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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. )
CONDUCTED BY
Sir W. JARDINE, Barr.—P. J. SELBY, Esa., Dr. JOHNSTON, Sir W. J. HOOKER, Reaius Proressor or Borany,
AND
RICHARD TAYLOR, F.L:S.
LIBPARY NEW YORK BOTANICAD d Meh EV. GARDEN
—— —— —eeear~eornreer,reeese ee Oe
A> PPP PPP PPP PAL LPP LAA
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,
1840.
‘‘Omnes res create sunt divine sapientie et potentie testes, divitiz felicitatis humane: exharum usu bonitas Creatoris; ex pulchritudine sapientia Domini; ex ceconomia in conservatione, proportione, renovatione, potentia majestatis ‘elucet. Farum itaque indagatio ab hominibus sibi relictis semper estimata; a vere eruditis
et sapientibus semper exculta; male doctis et barbaris semper inimica fuit.””— LINN.
CONTENTS OF VOL. IV.
NUMBER XXI.
Page. I. Descriptions of some Cheiroptera discovered in Cuba by W. S.
MacLeay, Esq. By Joun Epwarp Gray, F.R.S. &c. With some account
of their Habits, extracted from Mr. MacLeay’s Notes. (With a Plate.) 1 II. Account of a Journey across the Pampas of Buenos Ayres to
eeemie | Fey DAWES TWEEDIE Ji. ..: ce ccne cess Sensevdedssscseveed odace suas 8 III. Observations on Trilobites, founded on a comparison of their
Structure with that of Crustacea. By W. S. MacLuay, M.A. ......... 16 IV. Florz Insularum Nove Zelandize Precursor; or a Specimen of
the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By ALtan Cunnineuam, Esq. 22 V. On the Habits of Macroscelides Rozeti. By Dr. MoritzWacner 26 VI. Amaryllidearum Species Nove. By the Hon. and Rev. W.
ies lade data beaded passdvnnaanhes ade enh diem ddd nananensseecndwanens 28 VII. Descriptions of British Chalcidites. By Francis Watker, Esq. 29
_ VIII. Instructions relative to Botany, Vegetable Physiology, and
Zoology for the Scientific Expedition to the Antarctic Regions, prepared
by the President and Council of the Royal Society .........s.sessseseeeees 33
New Books :—Supplement to the History of British Fishes, by W. Yarrell; Epicrisis Systematis Mycologici seu Synopsis H ymeno- mycetum, E. Fries; Linnea, ein Journal fiir die Botanik, &c.; Plantes Cryptogames de France, par J. Desmaziéres; Deustch- lands Kryptogamische Gift-Gewachse, von Dr. Phoebus; Fauna Coleopterorum Helvetica, by O. Heer; Dr. Pye Smith’s Congre- wauonnl Lectures on Geology .......3i..-sncecasis ccna s<ssastheovs 42—46
Meeting of the British Association ; Proceedings of the Zoological So- elety ;: Linncean Society. . ..-..iscicseneeece sce desesescenecsessecdsveve 46—69
On the place of Scarabeus longimanus in the system, by Prof. Klug ; Identity of the Shannon with the Lough Neagh Coregonus; Pre- ventive against madness in Elephants, by Carl von Hiigel; Are the Closterig Animals or Plants? Meteorological Observations and Eales Sees 282023 eat an cies catomeds am eeaaeaie aes Oneadanceeeeasnateet. 69—72
NUMBER XXII. IX. On the Discoid Piths of Plants. By Cu. Morren, Professor of
Botany in the University of Liége. (With a Plate.) ..............ceseeee 73 X. Zoological Notices. By Dr. A. Puimippi :— I. On two new species of Euplocamus ...scecccesereeeecererevens 88
II. On the Animal of Pileopsis Garnoti, Payr. ........sss0008 90
1V CONTENTS.
a
ILI. On the Animal of Galeommd — ceccceccceceeseees cvnvsanteuen 92 IV. On the Oculina ramea of Ehrenberg ........ bassachcvpavsuile 93 V. On the Chelura terebrans, a new Amphipod Genus ...... 94 XI. Account of a Journey across the Pampas of Buenos Ayres to Tucuman. By James TWeepie, Esq. ....cceeesseeeereeeeeees od vias ieeines 96 XII. Route from Lima by the Quebrada of San Mateo. By J. Mac LBAN, Eisq., Of Lima ...00.0055 cdr sencdesecveses vebbsavoucdedediey ead eneanne 105
XIIT. Flora Insularum Nove Zelandizw Precursor; or a Specimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zeaiand. By Atian Cunnine- EAM, FUGG. 160.00 susncaccercscscccogcassentecncacsewasessousapsnassnehsssvh seas soseee L0G
New Books :—Principles of General and Comparative Physiology, by William B. Carpenter ; Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society, vol. viii. Part I.; Scandinaviens Fiskar malade of W. v. Wright, med text of B. Fries och C. U. Eckstrém; Verzeichniss der Conchylien in der Sammlung von E. Anton.......+.++eeee 111—117
Proceedings of the Zoological Society ; British Association for the Ad- vancement of Science; Botanical Society of London; Wernerian Natural History Society ....0....e00. seosererenes secaecnpieeteee 118—139
Notice of an uncommonly tame Pine Marten, by St. von Siemuszova- Pietruski; Clangula Barrovii, anative of Iceland; On the Moult- ing Process of the Cray Fish; Meteorological Observations and GMB opus dag eo up es ress svansnt cb ossmcncanaterddecve-oh >Sent ter Seacesat 139—144
NUMBER XXIII.
XIV. Description of Animal Life in Nova Zembla. By K. E. von BAER OCD. aaidsacey peslaeee cere tates XV. On the Fructification of Lycoperdon, Phallus, and their allied Genera. By the Rev. M. J. Berxezey, M.A., F.L.S. (With a Plate.) 155 XVI. Hore Zoologice. No. I. On the History and Habits of Cro- ; tophaga:' By Sir W. Janpine; Wark: \\..s2c00n0sc+sc0s0s+a2 2a se sees steeaeeeee 160 XVII. Account of a Journey across the Pampas of Buenos Ayres to Tucuman.. By James Tweevit, Esq, ...00sccvstse2ocdeersasereeenedeee 171 XVIII. Onthe Laurus Cassia of Linneus, and the Plants producing the Cassia Bark of Commerce. By Rogert Wieut, M.D. ............ 179 XIX. On the Discovery of Fossil Teeth of a Leopard, Bear, and other Animals in a Crag Pit at Newbourn in Suffolk. By Cuarzes Piers, Veq.; F125:, VE NGS: Awe... «cnewsceeceaeanes wevantneeoee spec aahenere 186 XX. On the occurrence of Fossil Quadrumanous, Marsupial, and other Mammalia in the London Clay, near Woodbridge in Suffolk. By Cuartes Lyeti, Esq., F.R.S., V-P.G.S., &C. ....0.sceseenemsstsonsssnsene 189 XXI. Description of the Mammalian Remains found at Kyson in Suffolk, mentioned in the preceding Notice. By Ricuarp Owen, Esq., |G | 2 peassioonsee PUPS AEH She oF ce Sdeicbinne ss -Seuusabonus ss nesnuauinses 191 XXXII. Information respecting Botanical Travellers:—Mr. Schom- burgk’s Narrative of his recent Expedition in Guiana.........s.seseeeeees 194
CONTENTS. v
New Books :—Pracht-Flora Europaeischer Schimmelbildungen, by A. C. J. Corda; History of British Sponges and Corallines, by Dr. Johnston; Corpus Florarum Provincialium Suecize.—I. Floram Scanicam scripsit E. Fries ......scesssceecseeeseuscsncsaceeesceceees 200, 201
Proceedings of the Zoological Society; Botanical Society of Lon-
GON a cceincces cwccvvoceecaccve' oevccenbessccessrescodss sssccescsssoscees 202—213 Birds collected in Asia Minor by Mr. Fellows ; on the genera Zgilops
and Triticum, and their modifications; on the Animal Nature of
the Oscillatoria ; new species of Frog found in Amber; Meteoro- logical Observations and Table .........sseseeeeeeeesesevecceees 213—216
NUMBER XXIV. XXIII. On a Shell-bank in the Irish Sea, considered Zoologically and Geologically. By Epwarp Fores, Esq. .........sssescscseseecssceees 217 XXIV. Miscellanea Zoologica. By Georce Jounston, M.D., Fel-
low of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. (With Plate VI.) 224 XXV. Descriptions of British Chalcidites. By Francis WALKER,
EMSS extol voctbadane Mire at dot Se iiida seldeeisscs. 26k Pees chee Oeman ue somites AP ome 232 XXVI. Hints on the Anatomico-Physiological Differences in the
Organization of Stems. By Dr. M. J. ScHLEIDEN ......ecc..seseeeeevens 236 XXVII. On the Mycology of the neighbourhood of Bristol. By
Die PERT OUES SEEDHEWS) Ce cys cpa dinnsader do opel thivwnenet oaetns one 246 XXVIII. On the Arctium Lappa and Bardana of Sir J. E. Smith.
By Cuartes C. Basineton, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., 8c. .....sececeereeees 253
XXIX. Flore Insularum Nove Zelandize Precursor; or a Speci- men of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By Atian Con- NINGHAM, Esq.
XXX. Information respecting Botanical Travellers :—Mr. Schom- burgk’s Narrative of his recent Expedition in Guiana New Books :—Nouveau Recueil de Planches Coloriées d’Oiseaux, pour
servir de suite et de Complément aux Planches Enluminées de Buffon, par C. J. Temminck et Meiffren Laugier Baron de Chartrouse; Flora Lipsiensis Excursoria, Auctore G. L. Peter- WAN sh So cca cecadss davevcccdsctesccceccensaccceeeveveccescsecscascedss 266—268 Proceedings of the Botanical Society of London ; Zoological Society ; Linnaean Society .......s.sccecccccccsccccccccesccsccsncscessenaes 270—282 Dr. Westendorp and Mr. W. H. White; Mr. Gulliver on Blood Cor- puscles in the Mammalia; Notes on Irish Birds, by W. Thomp- son, Esq.; Ehrenberg on the remarkable diffusion of Coralline Animalcules from the use of Chalk for ordinary purposes; Note on Peloria, by Mr. A. White; Meteorological Observations and PRN oe ooce face lacicace ctdniuensestectends se dyddeetenmaatemenannaaas 283—288
NUMBER XXV.
XXXI. On Allium Porrum and A. Ampeloprasum. By Cuar.es C. Bazineton, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., &c. cescscecscecees Lf As Ae ae. 289
vl CONTENTS.
XXXII. Notice of some Fungi collected by C. Darwin, Esq. during the Expedition of H. M. Ship Beagle. By the Rev. M. J. Berxecey,
BT Dh, Meee ee AERO UGS ) rs psi suc g dips cad geaswacone vt sQuuw sus oeqeilkp eee 291 XXXIII. Zoological Notices. By Dr. A. PHILIPPI .........s0ceceeee 294 XXXIV. Notes on Dr. Philippi’s Zoological Notices in the prece-
Ae ACI. TR A, Ws MARA, POGG: Vpcayedvcesnveeesachspnssopearhaereee reve 305
XXXYV. Notices of Botanical Excursions in the neighbourhood of Trieste. By Epwarp Forses, M.W.S., For. Sec. B.S., &c. ...-s0000.. 307
XXXVI. On the Habits of the dpteryx Australis, a Bird of New Zealand, closely allied to the Struthionide, and named by the native
Inhabitants Kiwi. By the late ALLAN Cunnineuam, Esq. ......... . . 312 XXXVII. Characters of Four New Cape Orchidaceae. By Professor ESE So pc th uae bee seachnactehs res ake Ss osiecnensecsal san easbenesgaseeaanneeey nna 314 XXXVIII. On the Occurrence of Squalus spinosus, Linn., on the Coast of Yorkshire. By ArtTHurR STRICKLAND, Esq. .....ccscccceccseoees 315 XXXIX. Hore Zoologice. By Sir Witt1am Jarpine, Batt. ...... 318 XL. Information respecting Botanical ‘Travellers:—Mr. Schom- burgk’s Narrative of his recent Expedition in Guiana ........ssssesesseees 322
New Books :—Histoire Naturelle des Poissons d’eau douce de 1’ Europe Centrale, par Ls. Agassiz; Natural History and Illustrations of the British Salmonide, by Sir W. Jardine, Bart.; On the Growth of the Salmon in Freshwater, by W. Yarrell, F.L.S., V.P.Z.S. ; Narrative of an Expedition into Southern Africa during the years 1836 and 1837, by Capt. W. C. Harris ; Deutschlands Lebermoose in getrockneten Exemplaren, Herausgegeben von Dr. J. W. P. Hiibener und C. F. Genth; A. Bertolonii Flora Italica, sistens Plantas in Italia et in Insulis circumstantibus sponte nascentes ; Verzeichniss der in Jahre 1832 im ostlichen Theile der Altai-ge- birges gesammelten Pflanzen. Ein Supplement zur Flora Altaica, von Al. v. Bunge; Fungorum et Byssorum Illustrationes, &c., by F. Fulg. Chevallier; Linn; British Coleoptera delineated, by W. Spry, M.E.S., edited by W. Shuckard, Lib. R.S........... 329—339
Proceedings of the Linnean Society; Zoological Society ; Royal So- ciety of Edinburgh ; Botanical Society of Edinburgh ; Royal Phy- sical society of Edinburgh « «. 32 4..02<2satpsesessssu. epee eeen eer 339—355
On different Tissues, the work of Insects; Structure of the Ovule in the Ericee; Colour of Salt Marshes; Falco Eleonore ; Deserip- tion of a new species of Meliphaga, by M. Dumas; Flannel formed of Infusoria and Conferve ; Meteorological Observations and DLC aise vis'sa since nivwss nine dtu desseaeaeemcnnicee ooaaes poae pense aeeenrae 356—360
NUMBER XXVI.
