a series of arborescent tufts along each side : orifices of generation and anus on the right side in front i foot plane. Cuvier, Reg. Anim. hi. 52. Lamarck, Anim. s. Vert. vi. i. 303. Rang, Man. 131. Blainville, Malacol. 487. 1. T. Hombergii, branchiae forming a continuous but unequal arborescent crest along each margin of the back. Plate III. fig. 1, 2. Tritonia Hombergii, Cuv. Mem. iv. 4. pi. 1, "2. fig. omnes. Lam. Anim. s. Vert. vi. 1. 304. Flem. Brit. Anim. 284. Stark, Elem. ii. 68.— Doris frondosa, Mull. Zool. Dan. Prod, 229. Turf. Gmel. iv. 79. Hah. Amongst corallines in deep water, Frith of Forth, Sir J. T. Daly ell. Coast of Berwickshire, not uncommon. Desc. Body from two to four or occasionally even eight inches long, oblong, subtetragonal, the back slightly convex or plane, closely covered with small warts of a brownish co- lour with a tinge of bluish grey ; veil over the mouth contrac- tile, but when expanded forming two semicircular lobes with a margin cut into numerous tentacular points. Dorsal ten- taenia issuing from a wide uneven sheath, columnar, the base white, the upper half dusky, divided into fine beautifully pec- tinate segments forming a circle, on the posterior side of which there is a short cylindrical filament with a pale apex. Branchiae encircling the body in numerous arbuscular tufts connected by a lower fringe of the same kind. Sides of the body smooth or granular, the anterior vent protuberant, the posterior smaller and somewhat lobed. Foot watery white, oblong, * Formed from Triton, the name of the trumpeter to Neptune. It rather unfortunately happens that Tritonia is, however, one of the names of Mi- nerva ; and Triton has been too frequently honoured by zoologists. f " Les tentacules eux-memes ont la forme de panaches composes de cinq plumes, dechiquetees comme les feuilles des fougeres." — Cuvier, Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 115 tapered behind, plane. — The structure of the tongue is wonder- fully fine, and forms an excellent object for the microscope. Tritonia Hombergii of Blainville, Man. de Malacologie, p. 487. ph 46. fig. 6. is either distinct or very badly drawn. 2. T. arborescens, branchial tufts distinct, five or six on each side ; oral veil in four arborescent lobes. Tritonia arborescens, Cuv. Mem. vi. 28. pi. 1. fig. 8 — 10. Fleming in Edin. Encyclop. xiv. 619. Lam. Anim. s. Vert. vi. i. 304. Edin. Phil, Journ. ix. 254. Grant in ibid. xiv. 165 and 185. Flem. Brit. Anim. 284. Stark, Elem. ii. 68. — Doris arborescens, Mull. Zool. Dan. Prod. 229. Fair. Faun. Grcenl. 346. Turt. Gmel. iv. 79. Bosc. Vers. i. 112. — Doris cervina? Turt. Gmel. iv. 78. — Tritonia cervina? Bosc. Vers. i. 106. Hab. Frith of Forth, Dr. Grant. Loch Broom, Ross-shire ; and Zetland Isles, Rev. Dr. Fleming. Desc. "Length about an inch ; foot narrow, sides com- pressed ; cloak smooth, its margin above the mouth with four plumose appendages ; branchice decreasing in size towards the tail ; tentacula conical, transversely striated ; the sheath with a divided margin. — I have found this species in the Zetland Isles, agreeing with the characters of Cuvier, with this differ- ence ; that the branchiae in his are only five on each side, while in our specimen there appeared to be six. But as the two posterior ones are very small, and as his examples were preserved in spirits, it is probable that they have escaped de- tection." Rev, Dr. Fleming, — Dr. Grant has noticed this spe- cies to emit at intervals a peculiar and very audible sound. " The sounds," he says, " obviously proceed from the mouth of the animal ; and at the instant of the stroke we observe the lips suddenly separate, as if to allow the water to rush into a small vacuum formed within. As these animals are herma- phrodites, requiring mutual impregnation, the sounds may pos- sibly be a means of communication between them ; or if they be of an electric nature, they may be a means of defending from foreign enemies, one of the most delicate, defenceless, and beautiful gasteropods that inhabit the deep." 3. T.plebeia, branchial tufts distinct, five or six on each side ; oral veil entire, sinuate in the middle, the margin ten- tacular. Plate III. fig. 3—4. Tritonia plebeia, Johnston in Edin. New Phil. Journ. v. 77. I 2 116 Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. Hab. Amongst corallines in deep water. Coast of Berwickshire, not un- common. Desc. Body oblong, tapered behind, one inch in length, three or four lines broad, grey, marked with brown and freck- led much in the same way as the common slug ; the back flat, obscurely tuberculated ; the sides abrupt. Mouth overhung with a semicircular veil, the margin of which is cut into seven tentacular processes, of which the lateral ones are the longest. Tentacula exertile from wide entire circular sheaths, columnar, white, the apex yellowish and cleft into narrow pinnatifid seg- ments. Branchim arborescent, small and not much divided, separate, the tufts five or six on each side, the first and last pairs minute. Foot white, oblong, plain. The Tritonia pulcra described in Edin. New Phil. Journ. v. p. 78. is probably a variety of this, distinguished by the red colour of the body, which is marked across the back with three narrow whitish bands, and speckled with minute ocellated dots. I have never met with a specimen but the one from which the original description was taken, and further expe- rience has taught me that colour is far from constant in these animals. I have seen specimens of T. plebeia of a whitish co- lour, either uniform or marked with spots of milk-white opa- city. 3. Melibea*, Rang. Character. Animal limaciform, the mouth overhung with a veil: tentacula two, dorsal, filiform, retractile within wide sheaths : branchia in separate muricated or tuberculated masses placed in a single row along each margin of the back : foot linear-oblong, tapered posteriorly, plane : vents as in Tri- tonia. 1 . M. pinnatifida, branchial masses in eight or nine pairs. Tritonia pinnatifida, Cuv. Reg. Anim. iii. 53. note. Fleming in Edin. Encyclop. xiv. 619. Flem. Brit. Anim. 284. Johnston in Mag. Nat. Hist, viii. 61. Jig. 4. — Doris pinnatifida, Montagu in Linn. Trans, vii. 78. pi. 7. Jig. 2, 3. Turt. Brit. Faun. 134. Penn. Brit. Zool. iv. 83. edit. 1812. Hab. In deep water amongst corallines. Coast of Berwickshire. • Meliboea is the name of a maritime town of Thessaly, famous for its purple dye, and undoubtedly is the original of Rang's name for this genus. Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 11? Desc. Body half an inch in lengthy linear-oblong, yellow- ish brown but variable in marking ; the back plane, with a few distant tubercles; the foot tapered to a point behind. Branchiae eight or nine on each side, ovate, muricate, affixed by a narrow base, the three hinder pairs small. Veil above the mouth enlarged, truncate, entire. Tentacula long and fili- form, protruded from a wide trumpet- shaped sheath uneven on the margin. 2. M . coronata, branchial masses in 4 — 6 pairs. Plate III. fig. 5—8. Doris coronata, Turt. Gmel. iv. 78. — Tritonia coronata, Lam. Anim. «• Vert. vi. i. 305. Bosc. Vers. i. 107. Grant in Edin. Phil. Journ. xiv. 185. Hab. In deep water amid corallines. Frith of Forth, Dr. Grant. Coast of Berwickshire. Desc. Body from three to four lines long, limaciform, of a buff-orange colour, sometimes very pale, clouded and freckled with pink and reddish brown. Mouth with an entire semi- circular veil. Tentacula filiform, extruded from wide open sheaths. Branchice four or five pairs, very beautiful and large in proportion to the body, subpediculate, pyramidal, muricate ; there appear to be about fifteen papillae to each of the larger masses, and each little papilla has a dark eye-like spot on its apex : the posterior pair of branchiae are minute, and the an- terior pair are less than the second. One of the most lovely mollusks I have ever seen. In one specimen, fully as large as the others, there were three pairs of branchiae only ; in another smaller specimen four pairs ; and in one individual the spots on the apices of the papillae were scarcely visible. The pa- pillae are covered with vibratile cilia, and hence appear rough- ish under the microscope. Not having seen Bomme^s figure of Doris coronata, the sy- nonyms may be considered doubtful, but the specific cha- racter of Gmelin seems very descriptive of our animal : u D. lac* tea, subtus hyalina ; papillis dorsi rubro punctati pyramidali- bus utrinque sex apice rubris." From its similarity to the preceding, one is tempted to conjecture that this may be its young, but there are no certain data to determine the fact. I found about a dozen specimens which had concealed them- 118 Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. selves in a tuft of Plumularia Catharina, and they only differed in the intensity of their colouring, yet they were mature, if the capability of propagating the species is a proof of that state. The spawn was wrapt round the stalks of the coralline in a white spiral gelatinous mass full of imbedded ova. Cuvier referred these species to the genus Tritonia, but the structure of the tentacula and branchiae seem too dissimilar to warrant such a collocation. Rang has suggested their relation to Melibea, and I have followed this suggestion, giving accord- ingly a greater latitude to his generic character ; but, perhaps, the preferable plan would be to form them into a new genus. 4. Eolidia*, Cuvier. Character. Animal limaciform : the foot linear-oblong, tapered behind, plane : mouth with a pair of thin corneous jaws : tentacula 4 — 6, non-retractile, two of them labial, sim- ple, elongate, conical, the dorsal subannular : eyes two, sessile at the bases of the dorsal tentacula : branchiae in the form of elongated papillae arranged along the sides or on the back in series : anal and generative vents placed forwards on the right side. Cuvier, Reg, Anim. iii. 55. Lamarck, Anim. s. Vert.vi. i. 301. Rang, Man. 127. Blainville, Malacol. 486. 1. E. papillosa, branchiae numerous, papillary, covering the sides in several series : tentacula four. Doris, Baster, Opus. subs. i. 81. tab. 10. fig. 1, copied into Encyclop. Method, pi. 82. fig. 12. — Limax papillosus, Lin. Syst. 1082.— Doris pa- pillosa, Mull. Zool. Dan. Prod. 229. Fabr. Faun. Grcenl. 345. Turt. Gmel. iv. 78. Montagu in Lin. Trans, xi. 16. pZ. 4. fig. 3. Stew. Elem. i. 387. — D. vermigera, Turt. Brit. Faun. 133. — Tritonia papillosa, Flem- ing in Edin. Encyclop. xiv. 619. Bosc. Vers. i. 105. Jameson in Wern. Mem. i. 556. Penn. Brit. Zool. iv. 81. — Eolida papillosa, Flem. Brit. Anim. 285. Edin. Phil. Journ. viii. 295. — Eolis Cuvieri, Stark, Elem. ii. 69. — Eolidia papillosa, Johnston in Mag. Nat. Hist. viii. 376. fig. 35. Hob. Among sea weeds, near low water. Leith shore, Prof. Jameson. Bell Rock and Isle of May, common, Dr. Fleming. Coast of Berwickshire. Desc. Body between two and three inches in length, and more than half an inch in breadth, limaciform, narrowed at the tail, of a freckled purplish-brown colour with grey or * Formed from JEolis, applied to females descended from iEolus. La- marck more properly used Eolis. Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca, 119 cream-coloured shadings, the brown disposed in some places in darker patches. Middle of the back naked ; the smooth space divides the branchial processes, which are very nume- rous and arranged in close indistinct rows along the sides, sloping backwards ; they are slightly compressed, lengthened, unequal, those next the foot being the shortest. When ex- amined narrowly, they are seen to be mottled by the configu- ration of their interior structure, and when compressed be- tween plates of glass it will be found that there is always a transparent circular spot at the apex. Head depressed ; the mouth terminal, subinferior, encircled with a dilatable lip, and furnished interiorly with a pair of rather large thin oval cor- neous jaws, twisted into a tooth-like process at the apex, so that they somewhat resemble the shell of a Sigaretus. Tongue armed with numerous rows of transverse narrow corneous la- minae finely pectinated on the free margin. Tentacula conical, nearly equal, very contractile ; the inferior originating at the sides of the mouth ; the superior placed on the back, and an- nularly wrinkled. From the bases of the inferior a dark line runs backwards to the superior tentacula, and forms a trian- gular mark above the mouth, but this is often absent. In the centre of the back there is a tumid spot, indicating the posi- tion of the heart, the pulsations of which are often very per- ceptible. Foot watery white, with a thin rather broad undu- lating margin, prolonged at the anterior angles into an acute process. This curious snail crawls slowly, feeling its way with the in- ferior tentacula. The superior cannot be used for this pur- pose, but they are in constant motion during the animaPs progress, and appear to be of essential service ; they are often shortened, so as to appear like mere tubercles, but there are no sheaths for their recession and protection. If the finger is placed in the plate, about an inch before the creature, when active and creeping, it will stop, turn back, and agitate the tentacula, and then pass on to a side. The faeces are dis- charged in pellets, like those of mice ; and when the animal is dying, a small quantity of an orange fluid sometimes escapes from one of the lateral apertures. It is not common in Ber- wick Bay, but in spring a few specimens may generally be 120 Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. found lurking under stones between tide-marks. They seem to have left the deeper water to shed their spawn, which is laid on the under side of stones, in white gelatinous masses, each mass being formed of a chain-like or beaded thread, convoluted in every direction, and firmly attached by a colour- less jelly. If unravelled, the chain would measure several inches, but the separate links are only about one-tenth or one- eighth of an inch long, and contain, each of them, numerous ova. These are roundish or oval, with a rough irregular out- line ; two, or at most three, contained within their own little pellicle of jelly, which again lies immersed in the common mass. 2. E. Cuvierii, branchiae numerous, papillary, clothing the sides rather irregularly ; tentacula 6. Plate III. fig. 9 — 11. Eolide, Cm. Mem. vi. 26. tab. Jig. 12 — 15. — Eolis Cuvierii, Lam. Anim. s. Vert. vi. i. 302. exclus. syn. „ Hab. Berwick Bay, rare. Desc. Body limaciform, upwards of an inch in length when extended, tapered to a fine point posteriorly, convex and rounded dorsally, naked along the middle, the sides covered with rather long branchial papillae arranged in transverse series : the prevailing colour is a rose-red (proceeding from the viscera shining through a transparent skin), with clearer patches and a line of white irregular spots running along the back from the one extremity to the other. Head subtruncate, depressed, the mouth with a pair of long setaceous tentacula on each side, of a watery-white colour with milk-white tips : the dorsal tentacula rather shorter than the oral, somewhat annu- late, olivaceous with yellowish tips. Eyes two, placed behind the base of the dorsal tentacula. Branchial papillae of a uniform rose-red, subclavate, unequal, collected in about eleven imper- fect clusters (about six in each cluster), set transversely on the sides, and of which the foremost forms a sort of ruff be- hind the dorsal tentacula. Foot narrow, linear-oblong, with a plain free pellucid undulating margin, the anterior angles produced into tentacular points. This is a beautiful delicately coloured species, more active than its congeners, creeping along the bottom of the vessel, or swimming in a reversed position with great elegance and Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 121 ease, while it seems to feel its way with the oral tentacula. Sometimes it will fix itself by the tail, which it has the power of contracting into a sort of disc, and will thus hang with the rest of the body at freedom. The branchiae readily fall off, and it is then curious to see them move through the water here and there like living independent worms, propelled by the motions of the cilia which clothe their surfaces. The spawn is deposited in summer on the under side of stones, in long threads of a milk-white colour laid in circles. I can scarcely doubt the identity of this Eolidia with the Eolide of Cuvier *, for the slight differences which may be pointed out between our figures and descriptions may be rea- sonably ascribed to a difference in the circumstances in which they were made, — his from specimens preserved in spirits, mine from the living mollusks. In the disposition of the branchiae our species makes a close approximation to the ge- nus Montagua of Fleming, the Cavolina of other authors ; and the fact is perhaps sufficient to prove that those naturalists act more judiciously who unite them in one. E. Cuvierii, however, cannot be regarded as synonymous with any species described by Cavolini or Montagu, although nearly affined to the " Spezie di Limache" of the former f 9 and to the Doris longicornis of the latter J. Like them it has the anterior an- gles of the front of the foot greatly produced, so that they re- semble tentacula with a slit along the inferior side, and hence the species are characterized as having six tentacula ; but in reality they have four only, and the prolongation of the angles of the foot is observable to a lesser extent in all the genus. 3. E.rufibranchialis, branchiae numerous, papillary, clothing the sides rather irregularly, of a scarlet colour with white apices ; tentacula 4. Eolis rufibranchialis, Johnston in Mag. Nat. Hist. v. 428. fig. 85. — Eoli- dia Embletoni, Johnston in ibid. viii. 378. fig. 36. — Doris pedata? Montagu in Linn. Trans, xi. 197. pi. 14. fig. 2. — Eolida pedata ? Flem. * E. Cuvierii of Blainville, Man. de Malacologie, p. 486, pi. 46 Ms. fig. 8. is a totally distinct species, f Pol. Mar. 190. tav. 7. fig. 3. I Linn. Trans, ix. 107. pi. 7. fig. 1. 122 Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. Brit. Anim. 285.— Doris auriculata? Mull. Zool. Dan. Prod. 229. Turt. Gmel. iv. 78. — Tritonia auriculata 1 JBosc. Vers. i. 106. Hab. Among corallines in deep water. Coast of Berwickshire, frequent. Desc. Body half an inch long, limaciform, truncate in front, gradually tapered to a point behind, of a white colour some- times tinted with rose-red. Tentacula four, equal or nearly so, conical, rather long, the posterior pair wrinkled. Eyes mi- nute, one at the base of each dorsal tentaculum, and before these organs there is a dusky spot (sometimes scarcely visible), produced by the opacity of the oral apparatus, which consists of a pair of large corneous jaws and a filiform spinous tongue. Branchite numerous, elliptic-oblong, round, arranged in three or four imperfect rows on each side, sometimes continuous, or divided at intervals in other specimens into four companies or patches, the first separated by a distinct naked space from the second, the others almost coalescing ; they are of a fine scarlet colour, with white apices which appear to be perforated, and can be protruded into a conical point. Foot watery-white, enlarged and rounded in front, where the corners are produced into acute angular points. A more extended experience in the examination of these animals has convinced me that E. rufibrancMalis and Emble- toni are the same species ; and I much suspect that this will be found identical with the Doris pedata of Montagu, though his figure represents the branchiae collected in separate bundles more distinctly than I have ever observed them to be. The colour is variable, either white and opake or almost transpa- rent, or tinted with rose-red, or freckled with brown ; and the branchiae are sometimes reddish-brown, rose-coloured or scarlet on the upper part, the tips only being white. It is a beautiful species, and apparently abundant in our seas. 4. E. purpurascens, (i five bundles of branchiae on each side ; tentacula linear." Fleming, Eolida purpurascens, Flem. Brit. Anim. 285. Flem. Phil. Zool. ii. 470. pi. iv.fig. 2. Hab. " Frith of Tay," Dr. Fleming. Desc. "Length about an inch, slender, pointed behind, rounded in front, of a pink colour. Anteal tentacula shorter Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 123 than the superior ones, which have the eyes behind. Three filiform branchiae in each bundle." Fleming, 5. E. plumosa, "a single row of simple linear branchiae on each side/' Fleming. Tritonia plumosa, Fleming inEdin. Encyclop. xiv. 619. — Eolida plumosa, Flem. Brit. Anim. 285. Hob. " In Zetland," Dr. Fleming. Desc. " Length about half an inch. The superior tenta- eula pinnated towards the dextral extremity ; the front ones simple." Fleming. The structure of the tentacula is peculiar. 6. E. despecta, branchial papillae three on each side in a single row ; tentacula four. Eolida despecta, Johnston in Mag. Nat. Hist. viii. 378. fig. 35 e. Hah. Berwick Bay, between tide-marks, rare. Desc. Body two lines long, limaciform, watery-white, trun- cate anteriorly. Tentacula simple, cylindrical, the dorsal long, the inferior much shorter. Eyes two, distinct, placed behind the bases of the superior tentacula. Back with three pairs of clavate branchiae, the two first pairs large and nearly equal, the posterior minute. Foot linear-oblong, tapered behind. Dr. Grant mentions the E. peregrina as a native of the Frith of Forth (Edin. Phil. Journ. xiv. 185), but no description, de- rived from a native specimen, has been published. Its cha- racter as given by Lamarck is : * E. corpore lacteo ; cirrorum ex fusco cceruleorum in dorso seriebus decern ;" and a good figure of it is given by Cavolini, Pol. Mar. p. 206. tav. J, fig. 3, which, however, is somewhat at variance with the above cha- racter. The branchiae are arranged in only six rows across the back ; and the head is furnished with six tentacula, of which the two anterior are the longest. Triopa*, Johnston, Character. Animal limaciform, acephalous : mouth with- out feelers: tentacula dorsal, two, short and imbricate: branchice in the form of short papillae or tubercles irregularly disposed on the sides and back, non- retractile, simple xfoot oval or linear- oblong, plane. * The name of a son of Neptune. 124 Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 1. T. claviger, body ovate, the back ornamented with scarlet tubercles, the sides with a series of short cylindrical papillae tipt with orange. Doris clavigera, Mull. Zool. Dan. Prod. 229. Zool. Dan. tab. \7.fig. 1 — 3. Turt. Gmel.iv. 77. — Tritonia clavigera, Bosc. Vers. I104.pl. 3. Jig. 2. pessima. — Tergipes pulcher, Johnston in Mag. Nat. Hist. vii. 490. jig. 59. Hah. Berwick Bay, in deep water, rare. Desc. Body half an inch long, ovate, soft, white ornamented with scarlet tubercles scattered over the back, and with short cylindrical processes tipt with bright orange arranged round the sides. Mouth subinferior, terminal, with a linear-oblong membranous tongue set with minute prickles in close trans- verse series. Tentacula two, dorsal, non-retractile, short, oval, imbricate, orange-coloured. Back plane, studded with many scarlet unequal tubercles, some of which, when magnified, ap- pear ocellated. Towards the tail are three short white pro- cesses placed in a line across the back, which are also not re- tractile ; and there are eighteen short obtuse branchial pro- cesses placed on the margins, the smallest in front, and all tipped with orange. Foot oblong with plain margins. Aper- ture of generation lateral and anterior. When viewed through a magnifier this pretty mollusk has a roughish or flocculent appearance. Its motions are slow. The cloak contains numerous calcareous spicula interlaced in every direction, the spicula of unequal sizes, curved, with a sort of knob in the centre, whence it tapers to either end, the points of some of them being forked. The latter sort are abundant in the branchial processes, and the forked end is always pointed outwards. Cuvier referred this remarkable species with doubt and he- sitation to Tritonia ; and with repugnance I placed it first with Tergipes ; but the emaxillary mouth, the structure of the skin, full of spicula, and thefacies, point out its true relations to be with Doris, It is unquestionably the type of a new genus, which I have attempted to characterise rather loosely, that it may embrace the following equally anomalous molluscum. 2. T. nothus, body limaciform, variegated with black, yel- Dr. Johnston on Scottish Mollusca. 125 low and red ; back with some scattered branchial papillae. Plate II. fig. 14—16. Doris quadrilineata?? Mull. Zool. Dan. tab 17. fig. 4—6. Hah. On oyster shells from Prestonpans Bay. Desc. Body limaciform, three lines long, convex dor sally, truncate in front, tapered and somewhat keeled posteriorly, variegated with black, yellow and red disposed in lines and circular patches in an areolar fashion. Mouth inferior. Ten- taenia two, dorsal, short and ovate, imbricate, contractile. Eyes none. Cloak closely fitted to the body without any ex- pansions, but raised into a narrow crenulate fold along each side, with three pale papillae on it about half-way between the head and tail, and a few smaller papillae on the medial line above the tail. Bronchia in the form of two ovate papillae smaller than the tentacula, placed about the middle of the back, of a dark colour with yellow apices. Foot flesh-coloured, oblong. This beautiful animal has a more coriaceous skin than any of its order, and is remarkable for the darkness as well as for the disposition of its colours. Its motions are slow, and I rarely saw it swimming in a reversed position as most of the Nudi- branchiae are fond of doing. A considerable number of cal- careous spicula enter into the composition of the cloak or skin : they are simple, slightly curved, cylindrical, rounded at each end. The red patches of colour depend on the viscera, and may be expected to vary according to the nature of the food and the animals state of repletion. EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. Plate II. Fig. 1. Doris tuberculata, the figure taken from a small speci- men. — Fig. 2. The same seen from below, with the penis protruded. — Fig. 3. The dorsal tentacula as seen through a common magnifier. — Fig. 4, 5, 6. Doris obvelata in various positions. — Fig. 7. A branchial leaflet as seen through a magnifier. — Fig. 8. Doris bilamellata, in three positions, of the natural size. — Fig. 9. Doris pilosa, natural size. — Fig. 10. The branchial leaflets as seen through a magnifier. — Fig. 11, 12, 13. Doris Barvicensis, in three positions. — Fig. 14, 15, 16. Triopa nothus, in three positions, the figures all greatly enlarged. — (Fig. 15. is reversed on the Plate, as is also fig. e 12.) Plate III. Fig. 1. Tritonia Hombergii of the natural size. — Fig. 2. The same seen from below, from a smaller specimen. — Fig. 3, 4. Tritonia ple- beia of the natural size. — Fig. 5, 6, 7, 8. Melibea coronata, in different positions: the three last figures magnified. — Fig. 9, 10, 11. Eolidia Cu~ vieriiy of the natural size. 126 XII. — On the Genus Torre ya. By G. A. W. Arnott, Esq., LL.D. Last winter I was so fortunate as to receive from my friend Dr. Torrey of New York a fragment of the Torreya panicu- lata of Sprengel. According to Sprengel's remarks in the Neue Entd., (1821.) ii. p. 121, the peculiar features of this genus would seem to be that it has a spreading five-lobed calyx, a tubular corolla, five greatly protruded stamens inserted on the tube of the corolla, a superior ovary concrete with the corolla, a long slender style, and a simple stigma ; that in the artificial system it is next to Oestrum and Sessea (among the Solanece), but in the natural arrangement is nearest Salpianthus, among the Nyctaginea. If the description given were correct, the genus would certainly be a very distinct and remarkable one ; the insertion of the stamens would at once prevent its being placed in NyctaginecB, and would seem to remove it to the Corolliflorae, while again the cohesion of the ovary with the corolla would appear to indicate that the latter was the only perianth, that the ovary was inferior, and the supposed calyx a bractea ; and consequently the situation of Torreya ought to be among the Monochlamydeae Peristamineae. Such at least were the contradictory opinions I had formed of the genus ; but now that I have had it in my power to ana- lyse it, my observations lead to a different result. Sprengel describes the calyx and corolla with sufficient precision : these two are, however, scarcely glandular, but, as well as the whole panicle, are more or less clothed with a hoary pubescence. The stamens when moistened become spirally twisted, and are inserted on the corolla, as he says ; but what is important, there are only four, not five, and they are didynamous and slightly secured. The place for the genus is then in Didyna- mia, not in Pentandria. The style is deciduous and simple, but the stigma is decidedly bifid, the lobes short, subulate, and unequal. The ovarium does not adhere to either the calyx or corolla, but is perfectly free and somewhat fleshy. In the young state, in which alone I have it to examine, it is one- celled : there are two opposite dissepiments which almost meet Dr. Arnott on the Genus Torreya. 127 in the axis, but then divide into two divaricating branches, like the top of the letter T (thus HH ), which branches be- come involute, and have each a single ovule attached to their extremity. Thus the Torreya belongs to the Corolliflorae, and has four didynamous stamens and an ovarium with four ovules, a circumstance which Sprengel must have entirely overlooked. Of the two orders, Labiatce and Verbenacece, which contain genera with these characters, it is obviously most allied to the latter, on account of the nearly equal lobes of the corolla. But this order (as well as the Labiatce) has a four-celled, not uni- locular ovary ; this however does not appear to be of any consequence, and is more a difference of words than of facts ; for, from the proximity of the extremities of the two half dis- sepiments, the parallelism of the divaricating branches, and the fleshy nature of the ovarium, it is highly probable that in a more advanced state the approximate parts would either co- here, or have the interval filled up with a fleshy substance. The ovaria of all the drupaceous Verbenacece which I have examined exhibit the same structure, which is distinctly de- scribed by Roxburgh in his Flora Indica, iii. p. 6J, where he says of Siphonanthus hastatus, "germ four-cornered, seem- ingly four-celled, with one ovulum in each lobe attached to the concave side of the wings of the parietal fungiform recep- tacle meeting in the centre but not uniting, hence seemingly four-celled." The same structure is readily traced in the ma- ture fruit of Clerodendrum Siphonanthus, Br. (Siphonanthus In- dicus, L.), where the shell of each nut or pyrena is not of one solid piece, but is a convolute lamina formed of the inner wall of the drupe, the dissepiment, and one of its divaricating invo- lute branches ; or, to speak more philosophically, it is the con- volute half of one of the two carpellary leaves, thus C7) (T^> of which the ovary and fruit is composed. ^-^ >P SprengePs Torreya, then, belongs to the Verbenacece, and the enlarged calyx, tubular corolla, with an equally five-lobed limb, much protruded stamens and style, bifid and acute stigma, as well as the structure of the ovary, point out its identity with Clerodendrum : it belongs to Mr. Brown^s first section, but I have seen no species that agrees with it in the inflorescence and size of the flowers (about half an inch long), 128 Dr. Arnott on the Genus Torreya. and Sprengel's description of the foliage is too imperfect to permit of its being referred with certainty to any described species. It approaches most to one in Sir W. J. Hooker's herbarium from the east coast of South Africa. Sprengel mentions that it was collected by M. Perrin in Brasil : Dr. Torrey, who sent it to Sprengel, informs me that this must be a mistake, as M. Perrin only botanised in Guadaloupe and the neighbouring islands. About the same time that I received the above-mentioned specimen, Dr. Torrey wrote me as follows : " Did I tell you of a beautiful and new Taxoid tree from Middle Florida? It was discovered about three years ago by my esteemed friend H. B. Croom, Esq., of Tallahassee. Although so abundant about Aspalaga that it is sawed into planks and timber, no description of it has hitherto been pub- lished. A small specimen, without flowers or fruit, which Mr. Croom, soon after he discovered the plant, sent to Phila- delphia, was seen by Mr. Nuttall, who supposed it was the Taxus montana, or Podocarpus taxifolius, Rich., and he inserted a very brief notice of the plant in the 7th vol. part i. of the Journal of the Philadelphia Academy. I received a duplicate specimen from Mr. Croom about the same time ; but it was impossible for me to determine the plant without the organs of fructification. About a year afterwards I received the male flowers, and more lately Mr. Croom kindly sent me the fruit preserved in spirits. It is evidently one of the Taxinece, (be- longing to Richard's second subdivision of the family, with erect flowers,) and must form a new genus : it differs from Podocarpus by the erect fertile flowers, and from Taxus by the want of the fleshy enlarged cup or disc in which the seed of that genus is immersed, and by the anthers being four- lobed and dimidiate, and inserted by a pedicle on an axis which is at length elongated. It is a tree of from six to eighteen inches in diameter, and from twenty to forty feet high, with numerous spreading branches, the ramuli dividing trichotomously : its appearance at a distance is not unlike that of Pinus canadensis. The wood is dense and close- grained, heavy for one of this family, and in old trees of a Dr. Arnott on the Genus Torreya. 129 reddish colour, like that of Juniperus virginianus : it is of a strong and peculiar odour, especially when bruised or burned, hence it is frequently called, in the country where it grows, i stinking cedar f it makes excellent rails, and is not liable to the attack of insects. A blood-red turpentine, of a pasty consistence, flows sparingly from the bark ; it is soluble in alcohol, forming a deep clear solution ; when heated it evolves a very powerful terebinthaceous, but unpleasant odour. The foliage is much like that of Taxus canadensis and Podocarpus taxifolius, only the leaves are larger. The ripe fruit, or rather seed, is as large as a nutmeg, with beautifully ruminated al- bumen, the inflexions of the brown investing membrane pene- trating through the white albumen about half-way to the axis ; a structure which alone will separate it from Taxus, nor in- deed has it (so far as I know) been observed in any other of the family. There is no fleshy cup, but the external coat of the seed itself is fleshy or rather leathery, and covers the whole, leaving a minute perforation at the summit. The seed, de- prived of its succulent external covering, strongly resembles the gland of a large acorn, as well as the fruit of Taxus nuci- fera, Kaempf., (figured in Richard's Mem. on the Conifer ce> tab. 2.) which is larger than any other species of the genus. Indeed I once suspected that this plant (a native of Japan) might prove to be a congener ; but, on consulting the figure and description in the work just referred to, I am now con- vinced that it is very distinct : the albumen is not ruminated, and the testa, or exocarp, is comparatively thin. Richard, who only notices the seeds of this species, says that they were without the fleshy involucre or cupule, neither is there any mention made of it by Kaempfer, who first described the plant. The fleshy covering may have fallen from the specimen, or Kaempfer may have overlooked it, for in T. baccata and T. canadensis it is at first very short, and concealed by the invo- lucral scales. I have a specimen with good male flowers, one of those distributed by Dr. Wallich, and for which I am in- debted to Dr. Lindley ; but these agree in every respect with the male flowers of the common species of Taxus. u There is another point of structure in the seed of the Florida plant, to which I have not found anything analogous Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol, 1,— No. 2. April 1838. k 130 Dr. Arnott on the Genus Torreya. in Taocus, On the inside of the shell are two opposite longi- tudinal ridges, extending from the base to within a short di- stance of the summit, where they project a little from the side of the shell. The projecting extremity of the ridge is perfo- rated, and communicates obliquely downwards, with a fora- men on the external surface of the nut. A bundle of fibres in the parenchyma of the exocarp extends up on each side of the nut, and appears to give off a filament at the external fo- ramen, which passes through the narrow canal and emerges from the orifice at the summit of the internal ridge. Respect- ing the use of these canals I have as yet been unable to ascer- tain anything satisfactory." As I have above pointed out that SprengeFs genus Torreya must be reduced, I feel certain that I express the general wish of all botanists that this name be now appropriated to the Florida tree, of which I proceed to give the following de- scription. Torreya, Am. FLORES DI01CI. Masc. Amentum primo subglobosum, demum elongatum. Rachis nuda, demum elongata, basi squamis siccis quadrifariam imbricatis bracteata, multiflora. Squamae staminiferae, pedicellatae, subpeltatae, dimidiatae, hinc antheram 4-locularem pendulam gerentes. Fcem. Amentum ovatum, basi ut in mare bracteatum, uniflorum. Dis- cus carnosus hypogynus nullus. Ovulum erectum. Semen ovatum basi squamis siccis haud grandefactis bracteatum, caeterum nudum, testa crassa extus carnoso-coriacea, intus fibrosa : tegmen crustaceum, durum. Albumen ruminatum. Embryo subcylindricus, brevis; cotyledones connatae. Arbor. Rami patentes ; ramuli disticbe furcati. Folia disticha, linearis, rigida, mucronato-pungentia. 1. T. taxifolia, Am., in Hook. Ic. Plant, v. 3. ined. — Taxus montana, Nutt. in Journ. Ac. Sc. Phil. vii. (wow Willd.) Hah. in Florida Media, in collibus calcareis secus ripam orientalem flu- minis Appalach prope confluentes Flint et Chattahoochie ; et ad Flat Creek influentem fl. Appalach ; etiamque ad " Aspalaga" copiose. Arbor mediocris, undique glaberrima. Rami patentes; ramuli distiche fureati, petiolis decurrentibus angulati. Folia approximata, solitaria, di- sticha, patentia ad ang. 50-70 grad., brevissime petiolata, petiolo vix semili- neam longo crassiuscula, linearia; 10 — 15 lineas longa, versus apicem cur- vilineo-acutata, mucronata, mucrone longiusculo pungenti acutissimo, supra convexiuscula viridia nitida, subtuspallidioraglaucescentia nervo lato utrin- que rubro limitato. Dr. Arnott on the Genus Torreya. 131 Masc. Amenta axillaria sessilia, subsolitaria, primo globosa, dein ovalia, demum elongata linearia. Bractece inferioves rhombeo-ovatae, obtusiusculae, mediae et superiores late ovatae, acutae ac sensim majores, omnes quadrifariam imbricatae, convexae, carinatae, crassiusculae, rigidae, mesopbyllo carnosulo. Rachis (columna staminum Monadelphorum, Auct.) primo brevis et crassa, vixbracteis longior, tandem tenuior exsertaaceas 4 — 5-plo superant, angu- lata rufescens, esquamata. Pedicelli apice squamam antheriferam (florem singulum) gerentes, in rachi spiraliter inserti, primum suberecti, demum hori- zonlaliter patentes graciles attamen breves. Squama inaequaliter quadran- gulatae, peltatae, at prope latus posterius affixae, dimidiatae. Antheree flava?, ad latera squamae anteriora affixae pendulae, quadriloculares, loculis liberis contiguis, primum inter se ac pedicello parallelis, intus dehiscentibus, postea di verge ntibus. Fcem. Amenta axillaria, sessilia, solitaria vel bina, Bracteae quadrifariam, arete imbricatae iis maris conformes, interiores majores ovulum unicum Junius fere omnino involventes. Discus hypogynus vel plane nullus vel saltern tenuissimus et obsoletus, ac nunquam per aetatem grandefactus vel carnosus. Fecundatione peracta bractece irregulariter imbricatae evadunt. Tunc etiam ovulum erectum ultra bracteas exsertum ; ovatum, acutiusculum, subcompressum, (in sicco) cceruleum et valde glaucum : testa crassa car- noso-coriacea, fibris albis minutis cylindraceis flexuosis laevibus inarticulatis erectiusculis per carnem inspersis; foramen {exostoma Mirb.) majusculum, ore inaequali ob testam apice hinc in labium brevissimum incumbentem pro- ductam : tegmen testae conforme et secundum aetatem plus minusve : ea bre- vius eaque basi solummodo cobaerensj foramen (endostoma Mirb.) minutum nucleus ovatus mammillatus summo apice depressus et quasi foraminulatus, tegmine fere dimidio brevior. Semen maturum nudum, disco carnoso nullo immersum, ad basin squamis fere immutatis hinc repulsis bracteatum, ova- tum vel obovatum, 11-15 lineas longum, 8-11 crassum, apice mammillatum et obscure perforatum : testa lineam crassa, extus corrugata, interne car- noso-fibrosa et cellulis cylindraceis vacuis plurimis impleta : tegmen (seu endocarpium internum auctorum) oblongum, testae cavum implens et ea omnino cohaerens, apice ostiolo conspicuo perforatum, durum, crustaceum, vix ^ lineam crassum, extus laevissimum : nucleus tegmini conformis, eoque fere omnino cohaerens, apicem versus solummodo liber. Albumen mem- brana tenui fusca tectum, subcartilagineum, album, rimis ac fissuris flexu- osis profundis membrana tegente impletis eleganter ruminatum. Embryo in albuminis axi ad apicem situs, rectus, albumine 5-plo brevior subcylin- draceus, ad basin (cotyledonum regionem) brevissime bilobus, apice ad ra- diculam paullo attenuatus. Radicula supera cum albumine cohaerens. Cotyledones duae, connatae, per germination em discretae, linear es e basi seminis erumpentes. The female flowers are decidedly sessile, but the only entire fruit in my possession is with its bracteas at the extremity of a pedicle or stalk, which, at about half an inch below the fruit, k2 132 Prof. Wiegmann on the Genus Procyon. is furnished with a few minute imbricated scales, similar to those which surround the ovule when very young : this stalk is thus probably a young shoot. By those botanists who retain Taxus in Monadelphia, and who consider the rachis as the staminiferous column of a single flower, this genus will also be placed there ; but the examination of the rachis, or male amentum of Podocarpus, indicates that it is composed of numerous flowers. I shall only further remark, that with regard to the Taxus nucifera, to which Dr. Torrey alludes in his letter to me, all the figures and descriptions given by modern bota- nists appear to be borrowed from Kaempfer (Am., p. 814, t. 815), and Gaertner. The reticulated arillus inserted be- tween the flesh and the nut resembles closely the fibrous part of the testa of Torreya. Gaertner remarks : " Corticis bac- cati figuram et descriptionem a Kaempfero mutuatus sum: videant itaque alii num omnino clausus, anne saltern per ma- turitatem apice obturatus sit ? Arillus, quern ad naturam de- lineavi, nihil aliud esse mihi videtur quam involucri carnosi membrana interna." But, whatever be the case with respect to the Japan plant, we cannot view in this light the testa of Torreya, Gaertner describes and figures the embryo as placed at the base of the albumen ; but he does the same in Taxus baccata, which we know to be incorrect. Dr. Torrey men- tions that the male flowers are those of a Taxus ; but as his specimens (as likewise those in my herbarium) were collected by Dr. Wallich in Nepal, distributed by him under No. 6054 of his Catalogue, and considered by that eminent botanist as but doubtfully the same as Kaempfer^s species, we may still look on the true T. nucifera as involved in great obscurity, as to both kinds of flowers. XIII. — On the Genus Procyon, with a Description of two new Species, By Prof. F. A. Wiegmann*. I have been induced to publish these few observations in order if possible to obtain a more accurate account of the country of the species, which would fix their geographical range, this being one of the main objects of special zoology. The two new * Extract from Wiegmann's Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte, Part IV. 1837. Prof. Wiegmann on the Genus Procyon. 133 species are in the Museum of Berlin, and drawings of them will shortly appear in Prof. A.Wagner's continuation of Schre- ber's Mammalia. In order to avoid any mistakes I will here give the dia- gnoses of the five species of Raccoons, with short descriptions, without entering into the various errors of synonym which are found here and there in zoological writings. 1. Procyon Lotor. P. flavescenti-griseus, nigro variegatus, pedibus flavescenti-gviseis, cauda mediocri, laxa, fulvescenti, apice annulisque sex integris fusco-nigris. America septentrionalis. Length of head and body in male, 2 f. ■£."; of tail, 10"; of the head from the point of the snout to behind the ear, 5"; of the snout from the front angle of the eye to the point of the nose, 2" ; breadth of snout before the ocular cavities, 1" 6'"; at the canine teeth, 1" 1'"; length of ears, 2" 1"'. Female : length of head and body, 1 f. 8"; of tail, 9+». Colour of the body yellowish grey with a mixture of black- ish brown. The bristles at the basis brown, in their middle yellowish grey, the upper half black, which produces the blackish brown colour upon the back and on the sides. The fur is of a greyish brown ; the band running from the forehead to the tip of the nose, as also that surrounding the eye, are blackish brown. The snout is rather pointed; the obovate ears are almost half as long as the body. 2. Procyon Hernandesii, Wagl. Albido-griseus, fusco variegatus, pedibus fuscis, cauda mediocri, fulves- cente, apiee annulisque 6, infra subinterruptis (?) fusco-nigris. Patria, Mexico. Length of the body to the extremity of the tail (in a young animal), 17"; of the tail, 7" ; of the ear, 1 " 6'". The distance between the front angle of the eye and the extremity of the snout, 1" 6'". Wagler was the first to distinguish this species from the common North American raccoon, to which it is very similar, and to which it had been referred. It differs chiefly by its dark brown colouring of the feet, which in P. Lotor are con- stantly of a dirty whitish grey. A more accurate knowledge of this species is very desirable. 3. Procyon brachyurus, n. sp. Albido-griseus, nigro-fusco variegatus, pedibus griseo-albidis, cauda bre- vissima, densissime pilosa, fulvescente, annulis 6 confertis, nigro-fuscis, 134 Prof. Wiegmann on the Genus Procyon. inferne interrupts, apice extus fulvescenti, medio nigra. Patria, An- tillse ? Distance between the eye to the extremity of snout, 1" 10'"; breadth of snout at the canine teeth, 1" 2'" ; breadth of snout before the ocular ca- vities, 1" 10'"; length of ears, 2" 1'"; length of head, 4J-"; head and body, 1 f. 9" ; of tail, 5". I have named this species brachyurus from the remarkable shortness of the tail, which is densely covered with close hairs, and is rather thinner than in P. Lotor, of light ochre yellow colour, with six bands surrounding the upper surface of the tail, being interrupted on the yellowish white under side, and only indicated by a darker ochreous yellow diagonal spot. The form of the snout is very remarkable, being shorter, thicker, more obtuse and flatter than in P. Lotor, This species has the general colouring of the common raccoons. 4. Procyon obscurus, n. sp. Supra e badio nigricans subunicolor, nitore pilorum eximio, infra cinereo- fuscus, pedibus fuscescenti-griseis, cauda mediocri, densa, supra uni- colore, subtus cinereo-fusca annulisque nigris sursum evanescentibus semicincta. Patria ignota. Length of head and body, 2 f. 1" 4'"; of head to behind the ears, 4-|"; of ears, 1" 8'" ; of snout from the front angle of the eyes, 1" 8'"; of tail, 9-4-" > circumference of tail, in middle, 7"; breadth of snout before the ocular cavities, 1" 10'"; at the canine teeth, 1"; length of hind feet, 3-|". The colour of the upper part of the body dark brown ; upon the back of the head, nape, shoulder and forepart of the back more of a black brown ; upon the hinder part and crupper, through a mixture of many chestnut-brown hairs, becoming more of a chestnut-brown. The contour hairs of the back black-brown or chestnut-brown, with a very lively lustre. The fur thick, greyish brown. The inside of the ears and their upper exterior edge with whitish hairs. The stripe over the eyes to the cheek a yellow brownish grey. The middle stripe upon the snout, and the cheek spot encompassing the eye, de- scending to the throat, black brown ; sides of snout and chin greyish white, with a yellow brownish intermixture. The fore and hind legs dark brown. The fore and hind feet light brown- ish grey. The tail is not quite half the length of the body, is cylindrical, covered thickly with hair, and appears from this circumstance thinner than that of the common raccoon. The Prof. Wiegmann on the Genus Procyon. 135 upper part is of the same colour as the back, with a mixture of several single long bright fox red hairs ; the lower part is greyish brown, surrounded on the upper side by four black bands not quite so distinct, the last of which almost passes into the black end of the tail. The snout is shorter than that of the Lotor, without being thicker and broader on that ac- count. The oval ears are shorter, and measure only one third of the length of the head. The fore and hind legs are thinner, more slender than in P. Lotor, from which it appears longer legged than the grey species. The soles of the hind feet not bare to the heel, smaller than in P. Lotor ; the heel covered with hair. 5. Procyon cancrivorus, 111. Supra cinereo-fulvus, fusco irroratus, subtus albicans, capite nuchaque canescentibus, macula oculum cingente fusco-nigra, parva, in genam baud porrecta, cum opposita supra naribus in rostro medio confluente, fascia superciliari alba, genis fuscescenti-cinereis, antibrachiis cruribus- que fuscis, pedibus digitisque subrasis (parce pilosis) e fusco-cinereis, cauda gracili, griseo nigroque annulata. America meridionalis. Length of body, 2 f. ; tail somewhat above 1 f. The descriptions which authors have given us of Procyon cancrivorus do not at all agree. Compared with Procyon Lotor it appears higher legged, as the Prince of Neuwied had already observed in his description of this animal ; it has a much shorter ear, shorter claws, and the feet are but thinly covered with hair. The hair of the body is also different ; the fur is less developed, the bristles shorter and stiffer : the fore feet between the knee and the foot are dark brown ; the four feet are more of a brownish grey. The circumference of the mouth whitish; a white band passes from the forehead over the eye to the cheek. The smallness of the blackish brown mark surrounding the eye, which in the other species descends lower than the cheeks, but in this does not even reach them, besides its mixing on the back of the snout with that of the other side, is especially characteristic for this species, as was already noticed by Fischer. The tail in our specimen has the colour of the back ; then follow six black bands, which alter- nate with as many yellowish white grey bands : its tip is black. 136 XIV. — On two new Genera of Calif ornian Plants. By Thomas Nuttall, Esq. ANEMIA*. Natural Order, Saurure^e. Linnaean Class and Order, Hexandria Trigynia. Involucrum 5 — 8 phyllum, coloratum. Spadix simplex ; floribus herma- phroditis bracteatis. Cal. et Cor. 0. Stamina 6 — 8. Styli 3 — 4, ex- serti. Fructus cum spadice coalescens. Capsules imiloculares, 3- valves, apice solo dehiscentes, sub-6-spermae. Semina subrotunda, punctulata. — Herba perennis, subaquatica. Stolonifera ; scapo mono- phyllo, prolifero, unifloro. Capitula involucrata. Anemonis fades, unde nomen. Anemia Californica. — Root perennial, creeping, reddish, possessing the aromatic smell and spicy taste of the Acorus and Saururus. Leaves clustered round the crown of the root, oblong-oval, cordate at the base and rounded at the extremity, smooth and somewhat glaucous beneath, the petioles and scapes pubescent, the leaves 3 to 5 inches long and 1 J to 2 broad, with the base of the petiole evidently dilated and sheath- ing. From the axils of the leaves come forth either stolons or one-flowered scapes ; on the latter, about the centre arises a single, amplexicaul, roundish, cordate leaf beyond which the stem or scape sends out a solitary peduncle, and from the same sheathing leaf also issues commonly one or two leaves of an imperfect or restrained stolon. The involucrum consists of from 5 to 7 or 8, though most commonly 6, white, roundish- oval, petaloid leaves, that finally fade, after long persistence, into a brownish red colour. The spadix is a cylindric cone, covered with flowers, so as, with its involucrum, completely to resemble an Anemone ; these flowers, as well as the succeed- ing fruit, are all ingrafted together on the spadix ; still each one, consisting of an area of 6 to 8 stamens and 3 to 4 styles, is subtended by a small round coloured bract. Filaments very short, and united with the linear-oblong, 2-celled anthers. Styles long, thickish, subulate, at length diverging. Capsules, or utriculi, of a spongy texture when dry, ingrafted together * There being already an Anemia among the Ferns, perhaps Anemopsis might with propriety be adopted by Mr. Nuttall. — Ed. Mr. Nuttall on two new Genera of Calif ornian Plants. 137 at the sides, of one roundish cell, containing about 6 seeds and without valves, or opening merely by the divergence of the bases of the 3 styles. Seeds roundish, subcylindric, punctated and somewhat rough, containing a farinaceous perisperm. Hab. Springy bogs and open marshes by streams around Sta. Barbara and Sta. Diego in Upper California. This present plant is very nearly related to the Houttuynia cor- data of Thunberg, differing principally in the coalescence of the fruit with the spadix. Compared with a specimen in the Herbarium of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadel- phia, the aspect of the flower and leaf, as well as the mode of growth, is also exceedingly similar. * DIPLACUS. Natural Order, Personate. Linnsean Class and Order, DlDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. Calyx prismaticus, apice 5-fidus. Corolla ringens, 5-fida, lobis subae- qualibus plerumque emarginatis. Stigma bilamellata. Capsula lineari- oblonga, biloculavis, placenta (s. receptaculum seminis) lata, demum bipartita, adnata. Semina minuta, utrinque subulata. Frutices Californica?, Mimulo proximce; folia opposita plerumque viscosa. Diplacus* punicea, fruticosa viscosa glabra, foliis lineari-lanceolatis subconnatis vix serrulatis acutiusculis, calycinis laciniis inaequalibus acuminatis ; corolla punicea, lobis emarginatis ; caule elato ramosissimo. Nutt. in Bot. Mag. t. 3655. A very elegant shrub, flowering in its native soil nearly the whole year. Like the other species of the genus, it has alto- gether the aspect of a Mimulus, and one of them has long been known under the name of Mimulus glutinosus. The present species is a much taller growing plant, and more of a true shrub. The leaves are of a deep green, narrow lanceolate and somewhat acute ; the stems and calyx have also a purplish hue, and the corolla, considerably exserted, is of a deep vel- vety scarlet with shades of pink lake : its lobes are also con- stantly emarginate. Hab. In sandy loam by the borders of small winter streams, attaining commonly the height of a man, growing near to Sta. Diego, in Upper California. Flowering in April and May. In cultivation continuing to bloom apparently nearly the whole year. 138 Mr. Nuttall on two new Genera of Calif ornian Plants. The generic name alludes to the splitting of the capsule, attached to each valve of which is seen a large placenta, and under its edges are found the slender subulate seeds. Diplacus glutinosa. (Mimulus ylutinosus, Willd.) If the plant now before me (so marked in the Herbarium of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, making for- merly a part of that of the late Mr. Schweinitz) be indeed the true species, it is readily known from the preceding by the shorter and wider somewhat obtuse leaves, and particularly by the inferior length of the peduncle, the wider and more obtuse, as well as nearly equal and proportionately shorter calyx. It is probably, however, different, and the plant of Wendland, u caule hispido glutinoso" entirely unknown to me, appears distinct from the M. aurantiacus of Curtis. Diplacus * latifolia ; suffruticosa, viscosa ; foliis oblongis sublanceolatis obtusiusculis serrulatis, subtus puberulis; pedunculis brevibus; caly- cibus glabris, laciniis inaequalibus acutis ; corolla? lobis vix emarginatis, latis. Nearly allied to the two preceding, but readily distinguish- able from the first by being scarcely more than an under shrub, with broader leaves and larger shorter yellow flowers, and with the lobes of the corolla scarcely emarginated. This is also a very showy species, and may also be the Mimulus glutinosus, an inadmissible specific name, as all the species of the genus are equally glutinous. In flower round Montersey, Upper California, in April. Diplacus * leptantha ; fruticosa viscosa, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acutius - culis subserrulatis glaberrimis ; pedunculis brevissimis ; calycibus gla- bris tubulosis elongatis, laciniis inaequalibus acutis brevibus ; corollas lobis latis, oblique emarginatis. Of this very distinct species I have seen only a single good specimen in the Herbarium of the Academy of Natural Sci- ences of Philadelphia, communicated to the late Mr. Schwei- nitz by Sir William Jackson Hooker, and marked " Mimulus glutinosus, from Mr. Menzies." From all the preceding easily distinguished by the great length of the calyx and flower. The leaves also are more attenuated upon the petiole, per- fectly smooth, and unusually thin. The flower of this species is also yellow. Information respecting Botanical Travellers* 139 Diplacus * longijlora, suffruticosa viscosa pubescens ; foliis lineari-lanceo- latis utrinque attenuates, vix serrulatis, margine vevolutis, supra gla- bris; pedunculis brevissimis, calycibus villosis, laciniis vix inaequalibus acutis ; corollae lobis latissimis, oblique emarginatis. Hab. In rocky places by small streams, in the vicinity of Sta. Barbara (Upper California). A species remarkable for the width and very oblique emargination of the lobes of the corolla, which is of a paler yellow than in any other species, and inclining to a fawn colour. The stems are very leafy, pubescent, and the leaves elongated and acuminate. The base of the calyx is also almost lanuginous. Flowering in April. Thomas Nuttall. Philadelphia, October 12, 1837. XV. — Information respecting Botanical Travellers. Mr. Tweedie's Journal of an Excursion from Buenos Ayres to the Serras de Tandil. (In a Letter communicated by the Author 12th April, 1837.) On the above day I set out on a botanizing excursion to the Ser- ras de Tandil, a dry ridge of rocky hills, or rather stony heaps, about 300 miles to the south of this city. My excursion would have been made earlier in the season, but domestic affairs prevented me. Mid- day being come before we started, we were able to travel only about sixteen miles, through a country intersected with wretched roads ; for there being no material for making roads in this country, every one seeks the best way he can through the flat plains. The first thing which interested us was the sticking fast in a bog of one cart out of six belonging to my guide, a Mr. Methuen of Perth. The peons dug a track for the wheels, whilst eight pair of bullocks were employed to drag it out. After looking at their awkward work, we left them, and proceeded on our journey ; and in the afternoon passed some large and beautiful groves of peach and Carolina poplars, the only sort of wood grown in this country. The peach plantations attain the height of from ten to twenty feet in three years, and are then cut down for fire wood. The poplars remain and soon become fine trees : these plantations last for forty years, treated as osiers are in England. At night we halted at the house of a Mr. Roger, who left Killwin- 140 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. ning as a hired servant for the Scotch colony of Montegrande in the year twenty-five, then not possessed of a shilling ; now of a cattle farm stocked with about 600 cattle, more than 100 horses, and a large flock of sheep. The farm is about six miles in circumference, its soil as fine a grass land as one could wish to look upon ; all his own free pro- perty, the fruit of his own and his family's industry in that short time. As we quitted his house the next morning, he set out on his usual weekly trip with 107 lbs. of butter, at about 15d. per lb. : he says he sometimes takes more than 200 lbs. He has no hired ser- vants ; though the work of managing the wild cows of this country is incredible to strangers. 13th. This day we travelled through a fine flat grassy country, well stocked with cattle and sheep : the land is dry, and the roads better than in the vicinity of Buenos Ayres. We passed through the village of San Vincente, a straggling mass of Panchos of straw and peach wood, coarsely patched with mud, the church of the same ma- terials, but better plastered with mud, and white-washed. This village contains a population of about 2000 inhabitants. The country round, though flat, is beautiful, from the thick interspersing of little villas with which it is dotted. These habitations, each surrounded with a small plantation of figs, peach trees and poplars, make the country appear rich and beautiful, although in themselves they are as miser- able as can be conceived. In the rooms there is no furniture, ex- cept a kind of cross-legged bed-frame ; for the clothes of the family are contained in a large box which also serves as a dining table. There are seldom more than three or four slender rush-bottom chairs ; the common seats being the skulls of horses or bullocks : these, with an iron pot, and an iron rod stuck into the floor to serve as a spit for the meat, are all the household furniture. Strangers and inmates of the dwelling have no other bed than a hide spread upon the floor. All travellers must carry their bed-clothes with them, or go without. I observed that this is the mode in all parts of the country. At sunset I came to the house of an Irish merchant, who was the first to set the example of sheep-farming in these formerly cattle plains, having introduced a breed of Merinos from Spain about nine years ago. The success which has attended this attempt has been so great, that a taste for this species of farming has been widely dif- fused. Joint- stock companies even among mechanics are formed for this object in Buenos Ayres : it is consequently the rage of the day, heightened by the great demand for wool in the English and North American markets. Here I met an acquaintance who had prepared Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 1 41 a few specimens of what he said Signor Bonpland told him were rare plants; one a species of Cleome, plentiful near Buenos Ayres, a dwarf Eupatorium which I had often seen in the Pampas, and a slender species of Colutea, abundant in Banda Oriental ; and near this farm I gathered a beautiful purple-flowered perennial Senecio, found first in a valley between the hills of Maldonado. Leaving this, the last English stage on a journey of sixteen leagues from Buenos Ayres, with a supply of five fresh horses, on the morning of the 14th, we travelled four leagues through a fine grassy country, containing no variety of herbage. The dry parts of it were beautifully adorned with three or four species of purple and yellow Oxalis. We breakfasted at the Guardia de la Monte, in the Pancho of an Italian gardener, whose wife was a daughter of one of the late ephemeral governors of Buenos Ayres. She was now, with her husband, contentedly transplanting onions, of which crop they had several acres. Onions are all transplanted in this country, as they will not thrive in seed- beds. Leaving this in a S.W. direction, through a country nearly unin- habited, something like the Scottish moors, covered with a species of Santolina, called by the natives Genga Nigro, from its imparting a black and dismal appearance to a country of hundreds of miles in extent, enlivened only in a few places with flowers of the Oxalis and a few species of Verbena ; in the afternoon we passed some extensive lagunes, on whose shores not a vestige of aquatic plants were seen, on account of the summer drought. About sunset we crossed the Riosolado, or Sollan, as it is pronounced. There we saw what in England would be accounted cruel and wasteful ; for the drivers of a herd of about 2000 cattle, which the men, sixteen in number, were conducting to Buenos Ayres, having stopped at the above river for the night, had killed two young cows which had newly dropped their calves. These cows are their favourite food, which they roast nearly whole, just taking out the entrails. They place the whole carcase, with the skin on, over a large fire : thus it lies until they consider it suffi- ciently roasted, when all hands fall to work with their long knives, satisfying their appetites as fast as they can, without either bread or salt. This they called came con cuera, and a choice feast. The two orphan calfs being left strolling in the desert, a flock of buzzards had begun to torment the helpless young creatures and to endeavour to kill them by first picking out their eyes : in this way they destroy great quantities of sheep : even horses are thus killed by these strong and ravenous birds. Having crossed the river, we travelled about twelve miles farther, mostly in the dark, when we arrived at a post- 142 Information respecting Botanical Travellers, house or stage ; where, if horses are wanted, they are supplied at Is. per league and 6d. for a peon to take them back ; an open Pancho also for a bed-room, and a hide for bed accommodation. This day our journey was but about twenty leagues : we found no specimens except a species of Hordeum of the marshes. 15th. The morning was foggy : the peons did not get the horses till near night. About ten we arrived at Arrog Commoron Chico ; here I found a pretty kind of Triglochin nearly covered with sand from the river. On the bank of this Arrog stood the principal Es- tancea of Signor Angenina, considered the wealthiest landholder of the Argentine republic. Our road continued for forty miles on his land, passing amongst many herds of cattle, also by some of the most beautiful lagunes to be seen, covered with a vast number of geese, swans, two species of flamingo, and a great variety of ducks, one of which is much larger than a well-grown hen, which it resembles more than it does a duck. These are called Patto de las Serras, or Mountain Duck : they congregate in very large flocks, and seem to delight to feed on land rather than water. Land birds are also, after passing to the south of the Rio Solado, more numerous, particularly the partridge of the country, of which there are two species, a small and a large. The former is by some called the pheasant. I believe they both belong to the quail genus ; they have no tails. The smaller species resembles in shape, size, and colour the Corn Crake of Scot- land, and is caught in thousands by the herds on horseback. When approached, they settle close to the ground ; the rider then goes three or four times round, closing in nearer each time, and holding in his hand a slender rod with a small lasso at the point, which he throws over the bird's head and plucks it off. Thence he goes a little further distant, where he meets another bird ; and in this manner he will take hundreds in one day. The larger kind is caught by running : they rise but twice, fly the first time from fifty to one hun- dred yards : their next flight is shorter, and the rider galloping soon overtakes them and fells them with sticks. The swans are usually captured by five or six men on horseback, who go together into the shallow lagunes at a spot where they see a considerable flock col- lected. All birds of this country are so much accustomed to horses and cattle, that they take no heed to them, and are in a manner tamed : thus the riders are enabled to draw close to the swans, who rise in a cloud ; when the men shout with all their might, make as much noise as possible, which stupifies the birds, so that they drop into the water, and are killed with sticks. In this day's long ride we picked up only two species, one Cleome Information inspecting Botanical Travellers. 143 spinosa, an annual, in the marshes of the Laguna Clara; and a creeping syngenesious white-flowering perennial, very conspicuous amongst the black herbage of the Santolina formerly mentioned. At dark we arrived at the Pancho of a friend of Mr. Methuen, where we got a good supper of fowl stewed with pumpkins, a soft food without the addition of bread. There are no mile- stones in this country ; but we calculated that we had ridden this day sixty- three miles, with only one change of horses, through fine dry plains and with pleasant weather. The landlord of the house where we stopped was absent in search of his whole flock of sheep, 300 in number, which had been stolen the previous night. On my return I called again, and found that he had regained them, and had sent the thieves, two men and a boy, to the prison of Buenos Ay res. 16th. The morning was thick, foggy, and cold. I sucked two or three mattas for breakfast, and afterwards rode about two leagues through a dry trackless plain, and entered a great marsh said to be ninety miles in length, and varying from two to eight miles in breadth, called Barreado de Bessino. Its herbage was tall Junci and coarse species of Carex, so tall that a flock of cattle is lost sight of in it : it has a brown and dried appearance. At a spot which we passed, two miles and a half in breadth, though the season was dry, our horses were frequently up to the belly in mud : this marsh is valuable for the breed of the '• Coypou ? {Myopotamus)" thousands of whose skins are sent from this country to Liverpool annually. At mid-day we arrived at the Estancea of a Buenos Ayres merchant, called Laguna Robino, a beautiful seat on the borders of a fine lake, covered with a great variety of water-fowl. Here they had attempted to grow peaches, willows, and poplars ; but these were completely de- stroyed by the sheep, which are more hurtful to plantations in this country than horses are in Britain : now not a vestige of trees is to be seen in this country. The fire wood of the people is a Solatium, a suffruticose species of the marshes, which grows to the height of three to six feet : in naming my seeds I called it Solarium glaucum. At dark I arrived at the house of my guide, Mr. Methuen, where I stopped for ten days ; in this day's journey I did not see a single new speci- men. Between my going out and coming home, in the marsh which we passed in the morning, two carts were attacked by a band of deserters, and plundered, and the drivers were barbarously wounded. At a post- house, where we changed horses in the afternoon, I met a man whom I had seen in Buenos Ayres, a native of Peterhead, coming to Buenos Ayres from Tandil, in company with a Creole. This Creole attacked 144 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. the Scotchman immediately afterwards on the solitary road and mur- dered him for his trifle of wages, which he had earned by working as a bricklayer at the fortifications of Tandil. So much for the safety of travelling here ! During my ten days' stay I lost no opportunity of riding and tra- velling through the neighbourhood to the distance of thirty miles in circumference ; yet I did not meet with a single new specimen, ex- cept a dwarf Juncus and a Rumecc, with a creeping insignificant grass of the country. I visited the principal Estancea of a Colonel Alsega, who keeps an English gardener, but the garden contains nothing more than pump- kins, onions, maize, some good cabbage, lettuce, and turnips, with capsicums and cucumbers : these are the principal produce of the best gardens of this country, with the addition perhaps of a few sweet potatoes, melons, and water-melons in their season. This place is called Juncus Grandes from a lagune west of it, where that species grows very strong. The gardener is more active with his gun than with his spade ; and this fine sheet of water gives him full employ- ment in shooting ducks, geese, swans, and flamingos, with several kinds of land animals, as three species of armadillos, foxes, deer, &c. &c. The latter are seen running over these vast plains unclaimed and little disturbed, though several hundreds may be met with in a day. This Englishman had promised to preserve me a few rare birds of this place for stuffing. After searching every bog and cave of this neighbourhood, I did not see a single new plant except a dwarf Ru- mex, and a minute anonymous plant plentiful on the shores of LaPerta. In rich moist pastures near this place I saw fields of the Dipsacus fullonum. 26th. I left the Estancea of Mr. Methuen, who was so kind as to accompany me with his own horses and peons as a guide to the Serras, distant twenty-four leagues from his house. The top of the highest of them could be descried on a clear evening rising above the horizon to the height of apparently six or seven feet. Though the whole of this district is as flat as a bowling-green, yet the sight terminates at the distance of from four to five miles : beyond this, every object is lost sight of. It is strange, that though the country is frequently a plain open field, and though the atmosphere is un- clouded, neither house, cattle, nor tree is to be seen, although at no great distance. This day's ride was very uninteresting : great part it of lay through vast tracks of strong coarse grasses as high as our horses. Fortu- Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 145 nately our path was, through most of the way, marked out by an old road track ; much of the grass was of the kind which is called Pocho bianco, having long white spikes at the head of the flower stems, from four to eight feet in height. At night we came to the Estancea of Leon Biga, a wealthy cattle-farmer, who being a friend of Mr. Me- thuen,* supplied us with the best that his house contained; with plenty of wine and music, which made the night pass more pleasantly than lying upon a hard hide for eight or nine hours. 27th. A pleasant clear morning, and my favourite sight, the moun- tains, in view, (a reminiscence of home to me, after passing years in a monotonous plain !) distant only about six leagues : we struck across the trackless plains towards the nearest of them, which are a line of dry rocky knolls, lying east and west. The village or Guardea lay in the centre, and at about six miles' distance from the spot where we left the horses and climbed the hill on foot. There we found a strange contrast with our former travelling, where not a stone above the size of a pea was to be seen ; whilst here we might almost have been tempted to imagine that the whole Pampas had been cleared of stones to supply this place. The Serras are a tract of low hills and knolls lying sometimes at a mile distant from each other. The prin- cipal line runs east and west, but detached from each other like loose stones thrown into heaps of 300 to 400 feet in height, consisting of no solid rock, but blocks of grey granite. The herbage varies little from that of the Pampas : not a tree or shrub was to be seen. The only few plants which I found were three species of Cactus ; three of a procumbent slender Mimosa, of which two only were in flower ; (Enothera undulata, with large fine-scented blossoms, the root leaves long, narrow, and much undulated ; a species of Nierenbergia, which is a beautiful dwarf shrubby-like plant with large white flowers, slightly streaked with blue veins ; a Gnaphalium, with thyme-like leaves ; and two Ferns : these were the only strangers to be met with at this sea- son. The most interesting plant here is a yellow or straw-coloured Cynanchum, flowering during the greater part of the year : on a dry night, when the wind, sweeping over the hills towards the village, passes over this plant, it comes laden with a most delicious scent. We stopped in the village or Guardea only three days ; our lodging being in the house of an American Pulperaro. Here I met a Scotch gardener who cultivates a piece of ground on which he raises vege- tables for the soldiers. He told me that he came from the county of Fife, where he was a fellow-workman with Mr. Drummond : he also met Drummond again on his arrival in the States, and travelled with him there for some time. He seems to be acquainted with a few Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1.— No. 2. April 1838. l 146 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. plants, and has promised to collect anything interesting as it comes into season in this hilly country : he is familiar here and well known among the Indians, whose villages are numerous amongst the Serras ; so that from him I expect something new, principally in the Cactus tribe. The village, or Guardea de Tandil, is a military station, where is a strong earthen battery, surrounded with deep ditches as a defence against the Indians, who till lately were very troublesome. A little while before we arrived, they had come in a body of about 200, passed two Estanceas, and on the third cleared off every animal they found, to the amount of several thousands. We turned to the north-west along the Arrog de Chappie Aguha, and travelled six miles to the Estancea of a Bremen ship- master, who has become cattle-farmer. He has been for nine years in the country, and now possesses a farm of 6000 cattle, 200 horses, and several thousand sheep. This dwelling is strongly guarded by ditches and a battery of three cannon ; being always on the alarm, as attacks and robberies are frequent in this district. On crossing the plain to his house, we came to an Arrog not visible till we were close upon it : when entering it to cross it, we drove in the foremost horse ; but before he entered four yards, he was out of his depth, with our bedding, my specimens, seeds, &c. totally immersed in water. Having at dusk arrived at the house of the Bremen captain, we found him a hospitable and well-provided bachelor, having everything about him in good European style ; and we shared in his hospitality as freely as if we had been among friends. He said he was always glad to see persons from a Christian country, for he lived almost in the midst of savages, where he considered himself every night in danger of an Indian visit : he is however well prepared for defence. He mounted his horse and accompanied us for a good way the next morning, to put us in the direction homewards ; for road there was none. As I had searched in vain for specimens in the country, which was a plain dry pasture field, I made up my mind to return to Buenos Ayres. On the 1st of May I left the Arrog de Chappie Aguha for Buenos Ayres. I travelled this day between sixty and seventy miles without seeing a single new plant, through a monotonous, rough, grassy, and in some places marshy plain. At ten at night we arrived at a mise- rable straw hut, where lodged four cut-throat Gou^ias, who gave us a coarse joint of beef to cook for supper; but, except green weeds, we had no firing. However, having tasted nothing on our day's journey, we were quite ready for supper ; and then we cleared a Bibliographical Notices. 147 corner in the midst of hides, stinking Tollo dogs, &c., where we spread our bedding for the night's rest ; sleep we guarded against, as our company did not seem any of the safest. No sooner indeed was the light put out, than we heard one of them examining our lug- gage ; hut when we made a noise to indicate that we were not asleep, he desisted. Next evening we arrived again at the Estancea of Mr. Methuen, where we rested for a day ; then, with my peon and three horses, I set out for Buenos Ayres, where we arrived after a five days' dull ride, and nearly a month's journey in search of that which was not to be found. We have been favoured by Mr. Bell with the sight of a letter just received by him from Mr. Cuming at Manilla, and which brings down our intelligence of him to so late a date as Nov. 1, 1837, after ha- ving been absent ten months among the southern islands of the Phi- lippines, where he has made a very large collection of Crustacea, which he has forwarded to the Zoological Society and to Mr. Bell ; also five cases of animals for Mr. Owen, including a great number of fish, snakes, lizards, frogs, dragons, and bats. He states also that he has collected 1809 species of shells, amongst which are 300 from the woods, many of them magnificent. It was his intention to leave Manilla in a month for the southern provinces of Luzon and the ad- jacent islands, for a period of at least nine months. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Molluscous Animals, including Shell-fish ; containing an Exposition of their Structure, Systematical Arrangement, Physical Distribution, and Dietetical Uses, with a Reference to the Extinct Races. Form- ing the article " Mollusca," in the 7th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. By John Fleming, D.D., F.R.S.E., &c. Edin. 1837. 12mo. During our cursory perusal of this volume we had forcibly brought to recollection some lines of Chaucer, which the lapse of three cen- turies or so has not rendered the less unfitting. " For out of the old feldis, as men saieth, Comith all this newe corne fro yere to yere, And out of olde bokis, in gode faieth, Comith all this newe science that men lere." And yet the lines are not very applicable to the purpose either, for 148 Bibliographical Notices. the books out of which this little new one comith are of too recent a date to be pronounced old. The volume consists of four chapters, of which the first is a republication of that portion of the author's " Philosophy of Zoology," which treated of molluscous animals ; w r hich again was a reprint from an article in Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopaedia. Chapter II. is not in the " Philosophy," with the exception of five or six pages ; but the matter in its other pages is so familiar to us, that we feel pretty sure of having before read them in some other book : they are probably from the article ** Concho- logy" in Brewster's Encyclopaedia, or from the Supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, or from both. Chapter III. is also from the fruitful " Philosophy," with one or two trifling interpolations* amendments, and omissions : and Chapter IV. is reprinted from the Supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, whether verbatim or not we cannot pronounce decidedly, but nearly so. Surely the ma- terial must be good that allows so frequent a transfusion ! It may be so, and the article may, for all that we know, come up to that standard of excellence by which encyclopaedists measure their con- tributions ; but this we are certain of, that as a separate " Treatise" on molluscous animals it is very defective in every point of view. The beginner will read the book with advantage, because the manner in which the subject is treated is a good one, — anatomy and physi- ology going hand in hand with the systematist and ceconomist ; — but the further advanced conchologist will find it no more than a con- venient and cheap collection of articles he has previously studied. The Cabinet Cyclopaedia ; conducted by the Rev. D. Lardner. Natural History. Animals in Menageries. By William Swsinson, Esq., F.R.S., L.S. 8vo. London, 1838. The subject to which this volume is devoted, our author tells" us, " is one in which little novelty can be expected ;" and we must con- fess that in all respects it scarcely comes up to the usual standard of the volumes in Dr. Lardner's Cyclopaedia. The two first parts are a compilation neatly enough executed, but still a compilation in al- most every line, without the least pretence to novelty ; and it is a pity that here and there an original remark should be introduced on the unscientific character of the works of Fred. Cuvier, or upon the " careless and ungrammatical" style of that of the venerable Latham, especially as such ample use is made of both the works. These do not contribute to the value of Mr. Swainson's volume, neither do they add to the pleasure of most of its readers. The ornithology of the latter, though not possessing the lucid arrangement which may Bibliographical Notices. 