XLI. On the Structure of the Sete of Funaria hygrometrica. By Rowan s.Anncestern, M.D. Qu. 0.20. dsece cen. oot peeee naan ies eoumes eee eeres 361
XLII. On the Tentacular Classification of Toegiisfies By Joun EHoag, Hsq., M.A., F.R.S., F085 tes 214, eneeeceness sect peubaeeweeseeee 364
CONTENTS.
XLIII. Miscellanea Zoologica. By Greorce Jounsrox, M.D., Fel- low of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. With Plates X. ROME onc capa de sa cea caday cas Geese seas ee anita eee este wlekckidsaoabe nts
XLIV. Note onthe Occurrence at varicus times of the Bottle-nosed Whale (Hyperoodon Butzkopf, Lacep.) on the coast of Ireland; and on its nearly simultaneous appearance on different parts of the British coast in the autumn of 1839. By Witt1am Tuompson, Vice-President of the Natural History Society of Belfast ........-cc0.sssccesescsnsrevensoss
XLV. New Orchidaceaz. By Professor LINDLEY .........cceseseeeceees
XLVI. Note on the Annelida. By W.S. MacLeay, M.A., F.L.S. Be tds alin nan ee ne wane cov euatacvaxvassaeeasvavere dea addersace asses
XLVII. Notes on the Excitability and Movement of the Leaves in the Species of Oxalis. By Professor J. De Brignoti pe Brunuorr of Movena,and Prot. Mornew of biéve: “2.....:2teeccdovssecesacseossenssecsae
XLVIII. An attempt to ascertain the Fauna of Shropshire and North Wisteria b. ©. vnon,sBicge Welt: sosdcdisdascca-tcssiscesecsceteues
XLIX. On the production of Isinglass from Indian Fishes. By Dr. Cantor, Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society.........s+0++.
L. On Isinglass in Polynemus sele, Buch., a species which is very common in the Estuaries of the Ganges. By J. McCuextuanp, Esq....
LI. A Supplement to the Synopsis of the Fishes of Madeira in the Second Volume of the Transactions of the Zoological Society. By the FUG EON). wavs conenresercoaveascscegcenndevcssasquanicssonnedeussdoenaes
LII. Information respecting Botanical Travellers :—
Mr. Griffith’s Journal of the Mission to Bootan............+.. Mr. Schomburgk’s Expedition in Guiana .......sseseseeeeeees
NUMBER XXVII. SUPPLEMENT.
Information respecting Botanical Travellers:—Mr. Schomburgk’s Expedition in Guiana [Continued.] ........c.cccesecceosses ibdasaveccers: New Books :—Etudes de Micromammalogie. Revue des Musaraignes,
des Rats et des Campagnols, suivie d’un Index méthodique des Mammiféres d’Europe. Par Edm. De Selys-Longchamp.......... Proceedings of the Zoological Society ; Geological Society ; Tweedside Physical and Antiquarian Society ; Physical Society of Edin-
Vil
368
375 581
385
388
396 399
401
405
424 429
433
434
ES ees tds neouadsehds hdstadtv deans bhandiacededustacediasaneatadadee 442—461
Movement of the Style of Goldfussia anisophylla ; Echinospermum lap- pula; Guiana Expedition; Grew “ On the Principles of Bodies ;”’ Notes on the Birth of the Giraffe; Meteorological Observations
BUN Mie ee as os cig o nee oc cu sensvccecaadsasne cpidve veda dactdwes nets 462—466
PLATES IN VOL. IV.
Puate I. Cheiroptera of Cuba. II. Discoid Pith of Plants. III. Species of Euplocamus and Chelura :—Animals of Pileopsis and Galeomma. IV. Species of Pandorina, Astarte, Hersilia, and Peltidium :—Ani- mal of Pleurostoma, and Eggs of Vermetus. V. Fructification of Fungi. an \ British Nereides. VIII. Sporidesmium adscendens; and Stilbum lateritium. IX. Deedalea erubescens.
= } British Annelides.
ERRATUM IN VOL. I.
Art. XXI., On a new species of Epilobium, should have been described as a Translation of a Memoir by Dr. Westendorp ; see p. 283 of the present Volume.
An 25 1935
ANNALS OF NATURAL HISTORY.
I.—Descriptions of some Mammalia discovered in Cuba by W.S. MacLeay, Esq. By Jonn Epwarp Gray, F.R.S., &e. With some account of their Habits, extracted from Mr. MacLeay’s Notes.
THE small collection of Mammalia made by Mr. MacLeay during his stay in Cuba consisted of the following species of Cheiroptera, and a foetal specimen of a Dolphin (Delphinus), which I have not been able to determine on account of its youth.
The bats, besides adding to our knowledge, are very inter- esting forms, and several hitherto unrecorded species are par- ticularly interesting, as enabling me to locate with certainty, according to my present views, the genus Mormoops of Dr. Leach, of which only a single dried specimen was before known, and which had always been placed among the anoma- lous genera of this interesting family. It is curious, as regards the geographical distribution of these animals, which have usually been considered very local, that out of this small col- lection of eight species five should prove to be new to science and one of them an entirely new form, and that the other three should be common to Cuba and Jamaica.
VESPERTILIONIDA, Gray. Tribe Phyllostomina, Gray.
Arctibeus faicatus, Gray. Edge of the lips crenulated, in- ner part of the sides near the angle ciliated, front of the lower lip with a small central tubercle surrounded by a lunate series of six distant small warts. Nose-leaf broad ovate lanceolate, expanded, with a very large elevated laminar crumpled pro- jected edge on the sides. Tragus thick and convex inter- nally at the end, with three or four distinct notches on the outer side of the ears. Fur (in spirits) grey-brown, with dark
Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 4. No. 21. Sept. 1839. B
2 Mr. J. E. Gray on some new Bats collected
tips to the hairs, paler beneath. The wings large, blackish ; the index-finger falcately curved, with the membrane between it and the middle finger smooth, nearly transparent. Gland of the penis granular.
The form of the index-finger at once distinguishes this species from all the others of the genus.
Hab. Cuba, “ Killed in my bed-room.”—MacLeay.
Arctibeus Jamaicensis, Leach, Linn. Trans. xii. Phyllo- stoma jamaicense, Horsfield, Zool. Journ. vii. 238. Kdge of the lips crenulated, the inner edge with a series of brown membranaceous processes. Nose-leaf ovate lanceolate, acu- minated, with a broad convex central midrib, edge folded back, and rather compressed at the tip; cheek at the sides of the nose-leaf large, convex, swollen, subtubercular; front of the lower lip triangular, with a central rather large, and two smaller lateral tubercles, surrounded with a series of close oblong warts. Tragus thickened at the top, crenulated exter- nally, with three or four distinct notches at the outer side of the base. The index-finger straight.
Hab. Cuba. “ Devours oranges on the trees and leaves the skins almost empty; it also comes into bed-rooms at night in search of mosquitoes.”—MacLeay.
Brachyphylla cavernarum, Gray. Vespertilio cavernarum. Guilding, MS. Plate I. fig. 1.
Hab. West Indies. St. Vincents, Cuba.
I cannot observe the slightest difference between the Cuban specimen and that which I described from St. Vin- cents (1837), from the collection of Mr. Guilding, except that the Cuban one is smaller, and probably not an adult speci- men, which view is somewhat favoured by the finger-bones being rather shorter comparatively with the armbone. In the Cuban specimen there are several round glands on the chin, and a very distinct convex isolated gland on the side of the face a little behind the angle of the mouth.
St. Vincents. Cuban. Length of body and head ...... 3 24 of arm: bone, .,).,3.4. + \s.% Boe 24 of shin bone
in Cuba by W. 8S. Macleay. 3
Tribe Noctilionina.
* Tail short, tip free on the upper side of the truncated in-
terfemoral membrane.
Mormoops, Leach, not F. Cuvier. Nose obliquely trun- cated, warty ; lower lip expanded, membranaceous, sinuous, with a square warty plate in front ; ears large, united over the forehead, with the lower edge produced and united to the membranes on the lower lip. Tragus distinct.
Dr. Leach, who first described this genus, characterizes it as having “a single nose-leaf confluent with the ears,” and all subsequent writers, misled by his description, have placed it with the /eaf-nosed bats. In my new arrangement I placed it at the end of the Phyllostomina, with a mark of doubt before it. The specimen under examination shows that it has no true nose-leaf, but that it is much more closely allied to the Taphozot among the Noctilionina. 'This and the new Cuban genus Chilonycteris, which agrees with it in many particulars, will together form a new section in that group, characterized by the expansion of the lower lip and the convex and rounded form of the skull.
Mormoops Blainvillii, Leach, Linn. Trans., xiii. p. 77. t. 7.
The Cuban specimen agrees well with Dr. Leach’s short description and the detailed figure of the head of the specimen which was formerly in Mr. Brookes’s museum, and which he received from (Mr. Lewis) Jamaica: the only difference that I can see between them is that the two appendages in front of the disk in the centre of the chin are rather larger in the figure than in our specimen, and the hinder fold of the hmder mem- branes in front of the chin is represented as entire instead of being divided; but these I am inclined to regard as most probably errors of the artist, arising from Dr. Leach’s speci- men being dry, while ours is preserved in spirits.
As Dr. Leach’s description was very short I shall now pro- ceed to give a more detailed account of this curious and very interesting animal. The head is nearly globular, with a rather produced muzzle. The nose is rounded above, with three warts on each side, and obliquely truncated below, with a lon- gitudinal central rib and a dentated transverse rib between the margin and nostrils. The upper lip is flat, expanded, with
B 2
4 Mr. J. E. Gray on some new Bats collected
some acute prominences on its inner, and a series of rounded tubercles on its outer edge ; the hinder tubercles are much the largest. The lower lip is expanded, rather membranaceous, variously folded and twisted, forming a complicated appear- ance on the sides of the chin. There is a small smooth trian- gular disk above, immediately in front of the lower cutting teeth ; and directly in front of this is placed a rather large four-sided expanded plate or disk, which has a quantity of small close warts on its upper face, and two small diverging appendages in the middle of its front edge. The front and hinder edges of this plate are scalloped out.
The ears are membranaceous, very large, broad, united over the upper part of the nose, and dependent over the face, with a slight notch on the upper part of the front edge; the lower side is expanded, with a rounded lobe in front, and is conti- nued into the folded lower lip. The tragus is lunate, with a slight notch on the thickened front edge, and has a large ap- pendage on the outer side of its upper part. The anti-tragus is large and tubercular. The eyes are small, far back, near the conchee of the ears, and have a large wart before and behind them.
The wings are long, rather wide, hairy beneath near the sides, with rather wide marginal membranes inclosing the first joint of the thumb. The interfemoral membrane is very large, truncate at the tip, and furnished with many transverse and five diverging lines from the tail. The tail is elongate, and the last joint is elongated, tapering, and free in the upper side of the interfemoral membrane. The legs are elongate, slender; the ankle short, tapering; toes nearly equal, com- pressed, and the heel bone very long and marginal.
Hab. Cuba. “ Killed in my bed-room.” MacLeay.
CuiLonycreRis, Gray. Lipped Bat. . Head conical, fore- head high, convex; nose obliquely truncated, smooth, with a keeled toothed upper edge ; nostrils anterior, inferior ; lower lip large, dilated, hairy, with a broad reflexed membranaceous edge, furnished with a group of regular granular warts on the middle of its upper surface, and with a similar smooth mem- branaceous ridge behind it on the chin ; ears large, separate, lateral, elongate, acute, with two folds on the front edge, and
in Cuba by W. 8S. MacLeay. 5
a large notch on the centre of the outer edge, expanded, mem- branaceous, and produced to the hinder part of the crest on the edge of the lower lip. Tragus distinct, large, with an ap- pendage on the outer side of its tip; eyes small, far back. Wings elongate, narrow, their index-finger of one bony joint; interfemoral membrane very large, elongate, slightly truncated. Heel bones very large, thumb compressed ; tail elongate, su- perior, half as long as the interfemoral membrane, with the last joint free on its upper edge. Hind feet rather small; ankle elongate, subcylindrical ; toes nearly equal, compressed.
Essential Characters. Nose obliquely truncated, appen- daged ; lower lip rounded, with two transverse reflexed mem- branaceous ridges; ears lateral, separate, with the lower outer edge expanded and continued to the hinder edge of the expansions on the lower lip. Tragus distinct.
This genus is highly interesting from its being intermediate between the Saccopteri and the genus Mormoops of Dr. Leach.
Chilonycteris MacLeayii, Gray. Fur mouse-colour, (in spi- rits) with greenish tips to the hairs, rather paler beneath ; lower lip, with a triangular central wart and a group of small close warts on the centre of the lower lip plate; edge of the nose with two tooth-like expansions on each side, one over each nostril, and the other, which is rather larger, on the outer side of the first; chin with three longitudinal ridges and a conical wart on each side extending to the hinder edge of the lower chin membrane; wings chestnut-brown, nearly bald, the under sides of the interfemoral membrane with a few scattered hairs. Length 12, expanse 9”. Fore arm 1; tail 2. Plate I. fig. 2.
Hab. Cuba. “ Found in my bed-room ; congregates in im- mense numbers in the eaves of houses and in holes in walls.” MacLeay.
Nyctinomus macrotis, Gray. ars very large, united in a common tubercle on the forehead, rather hairy in front; lips very large, pendulous ; muzzle bald, with a central longitudinal and a transverse marginal ridge of close-set short rigid hairs ; upper lip with an oblong tuft of black hairs under the nose ;
6 Mr. J. EK. Gray on some new Bats collected
tail cylindrical, elongate, rather more than half free; feet with a small round hinder pad. The pads of the great and little toes rather large, covered with white hairs, which are curved and rather dilated at the tip. Tragus rather large, truncated, with two or three small lobes on the edge ; lobule large, rather obliquely truncated at the tip, and with a slight notch in front of the lower edge, Plate I. fig. 3.
Hab. Cuba. “ Sent up from the interior of the island, where it was found in the hollow of atree.” MacLeay.
The head and nose of this species are very like the N. pli- catus of India, but the lips and ears are much larger in pro- portion, and the lobule of that species is higher, rounded above, and without any notch at the base of the front edge. Like that species, the thumb has a large circular callous pad at its base, which agrees with Spix’s character of his genus Thyroptera, and induces me to believe that his genus will only prove to be a synonym of Nyctinomus.
The species of Nyctinomus at present known may be thus divided :—
A. Ears united at the base in front on a common tubercle. Lobule high, rounded, without any notch at the front of the base ; ears large; tragus distinct. N. plicatus. Lobule elongate, truncate above, with a notch at the front of the base; ears very large; tragus very small. N.ma- crotis.
B. Ears close but separate at the front of the base.
Lobule semi-ovate, not notched in front; tragus subqua- drate, rather large. WN. nasutus.
Molossus tropidorhynchus, Gray, Mol. velox, Horsf. Zool. Journ. vii. 237. Upper lip with a roundish tuft of close slender hooked hairs under the nostrils ; muzzle angular with a central longitudinal and a transverse slightly crenated keel ; throat pouch large; tail rather slender, tapering, more than half inclosed in the membrane.
Hab. Cuba. “ Very common in the city of Havana.” Mae Leay.
This species is very like Dysopes velox, but is smaller, and differs in having only a single central ridge between the nos- trils, which is forked and sends a transverse ridge over each,
in Cuba by W. 8S. MacLeay. 7
while in that species two oblique ridges continue separate nearly to the base.
It is not easy to distinguish the species as described by M. Temminck, for his figures and descriptions appear to have been mostly taken from stuffed and dried specimens, in which state the peculiarities of the face and ears, which are often the most characteristic parts of the species, are frequently de- stroyed. The species of this genus that are in the British Museum may be thus divided.
* Gland on the throat very large and distinct.
a. The lobule of the ear semi-ovate with a large base ; ears large, forehead rounded. Mol. rufus. Chestnut with whitish tips to the hairs; nose with a crenulated ridge over, and a broad flat bristly space between, the nostrils ; tail thick, half free.
b. The lobule of the ears round, compressed, with a contracted base ; forehead keeled.
Mol. velox. Chestnut, nose with a diverging ridge from the centre of the space between the nostrils; tail thick.
Mol. tropidorhynchus. Chestnut, nose with a longitudinal central ridge, and then a nearly straight crenulated cross ridge over the nostrils; tail tapering, thin.
** Gland on the throat very small, rudimentary.
Mol. fuliginosus. Black, tail elongate, slender, tapering ; nose with a diverging ridge from the centre of the space be- tween the nostrils; lobule round, compressed, contracted at the base ; forehead keeled.
Mol. Norfolkensis. Grey-black, beneath grey; tail elon- gate, tapering; nose without any ridge; lobule small, round, not contracted at the base, ears acute; forehead not keeled ?
Tribe Vespertilionina.
Scotophilus Cubensis. Fur blackish-brown (in spirits) ; wings dark, blackish; underside of the interfemoral membrane whitish, with scattered hairs ; feet large; heel bone short, ta- pering ; ears moderate, entire ; tragus ovate-lanceolate. Body and head 22; tail 12; fore arm 13.
Hab. Cuba.
8 Account of a Journey across the
I1.—Extracts from a few rough Notes of a Journey across the Pampas of Buenos Ayres to Tucuman, in 1835. By Mr. JAMES TwEEDIE, addressed to Sir W. J. Hooker.
In reply to the inquiry contained in your last letter, as to whether I kept a journal of my late excursion to the interior, of which, if such be the case, you desire a copy, I beg to state that it is certainly my custom to take a few notes of whatever may particularly strike me as singular and worthy of remark, but that I am far from pretending to describe in a minute or scientific manner ; although
In wilds unknown I love to stroll,
Where virgin plants their flowers unfold,
Where unknown warblers tune their song, And unnamed rivers glide along.
Of my journey to the Andes of Tucuman, I now therefore send you a few notes, which had been hastily written while crossing the Pampas. My object in troubling you with them is merely to show the causes of that poverty in my botanical collections of which you complain.
On the 2nd of March our Tropa left Buenos Ayres: it con- sisted of seventeen waggons, each of which, together with its cargo, was computed to weigh about three tons, and was drawn by six bullocks. The body of the waggon is built of sticks and straw, and is arched over the top where it is covered with raw hides: the length is about 15 feet, the breadth 5, and the height 64 feet inside. Each wheel has a diameter of 8 feet. Thus when these unwieldy, uncouth-looking vehicles are set in motion, you might imagine that a village of Indian huts or toldas had suddenly taken a mind to walk, and the whole ap- pearance is as curious as can well be imagined.
The tropa, on this occasion, consisted, besides the waggons, of 240 cattle, 44 horses, 35 mules, and 32 persons, including passengers. Well knowing by experience the lagging mode of travelling that prevails in this country, I allowed the party to have four days’ start of me, and came up with them at the village of Morros, about five leagues distant from Buenos Ayres. Thus my future companions had performed rather more than a league per day. At the moment when I arrived
Pampas of Buenos Ayres to Tucuman. 9
the tropa was preparing to cross an Arroy, where meeting two other tropas on their way to Buenos Ayres, we made a very grand appearance from the union of such a large number of cattle, &c., and six hours of time were lost before we again re- sumed our road. Morros is a small straggling village with a population of from 400 to 500 persons, and a respectable look- ing little church: excellent wheat, maize, and pumpions are raised in this neighbourhood, these being the chief articles of produce to which the farmer directs his attention.
While passing the Arroy I spent some of the leisure time which was thus afforded me in examining its marshy sides, in search of any new or rare plants, and my disappointment in this first attempt proved but too true an omen of the slender share of success which attended my journey. The tropa had hardly resumed its march on a good road, when they proceeded at the rate of about two miles an hour, than the approach of sunset warned them to halt for the night, and then the whole party dispersed to gather dry thistles, withered straw and herbage, or any material with which a fire'can be lighted to cook their victuals. This process is very quickly and sum- marily performed ; often have I seen the animal on foot help- ing to draw the waggon, and killed, flayed, roasted and swal- lowed in less than two hours! Dry grass is often the only fuel that can be procured: the men divide into parties, four to each mess ; the portion of beef is handed to them ; and they generally cook it by sticking it on an iron rod which they fix in the ground and lean over the smoky fire. Then each indi- vidual pulls off his singed and bloody portion, severing it partly with his knife and partly with his greased and gory fingers ; and with unwashed hands and filthy beard, enjoys his half-raw meal, devoured without bread, vegetables or salt, in as much comfort and with greater health than does the London epicure his highly seasoned and varied feast.
Many of the people who accompany these tropas have been born in them and know no other home than a cart or waggon, nor can do anything save driving and tormenting the poor animals committed to their charge; he being esteemed the cleverest fellow who can make his bullocks cry loudest with the tortures he inflicts. It cannot be wondered at that they
10 Account of a Journey across the
are avery ignorant, thievish and deceitful set of savages. The traveller requires to be constantly on the look-out or his pro- perty will be stolen: if he has carried anything to eat or drink and does not share it with these ruffians, they abuse him, call him a bad Christian, and take it away; nay, murders are fre- quently committed and gloried in under these circumstances : and such were the people with whom I was once for seven months, the only stranger save one Frenchman !
Karly on the 6th of March we crossed the river de das Conchas, twenty-one miles from Buenos Ayres, on an old, rickety, dangerous wooden bridge, the only bridge of any de- scription that we met with in a journey of nearly 1200 miles. The care that was taken to prevent accidents consumed three hours in passing it, immediately after which we entered a grassy plain, diversified by no change of scenery, except a forest of tall thistles (Carduus marianus) six to ten feet high, mingled with a coarse species of Hrigeron. At mid-day we halted and were here joined by a large carriage conveying the family of the owner of the waggons and his servants.
While stopping here I strolled a little way and found the first specimen worth gathering, it was an Hupatorium, with broad cordate leaves and tricoloured flowers, which I had how- ever seen before at the Rio Negro, Banda Oriental.
7th. This day we performed the extraordinary distance of five leagues, all the way being over a grassy plain, where no water could be had, except at one solitary Rancho, where they gave us some excellent water, drawn from a depth of only 11 feet below the surface. I took the opportunity of ascertain- ing the depth of all the wells (which are however few in num- ber) that we saw, and found that by digging about 20 feet at most, an abundance of fine water can always be procured. So lazy are the people, however, that they generally prefer using what they can obtain from some filthy stagnant pool, to taking the trouble of sinking a well; one hindrance, how- ever exists in the want of materials for cradling such pits, as they have nothing for the purpose but bones. At night we were deprived of sleep by the clouds of mosquitoes which is- sued from a stinking marsh close to which we had encamped.
8th. Four hours were occupied this morning in crossing
Pampas of Buenos Ayres to Tucuman. 11
the marsh, though but half a mile wide. Each waggon had to be dragged over by eight pair of oxen, so that after one had passed, the cattle had to be sent back to assist the next. I saw several vehicles, besides our own, thus engaged ; for as there is no general road, each takes his own way as seems best. One unfortunate fellow had overset his cart loaded with - wheat in this grassy marsh; he was going with it to Buenos Ayres, and the grain being in bulk and not in bags, must have been almost entirely lost under the water and among the aquatic herbage. Two others were helping him to recover it, standing nearly up to the middle in water.
Corn is not carried to market here in sacks, but four hides are loosely attached by their corners to the inside of the huge hurdle-cart already described, thus forming a kind of open box, into which the grain or any other cargo is flung.
At sunset, having been travelling over a grassy and some- what undulating country, we arrived at the village of Lujuan (pronounced Leuchan) lying in a sort of flat valley. Our first view of it from an elevated ridge was very prepossessing : its straggling roofs and whitened church, mingled with fig trees, and lighted by the setting sun, gave me the idea of a neat Eng- lish village ; but a nearer approach dispelled this favourable appearance. We found it a poor miserable place, chiefly con- sisting of mud-built, straw-covered Ranchos ; a few tolerable brick dwellings formed a kind of square in the centre and out- side them were ranged several wretched huts, without gardens or any appearance of cultivated ground, except some small peach clumps, which are kept to be cut every two or three years for fuel. The peach trees here are as plentiful as osiers in England, and may generally be seen growing along with the Agave Americana and the seven-angled Cactus. A consi- derable quantity of good wheat and maize is raised in this di- strict for the Buenos Ayres market: the pieces of ground thus occupied being unfenced are preserved from the intru- sions of cattle by having a lion or tiger tethered in the centre, the smell of which deters any cattle from approaching. (What is here called a lion, is probably the American lion or puma.)
9th. Leaving Lujuan at midnight, we passed the Guardia de Lujuan, three miles on our left, where are the head quarters
12 Account of a Journey across the
of the Argentine cavalry : here the country is chiefly occupied in keeping and breeding horses for the army, being clothed with rich grass and abounding in good water.
10th. Having travelled most of the night, and up to eleven o’clock in the forenoon, except resting two hours at sun-rise, we halted about noon when the sun was very warm, and turned out the cattle to feed in a fine and rich, though rather coarse, grassy meadow. Except two species of grass I added nothing to my specimen-book, the vegetation being similar to that of Buenos Ayres. Water was scarce and bad; near one Rancho we unexpectedly found a sunken well, but nothing to draw withal, except a large horn which had many ups and downs before our thirst was satisfied; there was only eight feet of depth before we came to the water, but the well being lined with shank-bones gives the water a very bad taste.