149 lie given to the works of the present day, contains an immense mass of information, with descriptions of many of the birds which are now receiving names as entirely new. We must notice one little error in the second part. Speaking of Clangula Barrovii, it is said, " We believe only one specimen is in England, and it has hitherto only been found in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains ;" — a beautiful male specimen of this rare bird was shot some years since in Iceland by Mr. Atkinson ; so that its range is more extensive. The third part of the work, " Two centenaries and a quarter of birds either new, or hitherto imperfectly described," has no connec- tion with the first or second parts. The short specific descriptions are a little troublesome, from having the species mixed up together, and not generically arranged ; and it is less useful than it might be from the want of synonyms; for though many are new, many are also described and indicated in other works : for instance, Platyurus niger seems to be Scytalopusfuscus, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. for 1837 ; Ramphapis Melanogaster is the same with Lefresnaye's M. dimidia- tus, figured in the Magazin de Zoologie in the beginning of the last year ; Aglaia melanotis is very like D'Orbigny's Tanagra Schrankii, &c. ; Crypticus " Superciliosus," should be C. Super ciliaris, at least so Mr. Sandbach named it. Some of the birds again scarcely re- quire to be introduced as little known ; Le'istes Suchii, here called L. orioloides, has been at least twice figured, and several times de- scribed. The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. Conducted by Professor Jameson. Nos. for April, July, October, 1837. Edinburgh, A. Black and Co. 8vo. (continued from Mag. of Zool. and Bot., i. p. 575.) April. Zoology. I. Analysis of Fossil Scales from the old red Sandstone, Clashbermie, Perthshire. By A. Connell, Esq. The most curious fact in the ana- lysis of these scales is, that the ratio of the phosphate to the car- bonate of lime is in the proportion nearly of thirteen to one, and similar to two out of three analyses of recent fish-scales by Che- vreul. Of the animal matter there remained only a " trace." — II. On the organized bodies found in the mhia I fluid of Animals, and their analogy to the pollen of Plants. By G. R. Treviranus. (Taken from Tiedemann and Treviranus's Physiological Journal.) The paper en- deavours principally to establish the analogy between the fertilizing particles of the productive parts of plants and animals. — III. Further Observations on the Unity of Structure in the Animal Kingdom, fyc. 150 Bibliographical Notices. By Martin Barry. Additional illustrations of the author's views on this subject. — IV. On the Development of the Decapcdes. By H. Rathke. This short paper is the contents of a letter written to Professor Midler, and is a rough sketch of observations made by the author on the shores of the Black Sea and at Dantzic. The result of these researches are rather opposite to those of Mr. Thompson : he concludes by saying, " All the Isopodes, with whose development I am acquainted, come into the world with fewer bones than they exhibit in their state of maturity. These animals, we can say with justice and reason, enter the world in an extremely imperfect condition ; but as to the Decapods, so far as I have examined their development, I must deny such an assertion ; and of them I can say nothing less, than at the end of their existence in the egg they have exactly the same aspect, and are as fully developed, as the full-grown individuals." Botany. Contributions to the Botanical Geography of Southern Europe, by Professor Link, (translated from Wiegmann's Archiv fur Natur- geschichte, 1836,) and Dr. Graham's list of new and rare plants which have flowered in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, are the only botanical communications. July. Zoology. I. On Unity of Function in organized Beings. By William Car- penter, M.R.C.S., Sen. Pres. of the R. Med. Soc, Ed. A paper of considerable merit, suggested by those by Dr. Barry on the " unity of structure." — II. Organic Remains in the old red sandstone of Fife. By the Rev. John Anderson, Minister of Newburgh. — III. On the Fossil Organic Remains found in the Coal formation of War die, near Newhaven. By R. Patterson, M.D. This paper refers to both the remains of plants and animals. The chief plants are Filices, with the genera Catamites, Lepidodendron, Lepidophylla, Polyperites, and Knorria, besides "many which we have been unable to name." Among the animals are abundance of Entomostraca, belonging to the genera Cypris and Daphnoidea, and the author considers the oc- currence of these two, in conjunction with sea-shells and corallines, as an argument against the fresh-water or lacustrine formation of Burdie-house, as adopted by Buckland and Dr. Hibert from the im- mense deposit of Entomostraca without any marine productions. Five or six genera of fishes with coprolites are also stated to occur. — IV. Notice of the result of an experimental Observation made re- garding equivocal Generation. By F. Schulze. An experiment per- formed with distilled water, mixed with various animal and vege- Bibliographical Notices. 151 table substances. Germs, &c. were destroyed by heat (212° F.), and the introduction of matter was prevented by other contrivances, while the exposure to atmospheric air, light, and heat was continued. Three months produced no living creature ; but a few days after the inclosed matter had been exposed, many Vibriones and Monades, with " larger polygastric infusoria," were noticed. — V. On the Sivathe- rium, a new fossil ruminant genus found in tertiary strata in the Valley of the Markanda, in the Sivalik branch of the Sub-Himalayan Mountains, contains only remarks from sources already published. — VI. On the colossal fossil Mammiferous Quadruped named Dinothe- rium giganteum. Extracted from Buckland's Bridgewater Treatise ; Blainville and M. Rauss, in the ' Comptes Rendus.' — VII. Account of the Skull of a Fossil quadrumanous Animal, found in the tertiary rocks of the Sub-Himalayan hills, near the Sutlej. Extract from Journal of the Asiatic Society. Botany. I. On the condition of Fossil Plants, and on the process of Petri- faction. By H. R. Goppert. Translated from PoggendorfFs Anna- len. — II. Remarks on the Origin of Amber. By the same author, and from the same source. The author here considers " that amber is nothing else than an indurated resin derived from various trees of the family of the Conifera ; which resin is found in a like condition in all zones, because its usual original depositories, viz. beds of brown coal, have been found almost everywhere under similar circum- stances." October. Zoology. In this number there is little relating to zoology or botany. The only paper which comes under our range is, I. Analysis of the Scales of the fossil Gavial of Caen in Normandy. By A. Connel, Esq., F.R.S.E. In the result of his analysis Mr. Connel considers that " these scales were originally of the nature of bone, and in all probability analo- gous to the osseous bones of fishes ;" and he suggests the more de- tailed inquiry whether the coverings of the extinct and recent Sau- rians are identical. In the ' Scientific Intelligence ' there is a notice by M. Baer, of the Prussian and Polish aurochs being found in the Caucasus. No botanical papers in this number. 152 PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. LINN^AN SOCIETY. Feb. 20, 1838.— Mr. Forster, V.P., in the Chair. Read the conclusion of Mr. Hogg's paper on the classifications of the Amphibia. The author takes a review of the different modes of arrangement that have been proposed for this remarkable class of animals, and he concludes his paper by suggesting the following classification, founded upon the organs of respiration, as the result of his investi- gation, viz. Class IV. AMPHIBIA. Subclass I. Monopneumena. Order I. Abranchia. Branchial apparatus none. Family. C&cilidce. Order 2. Cadnabranchia. Branchial apparatus decaying. Families. Ramidce. Dactylethridce. Astrodactylidce. Salamandridce. Order 3. Imperfectibranchia. Branchial apparatus imperfect. Family. Menopomatidce. Subclass II. DlPLOPNEUMENA. Order 4. Manentibranchia. Branchial apparatus remaining. Families. Sirenidcs. Proteidce. Read also a classified catalogue of Nepalese Mammalia, by Brian Houghton Hodgson, Esq., F.L.S., British Resident at the Court of Nepal. The catalogue comprises eighty-seven species, of which fifty-five were first made known by the author. The most remarkable feature in the Nepalese Fauna is the large number of native ruminant ani- mals, which amount to twenty-four species, a greater proportion than occurs in any other Fauna, with the exception of that of the Cape of Good Hope. The following new genera are characterized by the author in the present paper, viz. Canidce. Cuon nob. Molars g~. Odour and aspect of the Jacalus Indicus ; head blunter, tail and ears larger; teats 12 to 14; soles of feet tufted. 1 Sp. Cuon primes vus nob. type. Canis primcevus of Beng., A. S. Transact. V'voerr'wce. Viverricula nob. Size small ; habit vermiform ; nails more or less rap- torial ; thumb not wholly elevated. 2 Sp. Indica et Rape auct. Mustelinte. Urva nob. 1 Sp. Urva cancrivora nob. type. Teeth as in Herpestes. Structure and aspect precisely mediate between Herpestes and Gido. On Linncean Society. 153 cither side the anus a large hollow smooth-lined gland secreting an aqueous fetid humour, which the animal ejects posteally with force. No subsidiary glands nor any unctuous fragrant secretion. Teats 6, remote and ventral. Orbits incomplete. Parietes of the scull tumid, with small cristae. Ursinee. Ursitaxus nob. 1 Sp. inauritus nob. Indian badger of Pennant and Hardwicke. Molars jj . Aspect and size of Taxus ; no ears ; coarse scant hair ; anal glands as in Mydaus ; genital organ, bony and annulated spi- rally ; typically plantigrade and fossorial ; carnivorous. Bos. Subgenus ? Bibos nob. Head and fore-quarters exceedingly large ; cra- nium bovine in its general character, but much more massive and de- pressed ; its breadth between the orbits equal to the height and half of the length ; frontals extremely large in all proportions, deeply concave, and surmounted by a huge semi-cylindric crest, rising above the basis of the horns ; posteal plane of the skull vertical, equal to the frontal plane, and divided centrally by the lambdoid crest ; orbits more salient, and rami of the lower jaw more pointed and straighter, with less elevated condyles than in the Bos ; 13 pairs of ribs ; spinous processes of the dorsal vertebrae ex- tremely developed with gradual diminution backwards, causing the entire back to slope greatly from the withers to the croup ; neck sunk between the head and back; dewlap evanescent; horns short, very thick and remote, depressed, subtrigonal, presenting the acute angle of the triangle to the front. 1 spec, new and type. Bibos cavifrons, nob. Gauri Gau of Hindoos. Hab. Saul Forest. Large wild Indian Bibos, with fine short limbs, short tail, not reaching to the houghs; broad fan-shaped horizontal ears; smooth glossy hair of a brown-red or black colour, paled upon the forehead or limbs ; tufted knees and brows, and spreading green horns with round in. curved black tips, and with soft rugous bases, furnished posteally with a fragrant secretion; 10 feet long from snout to rump, and 5^ feet high at the shoulder ; head (to the crown of the forehead) 24 inches, and tail 33 inches; female rather smaller, but preserving all the characters of the male. N.B. To all appearance two other species of Bibos may be found in the fossil Urus of Europe and in Aristotle's wild bull of Persia, with depressed horns. These I would call respectively Bibos classicus and B. Aristotelis. Antelopidce. Pantholops nob. Molars ^ ; incisors erect, strong, and rectilinearly ranged ; horns with a clear sinus in the cores, long, slender, erect, subly- rate, inserted between the orbits, compressed, nodose, and approximated at their bases; large inguinal purses ; no suborbital sinus ; nose ovine, bluff, and hairy ; large intermaxillary pouches or subsidiary nostrils ; knees sim- ple; ears pointed, short ; tail short, full; hoofs low, broad and padded; 154 Geological Society. size, habits and general aspect of Antilope and Gazella ; females hornless, with lesser inguinal purses, and two teats. 1 spec, new and type; Antilope Hodgesonii of Abel ; theChiru of Thibet. Cervidce. Genus Cervus. Subgenera : Harana nob. 1 spec. Cervus Wallichii Auct. type. Size small ; tail nearly obsolete ; horns small, branched at the base as in Cervus, above as in Rusa, and quadrifurcate. Rucervus nob. 1 spec. Cervus Elapho'ides nob. type. Aspect and size mediate between E lap hus and Hipp e lap hus ; muzzle remarkably pointed ; horns moderate, smooth, pale ; one forward basal process on each beam ; no median ; summit branched as in Elaphus; canines in the males only. Rusa, 2 new spec. Jaraya et Nipalensis, nob. ; canines in both sexes. GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Extract from the Address of the President, the Rev. W. Whewell, delivered at the Anniversary on the \6th February, 1838. " The Council have awarded the Wollaston Medal, as you have al- ready been informed, to Mr. Richard Owen, for his general services to Fossil Zoology, and especially for his labours employed upon the fossil mammalia collected by Mr. Darwin in the Voyage of Captain Fitz Roy. I need not remind you, Gentlemen, how close are the ties which connect the study of living and of fossil animals ; how much light the progress of comparative anatomy throws upon the inter- pretation of geological characters ; and what important steps in our knowledge of the past condition of the earth are restorations of the animal forms which peopled its surface in former times, but have long vanished away. Since the immortal Cuvier breathed into our science a new principle of life, the value of such researches has ever been duly appreciated; and the award of the Wollaston Medal last year is an evidence how gladly your Council take that method of congra- tulating the successful cultivators of such studies. I am sure that all who are acquainted with Mr. Owen's labours will rejoice that we have in this manner marked our sense of his success. His earlier researches, those for instance on the Nautilus, have been of exceeding use and interest to geologists. And the first part of his description of the fossil mammalia, collected by Mr. Darwin in South America, contains matters of the most striking novelty, interest, and import- ance. We have there the restoration, performed with a consummate skill, such as fitly marks the worthy successor of Hunter and the disci- ple of Cuvier, of two animals, not only of new genera, but occupying places in the series of animal forms, which are peculiarly instructive. Botanical Society of London. 155 For the one, the Toxodon, connects the Rodentia with the Pachyder- mata by manifest links, and with the Cetacea by more remote resem- blances ; and thus contributes to the completion of the zoological scale just in the parts where it is weakest and most imperfect : while the other animal, the Macrauchenia, the determination of which is con- sidered by anatomists as an admirable example of the solution of such a problem, appears to be exactly intermediate between the horse and the camel. But this creature is also interesting in another way, since it closely resembles, although on a gigantic scale, an animal still existing in that country and peculiar to it, the Llama. Thus, in this as in some other instances, the types of animal forms which distinguish a certain region on the earth's surface are clearly reflected to our eyes as we gaze into the past ages of the earth's history, while yet they are mag- nified so as to assume what almost appear supernatural dimensions. The Llama, the Capybara, and the Armadillo of South America are seen in colossal forms in the Macrauchenia, the Toxodon, and the Me- gatherium. I will not omit this occasion of stating that the profound and enlarged speculations on the diffusion, preservation, and extinc- tion of races of animals to which Mr. Darwin has been led by there- mains which he has brought home, give great additional value to the treasures which he has collected, and make it proper to offer our con- gratulations to him, along with Mr. Owen, on the splendid results to which his expedition has led and is likely to lead. Mr. Owen and Mr. Darwin are engaged in the restoration of other animals from the South American remains in their possession, and I am able to announce that two or three other new genera have already been de- tected." BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. March 2. — John Reynolds, Esq., Treasurer, in the Chair. According to notice, the Curator, Mr. Daniel Cooper, commenced a course of lectures on the practical part of Botany, at 7 p. m. (one hour previous to the chair being taken,) to which the Members and their friends (ladies and gentlemen) were invited. The lecture, being the first of the course, was chiefly introductory. The chair being taken at the usual time, the Society proceeded to ballot for H. B. Fielding, Esq., of Stodday Lodge, near Lancaster, and who was accordingly elected a Member and Local Secretary for the district. Mr. White communicated a paper on a new species of Epilobium, which led to some interesting remarks from the Mem- bers*. Some beautiful specimens of Stipa pinnata were exhi- * We shall be able to insert this paper entire in our next Number, 156 Miscellaneous, bited ; and upon the table there were several new kinds of roots, including the new vegetable (Tropceolum) , &c, presented by Mr. Kernan. After the usual discussion, the Meeting was adjourned until the 16th March. March 16. — John E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The Curator delivered his second lecture on Roots, &c. to the Members and their friends. The Society proceeded to ballot for Dr. J. Streiten of Worcester, who was accordingly elected. The Secre- tary announced that since the last Meeting the Society had received from H. B. Fielding, Esq., of Stodday Lodge, near Lancaster, a valu- able donation of plants from all parts of Europe, comprising upwards of a thousand species, some of which were exhibited. A paper was then read from J. Riley, Esq., of Nottingham, in answer to a paper by Mr. White on the Hybridity of Ferns, which excited much inter- est. Mr. D. Cooper exhibited and explained the principles of the Endosmometer , after which the Society adjourned until April 6th. MISCELLANEOUS. NOTES ON IRISH BIRDS. Kite. Milvus ictinus, Sav. — In the Magazine of Zoology and Bo- tany, vol. ii. p. 171, this bird is mentioned as of doubtful occurrence in Ireland ; but from what I have subsequently learned from the very intelligent gamekeeper at Shanes Castle (the seat of Earl O'Neil, on the borders of Lough Neagh), who, from having frequently taken the species in Northamptonshire, is quite conversant with it, and de- scribes it accurately, I have no doubt of its occasional appearance in this country. He states that in cold weather (the season is not remembered), about eight years ago, he saw a kite on two or three occasions hovering over Glenarm Park (county of Antrim), and that in March, 1.835, his attention was called to a strange bird, which appeared for three successive days in Shanes Castle park, and which proved to be of this species. In both instances the forked tail served for specific distinction : neither specimen was obtained. Tawny Owl. Ulula stridula, Selby (vide Mag. Zool. and Bot., vol. ii. p. 179). — By the same person I am assured that an owl of this species was killed within the last few years in Shanes Castle park. Having served in the capacity of game-keeper in England, before coming to this country, he then became acquainted with this bird, which was correctly described to me under the name of Brown Miscellaneous, 157 Owl. From his evident knowledge of both species, I have perfect reliance on the accuracy of my informant. Redstart. Sylvia Phamicurus, Lath. — Since the article was writ- ten which appeared in the first number of this work (p. 17), I am enabled to add the following note on this species : — Some years ago in the autumn, a specimen which was shot in the neighbourhood of Belfast, was, when quite recent, obtained by Dr. J. D. Marshall, who informs me that it proved identical with English specimens of S. Phcenicurus in his collection. It has been unfortunately destroyed by moths. Spotted Redshank. Totanus fuscus, Leis. — As I did not give any particulars of this bird when it was first recorded as Irish in the Magazine of Natural History, vol. v. p. 578, it may be here men- tioned that the specimen alluded to fell by my own gun in Belfast Bay, on August 22, 1823. It was in immature plumage, as admi- rably represented by Bewick. Night Heron. Nycticorax Europaus, Steph. — In the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for 1834 (p. 30), I noticed a specimen of this bird, which was stated to have been sent from Letterkenny to Dublin, and received there in a recent state at the beginning of that year. Subsequently, one of these birds, in the plumage of the first year, or that of the Gardenian Heron, was shot in the county of Armagh, and presented to the Belfast Museum. Fork-tailed Gull. Larus Sabinii, Sab. — I have to record the occurrence of a fourth individual of this species in Ireland. It was shot in company with Terns (Sterna) in the bay of Dublin, on September 12, 1837, and came into the possession of H. H. Dom- brain, Esq., of that city. This gentleman has kindly informed me that the specimen corresponds with the description of the L. Sabinii in the plumage of the first year (Mag. Zool. andBot., vol. i. p. 460) in every respect but one, that of having " the under part of the throat and the upper part of the breast" white, instead of " pale ash colour," as in the bird originally described. Having just seen the notes of the late Mr. Montgomery on the first of these gulls ob- tained in Ireland, I am enabled to add the colour of the bill, legs, &c, which in the immature bird has not been described. Under the name of ".Larws minutus", which it was considered to be, it is re- marked of this individual, " irides dark, bill black, legs pale flesh colour, weight b\ ounces." The dates of the occurrence of the L. Sabinii in Ireland approximate very closely, though they were all obtained in different years. In Belfast Bay they were shot on the 15th and 18th of September, and in Dublin Bay on the 12th of the 158 Miscellaneous. same month. The date when the first specimen was procured here is unknown. The WooncocK (Scolopax rusticola) breeding in Ireland. — Within the last few years these birds have bred in several of the Irish coun- ties, including northern, central, and southern. The details on this subject, as well as on the spotted redshank and night heron, are re- served for their due place in my intended series of papers on the Birds of Ireland, of which three have already appeared in the second volume of the Magazine of Zoology and Botany, and one in the first number of this work. — W. Thompson, Belfast, March 1838. FOSSIL SALAMANDER AND COPROLITE. In a Letter from M. de Paravey to the French Academy, the writer states that he saw at Leyden, in the cabinet of M. van Breda, the fossil skeleton of a salamander, about three feet long, and in a more perfect state than that figured by Scheuchzer in his Homo di- luvii testis. What increases the value of this specimen is that it contains in the part corresponding to the abdomen several copro- lites, in which we detect fragments of the bones of frogs and of eels, &c, so that we have proof that the antediluvian species had the same kind of food as the larger salamanders of the present day. A very large salamander, brought by M. Siebold from Japan, is still living at the Leyden Museum, and is fed chiefly with frogs. This celebrated traveller brought to Europe the male and female, but the latter was one day devoured by its companion, which no doubt had been kept too long without food. — Comptes Rendus, Nov. 19, 1838. habits of the blue titmouse (JParus cceruleus). A redstart (Phccnicura ruticilla,) and a blue titmouse built nests in an old wall within a few feet of my parlour window. The nests were placed within three feet of each other ; that of the redstart in a very open rent, while that of the titmouse was better secured by having a very small entrance, as is usually the case with the situa- tions chosen by this bird. My attention was at first attracted by the violence with which I frequently saw the titmouse drive away both the parent redstarts when approaching their own nest with food for their young ; and, knowing the pugnacious disposition of the tit- mouse, I at first thought that it wished to destroy its neighbours, as after chasing them to a little distance it would fly into the redstart's nest. As the redstart was to me the rarest bird, I began to debate with myself whether I should not destroy the titmouse, that the other might not be prevented from bringing up its young. In the Miscellaneous, 159 course of doing so, and observing the attacks I have described fre- quently repeated, I was at last astonished to find that the object of the titmouse was actually to feed the young redstarts together with its own. I spent many an hour in watching this, and have seen that when both parents arrived at the same time with caterpillars in their bills, the titmouse would fiercely drive the redstart away and give the caterpillar to its young. In this way did the titmouse indiscri- minately feed the young in both nests, while the redstart never at- tempted such a reciprocation of favour ; but when arriving with food for its own young, would wait on a neighbouring branch till the old titmice left their nest. — M. Hill, Rowmore. ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN IN EDINBURGH. For several years there has been an endeavour to establish a Zoo- logical Garden in Edinburgh. Mr. Wombwell made offers at one time, and Sir Thomas Dick Lander has often used his interest for the same purpose. The great want has hitherto been the difficulty of getting some active person as a general superintendent ; and Mr. Douglas, who has for several years imported for sale a considerable se- lection of foreign birds, has expressed his willingness to undertake the charge, and to embark a portion of his own capital in the undertaking. Several influential gentlemen in Edinburgh and its vicinity have been spoken with, and have expressed their anxiety to support the Gar- den. A piece of ground at the west end of the town, on the pro- perty of Coates, has been examined, and could it be obtained would be a most suitable site, being free from damp, and at the same time affording facilities for artificial waters. When the plans are more matured we shall report progress, and in the mean time will hope that the Societies already prosperous will contribute to the advance- ment of one about to be commenced. TWEEDSIDE PHYSICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. This Society, only established in 1834, has advanced most rapidly. Its collections have increased so greatly that more accommodation is now required ; and at a late meeting it has been resolved to build a museum in Kelso. For this purpose the gentlemen in the vicinity have subscribed liberally ; while the society of gentlemen educated at Kelso Grammar School have given the sum of 200/. to aid in its erection. We are induced to make this short notice to show the ad- vance which Natural Science is making north of the Border ; and as the first instance, we believe, where a provincial Society in Scotland has ventured to erect aMuseum, for the purpose alone of accommo- dation for its meetings and the preservation of its collections. bO m c S 2§ 000000 c c id p IS MN^NHM 00 Q 3 2 be s So . © O "* ^ • ■ Xl >> ^ >5 -t-" 01 s 01 E M w men Sic - -*»-OTfi"^p© .. 3 S 2 £ 13 §j: 1 > s g5 g « o Q ••S o O O ■* © ^- ep ep oo K IM«(N(MW(NINN |2 (N HC1 ifl« « © o ©O©'*©'*!^© a B ^2 s '3 8 ©eMeo©©©-* 1 -* : : . C*l CN CN CM CO *3 — CO £ oooooooo t< >> s ^ g) i OCOWMMCOCCM < r* P-s »-» % . 2 o -HCO©©©0©© (0 §1 »0 M) >n si i— © © C0'H-H«N>H© , *<0«1 e>i CN CN h w (M (N H CS H MNH CN S.S O u &2 M E 60 CP BJ'S 1- s £ 0) 00 IO Tfi 00 O t)< (M Tt< CO :o eo oo S o OOOOOOOO © s o i-( CN (M CN CO -^ IO -"t 1 tjh ^3 C^ OJ *5 s c J3 o> . ">>> H S « «T3 <*»NONir5N(N 00 1 in >n o> §5 OOCONONrtiHTf" © © i -^loeNOt-t-OtfieNt^.©© s-s B jj £ o >«»«in>o»co»no o O <*- C>'#X(N«^L'5t^ o >p ip ©o>eo>^ie»©j>..t— MS E • ll MOOl-OlNOOipO *• O CO t>.©©»_o©©>^© i pop *? Mean At rical P at 9 ©©©C55©.©©© © Hti co © © »Ti >T5 (7-J © C^! © lO O i^- e>» CNtN M 5 « S 2 eo eo COCO-^uOiOiOkC^COCO ■<*" &3 ■ CD « IIS CD * Clt~-Ci- MS S*n W"*^-oo^-so»poc 08 i2 Ha I 3 © ^~ eo-*©©©©'Mioco© IO CiCO*;CC:C;0 a CN 4f KOlCSNrtN^J ^ © t— >rs (NM«WW(MlN(N (M co "f Mco^iotoiowfeoeo •«*< 1837. Months. > _> * ' £ ' CD CD « S s S c ■> be -£° > o = ST w © « < J3 a o •— CS eg 3 C £ a « •-9 fa e 5 *; f > : : g : g ^ ' "S c < Ann. JV//./AV/. Voi.i. ri.vi. CortnoruLs Xjaztbuut %i ' *l . J\, Jarjwl Cortaonm rfacroceJ b nn /j u 1Ut£*ml*y ANNALS OF NATURAL HISTORY. XVI. — Observations on the Coregoni of Loch-Lomond. By Richard Parnell, M.D., F.R.S.E. (With a Plate.) I N Loch-Lomond, one of the largest and most picturesque lakes in the west of Scotland, are found two species of Core- gonus, one of which I believe to be an undescribed British spe- cies, and the other, which was first noticed by Lacdpede under the name of " Coregone Clupeoi'de," has been confounded by British naturalists with the Cor eg onus Lavaretus or Ulswater Gwiniad. Pennant, in his third volume of British Zoology, considers the Coregonus of Loch-Lomond to be the same as the Vendace of Lochmaben, the Gwiniad of Ulswater, and the Pollan of Loch Neagh in Ireland. Dr. Fleming in his work on British Animals entertains the same opinion. Sir William Jardine, Bart, in the third volume of the Edinburgh Journal of Natural and Geographical Science has given an interesting account of the Vendace of Lochmaben, and has clearly shown it to be a distinct species from the other British Coregoni. Mr. Thompson of Belfast has satisfactorily proved the Pollan of Loch-Neagh to be also a distinct species, and has minutely pointed out the characters in the first volume of the Zoological and Botanical Magazine ; nor should I be surprised still to find additional species were attention directed to the Gwiniads of Cumberland, since the whole of the Coregoni are so closely allied. From Lacepede's short and imperfect description of the Coregone Clupeoide, and as two species are found inhabit- ing the same locality, it is impossible to state with certainty to which he alludes ; therefore to prevent the confusion which otherwise might arise from synonyms, I propose for the one species the name of Coregonus Lacepedei, and for the other Co- regonus microcephalus. Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol.1. No. 3. May 1838. m 162 Mr. R. Parnell on the Coregoni of Loch-Lomond, The long-nosed Powan, Coregonus Lacepedei, Parnell. Description : from a specimen of fourteen inches in length. Head long and narrow, of an oval form, about one fifth the length of the whole fish, caudal fin included ; depth of the body between the dorsal and ventral fins less than the length of the head. Colour of the back and sides dusky blue, with the margin of each scale well denned by a number of' minute dark specks ; belly dirty white ; the lower portion of the dorsal, caudal, pectoral, ventral, and anal fins dark bluish grey ; irides silvery ; pupils blue. First ray of the dorsal fin commencing half-way between the point of the snout and the base of the short lateral caudal rays; the first ray simple*, the rest branched ; the second and third the longest, equalling the length of the pectorals ; the seventh as long as the base of the fin ; the last one third the length of the fourth ; adi- pose fin large and thin, situate midway between the base of the fourth dorsal ray and the tip of the long ray of the caudal fin ; anal fin commencing half-way between the origin of the ventrals and the base of the middle caudal ray ; the first ray simple, the rest branched ; the second rather the longest ; the third as long as the base of the fin ; the last half the length of the fifth; ventrals commencing under the middle of the dorsal ; the third ray the longest, equalling the length of the same ray of the dorsal ; pectorals long and pointed, one sixth the length of the whole fish, caudal fin included ; the first ray simple ; the second and third the longest, the last short, not one fourth the length of the first ; tail deeply forked, with the upper portion of the long rays curving slightly inwards, giving the fin a peculiar form. Gill-cover produced behind; the basal line of union between the operculum and sub-operculum oblique ; the free margin of the latter slightly rounded ; pre- operculum angular ; snout prominent, somewhat of a conical form, extending beyond the upper lip ; jaws of unequal length, the lower one the shortest. The maxillary bone broad, the free extremity extending back to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit. Teeth in the upper jaw long and slender, about * The first three short simple rays of the dorsal fin, and the short lateral rays of the caudal, are not here taken into consideration, as when recent they are liable, from their size, to be overlooked. Mr. R. Parnell on the Coregoni of Loch-Lomond. 163 six in number ; those on the tongue shorter and more nume- rous. Eyes large, extending below the middle of the cheeks ; lateral line commencing at the upper part of the operculum, and running down the middle of the sides to the base of the middle caudal ray. Scales large and deciduous, eighty-four in the lateral line, eight between the dorsal fin and lateral line, and the same number between the lateral line and the base of the ventrals. Number of fin rays, D. 12 ; P. 16 ; V. 12 ; A. 11 ; C. 20. Coeca 120. This fish occasionally grows the length of sixteen inches, and is distinguished by the great length of the head compared to that of the body ; the snout extending beyond the upper lip ; the under jaw the shortest ; the length of the pectoral and dorsal fins ; the large scales ; the number of rays in the anal fin, the peculiar shape of the caudal, and the position of the dorsal fins. It agrees in figure with the Salmo Wartmanni of Bloch, but not in description. In the stomach of one of the specimens I examined were found several species of entomo- straca, larva of insects, a few coleoptera, a number of small tough red worms little more than half an inch in length, and about the thickness of a coarse thread, besides a quantity of gravel which the fish had probably accumulated when in search of the larva. The short-headed Powan, Coregonus microcejihalus, Para. Description : from a specimen thirteen inches in length. Head short, of a triangular form, one sixth the length of the whole fish, caudal fin included ; depth of the body between the dorsal and ventral fins considerably more than the length of the head. Colour of the back and sides dusky blue, with the margin of each scale well defined by a number of minute dark specks; belly dirty white ; the lower portion of the dorsal, caudal, pectoral, ventral, and anal fins dark bluish grey; irides silvery ; pupils blue. First ray of the dorsal fin commencing half-way between the point of the snout and the adipose fin ; the first ray simple, the rest branched, the second and third the longest, more than equalling the length of the pectorals ; the sixth as long as the base of the fin, the last one third the length of the fourth ; adipose fin large and thin, situated midway be- ii2 164 Mr. R. Parnell on the Coregoni of Loch-Lomond. tween the base of the eighth dorsal ray and tip of the long ray of the caudal fin ; anal fin commencing half-way between the origin of the ventrals and the base of the middle caudal ray ; the first ray simple, the rest branched ; the second rather the longest ; the third as long as the base of the fin ; the last half the length of the fifth ; ventrals commencing under the middle of the dorsal, the second ray the longest, equalling the length of the fourth ray of the dorsal ; pectorals short and pointed, one seventh the length of the whole fish, caudal fin included ; the first ray simple, the second and third the longest ; the last short, about one third the length of the first; tail deeply forked with the long rays curving slightly inwards. Gill cover very slightly produced behind; the basal line of union between the operculum and sub-opcrculumvery oblique, the free margin of the latter rounded ; pre-operculum angular. Snout trun- cated, not projecting beyond the upper lip; under jaw rather the shortest ; maxillary broad, extending back to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit. Teeth in the upper jaw long and slender, about six in number ; those on the tongue shorter and more numerous. Eyes large, reaching below the middle of the cheeks ; lateral line commencing at the upper part of the operculum, and running down the middle to the base of the centre caudal ray. Scales large and deciduous, eighty- four in the lateral line, eight between the dorsal fin and late- ral line, and the same number between the lateral line and the base of the ventral. Number of fin rays, D. 12 ; P. 16; V. 12; A. 11 ; C. 20. Caeca 116. Stomach filled with entomostracous animals, presenting in the mass a granular appearance, and a reddish brown colour. This fish differs from C. Lacepedei in the shortness of the head and pectoral fins, and in the snout not projecting beyond the upper lip, as well as in other respects, as will be best seen by comparing the descriptions and accompanying figures. It is at once removed from C. Willoughbigii of Jardine, the Loch- maben Coregonus, and C. Pollan of Thompson from Loch Neagh, by the under jaw being the shortest. On comparing it with C. Lavaretus of Jenyns, it is a much deeper fish ; the head and pectorals are much shorter, the upper jaw rather the Mr. Gardner on the Vegetation of the Organ Mountains. 165 longest, and furnished with distinct teeth ; anal fin with few r er rays : it besides grows to a larger size. The descriptions of continental authors are not sufficiently minute to identify this species. These fish are found in Loch-Lomond in great numbers, where they are named Powans or Freshwater Herrings. They are caught from the month of March until September with large drag nets, and occasional instances have occurred in which a few have been taken with a small artificial fly ; a minnow or bait they have never been known to touch. Early in the morning and late in the evening large shoals of them are ob- served approaching the shores in search of food, and rippling the surface of the water with their fins as they proceed. In this respect they resemble in their habits those of the Loch- maben Vendace and the common saltwater herring. They are never seen under any circumstances during the middle of the day. From the estimation these fish are held in by the neighbouring inhabitants, they are seldom sent far before they meet with a ready sale, and are entirely unknown in the markets of Glasgow. In the months of August and Septem- ber they are in best condition for the table, when they are con- sidered well-flavoured, wholesome, and delicate food. They shed their spawn in October and December, and remain out of condition until March*. XVII. — An account of a Journey to, and a Residence of nearly Sioc Months in, the Organ Mountains, with Remarks on their Vegetation. By Mr. George Gardner. (Communicated by the Author to Sir W. J. Hooker.) Having packed up all the collections which I made in the neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro, and left them in the city to be forwarded in the first ship for London, I started on the morning of the 25th of December for the Organ Mountains. The peaks which receive this appellation are part of a moun- tain range stretching from beyond Bahia in the north to Bue- * Communicated to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, when specimens of all the British Coregoni were at the same time exhibited. 166 Mr. Gardner's Journey to the Organ Mountains, nos Ayres in the south. The name which the Portuguese have bestowed on them (Serra dos Orgaos) originated from a fancied resemblance which the peaks, which rise gradually the one above the other, bear to the pipes of an organ. Having learned that two or three English merchants, whose families had gone up to the mountains for the summer months, were about to start to spend the Christmas holidays with them, it was with much pleasure I accepted an invitation to accom- pany them in their boat. One of them was George March, Esq., the gentleman at whose " Fazenda " I was to live while remaining on the mountains. It was midday before we could leave the city, and under the influence of a strong sea breeze we reached Piedade, the landing place, at half-past three, the distance from the city being about twenty miles. The day was a most delightful one, in conse- quence of which, and of the many verdant little islands among which we were constantly gliding, the passage was so pleasant that I almost regretted its shortness. At Piedade, mules from Mr. March's fazenda were waiting for us and our luggage; and after a short stay for the arrangement of the latter we commenced our land journey, The road from Piedade to Mage, a village about four miles distant, leads through a flat, sandy, and in several places marshy plain, covered with low trees and bushes, principally Melastomacece, Malvaceae, and Myrta- cem, and great abundance of Selinum terebinthifolium (Raddi) . In the hedges, by the road side, I saw several species of Cissus, Bignonia, and Paullinia, and in moist places many plants of Dichorizandra thyrsiflora in beautiful flower. The sandy fields were covered with a large species of Cactus, among which many plants of Fourcroya gigantea (Vent.) were to be seen throwing up their flowering stems to a height of twenty and thirty feet. From Mage to Freschall, a distance of fourteen miles, the road is still flat, but winds round many low hills, the sides of which are covered with Mandiocca plantations. We arrived at Freschall at half-past seven o'clock p.m., and remained there for the night. Next morning by break of day we again continued our journey. At about two miles from Freschall the ascent of the mountains begins. From thence the distance to Mr. March's with Remarks on their Vegetation. 167 fazenda, which stands at an elevation of three thousand one hundred feet above the level, of the sea, is twelve miles. During the whole way the road is very bad, and in many places so steep that it is with considerable difficulty the mules make their way up it. Indeed to one unused to travel on such roads, which have more the appearance of the bed of a mountain torrent than a pathway for beasts of burden, many parts of it appear impassable 5 but he is soon undeceived by the slow yet sure manner in which the mules pass over the worst por- tions of it, especially if left entirely to themselves. During the whole ascent the road passes through a dense forest. The magnificence of these forests cannot be imagined by one who has not seen them and penetrated into their recesses. Those remnants of the virgin forest which still remain in the vicinity of the capital, although they appear grand to the eye of the newly-arrived European, become insignificant when compared with the mass of giant vegetation that clothes the sides of the Organ Mountains. Many of the trees are of immense size, their trunks and branches covered with myriads of parasites, consisting of Orchidece, Bromeliacece, Ferns, Peperomice, &c. I have since ascertained that a great proportion of the largest of these trees are species of Ficus, Myrtus, Laurus, Melasto- macea, and Leguminosce. Some of them have their trunks en- circled by twiners, the stems of which are often thicker than what they surround. This is particularly the case with a spe- cies of Ficus, called by the Brazilians Cipo Matador. It runs straight up the tree to which it has attached itself, but at the distance of about every ten feet it throws out from each side a thick clasper, which curves round, and closely entwines the other stem. As both the trees increase in size, the pressure ultimately becomes so great, that the supporting one dies from the embrace of the parasite. At the base of the mountains the underwood principally consists of shrubs belonging to the natural orders Melasto- macecBy Myrtacea, Composite, and Rubiacea, among which are many large species of herbaceous ferns and several palms. About the middle palms and tree-ferns abound, some of the latter reaching to a height of not less than thirty feet. At an 168 Mr. Gardner's Journey to the Organ Mountains, elevation of about 2000 feet a large species of bamboo [Bam- busa Tagoara, Mart.) makes its appearance. The stems of that gigantic grass are often eighteen inches in circumference, and attain a height of from fifty to sixty feet. They however do not grow perfectly upright, but are much bent, the tops of them sometimes nearly reaching to the ground. By the road side I saw many herbaceous plants in flower, which I had not then an opportunity of collecting. We reached Mr. March's fazenda early in the forenoon. It being Christmas-day, we found his slaves, who amount to 100 in all, performing a native dance in the yard before the house. His estate embraces an extent of country containing sixty-four square miles. The greater part of it is still covered by virgin forests ; what is cleared of it consists of pasture land, and several small farms for the cultivation of Indian corn, fiagrens (French beans), and potatoes. Plentiful crops are yielded by the two former, but the produce of the lat- ter is neither so abundant nor so good as it is in England. He has also near to his house a large garden, under the manage- ment of a French gardener, in which all the European fruits and vegetables grow tolerably well. Many of these he has been at much trouble and expense in introducing from the Old World. From this garden he sends regular supplies of vegetables to the Rio market, and they are by far the best that are to be found in it. The most fertile part of the estate is si- tuated between the higher chain of the Organ Mountains and a range of smaller mountains nearly parallel with it. Through this valley there runs a small river, about the size of the Kel- vin at Glasgow, which is fed by several small streams from the mountains. At this elevation the seasons are much better marked than they are at Rio. On my arrival I found that summer was just setting in, and consequently I was just in time to secure the first flowers of the season. Two months earlier I was told that I should have met with but few plants in flower. As my ex- cursions extended in all directions, to a distance of from ten to twenty miles from Mr. March's house, my collections will give a tolerably accurate knowledge of the vegetable produc- with Remarks on their Vegetation. 1G9 tions of this part of the country. In the following short sketch I shall merely mention what are the most common plants, which are peculiar to a few well-marked situations. 1st. Marshes. — The shrubby vegetation of marshes consists chiefly of Melastomacece, some of which are beautiful large- flowered species of Lasiandra, which rival the Rhododendrons in the richness of their colours. Among these are also to be seen a few species of Myrtacece, and several fruticose and sub- fruticose species of Vernonia. The herbaceous plants consist of Composite, the most common one of which is a large white- flowered species ; several Utricularice ; a Drosera ; different species of ferns, one of them a fine Osmunda ; many species of Begonia, Cyperacece, Graminece, and terrestrial Orchidece. 2nd. Pastures. — The turf of these consists of different spe- cies of Graminece, principally of the genus Chloris, but it is with labour that pastures can be kept from running into a mass of shrubs and underwood, from the rapidity with which plants of these characters usurp the soil. Hence all the pas- tures which exist on the Organ Mountains are artificial, not natural. The shrubs which spring up most commonly are various species of Melastomacece, Myrtacece, Croton, Rubia- cece, Leguminosce, Solanum, Myrsinece, Samydece, Vismia Bra- siliensis, Lantana, Malvacece, &c. The suffruticose and her- baceous plants which are met with in greatest abundance in pasture lands, consist of numerous kinds of Composites, em- bracing species of Vernonia, Eupatorium, Baccharis, &c. ; a few of Hyptis, RubiacecB and ferns. Of the latter, Pteris cau- data is by far the most troublesome. 3rd. Cultivated lands. — The plants of these places are a spe- cies of Phytolacca, Sonchus oleraceus, Tagetes minuta, Capsi- cum, Ageratum conyzoides ; a repent species of Polygonum, Chenopodece, Richardsonia scabra, and Stellaria media. 4th. Bushy places. (Capcera). — The plants belonging to this division are what have sprung up in land w'hich many years had been under cultivation. They consist principally of small trees and shrubs, of various sizes, and are always very different from what constituted its original vegetation. Here may be observed several species of Lasiandra and other shrubs belonging to the natural order Melastomacece ; an arboreous 1 70 Mr. Gardner's Journey to the Organ Mountains, Vernonia, and various species of Inga, Cassia, Solanum, Cro- ton, Myrsinece, JEgiphila, Myrtacece and Lantana, Cerasus spharocarpa, Clethra fagifolia ? Cesirum of different species, and, principally by the sides of rivers, Datura arbor ea ; among these grow many herbaceous plants and climbing species of Composites and Leguminosce. Among the shrubs of this divi- sion I met with a species of Ilex, perhaps Ilex paraguaiensis, the leaves of which are used by the blacks as a substitute for tea. I did not see it in flower, and could only meet with tw T o specimens, having a single fruit on each. In habit it is a very upright growing shrub, about fifteen feet high ; where the ground is rather swampy a fine species of Talauma prevails. It forms a tree from fifteen to thirty feet high, and its large green leaves and large pale yellow flowers render it one of the most striking trees I have ever met with. The flowers are highly odoriferous, and a single tree can be discovered by the sense of smell alone at a distance of more than half a mile when the wind blows in the direction from it. In swampy si- tuations one or two species of Laurus are also found. 5th. Virgin Forests. 1st. Trees. — So far as I have been able to ascertain, these consist for the most part of numerous species of Palmce, Laurus, Ficus, Cassia, Bignonia, and Sola- num. Chorisia speciosa (St. Hilaire), and many myrtaceous trees also abound in the dense forest, among which I found three species of Campomanesia, two of them in fruit, but from the other I obtained good specimens. I likewise observed se- veral trees of a large size belonging to the natural order Pro- teacece. Specimens from one of them will be found in the col- lection of dried plants from the Organ Mountains, marked No. 615. The various species of Laurus form fine large trees, and when growing, as they often do, in an open part of the forest, they remind the European of the oaks of his native country. They flower in the months of April and May, at which season the atmosphere is loaded with the rich perfume of their small white blossoms. When their fruit is ripe, it forms the principal food of the Jacutinga, [Penelope Jacutinga, Spix,) a fine large game bird. Some of the largest trees of the forest are species of Ficus ; one, with an enormous height and thickness of stem, is called by English here the buttress ivith Remarks on their Vegetation, \*J\ tree, from several large thin plates which stand out from the bottom of the trunk. They begin to jut out from the stem at the height of ten or twelve feet from the bottom, and gradually increase in breadth till they reach the ground, where they are connected with the large roots of the £ree. At the surface of the ground these plates are often five feet broad, and through- out not more than two inches thick. The large Cassia have a striking appearance when in flower ; and as an almost equal number of large trees of Lasiandra Fontanesiana and other species belonging to the same natural order are in bloom at the same time, the forests are then almost one mass of yellow and purple from the abundance of these flowers. Rising amid these the pink-coloured flowers of the Chorisia speciosa can be easily distinguished. This is a large tree, with a stem, co- vered with strong prickles, from five to six feet in circumfe- rence, unbranched to the height of twenty or thirty feet. The branches then form a nearly hemispherical top, which, when covered with its thousands of beautiful large pink-coloured blossoms, has a striking effect when contrasted with the masses of green, yellow, and purple of the surrounding trees. Many of these large trunks afford support to various species of climbing and twining shrubs belonging to the natural orders Bignonia- cecs, Compositce, Apocynece, and Leguminosce. The stems of these climbers frequently assume a very remarkable appear- ance. Several of them are often twisted together and dangle from the branches of the large trees like ropes, while others are flat and compressed like belts : of the latter description I have met with some six inches broad, and not more than a quarter of an inch thick. Two of the finest of these climbers are the beautiful large-flowered Solandra grandiflora, which diffusing itself among the branches of the largest trees of the forest gives them a magnificence not their own ; and a showy species of Fuchsia, which is very common, attaching itself to all kinds of trees, and often reaching to a height of forty and fifty feet. 2nd. Shrubs. — The shrubs which are found in the virgin forests principally consist of numerous species of Rubiacece, Myrtacece,Melastomacece, and Palms ; Franciscea ramosissima, (Pohl), and another species allied to PohPs F. hydrangea- 1 72 Mr. Gardner's Journey to the Organ Mountains, formis, Cybianthus cuneifolius, (Mart.) which is very abundant, and several fruticose Composite?. 3rd. Herbaceous Plants. — These are often very numerous, particularly in moist shady situations. They consist of great profusion of ferns, sufiruticose and herbaceous species of Be- gonia, some of them with very large foliage, and rising to the height of twelve and fifteen feet. In dry rocky places Brome- liacece, Orchidece, and Dorstenice prevail, mixed with suffru- ticose and tuberous-rooted species of Gesneriacece. Having thus given a general view of the vegetation of the Organ Mountains at an elevation of three thousand feet above the level of the sea, I shall now offer an account of two jour- neys which I made to the high peaks of that range. The es- timated altitude of the loftiest point is six thousand feet, and consequently is three thousand feet above Mr. March's house, which is the highest on the range. The only botanists who have visited his estate are Langsdorff, Burchell, and a German of the name of Lhotsky. The former explored the vegetation in the neighbourhood of the fazenda during a few weeks, about twelve or thirteen years ago ; Mr. Burchell remained six w T eeks, nine or ten years since ; and Lhotsky two or three weeks only, five years ago. None of them botanized higher than the level of Mr. March's house, and the knowledge of this fact made me the more anxious to spend a few days among the high peaks for the purpose of making collections of their vegetable productions. I had fixed on the early part of April for going up, but the whole of that month was so wet that I was prevented at that time from putting my de- sign into execution. May however having set in fine, I set off on the morning of the 6th accompanied by four negroes. One of them, a Creole upwards of sixty years of age, was to act as guide. This old fellow is one of the most active, not only of blacks, but of any individual of his years I have ever seen. From his infancy he had been used to the woods, and is one of the best hunters on the estate. The other three were engaged to carry provisions and to assist in taking home my collections. We entered the forest at about a mile to the north of Mr. March's house, and our route for that day was with Remarks on their Vegetation. 173 nearly due west. Two years ago an English merchant for mere curiosity ascended to within a few hundred feet of the summit of the highest peak, guided by the same old black who accompanied me. For the first few miles we were able to keep on the path which he had made, but from the rapid growth of the bamboos and underwood through which it had been cut, it was as difficult to force our way through it as if no path had ever been made. Our progress was but slow, one of the blacks requiring to go before in order to cut a way. Some of the bamboos are of immense size ; I measured several more than four inches in diameter, and their height could not be less than sixty or seventy feet. The internodes are always half filled with water, obviously secreted by the plant itself. Prince Maximilian in his travels speaks of this fluid as form- ing a most refreshing beverage to hunters and others in the woods. I have frequently tasted it, but always found it so nauseous that the most urgent thirst alone would compel me to drink it. Near the entrance of the wood we passed a large species of Copaifera, the lower part of the stem of which had been pierced for the purpose of obtaining the balsam which exudes from it. For several miles our route lay nearly parallel with a small river, along the banks of which greAV some very large trees, among which I observed a large species of Laurus and another of Lasiandra, both in flower. The underwood con- sisted of great variety of shrubby Melastomacece, Myrtacece, Rubiacece, and suffruticose species of Begonia. Beautiful ferns and handsome flowered Begonice were trod down at every footstep. The stems of the large trees were covered with Bromelice, Tillandsice, Orchidece, ferns, and climbing species of Begonia. Occasionally a large plant of Cereus [Cactus] trun- catus was to be seen hanging from the stem of some large tree covered with hundreds of beautiful pink blossoms. Among the shrubs I found Cybianthus cuneifolius (Mart.), and col- lected specimens both in flower and in fruit. The latter not having been found by Martius I have been enabled to note its structure, respecting which the only fact worthy of being noticed in this place is the circumstance of its embryo having four cotyledons : as none of the species of the order are men- 174 Mr. Gardner's Journey to the Organ Mountains, tioned either by Decandolle or Lindley to be possessed of this conformation, it seems to be an anomaly. The plant grows in shady places of the forest, and reaches to a height of from four to six feet, with the leaves growing for the most part at the ends of the long slender branches. In crossing over a hill about five hundred feet high, the low trees on the top of it were literally covered with various species of Orchi- decs, but I found nothing among them that I had not pre- viously met with. Several large plants of Oncidium divaricatum were in flower, as were also a small Maxillaria and some small Epidendra. On this hill I observed two species of Bambusce different from the large kinds in the woods below. One of them had the internodes considerably shorter in pro- portion to the size of the plant, and was altogether much smaller. The other species was still less, its stem not being more than a quarter of an inch in diameter, but continuing of that thickness to a height of fifteen or twenty feet. The getting through these was the most difficult part of our day's journey. At 4 p.m. we reached a place by the side of a small stream, where I determined to remain for the night ; and while the blacks were occupied in cutting wood for a fire and in preparing some food, I went up the course of the little stream in search of plants ; as I estimated this spot to be about 4500 feet high, and naturally expected a different vegetation from what there was in the plain below. The first plant that at- tracted my attention was what I then imagined to be a fine individual of Cereus truncatus in full flower hanging from the under side of the trunk of a large tree that was bent over the stream. As I wanted to add a few specimens of it to my col- lection I soon managed to put myself in possession of the whole plant, when to my surprise and delight I found it to be a new species. I felt glad that I had taken the plant down and not passed it by as I had once intended. In habit it is quite like C. truncatus, but when the flowers are examined it proves abundantly distinct, in its four winged ovarium, its straight and regular, not oblique and irregular, flower, the deeper and more delicate hue of the inflorescence, and the pink not white colour of its filaments. I have named it Cereus Russel/ianus in honour of His Grace the Duke of Bedford. A with Remarks on their Vegetation. 175 little way further up, by the side of a small water-fall, and on a moist slanting bank near it, I found great quantities of a fine dark red-flowered Amaryllis, of which I collected specimens and took up a good many of the roots. It is perhaps unde- scribed, as I can find nothing to agree with it in my books, but this may soon be ascertained as I have sent home speci- mens and a great many bulbs. The place where it grows is one of the most charming I have ever seen. The bed of the stream is about ten feet broad, but it is only during heavy rains that it covers this space. At this time the stream was little more than perceptible. The water falls over three successive shelves of granite, each about eight feet high ; along the stream at the bottom of the fall there are several middle-sized trees, the branches of which are festooned with the long branches of the same Fuchsia as grows abundantly below, loaded with splendid crimson flowers. By the side of the fall are several bushes of a large flowered species of Lasiandra, and along with them a few of a red-blossomed Virgularia, and a broad thick- leaved species of Clusia, loading the atmosphere with a delight- ful odour arising from its large white inflorescence. Beneath these grows the Amaryllis already mentioned, an Eryngium, and several Bromeliacece. On the face of the rocks I saw se- veral mosses, but none of them in fruit. Having gained the upper part of the fall I found a space extending to a consider- able distance on each side and for some way up the mountain, destitute of trees; — nothing but bare portions of rock with oc- casional masses of low shrubs and herbaceous plants. Among these, the beautiful Zygopetalon Mackaii, and the odoriferous Maxillaria picta, were not the least common. Darkness now beginning to set in, I returned to the encampment, and found a large fire lighted and something prepared to eat. After din- ner I put the plants which I had collected during the day into paper. The evening was so fine that I considered the erection of a hut unnecessary, and lay down about 8 p.m. on a few palm leaves by the fire, with my poncho wrapped round me, to pass the night. When I arose next morning at day break I found the ther- mometer at 46°. While breakfast was preparing I again went out to botanize, but added little more than a few ferns to my 1 76 Mr. Gardner's Journey to the Organ Mountains, collection of the previous evening. Our journey of the first day to the place where we now halted was of very gradual ascent. To-day we commenced the ascent proper of the peaks. Leaving behind all that was not actually necessary to be taken with us, we commenced our journey by passing the little water- fall and walking up the bed of the stream along the gently slo- ping fall of a granite rock. The ascent of several parts of this was rather difficult, having to crawl up on our hands and knees. After half an hour's hard work we reached a com- paratively flat wooded spot. On the steep part I collected in moist places an Eriocaulon, a Gentiana, and a few other curious little plants, and saw also a small Drosera, but could meet with none of it in flower. In passing through the wood above mentioned I saw great plenty of my new Cactus growing on the stems of the larger trees. Emerging from the wood we again encountered another steep place almost entirely covered with a large species of Bromeliacece, above which rose a few plants of a fine large scarlet-flowered shrubby species of Salvia and a pale blossomed Virgularia, while, twining among thin stems was a small-leaved and small white-flowered species of Apocynea, of all of which I collected specimens. On a nearly bare portion of the rock I also found an herbaceous plant be- longing to the natural order Gentianece. It grows from a foot to a foot and a half high, with thick succulent glaucous leaves, the upper ones connate, from out of which proceed about half a dozen pedicles each bearing a single flower. The inflores- cence is large, the calyx much inflated and tinged with pur- ple, particularly on one side. The pale yellowish-white corolla is nearly hidden by the calyx. The stamens are six. As I believe this to be the type of a new genus I have called it Gastrocalyx connatus. The seed-vessels were all too young to enable me to procure ripe seeds of it, a circumstance which I much regretted. Passing this place we again entered a wooded district of the mountain. Here we found many anta (tapir) paths, as we had also done the day previous, in the woods below along which we passed, thus rendering our pro- gress much quicker than it otherwise would have been, as the branches above only required to be cut away to make a good road. Judging from the abundance of the tracks which we with Remarks on their Vegetation. 177 here met with, the tapir must be a very common animal in this remote and solitary part of the mountains. Here they are as yet out of the reach of the hunter, who commits great havoc among those of the lower woods, and there is also abundance of herbage to supply them with food. In passing through this forest one of the blacks shot a Jacutinga, [Penelope Jacutinga, Spix), and I collected a few orchideous plants and specimens of a large yellow-flowered Senecio. Leaving this w T ood we came upon a slanting boggy piece of ground, in ascending which I found a fruticose proteaceous-like species of Composite, perhaps a Baccharis ; a Vaccinium and Andromeda (?) both in fruit ; two species of Melastomacece, one of them with large purple flowers and small leaves ; abundance of the Eriocaulon which I met with further down ; a Ulricularia, a Hyptis, and a Salvia. Judging from the top of the mountain we were now at an elevation of more than five thousand feet. In the wood through which we last passed there were no large trees, and those of another which we had now entered were still smaller, the highest not exceeding fifteen or twenty feet. Leaving it we commenced the ascent of a very steep place covered with low shrubs, among which were three species of Melastomacece which I had not before found, a frutescent Lobelia, and at a considerably higher elevation the ground was principally co- vered with Gaultheria hispida (Sprengel), and a Weinmannia, of which I could only find three specimens in flower. The Gaultheria grows from two to three feet high, and the Wein- mannia a little higher. We continued our way for more than an hour through this stunted vegetation, making but slow pro- gress, although we were much facilitated by having the path of the tapir to crawl up. By following this tract we reached a point whence we had a beautiful prospect of the surround- ing country, particularly to the eastward, where as far as the eye could reach it was one mass of conical shaped hills, one ridge only rising to a considerable elevation above the rest. The point which we had attained was the summit of one of the many peaks which form the range of the Organ Moun- tains. At less than a quarter of a mile distant stood the high- est peak, and certainly not more than three hundred feet above us ; but between the two peaks lay a densely wooded ravine Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 3. May 1838. n 178 Mr. Gardner's Journey to the Organ Mountains, about two hundred feet deep. It being now two o'clock p.m. it was too late to think of ascending it that day; so I deter- mined to remain where we were for the night and attempt it next day, but the blacks refused to do so on account of no water being nearer than a little above where we had slept the night previous. As I could not force them to remain, I was consequently, much against my will, obliged to abandon all idea of reaching the summit. Not having a barometer with me I took up a thermometer that I might ascertain the boil- ing point of water ; but unfortunately broke the tube before I could do so. On the very top of the peak, a granite rock almost destitute of soil, I found a great patch of a large bul- bous-rooted plant : it was not in flower, but had all the appear- ance of being an Amaryllis. I carried some away and have since sent home a good many roots of it. After partaking of a slight repast we commenced our downward journey, and reached our encampment just as evening was setting in. After preparing a little tea for myself I put my day's collection of specimens into paper, and again lay down wrapped in my poncho to enjoy some rest, being not a little fatigued with the toils of the day. At 6 a.m. next morning the thermometer in- dicated 47°. After breakfast I brought all my collection of parasites, bulbs, &c. together, and allotted to each negro his burden, the weight of which caused no little grumbling among them ; but when they saw me load myself as heavily as any of them they said nothing. We started at 8 a.m. and followed the route by which we had come. The only thing which I picked up on my way back worthy of notice was a new spe- cies of Zygopetalon growing on the stem of an old tree. It is not so fine as either of the other two Brazilian species. Its petals and sepals are greenish-yellow, the labellum white, streaked at the base with purple. I have named it Z. Mur- ray anum in honour of my excellent friend Mr. Murray of the Glasgow Botanic Garden. At 4 o'clock p.m., groaning under our loads, we reached the fazenda. Being anxious to obtain a few more plants of the new Cactus, and also a larger stock of those bulbous plants which I had met with on my visit to the mountains, as well as to add more specimens to my collection of dried plants, I made prepara- with Remarks on their Vegetation. 179 tions on the evening of the 14th of May for starting on the fol- lowing morning. On this journey I was again accompanied by my old guide u Pai Phelipe" and the other three blacks. We left the fazenda at 8 a.m. and reached our former encampment at 3 p.m. After dinner I went out to botanize, taking three of the blacks with me. One of them I left at the little water-fall to collect bulbs of the Amaryllis formerly mentioned as grow- ing there ; the other two accompanied me to assist in collect- ing specimens ; and I was thus enabled to add considerably to my previous stock ; but the only new thing I met with was a species of Melastomacece, a tree about ten or twelve feet high covered with small white flowers. After getting all my spe- cimens put into paper I once more lay down on a few palm leaves covered with my poncho to pass the night. We arose next morning by break of day, when I found the thermometer at 50°. As there was little to be had on the top of the moun- tain but the bulbous roots already mentioned, I sent two of the blacks up to bring as many of these as they could carry, intending myself to walk slowly with the other two to the bog in which I formerly found the Vaccinium. During my walk I gathered plenty of Cereus Russellianus. This plant is a good example of nearly allied species representing each other in different regions. During the four times that I passed through the woods in my journey to and from the mountains, I always found Cereus truncatus confined to the dense virgin forests below the elevation of 4500 feet, while from that point to nearly 6000 feet Cereus Russellianus alone was seen. Little new was added to my number of species on this visit, but I much increased my former limited stock of specimens. Early in the afternoon the two blacks and myself returned to the spot from whence we had started loaded with collections. The day was one of the most delightful I ever remember to have witnessed, quite like one of the finest days of an English summer. The sky was clear and unclouded, and the atmo- sphere being free from that haze which often in the finest weather renders the view of distant objects indistinct, allowed us to obtain a perfect and well-defined prospect of the outline of the high mountains far to the eastward. Shortly after the other two blacks returned from the top of the mountains. n 2 180 Mr. Gardner's Journey to the Organ Mountains. One of them brought me a single specimen of a beautiful little Alstrcemeria in flower. I had observed it on my former visit, but the few plants which I then met with were in fruit, and as the seeds were ripe I carefully preserved them. Having got all my specimens safely put into paper, I lay down shortly after seven, little dreaming what a miserable night I was to spend. I had just fallen asleep when I was suddenly awaken- ed by a deluge of rain which was pouring down. One of those sudden and heavy showers which are only witnessed in tropical countries had commenced. Had we been in an open place we might have seen it approaching and been able to reach some shelter before it came on, but the tops of the trees by which we were covered had prevented this. I never was abroad in such weather. In a few minutes our large fire was extinguished and the place was swimming. I had laid a small bag of Amaryllis roots under my head as a pillow, which I now was obliged to use as a seat, after having covered my- self with my poncho, which although a good one was but a poor protection for such a night. In half an hour the small stream beside us, which during the day had only a few inches of water, came pouring down like thunder. To add to our misery, the night was pitch-dark, so that we could not see to remedy our situation. What a night I spent may be imagined when I mention that I sat in one position from half-past seven in the evening till nearly three the next morning, under an incessant deluge of rain. A more perfect picture of patience I flatter myself could not be witnessed. About three it began to abate a little, and being in a shivering condition from the cold and wet, we made several attempts to kindle a fire, but without success ; everything being too wet to burn, and we were therefore obliged to content ourselves without one. By seating myself at the root of a tree, and leaning my back against it, I managed, at four different intervals, to obtain about an hour's sleep, but constantly awoke, cold and shivering. Never was I so glad as when the first rays of daylight were seen streaming through the trees ; and as soon as we could see, we lost no time in preparing to return home. Shortly after we started the rain began, and continued till we reached the fazenda, which we did at two p.m. On my way home I col- Mr, Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 181 lected a few specimens of a digitate-leaved species of Mi- kania. Up to the beginning of June I still continued to add to my stock of dried specimens, and on the 9th of that month left the mountains;, with all my collections, for the city of Rio de Janeiro. Geo. Gardner. Rio de Janeiro, July 14th, 1837. XVIII. — Contributions to the Natural History of Ireland. By William Thompson, Esq., Vice-President of the Belfast Natural History Society. No. 6. — On the Birds of the Order Insessores. [Continued from p. 26.] The Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba, Linn.* — Is a common species in this country, and though said to leave the northern to winter in the southern parts of England, is in the northern counties of Ireland permanently resident. One disposition towards a movement may however be witnessed, which is their collecting in the autumn in flocks, commonly consisting of about thirty individuals. Thus have I seen them at the end of September, on the borders of Lough Neagh, and have so observed them come to roost upon the reeds (Arundo phrag- mitis,) and the adjacent ground, on the banks of the river Lagan, until after the middle of November ; but I am not aware whether the portion of these birds so congregated ever move southwards. Mr. R. Ball has likewise observed them in large flocks in the south of Ireland about Youghal, during the month of October. Towards the end of January the song of the wagtail is frequently heard in the north, and occasionally * The pied wagtail of Ireland is identical with the M. alba of British authors generally, and with the M. Yarrelli of Mr. Gould. By this author a new name has been applied to it, as he states, in consequence of a species peculiar to the temperate portion of continental Europe being the true M. alba of Linnaeus, and from which the British species is distinct. (Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 459, New Series.) The two characters which form the description of M. alba in the ' System a Naturae,' are found in our bird. These are " pectore nigro, rectricibus duabus lateralibus dimidiato oblique albis," t. i. p. 331, 13th ed. 182 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. so late as in October. The situations generally known to me as selected for its nest were on the ground beneath piles of loosely heaped stones, the eggs four in number, and as de- scribed by Mr. Selby. A nest examined by my relative was, excepting some thread and bits of cloth in its foundation, en- tirely formed of cow and horse hair. Montagu remarks of this species (Orn. Diet.), "as the weather becomes severe, they haunt marshes subject to the flow of the tide. In such places on the coast we have seen them in abundance, when none were to be found inland." In the north of Ireland they are always to be met with in the in- terior of the country, and in the most genial seasons of the year frequent the sea-side when the tide has ebbed. Like the dunlin (Tringa variabilis), and birds of similar habits, I have in some localities observed them daily attend upon the flowing tide in autumn. During the breeding season they have oc- curred to me on small and low rocky islets in the sea. The wagtails are very general favourites. It is interesting to observe their confidence in man, which is especially shown in their closely following and keeping pace with the plough and harrow, when the loud calling of the driver to his horses or other noise they heed not, as if knowing it is not addressed to them. In thus feeding, one manner only of taking their prey is resorted to ; but elsewhere, when winged insects are the objects of pursuit, we may see in addition to running, both leaping and flying adopted ; in the last they resemble the spotted fly-catcher, and through the air I have seen them pursue insects as far as this species. It is amusing to behold what appears to be their playfulness of manner towards other birds, and the reception it meets with from them. Thus have I seen one fly out to sea after a king plover (Charadrius Hia- ticula), and strike at it several times, the latter exerting all its powers to avoid it, as if the wagtail, not more than half its weight, were a bird of prey. Again, when one of these birds and a yellow bunting were feeding near each other, the wag- tail gave chase to the latter, and after taking many turns, through all of which they maintained a regular distance of about a foot from each other, they alighted peaceably on the same stone ; the chase thus seeming to have been undertaken for Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 183 mere diversion. On another occasion I saw a pair of wagtails pursue, to its great annoyance, a poor bat ( Vesper tilio Pipistrel- lus ?) that untowardly appeared during one of the dark days of December (9th, 1832). Gray Wagtail, Motacilla Boarula, Linn. — This beautiful and graceful species, though much less common than the last, is extensively, but not universally distributed over Ireland. Like the pied wagtail it is permanently resident throughout the country, whilst in the north of England it is known only as a summer, and in the south* (in general terms) as a winter vi- sitor. For many years I have remarked its presence during every winter in the counties of Down and Antrim, and about the mountain rivulets as well as those adjacent to the sea. When by frost and snow the woodcocks have been driven from the mountain heaths to the covers, and the snipes from the marshes to the unfrozen springs, I have observed the gray wagtail in its summer haunts about the ponds at the moun- tainous locality of Wolf hill. At this season and late in the autumn it is occasionally seen in places of a very different character — in the extensive tan-yards, &c. of Belfast. The situations generally selected for the nest are holes in walls, those of bridges, about mill-wheels, or otherwise conti- guous to water being preferred. In the romantic glens they also build, and for this purpose a pair generally resorts to a fissure of the rock beside a picturesque cascade at "the Falls," just such a place as would be chosen by the water-ouzel. On the 18th of March my relative has observed a pair of these birds apparently contemplating nidification, by minutely ex- amining their former breeding haunts, and on the 12th of May has seen the young of the first brood on wing, though still re- quiring their parents' aid to feed them. The nest is generally formed of grasses and lined with horse-hair. I have invariably remarked the female as well as the male to possess the black mark on the throat in the nuptial season. After Montagu and Selby it may seem unnecessary to allude to this, but Tem- minck's having described it as characteristic of the male only, * On August 28th I saw it in the gravelly bed of the river at Dole in France. In the third week of March I have remarked it atOgley Pool, North Wales. 184 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. has induced the observation. Throughout the winter the gray wagtail generally keeps in pairs ; in autumn only have I seen a whole family, and never more together. Their prey is taken by the different methods described in the notice of the last spe- cies. About the head of mountain springs I have frequently observed this attractive bird, but knew not the object of its pursuit in these interesting spots, until the examination of the stomach of one in the month of December proved it, at least in one instance, to have been the minute river limpet, Ancylus fluviatilis, of which it contained many specimens. In so far as the haunts of M. alba and M. Boarula are regarded, I can- not see the advantage of Cuvier's division of the wagtails into two genera. Under Budytes, a name suggested by its being often seen among cattle (Reg. An. t. i. p. 391, 2nd ed.), he ranks the gray, and under Motacilla, which is stated generally to be seen about waters, is classed the pied ; but, according to my observation, if either bird should in general terms be de- scribed as frequenting pastures, and hunting insects among the flocks, it should be the M. alba ; and if hunting the vici- nity of waters should be regarded as characteristic of the one rather than the other, it should be of the M. Boarula. The " form" oiM.flava renders the propriety of his sub-genus more obvious. Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava, Ray. — Mr. Templeton has remarked that this species is i( a rare summer visitant, ap- pearing more commonly about Lough Neagh than elsewhere/' From the observations of ornithologists in various parts of the country, it seems to be generally a rare species. To myself it has in Ireland* occurred but once in a wild state, on June 24, 1832, in a turf bog on the confines of the county Donegal, a few miles from the city of Londonderry. But once has it been seen by Wm. Sinclaire, Esq., when, on April 28, 1833, a single individual appeared, and on that day only, at "The Falls." In the collection of T. W. Warren, Esq. of Dublin, I have seen a specimen f which was shot at Finglass, near that city, * In England I have seen it in the month of July about the lakes of Uawes-water and Windermere. f This is the true M.jlava as distinguished from the M, ncglecta of Gould. Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 185 about the 20th of Aprils 1835 : it is the only individual that has come under this gentleman's observation. A specimen set up by Mr. Wm. S. Wall, of Dublin, is stated to have been shot in the vicinity of the Custom-house in May, 1837. I n the southern counties of Cork and Kerry it has not been met with by my correspondents. Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis, Bechst. — This bird is very common in Ireland, from the meadows adjacent to the sea- shore, and occasionally the shore itself, to the mountain tracts of the very greatest elevation. It is permanently resident, but suffers much from severe frost and snow, and during such times is occasionally driven for food to the streets of Belfast, where it has been noticed after even two nights of frost. I once saw a meadow pipit walk into the sea and deliberately give itself a complete washing. It is mentioned by my rela- tive that one of these birds feigned being wounded for the purpose of withdrawing his attention from its nest. My friend at Cromac has frequently found the nest of the meadow pipit on the banks of water-courses and drains, as well as on the ground in fields. One which was known to him at the side of a drain was discovered by some bird-nesting boys, who pulled the grass away that concealed it. On visiting it the next day, he observed a quantity of withered grass laid regularly across the nest ; on removing this, which from its contrast in colour with the surrounding herbage he considered must have been placed here as a mark by the boys, the bird flew off the nest ; and on his returning the following day he found the grass si- milarly placed, and perceived a small aperture beneath it, by which the bird took its departure, thus indicating that the screen which harmonized so ill with the surrounding verdure had been brought there by the bird itself. The same gentle- man once introduced the egg of a hedge accentor into a mea- dow pipit's nest, containing two of its own eggs ; but after a third egg was laid, the nest was abandoned. The stomach of one of these birds, examined by me in De- cember, was chiefly filled with minute coleopterous insects, but also contained worms, minute fragments of brick, and two perfect specimens of the shell Bulimus lubricus. This pipit 186 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. is commonly called "moss cheeper n in the north 5 by the name of i( we keen" it is known in Kerry*. Rock Pipit, Anthus aquaticus, Bechst. — Although this species does not appear, in Mr. Templeton's published Cata- logue of the Irish Vertebrata, known to his father (Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. i. new series), I find by reference to the MS. that he was acquainted with it. Under the name of Alauda pe- trosa it is remarked, u common about the rocks on the shore!" The rock pipit is found on the coasts of Ireland throughout the year, and has on those of the north, west, south, and east occurred to me. It is nowhere more plentiful than about the rocky marine islets, of which the south islands of Arran, by reason of their extreme western position (off the coast of Clare), may be particularised. With the following observations of Montagu my own en- tirely agree. He remarks of the rock pipit that * it seems wholly confined to the neighbourhood of the sea, and is never found, even in winter, more remote than the contiguous marshes within the occasional influx of the tide, depending chiefly on marine insects for its subsistence, and has never been observed to be gregarious." (Art. Rock Lark in Orn. Diet.) Mr. Selby has observed it to be " strictly confined to the rocky and abrupt shores :" (111. Brit. Orn., vol. i. p. 259.) but close to the town of Belfast it frequents a coast of the very opposite character, as on the lowest and most oozy part of the beach ; it may always be seen about the rejectamenta of the tide, consisting chiefly, in the situation alluded to, of the Zo- stera marina, the accumulated masses of which form the chief • Anthus arbor eus, Bechst. On April 12, 1827, I for some time gave attention to a bird at " The Falls," that, for general appearance, manner of singing, &c, as described by Mr. Selby, I concluded must be this species. One or two ornithological friends have likewise similarly seen a pipit, which they presumed to be the A. arboreus, but specimens have not been obtained for examination that its identity might be determined. It is probably the tree pipit that is alluded to in the following passage from Smith's History of Cork, published in 1774 (p. 338, 2nd ed.) : "The Alauda pratorum, Aldrov., or titlark, which is in England a bird of passage, is a stranger to Ireland. Dr. Rutly informs me that an eminent bird-catcher is now in- troducing them as a novelty in Dublin, being much esteemed for their sweet note. Another species, called the pippit or Alauda minor, whose legs are yellow, and a smaller kind of lark, is a constant attendant to the cuckoo, as a good bird-catcher assures us." Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 187 attraction. To stony embankments, piers, and similar erec- tions it is likewise partial. These Temminck mentions it to frequent in Holland ; but part of his remarks on the Anthus aquations are very different from those of British authors*. In pursuit of food we find most of the true shore birds (Grallatores) frequenting the bare beach, whether oozy, gra- velly, or sandy, but the rock pipit generally seeks its suste- nance either on the masses of seaweed which when growing are exposed at ebb-tide, or on those which have been cast ashore. When looking for the nests of terns upon the Mew Island, off the coast of Down, on the 13 th of June, I discovered one of the rock pipit ; this w T as entirely composed of fine grasses, which also served for lining. It was on the ground, at the base of a narrow ledge of rock, and contained three eggs ; these were greenish white, closely and pretty uniformly speckled all over with pale brown. The specimens of this bird, which I have critically examined, correspond with Temminck's description of the young birds of the year. The Wheat-Ear, SaxicolaCEnanthe, Bechst, — Is a regu- lar summer visitor to and commonly distributed over Ireland and the surrounding islands. Nowhere have I observed it in greater numbers than in the extreme north-west ; and when visiting the largest of the south islands of Arran on the 8th of July, 1834, accompanied by Robert Ball, Esq., it was the only land bird of passage we met with. In the north the wheat-ear is generally the earliest of the summer birds in its arrival, appearing in the last week of March ; to this, however, the late spring of 1837 proved an exception, the 15 th of April being the earliest date of its occurrence known to me about Belfast. By my correspondent in Kerry it has not been seen before the 25th of March. Although it is not the disposition of this species to congregate, about a dozen were on April the 3rd, 1836, observed together contiguous to the sea near Belfast, ^ * Temminck observes under " Habite : particulierement le midi de Y Europe, ou il niche ; seulement de passage dans les provinces temperees, le long des hordes des eaux et des fleuves, aux environs de Paris. * • • Niche dans les pays en montagnes, meme sur les plateaux steriles de celles qui sont tres-elevees, comme les Pyrenees et autres ; plus rarement sur les falaises et sur les rocs qui bordent la mer." Man. Orn. Eur., part 1, p. 267, 2nd ed. Again, in Part 3 of this work it is remarked, " Vit en Suisse et sur le Rhin," p. 189. 188 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. and from so appearing at this season they had very probably migrated in company. Throughout our wild mountain pastures, as well as the rabbit-burrows and sand-hills that skirt the coast, the wheat-ear is found in its season, and in the first-mentioned localities, where even at the most genial period of the year we see but few of the feathered tribe, is highly attractive from the beauty of its plumage, lively habits, and variously uttered song. In such situations it nestles in old stone walls. The eggs I have examined, in form, size, and colour strongly resemble those of the hedge accentor, but on minute in- spection differ from the uniform bluish-green colour of the eggs of this species, in being faintly speckled with very light brown. During the first week of October I have seen wheat-ears in the vicinity of the sea in Downshire, but have never known any to be met with in the winter, as they are u in many parts of the south of England" (White's Selborne, p. 257, &c. ed. 1837); nor are they ever specially looked after for the table in the north of Ireland ; indeed, for this purpose the species does not appear here in sufficient numbers. In his Natural History of the county of Dublin, Rutly remarks that u it is excellent food and very fat, and for its delicacy is by some called the Irish ortolan" (vol. i. p. 313). The Whin-Chat, Saxicola Rubetra, Bechst. — Like the wheat-ear, is a regular summer visitant to this country, but is much less diffused ; besides, its places of resort contribute to render it still less known than, as a regular bird of passage, it might be. These about Belfast are chiefly the base of the mountains and the adjacent fields. It is in the north of Ire- land, as elsewhere in the British Islands, considerably later in its arrival than the wheat-ear. In Mr. Stewart's catalogue it is described as common in Donegal *, and so it is also stated by Mr. Neligan to be in Kerry. This gentleman has remarked to me that the whin-chat is very partial to alighting on docks (Rumeoc) in the meadows it frequents, and that every summer it resorts to the same fields. In 1832 and 1833 the whin-chat was seen by the Rev. T. Knox about Killaloe, where he consi- * From the adjoining county of Fermanagh, as well as in Donegal, I have seen specimens. Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 189 ders it rare. The stomach of one which came under his in- spection was, excepting a caterpillar, filled with flies and beetles. The Stone-Chat, Saxicola Rubicola, Bechst. — Is resident and common throughout Ireland. Around Belfast it equally frequents the old ditch-banks, covered with the sloe and other shrubby plants, that surround the lowest-lying mea- dows, and the furze, or whins, or other cover on the mountain sides. In the earliest of the mild days of spring its song is heard. At the end of April I have seen the parents carry food to their young. My friend at Cromac has found its nests both in low bushes and on the ground, but only once in the latter situation. The stomach of one of these birds, sent to me in December, was entirely filled with minute coleopterous insects. Temminck remarks that the stone-chat is resident in Africa, but in Europe is a bird of passage. Great Titmouse, Parus major, Linn. — This is a common species in Ireland, and is resident, like all the other titmice found in the country. Town plantations, as well as those in the country, are frequented by this bird. I have also re- marked it in districts destitute of trees, and where white- thorn hedges afforded it the only shelter. Soon after the mid- dle of December its song is generally commenced in the north. During last winter a pair of these birds, along with two blue titmice, daily visited the window-sill of a friend^s house in the country, at a particular hour, when crumbs of bread were left there for them. The latter species only has renewed its visits in the present winter. The stomach of a Parus major, examined by me at the end of March, contained some seeds and the remains of coleopterous insects. Blue Titmouse, Parus coeruleus, Linn. — This is the most common species of titmouse in Ireland. In the ordinary places of resort its lively and varied attitudes have often been described. In winter, whether mild or otherwise, this species is very partial to the reeds fringing the river Lagan. The force of one of these birds flying upon a reed sways it with a graceful bend almost to the water, in which the lower portion is immersed, but the bird nevertheless retains its grasp ; then betaking itself to another, rapidly runs up its stem from near the base to its point, and almost dips into the river again. In 190 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. addition to its more ordinary haunts it feeds pretty much on the highways, and occasionally builds in the walls of town gardens. These birds are known to suffer considerably from the cold of winter, and when kept in the house are also very sensible to it. One in the possession of my friend at " the Falls," when let out of the cage in summer roosted upon its top ; but in winter, although in a warm room, selected the hottest place for the night in which it could remain in safety, roosting under the fender, which afforded it at the same time sufficient space and shelter. This bird is from its familiarity and vivacity most amusing. Its cage is covered with close netting, which it has several times cut through and effected its escape into the room, when it flies to the children, and if taking hold of a piece of bread or cake in the hand of the youngest, will not forego the object of attack, though shaken with the greatest force the child can exert, and on one occasion so persecuted her for a piece of apple that she ran crying out of the apart- ment. It is especially fond of lump sugar. Confined in the same cage with it are some other birds, and amongst them a redbreast, which it has sometimes annoyed so much as to bring upon its head several chastisements, but in such cases the redbreast acted only on the defensive. Its favourite trick is to pull the feathers out of its fellow prisoners, and by so doing, it sadly tormented the young willow wren before men- tioned, and made the same attempt even on a song thrush lately introduced to its domicile, but by this bird it was suc- cessfully repelled. It escaped out of doors several times, but always returned without being sought for. The titmouse often falls a victim to ignorance in this country as it does in England, in consequence of the injury it is supposed to do to fruit trees. Mr. Selby most justly pleads in favour of its being 'a friend rather than an enemy to the horticulturist ; and Mr. Knapp, treating of the species very fully in his most agreeable manner, is indignant that it should in these days be ranked as vermin, and a reward be offered for its head. In the stomachs of two specimens killed in March and December, I found coleopterous and other insects. u Blue-bonnet" is the common name of this species in the north of Ireland. Marsh Titmouse, Parus palustris, Linn. — In Smith's Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 191 History of the County of Cork it is remarked, " Besides this species (Parus major), there is also the cole titmouse, the black- cap, the blue titmouse or nun, and the long-tailed titmouse" (vol. ii. p. 340, 2nd edit.). If we take for granted that the term "black-cap" is correctly applied to a Parus, the marsh titmouse must be considered the one that is meant. This species is not commonly distributed in Ireland. In a very few instances only has it occurred to me around Belfast, and not in any other locality. By two ornithological friends it has been met with but once or twice, and though within a few miles of the town, the localities and times of appearance were always^different. By R. Ball, Esq., it has been seen only about Ballitore in the county of Kildare. In the collection of T. W. Warren, Esq., a native specimen is preserved, which was shot in the Phoenix Park near that city. Cole Titmouse, Parus ater, Linn. — Montagu and Selby state that this species is less numerous in England than the P. palustris, but in Ireland the relative proportion of the two species is very different. To one only of my correspondents is the latter known with certainty, but all who have bestowed much attention on the subject attest the presence of the cole titmouse in their respective counties, viz. Donegal, Clare, Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, and Dublin. In the north generally, and wherever I have been in suitable localities throughout the country, it has occurred pretty commonly. Seeds as well as insects, &c. form a portion of its food. In a plantation con- sisting chiefly of the common pine (Pinus sylvestris) and the alder, I once in the middle of December for a considerable time observed some of these birds, accompanied by the gold- crested regulus and lesser redpole {Fringilla Linaria). They were all occupied in flying from one alder to another, and were intent on procuring the seed of this tree only. The various attitudes of these three beautiful species were highly interest- ing, as the light bunch of pendent seed admitted not of their being stationary for a single moment. To observe a troop of titmice comprising three or four species, in addition to the gold-crested regulus, and occasionally one or two others of our smallest birds, moving about in company, now pausing as if to display their graceful attitudes on a few adjacent trees, then filing rapidly through the thickest plantations with the esprit 192 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. du corps of one species, has always been to me, but especially in the wintry wood, a source of much attraction, and at such times their shrill little notes, evidently more than sight, serves to keep them together. The following note appears in my journal under the date of November 19, 1833: — Being in Colin Glen to-day, I as a matter of course saw the gold-crested regu- lus and the blue and cole titmice in company. I was amused on observing both species of Parus cling to the centre of the under side of the leaves of the sycamore [Acer Pseudo-Plata- nus) still attached to the trees, and describe a circle with their bills by picking with extreme rapidity all round them, during which operation their weight brought not to the ground a single leaf, though all were u sere and yellow ." The stomach of one of these birds which came under my inspection at the end of March, in addition to fragments of stone, contained only seeds. Long-tailed Titmouse, Parus caudatus, Linn. — This interesting bird, though not a well-known species in conse- quence of its retired and wooded haunts, has long since been recorded as indigenous to Ireland ; and as such, appears in the county histories of Cork (Smith's) and Londonderry. Rutly in his Natural History of Dublin remarks, that it u , was found in the county in the winter of 1768." It is at present less known in the south than in the north ; over which it is diffused, but not very plentifully. None of my correspond- ents resident in the province of Munster have seen this bird in its native haunts ; but in the vicinity of Cahir, county of Tipperary, it is stated to occur. Mr. R. Ball observes, that the long-tailed titmouse is not uncommon about Dublin, though around Youghal, his former place of residence, he never met with it. Of late years its numbers seem to have increased considerably throughout the north*. To the late Mr.Templeton it occurred only twice; but within several miles around Belfast this titmouse has for some years past been seen wherever there is a sufficiently great extent of wood, this alone being apparently the essential requisite to the species ; as it equally inhabits the plantations of the mountain glen, * At the same time their numbers fall greatly short of those of P. ccenc- leus, which in Mr. Sampson's catalogue of the Birds of Londonderry is said to be less frequent than the P. caudatus. Mr. Thompson on the Bi?*ds of Ireland, 193 those around the beautiful seats which adorn the shores of the bay and of the most highly improved demesnes in the valley of the Lagan : a family of these birds appear particu- larly interesting when flitting over the waters of the river and about the overhanging trees that border it. When the beau- tiful rosy hue of its breast is conspicuous, it adds much to the attraction of this species. The first of these birds I ever saw excited my attention by its peculiar note uttered when sta- tionary, and though different from that of the others, had a generic similarity which satisfied me that it must proceed from some species of Parus. Its call when in motion is soft, thus differing from the shrill little voices of some of the same ge- nus, with with it seems less to consort than with the gold- crested regulus. On May 13, 1832, my relative describes, as an amusing spectacle, a pair of these birds, which he saw feeding seven young ones, which having left the nest were clustered together on the branch of a tree within the space of about six inches. The manner in which a family of long-tailed titmice crowd together for warmth during snow and in the cold wintry night has been well described; (vide Habits of Birds, p. 60, and note to p. 171 of White's Selborne, ed. 1837,) but that it is the ordi- nary habit of the species, and not consequent on the piercing breath of winter, is indicated in the following note from my journal, under the date of July 5, 1833. Mr. Wm. Sinclaire remarks, that some days ago he was much entertained by ob* serving a family of about ten or twelve long-tailed titmice going to roost in company, when each individual endeavoured to get as near the middle of the group as possible, and that enviable situation was no sooner attained by a few than those from the outskirts used all their efforts to insinuate them- selves between them, and foiled in this, next exerted their powers to avoid being placed outside — in all respects just the winter practice. A similar procedure on the part of the gold- crested regulus is described by Mr. Herbert in a note to White's Selborne, (p. 180, ed. 1837-)- So many as twenty long-tailed titmice have twice been reported to me as seen in company. The stomach of one, which came under my examination in the month of January, was filled with insect food, of which some Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 3. May 1838. o 194 Mr. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. minute beetles were perfect. M. Temminck describes the female only as having the black streak over the eyes ; Mr. Jenyns considers it common to both sexes : in nine specimens of P. caudatus now before me, this marking is apparent, but in some individuals is much better defined than in others ; in one only of them the sex was observed, when it proved to be a male bird : of this sex it may fairly be presumed are others of the remaining eight individuals*. Bearded TiTMOUSE,P«rMS biarmicus, Linn. — Of this bird I have never seen a native individual, and can only repeat the short notice of it as Irish communicated by me to the Zoolo- gical Society of London in 1 834. " Mr. W. S. Wall, bird-pre- server, Dublin, who is very conversant with British birds, as- sures me that he received a specimen of this Parus from the neighbourhood of the river Shannon a few years since/ 5 Zool. Proc, 1834, p. 30. Bewick's admirably characteristic wood- cuts of birds are of constant reference with Mr. Wall. Bohemian Wax-Wing, Bombycivora garrula, Temm. — Mr. Templeton has said of this bird : " Sometimes seen about Belfast, but more common in Tullamore Park, county Down ; has been several times f shot in the county of Derry." Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. i. p. 405, N.S. By a veteran sporting friend the wax-wing has twice been obtained in the neighbourhood of Belfast, and in both instances in- wooded glens within the district of the Falls. One of these birds was shot rather more than twenty years ago, and the other considerably before that time, and when severe frost and snow prevailed. Mr. R. Ball informs me, that about 1820, one was killed at Castle Martyr, in the county of Cork. " In the winter of 1822-23, a speci- men of the Bombycilla Bohemica, Briss., was found dead in the woods of Burton Hall, in the county of Carlow." Zool. Journ., vol. i. p. 590. Dr. J. D. Marshall has noticed an in- dividual which was shot in the neighbourhood of Dublin in * Families of the long-tailed titmouse have frequently been seen by a sporting friend on the wooded banks of the river Stincher in Ayrshire. f In the late Mr. Templeton's MS. the word " once" isusedin the place of " several times " in the printed Catalogue. Another instance of the wax- wing's occurrence in Ireland has been made known to me since the above was written. The specimen was shot about the winter of 1825-26, in the Castle- reagh Hills, county of Down. Mr. Babington on a New English Species 0/ Urtica. 195 1829, Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. ii. p. 394. In the Belfast News- letter of Dec. 20, 1831, the following paragraph appeared: — "In the early part of last month a beautiful specimen of the Bohemian wax-wing (Bombycilla Bohemica, Briss.), was shot in Newtownlimavady. It was perched upon a rowan tree in a garden, and seemed busily employed in picking off the ber- ries ; many of them were found in its craw when it was opened." In the collection of Dr. R. Graves of Dublin, I have seen one which was killed in Ireland. On Feb. 6, 1835*, an extremely beautiful individual of this species was shot in a gar- den at Bally macarret, in the suburbs of Belfast, and on the following day another was seen at the same place. The former, which came under my inspection, proved on dissection to be a female ; its stomach, which I did not examine until the 10th, four days after its death, was entirely filled with the hairs of the white-thorn (Crataegus Oxyacantha), which possessed an odour as fresh as if just plucked from the tree. Each wing exhibited six plumelets, with their scarlet wax-like adornments; some authors have described the female as wanting these altogether, and the greatest number I have seen attributed to her are four or five. (Temm.) In a few other instances, but without par- ticulars, I have had reports of the wax-wing's occurrence in Ireland. XIX. — On a Nevj English Species of Urtica. By Charles C. Babington, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., &c. At a recent meeting of the Cambridge Ray Club my atten- tion was drawn (by the Rev. Dr. Jermyn,) to the fact, that two very distinct plants existed in our native herbaria under the name of Urtica pilulifera, Linn., and I can only account for our not having previously observed their differences from the circumstance, that English specimens of the true plant of Lin- naeus do not exist in the collections of Cambridge botanists. Upon further examination I w T as much pleased by finding that one of these plants was the true U. pilulifera, and that * Just at this time a specimen was mentioned in the papers to huve been shot near Alcesler in England. o 2 196 Mr. Babington on a New English Species of Urtica. the other exactly corresponded with the U. Dodartii of Lin- naeus, of which there is a specimen in the University Her- barium, ticketed as the plant of Dodart by the elder Martyn, and also another with the Linnaean description appended in the hand-writing of the younger Martyn. In the Linnaean Herbarium there is a specimen which quite accords with our native plant, but its locality is unknown. Dodart's original figure agrees very well with our plant, as do the descriptions of all the authors to which I have been able to refer. In Smith's Herbarium there is a specimen, marked U. Dodartii, Martigny, Switz. in Herb. Davall, which differs from our plant by having the leaves slightly serrated. I now proceed to give the characters and descriptions of our two plants. I. U. Dodartii, Linn. Foliis oppositis ovatis ovato-lanceolatisve subintegris, stipulis lanceolatis, glomerulis fmctiferis globosis pedunculatis, semini- bus sublaevibus. U. altera pilulifera parietarise foliis, Dod. Mem. 131. plate. — U. Dodartii, Linn. Sp. PI. 1395. Willd. Sp.Pl. 4. 347. Enum. Hort. Berol. 966. Sm. in Bees' Cyclop, v. 37. Aiton. Hort. Kew. 5. 262. Reichen. Fl. excurs. No. 1106. Stems erect, numerous, cylindrical, hollow, leafy, 2 — 3 feet high. Leaves ovate or slightly ovate-lanceolate, very nearly en- tire, (in Martyn's specimens, gathered in the Cambridge garden, September 1761, and in one of those in Smith's Herbarium, they are decidedly serrate, but not in the same peculiarly coarse way as in U. pilulifera,) 3 — 5 ribbed at the base, on long stalks. Stipules small, narrowly lanceolate. Peduncles axillary, two together. Male flowers on a slender common pe- duncle, which is longer than the petiole, and has two or three longish branches springing from the axil of a minute lanceo- late bractea ; at the base and extremity of each branch there is a cluster of very shortly branched flowers. Female flowers on a simple stalk which is shorter than the petiole, in a dense globular head, Seed brown with numerous dark purple dots, nearly smooth and shining. Locality, Copford, Essex, Rev. W. Whitear ; Upwell, Nor- folk, Rev. L. Jenyns ; near Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, Rev. Dr. Jermyn. The stations given by Reichenbach, who I believe Mr. Babington on a New English Species of Urtica. 197 to be the only author that has mentioned its native country, are near the Hague, near Delft, and in Friseland. Doubts have been thrown upon the truly native character of this plant, and also of U. pilulifera. It appears not im- probable that they may both have been introduced into this country at some former time. But as this is uncertain U. Do- dartii has an equal claim to be considered as a native of En- gland with U. pilulifera, which has long been introduced into our lists. 2. U. pilulifera, Linn. Foliis oppositis, late ovatis cordatisve acuminatis grosse dentatis, stipulis oblongo-ovatis, glomerulis fructiferis globosis pedunculatis, seminibus punctato-tuberculatis. U. pilulifera, Linn. Sp. pi. 1395. Eng. Bot. 148. Sm. Eng. Fl. 4. 134. Wallr. Sched. Crit. 488. Reich. Fl. excurs. no. 1105. Koch. Syn. 635. Stems erect, bluntly quadrangular. Leaves broadly ovate, usually cordate at the base, the margins deeply cut into large divaricated teeth, much larger than those of U. Dodartii, and on longer and thicker stalks. Stipules oblong-ovate, broader than in the preceding. Fruit stalks very short, scarcely ex- ceeding the diameter of the large globular head. Seed dark brown with numerous darker prominent points, rather opaque. Locality, in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. Owing to the want of English specimens the description has been drawn up from the comparison of two foreign spe- cimens (one No. 22 in Reichenbaclr's Fl. Germ. Exsic. com- municated to that work from Thuringia by Wallroth, the other from Rome, gathered by W. C. Trevelyan, Esq.) with the plate in Eng. Bot. The specimen of U. Valearica in the Linnaean Herbarium appears to be nothing more than a larger leaved form of this species, notwithstanding its usually cordate base to the leaves. Both the specimens mentioned above, and also the plant in Smithes Herb, from Hungary, are rather the U. Valearica than the U. pilulifera of Linnaeus. I have never seen specimens with the leaves so decidedly rounded (not at all cordate) at the base as in the original plant of the Linn. Herb. It is much to be wished that botanists resident in the eastern coun- ties would pay attention to these plants, in order that we may obtain information concerning their variations, and also their 198 Rev. M, J. Berkeley on British Fungi. real claim to be considered as native, not naturalized, plants in this island. I may add that some botanists consider both these plants to form only one species. This last is a question well worthy of experimental inquiry. St. John's Coll. Cambridge, March 30, 1838. XX. — Notices of British Fungi. By Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S. [With two Plates.] (Continued from No. III. Mag. of Zool. and Bot, vol. i. p. 513.) *59. Agaricus fulvus, Bull. Dec. Fl. Fr. vol. ii. p. 186. The form described in the English Flora is that with pallid gills noticed by Retz. The present season has afforded a few spe- cimens in which the gills and inside of the stem were more or less yellow. 60. Ag. decolor ans, Fr. Syst. Myc. v. i. p. 56. Woods, at King's ClifFe, Sept. 1, 1837* Distinguished from A. alutaceus by its pale sporidia, in consequence of which the gills remain much longer white, so that on an hasty inspection it might be passed over as a form of Ag.furcatus. The inside of the stem, which is thick and spongy, acquires in general a cinereous tinge. It is an esculent species clearly pointed out by Mi- cheli, p. 155. n. 1. *61. Ag. grammopodius, Bull. Inserted in the English Flora on the authority of Withering and Purton. I have found it in two fields at Apethorpe, Norths, sometimes form- ing large rings, where it appears every autumn. The descrip- tion given in Eng. Fl. of Ag. nebidaris, a species with which I was not at the time of its publication well acquainted, be- longs to the present Agaric. The discovery of the true plant, which is figured by Dr. Greville under the name of Ag. tur- gidus, has cleared up all doubt upon the point. 62. Ag. unguinosus, Fr. Syst. Myc. v. i. p. 101. Amongst wet grass and moss close to the Spa, King's Cliffe, Oct. 18, 1837. 63 f. Ag. calyptraformis, n. s. Ag. conicus, a. amcenus, f I have not thoughHt necessary to give figures of this or other new or little understood Agarics, as beautiful drawings have been made by Mr. J. JrwdPiUiMUt, VWJ.r/. VII ■,//•/< jnrL.JTat.mst.Tbl.lPl. X77T. Aspergillus altern 3£cLcrospor>iicm. sarcinula. 12 Botrj/tis citrintr 14 2ipoc7inz/z7n macrospercideum V.J.fiertcel*/. del* &7fa:M(y > Swan 2T Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. 199 Lascft in Linnaea, vol. iii. p. 380. This elegant species which occurred at the same time and place as the foregoing, is re- ferred without doubt by Lasch to Ag. conicus. It does not however change to black when bruised or in decay, nor does it dry up, but becomes pallid and dissolves into a foetid jelly. My specimens are of a beautiful rose colour, but according to Lasch, who, as far as I can discover, is the only author who has noticed it, it is also red and purple. The apex is often yellowish, and the whole gradually assumes an ochraceous tinge. It retains its colour, however, as observed by Lasch, when carefully dried. Pileus acutely conic, lobed below, about one inch high, three quarters broad at the base in unexpanded spe- cimens, moist, striated, under a lens, with innate but raised fibrillae ; rose-coloured gradually turning pallid ; flesh rather thin. Gills rose-coloured, at length pallid like the pileus, very narrow and almost evanescent behind in many specimens, in consequence of the form of the pileus, though properly adnate, distinct. Stem one inch or more high, pure white except within the pileus where it has a slight roseate tinge, brittle, often splitting longitudinally, remarkably smooth, slightly striate, having in great measure the same transparent appear- ance as Clavaria vermicular is, hollow, the walls fibrous within. The young pileus has a great resemblance to the internal bracteae of an artichoke just before expansion. 64. Ag.pudens, Pers. Syn. p. 313. (suhAg.radicato). Ag. radicatus. 8. pudens, Fr. Syst. Myc. vol. i. p. 119 ; Ag. longi- pes, Bull, quoad tab. 232. This very elegant species is far less common than Ag. radicatus. It has occurred two or three times in the present autumn in Rockingham Forest. The stem is quite as velvety as in Ag. velutipes, and the pileus, especially its margin, more or less so, and by no means glutinous. It appears to me quite distinct from Ag. radicatus, as Persoon D. C. Sowerby for the forthcoming new edition of English Fungi. It is his intention to publish it systematically, so that should it not meet with suf- ficient encouragement to secure its completion, each portion will be complete as far as it goes. The first volume, for instance, will comprise the genus Agaricus, for which figures of the greater number of British species are al- ready prepared. The plates of the old edition will be used as far as may be thought expedient, but all errors will be as far as possible corrected, and many additions made. New plates will not in general be given of such spe- cies as are figured in the Scottish Cryptogamic Flora. 200 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi, suspected, who well distinguished it; and intermediate between it and Ag. velutipes. 65. Ag. erythropus, Pers. Syn. p. 367. Abundant at Lax- ton, Norths, upon various substances, as wood, roots of grass, seedling chestnuts, &c. I have also found it at Nash Court, near Margate, and at King's Cliffe. *66. Ag. Vaillantii, Fr. Syst. Myc. v. i. p. 136. On grass, &c, Ashtcn, Norths, Sept." 1837. ^67. Ag. conchatus, Bull., t. 298. On stumps of ash, Ape- thorpe, Norths, infested with Sphceria aurantia. 68. Ag. cyanus, Pers. Syn. p. 276.; Ag. ccerulescens, SchzefF., t. 34. f. 5. This is considered by Fries, to whom it appears known only by Persoon's character, as a state probably of Ag. callochrous, to which indeed it is allied, but, I think, quite di- stinct, and certainly one of the most beautiful species with which I am acquainted. I have seen it in one locality only at King's Cliffe, Sept. and Oct. 1837- Pileus two and a half to three inches broad, at length nearly plane with the margin repand, of a beautiful azure blue ; at first viscid, when dry marked with a few innate indistinct squamiform patches, fleshy, flesh rather firm, not changing to violet when bruised. Gills rather distant, adnate, subdecurrent, obscurely emargi- nate, violet, at length stained with the sporidia. Stem three inches high, half to three quarters inch thick, solid, bulbous of the same colour as the pileus, flbrillose. Smell like that of radishes. 69. Ag. bolaris, Pers. Syn. p. 291. In beech w r oods, King's Cliffe, Sept. and Oct. 1837- 70. Ag. reticulatus, Pers. Ic. and. Descr. t. 4. f. 4. 6. On rotten stumps, Apethorpe and Laxton, Norths, Sept. and Oct. 1837. This species, which is one of considerable interest from its exact analogy with Ag. phlebophorus, Ditm., varies so much in passing to maturity, that till I found the fully ex- panded plant at Laxton, I was in great uncertainty whether it w r ere the plant intended by Persoon. In the younger state the pileus is of a delicate bistre, and it is only in age that it assumes a violet tinge, apparently from the colour of the spores being partly seen through the flesh. 71. Ag. trechisporus, n. s. Amongst fern leaves, &c, King's Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. 201 ClifTe, Aug. 1837. Pileus one inch broad, convex, strongly umbonate, margin thin ; viscid but soon dry and satiny; umbo tawny, margin paler with a slight livid tinge. Gills ventricose, emarginate, scarcely adnate, pinkish-grey ; extreme margin white, denticulate. Spores bistre-brown, subreniform, co- vered with granules, which appear sometimes to be arranged regularly in lines. Transparent, ventricose ; pedicellate pro- cesses like those of the Coprini are scattered over them. These are crowned with a globule, which at length vanishes, and they are then denticulate. Stem two inches high, two lines thick, white, slightly striate under a lens and farinulent, nearly equal, except at the base, the outer coat of which is cottony, and has very much the appearance of an obsolete volva. I have not seen this species in an early stage of growth, and cannot therefore say distinctly what the nature of the volvae- form base is, or whether it is merely accidental. The great peculiarity of the species consists in the granulated sporidia, a structure I have seen in no other Agaric. It appears to be- long to the division Inocybe. 72. Ag. centunculus, Fr., Syst. Myc. vol. i. p. 262. On stumps, Apethorpe, Oct. 1837. 73. Ag. depluens, Batsch, Cont. i. f. 122. On the ground on the margin of a damp marshy spot amongst dead leaves of Carices. King's ClifTe, Norths, Oct. 1837- Ag. rubidus, Berk., Mag. Bot. and Zool., is a pedunculate form of this species. *74. Cantharellus lutescens, Fr., Syst. Myc. vol. i. p. 320. King's ClifTe, Sept. and Oct. 1837- It is to be observed that Ditmar's synonym has by some accident in transcribing been recorded in Eng. Fl. under the present species. It is clearly C. tubceformis which is represented by him. *75. Cantharellus undulatus, Fr., Syst. Myc. vol. i. p. 320. Helvetia florif or mis, Sow., t. 75. This rare species was found by the Rev. H. Margetts in the present month (Oct.) at King's Cliffe. 76. Cantharellus fissilis, Fr., Syst. Myc. vol. i. p. 324. Pe- ziza membranacea, A. and S. p. 316. tab. 1. fig. 5. Montagne in a late number of the Annales des Sc. Nat. very properly unites Peziza Campanula and Fez. Capula, which he compares 202 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. with the genus Cyphella. I am inclined to think that both may be considered as synonymous with the present species. At least there is a very strong resemblance. The particular specimens I have now in view, which in the same spot varied from white and yellow to grey, are clearly Cantharellus fissilis, Fr. The hymenium of perfect individuals is that of a Can- tharellus, while the younger plants would certainly be referred partly to Peziza Campanula, partly to Peziza Capula. On ash petioles, Apethorpe. I have found it also of a pure white with a remarkable venous hymenium on a dead thistle. 77- Merulius tremellosus, Schrad., Fr. Syst. Myc. vol. i. p. 327. On an ash stump abundantly, Apethorpe, Oct. 1837. I think that Boletus arboreus, Sow., t. 346. belongs to this species, though referred after Fries in Eng. Fl. to Mer. lachry- mans. It appears that Sowerby had no doubt that the two plants figured by him were distinct, and it may be inferred from the short printed notice which accompanies the plate, that his plant had the border reflected, as indeed the figure shows, though not quite satisfactorily. *78. Polyporus spumeus, Fr., Syst. Myc. vol. i. p. 358. On ash and apple trees, Apethorpe, King's Cliffe. 79. Boletus felleus, Bull., t. 379. King's Cliffe, Aug. 1837. 80. Thelephora Icevis, Pers. Syn. p. 575. Common upon fallen trees. 81. Thelephora lactea, Fr., Syst. Myc. v. i. p. 452. Easily known by its smooth white hymenium, covering a stratum con- sisting of thick fibriHae. I do not think with Fries that Fibril- laria stellata, Sow. t. 387. fig. 1. belongs to this species. It appears rather to be an himantioid mycelium. *82. Clavaria pistillaris, Linn. Suec. n. 1266. This rare species occurred at King's Cliffe in the present autumn, but a much paler form than that represented by Sowerby. 83. Clavaria flavipes, Pers., Comm. (ed. 1797) p. 207. t. 1. fig. 4. On peaty ground beneath Pteris aquilina, King's Cliffe, Sept. 1837- 84. Typhula} gracilis, Desm. and Berk, in Herb. This curious little plant, which occurred, but sparingly, in the early part of the present year with Pistillaria culmigena, I found marked in M. Desmazieres' Herbarium Typhula} Typhce, for Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. 203 which by mutual consent the name of gracilis was substituted. Its real place is rather doubtful, as in some measure it con- nects TypJmla with Isaria. The structure was not however precisely the same in all the individuals, for though in some of them the fruit-bearing cells of the hymenium were inter- spersed with delicate bristles, which were surmounted by a single spore, as in Isaria intricata and citrina, this is not con- stant, and I am therefore inclined to think that it arises from some of the cells being elongated. Pallid, one line or a little more high, simple or forked ; rugged with the fruit-bearing cells, which are frosted with the spores, and interspersed sometimes with short bristles, of which some of the upper ones support a small spore ; tips often acuminate and then nearly barren. Stem short, smooth, or bristly. Spores elliptic, having a sparkling appearance under a lens. Plate VII. fig. 1. a, Typhulal gracilis, nat. size ; b, ditto magnified. 85. Pistillaria culmigena, Mont, and Fr., Ann. de Sc. Nat. n. s. vol. v. p. 337. t. 12. fig. 2. Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 152. Fotheringhay, Deene, Norths, on sheaths of wheat straw, Jan. 1837- *86. Helvetia elastica, Bull., t. 242. It has long been re- marked that some states of this plant resemble so closely Pe- ziza macropus, as to make it matter of great difficulty whether or no to consider it as a distinct species. Fries dismisses the question with the remark, " video saepe meliora proboq. — sed quis omnes praesumtas opiniones pessundare audet?" His views are confirmed by the circumstance, which appears not to have been observed heretofore, that the sporidia are pre- cisely the same, as I have ascertained both in the white and dusky forms. I the rather call attention to the fact, as Dr. GrevihVs analysis of H. crispa and lacunosa might lead to a contrary notion. He has by some mischance represented only the sporidiola in those species and not the elliptic spo- ridia. It is possible that in his specimens they may have been absorbed, a circumstance by no means uncommon in Fungi, a fact to which I have been led, as to many others of great importance, by M. Morren's paper on the Closteries, a 204 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. memoir which ought to be well .studied by every investigator of the more obscure phenomena of Cryptogamic plants *. 87. Peziza saniosa, Schrad., Journ. Bot. 1799, ii. p. 64. Two specimens of this very curious species, which appears not to have been found since the date given above, occurred at King^s ClifFe early in the present autumn, upon soil overrun with Thelephora incrustans. As it is of such rare occurrence I have thought it right to give a figure. Plate VII. fig. 2. a, Peziza saniosa, nat. size ; b, vertical section ; c, asci with their paraphyses and sporidia magnified ; d, a single sporidium highly magnified. 88. Peziza melaloma, A. and S. p. 336. t. 2. f. 5. South- wick, Norths, abundantly on ground where a fire had been made, after the first autumn rains. *89. Peziza rhabarbarina, Berk., Eng. Fl. vol. v. part 2. p. 197. This is clearly the same with Montagne's Pez. Arden- nensis, Ann. de Sc. Nat. n. s. vol. v. p. 287. If it be retained in the genus Peziza the former specific name must be pre- served. But there is reason to believe that M. Desmazieres, who finds it in the north of France, is correct in referring it to the genus Patellaria. He proposes in this case to give it the specific name of Rosacearum. The sporidia are longer than Montagne figures them. He is correct in representing para- physes, though he does not seem to have ascertained their form, which is linear with spathulate tips. *90. Dacrymyces Urticte, Fr. Syst. Myc. v. 2. p. 251. Fu- sarium Tremelloides, Grev. Sc. Cryp. Fl. t. 10. Eng. Fl. vol. v. part 2. p. 355. The structure of this fungus is not to be ascertained clearly without high magnifying powers. On a slight inspection with rather low powers the structure some- what resembles that represented by Dr. Greville, but a close inspection will show that the mass consists not of long fusi- form sporidia but of erect branched subdichotomous threads, which consist of articulations not to be seen without a very nice adjustment. The structure is very nearly that of Dacry- myces stillatus, nor does it differ sufficiently to warrant the * Prof. Meyen's remarks, with abstracts of this curious paper, will be found in Meyen's Report of the Progress of Vegetable Physiology, in the year 1836. Philosophical Magazine, vol. xi. p. 386. Rev, M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. 205 formation of a distinct genus. The specimens in my copy of Scleromyc. Suecice do not belong to this species but to Peziza fusarioides. I have examined repeatedly specimens from va- rious localities and find all to agree with the accompanying figure. Plate VII. fig, 3. a, Group of filaments of Dacrymyces Urticte; b, fila- ments magnified 600 diameters. 91. Sclerotium neglectum, Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 165. On dead leaves of various trees, as poplar, sycamore, oak, &c. Winter. Very common. More or less oblong, subadnate, at first covered with the cuticle, pallid ; at length naked and dark-brown. Nearly allied to S, inclusum, Schm. and Kz. n. 137 ? Du t besides being almost adnate and seated in general upon the main nerves, it is far less wrinkled when dry, and pale when young. *92. Sph&ria ophioglossoides, Ehr. Beautiful specimens of this very rare species occurred at King's ClifFe, September and October, 1837. The observations upon the curious structure of the parts of fructification in this and the allied species given in Eng. Fl. have been fully confirmed by the examination of the recent plant. The asci are very long, ac- companied by extremely slender paraphyses,and contain about six rows of minute oblong sporidia, which remain attached to each other after they have escaped, presenting when the asci burst the appearance of the threads of a Schizonema. Plate VII. fig. 4. Asci of S. ophioglossoides, with their paraphyses and sporidia magnified 600 diameters. 93. Sphceria pedunculata, Dicks. Sow. t. 437. Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 168. For observations upon this most in r teresting plant I refer to the Magazine of Zoology and Botany, vol. ii. p. 223. 94. Sphceria hippotrichioides, Sow. t. 200. Thamnomyces hippotrichioides, Ehr. Hor. Phys. Ber. p. 82. Berk. Eng. Fl. 1. c. p. 284. In the month of April I found some old matting covered with this fungus, in its infant state, in the church at Apethorpe. Having kept it in a cellar till the present month (October), it has perfected its perithecia, and given me an op- portunity of ascertaining that it is a true Spharia, with perfect asci. I had before suspected such to be the case from the 206 llev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. observation of one of the forms assumed by Sphaeria peduncu- lated, Dicks., in which the receptacle is quite thread-like, and the perithecia naked. This resemblance became still stronger when the sporidia were submitted to the microscope, being furnished with a groove on one side exactly as in that species. I did not observe, however, that they had any gelatinous coat. It is probable that Sphaeria filiformis will be found to resemble it in structure. 95. Sphaeria riccioidea, Bolt. Brit. Fung. tab. 182. S. par- melioides, Mont, in Ann. de Sc. Nat. v. 6. p. 333. tab. 18. fig. 4. This species, though figured both by Tode and Bolton, has been entirely neglected by authors till its recent discovery by Dr. Montagne. He has, however, overlooked Bolton's sy- nonym, whose figure and description, as far as they go, are with the exception of the cross section tolerably correct, and consequently has given it a new name, which must of course give place to that originally imposed by Bolton, Tode having published his plant under a different genus. 96. Sphaeria populina, Pers. var. on ash. The asci and spo- ridia of this species are figured in the Magazine of Zoology and Botany, v. ii. t. 7. f. a. b. c. 97. Sphaeria sinopica, Fr. El. 2. p. 81. On shoots of ivy, King's Cliffe. My specimens when young are frosted with a yellowish meal. In other respects they appear to be what Fries describes. Having found it abundantly I shall be able to publish specimens in the fourth fasciculus of British Fungi. In some points it resembles Sp. Lamyi, Desm., but the asci are linear. Sporidia elliptic uniseptate, each articulation some- times containing a single sporidiolum. 98. Sphaeria acervata, Fr. Syst. Myc. v. 2. p. 416. Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 174. On a dead apple-tree. Ape- thorpe, Norths. 99. Sphaeria pardalota, Mont. Ann. d. Sc. Nat. n. s. v. 1. p. 304. tab. 12. fig. 1. Berk., Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 175. On dead stems of Convallaria multiflora. Milton, Norths. Com- municated by Mr. J. Henderson. 100. Sphaeria obducens, Schum. b. minor. Fr., Scler. Suec. ed. nov. n. 119. Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 177- On pales. Apethorpe, Norths. Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. 207 101. Sphceria Avellance, Schm. Myc. Heft. l.p. 64; Berk. 1. c. n. 182. On dead hazel leaves. King's Cliffe. A true Sphceria. The specimens given in the British Fungi are young and have not perfected their asci. 102. Sphceria Ostruthii, Fr., Obs. l.p. 1?4; Schm. and Kz. n. 205. On Angelica sylvestris. Bungay. Mr. D. Stock. 103. S. (Depazea) graminicola, Berk., Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 186. On leaves of the harsher grasses, as Arundo Epigejos and Bromus pinnatus. Apethorpe, &c. Spots oblongs pallid, surrounded by a more or less distinct darker line ; perithecia obscurely disposed in lines immersed. *104. S. {Depazea) Dianthi, A. and S. p. 47. t. 6. fig. 2. On Agrostemma Githago. Tansor, Norths. Sporidiaf spa- thulate, sometimes divided into two parts, as the spores of Dactylium pyriferum, Fr., containing a few globose granules. Perithecia irregular conglomerate. Plate VII. fig. 5. a, sporidia magnified ; b, a single sporidium magnified 600 diameters. 105. S. (Depazea) vagans, Fr., Syst. Myc. v. 2. p. 532, i. Lamiicola, Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 188. On Lamium al- bum. Oundle, Norths, where I also at the same time met with the form which grows on the common mallow. 106. Cytispora orbicularis, n. s. Forming orbicular patches upon small orange gourds. King's ClifFe. Perithecia ex- tremely thin, if indeed there be any wall distinct from the cellular substance of the matrix, more or less ovate when di- stinct, but in general confluent, with one or two orifices to each group. Sporidia very minute, oblong, pale vinous red, discharged in the form of slender tendrils. In a vertical sec- tion there is an appearance of distinct perithecia, but in the horizontal section this is scarcely observable. I am satisfied, however, that in any case it is much better referred to Cyti- spora than Ncemaspora. Plate VII. fig. 6. a, Cyt. orbicularis, nat. size ; b, vertical section; c, horizontal section ; d, sporidia, all highly magnified. f The bodies of which the tendrils are composed are very variable, a cir- cumstance which induces me to call them sporidia rather than asci. Fries 's rule is well worth attending to, that " sporidia either arise from conidia or are separated from flocci or asci. The form of the former is variable, of the latter constant." 208 Mr. W. H. White on a new Species o^ Epilobium. 107. Labrella P tar mica, Desm.l n. 189. Fr. El. 2. p. 149. In the early part of the present year I brought from M. Des- mazieres' garden at Lambersart, near Lille, a root of the double variety of Achillea Ptarmica, which is there always infested with Labrella Ptarmica. When the young shoots appeared a few leaves were attacked, and on examining the parasite I was surprised to find that, contrary to the generic character given by Fries, there are distinct asci and paraphyses. Asci shorty obtuse, broad above, attenuated below. Sporidia few, obovate-oblong, sometimes rather contracted in the centre, and there occasionally furnished with a septum. Paraphyses short, flexuous, their tips obtuse or slightly clavate. Peri- thecium passing beneath the hymenium of a reticulated cellu- lar structure. Plate VII. fig. 7. a, a small portion of the hymenium ; b, asci, with their sporidia and paraphyses ; c, sporidia magnified 609 diameters. [To be continued.] XXI. — On a New Species of Epilobium nearly allied to Epi- lobium angustissimum and rosmarinifolium. By W. H. White.* In 1830 a collection of seeds was sent from the Botanical Garden of St. Petersburgh, by Dr. Fischer, to the Botanical Garden of Lou- vain. The greater part of them were from Central Russia. Among the number of packages was one of an Epilobium, without any spe- cific name, and with the indication new species. The following particulars have been transmitted to me by M. Denkalaar, chief gardener at the Botanical Garden, Louvain, rela- tive to the culture of this new species of Epilobium ; and, as it con- tains some interesting remarks, I thought I could not make better use of them than by laying them before this Society. This plant has been cultivated with the greatest care ; and from a minute observance of its developments, and researches made into its characters, the cultivators have become convinced that up to the present time, this species has neither been described nor cultivated elsewhere. In order therefore to give a faithful exposition of its characters, and to make it better known to the botanical world, the * Read before the Botanical Society of London, March 2, 1838, and com- municated by the Secretary of that Society. Mr. W. H. White on a new Species of Epilobium. 209 following specific denomination has been given to it, in accordance with the principles of the angustissimum and rosmarinifolium. " Our plant has a straight stem, much branched, branches diffused and silky, furnished with leaves alternate, lanceolate, acuminate, and of a silky whiteness. Its flowers, disposed in loose ears, are at considerable distances, solitary, and of a pale rose colour ; stigma quadrifid and rather bent ; the pod of the same length as the pe- duncle. " This description sufficiently indicates that the species in ques- tion belongs to a generic group designated by Decandolle, in his Prodrome, by the name of Chameenerion, consequently to the same series in which is placed the Epilobium angustissimum." — Curtis. This last species, confounded by all authors with Epilobium ros- marinifolium, Haenke, (not Pursch,) until the publication of the Flora of Reichenbach, is in fact very different, as a long series of observations has proved, so that the above=named publication has become comparatively useless by the publication of the Flora Ex- cursoria. However this may be, I take the liberty of stating that Reichen- bach has not shown the essential differences between these two spe- cies of plants. The one, in fact the Epilobium angustissimum, so beautifully figured in Curtis's Bot. Mag., PI. 76, has its ascendant stem diffuse, branched, reddish, as well as its branches ; its leaves linear-lanceolate, obtuse, very smooth, marked with glandular serratures ; the flowers loose, solitary upon their footstalks, and flesh-coloured; stigma quadrifid and bent ; the pod twice as long as the footstalk. It flowers long before the following, and grows spontaneously in Bavaria, Ireland, and Scotland. The other, the Epilobium rosmarinifolium, Haenke, is a plant from Bohemia and the Tyrol, and has, on the contrary, an erect stem, dif- fuse, very much branched ; branches spread ; leaves lanceolate and acuminate, nearly entire, very slightly pubescent ; a long ear, flowers more compact and of a puce colour ; the stigma is of the same length as the footstalk, but the pod is four times that length. In comparing the characters of the Epilobium angustissimum and rosmarinifolium with those of the Epilobium now described, the re- sult is that the latter ought accordingly to be placed as interme- diate between the other two, or at least as allied to both species. I propose to name it canescens, which will give a suitable idea of its habit. In recapitulating the characteristic traits of the three above- Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 3. May 1838. p 210 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand, mentioned species, I think their mutual affinities and their diagno- stic characters will be fully determined as follows : 1. Epilobium canescens, nob. Foliis lanceolatis, acuminatis, integer- rimis; ramisque sericeo canescentibus; siliqua pedunculi longitu- dine. 2. Epilobium angustissimum , Curtis. Foliis lanceolato-linearibus, ob- tusis, glanduloso-serratis ; ramisque glaberrimis, siliqua pedunculo duplo longiori. 3. Epilobium rosmarinifolium, Haenke. Foliis lanceolatis, acuminatis, subintegerrimis, ramisque puberulis; siliqua pedunculo quadruple longiori. I will now beg leave to remark with respect to the Epilobium an- gustissimum of Curt., that that species furnishes a variety with leaves still more narrow and stem feeble, which has been designated by the name of Epilobium Dodonm by Allioni, of Epilobium Lobelii by Vil- lars, of E. Halleri by Retz ; and in later periods by E. angustissimum, j3 alpinum by Sering. And with respect to the E. rosmarinifolium, Haenke, I beg leave to remark that it is a species totally distinct from his homonym, the E. rosmarinifolium, Pursch. This last is in fact a North American plant, discovered in 1810 in the environs of Philadelphia, and since by Bigelow, who calls it E. line are ; some few years still later in a hundred places south-west of that city, in the territory of Bos- ton. Nuttall has found it, and has given it the name of E. squam- matum. XXII. — Florae Insularum Novce Zelandice Precursor ; or a Spe- cimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By Allan Cunningham, Esq. [Continued from p. 378 of vol. ii. of Sir W. J. Hooker's Companion to the Botanical Magazine.] EXOGENJE seu DICOTYLEDONES. PIPERACE^, Rich. 1. Piper, L. 323. P. excelsum. Forst. Prodr. n. 20. Rcem. 8f Sch. Syst. Veg. i. p. 313. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 356. — Kana-Kana of the natives. New Zealand (Middle Island). — 1773, Forster. (Northern Island,) a strong rambling shrub, frequent on the margins of forests. — 1834, R. Cun- ningham. Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. 211 2. Peperomia, Ruiz 8f Pav., Kunth. 324. P. Urvilleana, foliis ovati-oblongis obtusis, basi attenuatis subtriner- viis membranaceis glabris, spicis lateralibus rectis filiforrnibus (solitariis), caule filiformi erectiusculo subsarmentoso. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 356. New Zealand (Middle Island), shores of Tasman's Bay. — 1S27, D'Urville. (Northern Island), upon shady rocks on the sea- shore, &c. — 1834, R. Cun- ningham. CONIFERiE, Juss. 3. Dammara, Humph., Lamb. 325. D. australis, foliis alternis oppositisve lineari-oblongis ellipticisve enerviis rigidis strobilis turbinatis, squarais apice patulis acutis. Don. in Lamb. Pin. ed. 2. App. — Agathis australis, Salisb. in Linn. Tr. vol. viii. p.312. Loud. Encycl. PL p. 802. — Podocarpus? zamiaefolius. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 360. — Kauri or Kouri of the natives. New Zealand (Northern Island). Cook, Forster. In forests at the river Thames, at Mercury Bay and along the coasts north of the Bay of Islands and Wangaroa on the eastern side, and Hokianga on the western coast. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 1834, R. Cunningham. It is said not to exist on the Middle Island. The most important among the timbers of these islands, inhabiting dark forests, as well on the coasts as remote from the sea- shore, where it is to be observed from 50 to 100 feet high ; the trunk, at the base of such, varying from six to twelve feet in diameter. The timber is of excellent quality, close-grained, durable, and applicable to a variety of purposes, in house carpentry, as well as in plank or spar for naval uses. As yards and topmasts for ships, it has been found, by repeated trials, superior to all others, both as regards strength and flexibility. The tree yields a large quantity of a white and amber- coloured resin, which burns with a bright flame, diffusing an agreeable smell. This resin is called by the natives " Vare," and is used by them as a masticatory. It is also burnt for the soot, which the smoke deposits in abundance, and from which pigment, called by these people Ngarahu, is obtained the colouring substance em- ployed by them in the operation of tattooing their persons. 4. Phyllocladus, JR. Br., Rich. Conif. p. 129. 326. P.* trichomanoides, frondibus pinnatis, foliolis cuneatis inciso-lobati*, lobis truncatis dentatis. Don. in L>amb. Pin. edit. 2. App. Rich. Conif. * Species altera hujus generis est : P. rhomboidalis, frondibus rhomboideis lineatis inciso-serratis, inferioribus connatis decmrentibus. Don. in Lamb. Pin. ed. 2. App. Rich. Conif. p. 129. f. 3. — Podocarpus asplenifolius. Labill. Nov. Holl. 2. p. 71. t. 221. Parsley-leaved or Adventure-Bay Pine, Colonis. Hab. In Insula Van Diemen, ad Adventure Bay, &c. — 1 793, J. J. Labil- lardiere. — 1819, A. Cunningham, p2 212 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. p. 129. t. 3.— P. rhomboidalis. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 363. non E. L. Rich., Br. et excl. syn. Labill. — Tanelcaha of the natives, Rev. W. Yaie. " Toa- toa ab incolis vulgo dicitur," D'Urville. New Zealand (Northern Island), forests on the hanks of the river Thames, and in dry woods on hills at the Bay of Islands, Wangaroa, &c. — 1826, A. Cunningham. A tree of straight tapering growth, occasionally attaining the height of sixty feet, seldom, however, exceeding a diameter of three feet. The wood is a shade darker than the Dammara or Kauri ; it has a closer grain, smells strongly of turpentine, and being less af- fected with wet than any other pine, is regarded as an exceedingly valuable wood. " It is used," says the Rev. W. Yate, " for all kinds of outside work, such as posts and floors for verandahs, and is much sought after for the decks of vessels." Its bark is used by the natives for dying a red colour, which they prepare in the following way : " The bark," says Bennett, " is pounded and then placed in a vessel of cold water, into which hot stones are thrown till the water boils, this being the natives' mode of treating water, since, having no know- ledge of pottery, they possess no vessel which can be placed on the fire. After the bark has been boiled for some hours, the decoction becomes of a dark red colour ; it is then left to cool, when it is strained and ready for use." 5. Podocarpus, L'HSrit. 327. P . ferruginea, foliis pectinatislineari-lanceolatis acuminatisfalcatis. Don. in Lamb. Pin. ed. 2. App. — Miro or Mairi of the natives. New Zealand (Northern Island), in forests near the Keri-Keri, and in the country between that river and the Hokianga, &c. — 1834, R. Cunning- ham. Occasionally to be observed on hilly ground. — 1792, Govr. Phillip. " A tree," says the Rev. W. Yate, " growing from forty to sixty feet high, but never arriving at a larger circumference than twelve feet. It produces a brittle, close-grained, durable wood, of a red colour, planes up smoothly, and appears capable of receiving a high polish. It is, however, too brittle for the cabinet-maker, or it would not be a bad substitute for mahogany. The fruit, which is devoured by the large wood-pigeon, is of the colour of the yew berry, but larger, and with a strong taste of turpentine." 328. PA Totarra, foliis undique versis lineari-lanceolatis mucronatis subtus glaucis. Don. in Lamb. Pin. ed. 2. App. — Dacrydium taxifolium. Sol. MSS. Lamb. Pinn. p. 137. — Totarra of the natives. New Zealand (Northern Island).— 1769, Sir Jos. Banks.— 1792, Phillip. — 1826, A. Cunningham. Banks of the Kahio, Wangaroa, &c. — 1834, R. Cunningham. (Middle Island,) of large size, like Dammara or Kauri. — 1791, A. Menzies. Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. 213 This pine is regarded with great esteem by the New Zealanders while growing, and when it has acquired a sufficient magnitude, is felled to construct canoes ; its lightness, toughness, and durability- giving it a higher value than even the Kauri itself. The Totarra is a red pine of stately erect growth, twenty to sixty feet high to the branches, and hence producing excellent spars. The value placed by the natives on this pine, the trunk of which varies in circumfe- rence from six to eighteen feet, is sometimes the occasion of quarrels sufficiently serious to terminate in bloodshed, if it be cut down by any one except the party by whom it is claimed ; for which rea- son a mark is placed on the trunk that it may be known to whom it belongs. The tree is then sufficient to stand till it has acquired a suitable bulk for use, so that it is not unusual for a Totarra to de- scend from the father to the son. 6. Dacrydium, Soland. and Lamb., Rich. Conif. 329. D. ? Mai, foliis aversis linearibus obtusis apiculo subcalloso, margi- nibus revolutis, supra laevibus viridibus, subtus glaucis, ramulis adultioribus strictis, junioribus valde virgatis. — Mai or Metai of the natives. New Zealand (Northern Island), in forests at some distance from the sea- coast, where it attains the height of eighty feet. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 1834, R. Cunningham. A red pine, as dark as cedar. The wood has been found durable, but being brittle it furnishes very indifferent spars. 330. D. ? plumosum, foliis (ramuli junioris) pectinatis linearibus mucro- nato-aristatis, adultioribus (parvis) compresso-triquetris distichis arete im- bricatis carinatis obtusis supra concavis, ramulis quum complanatis oppo- sitis. Don. in Lamb. Pin. ed. 2. App. — Kawa-ka of the natives, Rev. W. Yate. New Zealand (Northern Island), forests near the Bay of Islands, &c. — 1829, G.Bennett.— 1834, R. Cunningham. Mr. Yate informs us that it is a tree growing about thirty feet high with a diameter of one to three feet. The wood is beau- tifully grained, close and heavy, and would make beautiful picture frames if they were required of a deep stain. It is, however, not much known, and has never as yet been sought after to be applied to any useful purposes. — Yate's New Zealand, p. 45. 331. D. excelsum, foliis laxe imbricatis subulatis compresso-tetragonis mucronatis glaucis angulis depressis. Don. in Lamb. Pin. ed. 2. App. — Podocarpus dacrydioides. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 358. t. 39. — Kahi-Katea, nom. vernac. New Zealand (Northern Island), swampy grounds on the margins of rivers, viz. the Thames, Kana Kana, and Hokianga. — 1826, A. Cunning- 214 Specimen of the Botany of Neiv Zealand. ham. (Middle Island), in marshy forests on the shores of Tasman's Bay. — 1827, D'Urville. A white pine of tall stately growth, exhibiting oftentimes a clear stem of eighty feet, and with its branched head attaining a height of 120 and 130 feet, the diameter of such trees exceeding five feet. Except for common canoes, in the construction of which it is em- ployed by the natives on account of the great length of its trunk, its wood is seldom used, being of so soft and spongy a nature as to rot in a few months of exposure to the weather. It has been asserted that as for all the canoes made on Middle Island this timber is em- ployed, so the Dammar a or Kauri does not grow upon it. Certain it is, at least, that the latter noble tree has not been seen in its forests by voyagers. 332. D. cupressinum (Sol.), foliis linearibus sulmlatis tetragonis muticis viridibus angulis elevatis, junioribus divaricatis, adultioribus laxe imbricatis, ramulis flexuosis dependentibus. Sol. 31SS. Lamb. Piw.p. 93. t. 41. Rich. Conif. p. 127. t. 2. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 361.— Spruce tree of New Zealand. Cook's 2nd Voyage, i. p. 70. t. 51. — Rium or Deum of the natives. New Zealand (Middle Island), Dusky Bay.— 1773, G. Forster.— 1791, A. Menzies, Esq. Astrolabe Harbour. — 1827, D'Urville. (Northern Is- land). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. — 1826, A. Cunningham. Bay of Islands, &c. — 1834, R. Cunningham. This elegant tree, a red pine, attains its greatest perfection, as we learn from Mr. Yate, in shaded woods and in moist rich soils. Its topmost branches are not more than eighty feet from the ground, and the diameter of its trunk seldom exceeds four feet. The foliage, especially when the individual is young, is remarkably graceful and beautiful. Capt. Vancouver, who met with it in abundance in the forests of Dusky Bay, cut down several of these trees to refit his vessel, and found the timber solid and close-grained and very much resembling the Bermudas cedar. From the younger branches, which give out a bitter resinous juice, Capt. Cook on his second voyage to those islands prepared a kind of spruce beer, which he found ex- cellent in scorbutic complaints, with which some of his seamen were affected. URTICE.^, Juss. 1. Urtica, L. 333. U. ferox. Willd. Sp. PL 4. p. 352. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 354. Forst. Prodr. n. 346. New Zealand (Middle Island), Queen Charlotte's Sound, Cook's Strait. — 1773, G. Forster. 334. U. debilis, caule herb.-:ceo erectiusculo foliisque alternis ovatis petio- latis integerrimis pilosiusculis, pedunculis axillaribus trifloris. Endl. Prodr. Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. 215 FL Norf. p. 37.— Parietaria debilis. Forst. Prodr. n. 387. Willd. Sp. PL 4. p. 958. A. Rich, FL Nov. Ztl. p. 354. Ic. Ferd. Bauer, t. 116. (Endl.) New Zealand (Middle Island). — 1773, G. Forster. (Northern Island), flooded banks of the Kana-Kana river, Bay of Islands. — 1826, A. Cunning- ham. 2. Elatostema, Forst. Char. Gen. t. 53. Endl. 335. E.I rugosa, caulescens, foliis sessilibus alternis ovato-oblongis acu- minatis obliquis rugosis scabris versus basin angustatis grosse inaequaliterque serratis, basi auriculatis, capitulis axillaribus subsessilibus. — Dorstenia ru- gosa. Banks and Sol. MSS. in Herb. Banks. — Paratanaiwa of the natives. R. C. New Zealand {Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Frequent in damp shady woods on the banks of rivers, the Kana-Kana, &c. — 1826, A, Cunningham. — 1834, R. Cunningham. It appears closely allied to E. pubescens, Forst., or sessile of the same author, a plant indigenous to the Society group; but that species is described as having axillary capitula on pedicles and leaves not wholly destitute of petioles. 3. Hedycaria, Forst. Char. Gen. 127. t. 64. Flores dioici. Mas. Perianth, monophyllum, plano-rostratum, 8 — 10- fidum, laciniis lanceolatis subaequalibus. Stam. Anther ce plurimae (50) oblongoe quadrisulcae, apice barbatae, per totum fundum perian 4 ,hii ses- siles. Fcem. Perianth, ut in Mase. persistens. Pistillum. Pedicelli breves numerosi cylindrici, in medio perianthii elevantes. Germina globoso- depressa. Styli nulli. Stigmata papillae per genuine sparsa. Pericar- pium nuces (8 s. 10) pedicellatae, globosae, subosseas, monospermae. Fru- tices Nova Zelandice et Australasia. Folia opposita, petiolata, exstipu- lata, venosa, pellucido-punctata dentato-serrata, serraturis glanduloso- callosis. Racemi axillares. 336. H. dentata *, foliis ovatis obovatisve obtusiusculis remote denticu- lato-serratis ramulisque glabris, racemis axillaribus corymbosis tomentosis. Forst. Prodr. n. 349. Willd. Sp. PL 4. p. ? A. Rich. FL Nov. Zel. p. 354. * In New South Wales two other species have been observed, which may be thus characterised, viz. H. macrophylla\ foliis ellipticis obtusiusculis breviter petiolatis remote serratis quandoque sub coriaceis rare integerrimis, utrinque glabris reticu- lato-venosis, venis prominulis, ramulis racemi axillaris cinereo-scabridis. A large shrub, frequent in shaded woods on the coast, especially on the banks of the larger rivers of the colony.— 1804, JR. Brown, Esq. — 1818, Al- lan Cunningham. H. angustifolia, glaberrima, foliis lanceolatis ovato-lanceolatis attenuatis acutis discoloribus, a basi versus medium integerrimis, deinde ad apicem grosse serratis, racemis axillaribus simplicibus. In ravines in the Blue Mountains. — 1834,1?. Cunningham. 216 Mr. Ogilby's Descriptions of two new Kangaroos — Zanthoxylum Novae Zelandise. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. p. 291. t. 33.— Poroki- wiri of the Islanders. R. Cunningham. New Zealand (Middle Island). — 1773, G. Forster. (Northern Island), a tree twenty-five feet high, frequent on the banks of the Kana-Kana and other rivers at the Bay of Islands, Wangaroa, &c. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 1834, R. Cunningham. 337. H. scabra, foliis elliptico-ovatis vel ovato-lanceolatis distanter ser- ratis utrhique ramulisque scabris, corymbis axillaribus strigoso-pilosis. Spreng.1 conf. Steud. Nomencl. Bot. p. 390. New Zealand (Northern Island), a tree thirty feet high, Keri-Keri river, Bay of Islands. — 1826, Allan Cunningham. 4. Broussonetia, Vent. tab. 3. p. 567. 338. B. papyrifera. Duham. Arb. ii. xvi. t. 5. Willd. Sp. PL 4. p. 743. Andr. Repos. t. 480. — Morus papyrifera. L. Forst. Prodr. n. 347. New Zealand, in the northern parts of the Northern Island. — 1769, Cook. After enumerating certain plants that he observed in cultivation among the New Zealanders, on his first visit in 1769, Capt. Cook adds, ** We also found the Chinese Paper Mulberry Tree, the same as that of which the inhabitants of the South Sea Islands make their cloth ; but it was scarce, and only used to wear as an ornament in the holes which they make in their ears." — Cook's First Voyage, iii. p. 443. Obs. An vere indigena ? [To be continued.] XXIII. — Observations upon some recent Communications of Mr. J. E. Gray, of the British Museum, to the Annals of Natural History ; with Descriptions of two New Kangaroos from Van Diemen's Land. By W. Ogilby, Esq., M.A., F.R.A.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.Z.S., &c. In the first number of the Annals of Natural History, p. 27, Mr. Gray has given a notice of two skins of an animal originally described by the late Mr. Bennett, but which that gentleman refrained from naming, because from the imperfect nature of the materials at his disposal, he was not certain whether it was a Zebra or an Antelope. Mr. Bennett's own opinion originally was that the animal in ques- tion belonged to the genus Equus ; but the researches which, as most zoologists know, I have myself prosecuted for the last six years on the subject of the Ruminantia, enabled me to arrive at a more just conclusion, and to determine both the characters and affi- nities of this beautiful quadruped. This result I communicated to Mr. Bennett, expressly stating to him my conviction that it was from Van Diemen's Land, 217 closely allied to the Guib and Boshbok (Antilope scripta and syl- vatica), and though he naturally placed less confidence in my induc- tion than I did myself, it nevertheless occasioned him to modify his opinion, and to think, as he himself observes, (Proc. Com. Sci. Zool. Soc. ii. 123.) after expressly stating his reasons for believing it to be a species of Zebra, that " it might not improbably belong to some species of Antelope." Four years after Mr. Bennett's notice, viz. in Nov. 1836, having occasion to describe some new and rare Ante- lopes at a meeting of the Zoological Society, at which Mr. Gray was present and took part in the proceedings of the evening upon the subject of my communication, I took the opportunity of detailing at length my opinions with regard to the characters and relations of the animal in question, to which I gave the name of Antilope Doria, and announced its true habitat to be the western coast of Africa, and not Algoa Bay as supposed by Mr. Bennett. A short abstract of these observations will be found in the Zool. Proc. iv. 121. I have been induced to detail this history of the Antilope Doria up to the period of Mr. Gray's notice, simply for the purpose of show- ing that whatever little merit can result from having pointed out the characters and affinities of this beautiful animal, and consequently the right of naming it, belong neither to Mr. Bennett nor Mr. Gray. The former gentleman was too just to claim such a right ; the latter, though he has taken the liberty of exercising it, has still less pre- tensions ; for not only has he added nothing new to the history and description of the animal, but his observations are even fewer and less important than those which I have long since published. That I have just cause of complaint I cannot help thinking, when I re- member that Mr. Gray took part in the proceedings of the meet- ing when my observations were made and my name given ; and that he must be well acquainted with the published account of those "Proceedings" containing both the name and the observations, having been officially engaged in their revision ; and finally, that the original skin has been long exhibited, with my name attached, in the Museum of the Zoological Society, to which he is a frequent visitor, besides being a member of the Museum Committee. It was my in- tention to have noticed this subject in the last Number of the An- nals, but I was prevented from doing so by a communication from Mr. Gray, of which the following is an extract : " He also takes the opportunity of informing Mr. Ogilby that it is his (intention ?) to correct the error into which he has fallen with respect to the Anti- lope Doria in the next Number of the Annals." This promise Mr. Gray has not fulfilled ; but instead of the promised correction the 218 Mr. Ogilby^s Descriptions of tvm new Kangaroos second Number of the ' Annals' contains a favour of another and very different description on the part of Mr. Gray, which I shall now briefly notice. On the 28th of last November I exhibited and described at the Zoological Society a new species of Phalanger, from the island of Van Diemen's Land, which I proposed to call Phalangista Viverrina, and which, I observed, was the species figured in Cook's Voyages, and hitherto confounded with the Phalangista Cookii of M. Geoffroy St. Hilaire. I stated moreover that I had been long acquainted with the characters of the animal, and its specific distinction from the real Phalangista Cookii, from a specimen in the British Museum, in which establishment it was confounded with that species, but that I refrained from noticing it, as w r ell from a point of delicacy as because I was unacquainted with its precise habitat. Mr. Gray was present at the meeting in question, and took a very prominent part in the proceedings of the evening. With the exception of one or two mistakes, he has in the last Number of the Annals reproduced the observations which I made on that occasion almost word for word, appropriating them to himself, without any allusion to my communication, and propo- sing a new name of his own (P. Banksii), not for the new species, but for the old Phalangista Cookii, reserving the latter name most improperly for the new species, which had already been named by me Viverrina, avoiding the charge of suppressing my name. Mr. Gray's observations manifestly show that at the time they were written he was not aware that the Van Diemen's Land species was the animal so long possessed by the British Museum, as he regrets that no specimen was sent by Mr. Gunn, and I presume that he had either forgotten this part of my observations or refreshed his memory from the minute book of the Zoological Society, in which a very brief abstract only of them is given : yet I observe that he has since had the label " Hepoona Cookii, Van Diemen's Land," attached to the animal in the collection of the Museum, having, I suppose, be- come acquainted with the characters of the animal from the speci- mens of both species in the Museum of the Zoological Society. This is but a supposition on my part ; but it cannot be far from the truth, as the two species have been exhibited with my names in the Zoo- logical Society's collection ever since the period of my observations, and Mr. Gray's paper plainly shows that he had no original know- ledge of their specific distinction. Mr. Gray is at considerable pains to show that the Van Diemen's Land species, which is the new one, and to which I gave the name of P. Viverrina, should be called P. Cookii, and that the old one which has always passed by that name from Van Diemen's Land. 219 hitherto, is that which should have a new name, and he accordingly proposes for it the name of P. Banksii*. The cause of Mr. Gray's anxiety in this matter may perhaps easily be divined ; but of this the reader will judge. The P. Cookii of all writers refers to the con- tinental species, of which there are specimens at Paris, Leyden, Frank- fort, &c. ; and Mr. Gray's attempt to transfer the name to the Van Diemen's Land species, merely because a plate in Cook's Voyage has been confounded with it, is as productive of confusion as it is dis- ingenuous. His proposed generic name of Hepoona is equally un- happy ; it is really the native name of a Petaurist, and not at all of a Phalanger as erroneously supposed by Mr. Gray : besides which, the group which he thus designates is one which I first pointed out and characterised in March 1836, under the name of Pseudocheirus. The wallaby kangaroo, which Mr. Gray has likewise renamed (H. Tasmanei), is the same species which I had previously described at the Zoological Society under the name of Macropus rufiventer, and of which I have here given a more detailed description. I regret having been obliged to make these statements, and sin- cerely hope that Mr. Gray will spare me the trouble of doing so in future. I have been much pleased with Mr. Gunn's communication, which contains much valuable information upon the mammals of Van Die- men's Land ; and it is therefore with real satisfaction that I have it in my power to supply one of its very few deficiencies, by the follow- ing descriptions of two of the species of kangaroos there mentioned, (p. 105.) Macropus (Halmaturus) fruticus, the Brush Kangaroo. — Head, back, croup, and outer surface of the arms and thighs clear russet brown, slightly grizzled with silvery grey, the fur being of a slaty brown colour at the root, and russet brown at the tip, long, copious and thick ; the face from the eyes down, the lips and chin are deep uniform brown, as are likewise the paws both fore and hind, but the whole of the tarsus and hind legs are of a clear light grey colour, * Mr. Gray is evidently wrong in this matter. He cannot take away the name of P. Coolcii from the animal to give it to a mere picture, merely be- cause the original describers made the mistake of referring to it. Cook dis- covered both species and figured one : the unfigured species has been long known and described under Cook's name; the figured species was first de- scribed by myself last November by the name of P. Viverrina : in proposing to change the names of both species Mr. Gray commits not only a private wrong with regard to me, but a great public injury both to science and the original describers of P. Cookii, by the confusion which he would introduce into the nomenclature. 220 Mr. Ogilby's Descriptions of two new Kangaroos. and form in this respect a striking contrast to the sombre hue of the toes ; the under surface of the tarsus is naked and callous ; the belly and under parts of the body are very light hoary grey, the fur here being equally long and dense as above, and of the same deep slaty brown colour at base, but with a long and conspicuous hoary point ; the tail of middling size, attenuated, dirty yellowish grey, with a small, brown, obscurely tufted tip, and very nearly naked beneath, the hair being worn short and bristly on the terminal half ; the ears pretty large, rounded, with dirty white hair about the edges, within, densely covered with long soft hair without, grizzled at the base, but dark brown with a shade of russet on the terminal two thirds. The two front incisors larger than the lateral, separate at the base, con- verging at the point ; the external lateral incisor twice the size of the middle one, and divided in the proportion of about 2 : 3 by a vertical duplicature on the outer face, giving the tooth at first sight the appearance of being double. The claw of the great hind toe is short, round, and blunt, as in M. penicillatus ; and M. fruticus is the only kangaroo besides that species in which I have noticed this cha- racter. Length, 2 ft. 9 in. ; tail, 1 ft. 10 in. ; head, 54 in. ; ear, 3 in. ; tarsus to the origin of the great claw, 7f in. Macropus (Halmaturus) rufiventer, the Wallabee of Van Diemen's Land. — This is a very different species from the Wallabee of New South Wales, (M. Ualubatus,) being smaller, and of a more reddish brown colour. It is considerably smaller than the last species (M. fru- ticus), but has similar incisors, except that the middle pair are not proportionally longer or larger than the lateral, and the duplicature of the external so small as to be apparent only on the posterior face, dividing the tooth in the proportion of about 1:3; this tooth is itself of smaller dimensions comparatively speaking than its ana- logue in M. fruticus. The general colour of M. rufiventer is greyish brown above, considerably darker than the wild rabbit, and deeply shaded on the back and croup with pure black hairs, which, in cer- tain lights, give these parts a perfectly black shade ; the paws and outer face of the fore legs are of the same colour ; the tarsus and hind legs brown ; the chin, throat, belly, and abdomen, sandy red, more or less intense in different specimens ; ears yellowish red within, black or very dark brown on the outside ; tail short, rather darker than the body above, dirty yellowish on the sides, naked and granulated for two thirds of its length on the under surface ; claws long and pointed ; nose naked ; length of the body, 2 ft. ; tail, 1 ft. 2 in. ; head to root of ear, 4-^ in. : ear, 1-t- in. ; tarsus to great claw, 5i in. First described before the Zoological Society, February Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 221 28th, 1838, under the name here given: afterwards by Mr. Gray- under the name of H. Tasmanei (vide Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 108. for April 1st, 1838). Mr. Gray's description of this animal is manifestly independent of mine, since his paper, though only pub- lished on the 1st of April, is dated February 10. My own know- ledge, both of this species and M.fruticus, dates from November last, when I had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with them through the kindness of Mr. Gould : the question between us, there- fore, on this point is merely one of precedence.