11th. This day’s travelling was slow and fatiguing, owing to the scorching unclouded sun; but we made up the differ- ence by pushing onwards during the night, when we came to good roads, for the most of the daylight had been consumed in passing a bog of soft mud. ‘To each cart the united force of nine or ten pairs of bullocks had to be applied to pull it through this bog which is only three-fourths of a mile wide. The whole day being thus spent, I took the opportunity of ex- amining the vegetation of this neighbourhood, but only found two Syngenesious species that were new to me.
12th. Early this morning we came to another soft marsh with a slow river winding through it: the current did not flow faster than half a mile an hour. This river is called the Ar- roya del Pez, or Fish River, a name generally applied to di- stinguish such streams as do not dry up in summer from those which disappear at that period, although there may be no fish in either. Great caution was necessary in.crossing this place, as the heads of the shaft bullocks were often drawn under water by the weight of the waggon. So long was the line of cattle, that often the foremost animals were already across be- fore the cart had entered the water. When the traces break, as not unfrequently happens, the poor beasts are drowned.
13th. We rested during most of the hot afternoon of yes- terday, and travelled all night through a rough trackless plain,
Pampas of Buenos Ayres to Tucuman. 13 and stopped in sight of the small village of Salto Chico, which
we reached in the afternoon. This was another straggling assemblage of Ronchos, their walls of unburnt bricks, but the church with its whitewashed spire looked rather respectable ; for here, as in all countries where the Romish pontiff holds sway, be the morals of the people as depraved as they may, the outward appearance of the church is the first considera- tion. For instance, at San Lorenzo on the Poran, a village of but five miserable huts, the church is one of the most splendid buildings in the whole Argentine Republic. The population of Salto Chico is about 1500: the place is noted for sending a great number of cheeses to Buenos Ayres, which are how- ever but very poor eating, and fetch a current dollar, fivepence each, weighing about 2 ie A small river passes the village : the water is very brackish and bad, but we obtained a supply of what was good from wells, about fifteen feet deep to the bottom.
14th. Having again travelled most of the night, we found ourselves in the morning traversing a dreary houseless plain country, covered however with cattle and sheep. Rain came on in the evening, accompanied with thunder and vivid conti- nued flashes of lightning; these, however, caused no alarm to the inhabitants as they would have done in a metallic coun- try: for though storms of lightning are much more frequent and violent here than in England, they are never known to do any injury.
15th. We entered another poor village, called Pergamena, with a population of about 2000. Here we quitted the pro- vince of Buenos Ayres and therefore found it needful to lay in a stock of pumpions and some bread; the latter was with difficulty procured, being considered a luxury in this neigh- bourhood. We are now 120 miles from Buenos lati and I have found but seven specimens of plants.
16th. At the Arroya del Medio, which divides ie province of Buenos Ayres from that of Santa Fé, we were joined by 100 fresh draught bullocks, as we now enter uninhabited Pampas, occupied only by wandering Indians, and it is most desirable to pass through this country as quickly as possible lest the Indians should have time to collect and attack us for
14 Account of a Journey across the
the sake of plunder. We therefore travelled night and day, making only very short stoppages to change the cattle and singe our beef, cooking being out of the question, where no fuel could be procured except dry grass, and when it was un- advisable to make any delay. We however saw nothing in these vast plains but three Tropas on their way to Buenos Ayres, at considerable distances from us. On these wide and open tracts an assemblage of fifty waggons only looks like a few ships scattered on the vast ocean, steering their way, as by compass, through the trackless wastes. Even the wild animals, as Foxes, Polecats, and Becatchos, abundant in more inhabited districts, are not to be seen in this desert: some grey and black vultures only attended our Tropa, which picked up any offal that came in their way. Here while stop- ping, during the passage of the Arroya called Del Indio- muerto, I saw great quantities of a large species of quail, ge- nerally called the pheasant of the country, probably attracted to this spot by the fine and large species of grass, with eat- able seeds, which grow in the Arroya. On the 22nd of March, which was a clear calm sunny day, we noticed vast flocks of swallows, flying in a direction contrary to our course, which was north-west, at a great height from the ground ; probably on their way to the warm islands of the Pacific Oceans. These birds generally quit Buenos Ayres in the beginning of April and return thither late in September. Only one kind of swal- low is found in this country : it is large, and with more grey on the back than the house swallow of Britain, builds its nest under tiles and in holes of walls, and has a strong melodious note much resembling that of a rising lark.
24th. Having travelled for the last seven days and nights through a continued flat grassy plain, where nothing but bit- ter and brackish water could be had, we stopped at sunrise to let the poor exhausted cattle eat the damp though withered grass, and at nine in the morning reached Guardia del Equina, a poor village of thirty-two Ranchos. Here are some old mud forts, whence the cannon have however been removed ; this military establishment, which was built by the old Spaniards to awe the Indians, is now given up. We rested all night at this place to repair our carts, and sent back about 100 of the
Pampas of Buenos Ayres to Tucuman. 15
most worn-out bullocks. While these affairs were proceeding I examined the vegetation, but as the ground is dry and saline I only found a paniculated Syngenesious shrub, and a spe- cies of Hordeum. Round the old forts, where the ground has been broken up, the land is covered with the common Hore- hound and Fennel: these plants, which are inseparable com- panions, always occur in great abundance in similar spots, springing up wherever the original soil has been disturbed.
25th. Having now passed that part of the road which is considered the most dangerous from the attacks of Indians, we halted for six hours, but as it was by the side of a horribly stinking marsh, the clouds of mosquitoes prevented our get- ting any sleep. Most of the day was spent in crossing the bog, during which time I had the gratification of gathering a very beautiful kind of Digitalis, with crisped linear leaves. We then changed the draught beasts and resumed our Journey on a fine dry ground, which, gradually rising, brought us to the summit of the highest ridge we had yet passed. From the summit we had before us one of the finest and most welcome views that could be imagined. Hitherto we had been travel- ling over a lonely desert, bare of everything but grass of a foxy-brown colour; but now our eyes were suddenly glad- dened with a delightfully fresh verdure; a beautiful serpent- ine river, the Corcoufieon, slowly winding its course through richly wooded land, adorned with lakes of clear looking water. Several of the fields have the appearance of being cultivated with wheat and maize ; this is owing to the fresh grass spring- ing up after the process of burning the ground. A little be- fore sunset we came to a beautiful piece of water where I had the comfort of getting myself thoroughly washed ;—no small refreshment, after travelling for three weeks through clouds of dust. Here I found a curious Eryngium, smelling strongly like Angelica, and a species of Eupatorium with fine tufts of peach-coloured flowers.
[To be continued. ]
16 W.S. MacLeay on the Structure and
I11.—Obdservations on Trilobites, founded on a comparison of their structure with that of living Crustacea. By W. 8S. MacLeay, M.A., F.L.S., &c.*
TRILOBITES were originally considered by Klein and others to be a particular kind of molluscous shell with three lobes. This supposition, however, was afterwards abandoned as un- tenable, and remained so until Latreille, in the 7th volume of the ‘Annales du Muséum,’ revived it and referred the trilo- bitic fossils to the genus Chiton among the Mollusca. Latreille founded his argument on the presumed absence of feet, and on the lateral edges of the body in several species having been sub-coriaceous. It is evident, nevertheless, that these early inhabitants of the sea could not have belonged to the sub- kingdom Mollusca, since they possessed compound sessile eyes and a distinct labrum. They must, therefore, be assigned to the sub-kingdom Annulosa, in which we may find many articulated animals which have compound eyes and a labrum very similar in structure to those of Trilobites. Having a hard, shelly, apterous tergum and inconspicuous feet, the Tri- lobites must have either belonged to the order Chilognatha among the Ametabola, or to the class of Crustacea. But all the Chilognatha are terrestrial animals, and the obvious geo- logical fact is, that Trilobites resided in the sea. We must clearly therefore exclude them from the Chilognatha and place them among the Crustacea, in which class it becomes now necessary to determine their exact place.
The class of Crustacea, so remarkable above all other ani- mals for the great variation of their feet, both in number and form, is divisible into two groups; those which have the eyes sessile or the Edriophthalma of Leach, and those which have their eyes supported on moveable peduncles or the Pod- ophthalma of Leach. ‘To the Edriophthalma the Trilobites clearly belong, and the question is now reduced to determine merely whether they belong to the Amphipoda or those existing Crustacea which do not undergo metamorphosis in their larva state, (among which I include not only the Amphipoda of La-
* Reprinted with permission from R. I. Murchison’s valuable work on the ‘ Silurian System.’
Affinities of Trilobites. 17
treille, but also his Lemodipoda and Isopoda,) or whether they belong to the Entomostraca or those existing Edriophthalma which do undergo a change of form in their larva state. I conceive that the Trilobites will be found to differ in so many respects from both the Amphipoda and Entomostraca, that ac- cording to the present state of our knowledge, we must allow them to form a distinct order, intermediate between the tribe Tsopoda on the one side, and the tribe Aspidophora on the other.
Those circumstances which generally are reckoned most anomalous in the Trilobites are not in reality so very extraor- dinary, since they may be detected in many Crustacea now existing. Thus the trilobed form of the body occurs in Serolis and Bopyrus. The membranaceous or rather coriaceous mar- gin of the body, assumed by Latreille and others to exist in Trilobites, is to be found in the female Cymothoe. In these last animals also, as wellas in the female Bopyrus, we observe the eyes to disappear as in many Trilobites. The compound eyes of Calymene are situated on the back of the head, but wide apart, and are composed of large facets. ‘The same structure may be seen in the male of Cymothoa trigonocephala, and many other Cymothoade. The absence of antennz and the rudimentary state of the feet, both occur in Bopyrus, the well- known parasite of prawns. In Spheroma we have not only the onisciform body of Calymene, but also its property of roll- ing itself up into a ball. In Spheroma also we find the large convex semicircular anal segment of Bumastus. I think, there- fore, that we can have no hesitation now in allowing the im- mediate affinity of the Trilobites to Isopod Amphipoda, and more particularly to the Cymothoade and that parasitical group which is called Epicarides by Latreille. Indeed, if the Trilobites are once demonstrated to have possessed articulated feet, it will be difficult to remove a male Bopyrus from the group. Here the two eyes are placed on the back of the head wide apart. Here also there are no antennz, no posterior lateral abdominal appendages, and besides no very distinct articulation to the sternum. If the Bumastus of Murchison had a body of thirteen equal segments with short crustaceous feet it would be a male Bopyrus, so close is the affinity! The differences between a male and female Bopyrus, such for in-
Ann. Nat. Hist, Vol.4. No.21. Sept. 1839. Cc
18 W.S. MacLeay on the Structure and
stance as the presence of eyes in the former and the want of them in the latter, may also induce us to fancy that similar differences may have possibly occurred between certain male and female Trilobita, which from their prima facie difference of form are now placed in distinct genera, although they may . have truly belonged to one and the same species. Serolis has been generally considered to come near to Paradowides ; but as the former has got four well-developed antennz with crus- taceous feet, and the latter none, I am inclined to believe the relation between them to be one of analogy rather than of im- mediate affinity—Let us now turn to the Entomostraca.
Dr. Buckland, following other authors, has compared the Trilobites with the genera Limulus and Branchipus. With the latter genus, however, they obviously have no immediate affinity; although it may be well, by reference to Branchipus, to show that Crustacea can and actually do exist, with soft membranaceous feet, such as Audouin and Brongniart sus- pected, and Goldfuss has more lately asserted, to have been the feet of Trilobites. When, nevertheless, I take into consi- deration the perfect manner in which the soft body of an ani- mal referred to me by Mr. Murchison, and by that gentleman called Nereites Cambrensis, has left its impression in a slaty rock, I confess I find it difficult to understand how the ves- tiges of legs in a Trilobite (if such legs ever really existed) should not be more evident than Goldfuss has represented them in his plates. In short, I consider the question of feet to remain still unsettled. At the same time I ought to remark, that if the Trilobites were Crustacea, between Apus and Bo- pyrus, a fact I conceive capable of demonstration, they must have been in possession of subabdominal, laminar, oviferous, appendages. Now, no traces of such appendages remain, consequently we can easily understand how feet of a similar membranaceous consistency may have disappeared in like manner. I may here observe, that Brongniart is certainly wrong in imagining that the Ogygia Guettardi had oval oyi- ferous bags appendent to the abdomen like Cyclops, for what he considers to be such organs are more probably the mem- branaceous margin of the abdomen, and, besides, Ogygia has no immediate affinity to Cyclops. With reference to Limulus,
Affinities of Trilobites. 19
its crustaceous, semilunar cephalothorax bears considerable resemblance to that of certain Trilobites, such as the genera Ogygia, Asaphus, Paradoxides, &c. In Limulus, we find reni- form, compound eyes placed widely apart on the back of the head, and consisting of peculiar facets. We find, also, an indi- stinct trilobed structure of the superior abdominal shield. But then this is composed of a number of confluent segments, so as to appear of one piece ; and, besides the two ocelli, the large crustaceous feet and cheliform antenne throw Limulus far away from the Trilobites. We must, therefore, compare them with Apus and other Aspidophora ; animals which, in my opi- nion, of all the Entomostraca, appear to come nearest to the Trilobita. Here we have a large clypeiform shell, rounded in front, and posteriorly emarginate, which forms a cephalotho- rax, on the back of which are situated three eyes. Of these the two largest are lunated, and obviously correspond to the eyes of Trilobita, although they are placed proportionally much nearer to each other. It is true they are simple, but so appear to have been the eyes of Bumastus*. The abdomen, divided into many distinct segments, the foliaceous feet, the structure of the front of the cephalothorax, the two rudiment- ary antennze, the large labrum and projecting mandibles, all show the affinity of Apus to the Trilobites, more particularly to Asaphus platycephalus, in a specimen of which from Lake Huron, Mr. C. Stokes has discovered a subquadrate labrum, which only differs from that of Apus, in being anteriorly deeply emarginate, while the latter is truncated. Dr. Buck- land has compared this organ to that of crabs, but decapod Crustacea possess a very different structure, and the thing ‘most like this labrum is to be found among the Xiphosura, or still better, among the Aspidophora of Latreille, of which group this naturalist’s genus Prosopistoma ought more particularly to be compared with Trilobites. I am not aware, however, that any trilobite has yet occurred with vestiges of ocelli.