* XXIV. — Information respecting Botanical Travellers. The following interesting communication has been received from George Bentham, Esq., Secretary to the Horticultural Society, &c. M. Theodor Kotschy, a botanical collector from Vienna, joined as botanist an expedition of Austrian geologists sent to search for use- ful fossils in the domain of the Viceroy of Egypt. With this expe- dition he touched at Greece in the year 1836, from thence went to Cairo, and after a very short stay in Syria, he spent two of the most favourable summer months of that year in the little-known chain of the Taurus. From this country he transmitted to Vienna a consi- derable collection of dried plants, containing many species entirely new, and many others only known by the collections of Tournefort and other older botanists, and only now to be found in a very few herbaria. From Syria M. Kotschy proceeded in 1837 to Nubia and Abyssi- nia, and at the time the last news were received from him at Vienna, he was in the most southern parts of Cordofan and Darfour, between 10° and 11° N. lat., and was expecting, after the rainy season, to penetrate still further south. He represents the vegetation of these countries as in the highest degree remarkable and imposing. The expedition had already met with several troops of elephants and of giraffes, and Mr. Kotschy also mentions some stems of Adansonia of an enormous size. It is probable he may be mistaken as to the iden- * Having intimated to Mr. Gray the subject of Mr. Ogilby's communica- tion, we have received from him the following note, which he had intended to send us last month, but had mislaid. — Edit. Antilope Zebra. I find that Mr. Ogilby, in a notice of some other Ante- lopes, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1836, p. 121, had pre- viously given the name of Antilope Doria to the skins of this animal noticed by Mr. Bennett ; but as he gives no additional particulars, and as the name is only incidentally mentioned, and does not even occur in the index of the volume, I had overlooked it. — J. E. Gray. Bibliographical Notices. tity of these trees with the Adansonia of Senegal ; but it will not be the less interesting, should this be the case, to ascertain what vege- table giant in Western Africa represents the colossus of the East. Some sets of M. Kotschy's Taurus and Syrian plants, consisting of from 230 to 260 species, most of them named, may still be had at the rate of about thirty shillings the hundred, besides the carriage from Vienna. The collections from Nubia are on their way to Vi- enna, and the price will only be fixed after their arrival there. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. A History of British Reptiles. By Thomas Bell, Professor of Zoology in King's College, London. Illustrated by a Wood Cut of each Species, with some of the varieties, and numerous Vignettes, No. I. 8vo. Van Voorst, London, 1838. This is the first number of another portion of M. Van Voorst's series of works illustrating the British Fauna, and in its general character we think it one of the very best. The figures are well and scientifically drawn, and are beautifully cut. The descriptive part is also excellent, and enters at once into the difficult parts of the synonymy, and the distinctions between the species of our rep- tiles which are allied to each other, or to those of the continent. We have only one objection ; the work is a history of British Reptiles, but the range of the species out of England is scarcely touched on. This information, it is true, is difficult to be procured from actual ob- servation, but there are surely persons in both the sister divisions of our islands who would have willingly communicated what they knew. The number commences with the two turtles (Chelonia imbricata and Sphargis coriacea) which possess so slender a claim to a place in our Fauna. - We would consider the instances where both species have been found within the range as entirely accidental. And it seems questionable even that either of them were wafted to our shores, from having mistaken their course, or from an extraordinary war of elements. The Lacertidcc follow next, and in the description of the first, the application of Lacerta agilis, Linn., to the proper animal seems clearly made out, and the fact of our possessing two species, members of distinct genera, established without a doubt. We are not aware that the L. agilis, Linn, and Bell, L. Stirpium of Jenyns, has yet been discovered in Scotland ; since the publication of the ' Manual' by the last-named naturalist we have been look- Bibliographical Notices. 223 ing anxiously for it, but in all the inland localities the little Zootoca vivipara only occurs. The latter species, which Mr. Bell remarks extends " even into Scotland," is most abundant, and ranges far to the north. We have seen it on the southern confines of Sutherland and Ross-shire, and from thence to the English border ; it is common on all the subalpine heaths reaching to a considerable elevation. It is also frequent on the sandy downs of the coast where heath and bent-grass abound, and where the true L. agilis might be expected. We would remark of Mr. Bell's figure or cut of this pretty reptile, that the common Scotch variety is more distinctly marked than that which he has exhibited, the interior of the lateral dark markings being bordered by a yellowish white line, clearly conspicuous even when the creature is running. In a specimen of what appears to be this reptile, taken on the coast, the scales containing the femoral pores are larger than what is stated. They appear as large as those represented in the cut at page 21, but are round and oval, not of the triangular form seen in fig. a. The animal, we think, agrees in other parts with the characters given of Z. vivipara, and in the proportion of the toes and toothless palate. The subject of the next figure and description, Anguis fragilis, is also common in the south of Scotland. We have found it most com- monly in dry, stony, subalpine situations, where it easily finds a re- treat on the appearance of danger. A beautifully cut figure of the common snake follows, but as the description is just commenced, we leave it till the publication of the next number. The Birds of. Australia and the adjacent Islands. By John Gould, F.L.S. Part II. Folio. London, 1838. We formerly (in the Mag. of Zool. and Bot. vol. ii. p. 357.) no- ticed the first and commencing number of this work, produced in the same style of art, and on a similar scale, with Mr. Gould's other highly-finished illustrations. The second part is now before us, equal in every respect to its predecessor, and containing figures of the fol- lowing species : but before making any remark upon them, we can- not avoid alluding to the expedition which our author has in con- templation to make to Australia. Such a journey will be of the highest interest to the traveller ; and knowing Mr. Gould's activity in the field, and his qualifications for observation and recording what he does observe, we look forward to his return with an intense inter- est. Many species have now been forwarded to Europe from this most interesting country, a few of them from very inland districts ; 224 Bibliographical Notices. but with the exception of the skin alone, and the description of the outward form of the bird, we have received almost no other inform- ation ; in fact, we are more deficient in our knowledge of the ceco- nomy of Australian species than of those of any other quarter of the world. This department should be Mr. Gould's great object : he should endeavour to collect everything, together with what he can himself observe, regarding the manners of those species which have given rise to so much speculation among our systematists, and to se- cure for after- dissection individuals of the various genera, which he well knows have long been desiderata to the comparative anatomist, Apteryx, Menura, Alectura, &c. We firmly trust that health and strength may be spared to him actively to go about his work, and safely to return again to his native country. Chcetura macroptera. Mr. Gould should endeavour to procure in- formation regarding the manners of this bird, particularly its scanso- rial habits. Most of the Hirundinidte make use of the tail as a sup- port when resting, or when constructing their nests ; but the authen- ticity of the fact of their climbing on the face of cliffs in search of food rests scarcely on complete evidence, and it will be a curious circumstance if confirmed, in the ceconomy of birds possessing so great extent and power of wing. — Dacelo cervina, a beautiful spe- cies, and apparently very rare ; Mr. Gould remarks that only two specimens are known in London . This is another genus of birds worthy of attention ; a good account of their manners would be a valuable acquisition to our knowledge. — P achy cephala pector alls, M. & F. The females of this genus have frequently been described under distinct names from the opposite sex. — Amadina castanotis, M. & F. — Nestor hypopolius. — Platycercus ktematogaster, n. s. — Myzomela nigra, n. s., a curious species, the colours black and white, with nearly the same distribution as in M. cardinalis. — Apteryx Australis, an interesting figure of this very singular and still little-known bird. Mr. Gould mentions the existence of four specimens in the London collections, and from his examination of them has been led to con- clude that it will range among the Struthionida, (where also Mr. Swainson places it in the tenuirostral type,) but that between the large members of this family and the Apteryx there may be supposed to exist several undiscovered intermediate links ; indeed he mentions in the description, that at a meeting of the Zoological Society, a na- tive of New Zealand, who was present, when shown the Apteryx, stated that he knew another kind, " with a shorter bill." — The last figure in the number is JEgialitis (Charadrius) Monachus, a chastely coloured species, and now not very uncommon in our collections. Zoological Society. 225 PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Sept. 26th, 1837.— Richard Owen, Esq. in the Chair. Two small quadrupeds from the Society's collection were exhi- bited by Mr. Waterhouse, who stated that he believed them to be undescribed species. The first was characterized as Galago Alleni. Gal. auribus permagnis, digitis perlongis ; vellere intense plumbeo , rufescente lavato ; corpore subtus flavo lavato. Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudae basin, 8 unc. 1 lin. ; caudce, lOunc. ; auris, 1 unc. 21 lin. : latitudo auris, 11 lin. : longitudo pol- licis antipedum, 6 lin.; digiti longissimi, 1 unc. 1 lin.; pollicis pedum posticorum, 7 lin.'; digiti longissimi, 1 unc. 2 lin.; pedis postici a calce ad apicem digitorum, 2 unc. 11 lin. Hab. Fernando Po. Obs. This specimen, which has four incisors in the upper jaw, and six in the lower, is about the same size as the Galago Senegalensis, but may be readily distinguished from that species by the greater size of the ears, (the length of which is equal to the distance between the tip of the muzzle and the base of the ear,) and the great length of the fingers and toes. In the colouring there is also a difference, G. Senegalensis being grey, washed with yellow ; whereas G. Alleni is of a deep slate grey, all the hairs of the upper parts being of a rusty yellow at the apex, or, as on the fore legs, rusty at the tip. The under parts of the body are of a paler hue than the upper, the hairs being of a dirty yellow colour at the tip ; but like those of the upper parts, they are of a slate grey for the greater portion of their length : on the throat and chin each hair is whitish at the apex. The hairs covering the feet are of a deep brown colour. The tail is dusky brown. Pteromys (Sciuropterus) Horsfieldii. Pier, fuscus, pilis flaves- centi-fuscis crebre intersparsis ; corpore subtiis fiavescenti-albo, genis et patagio lumbari ad marginem rufescenti-jlavis ; caudd subtus nitide ferrugined ; auribus mediocribus. Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caudse basin, 9 unc. 6 lin.; auris, 7 J lin.; tarsi digitorumque, 1 unc. 5 lin. Obs. This species is of a larger size than the Pteromys sagitta, from which it differs in having the ears larger in proportion; the tail more bushy and of an uniform bright rust colour beneath ; the mar- gin of the flank skin is of a reddish yellow colour, as are also the sides of the face below the eye. On the upper parts of the body the fur is of a deep brown, each hair being grey at the base ; the inter- im*. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 3. May 1838. q 226 Zoological Society. spersed longer hairs, which are abundant, are of a bright brown or reddish-yellow colour at the apex. The general tint produced by this mixture is rufous brown. On the under parts of the body the hairs are of a yellow or yellowish white colour, and not grey at the base. The specimen from which the above description is taken is either from Java or Sumatra. I have taken the liberty of naming it after the author of the * Zoological Researches in Java/ &c. Mr. Gould exhibited from his Australian collection of Birds two species of the genus Platycercus, which he considered new : for one of these he proposed the specific name of hcematonotus, from the red spot upon its rump ; and for the other, which he had very recently received, and which he remarked was one of the most beautiful spe- cies of the genus hitherto discovered, that of hcematogaster. Platycercus h^ematonotus. Plat, summo capite,fronte, gents, 7iuchd pectoreque smaragdino-viridibus ; dorso fuscescenti-vi- ridi ; uropygio coccineo ; articulo humerali, aid spuria et po- yoniis extemis primarium ad partem basalem nitide cceruleo- nigris, notd sulphured humerali. Remigibus majoribus et minoribus, rectricibusque caudce duaibus intermediis viridibus, hoc colore in cmruleum transeunte ad apicem, apicibus ipsis nigro-fuscis ; rectricibus reliquis ad bases viridibus, ad apices et ad pogonia externa cineraceo-albis ; cbdomine medio Jlavo ; femoribus obscure cceruleo-viridibus ; crisso cineraceo-albo ; rostro corneo ; pedibus fuscis. Long. tot. 11 unc. ; alee 5 ; caudce 6J ; tarsi |. Pullus intra annum primum, ab ave adultd differt partibus, qua in hdc smaragdino-viridibus, in illo cinerescenti-viridibus ; necnon crisso hand coccineo, abdomine haud Jlavo ; ast primariis nonnullis, secondar Usque ad bases albis. Hah. Nova Cambria Australi. Obs. This species unites Platycercus to Nanodes, and is in fact so directly intermediate between these genera in size and other charac- ters, that it is difficult to decide to which group it should be referred ; but I am induced to include it among the Platycerci. Platycercus hcematogaster. Plat, fronte facieque cairuleis ; summo capite, nucha, plumisque auricularibus flavescenti-cine- reis ; pectore cinereo tincto brunneo ; plumis auricularibus ad partem superiorem stramineis ; uropygio, tectricibusque supe- rioribus cauda cerinis ; articulo humerali pallide cceruleo ; primariis intense fuscis etad apicem acutis ; secondariis tectri- cibusque majoribus violaceo-cceruleis / tectricibus minoribus Zoological Society. 227 alisque ad partem superiorem intense coccineis ; lateribus tec- tricibusque inferioribus pallide Jiavis ; abdomine medio nitide coccineo; plumis duabus intermediis caudal ad bases pallide olvbaceo-viridibus ad apices in c&ruleum transeunte. Reli. quis plumis ad bases intense cceruleis ad apices in album trans- eunie ; rostra corneo ; pedibus fuscis. Long. tot. 12 unc. ; alee g- ; eaudcel ; tarsi f. Hab. Nova Cambria Australi. Mr. Gould also exhibited, on the part of Mr. Burton, a new spe- cies of Kingfisher, from the collection at Fort Pitt, Chatham, be- longing to the genus Ceyx, of Lacepede. Mr. Burton had proposed to characterize it under the specific name of microsoma, Ceyx microsoma. Ceyx subcristata, capite cauddque supra, nucha et humeris rufis ; strigd ab oculis ad nucham {pone ocu- los leviter, apud nucham intense) dorso et uropygio hyalino splendentibus ; alis brunneis, pogoniis remigum internis rufo marginatis, tectricibus punctis hyalinis ornatis : infra pallide rufa hoc colore apud ventrem dilutiore ; mento, gidd et strigd auriculari albidis : rostro pra>grandi, aurantiaco. Pedibus rubris. Long. corp. 4£ unc. ; capitis 2 ; rostri ab apice ad rectum 1 J ; cauda 1. Hab. in India Maderaspatana. Mr. Gould afterwards exhibited, on the part of the same gentle- man, a specimen of the genus Caprimulgus, supposed to be the fe- male of C. monticolus, and of which Mr. Burton had furnished the following description : Caprimulgus monticolus, Franklin*. Fcemina ? Capr. pal- lidior mari : remigibus macula notatis rufa, ubi mas gaudet alba ; jugulo rufo Undo ; caudd rufa nigro fasciatd et inspersd, rufo rectrices apud exteriores dominante, cauddque externa maris albo omnino carente. Forma et staturd mari simillimd. Hab. in India septentrionali. In Musseo Medico- militari* Chat- ham. Obs. The general form, character and colouring of this specimen harmonize so perfectly with those of Caprimulgus monticolus, that I have thought it safe to consider it as the female, until local obser- vation or dissection shall have decided the question : at all events, it is new, and hitherto undescribed. * Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence (Zool. Soc.)» 1830-L a2 228 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. A species of the genus Carduelis, also from the collection at Chatham, was characterized by Mr. Gould as Carduelis Burtoni. Card.fronte et regione circum-oculari pul- chre roseis ; vertice genisque nigris ; corpore obscure fuscescenti- roseo, alis externe nigris, singulis plumis plus minusve alio ad apicem notatis ; aid spurid albd ; rectricibus caudce nigris ; duabus, intermediis ad apicem albis, duabus proximis longius ad apicem albis, reliquis albd notd interne ad basin excurrente ornatis ; rostro pedibusque pallide fuscis . Long. tot. 6£ unc. ; rostri, g ; alee, 3J ; caudce, 21 ; tarsi, f . Hab. Himalaya. Obs. I am indebted to the collection of Fort Pitt, at Chatham, for the knowledge of this very line species of Carduelis : the specimen here characterized is, as far as I am aware, unique. It departs in some respects from the other members of the genus, particularly in the robust form of the beak, which is slightly angulated at the base : the form of its wings and tail, together with their peculiar markings, however, clearly points out that it is only an aberrant species of that group. I have been induced to give this fine bird the specific appellation of Burton, for the purpose of paying a just compliment to Staff- Sur- geon Burton, for the warm interest he took in the formation of the Fort Pitt collection, and for the readiness he has at all times evinced to aid in any way the advancement of zoological science. BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. The following gentlemen have been elected office-bearers for 1838; President. Robert Graham, F.R.S.E., F.L.S., Professor of Botany in the University of Edinburgh. Vice -Presidents. John Hutton Balfour, M.D. David Falcon ar, Esq. of Carlowrie. Patrick Heill, LL.D. Professor Christison. Council. Andrew Douglas Marlagan, M.D. William M c Nab, Esq. John Hutton Pollexfen, M.D. David Steuart, Esq. Robert Kaye Greville, LL.D. John Percy, Esq. Secretary. — William Hunter Campbell, Esq. Treasurer. — William Brand, W.S. Curator. — James M c Nab, Esq. Foreign Secretaries. — Edward Forbes, Esq. and Martin Barry, M.D. January 11th, 1838. — Professor Graham, President, in the Chair. Mr. R. W. Falconer read a Paper " On the ancient history of the Rose," in which he gave an account of the rose trees mentioned and Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 229 described by the Greek and Roman writers of antiquity ; also of the modes in which roses were cultivated, their periods of flowering, and the various uses to which they were applied. Theophrastus and Pliny appear to have given the fullest account of the rose, the former enumerating five kinds of roses, the latter fifteen, eleven of which, he says, were familiarly known to the Romans. After comparing the descriptions given by these authors with those of Dioscorides, Clusius, and other writers, Mr. Falconer proceeded to give an ac- count of the ancient rosaria or rose plantations, collected from the various works of Pliny, Columella, and Palladius ; also of the means employed for propagating and forcing roses, mentioned by Theo- phrastus, Didymus, Pliny, and Seneca. The different localities re- nowned for their roses were next stated ; Nicander, Athenseus, and Pliny, being the principal authorities on this point. Among the ancients the rose was employed medicinally at their festivals and at their sacred ceremonies ; also as an article of luxury at their banquets and for making unguents. The uses of the rose among the Greeks and Romans were nearly the same, the latter nation, however, using them more profusely, and setting a higher value upon them. Ana- creon was the first author whom Mr. Falconer could find to have mentioned the rose, and he flourished about 600 years B. C. My- repsius, a medical writer of the 13th century, was the latest author quoted. A communication from Mr. Edwin Lees of Worcester was then read, giving an account of a specimen of Pyrus domestica, Sm., or Sorb -tree, now growing inWyre Forest, Worcestershire. Mr. Lees thinks it probable, from the situation of Wyre Forest, on the con- fines of three counties, Worcester, Salop, and an isolated portion of Stafford, that this locality for Pyrus domestica may have been inad- vertently multiplied ; and that the station given by Dr. Plot and Ray in the " Moorlands of Staffordshire," may possibly refer to the specimen in question, which, however, is situated in the parish of Rock in Worcestershire, about three miles from Bewdeley. From a close inspection of the locality, Mr. Lees is inclined to think that the tree alluded to is not there indigenous, although probably entitled to an antiquity of not less than 400 years. The vestiges of a habita- tion and garden he thought might be traced in some bricks and re- mains near the spot, and in the presence of solitary specimens of Lu gustrum vulgare and Prunus domestica, the only individuals which he observed in the whole forest. The tree when visited in 1836 was much dilapidated, and presented the appearance of extreme old age, in the battered state of its bole, great height (about sixty feet), broken 230 Linncean Society. lower branches, and tenuity and tortuosity of the upper ones, which only bear flower from the young shoots at their very ends. Fruit is produced annually, and is eagerly gathered as a curiosity by the country people, who look upon it as a charm, suspending it in their habitations, and appearing to consider it a safeguard; while to the mountain ash (Pyrus aucuparia) they pay no sort of attention, al- though they seem to be fully aware of the relationship between the species, designating the latter the " Whitten tree," while the former is called the "Whitten Pear-tree," — the fruit very much resembling a small jennet pear. The stations given for Pyrus domestica in Corn- wall and the Isle of Wight, Mr. Lees thinks rest on doubtful author- ity, and that its claims to being considered indigenous to Britain would require to be based on a stronger foundation than that af- forded by the solitary individual in Wyre Forest. LINN.EAN SOCIETY. March 6, 1838.— Mr. Forster, V.P., in the Chair. Mr. Newman, F.L.S., exhibited specimens of the Noctua cubicu- laris in the larva state, obtained from Ham Green, near Bristol, the seat of Richard Bright, Esq., where this caterpillar had proved very destructive to wheat in the rick. Dr. Bromfield, F.L.S., exhibited a specimen of a singular variety of Crepis virens, with the leaves nearly entire, gathered by him in a wood near Yarmouth in the Isle of Wight. A plant in flower of the rare Ophrys lutea of Cavanillas was ex- hibited by Mr. Anderson, from the Apothecaries' Garden at Chelsea. Read a description of the Mosses collected in the journey of the late deputation into Upper Assam, in the years 1835 and 1836. By William Griffith, Esq., Assistant Surgeon on the Madras Establish- ment. Communicated by R. H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S. & L.S. The discovery of the China tea plant in Upper Assam attracted the attention of the Indian government, and accordingly a deputation, consisting of Dr. Wallich, Mr. M'Clelland, and Mr. Griffith, was sent from Calcutta to investigate the subject. The present paper comprises descriptions of the Musci collected in the journey ; but the greater portion of the species, Mr. Griffith states, was gathered in the Khasya Hills, an elevated tract of country, forming part of the eastern frontier of British India. The breadth of this tract va- ries from thirty-five to sixty English miles, and the following heights* of places situated on the route of the mission, and copied from Cap- tain Pemberton's report, are given by Mr. Griffith. Linncean Society. 231 feet. Churra Punjee 4349 Surureem 5600 Moflong 5942 Myrung 5 940 Nunkiow 4553 The climate is described to be excessively moist, which will ac- count for the large number of mosses collected in the journey by Mr. Griffith, forming about one eighth of the entire family, 1324 being the amount of species enumerated by Bridel in his Bryologia Uni- versa. We subjoin a list of the genera, together with the number of species contained in each. Sphagnum 1 Polytrichum 6 Diphyscium 1 Gymnostomum 7 Orthodon 1 Orthotrichum 5 Schlotheimia 1 Weissia 3 Barbula 3 Grimmia 3 Trematodon 2 Dicranum 13 Fissidens 10 Didymodon 4 Funaria 2 62 Brought up 62 Bartramia 3 Brachymenium 3 Br yum 7 Pterogonium 4 Neckera 20 Daltonia 1 Pleuropus 3 Anhymenium 1 Hookeria 4 LesJcea 7 Hypnum 28 143 Undetermined 9 Total species 152 The collection contains Sphagnum obtusifolium, Polytrichum urni- gerum and aloides, Weissia Templetoni, Dicranum scoparium and glau- cum, Bartramia fontana, and several others familiar to the European muscologist ; but the far greater part of the species have not been previously described. March 20.— Dr. Horsfield, V.P., in the Chair. Read a description of the Mora tree. By Mr. Robert H. Schom- burgk. Communicated by George Bentham, Esq., F.L.S. This tree is a native of the forests of British Guiana, where it at- tains a large size, the trunk often exceeding ninety feet in height, with a circumference of upwards of twenty feet. The trunk pro- duces large buttresses at its base, which from their partial decay afterwards become hollow beneath, and form a chamber capable of sheltering several persons standing erect. The tops of these but- tresses, and the trunk itself, are found clothed with innumerable epiphytes, which greatly add to the singularity of the tree. The tree affords timber of excellent quality, being close-grained, strong, 232 IAnruean Society. tough and durable, and not liable to split. The Mora tree consti- tutes a new genus of the order Leguminosce, belonging to the sub- order Ccesalpinece, and tribe Cassiece. Mr. Bentham adopts the na- tive name for the genus, and proposes that of excelsa for the species. The following is his character of the genus. Mora. Benth. Calyx urceolato-campanulatus, breviter et late 5-dentatus, sestivatione im- bricativa. Corolla : petala 5, aequalia. Stamina 10, exserta, quorum 5 petalis opposita, fertilia sunt, antheris bilocularibus medifixis longitu- dinaliter dehiscentibus, 5 petalis alterna filiformia, antheris clavatis cassis. Ovarium breviter stipitatum, pluriovulatum. Stylus compres- sus, subrectus, stigmate tenui terminali. Legumen coriaceo-lignosum, oblongum, abortu (an constanter?) monospermum. Semen magnum, reniforme, cotyledonibus crassis, radicula conica recta. The genus is nearly related to Tachigalia of Aublet, and Leptolo- bium of Vogel, but differs from both in the woody texture of the pod, which is moreover naturally dehiscent, in the greater regularity of the parts of the flower, and in the sterility of the alternate sta- mina. April 3. — The Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. Read a communication on the existence of Stomata in Mosses. In a letter to R. H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S. & L.S. By William Valentine, Esq., F.L.S. The discovery of stomata in mosses was reserved for Mr. Valen- tine, an opinion of their absence from that family having univer- sally obtained amongst botanists. It was inBryum crudum that Mr. Valentine first detected stomata, and of one hundred and three Bri- tish mosses examined by him, seventy-eight were found to possess these organs. Their situation in this family is very remarkable, be- ing confined, with one exception, to the theca, and the thinness of the tissue will readily account for their absence from other parts. In Bryum crudum they occur only on the apophysis, and wherever that organ is present they are to be met with. On the apophysis of seve- ral species of Splachnum they exist in considerable abundance, but in S, ampullaceum they are confined to the upper part of that organ, being the only spot where the subcutaneous tissue has separated from the cuticle. They occur on the whole of the theca in Enca- lypta ciliata and vulgaris, and in several species of Orthotrichum. In (Edipodium Griffithianum they exist on the upper part of the fleshy seta, as well as on the apophysis. In many mosses without the apo- physis, they are found in a single row at the base of the theca, as, for instance, in Trichostomum patens, and in the genus Phascum, with Linnaan Society. 233 the exception of Phascum alternifolium, which is wholly destitute of them. They are found equally on the most fully developed species, such as Hypnum rutabulum, as well as on the very lowest, of which Phascum serratum affords an example, while on the contrary they are wanting in species of both extremes, as Hypnum denticulatum and Phascum alternifolium. Their number and size vary according to the age of the theca ; in the very young theca they are very small, and much less numerous than on the mature organ. In Orthotri- chum diaphanum when mature they are from twenty to twenty-five, whilst on the very young theca Mr. Valentine has found as few as five. They are very numerous on the apophysis of Funaria hygrometrica. The more common form of the stomata in mosses is similar to that generally found amongst phsenogamous plants. Each consists of two oblong reniform cells, with their concave sides opposed to each other. In Funaria hygrometrica they consist of a single cell in the form of a hollow ring, and in five British species of Orthotrichum {diaphanum, pulchellum, rivulare, anomalum, and cupulatum) they have a raised border of projecting cells which form a cavity above the stoma, re- sembling somewhat those of Marchantia and Targionia. Mr. Anderson, F.L.S., exhibited, from the Chelsea Botanic Gar- den, flowering plants of Pterostylis concinna and Perdicium lyratum, April 17. — The Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. Read a paper by Prof. Don, Libr. L.S., describing two new genera of the natural family of plants called Coniferce. These two genera belong to the Cupressinece, to which they form an interesting addition, from their peculiarities of habit and struc- ture, and they differ from all the genera hitherto established of that group by the female spikes assuming the form of a cone, as in Pinus. The Cupressinecs are characterised by their reproductive organs having a tendency to become indefinite, by their atropous ovula, naked buds, and other peculiarities of habit. The following are the essential characters of these two genera. Cryptomeria. Cupressi sp. Lin. Fit. Amenta mascula spicata. Squamce antherifercc rotundatae, adpresse im- bricatse, sessiles. Antherarum thecce 5, connatse ! basi squamarum om- nino adnataa, antice foramine amplo dehiscentes. Ovula erecta. Stro- bili solitarii, globosi, squarrosi : squamis epericarpio 3 — 6-dentato brac- teaque lanceolata acuminata inferne concretis compositis. Sernina 4 v. 6, compresso-angulata, vix alata. Arbor (japonica) procera, sempervirens. Folia fere omnino Araucariae Cunninghamii, 5-fariam ordinata, subulata, viridia, verticaliter com- 234 Linnaan Society. pressa, vix pollicaria. Amenta mascula in spicam terminalem aggre- gata ; foeminea solitaria, globosa. 1. C.japonica. Cupressus japonica. Linn. Fil. Suppl. 421. Habitat in Insula Nipponiae. The habit of this tree is so like that of Araucaria Cunninghamii, that a branch of the one might readily be mistaken for that of the other. The male catkins, which in the other genera of Cupressinece are solitary, are here numerous, as in the normal tribe of Pinus, and crowded in a spike-like manner at the extremity of the branches. The thecse, five in number, are unilocular, very short, combined to- gether in a single series, concealed at the base of the scales, and open inwardly towards the axis by a large aperture. The female catkins are solitary, globular, and squarrose. The scales, or peri- carpia, apparently consist each of a verticil of leaves combined to- gether and concrete with the bracte, which is much developed. The ovula vary from four to six, and appear to bear some relation to the divisions of the pericarpium. The more complex structure of this genus appears to confirm the accuracy of Mr. Brown's view of the scales being the pericarpial leaves, and to militate against the opinion lately advanced by Dr. Schleiden,* who regards the scale or expanded pericarpium of Abietinea as the placenta, and what has hitherto been regarded as the bracte as the true pericarpial leaf. The wood of Cryptomeria is compact, and the fibrous tissue is com- posed of very slender vessels, united generally by their truncated ends, and furnished on the sides parallel to the medullary rays with a single row of minute dots, having a circular outline, and an opake centre, much smaller and more crowded than in Pinus. The author's description of this remarkable tree is taken from a specimen communicated by Thunberg to the younger Linnaeus, and now forms part of the extensive collections of the Linnsean Society. Athrotaxis. Amenta mascula solitaria, multiflora, capitata, laxa. Squama antheriferce longe unguiculatae, subfastigiatse. Anther arum thecce 2. bivalves, dis- tantes, divaricato-patentes. Ovula 3, pendula. Strobili squama indefi- nite, lanceolate, acutae, regione seminiferd incrassatd. Semina 2 v. 3, compressa, margine altero alato. Arbusculse (Tasmanienses) sempervirentes, facie Lycopodiorum,/o/iis im- bricatis, amentis terminalibus solitariis sessilibus. The habit of this singular genus recalls to mind the Lepidodendra, * For Dr. Schleiden's interesting memoir on this subject, vide Philoso- phical Magazine, vol. xii. p. 172. Lintuean Society. 235 those forms which at present exist only in a fossil state ; their axis is studded with the persistent adherent bases of the leaves, resem- bling the lozenge-shaped marks on the stem of the fossil genus above-mentioned, and the ramification frequently presents a dichoto- mous appearance, which arises from the non-development of one of the lateral branches, the normal arrangement in this genus being a primary axis with two opposite lateral ones. The bases of the leaves of Lycopodiacece being so completely continuous with the axis would not present such marks as those mentioned, and the author is there- fore inclined to consider Lepidodendron as allied rather to Coniferce than to that family, and the present interesting genus appears to present us with an evident link of connexion. The scales, as they are usually termed, of the male spike of Conifera, the author regards as the anthers, although usually presenting a foliaceous character, a portion only of the subcutaneous cellular tissue being converted into pollen. It is generally the under surface of the modified leaf or anther that becomes polliniferous, the upper surface remaining most frequently unchanged. These polliniferous thecse are analogous to the subdivisions of the anthers in Rhizophorece, Laurinea, &c, and are in all cases unilocular, being destitute of any septum, and their line of dehiscence is various, being sometimes in the direction of the axis, and sometimes contrary to it. I ought to except Athrotaxis and Pinus, in both of which the scales differ but little from the ordi- nary condition of the anthers of other plants. The author's opinion of the scales being simple, and not originating from the confluence of several anthers, is founded upon their resemblance to the bractes, from their nervation, which is entirely that of a simple leaf, exhi- biting no traces of composition. The wood of Athrotaxis presents nothing unusual in its structure, but resembles that of Cryptomeria, except that the dots are fewer. The following are the characters of the two species of this genus ; 1. A. selaginoides, foliis lanceolatis acuminatis laxe 5-fariam imbricatis, squamis antheriferis acutis. 2. A. cupressoides, foliis ovatis obtusis adpresse 4-fariam imbricatis, squamis antheriferis ellipticis obtusis. The author is indebted to Dr. Lindley for the opportunity of gi- ving descriptions of both species of this interesting genus, the speci- mens from which they were taken being contained in his rich herba- rium, and had been sent to him by Mr. Gunn, a medical gentle- man and a zealous botanist, who is settled at Launceston in Van Diemen's Land. 236 Royal Academy of Berlin. Read a paper by Charles Lush, M.D., F.L.S., on the identity of three described species of Acacia. The species are, A. Lebbek of Linnaeus, speciosa of Willdenow, and Sirissa of Roxburgh, which Dr. Lush has satisfactorily proved to be identical. They will all range under Acacia Lebbek, which, although extensively cultivated as an ornamental tree in Egypt, is not indigenous ; and Dr. Lush suspects that it had originally been imported from the Deccan, and its Indian name, Serisch, as recorded by Forskal, appears to support this opinion. The leaves on the same tree vary in the number of the pinnae. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF BERLIN.* Feb. 20, 1837. — M. Horkel read a paper on the structure of the seed and on the germination of the genus Pistia. A specimen of Pistia Stratiotes, Bonpl. (not of Linnaeus), from Brazil, preserved in spirit, had enabled him to add a few additional notices to what had already been published by Mirbel, Turpin, and Lindley respecting the seeds of other species of Pistia. It is easy to conceive, that as his precursors had employed for their examination only dry seeds, in which the true form is not restored by any length of moistening, they have described and figured it as cylindrical and very rugose, while it is pear-shaped and smooth, as Louis Nee, who had the opportunity of observing fresh Pistia seeds in many quarters of the globe, describes it, comparing its form to that of a small pestle. This pear-shaped form of the seed originates through a considerable thickening of the spongy testa at the free or micropyle extremity of the seed, while the chalaza extremity becomes gradually thinner and passes quite imperceptibly into the thick short funiculus, whence originates a considerable cavity at the separation of the ripe seed in the proximity of the chalaza. The third reticulate coat of the seed described by Mirbel is not present, but there are on more than the two ordinary ones, testa and membrana interna. The first of these was considered, quite erroneously, by Turpin as an arillus. Although M. Horkel found on his specimen ovula and seeds in all their stages of growth, so that he could even plainly detect the course of the pollen tubes from the style into the ovula, yet much of the in- terior of the full-grown ovula had become opake, from the too great strength of the spirit, rendering it impossible for him to give a com- plete history of the development. However he saw thus much of it, that the nucleus is very early obliterated by the rapid extension of * Translated from the Bericht liber die Verhandlungen der kbnigl. Aka- demie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Royal Academy of Berlin. 237 the embryonal sac ; when therefore Mirbel speaks of a P4risperme farineux, he uses this term in the old indefinite sense, for since the embryo-trophic mass is formed in the same sac with the small cylin- drical embryo, it must be named, according to the minute distinction of modern Carpology, endosperm and not perisperm. From the smallness of the seed of Pistia, Bonpl. nothing could be ascertained for certain as to the structure of the embryo itself. How- ever in the Pistia (Stratiotes) Jacq., where the seeds are twice the size, he succeeded in convincing himself of the presence of the aroideal fissure, which was doubted by Lindley, and which in Pistia, as in Calla, &c, has a longitudinal direction, and not, as in Lemna, a transverse one, round the radicular end of the embryo. M. Horkel further found that the gemmule is not a pointed convolution of leaves, such as Mirbel and Turpin have figured it, but is a round thick disk, situated obliquely in the radicular extremity of the embryo, and is connected for some length with the wall of the embryo situated oppo- site to the rima. As up to the present time there have been no observations made on the germination of Pistia, the following, although in some degree imperfect, as only dried germinating plants were at M.Horkel's dis- posal, will still add some little to our knowledge of the germination of this plant. We must expect a more perfect history from such botanists only who have occasion to study its germination within the tropics, or we must have at our disposal at least an entire series of the plant in the various states of its germination well preserved in spirit. The germination begins in Pistia as in Lemna with the separation of a thickened part of the membrana interna, occurring round the micropyle, and consisting of long radiating cells, with which in Pistia the superincumbent portion of the testa, through which the micro- pyle canal passes, also separates in the form of an operculum ; and in Pistia as in Lemna remains stationary at its original place, the ra- dicular end of the embryo, which in both plants is raised in the form of a sac, so that the spreading gemmule leaf in the interior of this sac (in Lemna it is the entire discoidal plantula seminalis), remains for a long time hidden, until at last it is forced through the widened fissure, and thus shows itself as the first leaf of the germinating plant, and soon afterwards the radicula primitiva is thrown out at the side opposite to the rima, only not so high. This is also in the beginning covered by a disk-like prolongation of the embryo, which is pierced at a later period, when the radicula with its end covered as in Lemna with a calyptra, becomes evident. The simple radicular of the germi- nating plant, which at a later period are formed in abundance, have 238 Miscellaneous. not only a similar calyptra, but calyptrse also occur at all the healthy parts of the compound roots of the full-grown plant, proving evi- dently that the Pistice are floating plants during the entire period of their existence. The second, but later developed, leaf of the germi- nating plant has the same flat disk-like form as the first gemmule leaf, and the third is the first which appears to have the sestivatio conduplicata of the later leaves. As soon as these three leaves have spread themselves on the water, a large quantity of simple radicular are developed downwards, among which, at times, occur compound roots similar in miniature to those of the grown plant. The result of these observations is therefore, that Pistia from the structure of its gemmula and from its germination approaches to Lemna, but as this latter in all other respects stands in a much inferior scale of or- ganization, it is impossible to agree with Lindley, who brings them both together in one family, the Pistiacece ; but it would be best to make of the two plants two different small anomalous families of the Aroidea. MISCELLANEOUS. NEW BRITISH ZOOPHYTE. Miss Attersoll has lately discovered, on the coast of Sussex, the Cornularia rugosa of Cavolini, growing on a Tubularia, and has com- municated specimens of these interesting zoophytes to the British Museum. This genus has hitherto been believed to be confined to the Mediterranean. It differs from most other thorny zoophytes in the tentacles being pinnate like those of Gorgonia. — J. E. Gray. SPEAKING CANARY BIRD. The attention of some of our friends has lately been called to what, so far as we know, is a novel fact, namely, the power of articulation having been acquired by a canary-bird, in the possession of Mrs. Hardy, of No. 28, Piccadilly, by whom it was brought up from the nest. This docile little creature has certainly learnt to imitate with surprising success some phrases which had often been addressed to it, and possesses a faculty which had never been suspected in the fa- mily to which it belongs. LARUS MINTTTUS. A beautiful adult specimen, in the winter plumage, was shot near Newton, Northumberland, by the sea, in February, 1838, and is now in possession of Mr. Embleton, surgeon, Embleton. This is the first recorded instance of its appearance upon the Northumbrian coast. —P. J. S. Miscellaneous. 239 SYNGNATHUS ^EQUOREUS. Ycirrell. A fine specimen of S. JEquoreus was found upon the sea beach near Bamborough, in February, 1838. It measures 18^ inches in length, and agrees in all respects with the description of the species given by Mr. Yarrell in his History of British Fishes. — P. J. S. PETROMYZON PLANERI. Upon turning to Jenyns' Manual of Brit. Vert, and YarreU's Brit. Fishes, I find that this little fish has only been noticed in a few parts of the kingdom. I therefore suppose that it will be interesting to naturalists to learn that it occurs frequently in small brooks in the neighbourhood of Framfield, Sussex, where I have recently taken numerous specimens. — April 19, 1838. Robert M. Lingwood. It is Mr. D. Cooper's intention to form a class this summer (simi- lar to the one last year) for the study of Practical Botany. The excursions to take place twice every month, from the beginning of May. The day hereafter to be fixed most convenient to those who may form the Class. — 82, Blackfriars Road. Chiswick. — March 1, 2. Rain. 3. Fine: rain. 4. Rain: foggy. 5. Overcast. 6. Clear : cloudy : clear at night. 7, 8. Fine. 9. Frosty : fine. 10 — 12. Very fine. 13. Rain. 14. Hazy: fine. 15. Fine. 16. Fine: stormy showers at night. 17. Clear and cold: showery. 18. Cloudy and fine. 19. Drizzly. 20. Boisterous, with showers. 21. Clear, cold and dry. 22. Hazy: rain. 23. Bleak and cold, with slight snow- showers. 24. Fine: rain. 25. Fine. 26. Frosty and hazy. 27,28. Fine. 29. Foggy: very fine. 30. Fine. 31. Hazy and cold. Boston. — March 1, 2. Cloudy: rain early a.m. and p.m. 3. Cloudy. 4. Cloudy : rain a.m. and r. m. 5. Cloudy. 6. Fine : rain early a.m. : hurricane with rain p.m. 7. Fine: stormy with rain p.m. 8—12. Fine. 13. Rain. 14 — 16. Cloudy. 17. Fine : snow early a.m. 18. Fine. 19. Cloudy. 20. Stormy: rain early a.m. 21. Stormy. 22. Cloudy. 23. Snow a.m.: rain p.m. 24—27. Fine. 28. Cloudy, 29. Fine. SO, 31. Cloudy. Applegarih Manse, Dumfriesshire. — March 1 . Soft weather : dull and cloudy. 2. Rain : soon ceased. 3. Rain and sleet : cleared in the even- ing. 4. Fair and mild : chill in the evening. 5. Fine and clear : wet in the evening. 6. Storm of wind and rain. 7. Showery, with wind. 8. Clear, but cold: morning frosty: sun shone out. 9. Frosty: cloudy: raw in the evening. 10. Cloudy: wet afternoon. 11. Soft rain. 12, Fine day, but frosty: sun shone out. 13. Fine rain, but soon ceased. 14. Soft and genial shower. 15. Brisk wind and dry: sun shone out. 16. Hail showers : sleet: wind. 17. Showers of snow : high wind. 18. Frosty: clear: sun shone out. 19. Soft: cloudy: watery. 20. Stormy: wind and rain. 21. Dry and cold. 22. Sprinkling of snow : cold: sun shone out. 23. Frosty: slight snow : sun shone out. 24. Frosty: fine day : sun shone out. 25. Fine day : snow on the hills : sun shone. 26. Drizzling day, but cleared and sun shone. 27. Fine spring day : sun shone. 28. Fog in the morning: cleared: sun shone. 29. Fine and clear : sun shone out. 30. Fog : sunshine for half an hour. 31. Dull and cold : sun shone for a little. saujinnQ c^oo^oor*ot>-'ot^oovou , 5t^c^c^c^voiOQOc^QOt^.-Hior*toooco^oc^ a. oo 'UOJSOCf 5piMsiq3 :g : : : . <£> . . . : 9 : : : . . t^- . . .00 ON : :▼ : : : 9 9 . . 00 (M . : : r 1 9 • . c* c* — — m . . : o o o o o : •-3 PS'* co 00 cn in oo — © . . . m . . . <© c^oo^ooo..::..:..:oo:::to:«:co"*:*t: r^oo — r-^H ,-.•••©••• o S ON 3 ONOioooo CO CO (N CO CO CO CO .ONOIOOIOp090pO '<*T*nin^tbi : ^»^'rft : ^^oo inop nwoo o © ©no>fi(saoiM^ooniooo(»ino er\ on on On On On © On On On On OnOnCnonOnononoO On On On 0"\ On On © O © © o ifi«t^Om^O( v 5HO!»->-Tft>OO(Nf)MO^N«00-Tl'OOO © .-* ©inci^oo^t^in^qpi^apcpc^^^poNin^cp^ap — i rortn-^ ONOnOnOnOnOnOn© OnOnOnOnOnOnONOnOnOnoooO ON On On On On © © © © © 13 °-<0< C0- -^i* •<* >VO OnO ">* uu >*-/ ^r i^* i^ ■■ J ^j- v ^ w ^ v.. ^— ^ ■—• v*-« \--« ^-« t^— v^ w obob i)ob onononcnonononononononoionononccoo on on on on on on o (SI m<© >-* <© •Tf^O ©N^O CO On r»moO O C^C^ONO Tf ■<* tJniONC | i(»«3(Nn--c«i rooooo -< ONOOtNOi-H cpot--^ c* 9 on on ^* P P <^ cpipipipqp ^ cp in in ^f ^ ONONONOnOnON^O © © ONO OO OnONOnONOnONONOnONONON© © © © © o 00 U ^ ANNALS OF NATURAL HISTORY. XXV. — On the Snowy Owl, Surnia nyctea, DumeriL By William Thompson, Esq., Vice-President of the Natural History Society of Belfast. On the 2nd of December, 1837^ a beautiful specimen of the snowy owl was shot in a quarry on Scrabo mountain in the county of Down, and came into the possession of Thomas M'Leroth, Esq., of Killinether House, in that neighbourhood, who liberally presented it to the Belfast Museum. Having come under my inspection in a recent state, I drew up the following description of it, which, differing in some particulars from that of other specimens described in detail*, and for the purpose of comparison with individuals noticed in the sequel, may not be superfluous. inch. line. Length, entire 24 Length of wing from carpus to end of longest quill 16 6 tarsus 2 3 ————— bill measured along ridge 1 9 cere on its ridge 9 bill in a straight line from rictus to outer edge 1 9 middle toe I 6 its claw, following curvature 1 8 its claw in a straight line 1 3-J- inner claw, following curvature 1 9 outer claw, following curvature 1 6 hind claw, following curvature 1 5 Wings pass the tail 1 6 Extent of wings 4 feet 9^ inches; first quill 1^ inch shorter than the second, which is about 2 lines shorter than the third, this being the longest ; the fourth is about 2 lines shorter than the second, the fifth 2 lines less than the first in length : this relative proportion of the quills is the same in another specimen preserved in the Belfast Museum. Colour of forehead, throat and upper portion of breast, * See ' Fauna Boreali- Americana,' Part 2. p. 190. Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol.1. No. 4. June 1838. r 242 Mr. Thompson on the Snowy Owl, lower part of belly, under tail coverts, under side of wings, (except the roundish spots towards the points of primaries, secondaries, and tertials,) and entire legs, white. Plumage of the body beneath the wings, lower part of breast and upper portion of belly, white, beautifully barred with blackish-brown in waved and variously formed lines, about half an inch apart, and becoming narrow as they approach the tail ; the greatest breadth of these dark bars about 1 \ line. Feathers of the oc- ciput white, tipped with black ; lower part of nape where the head joins the body white ; back, scapulars, and coverts of the wings, white, closely barred with blackish brown. Primaries, secondaries, and tertials (which, as to colouring, cannot well be. separated in description from blending into each other,) at first darkly barred on both outer and inner webs towards the tips, but gradually becoming less so towards the centre, (secondaries generally,) where three or four round spots appear on the outer web only ; thence the spots become more nume- rous, and towards the body (tertials) the bars again appear on both webs, thus in the markings balancing the primaries on the opposite side; upper tail coverts with narrow bars of blackish brown. Tail feathers twelve in number, the two outer ones pure white, third and fourth with two broad bars of dark blackish brown near the tip, fifth and sixth with three bars of the same colour. Irides golden yellow. Weight 3^ lbs. This bird was fat and in high condition. On dissection it proved a male ; its stomach was quite empty. In the month of October last, my relation Richard Langtry, Esq., of Fort William, near Belfast, received three live spe- cimens of the snowy owl, which were taken in the previous month of August, from a nest in the vicinity of the Moravian settlement, on the coast of Labrador. He had commissioned a person to procure for him there living specimens of the Gyr falcon, for which the owls were mistaken. These nestlings were at the time covered only with down, and were so young that it was at first feared they would not survive until the ar- rival of the vessel in London. Due care was however taken of them : upwards of 700 mice, procured by an Esquimaux for the occasion, were stowed in the vessel for their support; when these were consumed, reindeers' flesh was given them ; and Mr. Thompson on the Snowy Owl. 243 when the vessel came near soundings, they were supplied with sea-gulls caught upon baited hooks. An examination of these individuals has enabled me to correct an error which appears in some of the best ornithological works respecting the plu- mage of the snowy owl in the first year. This error seems in part, at least, to have originated with Bullock, who states, but not from personal observation, that the young birds which are seen in the Shetland Islands flying about with their parents are brown at the end of summer. Temminck also remarks, that K les jeunes, au sortir du nid, sont couverts d^un duvet brun ; les premieres plumes sont aussi d*un brun clair*." Audubon observes, " I have shot specimens, which were, as I thought, so young as to be nearly of a uniform light brown tint, and which puzzled me for several years, as I had at first conceived them to be of a different species f." On arrival, when they were in good condition, the birds under consider- ation were as follows : One much smaller than the others, and presumed to be a male, was considerably whiter than the specimen shot in a wild state, and whose plumage has just been described, but displayed two markings which the other does not possess ; the back of the head where it joins the body being blackish brown, and another patch of this colour on the body just before the carpal joint of the wing. The supposed females, which are much larger than the last-mentioned, differ exceedingly from it in markings. They have the facial plumage or that within the disk, the throat, body beneath the wings, under surface of the latter, and the legs and toes pure white. The plumage of the head from the disk posteriorly, back, upper side of wings, and whole under plumage between the folded wings presents as much of a blackish brown colour as of white, the former being disposed in the same manner as described in the specimen with which this communication is commenced ; but the bars and other dark markings are so broad as to occupy equal space with the white or "ground" colour. As immature, and especially the young birds of the year, generally wander further than those which have attained ma- turity from their native domicile, it has hitherto appeared * Man. Orn. Eur. t. i. p. 82. t Orn. Biog. vol. ii. p. 136. R 2 244 Mr. Thompson on the Snowy Owl. singular to me that none of the specimens of the snowy owl obtained in so southern a limit of their flight as England and Ireland, should be in the garb which is described previous to the first moult ; but the plumage exhibited by these Labrador birds satisfies me, that the young of the snowy owl, like the immature individuals of many other species, do scatter them- selves more widely than the adults. The bird shot at Scrabo I have no doubt was a nestling in the summer of 1837. The individual figured by Mr. Selby* is also less white than Mr. Langtry's male bird, and if belong- ing to the same sex I should consider it a bird of the first year. Of two other individuals, male and female, recorded by Mr. Selby to have been killed in Northumberland in 1823, the latter was, from the number of black bars and spots, consi- dered by that gentleman to be a young bird, but no opinion on the age of the male is offered ; he is however stated to have been much whiter than the female, a circumstance which, as we have seen, does not militate against his also being a young bird of the year. Of the other specimens killed in England I have not seen such detailed descriptions as enable me to judge of their age from comparison with the Labrador birds ; nor, in consequence of its sex being unknown, can a satisfactory opi- nion be offered on the first snowy owl recorded to have been obtained in Ireland. (Zool. Proc. 1835, p. 78.) Were the sex of the individuals known, we should probably find that the greater number of these noble birds which have wandered to the British Islands have been the young in the plumage of the first year. It is thought desirable to add the following notice of the habits of these owls reared from the nest, as compared chiefly with those of Dr. Neill's birdf, procured when full grown. The male and one female specimen now in Mr. Langtry^s possession are wild, and sometimes fast for one or two days though food is within their reach. They are chiefly fed on the heads of poultry, wild fowl, and rabbits, but mice and rats are preferred, as are also sea gulls ; from these birds no feathers have to be plucked, as the owls very efficiently render this * 111. Brit. Orn. pi. 23. f See Naturalist's Library : British Birds, Part I. p. 307. Ann JVai.ffist.Vol.l. 7i? v fash £ 'ntomostt 'aca . Mr. Baird on British Entomostraca. 245 service for themselves. The heads of plaice (Platessa vulgaris) several times offered them were refused, and being forced down their throats were instantly ejected. Castings of the indigestible portions of their food are regularly thrown up. Although the female is very partial to washing, the male has never been known to wash himself. Their usual cry is a long- drawn scream, but frequently they keep a low purring noise like a cat, and the male bird, when chased to his annoyance, utters a sound like coo-coo-coo (described by Dr. Neill as a cuckoo."). The third individual, a female, is very different from the others, in being somewhat playful and quite familiar even with strangers. Live rats turned out to her have been inva- riably captured within a very short time. In the few instances where I have seen dead prey seized, the four claws were used*. Standing about a pace distant from this bird on one occasion when she was at liberty, and during bright sunshine, it was interesting to observe the contraction of the pupil of the eye, which was particularly conspicuous from contrast with the immense golden irides. When attracted by larks which were singing at a great elevation and distance, the pupil, from the ordinary size, adapted to near objects, instantly dimi- nished to its minimum or half the ordinary diameter ; and again when the sight was directed to birds at less distance, its diminution varied accordingly. The other two owls are not in the least affected by bright sunshine ; and from their observing birds passing at a great height in the air, or as ex- pressed to me * almost in the clouds," they are considered to see as far as a golden eagle, their companion in captivity. XXVI. — The Natural History of the British Entomostraca, No. V. By William Baird, Surgeon, H.C.S., &c. [With a Plate.] (Continued from Mag. Zool. and Bot. vol. ii. p. 412.) Daphnia. Anatomy. — The body of the insect is composed of two parts very distinct from each other ; the one much smaller than the * Sec observation to the contrary in the last-cited work, p. 310, 246 Mr. Baird on British Entomostraca. other, forming the head ; the other, much larger, being the body properly so called, or abdomen. This soft body is con- tained within a very slender and delicate shell, the part cover- ing the head being much harder than the other parts and pro- longed underneath into a considerable sized beak. The valves, which inclose between them the abdomen, are in most of the species perfectly smooth round their circumference, but on the middle are marked with deep crossed lines, forming a mesh work, or as SchaefFer describes it, are shagreened like the skin of the shark. They are open on the anterior margin, and along the posterior extremity as far as the tail, but have no hinge, being, asGoeze says, simply soldered together, though SchaefFer asserts that the animal can open and shut them at pleasure. In some species these valves are prolonged posteriorly to a point forming the tail, which at some periods of their growth, and in some varieties, is very long, in others very short, and in some altogether wanting. In the head we distinguish the following parts : beak, antennae, eye, rami, brain, mouth, and part of the digestive canal. In the body we distinguish part of the digestive canal, the body of the animal itself, heart, legs, and organs of generation. The beak is a prolongation of the hard covering of the head, and is asserted by Swammerdam to be the mouth of the animal, by means of which, being pointed, it sucks up its food. Both DeGeer and SchaefFer how- ever pointed out the erroneous nature of this assertion, and later writers, such as Jurine and Straus, have still more clearly shown it to be wrong. At the extremity of this beak, and a little underneath it, we see two small projecting organs, which are the antennae. SchaefFer, who is perhaps the first person that has noticed these, considered them as palpi, by means of which the insect distinguished food proper for itself. Jurine calls them " barbillons," but Straus considers them as being the true antennae of the insect, though he says they do not seem to possess any voluntary motion. In the female they are extremely small, and from being much larger in the male, Muller, who does not seem to have observed them in the female at all, considered them as the male organs of generation. Jurine describes them very particularly in the male ; he calls them "harpons" (Plate ix. fig. 11), says they occupy the Anatomy of Daphnia. 247 place of the ee barbillons" of the female, and are each composed of four rings ; the first of which is very long, a little arched, and has at its extremity a ** talon" from which issue two stiff hairs. The second and third are very small, whilst the fourth is a long horny hook. They seem to assist the first pair of feet in the act of copulation. The eye (plate ix. fig. 12.) is a spherical body contained in an infundibuliform tube, allowing of a semi-rotatory motion upon its centre, and is furnished with twenty crystallines according to Straus, which are limpid, and when isolated are each pear-shaped. Swammerdam as- serted that there were two eyes, which seemed to be joined together, and several authors have adopted the same opinion. Schaeffer however says there is only one, and Muller and DeGeer repeat this, an opinion which has also been adopted and proved correct by Straus and Jurine. Eichhorn, as quoted by Straus, asserts that the eye is the stomach of the insect ! On each side upon the base of the head are inserted the rami or arms. They consist each of a single joint at the base, divi- ding into two branches. This first joint is slightly conical, of the length of the head, and very moveable at the base, by means of a joint which unites it to the body and facilitates its motions in every direction. The posterior branch of each is divided into four articulations, the first being very short : the other is divided into three. Both branches are furnished with several long filaments or setae, the posterior branch having none on the two first joints, one at the extremity of the third, and three at the extremity of the fourth. The anterior branch has one at the extremity of each of the first two joints, and three at the extremity of the third. These filaments in some of the species, such as the Pulex, &c. are beautifully feathered or plumose, and are each of them composed of three moveable joints, which, as DeGeer says, augment their flexibility. Swammerdam calls these organs the arms, and describes their motion very particularly, which he says is three-fold : recti- lineal, up and down, and to each side ; unequal, keeping the in- sect now at the bottom and then again at the top of the water, which sort of motion he compares to the flight of a sparrow ; and gyratory, by which the insect moves itself in a circular manner. DeGeer also calls them arms, but Muller, and most 248 Mr. Baird on British Entomostraca. other naturalists after him, call them antennas. Jurine, however, calls them " bras ramifies/' and Straus, considering them very justly as the chief or almost only organs of loco- motion, and acting as it were as fins, calls them rami, or rames branchues : they are in fact, he says, a first pair of feet, and act as such ; as it is by means of these organs alone that the insect moves, the other feet not serving at all for that purpose. The brain, or first ganglion of the nervous system, is situ- ated near the eye, and is composed of two lobes, from the superior anterior commissure of which we see, going off to the eye, the optic nerve. The mouth is of a rather compli- cated structure, is situated near the junction of the head and body, near the base of the beak, and consists, according to Straus, who has given the most correct account of this organ, of a "labre" or lip, two mandibles, and one pair of jaws. The "labre" or lip (plate ix. fig. 3.) consists of a flattish body, strongly compressed at the sides, and has at its extremity a large lobule (a). It is fixed to the posterior part of the base of the beak, is very moveable upon its antero-superior angle, and admits of a considerable separation. The mandibles (plate ix. fig. 2.) are very strong, and consist each of a pretty broad plate, which at its superior extremity is in form of a narrow point (a), and articulates there with the body. It de- scends from thence vertically to the mouth, its inferior extre- mity being curved sharply inwards, so as to penetrate into the mouth between the labre and corresponding jaw, and termi- nating in a sharp, simple, cutting edge (b), which has neither teeth nor triturating surface, and is quite free and unattached. These mandibles are not provided with either palpi or bran- chiae, but are quite naked, and are moved by two muscles ; an abductor which moves them upon themselves from within outwards, and an adductor (c) which brings them back to their first position, and at the same time bringing them nearer each to the other. The jaws (plate ix. fig. 1.) consist each of a strong body (a), somewhat in the form of a disc, or rounded on the posterior surface and a little flattened on the sides, which terminates in four strong, horny spines (c c), three of which are prolonged into hooks, which are strongly curved Anatomy of Daphnia, 249 forwards and inwards, and a prolongation or neck which is somewhat hollowed out into a gutter (b), and articulates by means of it with the " labre " or lip. These parts seem to be almost constantly in motion, as if the animal were perpetually employed in eating. Jurine describes these organs some- what differently from Straus, and his figures also vary a good deal from those of this latter author. The "labre" or lip he calls u sou-pape f and the jaws, though Straus denies his having seen them at all, are, I suspect, what he calls " barbil- lons," which he says consist of four rings, terminating in four filaments. Their use is, he says, to push into the "sou-pape" the bodies which ought to enter as aliment. The mouth, as I have already stated, was placed by Swammerdam at the ex- tremity of the beak, an opinion adopted also by Ledermiiller. Schoeffer, however, pointed out this error, and showed its real situation, and DeGeer also pointed out its true place. Schaef- fer describes the two mandibles, and fancied he also saw two lips, but could not make them out distinctly, from the small- ness of the shell. Part of the digestive canal is also situated in the head, and part in the body. It commences immediately behind the mouth in the form of an oesophagus, which is short, narrow, slightly curved, and stretches obliquely for- wards and upwards, and terminates immediately behind the brain, in the stomach. The stomach is in form of a large vessel, diminishing slightly in diameter from before, behind, and is curved somewhat in the shape of an £, or a figure 3 reversed, as described by Schaef- fer. It runs almost all the length of the insect, opening by the anus between the two first dentated arches of the poste- rior part of the last segment of the body. Immediately be- hind the eye, near the cardiac extremity of the stomach, we see two vessels, curved upwards, the arch turned towards the eye : these are described by Schaeffer, who considers them as organs for furnishing the necessary juices for the nourish- ment of the body. DeGeer says they resemble caeca. Jurine supposes them to be organs proper for furnishing a juice destined to perfect digestion. Straus at first considered them as such also, but upon more mature examination at length concluded them to be really caeca. The body of the animal, 250 Mr. Baird on British Entomostraca. or abdomen, is quite free and unattached within the valves of the shell. It is slender and long, and is divided, according to Straus, into eight segments, the first of which is the largest, and is the only one which is attached to the valves. At the second segment the abdomen suddenly diminishes in vertical diameter, sinking down and leaving above a strong projection, formed by the first segment. From this projection, through- out the rest of its extent, the body is unattached to the shell, and leaves a vacant space between it and the edge of the valves, into which the insect deposits the eggs after laying them, and where they remain till hatched and ready to be launched into the world. The seventh segment is provided with two filaments, which have an articulation about the middle of their length, like those of the rami. In the last segment we perceive two dentated arches, between which is situate the anus. Beyond this it contracts in size, and ter- minates in two horny hooks, the last of which is the longest. The whole of the body, except the first segment, as I have already said, is free and unattached, and the insect can ex- tend it beyond the valves at pleasure, the two hooks at its extremity serving well for enabling it to clear the interior of the valves. It seems also to clear the feet from any particles of mud or dust adhering to them, and SchaefFer thinks it may also assist in bringing before the mouth objects of food. He says, also, that perhaps the motions of the insect are partly regulated by the strokes of this body or tail, as he calls it, and certainly it is in almost constant motion when the insect swims. On the back of the insect, in the first segment of the body, we see an ovoid-shaped vesicle, possessed of very rapid contractions ; this is the heart (plate ix. fig. 4.) Ac- cording to Jurine, there springs from its anterior extremity an arterial vessel (a), which contracts in an opposite manner to the heart itself, curves immediately from its origin, and goes backwards, following the direction of the intestinal canal. Gruithuisen describes the heart and circulation at greater length. He makes two hearts, one venous, the other arte- rial : the venous supplies the intestines and other parts of the body with blood; the arterial supplies the head and parts connected with it, its branches making the circuit of the shell Anatomy o/Daphnia. 251 on the anterior edge, and collecting near the posterior inferior part into one large trunk, which runs along the back of the shell, and returns to the arterial heart again. The legs are five pairs, all differing in many respects from each other, and serving a different purpose than as organs of locomotion. The first pair (plate ix. fig. 5.) are the smallest and most simple of construction, and are situated immediately behind the mouth, being inserted into the body of the insect by the first joint (a), which is long and nearly cylindrical. It has four joints ; the second being in form of a large vesicle (b) ; the third joint is fixed to the inferior part of the vesicle (c), is nearly triangular, compressed, and furnished at the inferior edge with ten long needles (d), situated all on the same plane, like the teeth of a comb. Attached to one corner of this third joint is an appendix (e), small, and terminated by a small spine, accompanied with a needle similar to those of the preceding joint ; this is called a fourth joint by Straus. The second pair (fig. 6.) are larger than the first, and are articu- lated to the body a little behind them ; the second joint (b) or vesicle is more heart-shaped than in the first pair, and the third joint (c) is much flatter. It is a slender plate, quadri- lateral, attached by its upper edge to the preceding joint, and carrying inferiorly five strong plumose needles (d). The ap- pendix to the third joint (e) is larger than the corresponding one in the first pair, and is terminated by two long spines. On the anterior edge of the third joint we see attached to it a slender, semicircular-shaped branchial plate (/), which has on its free unattached edge a row of twenty needles, ar- ranged like the teeth of a comb, the last of which is the long- est. In the third pair (fig. 70> the first and second joints (a & b) are much the same, but larger than those of the prece- ding pair. The branchial plate (c) is attached to the external face of the second joint ; is larger and longer than in the prece- ding pair, having seventy-six filaments on its free edge ; and has at its posterior extremity a small ovular appendix of the same nature as the branchia, and terminated by four bran- chial filaments. The third joint (d) is attached to the inter- nal edge of the second; it is a large, almost square plate, and sends forth from its posterior border four flat, plumose 252 Mr. Baird on British Entomostraca. digitations or spines. The fourth pair (fig. 8.) is very similar to, but rather smaller than, the third, and has only sixty-five branchial filaments. The fifth pair (fig. 9.) differ in many respects from the four preceding ones : the first joint is much the same as in the other feet, but the second, or vesicle («), is kidney-shaped instead of heart-shaped. From this joint, and inferior edge of the first, arises an elongated plate (b), which has no filets. Behind this plate arises also from the second joint another (c), very short and broad, arched upwards, and ter- minating above in a flat, plumose, or rather ciliated prolon- gation. Inferiorly it terminates by a small moveable joint (d) having a long needle directed downwards, without cilia. Ju- rine says this last pair of feet are not inserted into the body of the insect, but the one is confounded with the other on the opposite side ; the junction of the two forming the com- mencement of a gutter or canal, which is prolonged along the immediate attachment of the anterior feet to the mouth, where it terminates. These five pairs of feet are in almost constant motion, even when the animal is still and at rest, and their use at such times is to communicate an undulatory motion to the water, from one pair to another ; thus establishing a cur- rent which enters the shell by the anterior part, carrying the molecules, &c. in the water to the posterior part, where the gutter commences, and there being driven by the vermicular motion back again to the anterior extremity of the canal or mouth. None of these feet are used for locomotion. The first and second pairs according to Straus are used by the insect for prehension. According to Jurine, the chief action of the first pair is to direct the alimentary particles brought up by the current of water along the canal above-described, into the mouffi. When the mouth is opened, says the same author, to receive the food, the motion of all the feet except this first pair ceases, but in them, on the contrary, is then accelerated. The grand use of the third and fourth pairs is for respiration, be- ing adapted for that purpose by their branchial plates, which, as DeGeer had already observed, serve the same purpose to these insects as the gills of crabs, certain aquatic insects and larvae, fishes, &c. The second joints of these feet, which I have above described as heart-shaped vesicles, were con- Anatomy o/Daphnia. 253 sidered by Schaeffer as pockets filled with a liquid destined for the reproduction of the shell at each moulting. This opinion, however, has never been verified by any succeeding observer. Till Jurine and Straus described these insects, the number of the pairs of feet even seemed to be undetermined. Joblot says he believes there are three pairs. Schaeffer says there are one or two pairs more. Muller describes five pairs in Daphnia Pulew (pennata), but four only in longispina. All the species however have five pairs. In the male, the first pair of feet (plate ix. fig. 10.) differ considerably from the cor- responding pair in the female. The appendix to the third joint (a) (the fourth joint of Straus,) is terminated by a strong claw, curved strongly outwards ; and the last bristle of the third joint is much elongated, nearly the length of the body, and floats outside the shell. Jurine describes this pair of feet very particularly, and shows the use of them to be the same as the hinge-joint antennae in the male Cyclops; viz. for seizing and retaining hold of the female during the act of copulation, the male introducing them along with the a har- pons" or antennae, into the interior of the shell of the female, and grasping her feet. Organs of Generation. — The male organs have never been discovered, Muller having mistaken the antennae for them ; neither have the female organs been observed, with the ex- ception of the ovaries. That they reside in the lower portion of the body appears most probable, from the description I have already given of the method of copulation as observed by Jurine. Straus thinks they have no external organs at all, but that the male simply injects the semen under the valves of the female, from which it introduces itself into the ovaries. The ovaries are placed along the sides of the ab- domen, as in Cyclops, and show their situation by the mat- ter of the eggs in the shape of small round pellucid globules. These make their appearance in the young insect after the third moulting ; and gradually after that increase in size, lose their transparency, become continuous, and form a dark mass on the outer edge of the intestine, partly globular and partly elongated. At the sixth segment of the body the ovary commu- nicates with the open space on the back of the insect, already 254 Mr. Baird on British Entomostraca. described, and immediately after the fourth moulting we see the eggs already laid and deposited in this space, where they remain till fully hatched. Species. v I. Daphnia Pulex. Valvulis longe caudatis ; capite magno ; ramis plu- mosis ; segmente corporis sexto quatuor lobulis instructo. Hab. Ponds and ditches. Common. Synonyms. Pulex arborescens, Swammerdam, Hist. Insect. Generalis, p. 76. tab. 1. fig. a, b, c, 1669. — Vermes minimi rubri, Merrett, Pinax Rer. Nat. Britan. p. 207, 1677. — Animaletti aquatici, Redi, Osserva- zioni, tab. 16. fig. 5, 1684. Redi, Opere, vol. ii. tav. 16. fig. 5, 1687. — Pulex arborescens, Swammerdam, Biblia Natures, p. 86. tab. 31. fig. 1. 3, 1737. Bradley, Philosoph. Account of Works of Nat. p. 202. pi. 25. fig. 5, 1739. — Monoculus Pulex arborescens, Linnceus, Syst. Nat. edit. 4. p. 96, 1744. — Puceron branchu, Trembley, Mem. pour servir a, I'Hi- stoire d 'un genre de Polypes d'eau douce, p.92.pl.6.fig.3. p. and fig. \\, 1744. — Monoculus pulex arborescens, Linnceus, Fauna Suecica, p. 344, 1746. — Water Flea with branched horns, Baker, Emp.for Micros, p. 302. pi. 12. fig. 14, 1 753. — Pou aquatique*, Joblot, Observ. d'Hist. Nat. 8fctom.'\.part2. jp. 105. pl.13. fig.F. Q.R, 1754. — Geschwantzer-zack- iger Wasserfloh, Schceffer, Die grun. arm. Polyp. 8fc. tab. 1. fig. 1 — 8, 1755. — Monoculus Pulex, Poda, Insect. Mus. Grcecens. p. 124, 1761. Ledermiiller, Mikroskopischen Gemuths-und Augen-ergotzung, p. 146. tab. 75. fig. 2, 1763. — Le Perroquet d'eau, Geoffroi, Hist. Abreg. des Insectes, t. ii. p. 655. no. 1, 1764. — Monoculus Pulex, Muller, Faun. Insect. Fridrichsdalens. p. 95, 1764. — Branchipus conchiformis primus, Scheeffer, Element. Entom. t. 29. fig. 3, 4, 1 766. Goeze, Naturforscher, part 7, 1775. — Daphne Pulex, Muller, Zool. Dan. Prod. p. 199. no. 2400, 1776. — Monoculus Pulex ramosus, De Geer, Mem. pour serv. fyc. t. vii. p. 442. pi. 27. fig. 1 — 4, 1778. — Monoculus Pulex, Blumenbach, Handbuch der Naturgeschichte, p. 399, 1779. Eichhorn, Beytrdge zur Naturgeschichte, fyc. p. 51. t. 5. fig. H, 1781. — Daphnia pennata, Mul- ler, Entomostraca, pl.\2.figA — 7, 1785. — Monoculus Pulex, Manuel, Encyc. Method. Hist. Nat. t. vii. p. 722. no. 15. pi. 265. fig. 1 — 4, 1792. Fabricius, Entomol. System, torn. ii. p. 491, 1793. Latreille, Hist. Nat. gen. et part, des Crust, fyc. t. iv. p. 223, 1802. Encyclopedia Britannica, art. Entomology, 1810. — Daphnia Pulex, Lamarck, Hist. Nat. des Anim. sans Verteb. t. v. p. 126. no. 1, 1818. Samouelles British Insects, p. 80, 1819. — Monoculus Pulex, Jurine, Hist, des Mo- noc. 8fc. p. 85. pi. 8. fig. 1,2. pi. 11. fig. 1, 3, 5, 1820.— Daphnia Pulex, Straus, Mem. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. torn. v. pi. 29, 1821. Desmarest, Consid. Gen. sur les Crust, p. 372. pi. 54. fig. 3, 4, 1825. * This is quoted by Straus as identical with his D. macrocopus. Anatomy of Daphnia. 255 The Daphnia longispina of Muller (who quotes SchaefFer, pi. ii. fig. 1.) and many other succeeding authors, amongst others Ramdohr, is merely a variety of D. Puleoc, or rather the same insect in a less advanced stage of growth. The D. magna of Straus, pi. xxix. f. 21, 22, is also a mere variety of the PuleXy as I have found them both together in considerable numbers, and running into each other. The shell is quite transparent in general, though sometimes reddish coloured. The extremity of the valves terminates in a long spinous tail. Head large, beak sharp-pointed, rami beautifully plumose. The sixth segment of the body has four projections issuing from it, the first being prolonged and curved upwards. The tail of the shell varies much in length, sometimes being short and blunt, which is the D. pennata of Muller, the D. Pulex of Straus ; at others it is long and pointed, and in this state it is the D. longispina of these au- thors. Jurine has, I think, satisfactorily shown these to be mere varieties, the length of the tail varying according to age. In the young it is always long, and becomes shorter as the in- sect advances in age. The male is much smaller than the fe- male, and has the antennae much longer, as already described. II. Daphnia vetula (plate ix. fig. 13.). Valvulis non caudatis, ramis plu- mosis, segmente sexto corporis non instructo lobulis. Hab. Ponds and ditches, common. Synonyms. Ungeschwanzter-zackiger Wasserfloh. Sch&ffer, p. 229.pl. 1. fig. 9, 1755. — Daphne vetula. Muller, Zool. Dan. Prod. p. 199. no. 2399, 1776. — Suher,Abgekurzte Geschichte der Insecten,p. 266. pi. 30. fig. 10. e, 1776. — Mon. exspinosus. DeGeer, torn. vii. p. 457. pi. 27. fig. 9 — 11, 1778. — Daphnia Sima. Muller, Entomostraca, pi. 12. fig. 11 — 12, 1785.— Mon. Simus. Linnceus, Syst. Nat.3000. no. 25, 1788. — Mon. Simus. Manuel, Encyc. Meth. t. vii. p. 723. no. 18, 1792. — Mon. laevis. Fabricius, Ent. Syst. t. ii. p. 492, 1793. — Daphnia Sima. Latreille, Hist. Nat. gen. etpart. t. \v.p. 288, 1802. — Daphnia Sima. Bosc. Hist. Nat. Crust., $c. t. ii. p. 283, 1802.— Mon. Conchaceus. Donovan's Nat. Hist, of Brit. Ins. vol. i. p. 15. pi. 5. fig. 1, 1802. — Daphnia Sima. Bamdohr Beytrdge, tyc, 1805. — D. Sima. Gruithuisen, Nova Acta Phys. Med. Acad. Ccesar. Natur. Curios, vol. xiv. part 1st. p. 399. pi. 24. fig. 1 — 6, 1815. — Mon. Sima. Jurine, p. 129. pi. 12, fig, i_2, 1820.— Daphnia Vetula. Straus, t. v. pi. 29. fig. 25— 6, 1821. — Daphnia Sima. Desmarest, p. 373, 1 825. In this species the valves of the shell are without the spi- 256 Mr. Baird on British Entomostraca. nous tail of the preceding, being rounded and slightly serrated on the inferior margin. The rami are plumose, but not so decidedly as in the preceding species. The head is obtuse, much smaller than in Pulex, and the beak less projecting. The sixth segment of the body has one or two slight projections upon it, but is not provided with the lobules of the Pulex. The shell is smooth and transparent. It is smaller than the prece- ding species. III. Dapknia reticulata (plate ix. fig. 14.). Valvulis rotundatis, reticularis, brevi-caudatis, capite parvo. Hab. Ponds and ditches round London, ditch near Surrey Zoological Gardens, &c. Syn. Daphnia quadrangula. Mutter, Entomostraca, 1785.— -Mon. qua- drangula. Linnceus, Syst. Nat. no. 24. 2999, 1788. — Mon. quadran- gularis. Manuel, Encyc. Meth. t. vii. p. 723. no. 17. pi. 265. fig. 8, 9. 1792. — Mon. quadrangulus. Fabricius, Ent. Syst. t. ii. p. 492, 1793. — Daphnia quadrangula. Latreille, p. 227. t. iv., 1802. — Daphnia ro- tunda ? Straus, op, cit., 1821. — Mon. reticulatus. Jurine, p. 139. pi. 14. fig. 3. 4, 1820. — Daphnia reticulata. Detmarest, p. 374, 1825. The valves of the shell in this species are nearly rounded, reticulated, provided with a short tail. The head is small and has no beak; the rami are not plumose. The figures of D. quadrangula, Muller ; D. rotunda, Straus ; and Mon. reti- culatus, Jurine, all differ somewhat in appearance ; but I have seen this species frequently assume the appearance of Muller's figure as well as that of Straus, and I have no doubt of all these being the same species. IV. Daphnia cornuta (plate ix. fig. 15.). Valvulis convexis, curti-caudatis, capite longe rostrato, ramis curtis. Hab. New River, London. Syn. Monoc. cornutus. Jurine, p. 142. pi. 14. fig. 8. 9. 10, 1820. — Daphnia cornuta. Desmarest, p. 375, 1825. This little species is provided with a very long beak, which is slightly curved. The anterior, inferior angle of the shell is prolonged into a short tail. The rami are very short, scarcely the length of the beak. In many respects it bears a strong resemblance to a Lynceus, and seems to be the connecting link between the two genera. 257 XXVII.— Notices of British Fungi. By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S. [With Plates.] Continued from p. 208. 108. Leptostromajuncinum,¥r.\ Scler. Suec. n. 330. Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 197. On dead stems of Juncus con- glomerate. Thringstone, Leic. Churchill Babington, Esq., King's Cliffe. 109. Diderma contextum, Pers., Obs. Myc. 1. p. 89. Ditm. in St. Deutsch. Fl. t. 39. On grass, fern, &c. Wothorpe. Norths. 110. Didymium melanopus, Fr., Syst. Myc. v. 3. p. 114. /3. Physarum Clavus, A. and S. p. 96. t. 2. fig. 2. On moss. Apethorpe, Norths. 111. Didymium xanthopus, Fr., 1. c. p. 120. Cionium xan- thopus, Ditm. in St. Deutsch. Fl. t. 43. On ivy leaves, &c. King's Cliffe. 112. Diachea elegans, Fr. 1. c. p. 156. Trichia leucopodia, Bull. t. 502. f. 2. On living leaves of Convallaria majalis, &c. King's Cliffe. 113. Stemonitis typhoides, Dec, Fl. Fr. vol. ii. p. 257. Ehr. Sylv. Myc. Ber. fig. 7. On rotten wood. Apethorpe. 114. Stemonitis arcyrioides, Sommerf., Fr. 1. c. p. 162. On dead laurel leaves, &c. Apethorpe, Norths. Clifton, Notts. 115. Arcyria ochroleuca, Fr. 1. c. p. 181. A. silacea, Ditm. 1. c. t. 8. On rotten wood. Colly weston, Norths. This spe- cies has, I believe, been found in Scotland by Dr. Dickson. 116. Ascotricha, n. g. Peridium thin, at length burst- ing, clothed with dark, sub-pellucid, even, obscurely jointed hairs. Sporidia simple, contained in linear asci. Superficial at length free, or only supported by the investing thallus ; black. Ascotricha chartarum. On white printed paper in a deal candle-box. King's Cliffe. The present plant is one of con- siderable interest, and not referable to any genus at present established. When submitted to the microscope, if the asci be distinctly seen, a hasty or superficial examination might pronounce it a Sphceria of the division Villosce ; or on the other hand, if the asci were not observed, a Chaetomium. A more Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 4. June 1838. s 258 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. mature examination will show that it belongs to the Peri- sporiacece, being allied on the one hand to Antennaria and on the other to Chcetomium, and that its relation to Sphceria is, if I mistake not, merely one of analogy. With Chcetomium it agrees in most points, but the sporidia are not irregularly dis- tributed in the gelatinous contents of the peridium, but are contained in distinct though highly transparent asci. The hairs are of a very different structure from those in Chceto- mium elatum, where they are curiously scabrous with minute rough points arranged in transverse lines, and nearly opake; in the present plant perfectly even and far more pellucid, though dark. A more important circumstance, perhaps, is the freeness of the peridia, in which point some approach is made in the genus Antennaria, which again presents a mo- niliform arrangement of the sporidia. The analysis given of Antennaria cellaris by Dr. Greville is exceedingly correct, and it will be seen that there is not the slightest trace of asci. Fries, however, whose acute observation nothing escapes, directs our attention to the apparently moniliform arrange- ment of the sporidia in Sphceria Peziza, which torulous ap- pearance arises from the sporidia bulging out in consequence of the slenderness of the asci ; and to this hint I have to ac- knowledge the being able to refer to its proper place the pre- sent production, which at first somewhat puzzled me. In the instance before us the asci are distinctly developed, though difficult to see, in consequence of their great transparency j but attentive observation will show them as distinct as repre- sented in the figure. Indeed, except in old individuals, they are always to be seen with a careful adjustment. It is scarcely needful to add, that in the species of Sphceria of the division Villosce the sporidia are always more or less distinctly septate, and altogether very different from those of the plant before us. The branching of the hairs which invest the peridia is very curious, and very much resembles that of the vine as ex- plained by Turpin (See Ann. des Sc. Nat. n. s. 1. p. 225). At first appearing under the form of a minute branched Sporotrichum, interspersed with globose brownish conidia. As it advances in growth globose black peridia become visible among the flocci, clothed with and supported by alternately Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. 259 branched obscurely jointed filaments (thallus), the branches of which generally form an acute angle with the stem. The ramification of these is very peculiar, the stem and main shaft of each subdivision being almost constantly abbreviated and surmounted by the branchlet given off near its apex; this again is often abbreviated and another branchlet given off, which again surpasses it, and occasionally the same circum- stance takes place a third time. The apices are clavate and co- lourless ; the rest of the filaments, when viewed by transmitted light, brown, even, and pellucid ; a few globose conidia are usually attached to them. The peridium is thin, black to the naked eye, of an olive brown under the microscope, filled with a mass of linear extremely transparent asci, each containing a single row of broadly elliptic chocolate sporidia. These have a paler border ; sometimes the colour entirely vanishes either from age or abortion, and there is only a minute globose nu- cleus, or more probably a vesicle of air, in the centre ; occa- sionally they become so transparent that the globular bodies alone are visible. After the peridia burst, several are fre- quently collected together into an irregular linear body, which consists principally of the conglomerated sporidia. Tab. VII. fig. 8. a, Ascotricha chartarum, nat. size ; b, peridia, a portion of the filaments only being represented, that their ramification maybe more easily seen ; c, peridium, artificially ruptured ; d, portion of thallus, with conidia; e, asci ; /, sporidia : all more or less magnified. 117. Isaria arachnophila, Ditm., 1. c. t. 55. On a dead spider at the foot of a sallow, Collyweston, Norths. The spo- ridia are distinctly arranged in moniliform threads exactly as in Aspergillus glaucus or albus, of one of which species, or possibly of some Penicillium, I strongly suspect it to be a state. My specimen exactly accords with Ditmar's figure. 118. Isaria intricata, Fr., Syst. Myc. vol. iii. p. 278. On various dead Fungi, as Agaricus mutabilis, &c, Apethorpe, King's ClifFe. Some specimens belonged to the form described by Fries, others to Isaria subsimplex of Schumacher. *119. Anthina flammea, Fr., Syst. Myc. vol. iii. p. 283. Amongst leaves of oak, beech, hazel, bilberry, &c, King's Cliffe, Norths. ; Sherwood Forest, Notts. 120. Syzygites megalocarpos,~E i hr. Verhandl.Naturf.Freund. s 2 260 Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. vol. i. p. 98 ; Fr. Syst. Myc. vol. iii. p. 329. On decaying Agarics, King's Cliffe. The manner in which the peridiolum in this most curious production is formed after the two lateral branches unite is very remarkable. The matter contained in them is attracted on either side towards the point of junction ; a partition is then thrown out behind each grumous mass, which gradually becomes more and more distinct from the parent branch ; at length the common commissure becomes obsolete, and finally the central septum which consisted of the two coats of the united branches is absorbed. 121. Myxotrichum chartarum, Kz. Myc. Heft. ii. p. 110.; Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 207. On straw, &c. in damp places, King's Cliffe, &c. 122. Myxotrichum deflexum, n. s. On paper which had been wrapped round a piece of decayed hazel wood on which was Arcyria punicea, and on the wood itself, King's Cliffe. This species to the naked eye perfectly resembles Myx. chartarum ; but on examination not only does it want the curved apices to the flocci, but the mode of branching is altogether different. In the one the branches form more or less acute angles with the stem ; in the present species they are mostly opposite, set on at right angles and deflexed. The main threads are gene- rally simple, and if branched not trifid and subcymose. Forming little patches consisting of little gray downy balls. From these arise a number of radiating threads furnished with a few opposite deflexed branchlets, which decrease in size from the base upwards, so as to give the appearance of a little grove of larches. The branches have occasionally a few short acute branchlets, which are often alternate. Sporidia collected in patches about the base of the threads, oblong-elliptic. Plate VIII. fig. 9. a, Myx. defiexum, nat. size; b, a portion of one of the patches ; c, a few of the filaments with masses of sporidia ; d, sporidia ; e, filaments of Myxotrichum chartarum. from a part of a mass not producing the spiral tips. 123. Helminthosporium Clavariarum, Desm. in Ann. d. Sc. Nat. n. s. v. ii. tab. 2. fig. 2. On Clavaria rugosa, y grisea. King's Cliffe. 124. Dematium echinobotryum , Fr. in Ind. Alph. p. 87. Echinobotryum atrum, Corda in St, Deutsch. Fl. fasc. 12. tab. Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi, 261 26. On decaying walnuts, Milton, Norths. My specimens, though tolerably abundant, were rather past maturity, but they agree with Corda's figure. His specimens were found at the bottom of an oil cask sprinkled with broken blister flies. The discovery of this plant is interesting as confirming the general correctness of M. Corda in one of the most extra- ordinary of the new objects represented in his continuation of Ditmar's admirable work on German Fungi. I have lately met with another of these curious productions, Hemicyphe stil- boidea, which is however clearly a species of Mucor, very nearly allied to Mucor clavatus. It is much to be regretted that he has made so many new genera on utterly insufficient grounds, and indeed that he has represented as autonomous species many mere Mycelia, or what is worse, decayed Fungi, or bad specimens of common species overrun with minute gelatinous Algae. To the greater part of the sixteen produc- tions represented in the last number, all referred to new ge- nera, these remarks are strictly applicable. M. Corda's work is valuable as a register of various interesting forms of Fungi, but it is of little use where a correct delineation is requisite of parts differing but slightly from each other, on which the dis- crimination of nearly allied species depends. 125. Macrosporium sarcinula, n. s. On decaying orange gourds, King's Cliffe. Its first appearance is that of orbicular white downy patches consisting of suberect slightly branched threads. These soon vanish, leaving a dark olive green stra- tum, consisting at first of short clavate filaments with one or two septa. Their apices gradually become much incrassated, and the number of articulations increases. The septa are mostly horizontal with a few vertical ones ; a few occasionally are inclined. In this state the colour is yellowish when viewed by transmitted light. The sporidia gradually assume a browner tint, become more and more distinct from the peduncle, and at length fall off, acquiring a rectangular outline, and resem- bling very much little corded bales, from which circumstance the name is taken. They vary greatly in size and in the num- ber of cells. A few of the peduncles are seen amongst the sporidia, their articulations being frequently swollen above. 262 Rey. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. I am not certain whether the white filaments mentioned above properly belong to the plant. Plate VIII. fig. 10. a, Macrosporium sarcinula, nat. size; b, white fila- ments and infant sporidia ; c, sporidia from a patch in which the down has vanished ; d, same, more highly magnified ; e, perfect sporidia ; /, same, more highly magnified. 126. Aspergillus alternatus, n. s. On damp paper. King's Cliffe. Grey black. Forming little orbicular patches. Ex- tremely minute, scarcely to be distinguished without a lens. Mycelium thin, decumbent ; fertile flocci articulate, erect, or subdecumbent, branched alternately in a zigzag manner; each branch terminated by a slightly swollen receptacle which is studded with oblong subtruncate sporidia. The mode of branching is as it were annotinous, the same as that of Asco- tricha chart arum. The habit is that of Sporocybe, but in struc- ture it agrees with Aspergillus. Plate VIII. fig. 11. a, Aspergillus alternatus, nat. size ; b, a portion mag- nified ; c, the termination of one of the branches with its head of sporidia ; d, sporidia. 127. Botrytis citrina, n. s. On dead branches of cherry lying upon the ground, King's ClifFe. Summer. Forming thin delicate mucedinous patches, about an inch across. My- celium nearly white, as indeed is the whole plant at first. Fertile flocci erect, articulated, branched; branches subcymose, lemon-coloured, as well as the obovate spores. Plate VIII. fig. 12. a, a portion of the plant ; b, upper part of one of the fertile flocci more highly magnified. 128. Botrytis curta, Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 209. On Anemone nemorosa, King's Cliffe. Distinguished from Bo- trytis parasitica, which comprises many distinct forms by its simple denticulate, not branched or scarcely branched threads. Extremely minute, at length grey brown ; flocci simple, ab- breviated, their tips denticulate ; spores oval. Plate VIII. fig. 13. Flocci and spores highly magnified. 129. Penicillium fasciculatum, Sommerf. Fr. 1. c. p. 407; Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 210. On various dead herba- ceous plants, generally springing from Sclerotium durum. King's Cliffe, &c. Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi, 263 130. Oidium chartarum, Lk. Sp. 1. p. 124. On damp paper, King's Cliffe. 131. Epochnium macrosporoideum, n. s. On the decorti- cated portion of a decayed twig apparently of Ribes rubrum, King's Cliffe, August. Forming a thin slate-black stratum. Flocci transparent, perfectly colourless under the microscope, as far as I have observed not septate, very slender, effused, irregularly branched, often anastomosing at right angles. From the tips or on very short lateral branches spring subglobose or oval colourless transparent vesicles with a central nucleus ; these by degrees are furnished within with obscure septa still retaining their transparency; at length they acquire when full- grown a brown hue, and are from T jo o to 2 oV °f an mcn m diameter. They are then in general more or less globose, di- vided by septa into a few lobes, which are disposed in a radia- ting manner like the berries of a mulberry. Occasionally the septa appear darker than the rest of the sporidia. A few are furnished with a little apicular peduncle, but the greater part lose all traces of the point of attachment. I have sometimes seen one or two cells projecting from the otherwise globose sporidia, and in one instance two sporidia were united by means of such a process. I have little hesitation in referring the present highly curious production to the genus Epochnium, the circumstance of the sporidia being globose being clearly comparatively of small importance. Plate VIII. fig. 14. a, Epochnium macrosporoideum, nat. size; b, early stage of do. ; c, a portion more advanced; d f sporidia; e,a. single sporidium more highly magnified. *132. Sepedonium roseum, Fr. 1. c. p. 438. On Helvetia crispa, Laxton. 133. Xenodochus carbonarius, Schlecht. in Linn. vol. i. p. 237. t. 3. f. 3. Upon Uredo miniata of the common Burnet. This very interesting addition to our Flora was found near Ashby de la Zouch by Mr. Churchill Babington. It appears to have been detected before only by Schlechtendal. 134. Torula graminis, Desm. n. 169. On dry leaves of large Carices, Collyweston, Norths. 135. Cylindrosporium Ficarice, Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. 264 M. Schomburgk on the Ant Tree of Guiana. n. 212. On Ranunculus Ficaria. Common. White, sporidia irregularly oblong, slightly curved. 136. Uredo Artemisia. Chev. Fl. Par. vol. i. p. 399 ; Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3.n. 235. On Artemisia Absinthium, King^s Cliffe. 137. Uredo pompholygodes, Schlecht. in Linn. vol. i. p. 248 ; Berk. Brit. Fung. Fasc. 3. n. 236. On Anemone nemorosa, King's Cliffe, May. It is to be observed that U. Ranuncula- cearum, Dec, is at least in great part the same species with the present, of which U. Anemones, Dec. Fl. Franc, is a sy- nonym. Consequently the species described in Eng. Fl. under the name of U. Ranunculacearum on Link's authority, must bear the name of Uredo Ficarice, Alb. and Schwein. XXVIII. — On the Ant Tree of Guiana (Triplaris Americana). By Robert Schomburgk, Esq.* TRIPLARIS, Linn. Class IX. Ord. II. Ord. Nat. Polygone^e, Juss. Flores dioici. Calyx basi tubulosus, pilosus. Flores Masc. Calyx limbo 6-partitus. Corolla 0. Stamina 9. Flores Fern. Calyx 3-partitus. Co- rolla 3-petala. Ovarium 3-quetrum. Styli tres. Akenium 3-quetrum, calyce aucto tectum. T. Americana, foliis alternis, integerrimis, oblongis, acutis, nervosis ; sti- pulis lanceolatis laceris, spicis terminalibus axillaribusque brachiatis. Triplaris Americana, Linn. Sp. PL p. 130. Aubl. Guian. ii. p. 915. t. 347.— T. Pyramidalis, Jacq. Amer. 13. t. 173. f. 5. A tree from fifty to sixty feet in height; its trunk smooth, of a greyish colour ; the branches erect, frequently in the form of a pyramid ; leaves entire, oblong and narrow, from nine to twelve inches long, of a dark green colour ; petiole di- lated at the base, somewhat amplexicaule, with ochreate sti- pulae, and marks at the opposite direction, as of fallen-off pe- tioles ; flowers unisexual. Males : calyx hairy, tubular, sur- rounded by a laciniated bractea, six-parted ; corolla absent ; stamens nine, divided in three parcels of different sizes, the large ones opposite the segments of the calyx, filaments somewhat crooked ; anthers ovate, two-celled, dehiscing lengthwise. Females : calyx provided with the bractea, three- * Read before the Botanical Society of London, April 6, 1838, and com- municated by that Society. M. Schomburgk on the Ant Tree of Guiana, 265 parted ; petals three, lanceolate ; ovarium superior ; styles or stigmas three ; alkenia triangular, protected by the calyx ; seed farinaceous. Dr. Lindley, in his Natural System of Botany, in speaking of the geographical distribution of Polygonece, observes, "There are few parts of the world that do not acknowledge the presence of plants of this order. In Europe, Africa, North America, and Asia, they fill the ditches, hedges, and waste grounds, in the form of Docks and Persicarias; the fields, mountains, and heaths, as Sorrels and training and twining Polygonums ; in South America and the West Indies they take the form of Coccolabas or sea-side grapes ; in the Levant of Rhubarbs ; and even in the desolate regions of the North Pole they are found in the shape of Oxyria." The object of my description adds another instance to illus- trate these remarks ; the Triplaris, which pronounces, in its habits of growth, leaves, stipulae, its triangular nut protected by the calyx, the farinaceous albumen, &c. its relationship to that tribe, extends from Columbia to the verge of BraziPs west- ern boundary. The sandy banks of the inland rivers of Guiana are peopled with them 5 and when shrubs, stunted in growth by the poverty of the soil, scarcely reach the height of five or six feet, the Triplaris overtops them forty or fifty feet. The trunk is slender and grows up straight, and its erect branches form a pyramid. As already observed, it is unisexual, and the flowers of both sexes are insignificant: those of the male last only for a few days, when they dry up ; this is likewise the case with the petals of the females : the segments of the calyx how- ever continue to grow, changing in their growth from green to white and vermilion, and become so attenuated that the branched nerves are easily perceptible. In that state they are three times as large as the fruit, which is still protected by the tube of the calyx, and the whole might in appearance be re- sembled to a shuttlecock. The risps are dense, and the tree presents now a most elegant appearance. One unacquainted with the contrary, would consider the tree covered with white blossoms, tinged with red, among which the dark green leaves have only occasionally room to make themselves visible. The uncautious botanist, who, allured by the deceptive appearance, 266 M. Schomburgk on the Ant Tree of Guiana, should approach the tree to pluck the blossoms, would bit- terly rue his attempt. The trunk and branches of the tree are hollow, like those of the trumpet tree (Cecropia), and provided between space and space with partitions, which answer to the position of the leaves on the outside. These hollows are inhabited by a light brownish ant, about two to three tenths of an inch long, which inflicts the most painful bites. Its antennae are placed near the middle of the anterior portion of the head ; mandibles triangular ; peduncle of the abdomen with two rings ; the anus hairy and provided with a sting or piercer (Myrmica, Latr.,nova species). They fall upon their prey with the greatest virulence, and insert their mandibles almost instantly, as soon as they come in contact with any soft substance, emitting a whitish fluid ; their bite causes swelling and itching for several days. If they find themselves captured, they attack and kill one another like the scorpions. The Arawak Indians call the tree Jacuna, and the ant Ja- cuna sae ; the Warrows Epouahari, the literary translation being ant tree ; the Caribis Itassi ; the colonists, from its growth, * long John." The presence of the scarious stipulae, in the form of an ochrea, is sufficient to determine the natural order to which Triplaris belongs ; other evidences, namely, the formation of its leaves, its organs of fructification, and particularly the erect ovulum and the superior radicle, put its relationship to Poly- gonece beyond doubt. It resembles strikingly the Coccoloba in the form of its petiole, and the manner in which it is attached to the stem ; we have in Coccoloba a similar mark opposite the petiole, and those asperities which are to be found below the latter organ are likewise observable in Triplaris. In Coc- coloba the calyx swells and forms a juicy berry, in Triplaris it becomes three times as large as the nut. In its hollow trunk and branches, and the septums of the latter ; in the division of the sexes, it resembles Cecropia ; but to these affinities in ap- pearance but little importance can be attached. Triplaris has received hitherto a very meagre description. Jacquin gives the representation of its fruit, and Aublet a branch ; it is however evident that the flowers of the male M. Decaisne on the Root of the Madder. 267 were described from those of the female flower : the bractea, present in both, has been completely passed over; the calyx of the male is stated to be three-parted, while it is six-parted ; and the pubescence, which is present in the calyx of both sexes, has been likewise omitted ; the bractea is likewise covered with hair. River Quitaro, Lat. 2°. 50'. N., November 1837. XXIX. — On the Root of the Madder. By M. Decaisne. In the valuable ( Recherches Anatomiques et Physiologiques sur la Garance/ lately published at Paris by M. Decaisne, that gentleman gives the following interesting account of the root. The roots of the Madder or Turkey red (Rubia tinctorum) are of the form generally described as a branching root, for though undivided when young, they shortly begin to ramify, though the original shoot remains the thickest; their anatomy, which I shall proceed in few words to describe and trace through its several stages of growth, will explain their structure. During the first days of germination, and while the plant has no other leaves than its two cotyledons, the root is simple and unbranched ; its upper part, immediately below the neck, being covered with very slender fibrillar, which closely clasp the grains of sand with which they may come in contact. If the young root be cut horizontally across at this part, it will be seen to consist, looking from the circumference to the centre, of, first, a row of extremely small cortical cells, some of which emit externally a very fine and simple prolongation, constituting the above-mentioned fibrillae, in the same way as the epidermal tissue of leaves gives rise to hairs. After this row of cortical cells comes a thicker or thinner layer of cellular tissue, whose divisions diminish in size as they ap- proach the centre, while the innermost part is almost con- founded with the fibrous tissue which surrounds the vessels occupying the whole middle of the root. The vertical section of a young rootlet (if it may be so termed) exhibits the cor- tical cells arranged in nearly regular longitudinal series, slenderer than the others ; then those which compose the fleshy portion in series which become more and more regular 268 M. Decaisne on the Root of the Madder. as they advance further towards the fibrous tissue, which lat- ter is formed of more elongated cells arranged with equal re- gularity. It is in this fibrous part that, more generally than elsewhere, we find cells containing crystals as well as the ves- sels of the latex ; the latter, which I have only been able to detect in a single instance and by means of maceration, ap- peared to me flattened, and with swellings at regular distances. As regards the cellules which form the fibrous tissue, these are seen to be elongated and to terminate in a blunt apex ; they are transparent, and have thicker partitions than those of the cellular tissue which contain the green matter, and are closely applied to one another. The centre of the root is almost entirely formed of vessels; if examined at the same stage as in the preceding observations, these vessels will appear under the form of transparent elon- gated cells, generally placed end to end, and forming by their combination a sort of cylinder, placed in the centre of annu- lated vessels which are separated by long intervals from each other, and surrounded for its entire length by the cellular and fibrous layers formerly described ; it extends a little further and below these, forming a slight projection which constitutes the spongiole. In this incomplete state of organization these vessels seem to perform an office similar to that of the cellular tissue or medulla. Later, and when they have attained their perfect organization, instead of being thin and transparent, they pre- sent (on examining, when highly magnified, their horizontal section) many divisions, which are of a brighter or paler fawn colour, and in which I could clearly distinguish the cavities to which MM. De Mirbel and Hugo Mohl have lately called the attention of the curious. These belong to what are termed punctuated vessels, and are of uncertain diameter, with empty spaces between them. These hollow spaces or intervasculary meata contain a colouring matter analogous to that of the cel- lular tissue ; and it is probable that the madder powder, fur- nished by the central or vascular part of the root, only owes its superior quality over what is obtained from the cellular tissue, (or alburnum of the manufacturers,) to the entire abs- ence of all foreign substances. In fact, I never observed any M. Decaisne on the Root of the Madder, 269 crystals among the vessels, and this is the only difference I have been able to detect between the parts of the two tissues containing the colouring principle. How T ever, the woody part, completely stripped of the surrounding cellular tissues, affords the very finest powders, according to the observations of the manufacturers in the South of France ; these remarks contradicting those of M. E. Koechlin, as will be shortly seen. I ought to state that I have cut through these vessels at dif- ferent periods of growth, and never found them filled with li- quid. It is they which appear, in an early stage, to produce the radicles; in fact, when examining young roots, I have often seen, after removing the cellular tissue by maceration, that the ligneous body formed of the vessels I have described, has emitted from its circumference projections more or less appa- rent, which afterwards by elongation produce the radicles which are already noticed. If the root be again scrutinized when far more advanced, still its internal structure will appear to have undergone no material change, and the organization which I have described is found to be the same ; the only appreciable difference con- sisting in a proportionate increase of the tissues, whose several layers are thickened by the addition of new rows. The madder root, which was pale yellow at the earliest period of its developing, gradually acquires a deeper and deeper tinge, as takes place in age with the several parts of almost all ve- getables. The same phenomenon exists in the cotyledons ; for if a section of the infant stalk be made at the period when it first bursts from the seed, the cotyledons will be seen to emit a yellowish fluid, which shortly assumes a decidedly red hue. By the above facts, it may be ascertained that, so far as de- pends on the arrangement of the different parts, the root of madder departs in no respect from the common structure of roots. No peculiar cavities, designated by the name of reser- voirs for the proper juices y seem to exist. If the fluid which the vessels of the latex contain were in any respect unlike that which is observable in all the cells, it can be only in the fainter colour, since these are with difficulty discerned ; and as to the existence of crystals in some of the cells, this is by no means 270 M. Decaisne on the Root of the Madder. an extraordinary circumstance, as they may be frequently found in other plants. It remains for us to see what are the phaenomena that take place in the fluid that is diffused through the whole cellular tissue of the[root. It has been already remarked, that the roots, which, when very young, are pale yellow, assume a much deeper hue when old. If this fluid be carefully examined, it will not appear to hold any substance in solution ; and whether it escapes through the partitions of the cells or by an incision purposely made, it still seems perfectly limpid. As, however, when the root is thoroughly dried, the internal cells, though all the fluid has evaporated, still assume a yellow tint if laid to steep, it would appear that the liquid had originally pos- sessed a solid colouring principle, though, even in this state, such is its tenuity, that the largest swellings do not allow it to be seen. It is of course presumed in the above observations, that the different parts have been subjected to no external agency whatever, as such agency produces great changes ; for in- stance, after having made sections, whether vertical or hori- zontal, of a young root, and subjected them to microscopical ex- amination, this juice, which is so perfectly limpid in the living plant, presently becomes thick and cloudy, while its originally pale yellow tint changes to a bright rose colour. Experiments on older roots yield the same results, except that as in these cases the yellow fluid is originally much brighter, so its change to red when exposed to the air becomes proportionably in- tense, and instead of acquiring, as in the preceding case, a roseate tint, the result, from an orange colour, is a change to the most vivid red. If attention be paid to the circumstances under which this red colour is obtained, which did not exist before the section of the parts, we cannot but suspect that the action of the air, which was previously excluded, is the cause more or less of this change, and an increased number of experiments confirms this opinion. In a thin layer the modifications occasioned by the external air on the yellow colour may be successively traced ; the red tinge always manifesting itself first in that M. Decaisne on the Root of the Madder. 271 part of the cellular tissue contiguous to the vessels of the latex ; next in the cells occupying the intervals of the dotted vessels in the centre of the root ; and lastly in the various parts of the cellular tissue which compose the fleshy portion, and which is the principal deposit of the yellow fluid. It is easy to understand these phenomena in a thin layer of root, and to explain the production of the red hue in these determinate places ; the air passes most freely, and conse- quently with the greatest rapidity, into the part filled with vessels, the cutting open of which, at both ends, makes a free way for it, and where it meets with no obstruction from the transverse diaphragms that exist in the cellular tissue. The proper vessels situated immediately next to these, and habit- ually replete with liquid, and protected with very thin parietes through which any gas can readily take effect, will be the first to become coloured, as well as the spaces comprised between these vessels and those to which I formerly alluded ; while, lastly, the cellular tissue being composed of numerous super- incumbent cellules, and thus offering many impediments to the action of the air, it is easy to perceive that the most ex- ternal cellules will first receive its influence, and that in the in- termediate layers there will be portions on which it can only act after a longer or shorter time, and of which the colour will consequently remain yellow while the cellules around have assumed a red colour. Those cells which lie on the thin edges of the section are always first tinged, evidently because the air affects them first. It is practicable too to alter at will the hue of one or more cells, to effect which it suffices to remove a thin slice from a previously dried root, some cells remaining uninjured ; then, if with great precaution certain cells be punctured with a curved point, so as to admit the entrance of the air, the yellow fluid with which they are filled will be seen to pass instantly to red. I have also placed some sections of madder root in water which had been exhausted of air by the operation of boiling, and in this case their originally yellow hue remained entirely unaltered, the utmost care having been previously taken to keep these sections of root in tightly closed bottles, without which they redden slightly. I have tried the action of different gases collected in gra- 272 M. Decaisne on the Root of the Madder. duated tubes plunged in the mercury, in which I deposited thin segments of fresh madder root cut both vertically and hori- zontally, and they remained there eight days without exhibit- ing the slightest change of hue. But when by means of a blow pipe I introduced a few drops of water into the tube of oxygen gas, the red colour was instantly produced. Carbonic acid gas did not appear to me to exhibit the same peculiarities ; and certainly the oxygenated water, whether applied to the roots in a fresh or dry state, failed to effect the change to red at all more quickly than as much common water would have done. Thin slices of young roots, when exposed for some hours to the air, after undergoing the customary transitions of tint, often acquire a blackish or violet hue which is not observable in old roots. From all that has been stated, it results that the madder root, when living, has no colour but yellow, and that this co- louring principle only varies by the deepening intensity of age. These different degrees of intensity are represented in the series of drawings, where I have represented the varia- tion of hue in the roots from the young to the old state. This observation is easily verified; nothing more is necessary than to break two roots of different ages and to watch the change of hue from that instant till the air begins to take effect ; the fluid will then be seen to be perfectly transparent while in- closed in the cells, but shortly this pellucid and pure liquid will become muddy and granulated so as to darken the parts of the cells with which it comes in contact. These granules, which seem to me to partake of the nature of gum resins, are partly soluble in alcohol ; but as the dye of iodine fails to im- part to them a blue colour, they do not show any identity with feculum. Their diameter is nearly equal, but they are inap- preciable except in a mass, when insulated being hardly visible, as even with the aid of an excellent microscope divided in 300dths of millimetres, it was impracticable, by reason of their tenuity, to measure them precisely. The madder roots many years old contain no coloured parts except what I have now pointed out, whether the plant be examined dry or after the exsiccated portions have been subjected to maceration. The existence of a yellow colour is M. Decaisne on the Root of the Madder* 273 all that I have been able to ascertain, and the simple yet stri- king fact of the absence of the red colouring principle until the root has been pulverized, seems to have been unknown to the present day. Still this observation, originally made by M. Chevreul, is stated in a paper by M. Kcechlin, inserted in the Bulletins de la Society de Mulhausen, vol. i. No. 3, in the following words : " By compressing the fleshy part of the fresh root an acid liquid is obtained, which, originally yellow, turns red when exposed to the air* This liquid, applied to a cloth that has re- ceived the mordant of acetate of alumina, produces a bright red, which by soap changes to a dullish rose. It tinges am- monia purple and concentrated sulphuric acid red, and an ad- dition of water to the tinged acid precipitates the colouring substance. These experiments seem to prove that the colour- ing substance is in a state of solution in this fluid. " The stalk of madder and its root, whether whole or the woody and fleshy parts individually, have been used to dye samples of the same size and printed with mordants red, pink, violet and black, and the result is that the fleshy part contains almost exclusively the colouring substance, the woody portion possessing no more of it than do the stalks of this plant. a These various parts of the madder, when used fresh, have invariably produced much richer hues than the same parts if previously dried, although this process of desiccation had not diminished their weight. And however numerous were the experiments, their result was always the same. ? When the root is examined with the microscope, no trace of separate colouring substance is discernible ; the woody part is very porous, as in all vegetables ; and the fleshy portion seems composed of mucilaginous liquid parts, inclosed in a net-work of woody filaments, without offering any trace of porosity. u The ' Alizaris * of Avignon are composed of stems and roots ; the former having been covered up with earth, assume the appearance of roots without acquiring their dyeing virtues, so that the cultivator who thus increases the quantity of his produce materially lessens its value. For these stems, con- taining very little colouring principle, this plan only tends to adulterate the madder, of which the quality thus depends on Ann. Nat, Hist. Vol.1. No. 4. June 1838. t 274 Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians. the greater or less quantity of stem that had been buried and is now gathered and sold with the root." The authors who have most fully treated this subject, how- ever, regard the roots as imbued with a red colour while grow- ing, and undergoing no change in this respect from subsequent circumstances. Many manufacturers, ignorant of this fact, to whom I submitted my observations, and showed the roots passing through all the stages of colour up to that which they attain when reduced to powder, while they formerly exhibited no trace of a red hue, have positively assured me that this re- mark would certainly lead to modifications in their manufac- ture. The assumption of a red colour is therefore a chemical phenomenon quite independent of vitality, while the yellow hue, on the contrary, seems to arise from a vital action which forbids the first ; thus, if I place, for comparison, two portions of root, one living and the other dried, in a bottle, the former will preserve its yellow hue, while the second turns red, and in two days ends by acquiring a violet tinge. Finally, the better to establish the vital power of the cells, and to prove that the production of the colouring principle was entirely determined by their peculiar action, I caused two young madder plants to germinate in distilled water ; they grew very little, but the tissue of their roots notwithstanding secreted a yellow fluid, the tint of which seemed to me quite as decided as in young plants of equal size raised in earth. This colouring therefore depends on a peculiar action of the cellular membranes, to solve which it would be necessary first to solve that hitherto inscrutable problem of the vital powers*. XXX. — Catalogue of the Slender-tongued Saurians, with De- scriptions of many new Genera and Species. By John Edward Gray, Esq., F.R.S., Senior Assistant in the Zoological Department of the British Museum, &c. The Saurian reptiles may be divided into two nearly equal groups ; one having a short, thick, slightly-nicked papillary tongue, and the other a more or less elongated forked tongue. * [We shall reserve the author's analysis of the stems for a future Num- ber of the Annals. — Edit.] Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Baurians. 275 The former of these groups contain two vepr distinct sections ; the one consisting of the nocturnal lizards, as the Geckoes, which are easily known by the structure of their eyes and the composition of their skulls ; and the other the diurnal lizards, as the Agames, Chamceleons of the Old World, and the Iguanas, which are confined to the new continent ; the former have permanent teeth placed on the edge of the jaw, while the latter have them placed on the inner side of the jaw, below the edge, where they are gradually replaced by new ones as their edges become worn down by use. As Messrs. Dumeril and Biberon have lately published a work on the species of the thick-tongued lizards, leaving the description of the new species which I have of that group for the present, I at once proceed to the revision of the family and genera of the slender- tongued kinds, and describe the various new species which have come under my observation either in the National Collection or Museum of the Army Medical Board at Chatham. The British Museum Collection of these animals is one of the rich- est that I have ever had the opportunity of examining, as the novel- ties of this catalogue will fully prove ; and as it is daily receiving additions, I hope by the time that it is removed into its new locality it will be one of the most extensive in Europe. Since the publication of the Synopsis of Reptiles, and my other papers on these animals, I have been induced to propose a new ar- rangement of them, of which the following table may be considered as an outline. I. Typical group. Scaly Reptiles. (Squamata.) Body covered with scales ; tympanic bones distinct ; skull formed of separate bones. 1. Saurians. (Saura.) Jaws united by a bony suture; legs 2 or 4, rarely wanting. Including the Saurian and Ophidosaurians of my former arrange- ments, except the genera Amphisbena and Chirotes. 2. Ophidians. (Ophidia.) Jaws very dilatile, only united by a mem- brane ; legs none, or hid under the skin. II. Annectant groups. Shielded Reptiles. (Cataphracta.) Body covered with square imbedded shields ; tympanic bones inclosed in the skull, which is formed of hard united bones. 3. Amphisbenians. (Amphisbena.) Body cylindrical, with rings of square shields ; penis double. 4. Chelonians. (Chelonia.) Body depressed, inclosed in a bony case, formed of the expanded ribs and sternum ; penis simple ; legs 4 ; jaws toothless. v. Emydosaurians. {Emydosaura.) Body depressed, elongate, in* T 2 276 Mr. Gray on the Slender -tongue d Saurians. closed between two shields formed of square plates ; penis simple ; legs 4 ; jaws toothed. These orders appear to be analogous to the following Orders of Mammalia and Birds. Reptiles. Mammalia. Birds. Saurians (Climbers) Primates .... Passeres. Ophidians ; (Carnivorous) Fer^e Accipitres. Emydosaurians . (Aquatic) Cete Anseres. Chelonians (Large-hoofed) Ungulata. . . . Galling. Amphisbenians . ( ?) Glires GrALLjE. Slender-tongued lizards. (Saurce Leptoglossa.) Tongue elongate, more or less slender, with the apex forked or bifid ; eyes diurnal, generally provided with two connivent valvular eyelids; pupil round; body subcylindrical ; the feet formed for walking ; toes unequal, the outer hinder one being lower down and rather opposable to the rest. Section I. Tongue contractile; head with regular normal shields ; scales four-sided or lozenge -shaped, placed in rings. Subsection 1 . Sides covered with small granular scales ; scales and shields in transverse and longitudinal series. * Sides rounded ; head pyramidical ; femoral pores distinct j throat scaly* Fam. I. Teid^e. Head pyramidical; supra-orbital plates horny; collar double; throat with scales. Confined to the New World. * Throat with two cross folds ; the scales in the middle between them 6 • sided ; abdominal shields smooth ; tail rounded ; nostrils between two large nasal plates. a. Abdominal shields small, longer than broad ■ dorsal scales small, equal. Teius, Merrem. Podimema, Wagler. Monitor, Fitz. Toes 5 — 5; tail round ; "teeth on the edge of the jaw ; front ones conical, hin- der very blunt." T'eius Teguixin, Variegated Lizard, Shaw, Zool. t. 73. Lacerta Teguixin, Linn. Tupenambis Monitor, Baud. — Spix, t. 19. Teius nitor, Merrem. Seba, t. 96. f. 23. P. Max. t. from life. South America. Ctenodon, Wagler. "Tail round; toes 5 — 5; teeth on the inner side of the jaws ; front pectinately lobed, hinder 3-lobed, rest like Teius." Wagler. Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians. 277 Ctenodon nigropunctatus, Wagler. Tupen. nigropunctatus, Spix, Braz. t. Inhab. South America. Acrantus, Wagler. Teius, Fitz. Toes 5—4 ; tail round ; teeth 6, front maxillary simple, with two rather acute transverse tubercles. Acrantus viridis, Wagler. Lacerta Teyou. Daud. Inhab. South America. (From the Berlin Mus.) b. Abdominal shields smooth, broader than long ; thighs shielded be- neath. Ameiva, Cuv., Fitz. Cnemidophorus, Wagler. Toes 5 — 5. Ameiva punctata. Teius Ameiva, Merrem. — Spix. Braz, t. 23. P. Max. Beytr. t. — . good. A. vulgaris, Lichst. ? A. Argus, Fitz. ? Guerin, Icon. Rept. t. 4. f. 1. Olive ; nape and front of back black speckled, sides with bands of black-edged white or yellow spots ; abdominal shields 12-rowed. Inhab. Demerara. Capt. Sabine, R.E. Ameiva undulata, Seba, i. t. 88. f. 2. Olive brown with narrow brown wavy cross-bands; sides dark, pale, mottled with a palish streak on the upper part of each side ; throat white ; chest and belly greenish; sides dark, greenish, spotted; abdominal plates 12-rowed. Inhab. — Ameiva maculata, Seba, i. t. 88. f. 1. — t. 90. f. 7.? A. lateristriga, Cuv. Olive-green; back spotted, with a broad black streak down each side, edged beneath with a narrow white streak ; sides and the black streaks, with cross-bands of small white spots ; abdominal shields 10- rowed. Var. back scarcely spotted, paler on each side near the lateral streak. Inhab. Brazil. Ameiva guttata. Teius cyaneus, Cuv* T. cyanus, var. Merrem, from Seba, ii. 1. 105. f. 2. Lacep. i. t. 31 . Seps murinus, Laur. Olive- green ; sides darker, with 6 or 7 cross-rows of 3 or 4 large white spots; abdominal plates 10-ro wed. Inhab. Probably the green-spotted lizard, Edw. Birds, t. 203 ; but our specimen is bleached, and does not show any pale tapering dorsal streaks. The tail of this specimen has been partly broken, and an- other false tail has sprouted from the crack. Such specimens are not uncommon in the animals of this family, hence they have been called forked-tailed lizards. Ameiva dorsalis, Sloane, Jam. iii. t. 273. f. 3. Olive : back with a 278 Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians. pale central streak, commencing with a point in the nape, and gra- dually increasing in width to the thighs, with two wide black and two very narrow white lines on each side of it, and the lower part of the sides with two series of bluish spots; abdominal plates 10- rowed, lateral ones bluish- spotted. Inhab. South America, Jamaica. Ameiva lineata. A. ccerulescephala, Cuv.} Daud. from Seba, i. t. 91. f. 3. Bluish; back with 5 broad, dark, and 6 narrow, bluish white lines ; sides white- spotted ; belly greenish ; abdominal plates 8-rowed; prseanal plates 5. Var. 1 . The dark vertebral streak divided into two by a narrow central pale one. Var. 2. Upper part of sides with an additional pale streak. Var. 3. Younger; sides not spotted; back and sides with 10 li- near, pale streaks. Lac. Lemniscatus, Linn. Am. Lemniscata, Cuv. from Seba, i. t. 92. f. 4. Inhab. — — . ** Throat with a collar of large shields. a. The collar and ventral shields lanceolate, imbricate, keeled; thighs beneath scaly ; nostrils between two nasal plates ; tail round. Acanthopyga. Pseudoameiva, Fitz. Scales of the back large, keeled; keels continuous; of the sides small, granular. Acanthopyga striata. Lacerta striata, Daud. Merrem. Wetter. Ann. i. t. 1. Pr. Max. t. 13. Guerin, Icon. t. Kentropyx striatus, Fitz. Inhab. Brazils. Centropyx. Trachygaster, Wagler. Acanthopyga, Leach. The scales of the back moderate, ovate, keeled ; of the sides rather smaller ; of the belly very large. Qentropyx calcaratus. b. The ventral shields 4-sided, smooth, as long as broad; nostrils in the centre of a trigonal nasal shield; tail compressed. Ada, Gray. Draccsna, Daud. Thorictis, Wagler. Scales of the back unequal, larger ones oval ; tail with a serrated crest on each side above. " Teeth on the edge of the jaw." Ada Crocodilurus. Teius Crocodilurus, Merrem. Dracaena Gui- nensis, Daud. Lacerta Dracaena, Bonnat. South America. Crocodilurus, Spix. Scales of the back equal; "teeth on the inside of the jaws ;" rest like Ada. Crocodilurus amazonicus, Spix. Braz. Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians. 279 Fam. 2. Lacertinid^e. Head shielded ; superorbital plate rigid ; throat scaly ; tongue exsertile, tip longly forked. A. Collar distinct ; dorsal scales somewhat granular ; nostrils erect, lateral, subapical ; ventral shields broad, smooth ; toes simple. Zootoca, Wagler. Lacerta, Linn. Nostrils, in the suture of two scales, placed on the sides of the nose ; abdominal shields square. * Dorsal scales rather long, 6-sided. Zootoca muralis. Lacerta vivipara, Jacq. L. crocea, Wolf. Sturm's Fauna, t. 4. L. pyrrogaster, Merrem. L. agilis, Pennant. Male in summer. Lac. cedura, Sheppard. Var. Lacerta nigra, Wolf. Black, nearly uniform. Inhab. England, Germany. Var. Ireland. See also Lacerta Saxicola, Eversman, Mem. Mosk. iii. t. 30. f. 1. ** Dorsal scales small, broad, 6-sided. Zootoca quadrilineata, Gray. Collar continuous, even; ventral shields 6-rowed, middle row rather the narrowest, green, with irre- gular, unequal black spots. Inhab. Sardinia. Lacerta, Linn. Bonap. Lacerta and Podarcis, Wagler. Nostril erect, in the suture of three scales, placed on the side of the muzzle; abdominal shields square, two central series narrower, with oblique sides. a. Dorsal scales ovate, short, thick, smooth, convex. * Abdominal plates 8 or 10-rowed (Lacerta). Lacerta ocellata, Daud. Edw. t. 202. Pet. Gaz. t. 92. f. 1. Po- darcis ocellata, Wagler. Jun. Lacerta Lepida, Daud. iii. t. 37. f. 1. Inhab. South of Europe. Lacerta Senegalensis. Very like the former, but twice as large. Inhab. Senegal. ** Abdominal plates 6-rowed. Lacerta lavis, Gray. Greenish-grey, beneath greenish-white; dor- sal scales roundish, 6-sided, convex ; prseanal plates with an arched series of 6 rather large shields in front. Inhab. . b. Dorsal scales elongate, keeled; throat scales large, broad. Podarcis. Lacerta viridis, Linn., Daud. iii. t. 34. Podarcis viridis, Wagler. Lacerta varius, Edw. Var. 1. Lac. bilineata, Daud. Var. 2. Lacerta fusca, Daud. Inhab. Europe. 280 Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians. Lacerta agilis, Linn- ? Lichst. Lac. Europse, Pallas. Var. 1. Lac. stirpium, Daud. iii. t. 35, f. 2. Var. 2. Lac. arenicola, Daud, iii. t. 38, f. 2. Inhab. Europe, England. See also Lacerta longicaudata, Ruppell. Mus. Francf. Teira, Gray. Nostrils erect, in the suture of three scales, lateral; ab- dominal shields (6-rowed) all square ; throat scales small; toes simple. Teira punctata. Lacerta Dugesii, Edw. Ann. Sci. Nat., t. 6, f . 2. ? Dark, blackish-green, darker on the sides, closely and minutely white speckled, beneath pale green ; caudal scales obscurely keeled. Inhab. Europe ; Madeira ? Eremias, Fitz. Nostrils in the suture of three scales, lateral ; ab- dominal plates with the outer side oblique and contracted behind ; temple scaly ; prseanal scales two, small, triangular, one behind the other, with oblong four-sided shields on each side of them. * Abdominal shields 6-rowed; muzzle short ; dorsal scales small; smooth, ovate. Nucras. Eremias Lalandii. Lacerta Lalandii. Edw. Ann. Sci. Nat. t. 5, f. 6., t. 8, f. 5. Inhab. Gape of Good Hope. * * Abdominal shields 14 or\6-rowed; scales smooth, small. Eremias, Eremias velox. Lacerta velox, Pallas. B. Collar distinct. Dorsal scales rather granular. Nostrils hori- zontal in the keel on the sides of the muzzle. Toes fringed. Ven- tral shields oblique. Scapteira, Fitz. Ida, Gray, MSS. Brit. Mus. Nostril in the upper edge of the first labial shield, with two small shields above and behind it ; prseanal shields numerous ; abdominal shields rhom- bic, the central ones often narrowed on both sides behind ; toes fringed on the outer side ; the claws very long, acute. a. Prceanal shields broad ; three of the central series placed one be- hind the other; abdominal shields S-rowed, rhombic. * Dorsal scales large. Scapteira incequalis. (Ida insequalis, MSS . B. Mus.) Savigny Rept. Egypt, t. 1, f. 10 ? Pale olive ; black dotted; scales of the back large, rhombic, keeled ; of the sides 6mall, keeled ; tail very long, slender. Inhab. N. Africa, Egypt. * * Dorsal scales small. Scapteira pulchella. (Ida pulchella, Gray, MSS. Brit. Mus.) Sa- vigny, Rept. Egypt, t. 2, f. 2. ? Olive (under the epidermis brown) ; back with six longitudinal whitish streaks, and intermediate series of irregular unequal white spots ; limbs white spotted, beneath white. Mr. Gray on the Slender -tongued Saurians. 281 Inhab. Egypt. Scapteira lineata. (Ida lineata, Gray, MSS. B. M.) Greenish ; back and base of the tail with six bright blue longitudinal streaks ; beneath yellowish ; scales of the back rather large, rhombic, keeled ; of the base of the tail short, sharply keeled. Inhab. N. Africa. b. Praeanal shields similar, but narrower ; abdominal shields 10 or 12-rowed, contracted behind ; interparietal plate rudimentary. Scapteira maculata. (Ida maculata, Gray, MSS. B. M.) Savigny Rept. Egypt, t. 1, f. 9. ? ? Greenish, with a broad pale dorsal streak, marked with indistinct blackish spots ; sides of the back blackish, with three or four series of longitudinal oblong pale spots ; scales of the back small, rhombic, acutely keeled ; of the base of the tail broad, short ; toes slightly fringed. Inhab. Tripoli. c. Prceanal shields unequal ; the hinder central one large, the rest smaller, placed in an arched series ; abdominal plates, 1 2-rowed. Ida. Scapteira inornata. (Ida inornata. Gray, MSS. B. M.) Green- ish olive ; tail paler, with a dark streak on each side ; beneath sil- very white ; scales of the back small, ovate, acutely keeled ; of the base of the tail broad ; prseanal scales 10 or 12, subequal, with small scales on the sides, placed in four transverse subalternating series. Inhab. Tripoli. Scapteira punctulata. (Ida punctulata, Gray, B. M.) Olive; back with six longitudinal series of small distant blackish dots ; tail and cheeks brown varied ; beneath whitish ; scales of the back small, convex, rather rhombic, smooth ; of the tail elongate, narrow. Inhab. . Scapteira nebulosa. (Ida nebulosa, Gray, MSS. B. M.) Pale olive ; back with three series of rather large distant black spots ; tail elongated, with a series of black dots on each side ; scales of back minute, granular, smooth, flattish, of upper part of tail elongated, truncated. Inhab. Egypt. Scapteira leiocerca. (Ida leiocerca, Gray, MSS. B. M.) Olive black, varied with brown, leaving six series of small round pale spots, and six series of large oblong transverse pale spots, placed between the others ; scales of the back small, rhombic, acute, smooth ; of the base of the tail large, similar, smooth. Inhab. . F The toes of S. inornata are longly, of S. incequalis, S. maculata, 282 Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians. S. lineata, and S. leiocerca shortly, and of S. pulchella, S. punctu- lata, and S. sabulosa scarcely fringed. Meroles, Gray. Nostrils horizontal, marginal, between two scales ; the lower one placed over the first and second labial shield, and with a small triangular scale at its hinder edge ; praeanal shields numerous ; central ones in a longitudinal series ; abdominal shields rhombic ; toes fringed on the outer side ; dorsal scales small, rhom- bic, keeled; abdominal plates 12 or 14-rowed. * Interparietal plate large. Meroles Knoxii. Lacerta Knoxii. Edw. Ann. Sci. Nat. t. 6. f. 8. Inhab. S. Africa, Cape of Good Hope. * * " Interparietal plate rudimentary." Meroles Dumerilii. Lacerta Dumerilii. Edw. Ann. Sci. Nat. Inhab. Senegal. C Collar none, with a small axillary plait on each side, sometimes obsolete. Dorsal scales lanceolate, keeled. Nostrils superior subapical. Mesalina, Gray. Nostrils marginal, convex, in the centre of three small unequal nasal scales, placed over the first labial plate ; loreal shields 2, first linear, hinder triangular $ scales of back small, convex ; ventral shields subrhombic, 2 central series narrower ; prae- anal shield single, surrounded by a series of 4 or 6 small ones, and then some smaller scales ; toes slender, nearly simple ; claws long. Mesalina Lichtensteinii. Olive, beneath whitish; abdominal shields 8-rowed; scales of the back ovate, rhombic, convex, smooth; of the tail rhombic, elongate, slightly keeled. Inhab. N. Africa ? J). Collar indistinct, united to the chest in the middle, with a dis- tinct plait before each shoulder ; dorsal scales rhombic, keeled. Cabrita. Nostrils in a horizontal suture, between two small nasal shields, having a smaller one behind them. Collar adnate in the middle, free on the sides ; prseanal shield single, surrounded by five small shields in front; scales of the back rhombic, keeled. Cabrita brunnea. Ventral shields 6-rowed, central ones narrowed on each side ; middle of the back bay ; sides dark brown, with two rather wider white streaks on each side ; tail and limbs pale brown, U beneath silvery. . Inhab. . Collection of Thomas Bell. Esq. Algira, Cuv. Psammuris, Wagler. Nostrils small in the hori- zontal suture, between two nasal scales, which have two others at their hinder side, so that it appears nearly in the centre of four small shields ; ventral shields six-sided ; scales of the back broad, rhombic, Von Esenbeck on new species of Glumaceae. 283 keeled ; two central praeanal shields largest, placed one behind the other, rest smaller. Algira punctata, Gray. Olive-green, sides pale, black- spotted, with two white streaks on each side ; temples scaly, with two small shields. Inhab. Shores of the Mediterranean. Algira Cuvieri, Gray. Olive-green ; sides black, with three nar- row green streaks; side of the back black and white-spotted ; ven- tral shields silvery, with a central black spot; temple unequally shielded. Inhab. . Mus. Francfurt. Psammodromus, Fitz. Nostrils in the suture between two un- equal nasal plates ; ventral shields ? ; scales of the back acute, keeled ; prseanal shields, one large, surrounded by many small ones ; collar none ; a band of shields close to the front of the chest, and only separated from them by a series of small scales, which are hidden, except when the head is bent back. Psammodromus Hispanicus, Fitz. Inhab. Spain. Mus. Francfurt. [To be continued.] XXXI. — Characters of Nine new Species of Glumaceae. By Dr. C. G. Nebs v. Esenbeck, President of the Imperial Academy Natures Curiosorum. Extracted from a Letter to Professor Lindley. Melica colpodioides ; panicula composita et decomposita (ante anthesin contracta), pedicellis nudis scabro-puberulis, spiculis oblongis bi-trifloris, glumis inaequalibus obtusiusculis, superiori flosculos subaequante, valvula in- feriori flosculorum perfectorum apice brevi spatio membranaceo-appendi- culata 7-nervi, flosculo supremo sterili, sublineari, antheriformi ! foliis an- guste linearibus vaginisque scabris. (M. scabrce et pallidce H. et K. affinis.) — California, Douglas. », sesquiflora. /3, subtriflora. Lophochlcena californka. Ch. Gen. Spiculae multiflorae, rhachilla articu- lata. Glumae 2, membranaceae, obscure 1 — 3-nerves, flosculis breviores. Flosculi callo truncato inserti, omnes perfecti : valvula inferior chartaceo- rigida, plurinervis, apice membranacea, bifida, lobis praemorso-dentatis, inter lobos setigera seta recta ; superior plano-complicata lateribus in medio den- tato-laceris apicem versus serratis ; apice emarginato. Lodiculae truncata?, connatae. Stamina 3 (antheris violaceis). Ovarium oblongo-lineare, gla- brum ; styli breves, discreti ; stigmata parva plumulosa. Inflorescentia : racemus simplex, secundus. Gramina mollia. Folia brevia. Spiculae bro- 284 Von Esenbeck on new species of Glumaceoc. moideae, oblongo-lineares, speciosse. Locus inter Poas Glycerieas juxta Glyceriam, cui mediante Glyceria (Windsoria) pallida consiliatur. Forsan hsec W. pallida, amplificato generis nostri charactere, isti potest connecti. — California, Douglas. Poly anther ix Hystrix, (Trib. Triticeas. Locus inter Elymum et Mgilopem.) Ch. Gen. Rhachis spicas articulata. Spiculae disticho-alternse, geminae, rhachi oblique parallelae, pluriflorae, subsessiles. Glumae binae, collaterals, hinc ad speciem quaternse, profunde bifidae laciniis bifidis trifidisve omnibus longe setaceis, tertia (ubi adest) minima. Flosculi 3 — 4, inferiorum uno alterove sterili glumis simili, summo tabescente. Fertilium valvula infe- rior cbartacea, ex apice bidentato bisetove longe setigera ; superior minor, integra, marginibus inflexis, flexurse angulis ciliatis. Lodiculae lanceolatae, in- tegrae, ciliatae. Stamina 3, antberis brevibus. Ovarium apice hirsutum ; styli distantes ; stigmata plumosa. Gramina specie Elymi et Hordei. Po- lyantherix Hystrix est JEgilops Hystrix Nutt. gen. I. p. 86. — California, Douglas. Poa Douglasii ; paniculae ovatae ovalisve densse spiciformis ramis geminis brevibus inaequalibus, 6piculis ovatis compressis trifloris pallidis, valvulis acutis basi liberis dorso parce ciliolatis, inferiori acute carinata 5-nervi, culmo (foliis breviori) simplici ad paniculam usque vaginato, vaginis albo- membranaceis, foliisque convoluto-filiformibus glabris et laevibus, radice repente (filiformi). Est e societate Poarum : tricoloris, conformis, curvulse, abbreviatae R. Br. etc. — California, Douglas. Ckasmanthium ornithorhynchum; racemo subspicato simplici, flosculis divaricatis eequivalvibus. (Ckasmanthium gracile Link sic describo: Ch. racemo composito, flosculis erectis inaequivalvibus. In charactere generico del. : "valvula superior brevior." — Alabama, Drummond. Ceratochloa simplex ; racemo simplici paucifloro erecto, spiculis oblongo- lanceolatis pubescentibus, arista flosculum subaequante, gluma superiori et valvula inferiori 7-nervibus, vaginis retrorsum foliis in pagina superiori an- trorsum pubescentibus. (Species a reliquis distinctu facilis.) — Peru, Mathews, No. 717. Eragrostis cretacea ; spica simplici rigida, rhachi undata margin ata, spi- culis secundis distichis incumbentibus alternis 4-floris subovalibus utrinque convexis, glumis sequalibus ad carinam bisulcis, valvula inferiori ovata ob- tusa angulato-trinervi, culmo humili erecto simplici compresso, foliis angus- tis complicatis glabris. Similis Eragrosti\ bifarice, sed habitu alieno. — Madras, Mr. Griffith. Meoschium Griffithii, N. fy W.\ spicis binis, spicula altera subsessili, utriusque gluma inferiori late semiovata margine exteriori dilatato aliformi laevi, reliquo dorso a basi usque ad medium fere transversim arcuato-rugoso cartilagineo, spicula subsessili hemiologama mutica, foliis linearibus vagi- nisque glabris, culmo humili ad apicem usque vaginato. Meoschio Arnot- tiano affine, at sat distinctum. — Madras, Mr. Griffith. Isolepis hispidula ; capitulo globoso polystachyo densissimo, spiculis com- prcsso-trigonis pubescenti-scabris ovalibus, squamis ovatis carinatis infra Mr. Eyton on the Fauna of Shropshire. 285 apicem mucronatis pallidis carina viridi trinervi, involuero diphyllo altero capitulum suba3quante, foliis subulatis brevibus culmoque pubescentibus, vaginis ore barbatis, caryopsi obovato-trigona laeviuscula. Isolepidi bar- bates similis, difFerre videtur pubescentia et foliis crassioribus, cet. — Madras, Mr. Griffith. XXXII. — An Attempt to ascertain the Fauna of Shropshire and North Wales. By T. C. Eyton, Esq. [Continued from Mag. of Zool. and Bot., vol. ii. p. 542.] No. II. Aves. Falco peregrinus, Ray. (Peregrine Falcon.) Not an uncommon bird on the Welsh coast, rearing its young on shelves of rock over- hanging the sea. I have never observed nests nearer to one another than two miles. Two or three specimens have occurred in Shrop- shire. A fine old bird was this winter (1837) procured by John Rocke, Esq., near Clungurford. I have several times succeeded in training the young bird (the lanner of Fleming and Pennant,) for hawking pigeons and partridges, and found the process much easier than I could have supposed from the accounts of it given in the older books on the subject ; indeed, excepting the treatise by Sir John Sebright, there is not more humbug contained in any description of books than in those on hawking. The trachea of the Peregrine Falcon is furnished with two pairs of muscles of voice, similar to those described by Mr. Yarrell in the Linnsean Transactions to exist in the Indian crowned pigeon. Falco Subbuteo, Ray. (Hobby.) Several specimens have occurred near the Stretton hills in Shropshire : all that I have seen have been in the young state of plumage. Falco Msalon, Ray. (Merlin.) Rare in Shropshire, but breeds not uncommonly in the neighbourhood of Cader Icjris, where the young are generally supposed to be of a different species, and is called the stone Falcon. Falco Tinnunculus, Ray. (Kestrel.) Common. The kestrel is generally supposed to be the most common of the British hawks ; but in the neighbourhood of Eyton, and I believe that most of the gamekeepers in Shropshire will say the same, the sparrow-hawk is decidedly the most common. On the Welsh coast, on the contrary, I have obtained in general about four specimens of the kestrel for one of the sparrow-hawk. Falco (Menofalco, Cuv.) Islandicus, Linn. (Gyr Falcon.) One of 286 Mr. Eyton on the Fauna of Shropshire. these rare British birds was killed three or four years ago on Lord Cawdor's estate in Wales. Aquila Chrysaetos, Linn. (Golden Eagle.) " This kind of eagle sometimes migrates into Caernarvonshire, and there are instances, though rare, of its having bred in the Snowdon hills, from whence some writers give that tract the name of Creigiau'r eryri, or the eagle rocks." — Penn. Brit. Zool. Falco (Pandion, Sav.) Haliaetos, Linn. (Osprey.) A fine specimen is in the possession of Burton Borough, Esq., of Chetwynd, Salop, killed a few years ago, while hovering over a pool near that place. Accipiter fringillarius, Ray. (Sparrow-hawk.) Common. Milvus regalis, Briss. (Kite.) Formerly common both in this county and in Wales, but is now becoming rare in consequence of the persecution it has undergone from gamekeepers. Falco Buteo, Sibb. (Lagopus, Linn.) (Rough-legged Buzzard.) A specimen is in my collection, killed near Ludlow ; and in the edi- tion of Pennant's British Zoology, published in 1812, vol. i. p. 228, will be found a note mentioning a specimen, obtained in Flintshire. Buteo vulgaris, Sibb. (Common Buzzard.) Common in North Wales ; now and then I have observed a solitary one, or a pair, in some of the large woodlands in Shropshire. This species is easily tamed. Falco (Circus, Briss.) cineraceus, Mont. (Ash-coloured Harrier.) But one of this species has come under my observation, nor have I ever heard of others. The specimen alluded to was killed near Dol- gelly. Falco (Circus, Briss.) Pygargus, Linn. (Common Harrier.) I have several times observed these birds near Corwen ; they have also been observed near Walford by R. A. Slaney, Esq. It is remark- able with what regularity they return to the same beat at the same time for many days together, which propensity often tends to their destruction. Circus rufus, Briss. (Moor Buzzard.) Common in Wales. This bird takes endless varieties with regard to the colouring of the head, the crown being sometimes of the same colour as the rest of the body, (as in the specimen figured in Loudon's Mag. Nat. Hist., which is now in my possession,) and sometimes nearly white. Otus vulgaris, Flem. (Long-eared Owl.) Though not common, has several times occurred in the district. Strix (Otus, Cuv.) Brachyotus, Gmel. (Short-eared Owl.) Tole- rably common in Wales, where it is called the Woodcock Owl, from its arriving about the same time with that bird. Mr. Eyton on the Fauna of Shropshire. 28? Strix flammea, Linn. (Barn Owl.) Common. Strix (Syrnium, Sav.) stridula, Linn. (Wood Owl.) Common. Strix (Syrnium, Sav.) Tengmalmi, Linn. The bird described by- Pennant under the name little owl, does, I believe, belong to this species ; he mentions it as having occurred in Flintshire. Lanius Excubitor, Linn. (Great Shrike.) Only once observed near Capel Curig, North Wales, in the month of May. Lanius Collurio, Linn. (Red-backed Shrike.) Very common in Wales, particularly near Capel Curig and Barmouth ; at the latter place they feed chiefly on insects belonging to the genus Geotrupes, which particularly abound. At Capel Curig grasshoppers appear to constitute their chief food : some dozens of them may be seen on the side of the hill above the lakes, which is thinly covered with scattered hawthorn bushes, and abounds with their prey. This spe- cies, when taken young, is very easily tamed, and makes a mis- chievous but amusing pet. Muscicapa grisola, Ray. (Spotted Fly- catcher.) Common. Muscicapa atricapilla, Gmel. (Pied Fly-catcher.) The Rev. John Rocke, of Clungurford, possesses a specimen of this bird killed near Downton. Bomby cilia Bohemica, Briss. (Bohemian Chatterer.) Four spe- cimens were killed a few years ago by the last-mentioned gentleman, and are now in his possession, beautifully preserved by Mr. Shaw of Shrewsbury. Other specimens have also occurred in the neighbour- hood of Oswestry. Turdus Merula, Linn. (Blackbird.) Common. The white va- riety has also occurred. Turdus torquatus, Linn. (Ring-Ousel.) Not uncommon in Wales. I have several times observed them on the Borroyn chain, near Cor- wen, but never in the valleys or on the tops of the hills ; but at a certain elevation, until driven out, they keep themselves closely hid in the fern and heath-bushes. An observation of this kind with re- gard to elevation was made on a species of thrush inhabiting Java (T. varius) by Dr. Horsfield. Turdus viscivorus, Linn. (Missel Thrush.) Common. This bird among the lower classes in Shropshire is known by the name of the storm cock, from its being said to utter its peculiar chattering note before rain. Turdus pilaris, Linn. (Fieldfare.) Common. Mr. Selby, in his British Ornithology, states that these birds do not arrive until No- vember in this country. I have observed a flight of them in Shrop- 288 Mr. Eytoii on the Fauna of Shropshire. shire as early as the 20th of September. They occasionally remain as late as the 20th of April. Turdus iliacus, Linn. (Redwing.) Common. A few of these birds remain in the neighbourhood of Eyton all the summer. In order to place this beyond doubt I have killed several, but have never suc- ceeded in finding their nests : the great bulk of them, however, ar- rive about the same time as the preceding. Cinclus aquaticuSy Bechst. (Dipper.) Common on most rocky rivers in the district. Motacilla (Saxicola, Bechst.) Rubicola, Linn. (Stone-chat.) Com- mon in Wales, particularly in the neighbourhood of Holyhead : not nearly so abundant in Shropshire. Motacilla (Saxicola, Bechst.) Rubetra, Linn. (Whin-chat.) Com- mon during the summer months in Shropshire, where it is called the utich or hutic. Motacilla (Saxicola, Bechst.) CEnanthe, Linn. (Wheat-ear.) Rather rare in the district ; all that I have observed have been in September, probably during their migration. Motacilla (Ficedula, Bechst.) Rubecula, Linn. (Red-breast.) Com- mon. Motacilla (Philomela, Sw.) Luscinia, Linn. (Nightingale.) Fre- quents during summer the southern border of the district : I cannot trace them further northward than the Wrekin. Sylvia (Salicaria, Selby.) arundinacea, Lath. (Reed Warbler.) Common. Sylvia (Salicaria, Selby.) Phragmitis, Bechst. (Sedge Warbler.) Not so common as the preceding. Motacilla (Curruca, Briss.) Atricapilla, Linn. (Blackcap.) Com- mon. Sylvia (Curruca, Briss.) cinerea, Lath. (Greater White-throat.) Common. Arrives generally during the first fortnight in April. Curruca garrula, Briss. (Lesser White-throat.) Somewhat rare, but I have always observed a few specimens in the neighbourhood of Eyton before the leaves appear, and generally before the arrival of the greater white-throat. Motacilla (Accentor, Bechst.) modularis, Linn. (Hedge Sparrow.) Common. Sylvia (Regulus, Cuv.) ignicapilla, Brehm. (Fire-crested Wren.) Rare ; but two or three specimens have been observed. Regulus aurocapillus, Selby. (Gold-crested Wren.) Common. Sylvia (Sylvicola, nob.) sibilatrix, Bechst. (Yellow Wren.) Ar- Mr. Eyton on the Fauna of Shropshire. 289 rives in Salop generally during the last week in April : not so com- mon as the two following. Sylvia (Sylvicola, nob.) Trochilus, Lath. (Willow Wren.) Com- mon : arrives generally before. the last-mentioned species. Sylvia (Sylvicola, nob.) rufa, Lath. (Chiff- Chaff.) Common, and arrives about the same time with the last. The three last-men- tioned species are difficult to distinguish : the only constant charac- ter appears to be the sloping of the quill-feathers, given in Jenyns' Manual of British Vertebrata. Troglodytes Europceus, Steph. (Wren.) Common. Motacilla alba, Linn. (White Wagtail.) Common. Motacilla (Budytes, Cuv.) flava, Linn. (Yellow Wagtail.) Com- mon : generally observed to arrive about the 29th of April. Motacilla (Budytes, Cuv.) Boarula, Linn. (Grey Wagtail.) Com- mon : departs about the end of March, and arrives in September. Alauda (Anthus, Bechst.) trivialis, Linn. (Pipit Lark.) Occa- sionally met with near Eyton, but net commonly. Alauda (Anthus, Bechst.) pratensis, Linn. (Tit Lark.) Very common during the winter months, in company with wagtails on flooded meadows. Anthus aguaticus, Bechst. (Rock Lark.) Found in the neigh- bourhood of Holyhead, particularly between the town and the South Stack lighthouse, where it may be seen hopping about in search of small marine animals on stones which the sea has just left. Alauda arvensis, Linn. (The Lark.) Common. Alauda arborea, Linn. (Wood Lark.) I have never observed this species in the neighbourhood of Eyton, but near Walford it is not uncommon, remaining all the year. Parus major, Linn. (Great Titmouse.) Common. Parus ater, Linn. (Cole Tit.) Common. Parus palustris, Linn. (Marsh Tit.) Common. Parus cozrulcus, Linn. (Blue Tit.) Common. Parus caudatus, Linn. (Long-tailed Tit.) The singular provin- cial name of Huggen muffin is attached to this bird. Emberiza Citrinella, Linn. (Yellow-hammer.) Equally common everywhere. Specimens obtained^ Anglesey, near Holyhead, were of a much brighter yellow than those obtained at the same time of year in Shropshire. Emberiza Scliccniculus, Linn. (Reed Bunting.) Common. Emberiza Milaria, Linn. (Great Bunting.) Common. Fringilla (Pyrgita, Cuv.) domestica, Linn. (Sparrow.) Common. Fringilla (Pyrgita, Cuv.) montana, Linn. (Mountain Sparrow.) Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol.1. No. 4. June 1838. u 290 Mr. Eyton on the Fauna of Shropshire. Rare in the district, but occasionally seen in the neighbourhood of Walford. Fringilla Ccelebs, Linn. (Chaffinch.) Common. Fringilla Montifringilla, Linn. (Brambling.) Occurs regularly, but sparingly, in Shropshire, during the winter months, frequenting beech trees, and feeding on the mast. Carduelis aurata, nob. (Goldfinch.) Common. Fringilla (Linaria, Bechst.) Spinus, Linn. (Siskin.) Found com- monly in Shropshire during winter ; frequenting the tops of alder trees, on the seed of which it feeds, in company with the lesser red- pole. Fringilla (Linaria, Bechst.) borealis, Roux. Linaria canescens, Gould. (Mealy Redpole.) At different times, I have obtained seve- ral specimens of this bird in Shropshire, but have never observed them in large nights, the utmost number I have ever seen together being ten or twelve, in company with the siskin, in which points they differ in habit from both the greater and lesser redpoles. Fringilla (Linaria, Bechst.) flavirostris, Linn. (Lesser Redpole.) Common in winter, in company with the siskin, and feeding in the same manner. Fringilla (Linaria, Bechst.) cannabina, Linn. (Greater Redpole.) Common. Fringilla (Linaria, Bechst.) Montium, Gmel. (Mountain Linnet.) Occasionally found in Shropshire : common in North Wales, where it breeds, making its nest on the ground under the shelter of some furze bush or tuft of grass. Loxia (Co ceo thraustes, Briss.) Chloris, Linn. (Greenfinch.) Com* mon. Loxia (Coccothraustes, Briss.) vulgaris, Flem. (Grosbeak.) A regular winter visitant, frequenting fir trees in the neighbourhood of Hawkstone and elsewhere, and often seen in company with the crossbill. Pyrrhula vulgaris, Temm. (Bullfinch.) Common. Loxia curvirostra, Linn. (Crossbill.) Occasionally found on fir and pine trees, during the autumn and winter months, particularly such as stand high, as in those 9^ Hawkstone and Pimhill : arrives in September. Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. (Starling.) Common. I have at differ- ent times seen many starlings, with their upper and lower mandi- bles crossed ; one is in my collection : they have all been birds taken from the nest. Query. Does not a tendency to this monstrosity show an affinity to the crossbills ? Mr. Eyton on the Fauna of Shropshire. 291 Turdus (Pastor, Temm.) roseus, Linn. (Rose Ousel.) A beauti- ful male specimen of this very rare British bird was killed three or four years ago in the garden behind the hotel at Holyhead, where it had been observed for a day or two before ; its habits were described by the gardener as being like those of the thrush : the preserved skin is in the possession of Captain Stephens, formerly of that place, who kindly permitted me to inspect it. Corvus (Fregilus, Cuv.) Graculus, Linn. (Chough.) Found com- monly on all the bold headlands of the Welsh coast. I have seve- ral times procured young ones and tamed them : they are exceed- ingly amusing, though very mischievous, stealing everything they can carry off. I never, although they made all sorts of odd noises, succeeded in teaching one of them to articulate clearly any sound : they were particularly fond of cheese, attacking any nest of mites whenever they could find their road to the cupboard : they learned to know the servants' dinner hour, and if not admitted would rap at the window with their strong bills, much to the danger of the glass. During winter, in their wild state, they proceed some distance into the country, often accompanying flights of rooks and jackdaws; but during summer I have never observed them far from the sea-coast. Corvus Monedula, Linn. (Jackdaw.) Common. Corvus frugilegus , Linn. (Rook.) Common. Corvus Corax, Linn. (Raven.) Often observed in Wales : a few pair breed in Shropshire, and have been known to build in the same trees from time immemorial, in spite of the nest being robbed every year. Corvus Corone, Linn. (Crow.) Common. Corvus Comix, Linn. (Hooded or Royston Crow.) A few years ago I obtained one of these birds during winter by setting a trap near a dead sheep : this is the only instance I know of its occurrence. Pica caudata, Will. (Magpie.) Common during winter. More than two or three of these birds are seldom seen together ; but in March and April, after they have built their nests, I have observed flights of forty and fifty roost in the same plantation. Corvus (Garrulus, Briss.) glandarius, Linn. (Jay.) Common. I have several times observed that if the nest of this bird be found and the eggs touched or disturbed, they are sure shortly to disappear. Query. Are they carried off by the bird to some safer situation ? Corvus (Nucifraga, Briss.) Caryocatactes, Linn. (Nut-cracker.) The only specimen that I know of, obtained in the district, is one mentioned in Pennant's 'British Zoology,' killed near Mostyn in Flintshire, October 5, 1753. u 2 292 Mr. Eyton on the Fauna of Shropshire. Hirundo (Cypselus, 111.) Apus, Linn. (Swift.) Common. " Hirundo urbica, Linn. (House Martin.) Common ; arrives about the same time with the swallow. Hirundo rustica, Linn. (Swallow.) Common : arrives generally about the 20th of April, but I have observed one or two earlier. Hirundo riparia, Linn. (Sand Martin.) Common : arrives the first of the swallow tribe, generally about the 10th, or from that to the 15th, of April. Caprimulgus Europccus, Linn. (Goat- sucker.) Common in North Wales; not very common in Salop. Sitta Europcca, Linn. (Nuthatch.) Common, Certhia familiaris, Linn. (Creeper.) Common. Upupa Epops, Ray. (Hoopoe.) One individual of this species was observed near the Black Bushes, Salop, four or five years ago, and shortly afterwards one was killed in the neighbourhood, probably the same : it is now in the collection of Sir Andrew Tobit, Bart. Alcedo Ispida, Ray. (Kingfisher.) Common. A short time ago, having placed a net partially over a small bait pool, stocked with minnows, to defend them from the herons, a kingfisher got entangled on the under side of it, and was drowned in the heat of the chase : he must have gone two or three inches under water in order to get round the edge of the net. Picus viridis,Ray. (Green Woodpecker.) Common. Picus major, Linn. (Greater Spotted Woodpecker.) Not so com- mon as the other two species. Picus minor, Linn. (Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.) Common at Nesscliff and Hawks tone. Cuculus canorus, Linn. (Cuckoo.) Common, arriving about the 10th of May. I once obtained a young one as late as the end of September. Tetrao Tetrix, Linn. (Black Game.) Found in most of the ex- tensive heaths of Shropshire : has been introduced on the Beswyn chain near Corwen, but appears to decrease in numbers. Tetrao (Lagopus,Vieil\.)Scoticus, Lath. (Red Grouse.) Common on the Welsh mountains, and also on the Stiperstones in Shropshire. Perdix cinerea, Ray. (Partridge.) Common : the partridges found on the Welsh mountains are of a smaller size than those of Shrop- shire. Coturnix vulgaris, Flem. (Quail.) In former times appears to have been met with rather commonly in Shropshire by sportsmen in September, but of late years rarely. I once saw a bevy of nine near Eyton. Mr. Gray on Phalangista Cookii. 