* The distinction between smooth eyes and granulose eyes does not seem to be of much importance in these animals; for among the existing family of Cymothoide we not only see the males of some species with eyes and the females without them, but we observe neighbouring genera, such as Eurydice and Nelocira, the one with granulose eyes like a Calymene, and the other with smooth eyes like a Bumastus.
eg
20 W.S. MacLeay on the Structure and
Still there are characters which, in my opinion, distinguish Trilobites from almost all other Crustacea; and among these characters I would particularly mention the absence of all la- teral, posterior, abdominal appendages. Excepting Bopyrus* and certain Lemodipoda, all the Amphipoda possess these anal appendages, which are generally styliform, articulated and in number two. The Lemodipoda, however, want these append- ages, because the whole abdomen in them has become eva- nescent, a case totally different from that of Trilobites, which, like Bopyrus, have a well-developed abdomen consisting of many segments. I therefore consider this deficiency of anal appendages to a well-developed abdomen, when joined with the evanescent feet and the total absence of antennz, to be characters separating the Trilobita from all Crustacea except Bopyrus. The affinities of the group may be roughly expressed
by the following diagram.
AMPHIPODA.
Cymothoade, Leach.
D
E
S) —Q
Bumastus,
Xiphosura Murch.
Lat.
TRILOBITA.
ENTOMOSTACA. Asaphus,
Brongn.
Calymene,
Aspidophora, Brongn.
Lat.
If we allow any accuracy to belong to the foregoing remarks on the affinities of Trilobites, it will follow that the class of Crustacea may for the present be distributed into orders, thus ;
V1Z. Normal Group. Orders. Decaropa, Lat. © Antenniferous region Poporutuatma, Leach. [ of head confluent Animals having their with the thorax. eyes supported on move- | StTomaToropa, Lat. Antenniferous region able peduncles. of head distinct
from the thorax.
* Bopyrus may possibly belong to the Trilobita, but I confess I do not see how Agnostus can. Nor do I believe that the latter fossil has any con- nexion with the dnnulosa at all.
Affinities of Trilobites. 21
Aberrant Group. Orders.
Ampuipopa, Lat. Head distinct with four antenne. Feet thick and crustace- ous. Animals not undergoing meta- morphosis.
Tritosita, Brongn. Head distinct without
EprioPpHTHALMA, Leach. antenne. Feet ru-
Animals having their dimentary, soft, and eyes sessile. membranaceous.
Entomostraca, Lat. Head rarely, if ever, distinct from tho- rax, but provided withantenne. Feet always _ distinct. Animals undergo-
L ing metamorphosis,
With regard to the habits of true Trilobites, these animals have been supposed by some naturalists to be parasitical; but I conceive this hypothesis not to be very tenable, since almost all existing articulated parasites that adhere externally to other animals have strong feet, hooked at the end for that purpose. Now the Trilobites certainly had no such strong crustaceous hooks to their feet, or these hooks would have long since been detected. The close affinity of Trilobites to Bopyrus does not prove a parasitical mode of life, for Spheroma and other Cymo- thoade which, like Trilobites, have the power of coiling them- selves up into a ball, are not parasitical, although so close in affinity to the parasitical genus Cymothoa. Nay, it has been said that the Cymothoade and Epicarides do not draw their nourishment directly from the animals to which they adhere ; but, on the contrary, live entirely on the animalcule brought to them in the water by the play of the branchiz, near which they always take their post. Still the close connexion of Tri- lobites with Bopyrus, and their feet almost null, if not entirely so, induce me to think that these animals must have been to a certain degree sedentary. The flat under surface of their bodies, and the lateral coriaceous margin of several species, which is so analogous to that of Chiton, make it probable that they ad- hered with a soft articulated underside either to rocks or fuci. They appear to have been among Crustacea what the Vermes or white-blooded worms are among Ametabola,—often without eyes, and always without antenne or distinct feet. If they had feet, as Audouin and Goldfuss imagine, and, as indeed is
22 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand.
most probable, they must have been so small, so membrana- ceous, so soft, and so rudimentary, as almost to be useless to the animals for locomotion. The mouth, so analogous to that of Apus, makes us imagine that the Trilobites were carnivorous ; and they may possibly have fed on Acrita, Annelida, or naked Mollusca. That they had to search for their food, and that they possessed some small power of locomotion, is to be in- ferred from their highly organized eyes; for no truly sessile animal is provided with sight. The Balanus, when it becomes sedentary, loses its eyes, as does also, in like case, the female Coccus. I imagine, therefore, that although the Trilobites were to a certain degree sedentary, more particularly the blind ones, they must have had some power of crawling over a flat surface ; but whether they moved by rudimentary, soft, mem- branaceous feet, or whether it was by means of the undula- tion of setigerous segments, like the earth-worm, or by wrin- kling the under surface of the abdomen like a Chiton, are ques- tions yet to be determined. One thing, moreover, is in my opinion clear, from their longitudinally trilobed form and la- teral coriaceous margin; namely, that they had the power of adhering to a flat surface, like a Chiton, Bopyrus, or Coccus. While thus sedentary, the hard, although thin dorsal shell, probably saved them in some degree from the attacks of fishes, just as that of Ciiton protects such Mollusca from all fishes except the Scaride. The Trilobites probably, like Ostree, Chitones, Cocci, and other sedentary animals, adhered in masses one upon the other, and thus formed those conglome- rations of individuals which are so remarkable in certain rocks.
IV.—Flore Insularum Nove Zelandie Precursor; or a Spe- cimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand. By ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, Esq.
{Continued from vol. iii. p. 319.] TILIACEZ, Juss. Entevea, &. Br., Juss.
Calyx 4—5 phyllus. Petala 4. Stamina indefinita uniformia, Antheris subrotundisincumbentibus. Stigma denticulatum. Capsula spheroidea, echinata, 6-locularis, semi 6-valvis, polysperma.
Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. 23
601. E. arborescens. R. Br. Mss. Bot. Mag. 2480.—Apeiba australis. 4. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 301. t.34.—Corchorus Sloanoides. Sol. M/s. in Bibl. Banks.
Whau or Iwau, indig. R. C.
New Zealand (Northern Island).—1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Shores of the Bay of Islands.—1826, 4. Cunningham.
Arbuscula 12—15 pedalis, ramis teretibus pubescentibus. ola alterna, longe petiolata, palmaria, subcordata, palmato 3—5 loba, inzequaliter eroso- dentata, preesertim subtus pubescentia, pilis densis stellatis. Stipule bine, lanceolate decidue. lores in racemum brevem, pauciflorum, peduncula- tum dispositi.
ELEHOCARPEX, Juss. 1. Evzocarrus, L. (Dicera, Forst.)
602. E. Hinau; foliis petiolatis alternis oblongis subacuminatis obtusis basi sensim attennatis dentato-serratis subter pube adpressa sericeis venosis, in venarum axillis seepe saccato-foveolatis, racemis simplicibus axillaribus folio brevioribus, petiolis trilobatis, drupis ovatis, nucleo sulcato.—E. den- tatus. Vahl. Symb. iii. p. 67.—Dicera dentata. Forst. Prodr. n. 226. DC. Prodr. i. p.520. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p.303.
Hinau ab incolis vulgo nominatur.
New Zealand (Northern Island).—1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Frequent in the forests of Wangaroa, Hokianga, &c.—1826, 4. Cunningham. (Middle Island.) Shores of Queen Charlotte’s Sound.—1773, G. Forster.
Arbor procera, 50—60 pedalis; rami teretes, patentes ; cortice brunneo- griseo. Folia alterna, oblonga, vel ovato-lanceolata, dentato-serrata, coriacea glabra, patentia, petiolata, subtus tenuissime sericea, pulchre reticulato-ve- nosa, et in axillis venorum szpe profunde foveolata. Macemi axillares sim- plicissimi, palmares, laxiflores, folio breviores. Calyx 5-sepalus, sepalis lineari-lanceolatis acutis villosis equalibus patentibus. Petala alba, oblongo- dilatata, 3-lobata, 3-nervia, unguiculata, lobis oblongis obtusis undulatis in- termedio longiore. Stamina circiter 15—20. Anthere lineares, teretiusculo- tetragonz, villoso-scabre, 2-loculares, filamentis longiores, apice 2-valves dehiscentes, valva unica aristata, altera breviore reflexa. Discus hypogynus 5-glandulosus, glandulis basi bifidis extus sericeis. Ovariwm superum coni- cum sericeum 5-loculare. Stylus subulatus. Stigma simplex. Drupa nu- cleo sulcato 5-loculare? loculis 4 plerumque abortivis.
The wood of the Hinau is remarkable for its whiteness, but it is almost useless on account of the way in which it splits, when exposed either to wet or warmth. Its chief use is that it makes an excellent dye, either a light brown, puce or dark black, not removeable by wash- ing. The natives employ it (that is the outer skin of the bark) for the purpose of dyeing the black threads of their garments.—Yates’s New Zealand, p. 49.
2. Frresia, DC.
Calyx profunde 4-partitus, foliolis eequalibus ovatis. Petala 4, cuneata,
24 Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand.
subunguiculata, apice triloba. Discus glandulosus. Stamina circiter 12. Anthere cordato-oblonge, muticz, 2-loculares, poris sub apice dehiscentes. Stylus leviter sulcatus, apice 2-vel 4-fidus. Bacca sicca, fragilis, 4-locularis, loculis dispermis. Semina angulata subtriquetra, testa atra nitida, rugosa, crustacea.
603. F. racemosa, foliis (oppositis) cordato-ovatis acuminatis petiolatis inzequaliter serratis flaccidis venosis, racemis compositis subpaniculatis pa- tentibus axillaribus ramulisque villosis.—Dicera? serrata. Forst. Prodr. n. 227. DC. Prodr.i. p. 520. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 304,—Eleocarpus Di- cera. Vahl. Symb. iii. p. 67.
Mako-Mako of the natives. R. C.
New Zealand (Northern Island).—1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Shady forests and margins of running streams, shores of the Bay of Islands, and elsewhere on the east coast where it usually flowers in Oct. and Nov.—1826, 4. Cun- ningham. (Middle Island.)—1773, G. Forster.
Arbuscula erecta pulcherrima, 12—15 pedalis: rami patentes, teretes, suboppositi. Folia membranacea, minute reticulato-venosa, juniora varie violacea purpurascentique picta. lores in racemos patentes dispositi. Calyz villosus ciliatus. Petala albido-rosea vel purpurascentia, sepalis al- terna. Silamenta staminum cinereo-villosa. Stylus deciduus.
STERCULIACEA, Kunth. Endl. (Bombacee, D.C ?)
Praciantuus, Forst.
Flores hermaphroditi. Calyx subhzmisphericus 5-fidus aut dentatus, persistens. Petala 5, cum tubo staminum unita. Stamina 10—12, fila- lamenta in tubum cylindraceum unitum. Pistillum solitarium. Ovarium ovatum, 1—2 ovulatum, ovulis suspensis. Stylus crassiusculus. Stigma magnum bilobum, hinc decurrens, papillosum. Capsula subdrupacea 1—2 cocca, apiculata indehiscens. Cocculi 1-spermi. Semen pendens. Albu- men carnosum. Embryo immersus, curvatus. Radicula cylindracea, ad hilum seminis versa: Cotyledones majuscule plane subfoliacez longitudi- naliter undulatee.—Arbores vel Frutices. Folia stipulata, alterna, linearia aut ovata. Flores subsolitari paniculatique.
604. P. divaricatus, glaber, foliis fasciculatis lineari-spathulatis obtusis integerrimis patentibus trinerviis floribus solitariis binisve axillaribus, pe- talis obovatis ad basin tubi staminum unitis, lobis stigmatis tubo inclusis, caule fruticoso. Forst. Prodr. n. 254. DC. Prodr.i. p.477. A. ich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p.299. Bot. Mag. 3271.
Runa, indigenis. #. Cunn.
New Zealand (Northern Island).—1769, Sir Jos. Banks. Frequent in salt marshes on low sides of rivers, where it forms dense bushes.—1826, 4. Cunningham. (Middle Island).—1773, G. Forster.
Frutex gracilis, diffusus, 3—4 pedalis, ramis virgatis divaricatis alternis teretibus prorsus glabris, cortice atro-brunneo, stipulis procumbentibus. Flores solitarii interdum bini; pedicellis brevibus. Calyx cyathiformis, 5- dentatus, dentibus acutis parvis brevibus divaricatis. Petala ovata, conca-
Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. 25
viuscula, patentia, flavescentia. Stigma bilobum, longitudine tubi staminum. Ovarium parce tomentosum, mono-dicoccum, ovulis pendulis.
605. P. betulinus; ramulis foliisque villosis, foliis sparsis petiolatis ovato- lanceolatis acuminatis grosse inzequaliterque serrato-trinerviis, floribus ter- minalibus lateralibusve ramoso-paniculatis decompositis, pilis cinereis con- spersis, petalis lineari-spathulatis subciliatis ad medium tubi staminum co- herentibus, lobis stigmatis patentibus tubum superantibus recurvis, caule arborescenti.
New Zealand (Northern Island). A lofty tree on the banks of the Kana- Kana river, near its head, Bay of Islands.—1833, R. Cunningham.
Arbor procera, 70 pedalis. Rami stricti, teretes ; juniores tomentosi, pilis stellatis, cortice fibroso tenaci brunneo. Stipwle deciduz. Flores paniculati, ramis patentibus villosis. Calyx 5-fidus; laciniz ovate acuminate, nervose, coriacee, rigide, patentes. Petala alba, spathulata. Stigma bilobum, tubo staminum longius. Ovarium villosum, 1-loculare, uniovulatum. Ovulum pendulum.
606. P. urticinus ; ramulis foliisque canescentibus, foliis sparsis petiolatis ovato-lanceolatis attenuatis grosse inzequaliterque serratis venosis, paniculis ramosis terminalibus, petalis lineari-spathulatis elongatis acutis, juxta basin tubi staminum concretis, stylo omnino incluso, caule fruticoso.
New Zealand (Northern Island). Among underwood on the banks of the Kana-Kana river, Bay of Islands.—1826, 4. Cunningham.
Frutex 6—8 pedalis. Rami virgati, teretes laxiusculi, ramulis alternis brevibus, foliatis. Stipule caduce. Flores paniculati, ramis strictis dense stellato-pilosis. Calyx 5-fidus, laciniis ovatis acutis, minus rigidioribus sed villosiovibus quam in precedenti. Petala attenuato-spathulata. Stylus in tubo staminuin penitus inclusus.
This species differs from the preceding in its leaves being smaller and more attenuated, in having its branchlets more hoary, and its petals, which are united almost at the base of the tube of stamens, more attenuated and somewhat exceeding the tube in length, within which the style is, moreover, wholly inclosed.
MALVACEA, R. Br. Kunth. Hisiscus, L.
607. H. vesicarius. L. Willd, Sp. Pl. iii. p. 832. DC. Prodr, i. p. 453. Cav. Diss. iii. p. 171. t. 64. f. 2.
New Zealand (Northern Island). On hills near the village of Manga- maka on the Hokianga river, and at Ngaire opposite the Cavallos Isles, off the East Coast.—1833, A. Cunningham.
An planta vere indigena? Forsan ex Anglia introducta.
LINE, DC. Linum, LZ. 608. L. monogynum, caule basi suffruticoso, foliis sparsis lanceolatis 3- nerviis integris glabris, stylo simplici. Forst. Prodr. n. 145. DC. Preodr. i. p. 428. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 317. Don. in Sweet Fl. Gard. t.
26 Dr. Wagner on the Habits of the Macroscelides Rozeti.
Kaho, incolis. R. Cunn.—Nao vulgo ab incolis dicitur. D’Urville.
New Zealand (Northern Island).—1769, Sir Jos. Banks. On bare rocks on the islets of the Bay of Islands, &c.—1826, 4. Cunningham. (Middle Island.) —1773, G. Forster. Astrolabe Harbour.—1827, D’Urville.
CARYOPHYLLEE., 1. ArenaniA, LZ.
609. A. media, L. DC. Prodr.i. p.401. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p.315. —A. marina. Lngl. Bot. t. 958.
Note-noho ab incolis vulgo sub nomine cognoscitur. D'Urville.
New Zealand (Middle Island). Frequent on rocks near the sea-coast,
Astrolabe Harbour.—1827, D'Urville. 2. Strevuaris, L.
S. media, Sm. Fl. Brit. p.473. DC. Prodr. i. p. 396. Engl. Bot. t. 537. —Alsine media, Z. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 316.
Kaikaka, indigenis. D’ Urville.
New Zealand (Northern Island). Frequent in open grounds, distant from any European settlement, apparently indigenous, in the country be- tween Waimaté and Hokianga.—1833, A. Cunningham.
ELATINEZ, Cambess. in Mem. du Mus. (1829.) Exvatine, L.
Calyx 3—4 partitus persistens inferus. Petala 3—4. Stamina 3—6—8. Styli 3—4, breves. Capsula 3—4 valvis, 1—4 locularis, polysperma. Semina cylindrica, longitudinaliter sulcata, transversimque striata pla- centis centralibus affixa.
610. £.? gratioloides, glabra, foliis oppositis subsessilibus obovatis obtusis
venosis, floribus alternis axillaribus sessilibus.
New Zealand (Northern Island). In a bog at Tauraki, Hokianga river. —1833, R. Cunningham.
Herba glabra, caules repentes radicantes. Folia opposita, lato-obovata, obtusa, prope modum sessilia, decurrentia integerrima vel subrepanda, minu- tissime asperata. Stipule nulle. Flores nondum vidi, sed expositione fructus judicans sessiles, axillares, alterni. Calyx 3-partitus, persistens, la- ciniis subrotundis, obtusis, concavis. Capsula depressa, umbilicata, 1-locu- laris, polysperma. Semina oblonga, cylindracea, longitudinaliter tenuiter striata, transversim sulcata.
[To be continued. ]
V.—WNote on Macroscelides Rozeti*. By Dr. Morirz WAGNER. T
Tus curious small insect-eater inhabits the western portion of the province of Algiers.. It has hitherto been discovered
* Established by Duvernoy in the ‘ Mém. de Ja Soc. d’Hist. Nat. de Stras- bourg,’ i. p. 2. t+ Translated from Wiegmann’s Archiv. First part, 1839.
Dr. Wagner on the Habits of the Macroscelides Rozeti. 27
only in the neighbourhood of the towns of Oran, Tlemsan and Arzew. It does not appear to go further eastward than Arzew. It is moreover very rare and difficult to obtain even near these towns. Capt. Rozet who first sent this animal to France pro- cured it through the industrious soldiers of the bataillon d’Afrique, who with their meagre pay have an insatiable thirst, and grasp after all possible means of gratifying it. Two sol- diers of this famous corps, who were in great renown in Oran as rat and serpent catchers, conducted me to a rocky moun- tain to the west of Oran, whose summit is crowned by a Ma- rabut temple and the Spanish fort Santa Cruz. The Macro- scelides lives there among the cavities formed by large frag- ments of rock. It seeks out natural places of concealment, and does not excavate any holes; the female, however, forms a nest for the young among the most dense thickets of the dwarf palm (Chamerops humilis), which grows in great plenty on this rock. In the early hours of the day the animal quits its hiding-place and seeks out some sunny spot, but during mid-day hies to the shade of the Chamerops, and there lurks for its prey, the insects which settle on the lower plants. The Macroscelides prefers insect larvee, grasshoppers without elytra, and especially snails, in fact all small soft animals. Incapable of breaking the hard house of Heitz lactea, it thrusts its remarkably prolonged narrow mouth into the aperture, and generally tears away a portion of the snail before it has time to draw itself completely into the interior of its shell. I kept my twelve animals for some weeks alive at home, and fed them on small Orthoptera. They would not touch bread, maize, or sugar, although Rozet states that he kept his on bread.
They are exceedingly gentle animals, which never bite, not even when they are tormented. They do not go on the hinder feet like the species of Dipus, but always on all fours, and when running the prolongation of their posterior feet is not at all perceptible. On the other hand I frequently observed them sitting on the rock raised like a rabbit on their hind feet, either watching their pursuers or spying about for prey. When catching flying or hopping insects they hide them- selves, lurking among the dwarf palm, and then generally en-
28 On some new Species of Amaryllidez.
deavour to reach their prey with the first long spring, for which the length of the hinder feet is of great service. The taking of this insect-eater is very difficult. Should the pur- suer not succeed in discovering their hiding-place and cutting off their retreat under the mass of rock, it is then necessary to turn over the heavy blocks of stone with iron crow-bars. In the hot months, as also during rainy days, the Macrosce- lides disappears. The best time to obtain it is in spring and autumn, My soldiers had found the very small young of this snouted mouse in the month of February near Tlemsan, con- sequently the time of pairing appears to be during the winter months. When imprisoned, I noticed in these small animals a very peculiar, powerful exhalation. A single Macroscelides which had been confined for some days in a large case left be- hind it an odour which the box retained for several weeks. Among themselves these animals appear to be very mild and not quarrelsome, at least I never observed them to fight, even about their food.
Vl.—Amaryllidearum Species nove. By the Hon. and Rey. Wma. HERBERT. PANCRATIUM TORTUOSUM.
Bulbus subrotundus. Collo producto; folia angusta line- aria ;5; unciz lata, tortilia (humifusa?); scapus brevis (subterraneus ?); spatha 24 unciali, 3—4-flora, germine sessili, tubo gracili 5 unciali. Corona 21 unc., limbi la- ciniis linearibus ultra 3 uncialibus, stylo filamentis coro- ronam ;°, superantibus longiore.—W. H.
“Habitat in planitie arenosa Djedde in Arabia; floret
Febr.” S. Fischer, MS. in Herb. Hooker. Planta viva est in hort. Spofforthiano.
PANCRATIUM TRIANTHUM.
Scapus 4—9 unc., spatha 11 unc., germen sessile; tubus 4—5 unc., limbus 23—3 unc., coronam circ. unciam sty- lum 3 unc., superans, filamenta stylo breviora coronam circ. 3 unc. superantia.
Ex Senegambia, 1839. Specimina omnia triflora ex herb.
Hooker. Absque foliis.—W. H.
>
Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. 29
VII.—Descriptions of British Chalcidites. By Francis WaLKErR, F.L.S.
[Continued from vol. iii. p. 419. ]
Sp. 70. Cirrospilus Zopyrus, Mas. Viridi-eneus, abdomen cupreum, an- tenne fusce: pedes flavi fusco- et fulvo-varii, ale sublimpide.
Viridi-zneus: oculi et ocelli rufi: antennez fusce; articulus 1" viridis; 2"s piceus, apice fuscus: abdomen cupreum: pedes flavi; cox virides; fe- mora fusco late cincta: tibiz fulvee apice et basi flavee; tarsi apice fusci ; propedes tibiis et tarsis pallide fulvis: ale sublimpide ; squamulz picee ; nervi fusci, basi fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. 2; alar. lin. 3.)
Found near London.
Mas. Corpus sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum: ca- put transversum, breve convexum, juxta thoraci latum: antenne filiformes, corporis longitudine, pilis longis vestite ; articulus 1"* gracilis, sublinearis; 2"s longicyathiformis; 3" brevis; 4"°, 5"S et 6% longi, lineares ; clava longi- fusiformis, acuminata, articulo 6° duplo longior: thorax longiovatus, con- vexus : prothorax brevissimus, supra vix conspicuus : mesothoracis scutum latitudine longius; parapsidum suture bene determinate; scutellum brevi- conicum : metathorax mediocris, transversus: petiolus brevissimus: abdo- men sublineare, planum, thorace brevius fere angustius: pedes graciles : pro- alze angustz ; nervus ulnaris humerali longior, radialis vix ullus, cubitalis sat longus.
Sp. 71. Cirr. Arathis, Mas. Viridis, abdomen cupreum, antenne picee,
pedes picei, tarsi fulvi, ale limpida@.
Obscure viridis: oculi et ocelli rufi: antennz nigro-picez ; articuli 1" et 2"; virides: abdomen nigro-cupreum: pedes picei; coxe virides; genua fulva; tibiz apice fulve ; tarsi fulvi, apice fusci; propedes tibiis et tarsis fulvis: ale limpide; squamule picez ; nervifusci. (Corp. long. lin. 4 ; alar. lin. 14.)
Found near London.
Mas. Corpus sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : ca- put transversum, breve convexum, juxta thoraci latum: antenne filiformes, latze, pilis longis vestitze, corpore paullo breviores ; articulus 1"* longiovatus, latus ; 2"° longicyathiformis; 3"° brevis; 4"° et sequentes fusiformes, usque ad 6¥™ curtantes ; clava longifusiformis, acuminata, articulo 6° duplo longior: thorax ovatus, convexus: prothorax brevissimus, supra vix conspicuus: me- sothoracis scutum latitudine longius; parapsidum suture bene determinate ; scutellum breviconicum: metathorax mediocris, transversus: petiolus bre- vissimus: abdomen sublineare, planum, thorace angustius non brevius: pedes graciles: proale late; nervus ulnaris humerali longior, radialis vix ullus, cubitalis sat longus.
Sp. 72. Cirr. Rhode, Mas. Viridis, abdomen cupreum, antenneé nigre ;
pedes piceo-fulvi, femora viridia, tarsi flavi, ale linpide.