293 Columba Palumbus, Linn. (Wood Pigeon Quice.) Common du- ring the winter months, doing great mischief to the young clover by feeding on it, picking out the green leaves in the centre of each bunch. Columba (Enas, Ray. (Stock Dove.) Common. Turtur auritus, Ray. (Turtle Dove.) Breeds iu Shropshire, where it is called the Wrekin dove. XXX III. — A Reply to Mr. Ogilby's Communication to the Annals of Natural History respecting Phalangista Cookii. By J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., Senior Assistant in the Zo- ological Department of the British Museum. My dear Sir, In replying to Mr. Ogilby's communication in your last Number I will not suffer myself to be betrayed into the use of acrimonious ex- pressions, which are unsuited to scientific discussions, and serve only to irritate, and which I should regret the moment they were written. The only purport of this note is to explain, in as few words as possible, my impressions relative to the material facts adverted to in the com- munication to which I refer. The scientific objects of that communication are two in number ; first, Mr. Ogilby contends that my name of Antilope Zebra should yield to that of A, Doria previously published by him ; and on this point, as your readers are already aware, we are agreed : — secondly, Mr. Ogilby maintains that the name of Phalangista Cookii should be applied to the animal discovered by Sir Joseph Banks in Cook's first voyage, instead of that figured and described by Captain Cook himself. On this we differ ; but I know not why this difference of opinion should give rise to angry feelings, or lead to the imputation of unworthy motives. As regards the first point, it is scarcely necessary to do more than refer to the note which you have already printed (p. 221). I may state, however, that when my description of the two more perfect spe- cimens of the antelope in question, then in my possession, was printed in the Annals, I was quite unconscious that Mr. Ogilby had pub- lished anything on the subject. Mr. Bennett had described the ori- ginal specimen as " obtained by Mr. Gould from Algoa Bay," and had indicated his opinion of its relations in the following terms : *' The quality of the fur is rather rigid, and the hairs are adpressed, 294 Mr. Gray on Phalangista Cookii. resembling in these particulars the covering of the zebras. It may not improbably belong to some species of antelope with which Euro- peans are yet unacquainted." (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, p. 123.) Mr. Ogilby's reference to it (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1836, p. 121) is verbatim as follows : " The beautiful species mentioned by Mr. Bennett (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1833, p. 1), which is a real antelope, and which I hope shortly to have an opportunity of describing in detail under the name of A. Doria, as a friend who has connections with the west coast of Africa has kindly undertaken to procure me skins." — He refers it, without stating any reason, to a group of antelopes, all the distinct- ive characters of which, as given by himself in the same place, are derived from the head and horns, neither of which (in A . Doria) are yet known to zoologists. This brief and incidental notice I had en- tirely overlooked ; but immediately on being made acquainted with it, so little did I desire to usurp the honours of a questionable name, that I wrote of my own accord to Mr. Ogilby, stating my " intention to correct the error in the next Number of the Annals." At the same time I wrote the note published in your last Number, which, however, not being immediately sent to you, was mislaid and forgotten. To the charge of having neglected to send you the promised correction I plead guilty in the fullest extent, and must patiently submit to the punishment due to my crime. I may plead, however, in mitigation, that I had already placed in Mr. Ogilby's own hands a full and volun- tary confession of my default. On the question of nomenclature (the only practical point involved in the second count of Mr. Ogilby's indictment), I am more than ever convinced, after a careful re-examination of the subject, of the justice of the conclusion to which I had originally come. My Phalangista Banksii was discovered at Endeavour River, within the tropic, on the east coast of New Holland, by Sir J. Banks, in Captain Cook's first voyage (see Hawkesworth, iii. 586) ; it is not however there described, but a specimen brought home by the expedition formed the basis of Pennant's description of his " New Holland Opossum" in his History of Quadrupeds, edit. 1781, p. 310, and I am not aware of any other published description that can with certainty be referred to this species. My Ph. Cookii was found at Adventure Bay in Van Die- men's Land, in Captain Cook's third voyage ; it is there described and figured. That figure and description are universally referred to as the originals from which the name of Ph. Cookii was derived; and even if the specimen described by authors under that name belonged to a different species, I should still maintain that the name of Ph. Cookii ought to remain connected with the animal figured Mr. Gray on Phalangista Cookii. 295 and described by Captain Cook himself. But it is quite unnecessary for my argument to go this length ; for although Mr. Ogilby states very decidedly that the specimens in the Paris Museum belong to the continental or New Holland species, (meaning, I presume, that which was originally found at Endeavour River,) I think there are strong grounds for doubting the correctness of this opinion, which I will now proceed to state. 1st. All the French writers, as far as I am aware, who have de- scribed the Phalangista Cookii, and who mention its locality, speak of it as peculiar to Van Diemen's Land. 2ndly. Their descriptions appear to me strictly applicable to the Van Diemen's Land species. 3rdly. The original specimens in the French Museum are stated by M. Desmarest to have been brought home by Peron and Lesueur, and by M. Temminck to have been derived from the voyage of Labillardiere. I know not which of these gentlemen is right, but in either case it is much more probable that the specimens were from Van Diemen's Land than from Endeavour River, both expeditions having visited Adventure Bay, while Peron and Lesueur touched at no part of the east coast of New Holland, except Port Jackson, and Labillar- diere did not visit that coast at all. I may add, that the Van Diemen's Land species is by far the most abundant in our own collections *. These reasons appear to me to be so conclusive, that I would even venture to hope that they may induce Mr. Ogilby to reconsider his opinion. As regards the personal matter introduced into the question by Mr. Ogilby, I am loath to meddle with it ; he has, however, rendered it necessary that I should state the facts in justice to myself, and I am determined that this shall be done without a word of harshness or recrimination. Long before Mr. Ogilby made his observations on the subject at the Zoological Society, I had satisfied myself that there existed two very distinct varieties or species of white- tailed pha- langer, confounded by Shaw under the name of " White-tailed Opos- * To obviate any misunderstanding, it may be observed that M. Temminck has erroneously referred to a specimen in the French Museum, brought home by M. Gaimard, as having been procured from the island of Ravvak, one of the Moluccas ; but this error has been corrected by M. Lesson (Diet. Class. d'Hist. Nat. 13.), who, after giving Van Diemen's Land as the ha- bitat of the species, expressly states that the specimen in question was ob- tained alive at Port Jackson. With the same view, I may add, that the ani- mal described and figured as the Ph. Cookii in M. Frederic Cuvier's " Mam- miferes," and again described by the same author in the Diet, des Sciences Naturelles, under the name of Petaurus Cookii, belongs to a very different species from either of those in question. 296 Mr. Gray on Phalangista Cookii. sum." Mr. Ogilby's observations in no degree altered the view which I had already taken, but satisfied me, that as our courses were diametrically opposite, we could not possibly interfere with each other; and I did not hesitate, when adding my notes to Mr. Gunn's com- munication, to publish my long-formed opinion on the subject of one of the species therein mentioned. I did not refer to Mr. Ogilby's observations, because (as they were then unpublished) I might have unconsciously misrepresented them, and I could have referred to them for no other purpose than that of controverting his views, a task which on all occasions I would if possible avoid. Neither did I refer to the specimens, of which there are three, in the collection of the British Museum, and that for the same reason as is stated for the same forbearance on the part of Mr. Ogilby himself, " because I was unacquainted with their precise habitat," the localities obtained from dealers being in most cases difficult of verification. That they are of the same species with that figured in Cook's Voyage, I never en- tertained a doubt, and the specific name of Cookii was consequently long since attached to one of them, which has been for several years in the collection : the only recent alteration has been to substitute in place of the paper label another painted one bearing my new ge- neric name. With respect to the " supposition" that this was done in conse- quence of a visit to the Museum of the Zoological Society, and a re- freshment of my memory from the abstract of Mr. Ogilby's observa- tions in the minute book of the Society, I have only to state, that I have not visited the Museum for some months, except on the Anni- versary Meeting of the Society held therein on the 30th of April, the day on which Mr. Ogilby's communication was published in your last Number ; that I have never inspected the minute book for this or any similar purpose ; and further, that I have never seen Mr. Ogilby's name attached to the skins of either of the species of Pha- langista in question, or to the mutilated portions of the skin of A. Doria in the Society's collection. If I have reproduced Mr. Ogilby's observations " almost word for word," one or other of us must have been singularly unfortunate in the choice of expressions, our views being so totally unlike ; but I am wholly unconscious of any such coincidence ; and it is not the least remarkable part of the " suppo- sition," that I am at the same time accused of this extreme accuracy of memory, and of having entirely forgotten the only point in which I was immediately and personally interested. Two other questions of nomenclature are introduced by Mr. Ogilby. The first of them has reference to my generic name for the group of L. Agassiz on the Echinodtrmata, 297 animals of which Ph. Cookii forms part, which he rejects because it is believed to be the native name of an animal not comprehended in that group. If all generic names (whether classical or barbarous) in the same predicament were to be rejected, how many new names would it not be necessary to introduce into the science in place of those given by the highest authorities ! The other question has re- ference to my Halmaturus Tasmanei ; and as Mr. Ogilby admits it is merely one of precedence, I leave it therefore on his own statement to the decision of those whom it may concern ; observing only, that " previously" can in no way apply to the 28th of February in refer- ence to the 10th of the same month in the same year, or to the 1st of May in reference to the 1st of April. I regret to have been placed under the necessity of occupying so much of your valuable space on questions of little more than per- sonal importance. I trust, however, that I have treated them without any exhibition of personal feeling, and it would give me sincere plea- sure to find them met in a similar spirit. Yours most sincerely, John Edward Gray. British Museum, 10th May, 1838. XXXIV. — Prodromus of a Monograph of the Radiata and Echinodermata. By Louis Agassiz, D.M.* [Continued from p. 43.] I. The order Fistulides or the Holothurise contains but one family, which corresponds to the genus Holothuria of Linnaeus, with the exception of those species which did not rightly belong there. Their body is soft, contractile, more or less elongated, beset with tentacula similar to those of the ambulacra of the Echini, and are sometimes arranged as regularly as in the latter. The mouth is situated at the anterior extremity of the body, surrounded by appendices, more or less rami- fied and fringed ; the anus is placed towards the opposite extremity. Notwithstanding the elongated form of these animals, by which they more or less resemble worms, we perceive in the interior and even at the surface the radiated disposition of certain parts of their body, which are arranged in vertical bands, extending from the mouth to the posterior extremity. The numerous species which this division now contains renders it necessary to establish several genera, which * Translated from the Annates des Sciences Naturelles for May 1837. 298 L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. are however not yet well enough based to be admitted without re- serve. Several of them I have not had occasion to examine myself. 1. Synapta, Esch. {Fistularia, De Bl. — Tiedemannia, Leuck. — Holothuria, De Bl. sect. D.) — Body vermiform, presenting no differ- ence between the upper and under surface ; epidermis delicate ; the mouth surrounded by large pinnatifid tentacula. Tubercles, for the most part crooked, and serve as feet, although the animal is not en- tirely destitute of vascular tubes. S. Beselii, Jaeg. — S. oceanica, Less. — S. mammillosa, Esch. — 5. vittata, Jgeg. — (Tiedemannia vitt., Leuck.) — S. reciprocans, Jseg. — (Fistularia, re- cipr., ForsJc. — Holothuria glutinosa, Lam.) — S. maculata, Jaeg. (Hoi. mac., Cham.) — S. radiosa, Jaeg. (Hoi. rad., Regn.) — S. inhcerens, Wieg. (Hoi. inh., Mull) 2. Chirodota, Esch. — Epidermis thin, rather thicker however than in Synapta, beset with a small number of feet or merely of re- tractile mammillae. Tentacula digitate. Ch. purpurea, Less. — Ch. lumbricus, Esch. — Ch. verrucosa, Esch. — Ch. discolor, Esch. 3. Thyone, Oken. (Mulleria, Flem.) This genus differs from the preceding solely in having the entire body covered with retractile papillae. Th. papillosa (H. papill., Mull).—Th. fusus (H. fus., Mull.).—Th. im- patiens (B. imp., Forsk.). — Th. maculata (Hoi. mac, Le S.). — Th. Briareus (Hoi. Br., Le S.).—Th. lapidifera (H. lapid., Le S.).— Th. peruviana (H. peruv., Le S.). 4. Trepang, Jaeg. — Body subcylindrical; mouth anterior, sur- rounded by ten to twenty tentacula in a peltate head ; feet confined to the belly. This genus is doubtful, and ought probably to be united to the Holothuriae properly so called. T. edulis (Hoi. edul., Less.). — T. ananas, Jseg. 5. Holothuria, Linn. ; DeBl. sect. B. {Fistularia, Lam.) — Body subcylindrical, anus rounded ; mouth subinferior. Retractile tubes developed, especially under the belly. H. tubulosa, Linn. — H. columnce, Cuv. — H. maxima, Forsk. — H. elegans, Mull.— H. Forskalii, Delle Ch.— H. Petagnii, Delle Ch.— H. Sanctorii, Delle Ch.— H. Cavolinii, Delle Ch— H. Polii, Delle Ch.— H. Stellati, Delle Ch. — H. Dismarii, Cuv. — H. appendiculata, De Bl. — H. radackensis, Cham. — //. brunnea, Cham. — H. agglutinata, Le S. — H. umbrina, Rupp. et Leuk. — H. quadrangular is, Less. — H.fusco-cinerea, Jseg. — H. atra, Jseg. — H. fusco-punctata, Jseg. — H. lilla, Less. — H. scabra, Jseg. — //. monacaria, Less. 6. Mulleria, Jaeg. — Back convex ; belly flat ; skin coriaceous ; twenty tentacula peltate and disposed in two series round the mouth ; L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. 299 five teeth surrounding the anus, to which are attached the longitu- dinal muscles. In other respects it resembles HolotJmria. M. echinites, Jseg. — M. Lecanora, Jseg. 7. Bohadschia, Jseg. — Differs from the genus Mulleria by the star-like form of the anus. This genus otherwise approaches closely to Holothuria. B. marmorata, Jseg. — B. ocellata, Jseg. — B. Argus, Jseg. — B. lineolata, Jseg. — B. albiguttata, Jseg. 8. Cuvieria, Peron. — Inferior surface flat and soft, furnished with a great number of feet ; superior surface inflated, supported by bony scales, pierced in front by a starlike orifice, which is the mouth, and from which the tentacula proceed, on the under side by a round aperture, which is the anus. C. Squammata (Hoi. Squammata, Mull.). — C. Cuvieri, Jseg. 9. Psolus, Oken. — Back convex ; belly flat; all the feet situated in the middle of the under part of the body ; tentacula ramified, sim- ple, not peltate. When the animal crawls, it raises its two extre- mities where the head and anus are situated, which are more con- tractile than the middle part, especially the anal extremity. Ps. Phantopus (Hoi. Ph., Linn.). — Ps. appendiculatus (Hoi. appen., De BL). — Ps. Timama (Hoi. Tim., Less.). 10. Pentacta, Goldf. (Cucumaria, Cuv. et Jseg.)— Body cylin- drical or oval-oblong ; pedicules disposed in five series ; tentacula pinnate or branchy. P. crocea (Hoi. croc, Less.). — P. Pentactes (Hoi. Pent., Mull.). — P. Gcertneri (Hoi. Gaert., De BL). — P. frondosa (H. frond., Gun.). — P. Do- lolium (H. Dol. ,Pall.). — P. tentaculata (Hoi. tent., Forst.). — P.lcevis (Hoi. lsevis, Fabr.). — P. minuta (Hoi. min., Fabr.). — P. pellucida (Hoi. pellu- cida, Mull.). 11. Minyas, Cuv. — Body spheroidal, opened at both extremities, grooved like a melon at the two sides, which extend from the anus to the mouth, and which are formed of solid and corneous papillae ; mouth surrounded by three series of short, vermicular, and rounded tentacula. This genus and the preceding connect the Holothurise with the Echinides. M. cyanea, Cuv. (M. coerulea, Less.) II. The order of the Echinides is characterized by a solid shell, sphe- roidal, composed of adherent plates, and covered with moveable spines ; all of them have a distinct mouth and anus. I divide them into three natural families, which are the Spatangi, the Clypeastres, and the Cidarites. 300 L. Agassiz on the Echinodermaia. L The Spatangi have the body more or less elongated and gibbous ; their mouth is furnished with jaws, and is placed towards the anterior extremity, and the anus towards the posterior extremity, sometimes on the upper surface of the disc, sometimes on the lower. Their shell is thin, covered with small tubercles, very numerous, among which are observed some larger ones, which are scattered and often per- forated like those of the Cidarites. The spines are setaceous, often compressed, and of unequal size. The anterior ambulacrum is gene- rally less developed than the rest; they form round the mouth grooves, where the holes are larger and whence proceed ramified tentacula like those of the Holothurise. There are only four ovidu- cal plates, which are very distinct. 1 . Disaster, Ag. (Spatangus, Ananchytes , et Nucleolites, auct.) The odd ambulacrum and those of the anterior pair converge at a point situated at a greater or less distance from the point of junction of the two posterior ambulacra. All the species of this genus are fossils of the chalk or of the jura. D. bicordatus, Ag. (Spatangus bic, Gold/.) — D. ellipticus, Ag. (Anan- chytes ellipt, Lam.) — D. excentricus, Ag. (Nucleolites excentr., Munst.) — D. canaliculatus, Ag. (Nucleo. canal., Munst.) — D. granulosus, Ag. (Nu- cleo. granul. Munst.) — D. capistratus, Ag. (Spat, capistr., Gold/.) — D. cari- natus, Ag. (Spat, carin., Goldf) — D. ovalis, Ag. (Spat, oval., Park.) — D. analis, Ag. — D. ringens, Ag. (these two latter from the Swiss Jura.) 2. Holaster, Ag. (Spatangus, auct.). — Disc heart-shaped ; ambu- lacra converging uniformly towards a point at the summit ; anus superior. All fossils, especially of the chalk. H. granulosus, Ag. (Spat, gran., Goldf.) — H. hemisph&ricus, Ag. (Spat, hemisph., Phil.) — H. Icevis, Ag. (Spat, lsev., Deluc.) — H. nodulosus, Ag. (Spat, nod., Dolf.) — H. planus, Ag. (Spat, plan., Mant.) — //. complanatus, Ag. (Spat, compl., Be Bl.) — H. intermedins, Ag. (Spat, interm., Munst.) — H. subglobosus, Ag. (Spat, subgl., Leske.) — H. suborbicularis, Ag. (Spat, euborb., Defr.) — H. truncatus, Ag. (Spat, trunc., Goldf.) 3. Ananchytes, Lam. and De Bl. (Echinocorys, Breyn. and Gray ; Galea and Galeola, Klein.) — Disc oval, no groove along the anterior ambulacrum ; anus oblong, placed longitudinally ; ambulacra con- verging uniformly towards the summit, where the double pores are very close, while they are widely apart at the circumference. All the species are fossils from the chalk ; they have been too much multiplied from mere differences of age. A. ovata, Lam. — A. gibba, Lam. — A. hemisplicerica, Al. Br. — A. puslu- losa, Lam. is but the inner cast of A. ovata. — A. quadriradiata, Leske, is merely a monstrosity. 4. Hemit-neustes, Ag. (Spatangus, auct.) — Disc heart-shaped, L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. 301 n anterior ambulacrum formed of minute equal pores ; the lateral am- bulacra formed each of two series of double pores, differing among themselves, the posterior series being much more marked than the anterior. One species, from the chalk. II. radiatus, Ag. (Spatangus rad., Lam.) 5. Micraster {Spatangus, auct. ; Brissoides, Klein.; Amygdala and Ovum, V. Ph.). — Dorsal portion of the ambulacra highly deve- loped and rather starlike ; disc heart-shaped. The most part of the species are fossils from the chalk ; there are some tertiary, and two living. M. Amygdala, Ag. (Spat. Amygd., Goldf.) — M. BucJclandii, Ag. (Spat. Buckl., Goldf.)— M. Bucardium, Ag. (Spat, fiucard., Goldf.)— M. Bvfo, Ag. (Spat. Bufo, Al. Br.)—M. Cor. anguinum, Ag. (Spat. Cor. Ang., Lam.) — M. Cor. testudinarium, Ag. (Spat. Cor. test., Goldf) — M. gibbus, Ag. (Spat, gib., Lam.) — M. Goldfusii, Ag. (Spat, lacun., Goldf., non Gmel.) — M. Prunella, Ag. (Spat. Prun., La?n.) — M. acuminatus, Ag. (Spat, acum., Goldf.) — M.suborbicularis, Ag. (Spat, suborb., Munst.) — M. canaliferus, Ag. (Spat, canal., Lam.) — M. lacunosus, Ag. (Spat, lacun., Gmel., non Goldf.) 6. Spatangus, Klein and Gray. (Echinospatangus, Breyn.) — Disc heart-shaped ; with a large, deep, anterior dorsal groove ; the ambu- lacra of this groove are formed of minute equal pores, which, near the summit and at the circumference, present the form of a star. Be- sides the small spines, which are smooth on the back, there are some larger ones, but very slender. There are some fossil species from the chalk and tertiary deposits, and several living species. Sp. ornatus, Al. Br. — Sp. Desmarestii } Munst. — Sp. Iloffmanni, Goldf. — Sj). purpureus, Leske. — Sp. meridionalis, Riss. — Sp. ovatus, Leske. — Sp. Crux Andrea, Lam. — Sp. planulatus, Lam. 7. Amphidetus, Ag. {Echinocardium, V. Ph. and Gr. — Spatan- gus, De Blainv., Sect. A.)— Disc heart-shaped, anterior dorsal groove deep, in which lies the odd ambulacrum, which is formed of minute pores, and is prolongated between the anterior ambulacra. The se- ries of double pores which form the four ambulacral pairs are at a distance from each other towards the summit of the disc, and gra- dually approximate towards the periphery in the form of a star. The spines are very remarkable, the larger being arched and spatuliform at their extremity, the others are small and smooth. I know but of one fossil species from the chalk, and two living. A. Goldfusii, Ag. (Spat, arcuarius, Goldf, non Lam.) — A. Seba, Ag. (Echinocardium Sebse, Gr.) — A. pusillus, Ag. (Spat. pusilJus, Leske.) 8. Brissus, Kl. and Gr. (Eclanobrissus, Breyn. — A T uccs, V. Ph. —Spatangus, De Blainv., Sect. D.) — No anterior dorsal groove; odd 302 L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. ambulacrum scarcely perceptible ; the four ambulacral pairs de- pressed, forming at the summit of the disc a kind of cross, circum- scribed by a sinuous line without tubercles or spines. I am not ac- quainted with any fossil species. B. pectoralis, Ag. (Spatangus Pect., Lam.) — B. carinatus, Leske. — B. columbaris, Lam. — B. Scillce, Ag. (Echinus Spatangus Scilla.) — B. unicolor, Leske. — B. ventricosus, Leske. — B. compressus, Ag. (Spat, compr., Lam.) — B. sternalis, Ag. (Spat, stern., Lam.) 9. Schiz aster, Ag. (Echinocardium, V. Ph. and Gr. — Spatangus, de Bl. Sect. B.) — Disc heart-shaped, very much raised posteriorly ; anterior dorsal groove long and deep ; four other grooves at the dor- sal summit deep and narrow, in which the ambulacra are hidden. One fossil species, and one living. Sch. Atropos, Ag. (Spat. Atr., Lam.) — Sch. Studeri, Ag. (from the Italian tertiary.) II. The Clypeastres occupy the intermediate place between the Spatangi and the Cidarites ; their form is most generally circular. The mouth is central or subcentral ; but the anus is more or less approximated to the periphery, and is found sometimes at the upper surface, sometimes at the under surface of the disc. 1. Catopygus, Ag. (Nucleolites, auct.) — Disc oval; ambulacra converging uniformly towards the summit; anus at the posterior surface. All the species are fossil, from the jura, chalk, and ter- tiary deposits. C. semi-globosus, Ag. (Nucleolites semi-gl., Munst.) — C. carinatusy Ag. (Nucl. carin., Gold/.) — C. castanea, Ag. (Nucl. cast., Al. Br.) — C. pyrifor- mis, Ag. (Nucl. pyrif., Gold/.) — C. ovulum, Ag. (Nucl. ov., Lam.) — C. de- pressus, Ag. (Nucl. depr., Al. Br.) — C. subcarinatus, Ag. (Nucl. subcar., Gold/.) — C. obovatus, Ag. 2. Pygaster, Ag. (Nucleolites and Clypeus, auct.) — Disc circu- lar ; ambulacra converging uniformly towards the summit ; orifice of the anus large at the upper surface of the disc. Species all fos- sil, from the jura and chalk. P. semisulcatus, Ag. (Clyp. semisul., Phil.) — P. depressus, Ag. (Nucl. depr,, Munst.) 3. Galerites, Lam. (Conulus, Klein. — Echinochonus, De Bl.) — Disc circular ; ambulacra narrow, pierced with pores rather distant from one another, converging uniformly towards the summit ; mouth central, anus marginal and inferior. Species all fossil, from the chalk. This genus approaches more to the Nucleolites and Echinonea than to the true Echini. L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. 303 G. vulgaris, Lam. — G.abbreviata, Lam. — G.subrotunda, Mant. — (G.qua- drifasciata, Burg., and sexfasciata, Defr., are monstrosities.) 4. Discoidea, Kl.and Gr. (Conulus, Leske. — Echinodis cites, V.Ph. — Galerites, Lam.) — Differs from the Galerites by the large ambu- lacra pierced with small pores at very short distances from one an- other. All the species are fossil, from the jura and chalk. D. depressa, Ag. (Galer. depr., Lam.) — D. speciosa, Ag. (Gal. spec., Mwist.) — D. albo-galera, Ag. (Conulus albo-gal., Leske.) — D. canaliculata, Ag. (Gal. canal., Gold/.) — D. rotula, Ag. (Gal. rot., Al. Br.) — D. rotula- ris, Kl. (Gal. rotul., Lam.)—D. macropyga, Ag. 5. Clypeus, Kl. (Echinoclypeus, De Bl. — Echinosimus, V. Ph. — Galerites, Lam. — Nucleolites, De Fr.) — Disc circular, more or less flattened ; ambulacra converging towards the apex and towards the periphery of the disc ; anus superior and marginal. All the species are fossil, from the jura, chalk, and tertiary deposits. CI. sinuatus, Park. — CI. emarginatus, Phil. — CI. patella, Ag. (Gal. pat., Lam.) — CI. orbicularis, Phil. — CI. Soiverbii, Ag. (Nucleolites Sow., Defr.) — CI. conoideus, Ag. (Echinoclyp. conoid., Leske.) — CI. hemisphcericus, Ag. (Echinoclyp.hemisph.,Z>s#e.) — CI. testudinarius, Ag. (Nucl. testud., Munst.) — CI. scutella, Ag. (Nucl. scut., Gold/.) 6. Nucleolites, Lam. (Echinobrissus, Breyn. — Clypeus, Phil.) — Disc oval or heart-shaped ; ambulacra more prominent at the apex than at the periphery; they however do not form a petaloid star, as in the genus Clypeus. All are fossils from the jura, chalk, or ter- tiary deposits. N. scutata, Lam. — N. clunicularis, Ag. (Clyp. clunic, Smith.) — N. dimi- diata, Ag. (Clyp. dimid., Phil.) — N. planata, Rcem. — N. cordata, Goldf. — N. lacunosa, Goldf. — N. scorbiculata, Goldf, — N. Olfersii, Ag. — N. grigno- nensis, Defr. 7. Cassidulus, Lam. (Nucleolites, auct.) — Disc oval; ambulacra petaloid, anus between the summit and posterior margin. All are fossils from the chalk and tertiary deposits. C. Lapis cancri, Lam. — C. patellaris, Ag. (Nucl. patell., Goldf.) — C. com- planatus, Lam. 8. FiBULAFviA,Lam. — (Echinocyamus, Leske and Gr.^ — Echinoneus, Goldf.) — Shell spheroidal ; circumference oval or subcircular ; am- bulacra petaloid; anus between the posterior margin and the mouth.. The species are fossils of the chalk and tertiary deposits, and some recent. F. placenta, Ag. (Echinon. plac, Goldf.) — F. subglobosa, Ag. (Echinon. subgl., Goldf.) — F. ovata, Ag. (Echinon. ovat., Munst.) — F. scutata, Ag. •/ 304 L. Agassiz on the Echhwdermata. (Echinon. scut., Munst.) — F. snffolciensis, Leach. — F. cranioluris, Linn., Gmel. — F. ovulum, Lam. 9. Echinoneus, V. Phels. and Lam. (Echinanaus, Keen. — Echi- noconus, Breyn.) — Disc oval, more or less flattened ; ambulacra con- verging uniformly towards the summit ; anus between the mouth and posterior margin. All the species are living. E. cyclostomus, Lam. — E. semilunaris, Lam. — E. gibbosus, Lam. 10. Eciiinolampas, Gray. (Echinanthus, Leske. — Clypeaster and Galerites, Lam.) — Disc oval or circular; front margin more or less ^ sloped ; ambulacra very large at the summit, where they form a star, the rays of which touch one another, but which gradually be- come more narrow towards the periphery ; anus marginal, inferior. There are some fossil species from the jura, the chalk, and tertiary deposits, and one living. E.pentagonalis, Ag. (Clyp.pentag., Phil.) — E.fornicatus, Ag. (Clyp. forn., Gold/.) — E. globosus, Ag. (Gal. glob., Defr.) — E. Kamigii, Gr. — E.Les- hei, Ag. (Clyp. Lesk., Gold/.) — E. Montmollini, Ag. — E. productus, Ag. — E. minor, Ag. — E. affinis, Ag. (Clyp. aff., Gold/.) — E. Bouei, Ag. (Clyp. Bouei, Munst.) — E. Brongniarti, Ag. (Clyp. Brongn., Munst.) — E. conoideus, Ag. (Clyp. conoid., Gold/.) — E. Cuvieri, Ag. (Clyp. Cuv., Munst.) — E. el- lijjticm, Ag. (Clyp. ellipt., Munst.) — E. hemisphcericus, Ag. (Clyp. hemisph , Lam.)—E. Klcinii, Ag. (Clyp. Klein., Goldf.)—E. Linkii, Ag. (Clyp. Link., Goldf.) — E.polilus, Ag. (Clyp. poll., Lam.) — E. stelliferus, Ag. (Clyp. stel- lif., Lam.) — E. subcylindricus, Ag. (Clyp. subcyl., Munst.) — E. trilobus, Ag. (Clyp. tril., Defr.) — E. orienfalis, Gr. 11. Clypeaster, Lam. (Echinantkus, Breyn. and Gr.) — Echino- dorum and Echinodiscus, V. Phils. — (Lagana, Gr. and De Bl.) — Disc / oval or subpentangular ; ambulacra forming at the summit a large star, the rays of which are rounded at their extremity ; anus inferior and marginal. The internal cavity is divided into chambers by ver- tical pillars. The shell is very thick. There are several fossil spe- cies from the tertiary deposits, and some living. CI. marginatus, Lam. — CI. alius, Lam. — CI. Gaymardi, Al. Br. — CI. Ri- chard?, Desm. — CI. rosaceus, Lam. — CI. subdepressus, Ag. (Echinantlius subdepr., Gr.)—Cl. ambigenus, De Bl. — CI. scutiformis, Lam. 12. Echinarachnius, Leske and Gr. (Arachnoides, Kl. — Echino- discus and Lagana, De Bl. — Scutclla, Lam.) — Disc circular or sub- J angular ; ambulacra as in Clypeaster, from which this genus espe- cially differs by the much flattened form of the shell, and by its thin margins ; anus marginal. There is one fossil species from the ter- tiary beds, and several living. E. lenticularis, Gr. — E. placenta, Gr. (Scut, plac, Lam.) — E. Parma, Gr. L. Agassiz on the Echinodermata. 305 (Scut. Parm., Lam.) — E. placunarius, Ag. (Scut, placun., Lam.) — E. latis- simus, Ag. (Scut, latissima, Lam.) — E. Rumphii, Ag. (Echinodis. Rum ph., De Bl.) 13. Scutella, Lam. and De Bl. (Echinodiscus, Leske and Gr.— Mellita and Rotula, Kl. — Lagana, De Bl.) — Shell flattened, circular, margins thin ; ambulacra as in Clypeaster, but in proportion larger ; anus inferior. The species are very numerous, some fossils of the tertiary formation, and some living. Sc. altavillensis, Defr. — Sc. gibberula, M. de S. — Sc. hispanica, Defr. — Sc. nummularia, Defr. — Sc. occianta, Defr. — Sc. striatula, M. de S. — Sc. subrotunda, Lam. — Sc. porpita, Bory. — Sc. orbicularis, Lam.— Sc. ovalis, Ag. (Lag. oval., Brug.) — Sc. Integra, Brug. — Sc. inaurita, De Bl. — Sc. au- rita, De Bl. — Sc. dcntata, Lam. — Sc. radiata, Seba. — Sc. digitata, Lam. — Sc. octodactyla, De Bl. — Sc. hexapora, De Bl — Sd pentapora, De Bl. — Sc. bipora, Lam. — Sc. tetrapora, De Bl. — Sc. emarginata, Lam. III. The Cidarites constitute a family, the most prominent cha- racter of which is the spheroidal form of the shell, which is beset with two kinds of spines; the first larger, situated on large mammillae; the others smaller, surrounding the base of the first, or covering the ambulacra. The mouth is central, at the inferior surface of the disc ; the anus, which is diametrically opposite to it, is situated at the summit of the disc, and opens between the small laminae sur- rounding it, opposite and sometimes very near to the posterior am- bulacral space. 1. Cidaris, Lam. and Auct. — Ambulacra narrow, covered with small, compressed spines, interambulacral spaces large, each of their plates being surmounted with one large perforated tubercle bearing a great spine, around which are several small ones. There are a great number of species, fossils from the jura, chalk, and tertiary deposits, as also many living ones. C. Blumenbachii, Munst. — C. Buchii, Munst. — C. coronata, Goldf. — C. crenularis, Lam. — C. elegans, Munst. — C. Jlorigemma, Phil. (C. elongata, Roem.) — C. glandifera, Goldf. — C. marginata, Goldf. — C. maxima, Munst. — C. monilifera, Goldf. — C. muricala, Rcem.— C. nobilis, Munst. — C. pro- pinqua, Munst. — C. Schmidelii, Munst. — C. spinulosa, Rcem. — C. regalts, Goldf. — C. clavigera, Keen. — C. corollaris, Mant. — C. cretosa, Mant. — C. clunifera, Kg. — C. vesiculosa, Goldf. — C. limaria, Bronn. — C. discus, Bronn. — C.rosaria, Bronn. — C. serraria, Bronn. — C. hystrix, Lam. — C. baculosa, Lam. — C. tribuloides, Lam. — C. verticillata, Lam. — C. tubaria, Lam. — C. bispinosa, Lam. — C. annulifera, Lam. — C. metularia, Lam. — C.stellulifera) Bory. — C. imperialis, Lam. — C. granioides, Lam. — C. pistillaris, Lam. 2. Diadema, Gray. {Cidarites, Lam.) — Shell more or less flattened ; ambulacra large, converging uniformly towards the summit. The Ann, Nat, Hist. Vol, 1. No. 4. June 1838. x (. 306 L. Agassiz ow the Echinodermata. spines are often tubular. The tubercles of the ambulacral plates, although equally perforated, are smaller and more numerous than in Cidaris. There are fossil species from the jura and chalk, and many recent. Z>. Bechei, Ag. (Cid. Bech., Broder.) — D.subangulare, Ag. (Cidarit. sub- ang., Goldf) — D. vagans, Ag. (Cidaris vag., Phil.) — D. mammillanum , Ag. (Cidarit. mam., Iicem.) — D. hemisphcericum, Ag. (Jura.) — D. trans- versum, Ag. (Jura.) — D. variolare, Ag. (Cidarit. variol., Al. Br.) — D. gra- nulosum, Ag. (Cidarit. granul., Goldf.) — D. ornatum, Ag. (Cidarit. orn., Goldf.) — D. rotulare, Ag. — D. setosum, Gr. — D. calamarium, Gr. — D. spi- nosissimum, Ag. (Cidarit. spinos., Lam.) — D. subulare, Ag. (Cidarit. subul., Lam.) — D. pulvinatum, Ag. (Cidarit. pulvin., Lam) 3. Astropyga, Gray. (Cidarites, Lam.) — Shell flattened ; ambula- cra large, and converging uniformly towards the summit ; oviducal plates very long, lanceolate ; several vertical series of spines on the interambulacral spaces. One living species only. A. radiata, Gray. 4. Salenta, Gr. {Cidarites, auct.) — This genus resembles that of Cidaris by the disposition of the ambulacral plates, but they bear a large mammilla, whose summit is not perforated. Around the anus, instead of small moveable lamina?, there are large scutelli (6cussons) articulated at their margins. The oviducal plates are also very large. All the species are fossils, from the jura, or chalk. 5. Hoffmanni, Ag. (Cidarit. Hoffm., Roem.) — S. hemisphcerica, Ag. (Ci- darit. hemisph., Roem.) — S. scutigera, Gr. — S. peltata, Ag. 5. Echinometra, Breyn., V. Phels., and Gr. (Echinus, auct.) — Shell oval transversely and obliquely to the longitudinal axis, more or less flattened ; large tubercles on the interambulacral spaces, bear- ing spines of very varied forms. Mr. Gray thought he perceived in the obliquity of the ambulacra an objection to the bilateral arrange- ment which I had observed in the Echinodermata ; but this is merely one example more of the want of symmetry notwithstanding the similarity of the parts, as is found in most Mollusca. M. Wieg- mann, in return, has very well observed, that their longitudinal dia- meter is shorter than the transversal. The species belonging to this genus are all recent. E. atrafa, Gr. — E. acufera, De Bl. — E. carinata, De Bl. — E. Lesche- naultii, De Bl. — E. lobata, De Bl. — E. Luamter, Gr. — E. Mathcei, De Bl. — E. mammillata, Gr. — E. Maugei, De Bl. — E. oblonga, De Bl. — E. pedifera, De Bl. — E. Quoyii, De Bl. — E. trigonaria, De Bl. 6. Arbacia, Gray. (Echinus, auct.) — True Echini, similar to the * Diadema, but the tubercles are not perforated. Ambulacral spaces Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. 307 narrow ; ambulacra straight and simple, or each formed of two se- ries of double pores. The fossil species are from the jura, chalk, and tertiary deposits. There are also some recent. A. hieroglyphica, Ag. (Echi. hierogl., Gold/.) — A. sulcata, Ag. (E. sulc, Gold/.) — A. nodulosa, Ag. (E. nod., Munst.) — A. granulosa, Ag. (E. gran., Munst.) — A. alutacea, Ag. (E. alut, Goldf.) — A. radiata, Ag. (E. rad., Hcen.) — A.pusilla, Ag. (E. pusil., Munst.) — A. punctulata, Gr. — A. pus- tulosa, Gr. 7. Echinus, Linn, and Auct. — Ambulacra composed of segments of arcs formed by several pairs of pores, and converging uniformly towards the summit; disc circular or subangular, very regular. There are fossil species from the jura, chalk, and tertiary deposits, as also a great number of living ones. E. germinans, Phil. — E. perlatus, Desm. — E. lineatus, Goldf. — E. Me- nardi, Desm. — E. Milleri, Desm. — E. regalis, Hcen. — E. ventricosus, Lam. — E. scardicus, Lam. — E.pcntagonus, Lam. — E. Peleolus, Lam. — E. varie- gatus, Lam. — E.esculentus, Linn. — E. vulgaris, De Bl. — E. lividus, Lam. — E. variolaris, Lam. — E. melo, Lam. — E. miliaris, Lam., &c. [To be continued.] XXXV. — Descriptions of British Chalcidites. By Francis Walker, F.L.S. INSECTA TETRAPTERA NECROMORPHA. Class Hymenoptera. Stirps Ichneumonina. Order Chalcidites. Genus Cirrospilus, Westwood. Fern. Corpus lineare, angustum, sat longum, parum convexum, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : caput transversum, breve, parvum, tho- race angustius; vertex angustus; frons impressa abrupte declivis: oculi mediocres, subrotundi, extantes: ocelli vertice triangulum fingentes: an- tennas clavatse, corporis dimidio certe breviores; articulus l us validus, 3 US brevissimus, 4 US mediocris, 5 US brevior et latior ; clava longiovata, apice acuminata ; 5° latior et plus duplo longior : thorax longiovatus : prothorax bene determinates, subtrigonus, transversus, postice latus incurvus : meso- thoracis scutum subquadratum, longitudine paullo latius, postice angustius, latera basi incurva ; parapsidum suturse vix conspicuse ; scutellum obconi- cum ; postscutellum transversum, breve, lunatum, apud latera lseve : meta- thorax transversus, sat bene determinatus : petiolus crassus, brevissimus : abdomen ovatum, depressum, subtus convexum, fere glabrum, thorace paullo brevius non latius; segmenta transversa, l um magnum laeve micans, 2 um et sequentia ad 6 um breviora, subsequalia; pedes sat longi, graciles, subaequales ; coxse parvae; femora subclavata; tibiae rectce; tarsis articulus l us brevis, x 2 308 Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. 2 U8 et 3 US longiores, 4 US adlmc longior; pulvilli sat magni : alae amplae, p?s- bescentes, vix ciliatae : proalis nervus solitus costse dimidio paullo longior ; ulnaris humerali non brevior, cubitalis longus in alse discum declivis, radi- alis nullus, stigma minutum : metalis nervus unicus simplex costae dimidio longior. Sp. 1. Cirr. vittatus (Curtis' Guide). Fern. Flavus viridi varius, antenna? fulva, thorax viridi vittatus , pedes flavi, alee limpida. Laete flavus : fascia utrinque ad caput posticum arcuata viridis ; fascia quoque antica inter oculos brevis: oculi et ocelli rufi : antenna? pallide fulvae; articuli 1 U8 et 2 U » supra virides, basi apice et subtus flavi ; clava pallide fusca : thorax flavus, cupreoviridi trivittatus : vitta media integra lata, vittae late- rales interruptae contortae : metathoracis dorsum viridicupreum : pectoris et ventris disci pallide fusci : abdomen flavum ; discus supra atro utrinque in- cisus, basi aeneus ; pedes laete flavi ; tarsi apice fulvi ; protarsi pallide fulvi : alas limpidae ; squamulae flavae, viridi maculatse ; nervi flavi. (Corp. long, lin. -£ — 1 ; alar. liu. £ — L|*) Var. /3.— Antennis articulus l us supra viridi punctatus; 2 US viridis, apice et subtus flavus; clava fulva, basi supra fusca: abdominis discus nigro- aeneus. Var. y. — Antennis clava fulva, basi supra fusca: abdomen supra atrum; segmento cuique macula lateralis trigona flava : protibiae extus fulvas. Far. I. — Caput anticum omnino flavum: antennae flavae; articulus 1 B * supra fusco maculatus; 2 US fuscus, apice et subtus flavus; clava fulva, basi supra fusca : thoracis vittae cyaneovirides, laterales perangustae : metathorax cyaneoviridis. Far. i. — Var. S. similis : capitis fasciae interruptae. Var. I. — Capitis fasciae vix conspicuae : antennae flavae ; articulus l us pal- lide flavus ; 2 US basi fulvus : thoracis vitta media latissima : abdominis dis- cus aeneofuscus. Var. n- — Caput omnino flavum: antennae flavae; articulus l" 8 supra vi- ridi maculatus ; 2 ,ls viridis, apice et subtus flavus ; clava fulva : thoracis vittae virides, media perangusta, laterales fere obsoletae : metathoracis discus viridis: abdomen flavum; disco fasciae 5 abbreviatae nigroaeneae plerumque connexae. May to September ; near London, Isle of Wight, Wales, Ireland, Mr. Haliday. Fern. Corpus angustum, sublineare, sat longum, parum convexum, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirlum : caput transversum, parvum, brevissi- mum, thorace fere angustius ; vertex latus ; frons impressa, abrupte declivis: oculi sat magni, subrotundi, extantes : ocelli vertice triangulum fingentes, media perparum anteposita : antennae clavatae, prope os insertae, corporis dimidio fere breviores ; articulus l us longus, sublinearis, satvalidus; 2 us me- diocris, longicyathiformis ; 3 US brevissimus ; 4 US linearis, 2° vix longior; 5 U8 brevior et latior ; clava longiovata, acuminata, 5° latior et fere duplo lon- gior : thorax longiovatus, convexus : prothorax transversus, sat bene deter- minatus, antice abrupte acuminatus, postice latus incurvus ; mesothoracis Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. 309 scutum longitudine paullo latius; parapsidum suture remotae, bene deter- minate ; paraptera et epimera magna ; scutellum subovatum ; postscutellum tran sversum : metathorax brevis : petiolus brevissimus latissimus : abdomen longiovatum, supra depressum, subtus convexum, apice acuminatum, thoraci quoad longum ac latum ; segmentum l um magnum, basi lasve ; 2 um et, se- quentia ad 7 um breviora, transversa, parallela, subaequalia : pedes graciles, pubescentes, simplices, subaequales ; coxae parvae ; femora subclavata ; tibiae rectae; tarsis articulus l u8 brevis, 2 U9 et 3 U " longiores, 4 US adhuc longior; pulvilli magni : alae amplse, pubescentes, non ciliatae : proalis nervus hirtus costae dimidio paullo longior, ulnaris humerali vix brevior, cubitalis longus, radialis brevissimus ; stigma minutum : metalis nervus simplex costae dimi- dio longior. Sp. 2. Cirr. Thasus. Fem. Viridis flavor arius, antenna fulvofuscce, pedes fiam fusco et nigro cincti, alee limpid^e. Cyaneoviridis : caput antice et circum oculos laete flavum, postice nigro- aeneum : oculi et ocelli ruti : antennae fuscse, ad apices subtus et utrinque fulvae ; articuli 2 US apice 3 US que omnino fulvi : gula fulva : thoracis suturae geneae : mesothoracis parapsides flavac ; antice nigro plagiatae ; scutum postice et utrinque flavum ; scutellum aeneoviride ; postscutellum cupreum : abdo- men cupreum : pedes laete flavi , coxae virides ; tarsi apice fusci ; protibiaa extus fulvae ; mesotibiae basi supra fusco maculatae; protarsi fulvi : alae lim- pidae; squamulae flavae ; nervi flavi. (Corp. long. lin.£ — 1^ ; alar. lin.£ — 2.) Far. /3. — Antennae obscure fuscae, subtus et apice pallidiores ; articulus 2 U8 apice fulvus : prothorax cupreoviridis, latera flava : mesothoracis scutel- lum cupreoaeneum : metathorax cupreus. Far. y. — Abdomen basi viride. Far. 1.— 'Far. /3. similis: metathorax viridis : abdominis segmenti l 1 an- guli postici flavo maculati. Far. s. — Capitis vertex posticus flavo interrupte fasciatus: prothoracis latera flava; mesothoracis scutellum cupreum. Far. £. — Capitis fascia postica integra flava ; antennae obscure fuscae, apice et subtus pallidiores ; articulus 2 U8 apice fulvus : thorax aeneoviridis ; mesothoracis scutellum cupreum. Far. 13. — Mesothoracis scutellum et postscutellum cuprea: abdomen aeneo- viride. Far. 6. — Capitis fascia postica interrupte flava ; antennae fulvae ; articulus l u * laete flavus, apice fulvus ; 2 US basi supra fuscus : prothoracis latera flava: abdominis latera ante medium flavo plagiata. Far. 1. — Caput supra viride : oculi antice flavocincti : thorax aeneo viridis: mesothoracis scuti vittae obsoletae, fascia postica perangusta : meso et meta- femora basi nigro cincta ; mesotibiae late nigro cinctae ; metatibiae basi fulvo cinctae. Far. k. — Far. 1. similis: scuti fascia postica disco interrupta; scutellum purpureo -cupreum : meso et metafemora basi supra fusco plagiata. Far. A. — Caput omnino viride : antennae fusca?, apice et subtus pallidi- ores : thorax viridis ; mesothoracis scutellum purpureum : abdomen cupre- 310 Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. urn : meso et metafemora basi nigro cincta : mesotibiae late nigro cinctae ; nietatibiae basi fulvo cinctae. Var. ft. — Var. Q. similis: caput et prothoracis latera omnino viridia : ab- domen cupreum. June to September ; on oak trees, &c., near London, Isle of Wight, Wales, Cornwall, Ireland, Mr. Haliday. Mas. Caput thorace fere angustius : antennae subclavatae, corporis dimi- dio longiores ; articulus 2 US longiovatus ; 3 US brevissimus ; 4 US 2° multo lon- gior ; 5 US 4° paullo brevior et latior ; clava longiovata, articulo 5° duplo lon- gior et paullo latior : abdomen ovatum, depressum, thorace brevius et fere angustius ; segmentum l um magnum ; 2 um et sequentia brevia, transversa, subaequalia. Fern. C. Thasi statura. Sp. 3. Cirr. elegantissimus, Mas. et Fem. Flavus viridi et cupreo varius, antenna? mari flava!, fem. fulvce, pedes flavi, alee scepissime limpidce. Cirrospilus elegantissimus, Westwood, Lond. and Edinb. Phil. Mag., Third Series, i. 2. 128. Mas. Laete flavus : capitis vertice fascia viridis ocellis confinis : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae flavae ; articulus 2 US basi fulvus ; 5 1 et 6» ligamenta fulva : thoracis discus viridis : mesothoracis scutum cupreoviride : petiolus fulvus : abdomen apice viridicupreum : sexualia pallide fusca : pedes laete flavi ; tarsi apice fulvi : alae limpidae ; squamulae flavae ; nervi flavi. Fem. Caput laete flavum ; vertici vitta abbreviata viridis, ocellis confinis ; macula postica utrinque nigra magna : antennae fulvae ; articulus l" 8 flavus, supra fuscusj 2 US flavus, basi fuscus; 3 US et sequentes supra pallide fusci : thorax laete viridis : prothorax subtus et utrinque flavus : mesothoracis scu- tum apice cupreum ; parapsides flavae ; scutellum cupreum, basi viride ; pa- raptera et epimera flava ; postscutellum micans, apice cupreum : abdomen flavum, supra nigroaeneum; latera antica flava; segmentum l um flavum, cyaneoviridi varium : pedes flavi ; coxae basi virides ; ungues et pulvilli pal- lide fusci : alae fulvo tinctae. (Corp. long. lin. -J — 1-frj alar. lin. 1 — 2^.) Var. /S. Mas. — Antennis articulus 2 U8 basi flavus : thorax supra omnino viridis : mesothoracis scutellum cupreum : abdomen basi supra viridi bipla- giatum; dimidium posticum viridicupreum. Var. y. Mas. — Var. /3. similis : mesothoracis parapsides fere omnino fla- vae : abdomen flavum, apice cupreoviride. Var. S. Mas. — Var. ft. similis : abdomen basi fuscoviride. Var. g. Mas. — Thorax supra cupreoviridis : mesothoracis scutellum cu- preum : abdomen basi fulvum ; dimidium posticum cupreum : protibiae ex- tus fulvae. Var. £. Mas. — Thorax supra viridis : mesothoracis parapsides flavae ; scu- tellum cupreum : abdomen cupreum, basi viride, ante medium fulvo cinctum. Var. yi. Fem. — Antennis articulus l us supra et 2 US basi nigrofusci ; meso- thoracis scutum apice viride : postscutellum cupreum : abdomen apice sub- tus viride; segmenti l 1 discus viridis. Var. $. Fem. — Antennis articuli 3 US et sequentes fulvi, subtus flavi : meso- Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. 311 thoracis scutum et postscutellum cuprea: metathorax cupreoviridis : abdo- men subtus flavum, apice et supra cupreoviride ; segmentum l um viride, utrinque flavum, apice cupreum. Far. i. Fern. — Capitis maculae posticae maximae, connexae : mesothoracis paraptera viridia : abdomen cupreoviride, subtus basi ferrugineo varium. Far. k. Fern. — Abdomen cupreum, subtus basi ferrugineum ; segmentum lum viridi micans. Far. ?w Fern. — Antennis articuli 3 US et sequentes flavi, supra fulvi : meso- thoracis scutum et scutellum viridicyanea, hujus discus cupreus : abdomen nigrocupreum, subtus fulvum, apice viride ; segmentum l um basi viridi mi- cans. Far. p. Fern. — Mesothoracis scutellum et postscutellum cuprea : abdomen viridicupreum, basi et subtus fulvum ; segmentum l um basi laete viridicya- neum. Far. v. Fern.— Capitis maculae posticae connexae : mesothoracis scutum viridicupreum : abdomen viridicupreum, basi laete viride, subtus nisi ad api- cem cupreum : alae limpidae. Far. |. Fern. — Prothorax supra viridis ; anguli postici flavi : abdomen supra et apice cupreoviride ; alae limpidae. Far. o. Fern. — Far. f. similis: mesothoracis scUtum, scutellum et post- scutellum cyaneoviridia. Far. it. Fern. — Far. o. similis : capitis maculae posticae connexae : pro- thorax omnino viridis: mesothoracis paraptera et epimera plerumque vi- ridia. Far. g. Fern. — Far. nc. similis: mesothoracis scutum et scutellum cuprea. Far. a. Fern. — Far. it. similis: mesothoracis parapsides plerumque viri- des, scutellum et postscutellum cuprea : alae fulvae. Far. r. Fern. — Capitis maculae posticae latae connexae : thorax supra viri- dis ; discus cupreus ; abdomen cupreum, basi viride : alas limpidae j proalis discus fulvescens. May to October ; on oaks, &c. near London, Cumberland, Ireland, Mr. Haliday. Sp. 4. Cirr. Salatis, Fern. Cupreus, antenna fuscce, pedes flavi fusco macu- lati, alee limpidce. Cupreus : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae fuscae, apice et subtus pallidiores ; articulus l U9 nigroaeneus : pedes laete flavi; femoribus et tibiis vittae abbre- viatae fuscae ; protibiae extus fuscae ; protarsi fusci ; meso et metatarsi pal- lide fulvi, apice fusci, basi et subtus flavi : alae limpidae ; squamulae piceae ; nervi pallide flavi. (Corp. long. Hn. -| — % ; alar. lin. 1 — 1^.) Far. /3. — Femora cupreopicea, apice flava ; tarsi flavi, apice fusci ; pro- pedes tibiis tarsisque fulvis; mesotibiae fulvo maculatae; metatibiae piceo cinctae. Found near London. Fern. Corpus nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : caput parvum, transversum, breve, convexum, thorace angustius ; vertex sat latus ; frons abrupte declivis : antennae clavatae, thorace breviores ; articulus 1 U9 gracilis, 312 Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. sublinearis; 2 U9 longicyathiformis ; 3 US longus, sublinearis; 4 US brevior; clava longiovata, acuminata, articulo 5° fere duplo longior : thorax ovatus, convexus : prothorax transversus, brevissimus, supra conspicuus : mesotho- racis scutum longitudine latius ; parapsidum suturae remotse, conspicuae ; scutellum magnum, obconicum ; paraptera et epimera distincta : metatho- rax transversus, bene determinatus : petiolus crassus, brevissimus : abdomen ovatum, planum, thoraci fere quoad longum ac latum ; segmentum l um mag- num ; 2 um et sequentia breviora, transversa, subaequalia : pedes graciles ; tarsis articulus l us brevis, 2 Ui et 3 US longiores, 4 US adhuc longior: alae latae; nervus ulnaris humerali vix brevior, cubitalis longus, radialis brevissimus. Sp. 5. Cirr. Diallus, Fern. Cyaneoviridis, abdomen nigrocupreum, anten- na fulvce, pedes flavi, alee Umpidce. Cyaneoviridis : caput supra apud oculos flavum : oculi et ocelli run : an- tennas fulvse; articuli l us et 2 US fusci, hie apice fulvus: gula pallide flava : abdomen nigrocupreum : pedes laete flavi ; coxae virides ; ungues et pulvilli fulvi : proalae cuique disco maculaobsoleta flava : squamulae flava? ; nervi flavi. (Corp. long. lin. -| ; alar. lin. I<|*) Found near London. Fern. Corpus angustum, sublineare, sat longum, parum convexum, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : caput transversum, parvum, brevissi- mum, thorace fere angustius ; vertex latus ; frons impressa, abrupte decli- vis : oculi sat magni, subrotundi, extantes : ocelli vertice triangulum fingen- tes, media perparum anteposita : antennae subclavatae, pubescentes, prope os insertae, corporis dimidio vix breviores ; articulus l us longus, gracilis, subfu- siformis; 2 US longicyathiformis ; 3 US et 4 US brevissimi ; 5 US longus, subline- aris ; 6 US paullo latior et brevior ; clava triarticulata, fusiformis, acuminata, 6° paullo latior et fere duplo longior : thorax ovatus, convexus : prothorax transversus, sat bene determinatus, antice abrupte acuminatus, postice latus incurvus : mesothoracis scutum longitudine paullo latius ; parapsidum su- turae remotae, bene determinatae ; paraptera et epimera magna ; scutellum subovatum ; postscutellum transversum : metathorax brevis ; petiolus cras- sus, brevissimus : abdomen longiovatum, supra depressum, subtus carina- tum, apice attenuatum et acuminatum, thorace paullo longius et angustius ; segmentum l um magnum, basi laeve ; 2 um et sequentia ad 7 um breviora, trans- versa parallela, subaequalia : oviductus abdominis basin versus apparens, sub- exertus ; vaginae pubescentes : pedes graciles, pubescentes, simplices, sub- aequales ; coxae parvae ; femora subclavata ; tibiae rectae ; tarsis articulus 1"* brevis, 2 US et 3 US longiores, 4 US adhuc longior; pulvilli magni; alae amplae, pubescentes, non ciliatae : proalis nervus hirtus costae dimidio paullo longior, ulnaris humerali vix brevior, cubitalis longus, radialis brevissimus, stigma minutum ; metalis nervus simplex costae dimidio longior. Mas. Caput juxta thoraci latum: antennae extrorsum crassiores, corporis dimidio longiores ; clava articulo 6° duplo longior : abdomen conicum, tho- - ^revius et angustius. [To be continued.] Mr. Gray on a New Species 0/ Tetrapturus. 313 XXXVI. — Description of a new Species o/Tetrapturus from the Cape of Good Hope, By John E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., Senior Assistant in the Zoological Department of the Bri- tish Museum. [With a Plate.] Cuvier in his History of Fish describes a species of this genus from the coast of Sicily, first noticed by M. Rafinesque, and which my friend the Prince Charles L. Bonaparte informs me is found along the whole coast of Italy ; and indicates two others, one from Sumatra, suggested by a note from M. Broussonnet ; and the other founded on the Makiara of Lac6pede, which is probably only a specimen of Tetrapturus Belone, in which the observer had overlooked the ventral fins. The specimen I am about to describe, which greatly resembles Lacepede's figure of the Makiara, was brought to this country last year by Mr. Smuts, the author of a work on the Mammalia of the Cape, and sold by him to the Trustees of the British Museum, where it forms one of the chief ornaments of the Ichthyological collection. Besides differing very considerably in the thickness and propor- tionate shortness of the body from the species figured by Cuvier (Hist. Poiss. viii. p. 228), it has one peculiarity which at once di- stinguishes it from the Mediterranean species ; as I cannot suppose that it could have escaped the attention of M. Bibron, who made a dissection of the specimen, if it had existed in that species. The skin of the Cape species is strengthened with numerous elongate-lanceo- late flexibfa^bones, varying from two to three inches in length, and sometimes united together by their outward surface. The fish ha- ving been discovered during the visit of Sir John Hersche] at the Cape, I have named it in honour of him, Tetrapturus Herschelii. The upper beak elongate ; the skin strengthened with bony spicula. Inhab. Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope. (Plate X). The specimen when stuffed is nearly 11 feet long ; the beak to the gape is 2' 8" ; the lower jaw to the gape, 1' 3" ; the pectoral fin, 1' 9" ; the ventral fin, which is imperfect, 9 inches ; the crescent of the tail is 4 feet 10 inches long. The first dorsal fin has 1 1 soft and 29 spinous rays, and the second 7 rays. The dorsal and anal fins are furnished with a deep fold on each side, between which they must be completely hidden when folded down. A tail, which appears to have belonged to a larger specimen of this species, has been for many years in the collection of the British Mu- seum. 314 Bibliographical Notices. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, under command of Capt. Fitzroy, during the years 1832 to 1836. {Published with the approval of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury.) Edited and superintended by Charles Darwin, Esq., M.A., F.G.S. Parti. No. I. Fossil Mammalia. By Richard Owen, Esq. 4to. London, Smith, Elder, and Co., 1838. It has been long the practice on the continent for the government to defray a part or the whole of the expense of publishing and illustra- ting the accounts of the various voyages and expeditions undertaken for discovery or other purposes connected with science. In Britain, we believe, that until the publication of the Northern Zoology by Richardson and Swainson, little encouragement was thus given to works of a similar kind, and in consequence, an enormous price was set on them, which limited their circulation nearly to the public libra- ries or to those of the most wealthy followers of science and litera- ture. But we are happy now to perceive that this same plan of en- couragement has been still further pursued, and in the instance of two expeditions, one undertaken publicly, the other by a private indi- vidual, the Lords of the Treasury have come forward to assist in defraying the expense of the illustrations ; this we are sure will be attended with the best results for science, and we would only strongly insist that proper precautions should always be used to se- cure the excellency of the work and the cheapness of it to the pub- lic. In regard to that now before us, we are well satisfied in one respect ; but although the first number is certainly cheap, in propor- tion to the run of prices of modern books, yet & will depend on that of the future numbers whether as a whole it will be available to the general reader. Having thus shortly noted our opinion on the plan now adopted for the promotion and assistance of science, we shall endeavour to give an analysis of the part which has at this time ap- peared. In July 1831, H.M. ship Beagle was commissioned for the pur- pose of surveying the southern parts of America, and afterwards cir- cumnavigating the w r orld, and Mr. Darwin was appointed naturalist to the expedition. On returning to Britain the collections procured during the voyage proved to be valuable and interesting, and many of them entirely new to science ; and " the object of the present work is to give descriptions and figures of undescribed or imper- fectly known animals, both fossil and recent, together with some ac- count, in the one case of their geological position, and in the other Bibliographical Notices. 3 1 5 of their habits and ranges." And it is at the same time modestly- added, " As I do not possess the knowledge requisite for such an un- dertaking, several gentlemen have most kindly undertaken different portions of the work." To Mr. Owen has been deputed the descrip- tion of the fossil mammalia ; to Mr. Waterhouse those of the recent mammalia ; to Mr. Gould the birds ; Mr. Bell the reptiles ; and the fishes to the Rev. L. Jenyns. The first part, as our title indicates, is devoted to the fossil mammalia, described by Mr. Owen, to which work and the admirable illustrations the Wollaston Medal was awarded in February last by the Geological Society. This is pre- faced by a Geological introduction by Mr. Darwin, detailing the lo- calities where the remains afterwards noticed were discovered. All the remains were found between latitudes 31° and 50° on the eastern side of South America ; in the provinces bordering the Plata; Bahia Blanca, situated near the confines of Northern Patagonia, and Southern Patagonia. The principal deposit is contained in the al- most boundless estuary of the Plata, forming a flat or pampa of red- dish argillaceous earth, varying little in elevation and stretching over a surface of some hundred miles in extent, where the traveller may wander f* without meeting a single pebble or discovering any change in the nature of the soil." This is intersected by streams, which lay open the immense deposits of animal remains which are there buried, and exhibit to the traveller those wonderful relics which are com- menced to be described in the work before us. Mr. Owen, consi- dering the information communicated by Mr. Darwin, is of opinion that this deposit cannot be of very ancient date, and the facts he states seem to bear him out. The change of level which has taken place is by no meariS considerable, and the numerous accompanying remains of shells belong mostly to recent species, and to many which are at this moment existing in the vicinity. He concludes that a great bay formerly occupied what are now called the Pampas, and the lower parts of Banda Oriental, and that into this the rivers which are now united in the one great stream of the Plata must formerly have carried down the carcases of the animals inhabiting the sur- rounding country, and "where the skeletons would thus be en- tombed in the estuary of mud which was then tranquilly accumula- ting." The second district where quadrupeds were found is in Bahia Blanca, about 250 miles south of the Plata ; it is a large bay nearly surrounded by very low land, on which successive lines of sand dunes mark in many parts the retreat of the waters ; and it is supposed, from the bones being found imbedded in their proper rela- tive positions, that the carcases of the animals when they perished 316 Bibliographical Notices. were probably drifted to this spot in an entire state. One of the skeletons thus placed was encrusted with serpulse and corallines, which would indicate that it had been for some time before its en- tombment in the deposit, remaining in the waters which then co- vered the bay. Among the shells which were found with these re- mains, twelve species are absolutely identical with existing species ; four more are perhaps so, the doubt arising from the imperfect con- dition of the specimens ; and of the remaining seven, four are very minute and one extremely imperfect. The conclusion arrived at re- garding this deposit is nearly similar to that relating to the first. The streams, inferior to the Plata, acting together with the currents of a large bay, drifted the remains of the animals towards a point where sand and shingle were accumulating ; " the whole area has since been elevated ; the estuary and mud of the former ruins have been con- verted into wide and level plains ; and the shoals of the ancient Bahia Blanca now form low headlands on the present coast." The third locality is in lat. 49° 15', on the coast of Southern Pata- gonia, Port St. Julian. The tertiary plains of that country are mo- delled into a succession of broad and level terraces, which abut one above the other. The whole surface is thickly covered by a bed of gravel composed of various kinds of porphyries. The lower part consists of several varieties of sandstone, and contains many fossil shells, the greater number of which are not found in a living state. The south side of Fort St. Julian is formed by a strip of narrow land nearly a hundred feet in height, and on its surface existing species of littoral shells are abundantly scattered. The gravel is there co- vered by a thin but irregular bed of sandy or loamy soil, which like- wise fills up hollows or channels worn through it. In the longest of these channels the remains of the single fossil quadruped (Macrau- chenia patachonica) was found imbedded. And Mr. Darwin suggests, that as the Guanaco, the only large animal now inhabiting the plains of Patagonia, often wanders over the extensive flats which are left dry at the head of the harbour during ebb tide, we may imagine that the fossil animal, whilst in like manner crossing the ancient bay, fell into one of the muddy creeks and was there buried. In sum- ming up the whole information collected regarding these deposits, it is considered that there is strong evidence against admitting the theory of a period of overwhelming violence by which these remains were brought to their present state. The first number, besides the interesting introductory remarks by Mr. Darwin, is nearly entirely occupied with the description of a single gigantic quadruped, of which the cranium was discovered in Bibliographical Notices. 3 1 7 the Sarondis, a small stream entering the Rio Negro, about 120 miles N.W. of Monte Video, while an under jaw was procured at Bahia Blanca. In this description there are some very able remarks on the various affinities presented between the remains and the qua- drupeds belonging to the Pachydermata, the Rodentia, Edentata and Herbivorous Cetacea, to the first of which it is however more parti- cularly referable. The name of Toxodon platensis has been applied to this singular animal, the first or generic term relating to the curved form of its teeth, the latter indicating the locality of its dis- covery. The skull, which is figured of the natural size, on a large folio folding plate, is in length two feet four inches, in breadth one foot four inches. The subordinate dimensions and a description of every part is minutely given, and the following deductions are made. The teeth consist of molars and incisors, separated by a long dia- stema or toothless space; in the upper jaw the former are fourteen in number, seven on each side ; the incisors four, one very large and one small in each maxillary bone ; but although the dentary system is de- cidedly rodent, yet the number of the molar teeth, and their diminu- tion of size as they advance towards the anterior part of the jaw, in - dicate an approach to the Pachydermata ; at the same time it is ob- served, the Capybara, in the increased size of the posterior grinders and other particularities, presents a somewhat similar alliance to the same tribe. The depth of the zygoma bespeaks the size of the mas- ticatory muscles ; and the temporal muscles being also large, it is presumed that the great incisors at the extremity of the jaws were used like the canines of the hippopotamus to divide or tear up the roots of aquatic plants. The osseous parts pertaining to the senses of sight and hearing resemble those of the aquatic Rodentia and Pa- chydermata. The aspect of the nostrils is placed upwards, as in the herbivorous Cetacea; but in the bony structure they materially differ, by having narrow canals of intercommunication between the nasal passages and the frontal sinus. The articulating condyles of the cranium indicate, that when the body of the Toxodon was submerged, the head could be raised so as to form an angle with the neck, and bring the snout to the surface of the water, without the necessity of any corresponding inflexion o¥9Jte spine. There is no evidence to determine the character of the extremities, whether they were un- gulate or unguiculate, while the structure of the nostrils will sug- gest that the habits of the animal were not so strictly aquatic, as to warrant the supposition that the under extremities were altogether wanting. Altogether the discovery of these remains is one of the most important which has been made for a long period ; and in the 318 Bibliographical Notices. concluding words of Mr. Owen's most valuable observations, " It is highly interesting to find that the continent to which this existing aberrant form of rodent is peculiar (the Hydrochcerus), should be found to contain the remains of an extinct genus, characterized by a dentition which closely resembles the rodent type, but manifesting it on a gigantic scale, and tending to complete the chain of affinities which links the pachydermatous with the rodent and cetaceous orders." The description of the remains of another large animal scarcely less interesting is commenced in the concluding pages of the number, but we shall not notice this until we receive its completion. Suffice it to say now, that from the portions of the skeleton which have been discovered containing no parts of the skull or teeth, the animal is considered referable to the order Pachydermata, but with affinities to the Ruminantia, and especially to the Camelidae. It has been named Macrauchenia patachonica. The number is illustrated by seven well-executed lithographic plates. A Geographical and Comparative List of the Birds of Europe and North America. By Charles Lucian Bonaparte, Prince of Musi- gnano. London. Van Voorst, 1838. 8vo. Although only a list of species, this is a valuable contribution to geographical ornithology. Of the nomenclature and arrangement we would not offer a remark, as the author says, " The genera are arranged in these lists in families and tribes, according to the gene- ral system of birds on which I have been long engaged, and which I now hope very shortly to bring before the public." When this ap- pears we shall give it due attention. We may state, however, that the system of Boje is much used, at times too far, we think ; at the same time, this little publication is of much use, as showing a cor- rect list up to the latest knowledge of species indigenous or partly visiting each country. In another respect it is also important : the ornithology of North America has always been considered as very closely allied to that of Europe, and the identification of species has been perhaps overdone. The Prince of Musignano's catalogue gives those common to both countries : his opinion is gathered from the different name he has given to each, and, from the information which we know this naturalist possesses of the Faunae of Europe and North America, we consider it as bearing great weight ; at the same time observing, that so far as our own more limited observations have gone, we are not prepared always to coincide. The letter- press is Bibliographical Notices. 319 printed in double columns, the representing species of each being placed opposite to each other. The Linnsean orders are retained, while the greater divisions are put into subclasses. Among the Linnsean Accipitres, the Raptor es of the moderns, we find Aquila Washingtonii retained as a species. The American osprey is separated from the European under the name of Pandion Carolinensis ; but among European, North American, and Australian specimens in our possession, we cannot discover charac- ters on which we could found specific distinctions. Buteo Lagopus and vulgaris are neither placed on the American side ; the first is considered, and we think correctly, as the young of B. Sancti Johan- nis, and to the other the name of B. Swainsonii has been applied. F. peregrinus is represented by the species considered hitherto as such, but now called the F. anatum : the habitat given is " the northern parts." Astur palumbarius is represented by F. atricapillus. Circus cyaneus is thought to be distinct from the American bird, which is given as C. uliginosus, Noctua Tengmalmi of America is made di- stinct, and is called JV". Richardsonii, while the Kite or Barn owl of Wilson is named tit. pratincola. Among the Passeres of Bonap. and Linn., Insessores of moderns, we find the following species, which have been considered identical, now separated : Certhia familiaris, represented in America by C. Ameri- cana ; Pica caudata by P. Hudsonica ; Corvus Corone by C. America- nus; and the C. Coraw by C. Catototi; and Corvus Columbianus is placed under the genus Nucifraga. Ectopistes migratoria is omitted in the European side, but we believe it has been twice killed in Scot- land, and would rank as an accidental straggler with as much pro- priety as the Erythrophrys Americana. Among the remaining or- ders there is less change, the species most closely allied showing at once some specific distinction easily seized, at the same time the comparative list is most interesting to look over, and still more so if the two representing species can be at the same time compared. Among the ducks, Clangula vulgaris is placed opposite to C. Ameri- cana, the A. clangula of Wilson. Several of the above-named birds we have examined, and at the time we thought very minutely, and considered identical : a comparison of many specimens from each country might induce a change of opinion ; and we have now to re- gret that the distinctions between all those so closely allied had not been shortly given, by which we should have been at once enabled to judge of the propriety or impropriety of the Prince's separations. 320 Bibliographical Notices. Malacologia Monensis : a Catalogue of the Mollusca inhabiting the Isle of Man and the neighbouring Sea. By Edward Forbes, For. Sec. B.S. &c Edin. 1838. Duod. pp. 63, with three plates. We are partial to books of this description, which, although requi- ring no high attainments on the part of their authors, and productive of little fame and no money, are essential towards the completion of a British Fauna, and are very acceptable to that class of men who find their "hobby" in the quiet pursuit of collecting objects of na- tural history, — men whose pleasure it is to discover species hitherto unknown, and who accustom themselves to see " Form in things which to the eye Half-read is but deformity ; — Grandeur in mean things and small, And God's great handiwork in all ! " To such this will be an acceptable volume, containing as it does a copious list of species found in a little island, of the conchology of which little is to be learned in works of more pretension and greater extent. A few more notices illustrative of habit in the creatures, and an occasional note relative to anything remarkable in the habitat, would have been agreeable, and would have served to keep the reader lingering a little over pages which are essentially a catalogue, and ex- hibit scarcely more than a list of species. We would strongly im- press on the attention of local Faunists the extrinsic aids and orna- ments by which they might render their "opuscula subseciva" some- what more extensively interesting and attractive. As we glance over the pages, we remark that Doris Flemingii, as D. nigricans of Fleming is here called, is no other than D. pilosa, confirming a conjecture offered at p. 55 of the ' Annals.' The Me- libcea fragilis of Mr. Forbes, rather ambiguously characterized, is M. coronata of the 'Annals,' p. 117. Eubranchus, a new genus among the Nudibranchia, is thus defined : Corpore ovato, convexiusculo ; tentaculis quatuor; oculis nullis; dorso branchiis ovatis instructo : and the only species, E. tricolor, Corpore albo-cameo ; branchiis pyriformo-ovatis tricoloribus. Long. + un. Lat. \. The genus is referred, erroneously in our opinion, to the family Glau- cea : it rather belongs to an aberrant group, not yet defined, and to which Triopa likewise appertains. In many ensuing pages there is nothing to detain us until we reach the " Naticida," which Mr. F. has attentively studied, and his remarks on the species will interest Bibliographical Notices. 321 the conchologist. Under Lima and Area there are remarks equally- attractive ; and lastly, we find the author of opinion that the Unio Roissyi is merely one of the variations of U. margaritifera. This brochure is a specimen of a more extensive work which we hope the author will prosecute and complete : we must bargain, how- ever, for better plates. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte. In Verbindung mit mehreren Gelehrten, herausgegeben von Dr. Ar. Fr. Aug. Wiegmann, Professor an der Friederich Wilhelms-Universitat zu Berlin. Viertes Jahrgang. Erstes Heft. Berlin, 1838. As this is the first occasion of mentioning this journal in our pages, we shall take the opportunity, before noticing the contents of the present part, to inform our readers of the general tenor of this work. Its plan resembles our own except in one point, namely, in the an- nual Reports on the progress of the various branches of natural sci- ence which it contains, and which are of the greatest value to all naturalists. The zoologist finds notices of all the works which have appeared in any couritry on zoology, with short criticisms ; also every new species, and generally with the characters, giving him much of the information which is most essential. The lover of vegetable phy- siology will find in the valuable reports of Prof. Meyen the various labours of physiologists, and the conclusions to which they have come, criticized and compared with each other ; so that without the necessity of consulting works, many of which are extremely expen- sive, he may be sufficiently informed with regard to the objects of his pursuit to know generally what has been done, and not to ima- gine he is making discoveries merely because he is unacquainted with what others have accomplished ; whilst in regard to those subjects on which further information may be desired, the sources from whence it may be obtained are carefully indicated. We cannot too much re- commend these reports to our countrymen, as the labours of foreign naturalists are from various causes too tardily and imperfectly known here ; and as they are the productions of persons well known to the scientific world as being well qualified for the task of preparing them. The zoological report is drawn up by Prof. Wiegmann ; that on helminthology by Dr. v. Siebold ; on entomology by Dr. Erichson ; on palaeontology (Petrefactenkunde) by Dr. Quenstedt ; on vegetable physiology by Prof. Meyen ; on phytochemistry by M. Marquart of Bonn. Of these, Meyen's report for the year 1836 has been trans- lated in part, and Marquart's on phytochemistry for 1835 entirely, and are to be found in the Philosophical Magazine. On account of Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol.1. No. 4. June 1838. y 322 Zoological Society, their great length we must regret that we are unable to introduce them into the Annals, and can only refer our readers to them as most valuable sources of information. Among the contributors to the Archiv will be found the names of Link, Kunth, Dr. Schleiden, Dr. Philippi, Prof. Muller, Ehrenberg, Anton, Nitzsch, Wagner, Klug, Burmeister, Dr. Fritsche of St. Petersburg, Schlegel, Nathusius, and various other celebrated naturalists of Germany. Six parts ap- pear yearly, and as nearly as possible every two months ; sometimes, however, two parts appear together. Part I. of the fourth year (1838) contains the following original articles : — On the Manati of Orinoko from the manuscript of A. v. Humboldt, with an appendix by Prof. Wiegmann. — On the European Soricida, by H. Nathusius. — Use of the Nuthatch (Sitta Europcea) in destroying weevils. — Botanical No- tices, by Dr. Schleiden. — On two new genera of Coleoptera from Madagascar, by Prof. Klug. — On the genera of the Plagiostomi, by Muller and Henle ; with translations of Agassiz's Memoir on the family of the Carps, and J. E. Gray's on the Mactradce. We hope to be able to give some extracts from the above in our next number. PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. October 10th, 1837, R. Owen, Esq., in the Chair. — A paper was read by Colonel Sykes "On the identity of the "Wild Ass of Cutch and the Indus, with the Dzeggetai (Equus Hemionus of Pallas)." The author commences with observing, "it is somewhat strange and anomalous, that an animal known to and named by Aristotle, and noticed by iElian, Pliny, and subsequent authors, down to our own day, an animal remarkable for its beauty of colour, the antelope lightness of its limbs, and the tales of its swiftness, and its classic locality, should have attracted so little the attention of men of science, that it was not even figured until Pallas put it before the public * . The magnificent work of Buffon does not boast a representa- tion of it ; and as the proceedings of the scientific body at Peters- burg are necessarily rare, and confined to some few great public libraries, it was in fact scarcely known to the European world, even though Pennant copied Pallas's account in 1793. To remedy this defect we are indebted to M. Isidore Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, who took advantage of the importation by M. Dussumier, of a female into the Paris Menagerie, to have a correct coloured figure made to accompany his paper, ' Sur le Genre Cheval/ in the Nouvelles An- * In the Novi Commentarii Academice Scientiarum Petropolitance, t. xix. 1774, p. 417. Zoological Society, 323 nales du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle*. Though I have been an amateur of Natural History for a great part of my life, I must con- fess that it is to a private copy of M. St. Hilaire's paper, obligingly presented to the Zoological Society of London, that I am indebted for my first view of a coloured representation of the Dzeggetai, and it was only last week that this fell into my hands. I have been thus particular in noticing the want of readily accessible fi- gures of animals (for my observation will apply to many other ani- mals beside the Dzeggetai,) as this want of means to correct my judgement led me into the belief that a recently imported Wild Ass of Cutch, which was sent to England by an old friend of my own from Bombay, was a different species from the Dzeggetai of Pallas, which is represented as inhabiting the desert regions between the rivers Onon and Argun, on the southern parts of Siberia, through Tartary, even to the frontiers of China and Thibet ; and I might have been justified in my supposition had I attached the same weight that some naturalists do, to the opinion that the geographical distribution of animals is regulated by mean temperature, the Dzeggetai of Pallas inhabiting the borders of the arctic regions, the Wild Ass of India the borders of the torrid zone. There might be yet further question for doubt, did we take the description of colour from Griffith's edition of the ' Regne Animal,' in which it is stated ' there is a black dorsal line which enlarges on the crupper. In winter the hair is very long ; but of a smooth and shining appearance in summer. The colour of the body is an uniform light bay, but in winter it partakes more of redf ;' and the forehead is described as * flatted and narrow.' "M. St. Hilaire, who describes from the life, says ' Lesdeuxcou- leurs dominantes de YHemione, le blanc et l'isabelle passent l'une a l'autre par nuances insensibles sur le ventre, vers sa partie inferieure, et sur le cou, presque a egal distance de son bord superieur, et de son bord inferieur. Sur la tete au contraire, le blanc n'occupe guere que le museau et la gorge, le cou £tant presque entierement isabelle. Sur les membres, contrairement a ce qui a lieu sur le corps, c'est le blanc qui domine,' &c. Again, ' Tout ce system e de colo- ration est rebasse superieurement par une bande dorsale longitudi- nale, non pas noire comme on Fa dit, mais d'un brun legerement rous- satre.' And now with respect to the change of colour with the season of the year, instead of getting redder in winter it would appear from the observations of M. Fred. Cuvier, that thet-^ammal a le poil plus gris, plus pale et plus long l'hiver que i'6teV These discrepancies * t. iv. p. 97. f Quarto edit., vol. iii. p. 460. y2 324 Zoological Society. would have afforded to those strongly disposed to multiply species, some feeble grounds (particularly when I come to notice a point of conformation in the head,) for asserting the right of the Wild Ass of Cutch to the dignity of a specific character, for it will be borne in mind that M. St. Hilaire describes his specimen, which was a native of Cutch; while in Griffith's Cuvier the description refers to the Dzeg- getai, whose habitat is from southern Siberia to Thibet and China ; and we do not want instances of equally trifling discrepancies having been made available for multiplying species. " And now with respect to the animals in the Zoological Gardens, the one being called Dzeggetai, and marked on its ticket Mongolia and Asia; the other known positively as the Wild Ass from Cutch. The first, a male, has been in the possession of the Society since the 3rd of March 1832, and was presented to the Society by Captain Glasspoole, R.N. Its birth-place is not known ; but from the nature of Captain Glasspoole's maritime duties, which carried his ship along the coasts Cutch, Scind, and Persia, there is little doubt of its being from one of these states ; and as it is absolutely identical with the animal I am about to speak of, my own judgement is formed on the subject. This creature has long been known in the gardens from its great beauty, its fine condition, its vivacity, and its wickedness. The second animal was sent while quite a colt by an old friend of mine, the British Minister in Cutch, to the Military Auditor General of Bombay. It was allowed for a considerable period, (pending an answer from me, whether or not I would accept of it,) to amuse the children ; it was permitted to attend at breakfast-time, and eat from the table ; but manifesting as it grew up symptoms of ill nature, (no doubt having been heartily teased,) it was put on board the Marquess of Hastings, Captain Clarkson, and brought to England : there can- not therefore be any doubt respecting its origin and its history ; and having one animal certainly from Cutch, we have a positive standard of comparison. Like the preceding, it is a male, and with the ex- ception of being younger and smaller, and with a less short and glossy coat, it is identical with it in every feature ; and these two agree in all essentials with M. St. Hilaire's very able and minute de- scription and coloured figure of a female in the Paris Menagerie. There is one point only in which there may be a difference, and there are two or three others in which there is a difference. M. St. Hi- laire does not state whether the forehead be flat' or prominent ; and though the figure represents it to be somewhat raised, it is certainly not so much so as in the animals in the Zoological Gardens : with them the frontal development is a very prominent feature ; such fea- Zoological Society, 325 ture, however, being opposed to the descriptions in Griffith's ' Regne Animal.' M. St. Hilaire also mentions another character, which it required some little perseverance to discover in the larger animal in the Zoological Gardens, the smaller animal being absolutely- destitute of it. He states that on the isabella colour on the limbs, there are transverse lines or very narrow bands of a darker isabella, in the manner of the markings of the Zebra. These lines had never been observed by the keepers in the Zoological Gardens, and for some time I could not discover them ; but at last with a reflected light I could just discern the transverse lines noticed by M. St. Hi- laire, but I was not so fortunate with the smaller animal. M. St. Hilaire, on the authority of M. Geoffroy- Chateau, who sent to him a description of a male Dzeggetai in Cross's Menagerie in London, states that there was a disposition in the dorsal band on that animal, by lateral projections at the withers, to form a small cross, like that of an ass. There is not the slightest trace or manifestation of such a thing in either of the animals in the Zoological Gardens. Finally, M. St. Hilaire speaks of the blending by insensible degrees of the isabella and white markings of the Dzeggetai, but in our animals the lines of demarcation are sufficiently strong. " M. St. Hilaire's humorous description of the habits of kicking of the female at Paris, is laughably exact with respect to our animals, particularly the smaller one. I had sent one of the keepers into its yard with some hay, to throw down before it, to keep it stationary (at least its body) while I took a rapid sketch of it with the assistance of the camera lucida. The moment the hay was thrown down, the creature turned round and commenced flinging out most vigorously for some time, although the man was gone, and the odd beast all the time was gravely munching its hay. So petulant were both these creatures, that after having sketched them I could not get any of the keepers to take their measurements, nor could I succeed in obtaining them, but by getting them thrown down, which I declined to do. With respect to the swiftness of the Wild Ass of Cutch, without quoting from Griffith ' that it runs literally with the rapidity of lightning/ or from M. St. Hilaire, who says, ' it appeared to him to go as fast as the best race horses ;' I will mention in confirmation of its extra- ordinary swiftness, that my friend Major Wilkins, of the Cavalry of the Bombay Army, who was stationed with his regiment for years at Deesa, on the borders of the Run or Salt Marshes, east of Cutch, in his morning rides used to start a particular Wild Ass so fre- quently that it became familiar to him, and he always gave chase to it ; and though he piqued himself upon being mounted on an exceed- ingly fleet Arabian horse, he never could come up with the animal. 326 Zoological Society, " It now remains to express my reasons for believing with M. St. Hilaire, that the Wild Ass of Cutch is the same as the Equus Hemi- onus of Pallas. There are certainly sundry discrepancies in the ac- counts of the two animals ; in the colour, the dorsal line, the fore- head, and above all in the difference of mean temperatures between the northern and southern habitat of the species. But all the dis- crepancies of descriptions may be easily remedied by the supposition that animals examined by different individuals at different seasons of the year, did really slightly differ, owing to the difference of seasons ; and some part of the differences may be attributed to in- attention to terms. There are slight discrepancies between M. St. Hilaire's description and mine, both taken from life, and the animals from the same locality ; no one therefore can doubt their identity. In the main features the Dzeggetai and the Wild Ass of Cutch perfectly agree ; and with respect to the extent of geo- graphical distributions, I have elsewhere proved that it is no bar to the identity of species inhabiting mean temperatures varying nearly 40° of Fahr., and separated by half the earth in longitude. But in the case of the Dzeggetai and the Wild Ass of Cutch, there are not any insuperable difficulties of geographical position. The Wild Ass of Cutch and the north of Goojrat, is not found further south in India than Deesa on the banks of the Bunnas river, in lat. about 23° 30', nor have I heard of it to the eastward of the 75° of longitude in the southern side of the Himalayan Mountains. In Cutch and Northern Goojrat it frequents the salt deserts and the open plains of Thoodpoor, Jaysulmer, and Bickaneor. By swimming the Indus it may communicate through Scind and Buloochestand with Persia ; and in Persia it evidently exists from Sir Robert Kerr Porter's de- scriptions ; to the east and north of Persia abuts upon the peculiar localities of the Dzeggetai, through Bucharia to the deserts of Cobi, where it delights in the salt marshes, as it does in India, and thence te Tartary, Thibet, and South Siberia. The latitudinal range may be from 35° to 40° ; but the longitudinal range is necessarily very great, probably from the 45° to the 130° or 140°, or 95° of longi- tude ; but in case it ever was found in Cappadocia it would have a still greater range, or 100°. If it be desirable to believe that the animal migrates according to the season, there do not appear to be any insuperable physical impediments ; and its extraordinary fleet- ness and hardihood would sanction the belief in its making very long journeys, even to the banks of the Indus. ♦ But the animal of Cutch and the Burmass river, would have to cross the Indus and its branches to get to the north and west ; and as they are seen at all seasons of the year in their Indian localities, I am quite content to Zoological Society. 327 believe that the Dzeggetai of Southern Siberia and the Wild Ass of Cutch are identical in species, and yet do not wander further than is necessary for forage from their respective localities. I say little of the advantage of domesticating this beautiful animal in Europe, but I do say that it would be worthy of the reputation of the great Society, to continue the attempt until success crowned its efforts. 4 * I wish also through the medium of the Society's Proceedings to call the attention of naturalists, amateurs, and travellers, who can- not even draw at all, to the means the camera lucida affords them of recording outlines with celerity and precision. I exhibit to the So- ciety five sketches of the two Wild Asses in the Zoological Gardens ; and though I do not profess not to be able to draw, I do not hesitate to say that I can give much more correct figures of animals by its means thaa without it. It may be objected that the restlessness of animals renders the use of the camera lucida abortive; but I say that the rapid- ity with which the lines maybe traced with the pencil, enable a person using it to make twenty sketches, where the draughtsman would other- wise make but one, and it will be hard if more than one of the twenty do not prove just. The five sketches exhibited were made in a few minutes ; and only one proved abortive, making six attempts in all ; and yet I have not used the camera lucida since 1830. The out- lines have been subsequently traced in ink. I trust therefore this notice may lead to its more extended use ; a use in natural history that cannot fail to be beneficial to the science. One word in con* elusion. I have been a declaimer in the Transactions of this Society against the modern habit in natural history of generalization from a limited number of facts ; and in pursuing the above inquiries I met with a new proof of the risk to truth of such a system. In the hi- story of the Domestic Ass it is stated, ' The countries most suitable to the Ass are those of the south. Accordingly it is in Persia, Egypt, and Arabia that the strongest and finest varieties of this species are to be found. Some, very different from the small and feeble natives of our climates, almost equal the Horse in magnitude and stature. Spain also possesses some fine races of the Ass, which are also occa- sionally to be found in the southern provinces of France ; as we ad- vance northward, the animal diminishes in size and becomes more and more difficult of preservation.' Opposed to this is the fact, that in Western India, which it will be admitted is sufficiently far to the south, the Asses are not much larger than good-sized Newfound- land dogs. They are used in droves to carry small loads of salt or grain ; they are also used by the pot-makers to carry their clay ; and they are always seen, as in Europe, associated with gipsies." 328 Linnman Society. LINN.EAN SOCIETY. May 1.— Edw. Foster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. Mr. Curtis read a paper, being descriptions of the Coleoptera col- lected by Capt. P. P. King, R.N., during his survey of the Straits of Magellan. No region of the world presents more curious forms or more splendid colouring amongst insects than South America. As we proceed to the more temperate regions of the south, however, they partake considerably of the sober colours of our European species. This interesting collection contains a very considerable number of new species, and of these Mr. Curtis has formed the following genera. Fam. Cara.bid^:. Gen. 1. Cascellius. Head rather small and ovate. Thorax elongate, obovate- truncate. Elytra large, convex and oval, base narrowed, apex rounded. An- terior tibise deeply notched, denticulated externally : anterior tarsi with the 3 first joints dilated and obtrigonate in the male, interme- diate slightly dilated, especially the basal joints. Antennas with the 2nd joint short, 1st and 3rd of equal length. External maxillary palpi with the 2nd joint the longest, 3rd short, 4th stout and fusi- form : labial with the 3rd joint long and fusiform, stouter than the 2nd, mentum trilobed, central lobe trigonate- truncate. -The examples are C. Kingii and C. Gravesii. 2. Cardiophthalmus. Head rather narrow and ovate ; eyes cordiform. Thorax convex cordate- truncate. Elytra connate, broad and ovate, base narrowed, apex rounded. Anterior thighs tuberculated beneath, anterior tibise notched, with 2 long stout spines, anterior tarsi with the basal joint elongated and a little dilated in the male, 3 following small obtrigo- nate. Antennas with the basal joint stout, 2nd the shortest, 3rd longer than the following. Palpi with the terminal joints elliptic- truncate, the 2 apical of equal length. Mentum not largely emar- ginate, with a broad deeply notched tooth in the centre. Example. C Clivinoides. 3. Odontoscelis. Head broad and ovate ; eyes small, remote from the base. Thorax sublunate : scutel broad and triangular : elytra elongate-ovate, the base narrowed, apex rounded. Tibia?, anterior notched, the apex produced into a long lobe externally : tarsi, anterior dilated in the male, and spiny. Antennas not longer than the head, basal joint the stoutest, 2nd subglobose, 3rd clavate, a little longer than the follow- ing, which are turbinate : palpi external maxillary with the 3rd and 4th joints short, the latter elliptic -truncate and the stoutest ; 2 ter- Linncean Society. 329 minal joints of the labial longer and slenderer. Mentum with 2 large lateral lobes and a strong conical one in the centre. Example. 0. Tentyrioides. 4. Cylloscelis. Head broad, eyes small. Thorax subquadrate-cordate. Elytra sublinear. Tibiae, anterior dilated, with a shallow notch, the apical spine broad and lanceolate, hinder longer, slender and curved : tarsi anterior with the 4 basal joints cordate. Antennae not longer than the head, basal jointthe longest and stoutest, 3rd pyriform, 2nd, 4th and following subovate. External maxillary palpi with the 3rd joint nearly as long as the 2nd, 4th elongate and nearly linear : labial with the 3rd joint long, subfusiform- truncate : mentum with a strong trigonate tooth in the middle. Example. C. ellipticus. 5. Metius. Headsuborbicular: eyes prominent. Thorax subquadrate-cordate : scutel dividing the elytra which are elliptical, the apex slightly emarginate. Anterior tibiae not deeply notched : anterior tarsi with the 3 basal joints dilated and obovate-truncate in the males. Antennae slender, as long as the head and thorax, basal joint the stoutest, 2nd not short, 3rd and following long. Labrum rather deeply notched : mandibles short and strong ; terminal joint of palpi shorter than the^ penultimate, elliptic-truncate ; mentum broadly emarginate and simple. Example. M. harpalioides. The species noticed amount to 54, and were collected between 20° and 56° south latitude. Read a paper on the affinities of Arachis and Voandzeia. By George Bentham, Esq., F.L.S. The genus Arachis has been placed along with Voandzeia by De Candolle among the desalpinea in his tribe Geoffrece, which is cha- racterized by having a papilionaceous corolla, combined stamina, and a straight embryo ; but at the same time well aware of the affinity subsisting between those two genera and the arborescent Geoffrece, he suggests the probability of their forming a separate tribe. Mr. Bentham has however, in the paper before us, clearly shown that the real affinity of Arachis is with Stylosanthes, and consequently that its proper place is among the Hedysarece, from which it differs chiefly in the legume not separating into distinct articulations, a circum- stance to be attributed to its position underground. Mr. Bentham follows Ernest Meyer in referring Voandzeia to the Phaseolece. The perfect flowers of Arachis, accurately described by De Can- dolle as to the calyx, corolla, stamina, ovarium, and style, are accord- 330 Royal Society of Edinburgh. ing to Mr. Bentham constantly sterile, and although they are fur- nished with an apparently perfect ovarium containing two or three ovula, he has observed it to fall off with the calyx, and that the le- gumes are produced both in hypogcea and the other species by the female flowers, whose structure is very different, being destitute of either calyx, corolla, or stamina ; but from between two small bractes, resembling those occurring at the base of the sterile flowers, proceeds a straight rigid stipes or torus, which speedily becomes reflexed and elongated, and is terminated by what appears to the naked eye a sharp point, which, when examined with a glass, discloses at its ex- tremity a truncated, somewhat concave and dilated stigma, and within it is found a cell bearing two or three anatropous ovula placed transversely one above the other. After fecundation, when the extremity has nearly reached the ground, it begins to swell, but remains continuous with the stipes or torus, without any articulation even at the maturity, when the legume is usually broken off with more or less of laceration. We subjoin the characters of the species given by Mr. Bentham. 1. A. hypogcea, annua; caule erecto vel adscendente ramoso piloso, foli- olis obovatis obtusis mucronatis, supra glabris, subtus pilosulis. 2. A. glabrata, perennis, glabra, vel hinc inde pilosula, adscendens ; sti- pularum parte libera elongata ad foliorum par infimum subattingente, foliolis oblongo-ellipticis obtusis mucronatis basi rotundatis brevissime petiolulatis, supra glabris, subtus vix pilosulis. Brasilia. 3. A. pusilla, perennis ; caule procumbente pilosulo, stipularum parte li- bera brevissima, foliolis ovatis oblongisve acutiusculis mucronatis basi rotundatis, supra glabris, subtus adpresse pubescentibus subsericeis. Brasilia. 4. A. prostrata, perennis ; caule prostrate villoso, stipularum parte libera elongata at foliolorum par infimum non attingente, foliolis ovatis ob- longisve obtusis mucronatis basi rotundatis, supra glabris, subtus ad- presse villosis. Brasilia. 5. A. villosa, perennis, caule prostrato villoso, stipulis foliolorum par in- fimum superantibus, foliolis lato-ovatis rigidis mucronatis, supra pu- bescentibus, subtus pilosis. Brasilia. 6. A. tuberosa, perennis, caule brevi subsimplici, villoso, petiolis abbre- viatis, foliolis obovatis oblongisve obtusis muticis basi angustatis rigidis marginatis reticularis glabris subciliatis. Brasilia. ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 18th Dec. 1837.— Dr. Hope, V. P. in the Chair. Read, Professor Traill's remarks on the Ossiferous Caves of Cefn, in Denbighshire. These caves, which were first described by the present Bishop of Norwich in 1832, and have since been more fully explored by Dr. Royal Society of Edinburgh, 33 1 Gumming of Denbigh, were visited by the author in the autumn of 1837. The principal cave is a fissure in a grand mural escarpment of the mountain limestone of Wales, about two miles and a half south- west of St. Asaph, and occurs half way down the precipice, which seems to be about 250 feet in height. It forms at that point the southern boundary of the limestone, which constitutes the basis of the Vale of Clwyd ; and is divided from the extensive greywacke slate formation of that county by the narrow picturesque vale of Cyffredin, through which the river Elwy flows. The hill of Cefn consists of parallel beds of limestone, which the extensive quarries on its southern flank show to have a regular dip of about 8°. This cave was discovered in 1830 to contain earthy deposits exceedingly rich in bones of mammifera : and, since that period, they have been much employed as a manure by Mr. Lloyd, the proprietor. During the excavations for this purpose, many teeth and fragments of larger bones, so entire as to be readily recognised, have been obtained. An interesting collection of them is preserved at Cefn House, and some are in the hands of the author. Among the former, he noticed part of the humerus and a molar tooth of a rhinoceros, several teeth and bones of the hyaena, and beautiful teeth, and a considerable portion of the lower jaw, of a bear. Dr. Traill has in his possession two phalanges and two teeth of a bear ; a pha- lanx of a large Fells, resembling the tiger ; parts of the tibia, and of the astragalus, and a phalanx of a large Bos ; portions of the meta- carpus of an immense ruminant, apparently a deer ; besides a variety of fragments, not so easily ascertained on account of their mutilated state. The materials which filled up the fissure or principal cave almost to its roof, are regularly stratified. They formed together a mass of earthy matter twelve feet in thickness. The first or upper bed con- sists of layers of clay and very fine sand, two feet thick. The second bed is of plastic clay-marl, containing many small water- worn pebbles, chiefly of clay-slate, two feet thick. The third is a stratum so filled with broken and comminuted bones, as apparently to consist entirely of that material, two feet thick. It is in this bed that all the bones mentioned, except those of the bears, are found. Immediately below is the fourth bed, consisting of plastic marl-clay, with many water- worn pebbles of slate and compact felspar, with angular pieces of limestone ; this is also two feet thick. The fifth bed consists of fine sand, which seldom contains any pebbles. It rests on the floor of the cavern, and has usually a depth of four feet. In one part of the cave, however, Dr. Cumming detected below this bed a floor of hard stalagmite, about sixteen feet square ; and on breaking it up, bones 332 Royal Academy of Berlin, of bears were found mingled with sand and large water-worn pebbles of the rocks already mentioned. One of the most interesting observations which occurred to the author during his investigation was, that the stratified earthy mate- rials filling the cave were not deposited horizontally, but had an evi- dent dip, which he remarked was in the same direction and apparent inclination as that of the limestone rock itself. The important in- ference he drew from this is, that the stratified materials were de- posited in the cave before the limestone received its present position ; and he conjectured, that the animals whose remains are here pre- served may have existed even before the last great disturbances of our carboniferous system of rocks. Should similar phenomena be observed in other caves, it would perhaps carry back the existence of mammiferous animals to geological epochs more ancient than ge- nerally supposed ; and account for the occurrence of diluvial mate- rials in similar situations, without the startling supposition of exten- sive degradations of solid rocks, by causes apparently inadequate to produce them. Another cave exists in the same neighbourhood, in which bones have also been found. It is near the village of Pont Newydd. In its bottom was found a collection of hyaena bones, in a mass of calc-sinter and gravel, four feet in thickness. The author illustrated his paper by a view of the cliffs of Cefn, and by a plan and sections of the principal cave. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF BERLIN.* Feb. 23, 1837. — M. vonBuch read a paper on the Jura in Ger- many. The German Jura in Swabia and Franconia is an uninterrupted continuation of the Swiss Jura. Its external form is that of a glacis of a fortification, with a gentle descent towards the exterior, and a steep fall towards the interior. Opposite to it stands the similar range of the French Jura, on the right side of the Saone upwards, and on the left sides of the Meurthe and Moselle downwards. The steep declivities of these elevated ranges are turned towards each other, and the space, which they for the most part surround, is in the northern parts almost completely inclosed by older grauwacke moun- tains. The interior of this immense bason contains the greatest por- tion of Burgundy and Lorraine, the whole of Alsace, Swabia, Fran- conia, and Hessia, and includes no mountains of the Jura formation. For this reason M. von Buch considers the chains to have been ori- ginally produced in their present form, with their canal-like valleys, * Translated from the Bericht liber die Verhandlungen der kbnigl. Aka- demie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Royal Academy of Berlin, 333 which traverse four or five times the whole breadth of the chain, and with their deep inlets and sections. This being exactly the form and structure of the great coral reef which surrounds New Holland, we may be inclined to ascribe to both a similar mode of origin. The chalk formation draws itself close up from the exterior so as to sur- round the Jura ranges, but in the interior of the encompassed coun- try there is not a trace of it to be found. From this we have evi- dence of the mural elevation of the Jura existing previous to the de- position of the chalk. The Jura range is divided by nature into three parts : 1 . The Swiss Jura, in which the layers are always much inclined, and form long extended ridges and chains ; 2. The Swabian Jura, in which the layers lie regularly and horizontally upon one another, and form a large plateau little undulated and extending over many miles ; 3. The Franconian Jura, in which the middle is occupied by extended masses of dolomite, which appear on the heights like obelisks, towers, or ruins of gothic castles. This appearance of dolomite begins almost exactly where the Jura changes its north-easterly for a northern di- rection. The dolomite is no new superadded mass ; one series of strata would be deficient, were we to consider it a Jurassic stratum which had hitherto not occurred. Besides, it possesses no peculiar zoological character, and for this reason gives indications of its origin from the metamorphosis of limestone. In height or section the Jura ranges may also be divided into three parts : 1, a black one, the layers of lias and shales ; 2, a brown, the coarse brown sandstone ; 3, a white one ; fine-grained layers of lime- stone, coral, and shell banks. A description and catalogue of the cha- racteristic fossils of each layer of these divisions gives a more clear and accurate idea of them and of their zoological character, than the long, and frequently inaccurate descriptions often given, in which the same thing is frequently repeated under different names. The lias, which makes its appearance almost everywhere at the foot of the mountains, contains almost nothing, but such organic pro-, ducts as are peculiar to it alone, and these products in general are the same in all countries hitherto examined. The middle part of the Jura is more varying. That which appears in the southern parts of England and in France in the form of oolite, is in Germany a coarse sandstone, with analogous shells in it ; but in the north of England this sandstone contains a quantity of im- pressions of plants, and even coal, which are quite similar to those which we on the other hand find in the keuper, recollecting that in other organic products both formations have nothing in common with each other. 334 Miscellaneous. In the upper or coralline part of the Jura, the limestone containing Diceras and Nerinece has been followed, especially in 1836, as the exterior covering and last layer of the Jura formation, over the whole northern inclination of the Swabian Jura. This peculiar formation (Portland stone) is wanting in the Franconian Jura. It commences first below Hemmau, probably above the lithographic slates, forms the vale declivities of the Nab and of the Laber near Regensburg, the rocks of Abach and Kellheim near Altmuhl, the hills of Neuburg and Ingolstadt, and raises itself near Ulm to the greatest heights of the range at Nattheim and Heidenheim. It continues over Moskirch, and probably joins immediately with those layers near Solothurn which have been so accurately examined by M. Hugi. Diceras and Nerinece at Ingolstadt, as also the large Pinna (Trichites) granulata, {Mytilus amplus,) which first occurs in abundance near Pillmansdorf, between Hemmau and the Laber, give to these layers a prominent character. Besides, a quantity of other shells occurring in it, as Pho- ladomya donacina, Pterocera Oceani, Terebratula triloba, Isocardia ex- centrica, &c, maybe regarded as fossils characteristic of it. It is not quite clear whether the lithographic slate really dips under the Dice- ras limestone ; perhaps they only occur together, without continu- ing one beneath the other ; for the lithographic slates are proved by their Pterodactylus, Libellulce, Algae and Fish, to be a littoral forma- tion ; but the limestone with Diceras and Nerinete, on the other hand, appear, by their gigantic shells, to be a pelasgian formation. MISCELLANEOUS. FUNGI OF INniA. In General Hardwicke's Drawings, now in the collection of the Bri- tish Museum, there is a book containing figures of a considerable number of Indian Fungi. It is curious to observe, that with only one or two exceptions, such as the genus Podaxon of Fries, they all very much resemble the European species, and belong to European forms. — J. E. Gray. TRACHYPTERUS VOGMANUS. Prof. Reinwardt, of Copenhagen, has recently published in theTrans- actions of the Danish Academy a detailed account of this curious and very rare fish, which has hitherto been so imperfectly known. OTIS TARDA. Shot a few days since near Dereham, a fine specimen of that rare and nearly extinct bird, the Great Bustard, Otis tarda of Linnaeus. It was a female bird, in excellent plumage, and is now in the possession of Mr. J. Knight, the bird preserver, of London Street, Norwich. Meteorological Observations. 335 ZOOLOGY OP JAVA. Temminck, in the Fauna Japonica, states, that he knows 82 kinds of mammalia, 455 birds, and 90 species of amphibia, as inhabiting that island, although the interior is almost entirely unknown. ON THE TWO SPECIES OF ECHIDNA, BY J. E. GRAY. Sir E. Home, in his paper in the Phil. Trans, for 1802, figured two specimens of this animal, and Cuvier (Regne Animal, vol. i. p. 225,) considered them as two species, naming the one Echidna Hystrix, and the other E. setosa ; but most succeeding zoologists have re- garded them as a single species, some considering the latter as either the winter state, others as the young of the former. The specimens which we have in the British Museum show that they are very distinct species, coming from different countries, and differing more in the colour of the fur than in the length of the spines. The E. Hystrix, Cuv. (Myrmecophaga aculeata, Shaw, Misc. Nat. 1. 109, O. Hystrix, Home, tab. at p. 340,) is black, and came from the conti- nent of New Holland, while E. setosa, Cuv. (Home, tab. at p. 341 ?), is brown, with a blackish spot on the orbit : this is confined to Van Diemen's Land. They both grow to the same size : the full grown are nearly eighteen inches long. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR APRIL 1838. CMswick. — April 1. Cold and dry: frosty. 2. Sharp frost : cold and dry. S— 5. Fine. 6. Cloudy. 7. Rain. 8. Cloudy. 9— 14. Very fine. 15. Fine: clear and windy. 16. Hail showers in forenoon: snow. 17. Cloudy and cold: showery at night. 18. Cold and dry. 19. Slight snow : over- cast and cold. 20. Sleet and hail. 21. Fine. 22. Rain : fine. 23. Very fine: rain at night. 24,25. Fine. 26,27. Bleak and cold. 28,29. Cold and dry. 30. Slight rain. The mean temperature of this month was four degrees below its usual average at this place. Boston. — April 1. Snow. 2—4. Fine. 5. Fine: rain p.m. 6, 7. Cloudy: rain early a.m.; rain p.m. 8. Stormy : rain early a.m.; rain p.m. 9. Cloudy. 10. Rain. 1 1. Cloudy : 3f p.m. thermometer 65°. 12. Fine. 13. Cloudy. 14. Fine: rain p.m. 15. Cloudy: stormy p.m. 16. Stormy: snow p.m. 17. Stormy: snow early a.m. 18. Stormy: snow p.m. 19,20. Cloudy: snow early a.m. 21. Cloudy : large quantity of hail a.m.: rain p.m. 22. Cloudy. 23. Fine: rain p.m. 24. Fine. 25. Cloudy: rain p.m. 26. Stormy. 27. Rain. 28, 29. Fine. 30. Rain : snow early a.m.: rain p.m. ■Applegarth Manse, Dumfriesshire. — April 1. Clear and frosty. 2. Shower of snow : melted. 3. Moist : showery : cold. 4. Showery but mild. 5. Wet: cleared up : fine day. 6. "Wet: blowy: cleared up. 7. Wet all day. 8. Dry : hills covered with snow. 9. Dry : cold : frosty morning. 10. Wet : showery all day. 11. Stormy, and wet p.m. 12. Stormy: dry: cold. 13. Clear and cold. 14. Slight showers. 15. Showers: violent wind. 16. Cold and stormy : frosty. 17. Cold and boisterous. 18. Frosty a.m.: very cold. 19. Cold and withering. 20. Still cold and barren. 21. Hoar frost a.m. : dull evening. 22. Dull and cloudy : no frost. 23. Slight rain a.m.: cleared up. 24. Slight rain a.m.: cleared up. 25. Cold and ungenial. 26. Very withering. 27. Hoar frost a.m. 28. Still withering. 29. Looking like rain. 30. Rain : cleared up p.m. £ 4 saujuinQ •uojsocj ^5 . "* .O^t(N . .00 . 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O^ O^i o% a Cft a a a a o o> o> a a o> O^ CTi a CTs CT* O^i o> o o> Ci a CTi COC^C^OJ^CIOIC^C^CNC^C^COC^C^OIC^C^C^C^C^C^CIC^C^COC^ ss CO t-* Tj< 00 *r> CO CO O l> » CO CO to <0 CO <£5 O "*t O CO ** O CM a lO i— —i CO Qp^^co^^or^c^^u^^i^u^c^f^-^cocp^c^o^O'^^^^^coFT' ^o C^CNC^C^C^C^CNC^C^C^OIC^CSCNClCIOICN ^CNHnOHH|>iJiMMt- rfTfOO'/!C\H- « 00 0^0>0>^C»(Nr^OOtN90 > il>OCit^I^I^Tf'>l rOTt^QO OM>l>ip acVibsbsab^cyicVicVib b b b cV>ao>acyscyiC^a^ac>c^c^aacVi.iooo m l>.tO coco CO o»co ^ —• CO (^ coqo »o uo o> o »o ^o^c>(No«c»oo>^a)Oi»HCou5a)^cjcj^o>0'HHf>t>.^oo ro iHOOsoot^m©ci'-ii-i(N(Noxc , »i>r^i>co9WOf»a) 991QO i>i/5 ap 6>6cS66oSbS6>6>666666>b6^6ScScSc^oSo>c^cS66>cScScS 2» C«COC^COOC< ^OOOOOrf^OOOC^O^OO^CMOOOO-rt'OCSOOCMCNOO^tOOOOiO C«9a\c>i9i>ip7'l>9'H(N(N9t^r^if l>i>r^^0 7i cOT)"i>op Om» t^ip b b bsbsb b>cVicbic?\b c 00 cyiffio^oSo^oSosoSoAoSo^oSoidicjioo COCOCMC^COC^C^C^CNCOCOCOCOC^CMC^CMC^C^C^C^(NC^CMC^C^C^C^C^ l^s ANNALS OF NATURAL HISTORY. XXXVII. — Florula Keelingensis. An Account of the Native Plants of the Keeling Islands, By the Rev. J. S. Henslow, M.A., Professor of Botany in the University of Cambridge. THE Reelings consist of small coral islands, ranging in a cir- cle, and inclosing a lagoon or salt-water lake of nine and a half miles in its longest diameter. They lie in lat. 12° 5' S., and long. 90° 55' E., very nearly 600 geographical miles to the S.W. of Java Head or the Straits of Sunda. They stand apart from any other group or archipelago, and the naturalist is curious to learn the character of their productions. Mr. Darwin, who accompanied the Beagle in her late voyage round the world, visited these islands in 1836, and is about to give an account of their geological conditions, as well as of the scanty zoology which they furnish. As he obligingly pre- sented me with the plants which he collected, together with his memoranda respecting them, I have thought that a list of the species, accompanied by a few remarks, might be of in- terest ; and chiefly as serving to point out a set of plants whose seeds must be provided in a very eminent degree with the means of resisting the influence of sea water. For the satisfactory determination of the geographical distribution of species, it is necessary to be extremely careful in discrimina- ting the species and even varieties which occur in different regions, and I have therefore generally added a few remarks on the state of the individual specimens in question, that every one may form a better estimate of the degree of probability of each having been correctly identified. The largest of the islands is about five miles long and a quarter of a mile broad. Some sand hillocks on it are thirty feet in height, but the general level does not exceed six or eight feet. The foundation of all of them is a solid coral reef, which receives continued additions from fragments of coral and sand brought by the waves and wind. The soil is entirely Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. I. No. 5. July 1838. z 338 Rev. J. S. Henslow on the Native Plants composed of broken corals and shells, sometimes in the form of calcareous sand ; and the quantity of vegetable mould is extremely small. Twenty-three of the islands bear trees ; and there are many others of small dimensions, scarcely elevated above the surface of the ocean, which produce none. When first seen, nothing can be observed but a belt of cocoa-nut trees encircling the lagoon. The abundance in which these occur has tempted a respectable Englishman named Ross to bring his family and settle here. He has with him a party of about eighty Malays, who are employed in manufacturing cocoa-nut oil; and the nuts also are exported to Mauritius and Singa- pore. Thrown as these men are so completely upon their own resources, they have accurately investigated the natural pro- ductions of the islands, and readily pointed out to Mr. Dar- win the different species of plants, and assured him that he had seen them all except one, of which there was only a single tree, bearing a large square and very hard nut, growing on one of the islands which he did not visit. Excepting the cocoa-nut, and one other tree which was not in flower, and which attains a diameter of five or six feet, with particularly soft wood, Mr. Darwin brought away specimens of all the species he saw, amounting to twenty-one. From the character of the soil and the condition of the islands we might expect a priori to meet with a purely littoral flora, and with none but extensively sporadic species. Mr. Darwin heard of the trunks of trees, of many seeds, and of old cocoa-nuts being washed on shore from time to time, and probably all the species which have thus been introduced are to be found in the East Indian Archipelago, or on the neigh- bouring continent, though they have not all been noticed there. Two at least of the species appear to be hitherto un- described, and one or two others possess an interest from their rarity, and the little information we possess concerning them ; but all the rest have an extensive range throughout the intra- tropical regions. Of the few imported plants the banana does not thrive well ; the sugar cane has in some parts run wild, but has lost greatly in flavour, as also has the tobacco. Besides these a little maize and a few vegetables are cultivated. Three species of the Keeling Islands, 339 of grass had been introduced, (Panicum , Eleusine indica, and Poa plumosa,) as was stated, from Java, under an impression that goats would not eat the rank herbage of the island; but the settlers were surprised to find that one of these animals left on the islands by Capt. Fitzroy preferred the native to the imported species. As the flora of the island of Timor, which lies nearly due west of the Keelings without any intervening land, has lately been described by Mons. Decaisne, I have placed a (T) in the following list opposite those species which he has recorded in his very excellent c Herbarium Timorense/ List of the Plants Indigenous to the Keelings. Malvaceae. Cinchonace,e. 1. Paritium tiliaceum, St. Hit. T. 11. Guettarda speciosa, Linn. T. TiliacejE. Cordiace^e. 2. Triumfetta procumbens, Forst. 12. Cordia orientalis, R.Brown. T. LythracejE. Boraginace^e ? 3. Peraphis acidula, Forst. T. 13. Tournefortiaargentea,Zirara. T. PoRTULACACEJE. AcANTHACEiE. 4. Portulaca oleracea. 14. Dicliptera Burmanni, (var. ?) Leguminos£:. Nees. 5. GiiilandinaBonduc,//or£.j£Vtt;. Apocynace^:. T. 15. Ochrosia parviflora. 6. Acacia (Farnesiana?) Linn. T. Gramine^e. URTicACEiE. 16. Panicum sanguinale, (vav. ?) 7. Urera Gaudichaudiana, n. s. Linn. T. Amaranthace^e. 17. Stenotaphrum lepturoide, n. s. 8. Achyranthes argentea (var.?) 18. Lepturus repens, Forst. Lam. T. Palm^e. Nyctaginace^;. 19. Cocos nucifera, Linn. T. 9. Boerhavia diffusa, Willd. T. Musci. var. fi. ? 20. Hypnum rufescens, Hooker. var. y. ? Fungi. Sc^volace^;. 21. Polyporus lucidus. 10. Scsevola Kcenigii, Vahl. T. 22. \ Two trees of which no spe- 23. J cimens were procured. 1. Paritium tiliaceum. — Leaves large, and the linear pore upon one to five of the nerves on the under side. i£ Common on one of the islands. It is exceedingly useful throughout the Pacific ; and in Otaheite particularly, the bark is employed in the manufacture of cordage, whilst the light wood is used by the fishermen for floats. The natives readily procure fire from the wood by friction." — C. Darwin. 2. Triumfetta procumbens. Forster, Prod. n. 204. — This species is placed by De Candolle among those " non satis notae." By Mr. Brown's kindness I have satisfactorily iden- z 2 340 Rev. J. S. Henslow on the Native Plants tified it, by comparison with Forster's original specimens in the British Museum, As much uncertainty prevails respect- ing the number of species in the genus, I shall add a detailed description of the present specimens. Messrs. Wight and Arnott have observed, at page 74 of their Prod. Floras Indise : " In this genus it may be right to caution the student to place no reliance on the shape of the leaves or their pubescence, or suppression of the parts of fhe flower." To this we would add further, that neither can much reliance be placed upon the character of the inflorescence, since the differences be- tween the peduncles being axillary or opposite, seem chiefly to depend upon different degrees of luxuriance. Speciminum Keelingensium caulcs ramosi, ramis tomentosis, pubescentia stellata. Folia longe petiolata, subrotunda vel late-ovata, cordata, in- divisa vel trilobata, insequaliter serrato-crenata : supra nudiuscula, subtus petiolisque incano-tomentosa, marginibus nudis subglandulosis. Stipulse lanceolatse. Pedunculi inferiores axillares, sub-abortivi ; su- periors oppositifolii, foliorumque superiorum abortione sub-corymbosi, horumque stipulis bracteas emulantibus ; pediqellis 3 — 5 sub-umbella- tim dispositis. Calyx, sepalis 5 linearibus, sub apice acuminatis, extus pubescentibus, sestivatione valvatis. Corolla, petalis 5, sepalis parum minoribus, obovatis, unguibus basi villosis. Stamina 25, petalorum lon- gitudine. Pistillum ovario ovali, hispido ; stylo lineari, hirto, tricuspi- dato. Capsula junior globosa uncinato-hispida. 3. Pemphis acidula. — The capsules burst by an irregular transverse fissure about the middle, with the lower portion more membranous than the upper. Forster describes them as having six valves, and Lamarck as opening transversely at the base. u No sooner has a new reef become sufficiently elevated by the accumulation of sand upon its surface, but this plant is sure to be the first which takes possession of the soil." — C. Darwin. 4. Portulaca oleracea. — The specimen is in seed, tolerably luxuriant, and seems unquestionably to belong to this species ; but there are some minute hairs in the axils, which is not ge- nerally the case, and not characteristic of the section to which it belongs. 5. Guilandina Bonduc. — The specimen is only in bud. " Grows only on one islet." — C. Darwin, jifi*n<2R*3&SV: TolJJVJtl/ &?- &s£^&u I on different occasions saw specimens about a foot in length, which were taken in the river Lagan, and with them, young herrings (C. Harengus), from 4 to 5 inches long, were captured. The greatest quantity of mullet secured this year at one draught was ninety-two fish, weighing 3 cwt. : they were obtained on the 10th of August. Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 5. July 1838. 2 a 354 Mr. Thompson on Fishes new to Ireland. Until the 22nd of September mullet were brought to market, and on this occasion in large quantity. The best fish of 1837 was about 10 lbs. weight. During these three years the largest captures were all made about Garmoyle, a deep por- tion of the bay, about three miles from town. This fish is sought for only with nets. An acquaintance out eel-spearing in the bay once struck and secured with his spear a mullet of 5 lbs. weight, as it was swimming on the surface of the water. With reference to European mullets generally, it is re- marked in the Hist, des Pois. of Cuv. and Val. : " Les anciens, qui donnaient a tout une couleur poetique, ont en consequence fait du muge le plus innocent, le plus juste des poissons ; tout au plus mangerait-il ceux qu'il trouverait morts," t. xi. p. 77« Mr. Couch, apparently from his own observation, says of the M. Capito, " it is indeed the only fish of which I am able to express my belief that it usually selects for food nothing that has life." Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. i. p. 204. With the M. Chelo it is however far otherwise, as the contents of the stomachs I have examined at various seasons, presented, from the minute size of the objects, many hundred-fold greater destruction of animal life than I have ever witnessed on a similar inspection of the food of any bird or fish. From a single stomach I have obtained what would fill a large-sized breakfast cup of the fol- lowing species of bivalve and univalve mollusca (which had been taken alive) — Mytilus edulis, Modiola Papuana (of these very small individuals), Kellia rubra, Skenea depressa, Litto- rina retusa, Rissoa labiosa and R. parva, Serpulce and Mi- lioke. Of these mollusca, specimens of Rissoa labiosa, three lines in length, were the largest, and the Kellia rubra, from the smallest size to its maximum of little more than a line dia- meter, the most abundant. In the profusion of specimens it affords, the stomach of one of these mullets is quite a store- house to a conchologist. In addition to these were various species of minute Crustacea. The only inanimate matter that appeared, were fragments of Zostera marina and Conferva, which were probably taken into the stomach on account of the adhering mollusca. To this nutritious food may perhaps be attributed the great size this fish attains in Belfast Bay. In the ' Regne AnimaP (t. ii. p. 232, 2nd ed.) Pennant's Mr. Thompson on Fishes new to Ireland. 355 figure of the grey mullet in his British Zoology is referred to as M. Capito, but in the c Hist, des Pois.' of Cuv. and Val. (t. xi. p. 66.) it is believed to represent M. Chelo. In this last work Donovan's figure of the mullet (Brit. Fish. pi. 15.) is consi- sidered a very good representation of M. Chelo. With this opinion I fullv coincide, although Yarrell and Jenyns refer to both figures as M. Capito*. The descriptions of Pennant and Donovan throw no light upon the subject, nor are we informed whence the specimens were obtained that served for their il- lustrations. Pennant's figure exhibits the longitudinal lines reaching about as far as they generally do in M. Chelo; but Donovan, on the other hand, portrays them as extending to the ventral profile : in the more important characters however of the form of the operculum and mouth, his figure represents this species. I may add, that its greater than ordinary depth, which induced Mr. Yarrell to remark that the proportions of Donovan's grey mullet approach " more closely to those of M. curtus than to those of the common grey mullet of this country" (Brit. Fish. vol. i. p. 211,) seems not to me, from the great diversity of depth in different individuals, to militate against its being the M. Chelo. The following is a description of a specimen examined on the 21st of July. Total length, 22 inches ; greatest depth, 5\ in. ; thickness, 3^ in. ; weight. 5 lbs. D. 4— 1/8; A. 2(9; P. 17; V. 1/5; C. 14. — Br. 6. In form it well agrees with the de- tailed description of Cuv. and Val., t. xi. p. 51, et seq.f The colour of the back is, as there described, of a fine steel blue ; thence it becomes gradually lighter towards the under surface, which is pure opake white, glossed with silver ; a blackish line extends throughout the centre of the first ten rows of scales, ending with the row beneath the base of the P. fin, and giving to the fish its lineated appearance. Entire top of the head and upper lip greyish black ; sides of the head just behind the eyes deep gold colour ; lower part of the head or base of the oper- cula pure white ; irides purplish black ; outer base of P. fin, * Mr. Yarrell has taken it for granted that the Irish mullet is of this spe- cies, vol. i. p. 202. f The scales generally agree in every particular with the description at p. 52, but some do not either in proportion or sculpture. 2 A 2 356 Mr. Thompson on Fishes new to Ireland. and the body above and below it, tinged with gold, remainder of the P., the D., C, and A. fins greyish blacky the last be- coming lighter posteriorly. V. fins white, tinged with very pale flesh colour. This specimen accords with the description extracted by Mr. Yarrell from the ' Fauna Italica/ with one exception — " the rays of the spiny D. fin [are there stated to be] longer than half the depth of the body." Vol. i. p. 208. In this indi- vidual they are only ^ of its depth. In another specimen 20 inches long, the 1st and 2nd D. rays are equal, and If inch long, the depth of the fish being about 5 inches. In an in- dividual of 11 inches the 2nd D. ray is equal to one-half the depth, and in one of 10 inches is as 1 to 2J. Owing to this species varying very considerably in depth, as elsewhere shown, this must necessarily be a very uncertain character. From the statistical surveys of counties and other sources, we learn that mullet are taken in suitable localities around the whole coast of Ireland ; but whether they be all of one spe- cies remains a question for future investigation. Gobius gracilis, Jenyns, Slender Goby. — Upon exami- nation of eighteen specimens — seven from the coast of Down, six from Louth, and five from Cork — of the Gobius which until lately has been considered G. minutus, I found one individual from Down and another from Louth to be the G. gracilis of Mr. Jenyns, (p. 387.) These specimens are distinguished from those of the G. minutus by having the ee rays of the 2nd dorsal longer ; these rays also gradually increasing in length instead of decreasing, the posterior ones being the longest in the fin ;" and by having the Ci rays of the anal in like manner longer than in the G. minutus-" also in 6i the anal and ventral fins, which are dusky, approaching to black in some places, instead of plain white, as in the G. minutus." In addition to this differ- ence in the colour of the fins, my specimens of G. gracilis have more black on the body generally than those of G. minutus, being so different in this respect as to have attracted my at- tention when they were first obtained. Crenilabrus rupestris, Selby, Jago's Goldsinny. — See Zoological Proceedings for 1837, P- 5 7, and Magazine of Zo- ology and Botany, vol. ii. p. 445. Mr. Thompson on Fishes new to Ireland. 357 Salmo ERiox,Linn., Bull Trout. — Dec.3, 1836. In Belfast market I selected from a basket filled with sea trout (8, Trutta), in high condition, three specimens of S. Eriox, which were taken along with them in the sea at Donaghadee in the county of Down. Their length is from 19 J to 21 inches ; weight of each about 2f lbs. Two are males, having the lower jaw very slightly hooked*, the other is a female; the operculum differs much in the sexes ; teeth on the vomer of one male and the female three in number, in the other male four ; teeth gene- rally much smaller in the female than in the males. Fin-rays with one or two exceptions are in the three specimens — D. 14, P. 14, V. 10, A. 11, C. 19. In colour they are silvery grey, having but few spots (of the form x XX and purplish black) above the lateral line and scarcely any below it. Donovan's Sewen (pi. 91.), with which they are evidently identical, is a very characteristic figure. These specimens differ only from it in having fewer spots below the lateral line — but in this particular they accord not with each other — and in the darkness of the blue he represents, being relieved or lightened by a silvery castf. The tail of the sewen cannot be called incorrect from being forked, as when unexpanded it appears slightly so in the present specimens, although when fully spread out it is square. The female ex- hibits over the body and operculum, &c. as many more spots as the males — on her operculum are six round spots, on that of the males two or three. Fins of the female coloured as in the sewen, but in the males all darker ; V. and A. dull pink or flesh colour in the female; in the males the V. grey for two thirds posteriorly, the A. entirely dark grey ; their other fins merely of a darker shade than those of the female. Irides sil- very. The ova in the female are very minute, being not more than half the size of clover seed; the milt in the males occupies twice its space. These latter not having any of the red mark- ings said to distinguish the adult male, and the hook of the * In the ' Fauna Boreali Americana' it is remarked, that " the hook of the under jaw is very decided, even in a young Salmo Cambricus," (Part 3. p. 307,) but in the present instance the reverse appears. f This observation is perhaps superfluous, as different copies of the work may not invariably exhibit the same shade of colours. 358 Mr. Thompson on Fishes new to Ireland. lower jaw being so slightly developed, taken in connection with the internal appearance of both sexes, lead to the con- clusion that they would not have bred for another year. In the stomach of one was a sand eel (Ammodytes Lanced) three inches long, and in another a large piece of the marine plant (Ceramium rubrum). Gadus Callarias, Linn. Dorse. — An examination of the fishes before mentioned as taken on the coast of Cork and forwarded for my inspection by Mr. R. Ball, enables me to restore this species with certainty to the place it once held in the British Fauna. Two small specimens thus received are in length respectively 3^ and 6 inches ; in the latter the num- ber of fin rays are D. 14, 18, 18 ; A. 20, 17 ; P. 18 ; V. 6 ; C. 24. — Br. 7« In both individuals the 1st and 2nd rays of the ventral fin are produced in slender filaments, of which the second is the longer ; eyes invested with a membrane as in G. luscus, &c. ; head to entire length as 1 to 3 in the larger, as 1 to 3^ in the smaller specimen ; no pores visible about the mouth as in G. minutus. In other characters these indivi- duals agree with the G. Callarias as described by Bloch and Nillson. They were taken in sprat nets at Youghal in the autumn of 1834, when a third specimen also occurred. Subsequently I had the satisfaction of recognising a G. Cal- larias among some native fishes presented by Mr. Wm. Mar- shall (Memb. Nat. Hist. Society) to the Belfast Museum without regard to species. Upon inquiry, I learned from this gentleman that it had been captured by himself when fishing in the month of June or July about the entrance to Larne Lough, county of Antrim, and using the lug worm (Lumbricus marinus) for bait. Its length is 8 inches. We thus find that the species occurs both on the northern and southern shores of Ireland. Gadus minutus, Linn. Poor. — Amongst some fishes taken in a trawl net by Mr. Hyndman in Belfast Bay in the month of September 1835, and kindly preserved for me, are three individuals of this species, which as British has hitherto been known only to the southern coast of England. These speci- mens are under four inches in length ; their fin rays about the number described by Mr. Jenyns, but it may be observed that Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. 359 in the 1st and 2nd D. fins the second ray is longest, in the 3rd D. fin, the third, fourth, and fifth rays are longest, and of about equal length: in the 1st A. fin the rays gradually in- crease in length posteriorly to the seventh, which, with the eighth and ninth, are of about equal length. Tail slightly forked, just as represented in both editions of Pennant's Bri- tish Zoology. Feb. 19, 1836. In Belfast market I obtained a G.minutus which was taken along with a quantity of atherines {A. Pres- byter) in Strangford Lough. Its length is six inches ; the exact number of fin-rays are, D. 13, 24, 20 ; A. 27, 22 ; P. 14 ; V. 6 ; C. 20 (with many side rays). Lateral line curved anteriorly for very nearly half its length, remainder straight. Colour just as described by Bloch ; above the lateral line pale yellowish brown, marked with extremely minute black dots, below it silvery minutely dotted with black, which latter marking prevails in the pectoral and anal fins ; irides silvery ; tinged with black above. In the same jar with the last-mentioned Gadus Callarias were three specimens of G. minutus, which I learned from Mr. Marshall were taken at the same time and place with it, and with the same bait. The largest is 8f inches long, dia- meter of its eye 8 J lines. Jan. 12, 1838. I received a G. mi- nutus 8 inches in length from Killough, on the coast of Down. Among fishes from Youghal, submitted to my examination by Mr. R. Ball, in July 1837* were two individuals of this spe- cies, one 8f the other 10J inches in length. The figures of G. Callarias and G. minutus in Mr. YarrelFs 6 British Fishes 5 are very characteristic; the curve of the lateral line, however, approaches the tail more nearly in my specimens of the latter than is represented in the figure — in all of them about one half of this line is curved. [To be continued.] XXXIX. — On the Rhizophore^e. By G. A. Walker Arnott, Esq., LL.D., F.L.S., R.S.E. The genus Rhizophora, as left by Linnaeus and adopted by De Candolle, ought to be rather considered a group of the 360 Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. order R/dzophorea>, and to contain several distinct forms. The group or sub-order may be defined as follows : Calyx 4 — 12-fidus, persistens : sestivatio valvata. Petala sessilia 4 — 14, calyci inserta ac ejus lobis alternantia. Stamina 8 vel plura, ibidem inserta : filamenta discreta : antherse biloculares, longitudinaliter intus dehiscentes. Discus earnosus inter ovarium et calycem, quandoque inter ovarium et stamina in annulum brevem dentatum productus. Ovarium plus minusve cohserens, 2 — 4 loculare, loculis biovulatis, ra- rius dissepimentis obsoletis uniloculare 6-ovulatum : ovula ad apicem axis centralis suspensse. Stylus unicus. Stigma 2 — 4-dentatum vel simpliciusculum. Fructus coriaceus, unilocularis, monospermus, ad apicem, inchoante germinatione, embryonis radicula et tigello in cla- vam longissimam productis perforatus. Semen pendulum. Albumen nullum. Cotyledones plana. Radicula supera. — Arbores marrtima) omnino fere tropica?, ramis oppositis. Folia gimplicia, opposita, inte- gerrinia, coriacea, glabra. Stipulse interpetiolares, convolutae, caducse. Pedunculi axillares. To the above De Candolle adds that the petals are furnished with two bristles or awns at the apex. In the particular spe- cies he had examined there are three bristles, but in several others there are none whatever. His description of the sta- mens and ovary is likewise too limited, and consequently in- applicable to several species. In the ' Encyclope'die Methodique* and f Illustrations des Genres/ Lamarck separated from the true species of Rhizo- phora the R. gymnorrhiza under the name of Bruguieria. This new genus was adopted in 1834, in the Prodr. Flor. Penins. Ind. Or. i. p. 311, by Dr. Wight and myself, with a character in some respects too enlarged, and in others too re- stricted, although suitable to the species we had then in view ; but a few years previous (in 1827), Blume had also adopted it in his f Enumeratio Plant. Javae/ — a work with which we were then unacquainted. Blume's generic character of Bru- guieria, applicable to the species from Java and the Moluccas, differs in several points from what we proposed, and it be- comes therefore necessary to extend both a little, in order to contain all the species. Dr. Wight, in the course of some excursions he made to the salt marshes in the neighbourhood of Quilon in Decem- ber 1835 and June 1836, was so fortunate as to collect not only all the former species we described in the Prodromus, Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. 361 but one or two additional, specimens of all of which I have since received from him. I shall therefore here endeavour to give a synopsis of the genera and species of the whole group. I. Rhizophora, Lam,, Kunth, Blume, TV. fy A. Calyx 4-fidus ; lacinise tubo 2 — 3-plo longiores. Petala 4 lanceolata acuminata apice nuda. Stamina 8 — 11, quorum 4 petalis opposita: filamenta brevissima : antherae magnae, subsessiles, basi affixse, conni- ventes, oblongo-lineares, acuminata?, breviter cuspidatse. Ovarium se- miadhserens, biloculare, 4-ovulatum, parte libera ovata carnosa solida, sensim in stylum conicum brevem acuminata. Fructus subovatus, basi calycis laciniis recurvis coronatus, tubo longior. Pedunculi 2 — Z-fidi vel dichotomi; calyx bractea cupulata suffultus. Flores magni: alabastra ovoidea, Icevia. § 1. Stamina 8. Petala concava, coriacea, stamen unicum antepositum foventia, versus margines induplicatos villosa. Pedunculi ex axillis foliorum hornotinorum orti, petiolis sublongiores, 2 — 3-fidi vel dicho- tomi : flores plus minusve pedicellati. 1. JR. Mangle (Linn.) ; foliis obovato-oblongis, obtusis. — u, pedunculis 2 — 3-floris, floribus sublonge pedicellatis, calycis laciniis triangulari-ob- longis.— R. Mangle, Linn. Sp. P. 634 (ex parte); DC. Prod. III. p. 32 ; Velloz. Ft. Flutn. v.t.l. — /3? pedunculis dichotomis. — R. racemosa, Meyer prim. Esse q. p. 185. DC. I. c. Hah. in America, et ? Africa? oris occidentalibus. I refer to the African locality with great doubt, not having myself seen any specimens from that country. Brown, in his appendix to Capt. Tuckey's narrative of the expedition to the river Congo, at p. 437, says: "Of Rhizophorece, as I have formerly proposed to limit it, namely to Rhizophora, Brugui- eria, and Carallia, the collection contains only one plant, which is a species of Rhizophora, the mangrove of the lower part of the river, and probably of the whole line of coast, but very different both from that of America, and from those ei- ther of India or of other equinoctial countries that have been described/' From which we learn two things, that Dr. Brown considers that there is only one American species ; and se- condly, that the west African one is perfectly distinct from it. On the other hand, Guillemin and Perottet say of the African plant (Fl. Senegamb. i. p. 291): " C'est bien la m£me espece que celle qui croit si abondamment aux Antilles, au Mexique, a la Louisiane, et au Bresil." It is to be regretted that neither of these botanists have given a complete descrip- 362 Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. tion from African specimens. Guillemin and Perottet quote De CandohVs specific character, * pedunculis 2 — 3-floris, pe- tiolo longioribus," whence it appears to coincide in these re- spects with the more common American form. From the great general affinity, however, between the Senegambian plants and those of East India, I would rather have supposed the mangrove of the west of Africa to be allied to the next species, but the leaves are said to be obtuse. 2. R. mucronata, Lam. ; foliis ovalibus longe cuspidatis, calycis laciniis triangulari ovatis. — R. mucronata, Lam. Enc. Meth. vi. p. 169; ill. tab. 396. jig. 2. DC. I. c. ; Decaisne in Ann. Sc. Nat. n. s. iv. p. 75. — R. Mangle, Lin.1 (ex parte). Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. p. 459. Blum. en. PI. Jav. i. p. 91, (excl. syn.). — R. candelaria, Wall. Cat. n. 4878. Wight, etAm. Prod. FL Penins. I. 0. i. p. 310, (non DC). Wight. Cat. n. 1041. Hob. in insulis Mauritio, Madagascar, Ceylano, et Java, in Arabia Felice prope Yemen (Bove, n. 230), Malabaria, ad ostia Gangis, ac verosi- militer in aliis multis India? orientalis maritimis. When the inflorescence is more divided, the pedicels are conspicuous ; when reduced to three or five flowers, they are usually very short. The specimens described by Roxburgh, and those sent me from Quilon, belong to the latter form ; those from some other parts of the peninsula have the pedun- cles as much and as loosely divided as in Lamarck's figure of the Mauritius plant. I have not seen a sufficient number of both to enable me to ascertain if they be distinct varieties, or if this difference be only accidental ; the pedicels, although evi- dent, are usually shorter and thicker than those of R. Mangle. This species takes the place of R. Mangle in India, and is principally distinguished from it by the curious bristly point of the leaves, formed not by the mere excurrent portion of the midrib, but by a sudden contraction of the leaf itself. I consider Lamarck's plant to be the same as the Indian one, notwithstanding that Lamarck does not describe the petals, for what Poiret seems to take for them are the calyx-seg- ments : in the e Illust. des Genres', the whole figures are not explained ; and it is not improbable, that what is represented at letter g are the petals incorrectly split to the base, but showing their ciliated margins. The Indian species does grow in the Mauritius, which confirms this supposition ; and I have seen none but it from that island. Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. 363 Blume does not notice the woolly margin of the petals, and the description in his generic character is applicable almost solely to the next species. Wallich may have both in view in his list of East Indian plants under No. 4878 ; but what I have seen of that number belong exclusively to the present species. § 2. Stamina nunc 8, saepius 11 — 12. Petala plana, submembranacea, glaberrima. Pedunculi petiolo multo breviores, ex axillis foliorum an- notinorum orti, crassi^ ppice sub-biflori : flores sessiles. 3. R. conjugata (Linn.) ; foliis oblongis subacuminatis longe cuspidatis. Lin. Sp. p. 634 ; Fl. Ceyl. n. 181 ; DC. I. c. p. 33 ; Wight. Cat. n. 2449. Roxb. Hort. Beng. p. 36 (in fl. Indica omissa). — R. Candelaria DC. I. c. — R. apiculata Blum. en. PL Jav. i. p. 91. — Rheed. H. Mai. vi. tab. 34. Rumph. Amb. iii. t. 71 et 72. Hah. in insulis Ceylano et Java. In Malabaria prope Cochin, &c. Rheede, Quilon ; Wight. Blume has referred the synonym of Rumph to his JR. Man- gle, but the peduncles are represented as extremely short, and the petals appear to be glabrous, if these be what is meant by " staminibus quatuor aliis longioribus et incurvis supra florem elevatis ;" but probably Rumph had both species in view, as he says that the flowers are sometimes bigeminate, which has more reference to R. mucronata. Rheede's figure is a good representation of JR. conjugata, nor are the narrow glabrous petals omitted by the artist ; but the description of the flower, " petalis lanuginosis hirsutisque," is taken from the few-flow- ered short-pedicelled form of R. mucronata, II. Ceriops, Am. Calyx 5-fidus ; laciniae tubo 2 — 3-plo longiores. Petala 5, ovalia, emargi- nata, apice setigera, plana, ante anthesin stamina duo amplectentia. Stamina 10, erecta; filamenta petalis subdimidio breviora: antherae cordato-ovatae, obtusae, filamentis multo breviores, dorso paullo supra basin affixae. Ovarium semiadhserens, tri- (in una specie, forsan in omnibus) loculare, 6-ovulatum, parte libera ovata carnosa solida apice in stylum stamina superantem desinente. Stigma simpliciusculum. Fructus subovatus, prope basin laciniis calycinis patenti-recurvis coro- natus, tubo longior. Pedunculi petiolum subaquantes, cymum densiflorum subcapitatumferentes. Calyx bractea cupulata suffultus. Flores parvi, vix pisi magnitudine : alabastra subovoidea. Valde a Rhizophora differt hocce genus habitu, 364 Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. inflorescentia, floribus pentameris, petalis, staminibus, stigmate, ct (an semper?) ovario. 1. C. Candolliana (Arn.); foliis obovalibus vel obovatis obtusissimis pe- talis margine glabris apice trisetis, setis clavatis, Wight. Cat. n. 2450. — Rbizophora Timoriensis DC '. ? Prod. iii. p. 32 ; Decaisnel Herb. Timor, p. 124 — Bruguieria Arnottiana Wight, in Litt. Hub. in oris Malabaricis prope Quilon ; Wight, 1836. In insula Timor (fide De Cand. et Decaisn.). " Careening bay" in Nova Hollandia ; Cunningham (in Herb. Hook.). DeCandolle describes this with only two bristles at the apex of the petals ; but in all the species of Rhizophorece which have terminal bristles I have uniformly found one in the fis- sure, in addition to those on the lobes. Decaisne, indeed, mentions that there are three bristles, and moreover gives a detailed description, agreeing in almost every particular with Dr. Wight's specimens and those from New Holland ; the only difference is in the ovarium, which Decaisne says is " uniloculare (ante anthesin)," whereas in those I have exa- mined, both previous to flowering and shortly after fecunda- tion, it is when uninjured certainly trilocular. Although I feel almost certain about the identity of DeCandolle's plant with mine, I have preferred changing the specific name of Timoriensis to one in honour of the original describer, partly on account of the alleged difference of structure of the ovary, and partly from the extensive geographical distribution the plant enjoys. 2. C. Roxburghiana (Arn.) foliis obovalibus obovatisve obtusissimis, pe- talis interne glabris versus apicem setoso-ciliatis, setis (sub 7) validis. — Rhizophora decandra Roxb. Hort. Beng. p. 36 ; in cat. Merc. Ind. Mm. tab. 1140 (in flor. Ind. omissa) ; Wall Cat. n. 4875 ; Herb. Ham. n. 1109. Hab. Ad ostia Gangis ; Goodlad ; Hamilton. Penang, Martaban, Tavoy, feci (fide Wallich.) In the copy which I have seen of Roxburgh's drawing re- ferred to above, the petals appear ciliated with scattered long- ish hairs or bristles round the whole margin ; but this is pro- bably a mistake, for in the specimens I have examined of Wall. Cat. n. 4875 «, and which were collected by Hamilton in the locality from which Roxburgh obtained his, the petals are only furnished towards the apex with about three stout Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. 365 bristles of equal thickness on each side, giving to them a pal- mate appearance ; indeed the bristles resemble in miniature the ringers of a person's hand, the hand itself being repre- sented by the petals. In C. Candolliana there are never more than three bristles, which are much thickened at the apex, and taper towards the base. Of Dr. Wallich's n. 4875, 1 have also seen (in Herb. Hook.) the letter b from Penang ; but it is without flower or fruit. It is probable that several species of the genus remain to be described, and on that account I have given a fuller specific character to both the above than was otherwise necessary. III. Kandelia, W. & A. Calyx 5-fidus ; laciniae tubo 3 — 4-plo longiores, lineares, patentes. Petala 5, memhranacea, glabra, basi linearia subcanaliculata, ultra medium bi- fida, laciniis in fila plurima capillaria longa insequaliter fissis. Stamina petalorum numero 6 — 8-pla: filamenta subulato-capillaria, calycis lacinias fere aequantia : antherae oblongae, parvae, obtusas, dorso paullo supra basin affixas. Ovarium adhserens, 1-loculare, 6-ovulatum. Stylus filiformis, stamina subsuperans. Stigma 3-dentatum. Fructus oblongus, basi laciniis calycinis patentibus coronatus, tubo multo longior. Arbor parva. Folia anguste elliptico-oblonga, obtusa. Pedunculi petiolo longiores, 2 — S-chotomi, 4 — 9-flori. Flores majusculi, nunc rarius 6-meri : alabastra prismatica. Calyx bractea cupulata suffultus. Em- bryonis germinantis tigellus clavato-subulatus, acutissimus. 1. K. Rheedei, W. & A., 1. c. ; Wight. Cat. n. 1042.— Rhizophora Candel, Linn. sp. p. 634. DC. 1. c. ; Wall. Cat. n. 4876. Roxb. Hort. Beng. p. 36 (in fl. Indica omissa) ; Herb. Ham. n. 1110. Hob. ad oras Malabaricas praesertim australiores. Rheede, Klein, Wight. Ad ostia Gangis. Hamilton. IV. Bruguieria, L'Her., Lam., Brown, Blume, TV. & A. Calyx 8 — 14-fidus : laciniaa tubum turbinatum subsequantes. Petala ob- longa, bifida, basi circa stamina duo anteposita arete conduplicata vel convoluta. Stamina petalorum numero dupla, biserialia, e petalis tan- dem elastice dissilientia : filamenta petalis subdimidio breviora, inse- qualia interioribus brevioribus : antheras lineares vel oblongae, acuta?, basi affixse. Ovarium adhaerens, 2—3 — 4-loculare, loculis 2-ovulatis. Stylus filiformis, staminum longitudine : stigma 2 — 3 — 4-dentatum. Fructus turbinatus, tubum calycis baud superans ac ejus laciniis apice coronatus. Pedunculi 1 — 3 vel plurrflori. Calyx basi nudus : alabastra fusiformia vel ovoidea. 366 Dr. Arnott on the Oenus Rhizophora, § 1. Petala apice nuda. Of this section I have not seen any specimens, and have therefore taken the specific characters from Blume. I. B. gymnorrhiza (Blume), "foliis ovalibus acutis, petalorum laciniis apice nudis, fructibus" (seu tigellis) " cylindraceo-acutiusculis costatis." Blume en. PI. Jav. i. p. 92 (non Lam., nisi quod ad fructum a Gaertnero mutuatum). — Rhizophora gymnorrhiza, Lin. sp. p. 634 (ex parte). Gcertn.fr. t. 45. — Mangium celsum, Rumph. Amb. iii. p. 102. t. 68. Hah. in Java atque Moluccis. It is impossible to determine what species Linnaeus had most in view, as he quotes both the figures of Rumphius and Rheede's H. Mai. vi. t. 31 and 32. From, however, its ha- ving been ascertained that he possessed a copy of Rumphius and not of the other, but derived his information respecting the latter from Ray's Historia Plantarum ; and as Rumph's description of the naked roots, as well as Rheede's, may have given rise to the specific name, I gladly follow Blume in con- sidering the present as the type of the Linnaean plant. Seve- ral, if not all the species of the genus, but particularly B. Rheedei, exhibit a similar structure in the lower part of the stem ; so that upon the whole it would be preferable to adopt the name of B. celsa, especially as Lamarck, who first described the genus Bruguieria, and gave the name B. gymnorrhiza, did so from the Malabar plant. Lamarck, however, confounded as varieties several distinct species. Unfortunately Blume's descriptions of this and the follow- ing are not sufficiently explicit to enable me to compare the species with those I have myself examined ; but Rumph de- scribes or figures in the present one ten calyx segments erect in fruit, ten petals glabrous on the margin, and one-flowered peduncles. Gaertner says that there are 12 — 14 incurved calyx segments ; Blume, however, does not refer to Gaertner. 2. B. cylindrica (Blume), "foliis oblongis acuminatis, petalorum laciniis apice nudis, fructibus" (seu tigellis) " cylindraceis obtusis lsevibus." Blume, I. c. p. 91 (excl. syn. Rheede). — Rhizophora cylindrica, Lin, sp. p. 635 (ex parte).— Mangium digitatum, Rumph. Amb. iii. tab. 70. Hah. in Moluccis et Java, &c. If it were difficult to fix the Linnaean synonyms of the last, it is more so of this ; for while on the one hand Linnaeus only saw Rumph's figure, on the other, in the e Species Plantarum/ Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. 367 he only quotes Malabar as its native country. As, however, Blume first limited the species, I have allowed the name to remain with the Molucca plant. Blume quotes Rheede's H. Mai. vi. t. 33, as well as Rumph's figures, from which I pre- sume that this species ought to be compared with B. malaba- rica. In Rumph's work there are some discrepancies between the description and figure ; thus it is said that the calyx has 8 — 10 or 11 patent segments that are finally reflexed, while in the figure there are at least 10 segments erect, even when in fruit. The tigellus is said to be neither angled nor striated, but is represented in the figure slightly furrowed. The pe- duncles, according to both figure and description, are one- flowered, which circumstance would seem to remove it from B. malabarica and its allies. § 2. Petala apice setigera. * Calycis laciniae 9 — 14, lineari-acuminatse, apicem versus triquetras, fruc- tiferae suberectre. Antherae lineares. Ovarium 3- (nunc 4-) loculare. Pedunculi uniflori, cernui, folio breviores. Flores magni. 3. B. Rheedei (Blume?) foliis ovali-oblongis utrinque acuminatis, calyce ] — 14- (ssepius 12-) fido laciniis demum ereclis vel subincurvis, petalis ima basi villosulis alioquin glaberrimis laciniis acutis apice bisetis cum seta quinta in fissura. Blume ? /. c. p. 92. — B. gymnorrhiza, Lam. (quoad flores) ill. t. 397./. a,b, c, etforsan d— -f. Herb. Ham. n. 1111. Wight et Am. I. c. p. 311 (ex parte) ; Wight, Cat. n. 1043 (ex parte). — Rhi- zophora gymnorrhiza Lin.sp.p. 634 (ex parte). Roxb.Fl.Ind. ii.p.460; in ccet. Merc. I. 0. Mus. tab. 1246. Wall. Cat. n. 4874. Lour. 1 Coch. (ed. Willd.) p. ZM.—Rheed. H. Mai. vi. t. 31 et32. Rumph. Amb.t. 69 (fide Blume ; itaque hue trahenda R. Palun, DC. I. c.) Hab. in Malabaria, Rheede, Wight. Ad ostia Gangis, Goodlad, Hamil- ton. In Moluccis ac Java (fide Blumei). Cochinchina, Loureiro. In Penang, &c, Wallich. Tigellus subcylindricus, lsevis, utrinque acuminatus, in hac, et forsan in aliis hujus subsectionis speciebus. I feel uncertain if this be Blume's plant, on account of his reference to Rumph's Hortus Amboinensis : according to that work the peduncles are usually two-flowered, the calyx seg- ments 5 in the description, or as many as 8 or 10 in the mi- serable accompanying figure, and the germinating radicle or tigellus cylindrical and striated, which is not the case with the Malabar species. 368 Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. In the Prodr. Fl. Penins., Dr. Wight and I have blended together two species, on the supposition that the two or three imperfect flowers we had of the present one presented glabrous petals only by the accidental abrasion of the marginal hairs found in the other. A careful comparison, however, of Rheede's figure and Roxburgh's excellent description, with specimens of both sent me lately by Dr. Wight, induce me now to separate the two. It is probable that Wallich's Cat., n. 4784, contains more than one species. The plant from Penang (f) I have seen in Dr. Hooker's Herbarium, but with- out either flower or fruit ; it may be B. gymnorrhiza of Blume. 4. B.ytustralis (Cunn.); foliis ovali-oblongis utrinque acuminatis, calyce 9 — 10-fido, petalis basi lanatis secus margines pilosis laciniis linearibus obtusiusculis versus apicem sub-4-setis cum nona longiuscula in fis- sura. Hab. ad " Moreton bay" Novae Hoilandiae, A. Cunningham (in Herb. Hook). 5. B. eriopelala (W. & A.) ; foliis ovali-oblongis utrinque acuminatis, calyce sub 10-fido, petalis a basi ad apicem versus margines dense ar- genteo-birsutis laciniis obtusiusculis prope apicem unisetis cum seta tertia longiuscula in fissura. Wight. Cat. n. 2451. — B. gymnorrhiza, W. et A. I. c. (ex parte) ; Wight. Cat. n. 1043 (ex parte). Hab. ad Quilon, Wight. This and the two preceding have the same habit, and are scarcely to be distinguished except by an examination of the petals : in the present species I find constantly ten calycine segments, in B. Australis nine or ten, and twelve in B. Rheedei, but these may be subject to a slight variation. ** Calycis laciniaa 8, oblongo-lineares, planiusculae, fructiferae patentes. Petala ad margines parce villosula, laciniis apice 3 — 4-setis cum seta unica in fissura. Antherse lineari-oblongae. Ovarium 2 — 3-loculare. Pedunculi pluriflori. Tigellus germinans subcylindricus, laeviusculus. 6. B. caryophylloides (Blume) foliis ovalibus utrinque acutis, pedunculis petiolo brevioribus 3- (nunc dicliotome 5-) floris, calycis laciniis acutis, ovario biloculare, tigello subclavato acutiusculo. Blume, I. c. p. 93. — Rhizophora caryophylloides, Burm. Ind. p. 109. Jack, in Mai. Misc. i. p. 34 ; in Hook. Bot. Misc. ii. p. 80 ; Wall. Cat. n. 4879.— Rumph. Amb. iii. tab. 78. Hab. in Singapore et Pulo-Penang, Jack. Circa Bataviam, Blume. In Moluccis, Rumph. This I have not seen. Jack describes its ovary as two- Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. 369 celled, while Blume attributes to the whole genus a three- celled ovarium. 7. B. maldbarica (Arn.) ; foliis elliptico-oblongis utrinque acuminatis, pe- dunculis petiolum sequantibus apice trifloris, floribus arete sessilibus, calycis laciniis obtusiusculis, ovario biloculari, tigello cylindrico demum supra medium paullo attenuato obtuso. Wight. Cat. n. 2452. — Rhizo- phora cylindrica, Lin. sp. p. 635 (ex parte). Rheed. Mai. vi. t. 33. Hab. ad oras Malabariae, Rheede, Wight. Both this and the preceding have the germinating tigellus tapering slightly and obscurely angled towards the point. I as yet know of no character to separate the two except the narrower and more pointed leaves, and longer peduncles of the Malabar plant. I have never, in the present one, observed more or less than three flowers on each peduncle, but the two lateral ones often drop off before expansion. 8. B. parviflora (Arn.) ; foliis elliptico-oblongis seu lato-lanceolatis, pe- dunculis semel bisve trichotomis multifloris, ovario 3-loculari, tigello subcylindrico, Roxb. — Rhizophora parviflora, Roxb. Ft. Ind. ii. p. 461. — R. cylindrica Roxb. Hort. Beng.p. 36. Wall. Cat. n. 4877. Hab. Ad ostia Gangis. My character of this is taken from Roxburgh, the only spe- cimen so named, which I have seen, being from Penang (Wall. Cat. 4877* c.) and having neither flower nor fruit; its leaves are slightly acuminated at both ends, so that the species may be R. cylindrica of Blume. If the number of cells of the ovary and flowers on the pe- duncle be liable to variation, the three species of this subsec- tion may be combined, unless some of them be found to have the flowers pedicellate, respecting which Jack, Blume, and Roxburgh are silent. §. Vice not a. 9. B. sexangula (Spr.) ; foliis ovato-lanceolatis, peduneulis unifloris, ca- lyce 10-fido magno laciniis acutis patentibus, petalis ciliatis, tigello prismatico aequaliter hexagono obtuso. — Rhizophora sexangula, Lour. Cock. (ed. Willd.) p. 363. Hab. In Cochinchina, Loureiro. This obviously approaches very closely to B. Australis, and by the tigellus to B. gymnorrhiza, Bl., but from the imperfect description of the petals, it is uncertain whether it be a form of either, or a distinct species. Loureiro adds, " filamenta 20, Ann, Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 5. July 1838. 2 b 3?0 Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. capillaria, calyci insistentia, ipso longiora, antheris oblongis stantibus/' which does not agree with B. Australis or its allies. The following is a Clavis Analytica of the better known species. Fructus semiadhaerens. Petala4 I. Rhizophora, L. Petala 5. Stamina 10 II. Ceriops, Arn. Stamina indefinita III. Kandelia, W. & A. Fructus omnino adhaerens IV. Bruguieria, L'Her. I. Petala margine villosa. Folia obtusa R. Mangle, L. Folia apiculata R. mucronata, Lam. Petala glaberrima R. conjugata, L. II. Petala apice triseta C. Candolliana, Arn. Petala versus apicem setoso-ciliata C. Roxburghii, Arn. III. (Unica species) K. Rheedei, W. & A. IV. Petala apice nuda. Tigelli costati B. gymnorrhiza, Bl. Tigelli lseves B. cylindrica, Bl. Petala apice setigera. Calycis laciniaB 9 — 14 fructiferae erectiusculse. Petala (salva basi) glaberrima B. Rheedei, Bl. Petala basi lanata secus margines pilosa B. Australis, Cunn. Petala secus margines sericeo-hirsutissima ... B. eriopetala, W.& A. Calycis laciniae 8, fructiferae patentes. Pedunculi sub-3-flori ; ovarium 2-loculare. Folia utrinque acuta; pedunculi petiole! B .caryophylloides$\. breviores ) v r v Folia utrinque acuminata; pedunculi pet. \ D malaharic Arn . aequantes J Pedunculi multiflori; ovarium 3-loculare... B. parviflora, Arn. i From the order Rhizophorece must be excluded Olisbea rhi- zophorcefolia, DC, which is the same with Guildingia psia- dioides, Hook, in Bot. Misc. i. p. 122. t. 30. Steudel in his c Nomenclator Botanicus/ (a work I have not seenj has, I believe, enumerated, without description or synonyms, a Rhi- zophora ceratophylloides; if the specific name be well founded it can scarcely belong to this tribe of plants, but it may more probably be a mere typographical error for R. caryophylloides, Carallia (from which Baraldeia, Pet. Th., Diatoma, Lour., and Petalotoma, DC. are not distinct) is readily distinguished from the Linnsean genus Rhizophora by the unguiculate petals, and from nearlv all the genera into which I have divided that Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. 371 genus by the one-celled ovarium, agreeing in that respect with Kandelia only, but in other points differing widely. To this genus (Carallia) I have in the Nova Act. Ac. Nat. Cur., xviii. p. 334. added two species, one which appears to be the Diatoma bracchiata of Loureiro, the other from Ceylon. This last I have also received lately from Dr. Wight, collected at Quilon on the Malabar coast, accompanied with specimens, procured at the same place, of another form which Dr. Wight considers perfectly distinct and has named C. corymbosa : this is almost intermediate between the Chinese and Ceylon plants, if indeed the three be not varieties of one species. They all have leaves with recurved margins, which although some- times obscurely crenulate or serrulate towards the point, may, in comparison with Roxburgh's species, be said to be quite en- tire ; about seven orbicular slightly retuse but apiculate pe- tals, broader than long, and cut and curled on the margin ; a stigma of usually four, but occasionally five or seven emargi- nate lobes, and the teeth of the calyx are about equal in length to the petals ; they may be distinguished from each other as follows : 1. C. Ceylanica, (Am.) ; foliis cuneato-obovatis obtusissimis subretusis la- titudine subdimidio-longioribus. — Am. I. c. ; Wight. Cat. n. 2446 — C. obcordata, Wight, in litt. 2. C. corymbosa (Wight) ; foliis oblongo-obovalibus obtusis vel obsoleto ac obtuse acuminatis latitudine 2 — 2^-plo longioribus. — Wight. Cat. n. 2447. — Rheed. H. Mai. v. t. 13, (inflorescentia ac floribus pessime delineatis.) 3. C. Sinensis ( Arn.) ; foliis cuneato-obovatis breviter ac obtuse acuminatis latitudine subduplo longioribus. — Arn. I. c. (cum syn.) These obviously differ very slightly : in C. Ceylanica and C. Sinensis the leaves are decidedly cuneate at the base, the mar- gin presenting a rather concave curve ; in C, corymbosa the cuneiform appearance is less evident from the curvilineal mar- gin being usually slightly convex. What C. integerrima, DC. is, or from what part of India it was obtained, I have not ascer- tained ; if distinct from all the above, it may be thus defined : 4. C. integerrima (DeC.) ; foliis ovalibus subacuminatis latitudine duplo longioribus. C. Baraldeia,W .&A. {Baraldeia MadagascariensiSyVet.Th.) has slightly serrated leaves, and according to the author's de- 2 b 2 372 Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. scription constantly five petals and ten stamens ; whereas in the Indian species I believe there are never fewer than six petals. Dr. Brown has pointed out the affinity of Cassipourea, Aubl. or Legnotis of Swartz with this order, although allied at the same time to Salicariece. Of that genus I do not possess any species, nor have I had an opportunity of examining them mi- nutely ; but according to authors the stigmajs entire, and the number of stamens three or four times as many as the petals : in other respects however I have a plant not much at variance from Prince of Wales Island, and this agrees so well in ap- pearance with Microtropis coriacea, Wall. Cat. n. 4338 (of which I have not seen the flower) as probably to be the same. This species has the stigma of Carallia, and stamens only twice as many as the petals, and is thus still more allied to Carallia and the true Rhizophorece than Cassipourea, but form- ing a link between them : like Cassipourea, the ovary is free and composed of several cells with more than two ovules in each ; as in the Rhizophorece with an inferior ovary there is a perigynous disc between the ovary and the petals, the stamens being attached to the outside (or underside) of this disc. Cas- sipourea and the Penang plant have both fleshy albumen ; in the former the cotyledons are said to be flat, in the latter they are certainly semiterete. From these considerations I am in- duced to propose it as a new genus, as follows : Dryptopetalum. Calyx 4 — 5-partitus : laciniae ovatae : sestivatio valvata. Petala 4 — 5, decidua, calycis laciniis subbreviora ac alterna, late cuneata, subungui- culata, apice longe fimbriato-lacera, sestivatione involuta. Discus peri- gynus 8 — 10-crenatus circa ovarii basin. Stamina 8 — 10, sub margine disci libero inserta, 4 — 5 petalis opposita, totidem alterna : filamenta subulato-filiformia, apice sestivatione incurva : antherce globosas, dorso affixae, biloculares, intus dehiscentes. Ovarium liberum, ovato-globo- sum, 5-sulcatum, carnosum, 5-loculare (nunc loculo uno subabortivo) ; loculis 4-ovulatis. Stylus filiformis, brevis. Stigma peltatum, 5-par- titum; laciniis stellato-recurvis, linearibus, apice emarginatis. Fructus pisiformis, baccatus, intus pulposus, sub-5-locularis, 8 — 10-spermus. Semina oblonga, apice contracta, appensa; testa rugulosa, Crustacea. Embryo albus, teres, in axi albuminis carnosi albi : radicula supera, cotyledonibus semiteretibus paullo longior. Frutex vel arbor glabra. Folia opposita, coriacea, penninervia, venosa, ob- Dr. Arnott on the Genus Rhizophora. 373 longo-ovalia, breviter acuminata, subintegerrima supra medium denticu- lis paucis obsoletis, 4 — 5 poll, longa, 2 — 2\- lata, basi in petiolum vix se- mipollicarem subattenuata. Flores axillares, fasciculati, pedicellati, pe- dicellis petiolo brevioribus, medio articulatis. 