Viridis: oculi et ocelli rufi: antenne nigrz, articuli 1"* et 2"* nigro-vi-
30 Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites.
rides: abdomen nigro-cupreum : coxz virides; trochanteres picei ; femora viridia, apice flava; genua fulva; tibia fulve; tarsi flavi, apice fusci ; me- sotibize apice piceze; metatibiz piceze, basi fulve; protarsi fulvi: ale lim- pide ; squamule picew; nervi fusci. (Corp. long. lin. 3—3; alar. lin. 14 —14.)
Var. 8.—Obscure eneo-viridis : pedes flavi; coxee nigro-virides ; femora nigro-picea ; tibize fuscz, apice et basi flava; tarsi apice fusci; propedes tibiis et tarsis fulvis.
Found near London.
Mas. Corpus breve, latum, sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum : caput transversum, breve convexum, juxta thoraci latum: antennz filiformes, late, pilis longis vestitee, corpore non breviores; articulus 1"* longiovatus latus; 2"’ longicyathiformis; 3"% brevis; 4"° et sequentes fusi- formes, usque ad 6¥™ curtantes ; clava longifusiformis, acuminata, articulo 6° duplo longior: thorax ovatus, convexus: prothorax brevissimus, supra vix conspicuus: mesothoracis scutum latitudine longius; parapsidum su- ture bene determinate; scutellum breviconicum: metathorax mediocris, transversus: petiolus brevissimus: abdomen sublineare, planum, thorace brevius vix angustius: pedes graciles; proalz late; nervus ulnaris hume- rali longior, radialis vix ullus, cubitalis sat longus.
Sp. 73. Cirr. Clito, Mas. Nigro-viridis, abdomen cupreum, antenne
picee, pedes nigri, tarsi flavi, ule limpide.
Nigro-viridis: oculi et ocelli rufi: antenne picez ; articuli 1"* et 2"* ni- gro-virides: abdomen nigro-cupreum: pedes nigri; trochanteres flavi ; genua flava; tarsi flavi, apice fulvi; propedes tibiis tarsisque fulvis: alz limpidz ; squamule fuscze; proalis nervi fulvi, metalis flavi. (Corp. long. lin. 4; alar. lin. 1.)
July ; near London.
Fem. Corpus sublineare, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum: caput transversum, breve, convexum, juxta thoraci latum; vertex sat latus ; frons abrupte declivis: oculi mediocres: antenne graciles, extrorsum cras- siores, corporis dimidio paullo longiores; articulus 1" sublinearis, gracilis; 2"s longicyathiformis; 3" et sequentes ad 5¥™ curtantes; clava longiovata, acuminata, articulo 5° multo longior : thorax ovatus, convexus: prothorax transversus, brevis: mesothoracis scutum latitudine longius, linea per me- dium; parapsidum suture remotz, bene determinate ; scutellum obconicum: metathorax mediocris: petiolus brevissimus: abdomen longiovatum, de- pressum, acuminatum, thorace paullo longius vix latius; segmenta transversa, subzequalia: pedes graciles, simplices; tarsis articuli 1° ad 3®™ curtantes, 4"5 paullo longior ; ungues et pulvilli parvi: ale vix ciliate; nervus ulnaris humerali longior, radialis brevissimus, cubitalis sat longus apice stigma mi- nutum fere bimucronatum fingens.
Sp. 74. Cirr. charoba, Fem. Cyaneo-viridis, abdomen cupreum, antenne fulve, pedes flavi, ale subflave.
Cyaneo-viridis, zeneo-varius: oculi et ocelli rufi: antenne fulvz ; arti-
culi 1"5 et 2** virides, hic apice fulvus: abdomen viridi-cupreum: pedes
Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites. 31
lete flavi; coxze virides; tarsi apice fusci; protarsi fulvi: alze flavescentes ; squamule flavee ; nervi flavi.
July ; near London.
Genus Miscocaster, Walker.
Mas. Corpus sublineare, convexum, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum, caput transversum, breve convexum, thorace paullo latius; vertex latus ; frons abrupte declivis: oculi mediocres, non extantes: anteune fili- formes, corpore breviores; articulus 1"S gracilis, sublinearis; 2"S brevis ; 3"S et 4S minimi; 5S et sequentes lineares, usque ad 10¥™ curtantes; clava linearis, apice acuminata, articulo 10° duplo longior: thorax longiovatus . prothorax transversus, brevissimus : mesothoracis scutum longitudine latius ; parapsidum suture bene determinate ; scutellum obconicum: metathorax sat magnus, declivis, postice angustior : petiolus brevissimus : abdomen sub- lineare, breve planum, thorace paullo brevius et angustius; segmentum 1¥™ magnum; 2"™ et sequentia brevia: pedes simplices, subzequales ; ale me- diocres; nervus humeralis ulnari fere duplo longior, radialis ulnari longior, cubitalis ulnari multo brevior ; stigma minutum.
Sp. 1. Misc. Dryops, Mas. Cyanea cupreo et viridi varia, antenne@ ni-
gre, pedes luteo-fulvi, femora fusca, ale limpide.
Cyanea, viridi-varia: oculi et ocelli rufi: antenne nigre; articuli 1" et 2"s virides: abdominis discus cupreus: pedes lutei; coxz virides; trochan- teres fusco maculati; femora fusca, apice subtus lutea; tibiz fulvz; tarsi apice fusci; propedum tibiz lutez, tarsi fulvi: ale limpide; squamulz pice ; nervi proalis fusci, metalis flavi. (Corp. long. lin. 14; alar. lin. 23.)
Found near Edinburgh, by Dr. Greville.
Mas. M. enee proxima: corpus sublineare, convexum, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum: caput transversum, breve, thoraci latius; vertex latus ; frons impressa, abrupte declivis: oculi mediocres, non extantes: an- tenne filiformes, corpore breviores; articulus 1"S gracilis, sublinearis ; 2% breviovatus ; 3°° et 4"S minimi; 5" et sequentes lineares, usque ad 10¥™ cur- tantes ; clava sublinearis, apice acuminata, articulo 10° fere duplo longior ; thorax longiovatus : prothorax transversus, brevis antice angustior : meso- thoracis scutum longitudine paullo latius ; parapsidum suture bene determi- natz ; scutellum fere conicum: metathorax sat magnus, declivis postice angustior: petiolus brevis: abdomen sublineare, breve, planum, thorace brevius et angustius; segmentum 1¥™ magnum ; 2"™ et sequentia breviora ; sexualia exerta: pedes simplices, subeequales: alz sat magne; nervus hu- meralis ulnari duplo longior, ulnaris radiali brevior, cubitali paullo longior ; stigma parvum.
Sp. 2. Misc. Gelanor, Mas. Cyaneo-viridis, abdomen cupreo-varium, an- tenne nigre, pedes luteo-fulvi, femora fusca, ale limpide.
Cyaneo-viridis: oculi et ocelli rufi: antennz nigra, articuli 1" et 2" vi- rides: abdominis discus cupreo-varius: pedes fulvi; coxz virides; tro- chanteres fusci; femora supra fusca; genua lutea; protibize lutez ; meso- et metatarsi apice fusci: ale limpide: squamule pice ; nervi proalis picei, metalis fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. 14; alar. lin. 24)
Found near Edinburgh, by Dr. Greville.
32 Mr. Walker on the British Chalcidites.
Mas. M. Dirci proxima: corpus crassum, breve, convexum, nitens, scitis- sime squameum, parce hirtum: caput transversum, breve, thorace latius; ver- tex latus; frons abrupte declivis, vix impressa: oculi mediocres, non extantes: ocelli approximati: antenne valid, extrorsum crassiores, thorace paullo breviores; articulus 1"* gracilis, subarcuatus, fere linearis; 2"* longicya- thiformis; 3"°et4" minimi; 5"* et sequentes approximati, usque ad 10"™ curtantes ; clava fusiformis, articulo 10° plus duplo longior: thorax brevi- ovatus, altus: prothorax brevissimus: mesothoracis scutum longitudine multo latius ; parapsidum suture non bene determinate; paraptera et epi- mera magna; scutellum breviovatum, prominens: metathorax obconicus, declivis: petiolus brevis: abdomen longiovatum, convexum, breve, thorace brevius et angustius ; segmentum 1¥™ magnum; 2¥™ breve ; 3¥™ longius ; 44xm adhuc longius; 5" et 6" minima: pedes graciles, simplices, sub- zequales; mesofemora subtus unisetigera: alee mediocres ; nervus humeralis ulnari plus duplo longior, cubitalis ulnari vix longior radiali multo brevior: stigma parvum, ramulum emittens perbrevem.
Sp. 3. Misc. Sopolis, Mas. £neo-viridis, caput cyaneo-viride, antenne
nigre, pedes picei, femora viridia, tarsi flavi, ale limpide.
/Eneo-viridis: caput cyaneo-viride: oculi et ocelli rufi: antenne nigre ; articuli 1"S et 2"§ virides, ille basi fulvus: abdomen viride, zneo-varium : pedes virides ; trochanteres picei; genua fulva ; tibie picez ; protarsi picei; meso- et metatarsi flavi, apice fusci: ale limpide; squamule pice; nervi proalis picei, metalis fulvi. (Corp. long. lin. 14; alar. lin. 23.)
Found near Edinburgh, by Dr. Greville.
Genus Gastrancistrus, Westwood.
Mas. G. compresso proxima: corpus breve, convexum, nitens, scitissime squameum, parce hirtum: caput transversum, breve, thorace latius; vertex latus; frons abrupte declivis: oculi mediocres, non extantes: antennz gra- eiles, submoniliformes, corporis dimidio multo longiores; articulus 1"* gra- cilis, sublinearis; 2"* brevis; 3° et 4"° minimi; 5"% et sequentes discreti, usque ad 10¥™ curtantes ; clava fusiformis, acuminata, articulo 10° plus du- plo longior: thorax ovatus, crassus: prothorax brevissimus, supra vix con- spicuus : mesothoracis scutum longitudine latius; parapsidum suture bene determinatz : scutellum magnum, subovatum : metathorax transversus, bre- vis: petiolus brevissimus: abdomen lineare, depressum, subcompressum, leve, thorace brevius et multo angustius: pedes simplices, subzequales : ale mediccres ; nervus humeralis ulnari fere duplo longior, radialis ulnari paullo brevior, cubitali longior ; stigma minutum.
Sp. 1. Gast. Acontes, Mas. neo-viridis, abdomen cupreo-purpureum, antenne fulve, pedes flavi, ale limpide.
Viridis, zneo-varius: oculi et ocelli rufi: antenne fulve; articuli 1"* apice 2"*que basi obscuriores: abdomen cupreo-purpureum, basi viride : pedes flavi; coxe virides ; tarsi apice fusci: ale limpide ; squamule fulve ; nervi proalis fulvi, metalis flavi. (Corp. long. lin. $; alar.lin.4.) ~
Found by Dr. Greville near Edinburgh.
[To be continued. ]
Scientific Eapecition to the Antartic Regions. 33
VIII.—Jnstructions relative to Botany and Vegetable Phy- siology, for the Scientific Expedition to the Antarctic Re- gions, prepared by the President and Council of the Royal Society *.
Tue duty of the Botanist should be, to collect specimens and pre-
serve evidence concerning every department of Botany and Vegetable
Physiology, not merely in illustration of these subjects as branches
of science, but with reference to purposes of general utility.
The vegetation of the Antarctic regions and of the most southern countries which the expedition may visit, should be an object of especial attention, for however sterile and uninviting a place may appear to be, it is most desirable to know exactly what plants those regions produce. Here, therefore, and at all other places, as com- plete an herbarium as possible should be formed. At Kerguelen’s land, of which the Flora is so little known, this is especially neces- sary: even at St. Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, and Hobart Town, carefully as the botany of these places has been examined, a dried collection of plants should be made, especially of the lower orders of phenogamous vegetation and of aquatic and submersed plants, whether of fresh or salt water. Fungi also, and Rhizanths, should be diligently sought for, and all those minute species of cryptogamic plants which are parasites.
Though but little accession to our knowledge of Systematic Bo- tany can be anticipated at any of the principal stations of the expe- dition, many new and interesting facts may be collected in Physio- logical Botany, if anomalous forms of vegetation be examined, as concerning these so little that is positive has as yet been ascertained in foreign countries. Collections should be made of the stems of Ca- suarinas, Urticaceous trees, and of twining woody plants, the internal structure of which is frequently at variance with the ordinary plan of vegetable formation. Diligent search should also be made for cases of the occurrence of the embryo buds of Dutrochet. It is probable that attention skilfully directed to these last productions will throw light upon some of the most obscure points of Vegetable Physiology. Most of the specimens of this kind may be preserved in a dry state; but as some will require to be kept moist, it is re-
* The President and Council having been informed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that it had been determined, in conformity with their recom- mendation, to send out Captain James C. Ross on an Antarctic Expedition for scientific objects, and having been requested to communicate any suggestions upon subjects to which they might wish his attention to be called, referred the consi-
deration of each to distinct Committees. We have selected those reports which are connected with the subject of our Journal.—Ep.
Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol.4. No.21. Sept. 1839. D
34 Instructions for the Scientific Expedition
quisite, for this purpose, that the Botanist should be supplied with bottles, jars, acetic acid and spirit.