1. D. coriaceum, Arn. — Microtropis coriacea, Wall.? Hab. In Pulo-Penang. I have seen no stipules, but there are scars between the pe- tioles as in Rhizophorea after the stipules have fallen off. The ovarium and stigma seem to be always in a quinary propor- tion, even when the flowers are tetramerous ; but then two of the divisions of the stigma are more approximated than the others, and one of the cells of the ovary appears to be imper- fect. Martius in his observations on Indian plants in the 'Alge- meineZeitung' for January 1834, and 'Ann. des Sc.Nat.' n. s. i. p. 250, mentions that there are eleven species of Rhizophorece in East India according to Wallich's list : there are however only eight noticed by Dr. Wallich, but this number may be made up of the three species of Carallia described in De CandohVs Prodromus, of Rhizophora conjugata, gymnorrhiza and cylin- drica of Linnaeus; R.caryophylloides, Jack; R. Candel and Can- delaria of De Candolle, with R. parviflora and decandra of Roxburgh mentioned in Wallich^s list. While one of these has been unnecessarily split down, others, very distinct, ap- pear to be confused under the same names, and Blume's are altogether omitted. I have now enumerated fifteen species of Rhizophorete verce, from which we must deduct one from America and another from New Holland not found in East India. Of the remaining thirteen, one from Cochin China is scarcely known ; a second extends throughout the Indian ocean, from the Mauritius to the Moluccas or perhaps Timor, and as far north as Arabia Felix and Bengal ; a third is found in Malabar, Timor, and New Holland ; three appear to be confined to the Eastern Islands ; two to Malabar ; one is common to Malabar and the mouth of the Ganges ; two found at the mouth of the Ganges occur probably also further east and in Penang ; and the remaining two seem to have been observed (unless different species are alluded to by different authors) in Ceylon, Malabar, Bengal, Java and Amboina, To these thirteen have to be added Roxburgh's two species of Carallia with ser- 374 Mr. Babington on Habenaria bifolia and chlorantha. rated, and the four species or varieties I have mentioned with entire leaves: so that although Loureiro's Rhiz. hexagona were reduced, the number is about double of that given by Martius. This order is thus concentrated in India or its islands; the only known exceptions consist in the two or perhaps three species ofRhizophora and one Carallia that occur further west, and one Ceriops and one Bruguieria that are found in New Holland ; but of these, two are also natives of India. Arlary, Kinross, Dec. 1837. XL. — On Habenaria bifolia and chlorantha. By Charles C. Babington, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., &c. To the Editor of the Annals of Natural History. Dear Sir, At page315 of the 4the dition of his ' Brit. Flora/ recently pub- lished, Sir W. Hooker having expressed his opinion that the Habenaria chlorantha of my paper (Linn. Trans, xvii. 462) is not the same as the plant figured by Reichenbach at t. 853, f. 1145, of his Iconog. Botan., I feel it incumbent upon me to give my reasons for considering them as identical. The same excellent botanist appearing to doubt the correctness of my determination, that the Orchis bifolia of Linnaeus is the same as my H. bifolia and Platanthera brachyglossa, Reich., I will add a few observations upon that subject. Since the publication of the paper referred to I have ob- tained from Prof. Reichenbach himself a specimen of his Plat, chlorantha. It is No. 948 of his Flora German. Exsic- cata, and has the following label appended : — " 948, Platan- thera chlorantha, Cust. and Rchb. Fl. Germ. 818. ic. 1145." This specimen agrees exactly with those English ones con- tained in my herbarium. The shape of the petals, on which Sir W. Hooker lays much stress, is the same in the German and English specimens. In both they are narrower, and not so acute as in Reich, f. 1145 : the above ticket shows however that the author of that plate considers my specimen as an ex- ample of the plant there figured. The colour of the flowers is known to be variable, and therefore I do not think that their not being very green in our plant is sufficient cause for Mr. Babington on Habenaria bifolia and chlorantha. 375 not considering it as identical with that of Reichenbach. As far as can be determined from a dried specimen, my German plant would appear to have had quite as white a hue as those gathered in this county and in other parts of England. My native specimens have the cells of the anther quite as diver- gent as they are represented in the figure quoted above. Concerning H. bifolia, Bab., I need say but little. It ac- cords exactly with the only specimen of O. bifolia preserved in the Linnaean Herbarium and with the figure (t. 852. f. 1 144.) of Reichenbach ; and I continue, after the examination of very numerous specimens of both plants, in a living state, to con- sider it as quite distinct from H. chlorantha, Cust. and Bab. The Pt. bifolia, Reich., H. fornicata, Bab., must continue to be considered as a very doubtful plant, until we can either obtain authentic specimens from Germany or discover it in England. From not having access to specimens, I have thought myself bound to continue it as a distinct species until the per- manency of its characters can be determined. I have never observed a hooded anther in any of the specimens of H. bifo- lia, Bab., which have come under my notice ; and since the Linnaean Herbarium shows that Reichenbaclr's plant is not the true O. bifolia, Linn., I was obliged to give it a new name. Sir W. Hooker not having mentioned the characteristic dif- ferences between the two native plants, I trust that I shall not do wrong by repeating them here for the information of those botanists who do not see the Linnaean Transactions. 1. H. chlorantha, Bab. Calcare ovario duplo longiore subclavato, labello lineari integerrimo, petalis superioribus conniventibus obtusis, anthem inferne duplo latiore truncata : loculis oblique ascendentibus et apice convergentibus. E. B. t. 22. 2. H. bifolia, Bab. Calcare ovario duplo longiore subclavato, labello lineari integerrimo, petalis superioribus conniventibus obtusis, anthera oblonga truncata: loculis parallelis. Bab. inE. B. Supp. t. 2806. In the former the anther is very large and broad, the bases of its cells twice as far apart as their tops ; the central line between the cells elevated into a prominent ridge in front and grooved on the back ; the stigma is very broad, slightly pointed in the middle, and curved into a semicircular form. In H. bifolia the anther is truncate or slightly emargi- 376 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. nate, rarely somewhat rounded at the top ; its cells are nearly- parallel throughout their whole length-; the central line be- tween the cells is a deep furrow in front and a keel behind, and the stigma is rather broad, truncate, folded so as to leave a channel between its pointed lobes, its middle emarginate. H.fornicata, Bab., PI. bifolia, Reich., has a hooded anther with parallel cells and the upper petals not converging. St. John's Coll., Cambridge, May 18, 1838. XLI. — Flora Insularum Novae Zelandice Precursor; or a Spe- cimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By Allan Cunningham, Esq. [Continued from p. 216.] EUPHORBIACE.E, Ad. deJuss. 1. Euphorbia, L. 339. E. glauca, caule fruticoso, foliis ad apices ramorum confertis lanceo- latis integerrimis glabris, umbella 4 — 6 radiata, radiis simplicibus trichoto- misque, foliis floralibus oppositis ovali-acutis, involucris 4 — 5 fidis. Kndl. Prodr. Fl. Norf. p. 86. Forst. Prodr. n. 208. Spreng. Syst. Veg. iii. p. 790. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 352. Ic. Ferd. Bauer, t. 1 66. (Endl.)—Kekiri gnott of the natives, around whose houses the plant is frequent. D'Urville. New Zealand (Middle Island), Astrolabe Harbour.— 1827, D'Urville. (Northern Island), sandy shore, at the embouchure of the Hokianga river. — 1820, A. Cunningham. SANTALACE.E, R. Br. 1. Mida, (Thesium, Linn.) Perianthium 5-partitum, persistens, eglandulosum. Disco epigyno nullo. Stam. 5, extus fasciculo gracili villorum munita. Antherce biloculares. Stigma 3 — 4 lobum. Nux corticata coronata. R. Br. in obs. : — Arbus- culae glabra?, ramis ramulisque plerumque alternis. Folia alterna, quan- doque subopposita, utrinque glabra, nitida, venosa. P'lores racemosi axillares s. terminales. Nomen vernaculum Mida, unde nom. generis. R. Cunningham. 340. M. salicifolia, foliis angusto-lanceolatis attenuatis. New Zealand (Northern Island). A slender tree fifteen feet high, bearing flower and fruit in October, in the forests of Wangaroa. — 1826, A. Cunning- ham. — 1834, R. Cunningham. 341. M. eucalyptoides, foliis lanceolatis acuminatis. New Zealand (Northern Island). A small tree fifteen to twenty feet high, in fruit in October and November in shady woods at Wangaroa. — 1826, A. Cunningham. Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. 377 342. M. myrtifolia, foliis ovalibus ovato-lanceolatis obtusiusculis acumi- natisve. New Zealand (Northern Island). A tree thirty feet high; growing in woods in the neighbourhood of the Bay of Islands. — 1826, A. Cunningham. THYMELiEiE, Just. 1. Pimelea, Banks and Solander, Sm. (Passerines et Banksice, sp. Forst.) 343. P. Guidia, Vahl. Willd. Sp. PL t. p. 50. Roem. % Sch. Syst. Veg. I. p. 274. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 171.— Banksia Guidia. Forst. Gen. Char. p. 8. — Cookia Guidia. Gmel. Syst. Veg. p. 24. New Zealand (Middle Island), upon rocks on the shores of Dusky Bay ; also on the summits of the mountains. — 1773, G. Forster. — 1781, A. Men- zies, Esq. Astrolabe Harbour. — 1827, UUrville. Obs. Frutex bi- vel tri-orgyalis, erectus, ramosissimus, glaberrimus. Flores albi odorati, extus non raro carnei. Perianthium externe villosum. 344. P.pilosa. Vahl. Willd. Sp. PL 1. p. 50. Roem. et Sch. Syst. Veget. 1. p. 275. A.Rich. FL Nov. Zel. p. 172. — Banksia tomentosa. Forst. Char. Gen. p. 8. — Cookia pilosa. Gmel. Syst. Veg. p. 24. New Zealand (Middle Island), in thickets on the coast, as also in the mountainous districts. — 1773, G. Forster. Obs. Caulis fruticosus erectus, -£- orgyalis, glaber. Ramuli albo villo ves- titi. Folia opposita, linearia, obtusa. Flores albo-sericei. 345. P. virgata. Vahl. Enum. 1. p. 306. Roem. et Sch. Syst. Veget. 1. p. 275. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 173. — P. axillaris. Banks and Sol. Mss. — Kai-Kai Atuaniu. Incol. Anglice, " The food of the Great God." New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Among under- wood and in bushy moist grounds, Bay of Islands. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 1834, R. Cunningham. 346. P.prostrata. Vahl. Willd. Sp. PL 1. p. 51. Roem. et Sch. Syst. Veget. i. p. 274. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 174. New Zealand (Middle Island), on barren mountains. — 1773, G. Forster. Shores of Astrolabe Harbour. — 1827, D'Urville. (Northern Island,) in open fern grounds, Bay of Islands. — 1826, Allan Cunningham. — 1834, R. Cunningham. 347. P. arenaria, foliis decussato-oppositis ellipticis obtusiusculis paten- tibus, supra glabris, subtus cano-hirtis, floralibus capitulum 5 — 7 florum sub- aequantibus, perianthii tubo brevissimo subaristato lanuginoso persistente, styli staminibus parum longiore, fructu baccato. Accum in Bot. Mag. t. 3270. — Ou-tato-rangha of the natives. Rich. Cunningham. New Zealand (Northern Island), sandy ridges at the mouth of the Hoki- anga River. — 1826, A. Cunningham. At Takou, on the east coast, near Wangaroa. — 1834, R. Cunningham. 348. P. Urvilliana, foliis (parvulis) oppositis ovalibus obtusis glabris, capi- tulis 6 — 8-floris, perianthii tubo brevissimo, externe dense albido-serieeo, 3 ?8 , Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. laciniis patulis suborbicularibus obtusis, staminibus brevissimis fauci insertis, stylo tubo perianthii duplo longiore. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 175. New Zealand (Middle Island), shores of Tasman's Bay. — 1827, D'Urville. (Northern Island), on dry hills, among fern, Bay of Islands. — 1834, R. Cun- ningham. PROTEACE.E. 1. Persoonia, Smith. 349. P. Tora, foliis elongato-laciniatis acutis basi attenuatis strictis sub- falcatis obsolete trinervibus utrinqne glabris nitidis, racemis axillaribus latera- libusve multifloris, pedunculis perianthiisque tomento ferrugineo tcctis, ova- viis glabris dispermis epedicellatis, caule arborescenti, cortice lsevi. A. Cunn.in Bot. Mag. t. 3513. — Tora incolis audit, unde nomen triviale. New Zealand (Northern Island), on the wooded ridges of the highest hills near Wangaroa, near the shores of the Bay of Islands, and in the great Forest near Hokianga, &c. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 1833, R. Cunningham. Obs. Arbor sempervirens, 20 — 40 pedes alta, potius gracilis, admodum venusta, et in habitu omnino aliquot specierum Acaciarum aphyllarum, trunco erecto ad basin diametro 6 uncias sequante, cortice laevi, sursum ra- mosissimo. Folia altera a, versus apices ramulorum confertiora, elongata, coriacea, valde glabra, supra nitidissima, venosa, saspe sex uncias longa, et semiunciam lata. Racemi plerumque axillares, erecti multiflori, tomento rubiginoso tecti, flores unibracteati. Ovarium glabrum, dispermum, sessile, vel epedicellatum. Glandules hypogyna 4, brevissimse. Stigma depresso- capitatum. Drupa baccata, putamine biloculari. 2. Knightia, Brown in Linn. Soc. Trans., v. 10. 350. K. excelsa,foYu$ oblongo-ellipticis lanceolato-oblongisve obtusis co- riaceis glabris profunde serratis, serraturis remotis, racemis axillaribus sub- sessilibus multifloris, perianthiis ferrugineo-tomentosis, bracteis (parvis) so- litariis deciduis, stylis elongatis persistentibus, caule arborescenti. Br. in Linn. Soc. Trans, vol. x. p. 194. tab. Roem. et Sch. Syst. Veget. iii. p. 431. — Rewa-rewa of the natives. Yate. Obs. Distinctum a Ropala affini, seminibus quaternis, apice solum alatis. —R. Br. *New Zealand (Northern Island), east coast. A noble tree, often eighty feet high, discovered at Opuraga (Mercury Bay, in lat. 36° 45' S.) and near Tolaga (Howa-Howa Bay, 38° 22' S.)— 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Dry forests near the Bay of Islands and Wangaroa. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 1833,72. Cunningham. * The hitherto very obscurely known Embothrium strobilinum of M. La- billardiere, erroneously stated by that author to be a native of Western Australia (Terra de Leuwin), has been at length ascertained by Mr. Brown to belong to the above genus, its ovarium containing 4 ovules. The struc- ture however of the matured seeds is not yet ascertained. In the mean time, it may be considered a Knightia, though, as Mr. Brown suggests, of a di- stinct section from K. excelsa, and may be thus characterized : K. integrifolia {Encarpha), foliis obovato-oblongis subspathulatis integris, racemis densis obovato-capitatis, axillaribus pedunculatis, perianthiis glabris, Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. 379 The wood of the Rcwa-rewa is beautifully variegated, being mottled with red, upon a ground of light brown ; it is therefore well adapted for making articles of elegant furniture. The freedom with which it splits causes it to be far more frequently employed for paling-fences ; but roofing- shingles made of it are found to warp readily with the sun. LAURI1SLE, Ventenat. 1. Laurus, L., Brown. Flores hermaphroditi aut dioici. Perianthium 6-fidum sequale. Stamina 12, duplici ordine ; exteriora 6 fertilia, interiora 6 exterioribus opposita, horurn 3 sunt fertilia, basi biappendiculata aut biglandulosa, csetera al- terna sterilia. Antherce biloculares. Stigma capitatum. Drupa nuda monosperma. 351. L. Tarairi, arborea, foliis lato-ellipticis coriaceis obtusis petiolatis, supra glaberrimis, subtus venosis glaucis ramulisque tomentosis, racemis pa- niculatis ferrugineo-lanatis axillaribas terminalibusve, foliolis perianthii ob- longo-ellipticis acutiusculis. — L. macrophylla. {A. C.Mss. 1826, non Don.) Tarairi Incol. New Zealand (Northern Island). A tree fifty to seventy feet high, in dry woods on the banks of rivers, Bay of Islands, Wangaroa, &c, — 1826, A. Cun- ningham. — 1834, R. Cunningham. Obs. The timber is white and splits freely, but is seldom employed. 352. L. Tawa, arborea, foliis lanceolatis acuminatis subundulatis minu- tissime venoso-reticulatis, supra glabris nitidis, subtus glaucis adpresso-seri- ceis, racemis paniculatis pilosiusculis terminalibus, pilis cinereis sparsis, ra- mulis petiolisque foliorum juniorum tomentosis, perianthii laciniis ovalibus obtusis. — Tawa, Indigenis. — L. salicifolia. Banks et Sol.Mss. non Swartzii. New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. A tree forty to sixty feet high, frequent in shaded moist forests, at the Bay of Islands, &c. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 1834, R. Cunningham. The wood of the Tawa is light, and on account of the facility with which it splits is used by the natives for their short fences. It de- cays, however, in the course of two years and becomes perfectly use- less ; but as the New Zealanders seldom cultivate one spot for a longer period than two successive years, they do not experience the inconvenience which would otherwise accrue from the rapid decay of bracteis (maximis) ellipticis imbricatis mox deciduis, stylis caducis, caule fruticoso. — Embothvium strobilinum. Labill. Nov. II oil. ii. p. 1 16. t. 265. Roem. et Sch. Syst. Veg. Hi. p. 432. {vide fig.) Hab. In Nova Caledonia, Labill., sed nunquam Terra Van Leuwin, in- cola. Obs. Frutex orgyalis, ramis teretibus erectis. Folia petiolata, obovata, Integra, venosa, infra attenuata. Gemmce fiorigerce axillares solitaria), pe- dunculate, strobiliformes, bracteis ovatis deciduis. Folliculus lignosus, ob- longus, hinc gibbus. {Ex Labill. loc. cit.) 380 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. the wood. The fruits of both of the species, that of the Tarairi re- sembling a Damascene in size and appearance, are eagerly devoured by the large wood pigeon ; and the aborigines, when they are tra- versing their native forests, and happen to be provided with muskets, always halt awhile beneath these trees in their fruit season (the months of October and November) for the chance of a shot. The islanders themselves also eat the fruit when boiled ; by which pro- cess the poison, which abounds in it in a raw state, is extracted. 353. L. ? calicaris (Soland.) ; dioica, foliis ellipticis ovato-lanceolatisve acuminatis venosis, supra nitidis, subtus glaucis, umbellis femineis axillaribus glomeratis pedunculatis subquinquefloris, pedicellis cinereo-villosis, involu- cris pentaphyllis imbvicatis, foliolis subrotundis latissimis perianthiis 7 — 8 fidis, laciniis oblongis acutis, pedunculis fructus incrassatis apice dilatatis calyciformibus. Banks and Sol. Mss. — Tetranthera Tangao. R. Cunn. Ms. 1 834. — Tangao, Indigenis. New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. River sides at the Bay of Islands. — 1834, R. Cunningham. I have never seen the male flowers, and am therefore ignorant of the structure of the anthers ; but as the stigma, in all the female flowers examined, is dilated and more or less lobed, it seems pro- bable that it may be a genuine species of Tetranthera, to which genus R. Cunningham has referred it. He has described the male flowers as involucrated and subsessile. In the absence, however, of more perfect materials, I have placed it with Solander's in the Linnsean genus Laurus, to which all the plants of the order were in his day referred. ATHEROSPERME.E, R. Br. Flores diclines, v.el hermaphroditi. Calyx monophyllus, limbo diviso, la- ciniis saepe duplici serie. Squamulce faucis in fcem. et hermaphr. Cor. 0. Stamina in masculis floribus numerosa, fundo calyci inserta. Antherce adnatae, biloculares, loculis valvula longitudinali a basi ad apicem de- hiscenti. Ovaria imo plura saepius indefinita, monosperma, ovalo erecto. Styli simplices. Stigmata indivisa. Pericardia clausa seminiformia stylis persistentibus plumosis aristata, tubo aucto calycis inclusa. R. Br. — Genera Atherosperma, Laurelia. 1 . Laurelia, Juss. (Pavonia, Ruiz, non Cavanill.) Flores monoici vel dioici.rona- tum, in quatuor partes patentes dehiscens. Caryopses plures, subulatae, piloses. Arbores (Ckilenses et Novce Zelandice) glaberrimce, semper- virentes (odore Lauri sassafras valde redolenles), 5 — 20 orgyahs et ultra. Folia opposita ovalia, petiolata, serrata. Flores axillares, ra- cemosi vel subcymosi. 354. *L. Novce Zelandice, dioica, foliis elliptico- oblongis obtusis coriaceis, racemis multifloris incano-villosis. New Zealand (Northern Island). A tree thirty feet high, on the margins of the streams falling into the Keri-Keri river. — 1826, A. Cunningham. Of this very remarkable plant the tree bearing the female fructifi- cation has not been discovered in its native country. I have, never- theless, not] only placed it in Mr. Brown's family Atherospermece, to which it most assuredly belongs, as indicated by its opposite serrated leaves and by the structure and mode of dehiscence of its anthers, which, however, accord with those of the Laurince, but I have re- ferred it to Pavonia of Ruiz and Pavon, of which it appears a second species, although it is dioecious, and the female flower and fruit re- main yet to be examined. [To be continued.] XLII. — Descriptions of British Chalcidites. By Francis Walker, F.L.S. [Continued from p. 312.] Sp. 6. Cirrospilus Lyncus, Mas. et Fem. Luteus viridi-varius, antennts fulvce, pedes flavi, alee scepe fulvescentes. Fern. Luteus : caput postice fuscum, fascia vertici viridis, ocellis confinis : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae fulvae ; articuli l u * et 2 US supra fusci : thorax viridis : mesothorax luteus, scutum antice et scutellum viridia : abdomen luteum, segmenta media postice, discus et apex viridia : oviductus fulvus ; vaginae fuscae : pedes laete flavi ; coxae basi virides ; pulvilli fulvi ; alae ful- vescentes ; squamulae flavae ; nervi flavi. Mas. Flavus : capitis vertici fascia viridis : antennae fulvae ; pro- et meta- thorax supra virides : mesothorax apud proalis squamulas fulvescens j scutum anticum et scutellum posticum viridia : abdomen apice pallide fuscum : * The type of the genus is L. Chilensis, which may be thus defined : L. Chilensis; monoica foliis ovatis oblongisve acutis, racemis subtripartitis cymosis glabris. — L. aromatica, Juss. Spreng. Syst. Veg. vol. ii. — Pavonia sempervirens, Ruiz et Pavon Syst. Veg. Florae Peruv. et Chil. (8vo.) 1 . p. 253. Fl. Peruv. et Chil. Prodr. (fol.) p. 127. tab. 28.—Thiga Chilensis, Molini, conf. Spreng. Hab. In regno Chilensi. Arbor 40 ulnarius et ultra. 382 Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. pedes laete flavi ; pulvilli et protarsi fulvi : alae subfulvcscentes. (Corp. long, lin. f — 1 ; alar. lin. $ — 1£.) Far. /3. Fern. — Parapsides viridi-fusco maculatae : abdomen viridi-cupre- um, basi luteum ; segmentum l um utrinque viridi-maculatum. Far. y. Fern. — Far. /3. similis : caput supra etpostice fere omnino viride : mesothoracis scutum viride, postice luteum : parapsides viridi maculatae. Far. Z. Fern. — Far. y. similis : abdomen cupreo-viride, subtus basi ful- vum ; segmentum l um apice fulvescens : procoxae virides. Far. e. Fern. — Far. S. similis : mesotboraci viridi fascia angusta flava. Far. f. Fern. — Far. B. similis : mesothoraxviridis; parapsides plerumque lutese. Far. ■*}. Fern. — Caput supra et postice viride : antennis articuli l u9 et 2 US omnino fulvi : mesothorax viridis, scutum postice fulvum, parapsides flavae : abdomen cupreum, basi fulvum ; segmentum l um basi utrinque viride : alae limpidae. Far. $. Fern. — Far. y. similis : antennas obscure fulvae; alae fulvescentes. Far. 1. Fern. — Caput postice flavum : antennis articulus 2 US fulvus, basi pallide fuscus : thorax luteus : pro- et metathorax supra virides : mesotho- racis scutum viride, apice luteum, parapsides fusco maculata?, scutellum late fusco vittatum : abdomen flavum, fusco late et dilute fasciatum ; seg- mentum l um basi fuscum : coxae flavae : alae limpidae. September ; near London, Isle of Wight. Ireland, Mr. Haliday. Mas. Corpus angustum, sublineare, sat longum, parum convexum, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : caput magnum, transversum, thorace latius ; vertex latus ; frons impressa, abrupte declivis : oculi sat magni, sub- rotundi, extantes : ocelli vertice triangulum fingentes, media perparum an- teposita : antennae graciles, extrorsum crassiores, prope os insertae, corporis dimidio multo longiores ; articulus l ns ovatus, dilatatus, maximus ; 2 US an- gustus, subfusiformis ; 3 US brevissimus ; 4 U9 et sequentes ad 7 um longi, subli- neares; clava triarticulata, fusiformis, acuminata, articulo 7° plus duplo longior et paullo latior : thorax longiovatus, convexus, fere laevis : prothorax transversus, sat bene determinatus, antice abrupte acuminatus, postice latus incurvus : mesothoracis scutum longitudine paullo latius ; parapsidum su- turae remotae, bene determinatae ; paraptera et epimera magna ; scutellum subovatum ; postscutellum transversum : metathorax brevis : petiolus bre- vissimus latissimus : abdomen longiovatum, depressum, thoraci fere quoad longum ac latum ; segmentum l um magnum ; 2 um et sequentia brevia, transversa, subaequalia : pedes graciles, pubescentes, simplices, subaequales ; coxae parvae ; femora subclavata ; tibiae rectae ; tavsis articulus 1 us brevis, 2 US et 3 us longiores, 4 U9 adhuc longior; pulvilli'magni : alae perangustae, bre- viter ciliatae : proalis nervus hirtus costae dimidio paullo longior, ulnaris hu- merali vix brevior, cubitalis longus, radialis brevissimus ; stigma minutum : metalis nervus simplex costae dimidio longior. Sp. 7. Cirr. Crino, Mas. Cupreo-viridis flavo varius, antenna? fulva?, pedes flavi, alee limpidae. Caput flavum : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae pallide fulvae ; articulus 1 " s Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. 383 obscurior: thorax cupreo-viridis, apud paraptera et epimera flavus : abdomen cupreum, apice viride, dimidium fere anticum flavum : petiolus fulvus : sexualia pallide fulva : pedes laete fiavi ; tarsi apice fusci : alas limpidae ; squamulae flavas ; nervi flavi. (Corp. long. lin. £ ; alar. lin. £.) Far. j3. — Abdomen cupreo -viride, basi flavum. June to August ; on grass beneath trees, near London, Windsor Forest. Mas. Corpus angustum, sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : caput transversum, breve, convexum, thorace paullo latius : an- tennas graciles corporis dimidio vix longiores ; articulus 1 U8 maximus, dila- tissimus ; 2 US longicyathiformis ; 3 U3 et 4 US breves, subquadrati ; clava longi- ovata, brevisetigera, articulo 4° latior et duplo longior : thorax longiovatus, convexus : prothorax transversus, sat bene determinatus : mesothoracis scu- tum longitudine paullo latius; parapsidum suturse conspicuas ; scutellum obconicum : metathorax transversus, brevis : petiolus brevissimus : abdomen sublineare, planum, laeve, thorace paullo brevius : pedes graciles : alae an- gustae, ciliatae ; nervus ulnaris humerali longior, radialis brevissimus, cubi- talis sat longus. Sp. 8. Cirr. Pacuvius, Mas. Firidi- cupreus, antennas piceas aut fuscce, pedes fulvi, femora cuprea, alas sub limpidas. Cupreo-viridis : oculi et ocelli run : antennas piceae : abdomen cupreum : pedes fulvi ; coxae cupreae ; femora cuprea ; tibiae fuscae, apice et basi fulvae : alas sublimpidae; squamulae piceae; nervi fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. i; alar. lin. £.) Far. (5. — Antennae fuscae; articulus 1 U8 piceus : tibiae fulvae, apice flavae - r tarsi flavi, apice fulvi. Found near London. Ireland, Mr. Haliday. Fern. Corpus angustum, sublineare, nitens, scite squameum, parce hirtum : caput transversum, brevissimum, convexum, juxta thoraci latum : oculi parvi, subrotundi : antennae clavatae, dimidio paullo breviores ; articulus l us longus, sublinearis; 2 UB longicyathiformis ; 3 U9 sublinearis, sat longus; 4 US brevior et latior ; clava ovata, articulo 4° latior et duplo longior : thorax longi- ovatus, parum convexus ; prothorax mediocris, transversus, an tice angustior: mesothoracis scutum latitudine longius ; parapsidum suturse remotae, bene determinate ; scutellum ovatum, angustum ; metascutellum obconicum, bene determinatum : metathorax mediocris : petiolus brevissimus : abdomen ovatum, thorace latius, vix brevius : pedes graciles : alae longae ; nervus ulnaris humerali vix brevior, radialis brevissimus, cubitalis ad alas apicem propensus. Sp. 9. Cirr. Shiga, Fern. Cupreus, antennas fulvas, pedes flavi, alas lim- pidce. Laste cupreus : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae fusco-fulvae ; articulus l us ni- gro-aeneus, apice fulvus : pedes lastissime flavi ; tarsi apice fusci ; propedum tibiae extus fulvo vittatas, tarsi fulvi : alae limpidae ; squamulae flavae ; nervi flavi. (Corp. long. lin. f — £ ; alar. lin. 1 — 1^.) September, North Wales. Ireland, Mr. Haliday. Fern. Corpus angustum, sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : caput transversum, breve, convexum, thoracis vix latitudine : an- 3 84 Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. tennae clavatae, graciles, corporis dimidio paullo longiores; articulus 1 U8 gra- cilis, sublinearis ; 2 US longicyathiformis ; 3 US et 4 US breves ; clava fusiformis, acuminata, articulo 4° latior et plus duplo longior : thorax longiovatus, con- vexus : prothorax transversus, sat bene determinatus : mesothoracis scutum longitudine latius ; parapsidum suturae conspicuae ; scutellum obconicum • metathorax transversus, mediocris : petioius vix ullus : abdomen longiova- tum, planum, laeve, subtus carinatum, thorace paullo brevius non latius : pedes validi, simplices, subaequales : alae angustse ; nervus ulnaris humerali paullo longior, radialis brevissimus, cubitalis longus. Cupreus : thorax fulvo interrupte bivittatus : oculi et ocelli rufi : antennae fusco-fulvae basi et apice flavae : abdomen nigro-cupreum : pedes pallide fulvi ; coxae aeneae ; tarsi apice fulvi : alae limpidae ; squamulae flavae ; nervi flavi. (Corp. long. lin. £; alar. lin. 1.) Found near London. Sp. 10. Cirr. Phorbas, Fem. Cupreus, antennae fulvoe, thorax fulvo vitta- tus, pedes fulvi, alj. Fem. — Var. £. similis : abdomen basi viride : protarsi fusci : meso- et metapedum tibiae virides, apice et basi flavae, tarsi flavi apice fusci. Far. 6. Fem. — Meso- et metatibiae fulvo bicinctae. Far. i. Fem. — Viridis : thoracis discus cupreo-varius : abdominis discus cupreus : femora basi viridia; propedum tibiae pallide fuscae, apice flavae, tarsi fulvi ; meso- et metapedum tibiae virides, apice et basi flavae, tarsi apice fusci. Far. k. Fem. — Viridis : thoracis discus cyaneo-varius : pedes flavi ; coxae virides ; femora basi viridia ; protibiae extus fulvae ; protarsi fulvi ; meso- et metapedum tibiae piceo-virides fulvo cinctae, tarsi apice fusci. Far. A. Fem. — Thorax cyaneo-viridis : abdominis discus viridi-cupreus. Found near London. Fem. Corpus sublineare, depressum, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : caput transversum, parvum, brevissimum, vix thoracis latitudine ; vertex latus ; frons abrupte declivis : oculi parvi, subrotundi, non extantes : antennae clavatae, corporis dimidio breviores ; articulus l us longus, subli- nearis; 2 US longi-cyathiformis ; 3 US sublinearis, sat longus; 4 us brevior et la- tior; clava conica, acuminata, articulo 4° duplo longior : thorax ovatus, pa- rum convexus : prothorax sat bene determinatus, transversus, antice angus- tior: mesothoracis scutum fere planum, longitudine paullo latius, parapsi- dum suturae non bene determinatae ; scutellum ovatum, angustum : meta- thorax mediocris, transversus : petiolus brevissimus : abdomen ovatum, depressum, juxta thoraci longum, subtus carinatum : pedes graciles ; tarsis articulus 2 US 1° paullo brevior, 3 US adhuc brevior, 4 US 3° longior; ungues et pulvilliminuti: alaelongae; nervus ulnaris humerali vix brevior, radialis brevissimus, cubitalis ad alae apicem propensus. [To be continued.] 2c2 388 Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians. XLIII. — Catalogue of the Slender-tongued Saurians, with De- scriptions of many new Genera and Species. By John Edward Gray, Esq., F.R.S., Senior Assistant in the Zoological Department of the British Museum, &c. [Continued from p. 283.] ** Sides with a narrow impressed line; back, belly, and tail covered with cross bands of 4-sided shields ; throat shielded. Fam. III. ZonuridjE. A. Lizard-like ; ears exposed ; legs 4 ; femoral pores distinct. Old World. Zonurus. Head depressed, broad behind; supraorbital plate ex- panded. Tail depressed, with whorls of large square keeled spinose scales ; back with keeled subspinose, belly with smooth scales. Toes 5—5. * Back and sides covered with large, rhombic, obliquely -keeled, dagger-pointed scales ; lateral line narrow. a. Dorsal scales spinose. Zonurus Nova- Guinea, Schlegel, 1. c, t. 7. f. 2. New Guinea. b. Dorsal scales all keeled. Zonurus cataphractus. Reddish ; middle of the back varied with olive ; scales of neck ovate, keeled, spreading ; temporal shields keeled, subpyramidical. Tail spinose. Cape of Good Hope. Zonurus cordylus. Pale brown, darker spotted ; dorsal and lateral scales in sixteen series ; tail slender, elongate. Cape of Good Hope. c. The central dorsal series of scales flat, smooth. Zonurus vertebralis. Pale brown ; lateral and neck scales keeled, dagger-pointed. Cape of Good Hope. * Back covered with large keeled scales, with a vertebral series of small scales ; sides covered with small and rather larger, scattered scales. Zonurus Davyi. Black ? Temporal scales large, smooth, many- sided ; three pairs of prseanal plates, hinder largest. Cape of Good Hope. *** Back and sides with small scales having series of larger convex slightly keeled scales on the sides of the back and upper parts of the sides. Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians. 389 Zonurus microlepidotus. Cordylus microlepidotus, Cuv., Guerin, Icon. t. 6. f. 1. Cape of Good Hope. Cicigna, Gray, 1829. Gerrhosaurus , Wiegm. Pleurostichus, A. Smith. Head pyramidical ; tail rather compressed, armless ; scales of the back armless, of the belly smooth. Toes 5 — 5. Cicigna sepiformis. Scincus sepiformis, Schn. Lac. sepiformis, Gmel. Gerrho. flavigula Wiegm., Wagler Icon. t. 34. f. 1. Pleu- rostichus typicus, Smith, I. c. Cape of Good Hope. Cicigna Desgardinii. Pleurostichus Desjardinii, Smith, I. c. 143. South Africa. East coast of the Cape of Good Hope. Cicigna chrysobroncha. Pleurostichus chrysobronchus, Smith, I. c. South Africa. Damp woody situations about Graham Town, Cape of Good Hope. Tachydromus. Toes 5 — 5. Body very long ; scales rhombic, la- teral line wide, femoral pores one pair on each thigh. Tachydromus typus. Brown with a broad greenish silvery stripe along each side of the back ; sides with a few small silvery spots ; upper lip and beneath silvery ; back with four series of large, and belly with six series of smaller keeled scales. Tail four times as long as the body. China. Caitia, Gray. Body very long, front feet very slender, elongate, rudimentary ; hinder feet short, compressed, thick, rudimentary, un- divided, with two large femoral pores on each thigh. Tail very long and slender. Caitia Africana. Olive brown, rather paler on the sides. Cape of Good Hope. B. Lizard-like ; ears exposed ; legs 4 ; femoral pores none. New World. Abronia, Gray. Head depressed, with an odd anterior central plate between the 4 or 6 polygonal frontal ones ; back and tail with smooth or very obscurely keeled scales ; toes 5 — 5 ; tail round, tapering, about as long as the body. * Scales of the back smooth ; head depressed. Ab. Deppii. G. Deppii, Wiegm. Herp. Mex. t. 9. f. 2. Above black, white spotted scales of the back very smooth, lateral plait obsolete ; toes with large rounded warts below. Mexico. ** Scales of the middle of the back obsoletely keeled, of the sides smooth ; head sub depressed. 390 Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians, Ab. taniatus, G. taeniatus, Wiegm. Herp. Mex. t. 6. f. 1. Bluish- white, black banded. Mexico. Gerrhonotus, Wiegm. Cordylus, De Blainv. Head pyramidical with an odd anterior central plate between the 4 or 6 polygonal frontal ones ; toes 5 — 5 ; tail round, tapering, about as long as the body ; back and tail with keeled unarmed scales forming continued ridges on the back. Gerrhonotus cceruleus, Wiegm. Herp. Mex. 31. Brazil. Gerrhonotus tessellatus, Wiegm. Herp. Mex. 31. 1. 10. f. 3. (head). Scincus ventralis, Green. Jun. Gerrho. liocephalus, Wiegm. Mexico. Gerrhonotus Burnetti, Gray, Beechey's Voyage, t. ined. Pale olive, sides with cross bands of white tipped dark brown scales, beneath white brown; back with 16, belly with 12 rows of scales; tail thick, as long as the body and head. South America. Brit. Mus. Barisia. Head pyramidical, without any odd anterior central plate between the two or three pairs of frontal ones. Toes 5 — 5 ; tail round, about as long as the body. Back and tail with round keeled unarmed scales. * Ventral plates 14-rowed. Barisia rudicollis, Gray. Gerrhonotus rudicollis, Wiegm. Herp. Mex.t. 10. f. Land 4. Mexico. ** Ventral plates \2-r owed. Barisia imbricata, Gray. Gerrhonotus imbr., Wiegm. Herp. Mex. t. 10. fig. 2. and 5. Mexico. Barisia lichenigerus. Gerrhonotus lichenigems, Wagler, Icon.Amph. t. 34. f. 2. Gerrho. adspersus, Wiegm. Herp. Mex. 1. 10. f. 6. (Head). Mexico. Elgaria. Head pyramidical with a large central anterior frontal plate placed between two pairs of very narrow long band-like ante- rior, and a pair of large 6 -sided posterior frontals. Occipital plates scale-like. Back and tail with slightly keeled armless scales. Toes 5 — 5, limbs weak ; tail much longer than the body, slender. Elgaria Kingii. Gerrhonotus Kingii, Bell. MSS. Pale brown, head brown spotted with two diverging streaks on each side of the occiput ; back and tail with brown cross bands, some of the scales Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians* 391 on the sides tipped with white ; scales of the back slightly keeled, of the sides smooth ; on the back 16, on the belly 12- rowed. Hab. ? Brit. Mus. Elgaria multicarinata. Gerrhonotus multicarinata, DeBlainv. Nov. Ann. Mus. 1838, t. 28. f. 2. appears to be a second species of this genus if it is not a specimen which has the tail reproduced. In the figure the occipital plates are represented much more distinct than in our specimen. C. Snake-like ; legs 2, rudimentary or none ; femoral pores none ; ears exposed. Pseudopus, Merrem. Legs 2, posterior, rudimentary, undivided. Old World. Pseudopus Pallasii, Cuv. R. A. ii. p. 69. Lacerta apoda, Pallas. Ophisaurus serpentinus, Eichw. Bipes Pallasii, Wagler. Pseud, ser- pentina, Merrem. Young ? Pseudopus Durvillii, Cuv. Guerin Icon. t. 17. f. 1. Apodal Lizards, Shaw Zool. t. Europe. Ophisaurus, Daud. Legs none ; tail long. New World. Ophisaurus ventralis. Anguis ventralis, Linn. North America. Ophisaurus lineatus. Yellowish brown with a set of three black and yellow streaks above the lateral line ; belly bluish; top of the head and sides of the neck brown, spotted. North America. Mus. Col. Surgeons. Fam IV. Cercosaurioe. The body subcylindrical, sides rounder with scales like the back ; back and upper part of the tail with rings of large keeled scales forming longitudinal series ; throat, belly, and tail beneath, with flat square shields. Cercosaura, Wagler. Scales of the back large, oblong, quadrate, compressed, keeled ; throat with a double series of imbricate shields ; collar rather distinct ; tail roundish, compressed. Toes 5 — 5 ; ears conspicuous ; upper eyelid small ; supraorbital plate thin ; femoral pores none. Cercosaura ocellata, Wagler Amph. Syst. 158. Hab. ? Cercosaura tichreibersii, Wiegman. Tachydromus Schreibersii, Fitz. Cat. Brazil. Fam. V. Chirocolid^e. Back and the tail above and below covered with long uniform 392 Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians. keeled scales, placed in rings alternating with each other. Belly and neck with flat shields ; collar double ; ears none ; femoral pores none. Heterodactylus, Spix. Chirocolus, Wagler. Toes 4 — 5, hinder long, very unequal. Heterodactylus imbricatus, Spix. Braz. t. 2?. f. 1. (not good). Brazil. Mus. Zoological Society. Fam. VI. ChamjESAurid^e. Body sub cylindrical, elongate, the whole, except the head, covered with rings of elongate keeled scales, forming longitudinal series ; limbs rudimentary, ears distinct. Chamjesaura, Fitz. Feet fin-shaped; nostrilsin the lower hinder edge of the nasal shield. Back with six series of broad, and belly and sides with many narrow long keeled scales. Chamcesaura anguina. Lacerta anguina, Linn. Lac. monodactylus, Lacep. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. ii. t. 59. f. 1. South Africa. Cape of Good Hope. Fam. VII. Helodermid.e. The back and sides with oblong convex shield-like scales, the belly with flat, thin, square plates ; the head depressed ; muzzle rounded ; teeth on the inner side of the jaws incurved, with an in- ternal lateral groove ; supraorbital plate thin ; femoral pores none ; tongue ? Legs 4, strong, Heloderma, Wiegm. Tr achy derma Wiegm. Isis, 1829. Heloderma horridum, Wiegm. Herp. Mex. 1. 1 . Trachyderma hor- ridum, Wagler Icon. t. 18. Mexico. Mus. Brit. D. (Thecaglossce) . Tongue elongate, slender, retractile, apex fili- form horny ; head with minute polygonal shields ; scales placed in rings, those of the sides like those of the back ; thighs poreless ; su- praorbital plates horny ; teeth adnate to the inner side of the jaws. Old World. Near water. Fam. VIII. MoNiTORiDiE. Psammosaurus, Fitz. Nostrils oval, oblique, near the orbits ; tail roundish ; scales not pierced ; toes rather long. Psam. Scincus. Lacerta Scincus. Uaranus Scincus, Merrem. Tu- pinambus griseus and T. Niloticus, Daud. Monitor terrestre, Cuv. Ouran de Forskal, Geoffr. Rept. Egypt, t. 3. f. 2. t. 4. f. 14, 15. Young. — Inner side of the neck with 4 brown stripes ; tail banded. North Africa. India. Monitor. Polydcedalus, Wagler. Uaranus, Fitz. Nostril ob- Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Saurians. 393 long, longitudinal in the middle between the apex of the muzzle and the front angle of the eye ; tail elongate, compressed, with a double edged keel above ; toes elongate, unequal, strong ; teeth rounded. * Scales small ; ventral shields small, twice as long as broad. Monitor Draccena. Lacerta Dracaena, Linn. Stellio Salveguardia, Laur. Tupinambis Bengalensis and T. Indicus, Baud. 30. and T. Cepedianus, Daud. t. 29. Uaranus guttatus, U. punctatus and U. Argus, Merrem. Monitor gemmatus, Guerin, Icon, t 3. f. 1. India. ** Scales moderate ; ventral shields square, as broad as long. a. Scales on the eyebrows equal. Monitor Niloticus. Polydsedalus, Nilot., Wagler. Lacerta capen- sis, Sparman ? Tup. ornatus, Daud. Junior, Tup. elegans and T. stellatus, Daud. Africa, North, South, and Western. Monitor capensis. Lac. capensis, Sparman. Jun. Monitor pulcher, Leach. South and Western Africa. b. With a larger row of scales in the small scales over the eyebrows. Monitor heraldicus, Gray, Griffith's Anim. Kingd. India. Brit. Mus. Monitor nebulosus, Gray, Griffith's Anim. Kingd. ix. 27. Dum. and Bib. iii. 433. Tup. neb. Cuv. MSS. India. Empagusia. Nostrils oblong, rather in the front of the muzzle. Tail (shorter than the body and head) tapering, roundish, with a double-edged keel above ; toes short, strong, subequal ; teeth rounded ; scales large. Empagusia flavescens. Monitor fiavescens, Gray, Griffith's Anim. Kingd. ix. 25. Uran. Russelii, Schlegel, MSS. Uran. Piquotii, Dum. and Bib. iii. 483. India. Empagusia ocellata. Monitor ocellatus, V. Hey den, Ruppell Atlas, t. Dongola. Emp. albogularis. Tupinambis albogularis, Daud. iii. 72. t. 32. Monitor Gillii, A. Smith, Zool. Journ. Brown, black-banded, with a black streak on each side of the nape. Nostrils subposterior. South Africa. Brit. Mus. Hydrosaurus, Wagler. Tupinambis, Fitz. Nostrils near the apex of the muzzle ; teeth compressed, sharp-edged, edge toothed ; tail elongate, with a double-edged keel above ; toes unequal, elongate. 394 Mr. Gray on the Slender-tongued Sauriam. * Scales over the orbits small. Hydrosaurus varius. Lac. varia, Shaw, Nat. Hist. iv. t. 83. Tup. variegatus, Daud. Hyd. variegatus, Wagler. Uaranus varius, Mer- rem. New Holland. Hydrosaurus marmoratus, Wiegmann, Acta Acad. Nat. Cur. xviii. t. 14. Monitor marmoratus, Cuv. Reg. Anim. Manilla. ** Scales over the orbits with a series of larger plates. Hydrosaurus chlorostigmus, Gray, Griffith Anim. Kingd. Dum. and Bib. India. Hydrosaurus Gouldii, with two yellow streaks on the sides of the neck ; scales over the orbits small, flat. New Holland. Hydrosaurus Bellii. Uaranus Bellii, Dum. and Bib. iii. 493. t. 35. f. 1. Hydrosaurus Timor ensis. Monitor Timorensis, Gray, Griffith Anim. Kingd. ix. 36. Tup. viridimaculatus, Daud. Timor. Mus. Paris. Hydrosaurus bivittatus, Wagler. Stellio salvator, Laur. Tup. bi- vittatus, Kuhl. Uaranus vittatus, Lesson. Monitor elegans, Gray, Zool. Journ. Seba, ii. t. 30. f. 2. cop. Shaw, Zool. t. 66. Monitor Lizard. Young — Tupinambis exilis, Reeve. India. Java. Odatria, Gray. Nostrils subanterior ; teeth compressed, acute ; tail round elongate, with rings of keeled subspinose scales, and with- out any keel along its upper surface. Odatria punctata. Head, tail, and limbs black (perhaps disco- loured), the limbs and base of the tail yellow dotted ; body brown, black spotted, beneath yellowish, with darker cross bands. Body and head 8, tail 16 inches long. The ventral shields are long and narrow and perforated behind ; the shields of the head are flat, rather unequal ; and those over the eyebrows small, rather granular and equal; those of the back are rather small ovate and surrounded with a series of small granules ; the toes are rather strong and mode- rate. Western Australia, Shark's Bay. [To be continued.] ^4nn Wat. ,>,?//"/// ptaametiffi .Swan So. Bibliographical Notices, 395 XLIV. — Illustrations of Indian Botany. By Drs. Wight and Arnott. [Continued from p. 306 of the 2nd volume of the Companion to the Botanical Magazine.] SoLANUM GIGANTEUM. Plate XIII. Caule fruticoso aculeato tomentoso, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis, supra nudis, subtus niveo-tomentosis, cymis nutantibus parvifloris, corollas laciniis lanceolatis acutis, baccis globosis nitidissimis. Solanum giganteum. Jacq. Coll. v. iv. n. 125. Wight etArn. Cat. n. 1571. Dunal. Sol. p. 202. Rcem. et Sch. v. iv. p. 633. — Solanum farinosum. Wall, in Roxb. Fl. Ind. v. ii. p. 255. List of PL in E. I. C. Mus. n. 2610.— Sola- num argenteum. Heyne, Herb, {fide Wall.) A tall-growing, erect shrub , from 12 — 15 feet high. Branches rounded, the older ones armed with short, conical, slightly compress- ed prickles ; the younger ones, the petioles, the under surface of the leaves, and the inflorescence clothed with a 'thick coating of mealy, white stellated, deciduous tomentum. Leaves approximate, oblong- lanceolate, 6 to 8 inches long, by about 2 or 2 J broad, finely acumi- nate, entire, acute at the base, smooth, dark-green above, except the younger ones, which are tomentose on both sides. Petioles rounded, from } 2 an inch to 2 inches long. Cymes lateral, dichotomous, droop- ing, many-flowered. Calyx small, 5 -cleft, the segments ovate, ob- tuse, scarcely half the length of the corolla. Corolla small, 'white, 5 -cleft; lacinise spreading, lanceolate. Stamens alternate with the lobes. Anthers projecting. Ovary superior. Style equalling the length of the corolla. Stigma obtuse. Berries round, about the size of a pea, shining as if varnished, containing numerous round flattened seeds. In alpine districts. Mountains of Dindegul, about 2000 feet above the sea. The specimen here figured was from mountains near Salem ; elevation unknown. Fig. 1, Calyx and pistil ; f. 2, corolla laid open, magnified ; f. 3, berries, nat. size. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Ichthyologiske Bidrag til den Gronlandske Fauna, of Prof. J. Rhein- hardt. Forste Hefte, med otteKobbere. Kjobenhavn, 1837, 4to. This valuable work commences with some observations on the Mam- malia of Greenland, which is followed by some notes on the Birds, 396 Bibliographical Notices. of which he gives figures of four interesting species, a new Sylvia nearly allied to S. mexicana, Fringilla leucophrys, Numenius hudsoni- cus, Lath., 1. N. borealis, Wilson, and Anas Barrowii of Richard- son. Then follows a list of the Greenland Fish, accompanied with numerous observations, and with the description of two new genera, which he thus characterizes : Lycodes. Corpus elongatum, antice incrassatum, rostro obtuse conico, trunco com- pressor cauda ensiformi. Squamce corporis rotundse, minutae, tenuissi- mae, cuti immersae. Os dentibus validis, intermaxillaribus, mandibu- laribus, vomerinis et palatinis armatum ; rictus mediocris. Membrana branchiostega sexradiata utrinque jugulo connata, apertura branchiali angusta postica. Pinnce ventrales obsoletae brevissimae latiusculae jugu- lares. Pinna dorsalis et pinna analis longissimae, apicem caudae cir- cumdantes ; radiis articulatis divisis. Vesica natatoria nulla. Inter Zoareceum et Anarrhicam genus medium. 1 . Lycodes Vahlii. Corpore fasciato, capite postice parum depresso ; pin- nis, dorsali et anali, squamis minutissimis adspersis, ilia radiis 117, hac ra- diis 93 ; ano ante medium gastrasum sito. (Tab. V.) Pustulated Blenny, Pennant, Artie. Zool. — Blennius polaris, Sabine. 2. Lycodes retmdatus, corpore reticulato ; capite postice compressiusculo; pinnis, dorsali analique, nudis, ilia radiis 95, hac radiis 75 ; ano fere in gastraeo medio sito. (Tab. VI.) 3. Lycodes seminudus, corpore concolore, ab apice oris usque ad angulum anteriorem pinnae analis nudo ; capite postice compressiusculo ; pinnis dor- sali analique nudis, ilia radiis 91, hac 71 ; ano pone medium gastraeum sito. Bythites. Corpus breve compression antice incrassatum, ore fere truncato, cauda ensiformi. Squamce corporis rotunda? minutae imbricatas. IAnea late- ralis tubulis exsertis cutaneis compacta, interrupta. Os dentibus acu- tis intermaxillaribus, mandibularibus, vomerinis et palatinis armatum ; rictus mediocris. Membrana brancliiostega utriusque aperturae invicem connata sub isthmolibere suspensa; radiis octoj apertura ampla infero- postica. Pinnce ventrales obsoletag uniradiatas filiformes longiusculae ju- gulares. Pinnce, dorsalis et analis, longae, apicem caudae circumdantes ; radiis articulatis divisis. Membrum conicum crassum pone anum hori- zontaliter porrectum, apice triphyllo papilligero. Vesica natatoria ca- nali pneumatico nullo. Bythites fuscus. (Tab. VII.) Ordnance Survey of Ireland. Colonel Colby, R.E. Superintendent. Volume the First, Memoir of the City and North-western Liberties of Londonderry, parish of Templemere. 4to. Dublin. Hodges and Smith. 1837. We have always considered that a survey of a country, conducted Bibliographical Notices. 397 by properly appointed men, whether its real purport was mere history and statistics, or the ascertaining of the valuation and capabilities of the district for culture and commerce, might also be made most highly important for a knowledge of its natural productions ; and from the clear manner in which the contents of the present volume (the first of a series) are made out, with the elaborate detail given to some of the departments, we ventured to expect something of a su- perior class, and that some portion of the work would come fittingly under our head of ' Bibliographical Notices.' The volume is divided into three parts or sections, the " Natural" " Artificial" and " Ge- neral" Notes. It is with the first we have to do, divided again into Natural Features and Natural History. Hills. Geology. Lakes. Botany. Rivers, &c. Zoology. With this part we are not satisfied. The parish of Templemere is not a very favourable one for displaying the qualifications of a naturalist or for exhibiting what might be done in the records of a local Fauna ; the plan pursued is excellent, but it is sadly deficient in detail. We have the " natural features," embracing geology and botany, concisely described, giving a view of the general surface and of the vegetation of the parish. Its botanical riches are not great, not more than fifty species being mentioned as worthy of notice, but some of these would be actively sought after by a botanist accus- tomed only to the more usual flora of England or Scotland. For zoology the parish is noted to be unfavourable, and undoubtedly it is for a rare or very interesting list ; but surely in mammalia Tem- plemere can boast of more than a bat and the otter. The latter is given as the Lutra vulgaris ; is it the species common to the Sister isle and the continent of Europe? Seventeen birds are only men- tioned, all of them common, if we except one, which, however, we are at some loss to identify, from the remarks which accompany it. No. 11," Sturnus ? vulgaris, or Tardus solitarius ;" if the true solitary thrush, as it is called (a Petro cincla), then it is worth recording ; if merely a young starling, scarcely so ; and Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, or Mr. R. Ball could have at once settled that question, if a reference to the " Ordnance Collections" was inconvenient. The fish are bet- ter treated of, though we have only twenty-two species recorded. There are some interesting observations on the genus Scy Ilium. The list of Mollusca enumerates only Mya arenaria, Turbo littoreus, and Mytilus edulis. In this first part, occupying in all only sixteen 398 Bibliographical Notices. pages, it is stated in conclusion, " that the details will be filled up and completed in the zoological department of the county ;" and on this account we should not perhaps have spoken so lightly of it, but we know that there are so many parts of Ireland unexplored that we do feel disappointed. A naturalist should be attached to the survey during all its working and travelling time ; the expense would be comparatively small, the information would be great, and without this we can scarcely expect to see the " natural state" brought up to the same standard with the other portions of this great and na- tional undertaking. At the conclusion of this volume there is appended " Notices," accompanied with plates ; these are very important. The Notices are stated to be " published for the more speedy information of men of science, in anticipation of the parochial memoirs, in proper con- nexion with which the subjects will be ultimately described," and the plates devoted to organic remains and to botany are beautifully executed. This plan is also excellent, and might perhaps be made to supersede entirely any temporary sketch of the natural state of each parish, such as we have just noticed, until the natural history of the whole county was prepared. They might also be so intro- duced as to form a separate work, detailing the most interesting dis- coveries among the natural productions of Ireland when the great survey was completed, and thus be more useful and easily accessible to the professed naturalist. Many of these notices have appeared elsewhere previously, and are chiefly relative to botany and the lower classes of zoology. The plates are three, devoted to fossil remains, the others to Calama- grostis lapponica, Qarex Buxbaumii, Polysiphonia atropurpurea, and P. affinis. The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. Conducted by Professor Jameson. No. for January 1838. Edinburgh, A. Black and Co. 8vo, January 1838. Zoology. I. Experiments on the development and growth of the fry of the Salmon, from the exclusion of the ovum to the age of seven months. By Mr. John Shaw, Dumlunry, Dumfriesshire. This is one of the most important papers on the subject which has been published since 1800; and although circumstances wherein any animal is to a certain extent artificially placed must be viewed with caution, the experiments now detailed are nearly as perfect as, under the circumstances, they could be. Mr. Shaw was previously known Bibliographical Notices, 399 to have performed some experiments to ascertain the range of the growth of the young salmon after its exclusion from the egg, and those now described were begun after these trials, and prior expe- rience, had brought the whole arrangement tolerably perfect. Mr. Shaw had made a series of small artificial ponds, having a run of pure water passing through them ; and the lead bottoms gravelled so as to resemble as near as possible the native spawn- ing beds, and the resort of the young fry after they were hatched. Two salmon were taken from their spawning-bed in the frith while just ready to deposit their spawn ; these were made immediately to shed their spawn together, in a pool formed for the purpose by the side of the river, and the impregnated ova were afterwards removed to Mr. Shaw's breeding pond. There it was hatched 101 days after impregnation ; and at the age of six months, or in the November following (the time when his paper was read), the young had attained the length of about three inches. From these results Mr. Shaw considers that the young or fry do not proceed to the sea in the same year they are hatched, as has been generally supposed, but that they remain in the fresh water over the first winter, and migrate about the May following, or when about twelve or thirteen months old. The fry or young salmon have hitherto been supposed to migrate to the sea the same spring in which they were hatched from the egg ; and if it shall be hereafter proved that they do not leave the rivers for thirteen or fourteen months, it is evident that an immense destruc- tion must take place during their continuance in the fresh water, a circumstance of great importance to the fisheries. Botany. I.. On the Tree which produces the Gamboge of Commerce. By R. Wright. (Extracted from the Madras Journal.) Together with explanatory notes by Dr. Grohm. The paper in the Madras Journal is written after reading Dr. Grohm's papers in the Companion to the Botanical Magazine, and evidently to a certain extent misunder- standing the latter author, from having not seen all the accounts which had been published in this country. Dr. Grohm corrects and explains his own observations, in the remarks which accompany the Madras extract ; but nothing new has been elicited since we for- merly noticed the subject. — II. On Alym which communicate a red colour to the waters of some salt marshes. By M. Dunal. In seve- ral of the Continental salt-works the crystals were often observed to be of a beautiful rose colour, or the water to have a ferruginous orange tint, at the edges of which was also observed a scum of the 400 Bibliographical Notices. same colour. This was thought to be caused by a small " Branchio- pode," Ariemia salina. The examinations of M. Dunal found how- ever that this little animal, though abounding, was perfectly co- lourless, or rather white than red ; and continued observation has shown him that the colouring matter proceeded from a minute Pro- tococcus, to which he has applied the name of salinus. The orange red again, or rosy colour, he found produced by another plant, to which the name of Haematococcus salinus has been applied ; but at the same time, he observes, that the Protococcus may turn out to be only the young state of the other. Among the " Scientific Intelli- gence" is recorded the discovery of Car ex leporina, Linn., Loch-Na- gar, by Mr. Dickie, of Aberdeen. Works in the Press. A History of the British Zoophytes. By George Johnston, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, &c. The object of the present work is to describe every species of this interesting class of animals ascertained to inhabit the British Islands. The first part of the volume is devoted to the history of zoophytology, and to details on the structure, physiology, and classification of zoophytes ; and the second contains the description of the species. We are perfectly convinced, that this volume will not only be an acceptable one te scientific naturalists, but to all those who, through various channels, have heard of the discoveries relating to this class of beings in the memoirs of Trembley, Baker, and Ellis. The work of Ellis on the British Corallines, published in the year 1755, has been long out of print, and is now extremely rare. But the present author, with a complete knowledge of everything that has been previously written on the subject, has given correct details regarding all the species hitherto discovered from personal observa- tion ; and his known talents leave it little doubtful that this work will in future be a standard one in all that regards the Natural Hi- story of British Zoophytes. Since the publication of Ellis's Essay on Corallines in 1755, no separate work has appeared in illustration of the history of British zoophytes. In the mean time, a much more accurate knowledge of the structure and habits of these remarkable productions has been attained, and many curious species have been discovered in our seas, the notices of which lie scattered through numerous volumes of a miscellaneous nature, often very difficult to procure, and not attain- able without considerable expense. To collect into one volume, of Zoological Society, 401 a convenient size and moderate price, these discoveries ; to systema- tise the whole ; and arrange the species after a more natural method, has been the object of the author of the present work. In the plates, figures, of the natural size and magnified, of nearly every species, are given, — the figures drawn from nature expressly for the volume ; and from the care bestowed upon them it is confidently believed that they will be found accurate and faithful representations of their ob- jects. This work will be published in a form so as to range with Yarrell's British Birds and Fishes, and will be accompanied with numerous wood cuts and engravings. PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. October 10, 1837, R. Owen, Esq., in the Chair.— Mr. Gould called the attention of the Meeting to a collection of Birds from Australia and the adjacent islands, belonging to the Raptorial Order, and upon which he proceeded to offer the following observations. " My attention during the last few days having been directed to the Raptorial Birds of Australia and the adjacent islands, and my own collection from those parts being particularly rich in the birds of this order, I am induced to lay before the Society a slight sketch of all the species found in that portion of the globe, and to exhibit to the Meeting a few which I conceive to be now for the first time made public. From our limited knowledge, however, of this vast continent, my observations will more particularly refer to the birds of the southern parts of Australia and Van Diemen's Land, these being the districts which up to the present time have been most ex- tensively explored. " Most of the forms now exhibited will be found to bear a striking resemblance to those inhabiting Europe; indeed, the similarity is so strikingly obvious as to leave no doubt of the influence of tem- perature on the form of animals. " A remarkable deficiency, and that a very important one, is the to- tal absence of any of the Vulturidte, or of any form by which this family might be represented. It is true that a bird has been described by Dr. Latham under the name of ' New Holland Vulture ;' but this bird is now almost universally admitted to belong to a totally different order, that of the Rasores. I have placed an example of this singular species on the table, an examination of which will en- able any member present (who has not before had an opportunity of Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 5. July 1838. 2 d 402 Zoological Society. inspecting it,) to judge of the impropriety of assigning it a place among the Raptores. The nearest approach to the Vulturidce, said to be from New Zealand, and brought from thence by Captain Cook, is the Polyborus Novce-Zelandice, the Falco Novce-Zelandia of Dr. La- tham : now as I conceive that the specimen brought home by Cap- tain Cook will prove to be identical with those so frequently trans- mitted from the Straits of Magellan, as I am not aware of any other specimen except Captain Cook's having been received direct from New Zealand, and, moreover, that the form is strictly confined to America and its adjacent islands, some mistake may have arisen in labelling the specimen brought home by our celebrated navigator, a circumstance which, if my opinion be correct, has involved the history of the species in considerable confusion. " Of the genus Aqu.Ua only one species has as yet been discovered, viz., the Aquila fucosa of Cuvier, which doubtless represents in Au- stralia the Golden Eagle of Europe, from which it may be readily distinguished by its more slender contour, and by its lengthened and wedge-shaped tail. "Of the genus Haliaetus or Sea Eagles, there are four species, the . largest of which, clearly the analogue of the European H. albicilla, is one of the species which I consider to be new, and which from the wedge-shaped form of its tail I would characterise as H. sphenurus. I cannot but consider the form of the tail in this species as particu- larly interesting, inasmuch as it is a character peculiar to all the species of Eagle inhabiting Australia, although in a less degree to the others than to the present species. The second is a small species, described by Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield in the Linnsean Transac- tions as Hal. canorus, the European representatives of which are not so clear to me as those just alluded to. The third is the Ha- liaetus Calei of Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield, of which a single spe- cimen exists in the collection of the Linnaean Society, and which I should be rather inclined to assign to the genus Astur than to that of Haliaetus. In size this species equals the Common Buzzard, but has the rounded wing and several other characters peculiar to the genus Astur. The fourth is the White-breasted Eagle of Dr. Latham, a species inhabiting the continent of Australia and Van Diemen's Land. At a cursory glance this powerful bird might be said to represent the Haliaetus leucocephalus of northern Europe and America ; and al- though I cannot but admit their resemblance, I discern characters sufficiently distinct to warrant its separation into a new genus. I am not, however, prepared to make this division at the present mo- ment ; still I am of opinion this bird will prove to be one of a group Zoological Society. 403 ranging between Haliabtus and Pandion, of which latter genus the Osprey of Europe may be regarded as the type, and of which a single species inhabits Australia. This bird appears to accord most accu- rately with European specimens excepting in its smaller size ; and if this should ultimately prove to be identical with our bird, it may then be said to be universally distributed over the Old World. The Osprey of America, on the contrary, presents us with some slight differences, which being constant, may I think be safely regarded as specific. " Of the genus Falco, the Peregrinusis replaced by a species most nearly allied to, and hitherto considered identical with that bird : the experienced eye of the ornithologist will, however, readily distinguish an Australian specimen when placed among others from various parts of the globe, so that there will be but little impropriety in assigning to it a separate specific name. As, however, my engagements have not allowed me to make that minute examination which is necessary to determine the point, I defer for the present affixing a new specific name for this species. The Hobby, so familiar as a European bird, is represented by the Falcon, for which I now propose the specific name of rufiventer, as I believe it to be undescribed. The third species, which I have provisionally followed Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield in placing among the true Falcons, is the Falco Berigora, whose lengthened and slightly-formed tarsi indicate a difference in structure, which may ultimately prove to be generic. The Cerchnis cenchro'ides (Falco cenchro'ides of Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield,) ex- hibits a beautiful analogy with the Common Kestril of our island, but although nearly allied possesses several important and permanent differences. " The great variety of changes to which the members of the genus Astur are subjected, has led to vast confusion, and it is only by a minute examination of the numerous examples in my collection in various stages of plumage, that I have been able to determine the species with satisfaction to myself ; and if I have found it necessary to consider as identical two or three species of this genus charac- terised by Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield, I feel confident that it was owing to the absence of sufficient materials at the time the Linnsean collection was so ably named by those gentlemen, that they were described as distinct. " My attention has of course been directed to the great difference in size which exists between the males and females, and the various changes from youth to maturity which occur in the members of the genera Astur and Accipiter ; and I must now call the attention of 2d 2 404 Zoological Society. the members present to the beautiful analogy which exists between the Accipiter torquatus and the Astur approximans of Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield, of which several examples are on the table ; I say analogy, because it is in colour alone that so great a similarity exists between them. These gentlemen having applied the names of ap- proximans and fasciatus to two birds which I believe to be synony- mous with the Falco radiatus of Dr. Latham, whose description was taken from a young bird, I retain the name of Astur approximans in preference to radiatus, from the near approach of these two birds to Accipiter twquatus. It will, perhaps, not be out of place to say a few words on the difference in structure of these birds, which in outward appearance offer so close a resemblance to each other. The females in both these minor groups far exceed the males in size, and both groups appear with a trifling deviation to be subject to the same changes of plumage ; while in their structure they exhibit con- siderable differences, the chief of which are the more delicate, slender, and lengthened form of the legs of Accipiter, the great pro- longation of the middle toe, and the square or forked form of the tail. On comparison it will be found that the centre toe of the little male Accipiter on the table is fully as long as that of the male Astur approximans, a bird nearly double its size ; that the tarsi in the latter bird are comparatively shorter and more robust ; and that the middle tail-feathers are the longest, giving a rounded form to that organ. " It may be truly said that Australia abounds in anomalies, witness its Black Swan and White Hawk, which latter bird has not a little puzzled me, and I am not yet satisfied as to whether it be not a per- manent albino variety of another species, examples of which are now on the table with a corresponding number of birds in the white plu- mage. Much difference will be found in their size, but this may be readily accounted for by the difference of size in the two sexes. "The males and females of the white birds agree so accurately in their measurements with those in the grey plumage, as to induce me to believe that they are identical ; and after a close examination I am also led to consider the Astur Raii of the Linnsean Catalogue as the young of the same species. " Of the genus Milvus my collection contains two species, and two more beautiful representatives of the two species inhabiting Europe cannot be imagined ; for one of these, whose affinities ally it closely to the Common Kite of England, I would propose the name of Mil- vus Nova-Hollandice ; and for the other, which is equally allied to the Milvus ater, that of M. aterrimus. " The bird which has hitherto been considered as identical with the Zoological Society. 405 Elanus melanopterus of Africa, is evidently distinct from that species; an unerring difference may be found in the jet black spot on the white part of the under surface of the wing ; for this hitherto unde- scribed species I would propose the name of notatus. "One species of Harrier only, but a very interesting one, inasmuch as it represents there the Circus rufits of Europe, has come into my possession. I believe the female of this species to be the Circus affi- nis of Messrs. Jardine and Selby ; but as the male has not yet been characterised, and moreover differs very much from the female, to which alone the name of affinis would apply, I propose to drop that appellation and to give that of Jardinei instead. " On examining the family of Strigidce or Owls, we cannot but ob- serve the deficiency which exists in some of the subgenera, and the abundance of others ; thus while we have never seen an}' birds be- longing to the genera Bubo, Otus, Scops, &c, we have numerous species of the restricted genera Strix and Noctua : the name of Noc- tua, however, having been applied by Linnaeus to one of the tribes in Entomology, ought not perhaps to be adopted ; that of Athene, pro- posed by M. Boje, and employed by some German naturalists, may be used in its stead. " Four species of this genus are now on the table, the two largest of which are new to science. For the largest I would propose the name of Athene strenua, and for the other that of A.fortis. The third has been characterised by Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield as the Noc- tua Boobook, and the Noctua maculata of these gentlemen seems to be identical with it. For the fourth and last species of the genus, which is from Van Diemen's Land, and which is evidently distinct from either, I propose the name oileucopsis, from the white colouring of its face. The species of the genus Strix which I have called de- licatus, together with my Strix cy clops and Strix castanops and the Strix personata of Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield, may be said to be closely allied, but distinct species. " In conclusion, it maybe remarked that the birds belonging to the Raptorial Order inhabiting Australia and the adjacent islands are extremely few in number, when compared with those found in other countries ; at the same time, as our knowledge of this part of the world is very limited, the number will in all probability be consider- ably increased as these countries become more fully known to us. " At present the species are twenty-six in number, and are distri- buted as follows. 1 True Eagle .... Aquila. 4 Sea Eagles .... Haliaetus. 406 Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 1 Osprey Pandion. 4 Falcons Falco. 3 Hawks Astur and Accipiter. 3 Kites 2 Milvus and 1 Elanus. 1 New form allied to Pernis. 1 Harrier Circus. 8 Owls Strix and Noctua or Athene." BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. February 8th, 1838. — Professor Graham, President, in the Chair. A letter from Dr. Tyacke was read, containing an account of a botanical excursion in the spring of 1837 to the Channel Islands and the coast of France, with remarks on several of the species collected. Observations by Dr. Graham on Plants collected in Scotland in 1 837 by Dr. M'Nab were read. He noticed particularly the following : Arenaria norvegica, first seen on Serpentine Hills to the northward of Balta Sound, Shetland, by a son of Dr. Edmonstone, and after- wards found by Dr. M'Nab in the same place. Specimens collected by Dr. Pollexfen in 1835, were shown to the Society. Cerastium latrfolium, var. With dense caespitose habit, orbicular leaves, profusely glandular pubescence, and straight cylindrical cap- sule, scarcely longer than the calyx. Hab. Shetland. Lychnis dioica, var. With pale rose-coloured flowers, and stem rarely three inches high. Seen by Mr. James M'Nab some years ago, and found to retain its peculiar habit in cultivation. Hab. Near Newton Stewart, Galloway. Agrostis canina, var. is perhaps Trichodium alpinum or rupestre. Dr. Graham thinks the absence of the inner valve of the perianth, though not a generic, is a good specific character. Plant first no- ticed by Dr. Graham in Sutherlandshire some years ago, and after- wards by Mr. Wm. M'Nab in a viviparous state in the same county. Hab. On the top of Goatfel, Arran. Fedia mixta, Vahl. Specimens were gathered along with this, showing the transition from F. dentata. Hab. Near Whithorn. Mr. R. Falconer read a paper containing an account of the most celebrated gardens of antiquity, with observations on the hortulan taste which they exhibit. After some introductory remarks upon the probable origin of gardens, he proceeded to give a detailed account of the gardens of Alcinous mentioned by Homer ; the Hanging Gar- dens of Babylon ; the parks or gardens of the Persians mentioned by Xenophon ; the gardens of Daphne in Syria, and the gardens of the Hesperides. He then gave an account of the gardens celebrated by the ancient Greeks and Romans ; among the latter those of Lucullus Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 40? at Baise, of Pliny at Tusculum, and Laurentum. Mr. Falconer con- siders, that although a taste for gardening evidently prevailed to some extent among the ancients, yet that it never attained to any perfec- tion except among modern nations. Flowers he also believes never constituted a peculiar feature of ancient gardens, and that they were not esteemed as objects of taste by the ancients, who appear to have cultivated them only as decorations to be employed on occasions of public and private rejoicing. Mr. James Macaulay then read a paper, the object of which was to prove, that flowers were esteemed by the ancients as objects of taste, and cultivated as a source of amusement. He argued that the very fact of flowers being deemed worthy of being offered to the gods proved a previous taste and value for them ; and gave examples of gardens among the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Oriental nations, where amcenitas, and not utilitas alone, must have been the object in the cultivation of flowers. He next alluded to the gardens mentioned in the Latin classics, and contended that the garden of Lucullus, so often referred to, ought not to be regarded as a specimen either of the art or the taste of his time, as it was censured by his own con - temporaries Cicero and Varro, the latter expressly stating " Hortos Luculli non ftoribus fructihusque sed tabulis fuisse insignes." He also showed, on the authority of Horace, Martial, and Pliny, that the citi- zens of Rome used to cultivate plants in the balconies of their houses, and to rear flowers in boxes and in flower- pots, which were called V Horti imaginarii ;" and that it is not likely the rich would do this merely to procure materials for their votive offerings, or to supply the ornaments for their entertainments ; but that a taste for their cultivation as objects of amusement must a]so have prevailed. Dr. Graham read the continuation of his observations on the plants collected in Scotland in 1837, by Dr.M'Nab. Erythreea lit I or alii. Dr. Graham thinks it doubtful whether there is more than one British species of Erythr&a ; and if the present is to be considered distinct, that its only character would seem to rest on the narrow linear segments of the 5 -partite calyx, equal to the tube of the corolla. — Hab. Brodick, Arran. Lathyrus maritimus is apparently the plant of the North of Europe, of Canada, and of the United States as far south as Boston ; and may be easily distinguished from L. pisiformis of Ledebour, or the figure of Gmelin quoted by him and in Hooker's British Flora, by the winged stem and the shape of the stipules. The variety which Dr. Graham considers to be the type of the species is distinguished by its compact robust growth, and by the common petioles being much arched backwards ; whereas the present plant is of a slender 408 Royal Asiatic Society. somewhat straggling habit, not from growing in wooded ground, but probably from being the inhabitant of the less genial climate to which the species is extended. It appears not to differ from Lathy rus venosus of American botanists. Hab. Sands on the shore at Barra Firth, Unst, Shetland, where Dr. Edmonstone had observed it for several years. Ervum tetraspermum and Allium arenarium. — Hab. Near Kirkcud- bright. Cladium Mariscus. — Hab. Ravenston Loch, Whithorn. Lamium intermedium. — Hab. Shetland. Mr. Campbell read a communication from Col. P. J. Brown of Eichenbiihl nearThun, containing a sketch of the botany of the neigh- bourhood of the lake of Thun, Switzerland, chiefly in reference to the geographical distribution and altitude of the species enumerated. The lake of Thun having an elevation of about 1900 feet above the sea, and the surrounding country being much intersected by hills or long ridges, the vegetation assumes a subalpine character on the pas- tures about 1800 feet above the lake, comprising Trollius europceus, Hieracium aureum, Tussilago alpina, &c. The following is given as an approximation to the species usually met with at different altitudes on the surrounding mountains. Between 2000 and 3000 feet, Arena- ria verna and ciliata, Dry as octopetala, Cotoneaster vulgaris, Hieracium villosum, &c. Between 3000 and 4000 feet, Silene acaulis, Cerastium alpinum,Phaca astragalina, Oarytropis uralensis,Saxifraga oppositifolia, Hieracium aurantiacum, Arbutus alpina, Ajuga alpina, Orchis pollens, Carcx atrata, &c. Above 4000 feet, Gnaphalium alpinum and Leon- topodium, Petrocallis pyrenaica, Draba tomentosa and stellata, Andro- sace bryoides, &c. Col. Brown concludes his paper by stating that he hopes to be able to communicate fuller information as to the pre- cise elevations of the different localities mentioned on some future occasion. ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. April 21. — Professor Wilson in the Chair. Dr. Royle read a communication from Colonel Sykes, respecting the vegetable and other productions of the Deccan, having reference to a similar communication at the beginning of the year, showing their immense extent in the eastern continent and adjacent penin- sula, which yet remained to be made subservient to the arts and ma- nufactures of this country. The paper was accompanied by a great variety of specimens and an extensive herbarium. These he divided into the gummy, the astringent, the fibrous, the oil-producing, and the saponaceous and dyeing, being classified according to their uses in the arts. The caoutchouc, belonging to the first class, was be- LinncBan Society. 409 coming daily of greater importance ; its production was almost illi- mitable, and there had been a preparing manufactory lately esta- blished at Calcutta. The plants yielding astringent productions were also very numerous, and some importance must be attached to this class, as the supply of European barks must, at no distant day, di- minish to such a degree as to call the attention of those interested to the subject. The oil-producing plants were very numerous, and India had been looked to as a country from which we may justly calculate upon for supplies. The sapoline principle was developed in many of the specimens, similar to that of the soap-plant of the West Indies ; it was now beginning to be usefully applied in washing silk. Several flaxes and silks were also on the table ; but before a proper account can be given as to their merits, they will require to be prepared. Dr. Cauter read a paper on a zoological collection, consisting prin- cipally of molluscse and zoophytes, which he exhibited, and were col- lected by him on the coasts of Sunberdunds. The phosphorescent changes of colour in the ocean caused by these animals he described as rivalling in beauty those of the cameleon. L1NN.EAN SOCIETY. May 24. — This day, the anniversary of the birth-day of Linnaeus, and that appointed in the charter for the election of Council and Officers, the Right Rev. the Bishop of Norwich, President of the Society, opened the business of the meeting, and in stating the number of Fellows whom the Society had lost during the past year, gave the following notices of some of them. James Agar, Esq., died at the advanced age of 81. He was the last surviving member of a society established in London for the cul- tivation of natural history, which preceded the foundation of the Linnsean Society, and which reckoned among its members John Hunter, Hudson, and Curtis. Mr. Agar became a Fellow of this Society in 1826, and in his capacity of trustee transferred to it the books and other property which had belonged to the Natural History Society. William Bentham, Esq. Thomas Castle, M.D. — This gentleman was the author of some elementary works on Botany and Anatomy. The Rev. John Horatio Dickenson. Sir William Elford, Bart., F.R.S.— Sir William Elford was an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy, and was up to a late pe- riod of life, which was prolonged beyond 80, in the habit of add- ing to the exhibitions at Somerset House some of his own paintings, which were regarded by competent judges as evincing great merit. 410 Ltnnaan Society. The branch of natural history to which he was more particularly devoted was ornithology. John Hey, Esq. — An eminent surgeon at Leeds. George Mibbert, Esq., F.R.S. — Mr. Hibbert was a distinguished patron of botany, and long possessed a botanic garden richly stored with the choicest plants at Clapham, and for the purpose of enriching his collection he sent to the Cape of Good Hope Mr. Niven, an in- defatigable botanical collector, by whose means he introduced from that quarter into our gardens a great number of plants until then unknown. Mr. Hibbert's name is commemorated in a genus of the Dillcniacece, and the name of Mr, Niven has been commemorated in a genus of Proteacece by Mr. Brown in the 10th volume of the So- ciety's Transactions. The herbarium formed at the Cape by Mr. Niven was presented by Mr. Hibbert to this Society. Sir Richard Colt Hoare, Bart., F.R.S. — The news of the death of this excellent man at the age of 80 reached town a few days ago. He was more particularly distinguished as an antiquarian and for his taste and patronage of the fine arts. The history of his native county, Wiltshire, rich in ancient British remains, occupied a large share of his attention during his long life, and the splendid works which he has published on that subject evince great learning, com- bined with deep research and patient industry. Sir Richard pos- sessed a very extensive library, particularly rich in antiquarian lore, at his splendid seat at Stourhead, where the man of science and learning was sure to meet with a hospitable welcome. Botany also occupied a portion of his attention. His garden was long famed for the extensive collection of the Geraniacea which it contained, the culture of which he himself superintended, and his name is comme- morated in a genus o