Attention should be especially directed to the distribution of re- markable species in each country, regard being paid, in particular, to the elevations at which they are found, and the soils which they seem to prefer, where preference is observable. Connected with this topic are the limits to which cultivated plants extend, and the circum- stances under which they succeed or fail. In noting points of this nature, facts concerning the commoner species will be interesting, because they are so frequently neglected, and because of the evi- dence as to climate which they may be expected to afford. In the absence of this kind of knowledge, it is dificult for persons here to judge correctly respecting the kind of plants it may be desirable to in- troduce into another country. Should the causes of failure or of suc- cess in the cultivation of particular plants be apparent, they ought to be noted down. As an instance of the importance of this branch of inquiry, the Vine at the Cape of Good Hope may be mentioned : the bad quality of Cape wine, with the exception of that produced at the farm of Constantia, is well known: can any physical cause be assigned for this circumstance? If exotic plants are commonly cul- tivated with apparent success, they should receive particular notice ; European Oaks, for example, are common about Cape Town, where they are planted for their shade; the species to which they belong, and the effect of that climate upon their growth, and the quality of their timber, are points deserving of attention.
The original Flora of St. Helena should be fully investigated and carefully distinguished from that which has been gradually formed there by the introduction of numerous plants from various countries. The association of plants in this island will be found extremely curious, and the circumstances which enable species of very different habits to flourish equally well in the same place, not- withstanding their constitutional diversity, are deserving of particu- lar attention. A very detailed catalogue should be formed of these exotics, the degree in which they are affected by their new country should be observed, and an attempt be made to discover the causes which are favourable to the maintenance of so singularly mixed a vegetation in so small an island. Such a catalogue, if well prepared, may be expected to illustrate many difficult and important questions which are connected with the relation borne by vegetation to cli- mate.
Both at St. Helena and Hobart Town, Tree Ferns will be found: those in the former place have the stems destitute of external fibres
to the Antarctic Regions. 35
except near the ground, while the Tree Ferns of Hobart Town are thickly covered with similar fibres from the very summit. The origin of these fibres and the circumstances under which they are produced, are unknown, and should, if possible, be determined; indeed, the manner of growth of these plants in all other particulars is an in- teresting subject for careful investigation, as are also the circum- stances under which this tropical form of vegetation is produced upon Mount Wellington. In the event of the expedition visiting the southern part of New Zealand, it should also be ascertained under what conditions the Tree Ferns that exist there extend so far beyond the usual geographical limits of such trees, and also whether they are not accompanied by other forms of an equally tropical character.
The northern coast of Van Diemen’s Land being in many re- spects clothed with a different vegetation from the south side, it is desirable to notice the peculiarities of each. At Emu Bay, there exists the Gunnia australis, an orchidaceous epiphyte, which is far to the southward of the general range of plants of that kind. It will probably be found that this apparent exception to general rules is dependent upon some local peculiarity of climate. Possibly other species with similar habits occur on the same line of coast; they should be sought for, and particular attention should be paid to the plants with which the orchidaceous epiphytes are associated.
A principal object of inquiry should be, plants yielding useful products of all kinds. It is in this way only that the resources of foreign countries can be ascertained, and it is presumed that in an expedition which will be stationary for considerable periods of time, such inquiries can be easily made. Under the head of useful products the following may be particularly mentioned :
1. Dietetical, medicinal, and poisonous agents of all kinds. The nature and action of the poisons employed by the natives of many countries are but slightly known.
2. Dye stuffs. Attention should be paid, especially to obtain Lichens, as substitutes for the Roccella tinctoria, now becoming scarce, and consequently very valuable in European commerce. The fitness of these plants for this purpose may be approximately ascertained by Hellot’s lichen test, which is as follows: digest the lichen at a temperature of 130° F. for a few hours, in a weak solution of am- monia, but sufficiently strong to be tolerably pungent. One that is fit for the dyer will yield a rich violet red liquid.
3. Astringent substances adapted for tanning. It is desirable to ascertain with accuracy the source of the various astringent extracts
D 2
36 Instructions for the Scientific Expedition
imported from New Holland and the neighbouring parts, and which are employed by the tanners of this country.
4. Fibres adapted for cordage and weaving. Substitutes for Hemp are very desirable. Great strength, flexibility and freedom from injurious influence in working are three essential qualities of good hemp.
5. Information respecting the source of many of the ornamental woods imported from the southern hemisphere is very imperfect. It is desirable, therefore, that inquiries be made on this subject as well as for new kinds of wood.
6. Gums, resins, volatile oils, fecula. Especially the source of some resins brought to this country from New Holland, and which are analogous in some properties to the yellow resin of that country.
In forming collections of such objects, especial care must be taken when collected to number alike both the products and the plants by which they are furnished, and to note whatever can be learned concerning them, more particularly with regard to their abundance and the facility with which they can be procured. It is also ne- cessary that the observations made by the Botanist himself should be carefully distinguished from such information as he may receive from other persons.
No opportunity is to be lost of collecting information respecting the source and mode of preparation of any vegetable substances known in commerce; for many exotic products, even those with which we are most familiar, have many points connected with their natural history deserving attention.
The vegetation of South Shetland cannot be expected to furnish much that can be made available for purposes of commerce, except Lichens. With respect to these plants, however, it is possible that species fit for the purposes of the dyer may be found in those southern latitudes; and if such should prove to be the case, an additional source of profit may become available for the South-
sea traders. Where the native names of useful plants can be correctly ascer-
tained, they should be preserved; but care must be taken to avoid error in this respect. Implicit credit must not be given to the statements of individual natives; it is only by comparing the sepa- rate evidence of different persons, that correctness can be expected.
Collections should be formed of the seeds and bulbs of useful and ornamental plants wherever opportunities occur, and they should be forwarded to Europe from time to time. It is also recommended that duplicate collections be transmitted to the Supreme Goyern-
to the Antarctic Regions. $7
ment at Calcutta for distribution among the botanical gardens of India. In packing these collections, the best method is to en- close each kind of seed in separate packets of brown paper, which should be placed loosely in canvas bags, or in boxes with holes in their sides, and arrangements should be made for their being transmitted in a cabin, or some well-ventilated part of the ship. Among those seeds which it is more particularly desirable to procure, may be mentioned the arborescent Composite of St. Helena, and the na- tive Coniferous plants of all countries, particularly the Phyllocladus or Celery-leaved Pine, and the various species of Athrotaxis inhabit- ing the mountains of Van Diemen’s Land. As the seeds of such plants are apt to suffer from long keeping, and as other instances may occur when it would be desirable to send home young plants instead of seeds, it would be advisable that the expedition should be supplied with one of Mr. Ward’s glazed cases, to be used if oc- casion should arise.
Light is an agent which operates so powerfully upon plants, de- termining the amount and even nature of their secretions, and in- fluencing in the most essential manner their vital actions, that it would be most interesting to obtain, if possible, some good pho- tometrical observations. ‘The extreme and mean temperatures of the atmosphere, its humidity, the quantity of rain, and the tempera- ture of the earth immediately below and within a few feet of the surface, have also a direct and important bearing upon Vegetable Physiology, especially when considered with respect to the distri- bution of plants, and the arts of cultivation. Observations upon all such points tend to explain the connexion which exists between vegetation and climate, and should be introduced by the Botanist into his report, notwithstanding that they also occur in the Meteoro- logical Journal.
If the observations here recommended be briefly noted in a ta- bular form, and at the time that they are made, the registration of much useful matter which might otherwise escape recollection, will be secured, and a valuable document formed for future reference.
In conclusion, the Council most particularly recommend that the Botanist to the expedition be directed to number all the objects collected by him in one consecutive series; that the dried speci- mens, seeds, woods, and productions of all kinds, shall correspond in number with the plants producing them; and that two complete collections be prepared for Government, of which one shall be for incorporation with the general collections belonging to the public, and the other be preserved separately, to illustrate the botany, &c.,
38 Instructions for the Scientific Expedition
of the expedition. The Council also recommend that both these collections be delivered up within six months after the return of the expedition ; and, finally, that a report upon the botanical results of the expedition be furnished to Government within six months after its return, every plant or object mentioned in the report bearing the number of the specimens in the collections to be delivered up as above recommended.
Zoology and Animal Physiology.
1. Marine INVERTEBRATA. Tne animals which it is desirable to preserve, and which may first present themselves to the notice of the naturalist in the present ex- pedition, are the floating marine Mollusca and Crustacea, and those which inhabit the Sargazzo or Gulph-weed.
With respect to the Mollusca, all the species of the Cephalopoda or Cuttle-fish tribe, and all the Pteropoda or lower organized floating Mollusca, should be preserved. If taken alive they should be allowed to die gradually in sea water, by which means they commonly remain in a relaxed state, and display more of their natural outward form. When dead they should be soaked for a short time in fresh water, and then put into spirit; or if transparent, in the saline solution*, to prevent decomposition, which otherwise rapidly takes place.
To each specimen should be attached a number, stamped on sheet tin, corresponding to the entry-number in the Catalogue, in which should be noticed the kind of locomotion, or other vital phenomena, and the colour of the living animal, the latter being speedily altered or lost in the preserving liquor. The larger Crustacea will be liable to become putrid in spirit, unless the soft mass, which fills a large portion of the body, consisting of the liver, &c. be removed. Each specimen of this class, excepting the very minute ones, which will be best preserved in small phials or glass tubes, should be wrapt in a piece of very soft, thin linen or cotton cloth, to prevent the legs from being intermixed or lost, as they are very likely to fall off after having been a short time in spirit. :
A very important object of investigation is the development of the Crustacea, from the earliest period at which they can be observed to the perfect state. They may be readily examined even before they leave the egg, by opening the egg under a single microscope.
* Common Salt isccssscswpsdesavesbadedsenmeene 1 part AlUI 2.3 205sesnoaseendceerensteessuaancnamerers 2 parts. Boiling water ...ccsess sea Sspuuseesen ores «10 parts.
Filter the solution when cold.
to the Antarctic Regions. 39
Drawings of these changes are very desirable, and when practicable the eggs and young ones in different stages should be preserved in spirit in short glass tubes. The smaller oceanic Crustacea offer a prolific and hitherto unexplored field of investigation.
Among the floating Mollusca likely to be met with in the tropical latitudes is the Spirula, a smali Cephalopod with a chambered shell. An entire specimen of this rare Mollusk is a great desideratum; and if it should be captured alive, its movements should be watched in a vessel of sea water, with reference more especially to the power of rising and sinking at will, and the position of the shell during those actions.
The chambered part of the shell should be opened under water, in order to determine if it contain a gas; the nature of this gas should likewise, if possible, be ascertained. As a part of the shell of the Spirula projects externally at the posterior part of the animal, this part should be laid open in the living Spirula, in order to ascer- tain how far such mutilation would affect its power of rising or sinking in the water. In the event of a living Pearly Nautilus (Nau- tilus Pompilius) being captured, the same observations and experi- ments should be made on that species, in which they would be at- tended with more precision and facility, as the species is much larger than the Spzrula, and its shell external. The towing-net should be kept overboard at all practicable periods, and drawn up and examined at stated intervals, as some of the rarest marine animals have been taken by thus sweeping the surface of the sea.
A sketch or drawing of Molluscous and Radiate animals, of which the form and colour are liable to be materially altered by death, or when put in spirit, will aid materially in rendering the description of the species useful and intelligible. ‘The Hchinodermata and As- terias echinus, and similar forms, should be soaked in fresh water previously to their being put into spirit.
Care must be taken not to crowd too many soft-bodied Inverte- brata in the same bottle, and to change the spirit or preserving liquor at least once, if not oftener.
2. FisHxs.
The mode and speed of swimming, living colour, temperature, and any other peculiarity, should be noticed before placing the spe- cimen in spirit,
In very large specimens of the Shark or Ray kind, a section of the jaws, with a part of the vertebral column, should always be pre- served as wet preparations, and the remainder of the jaws and ver-
40 Instructions for the Scientific Expedition
tebral column in a dry state. The eyes, eyelids, and part of the surrounding skin should be preserved in the saline solution. In less bulky specimens the entire head should be taken off by dividing the fish below the heart across the upper part of the liver, by which means the mouths of the oviducts, if it be a female, the heart, gills, and head are all preserved together.
The tail of a Shark may be taken off a little below the anus, and the trunk alone preserved for examination. If the trunk be too large, it should be cut through above the pelvis, and the parts contained in the hinder portion, as the claspers of the male, should be pre- served in spirit. Ifthe specimen be a female, separate the two ovi- ducts through their whole length, where they run along the abdo- men, on each side of the spine, but keep them attached to the cloaca and its surrounding parts.
If with young, or eggs, take the whole out in the same way with- out opening the oviducts.
The heads of all fishes should be preserved, when the specimens are too large to be preserved entire.
All external parasites, and those which infest the gills of fishes, should be preserved. The alimentary canal should, in all cases, be examined for the presence of the entozoa, which, if adherent to the coats of the intestine, should be preserved with the part to which they are attached. One of the most interesting fishes of the South- ern Seas is the Port Jackson Shark (Cestracion Philippi). Mode- rate sized specimens of this species should be preserved entire: and the head, vertebrz, with the dorsal spines, viscera, and especially the impregnated oviduct, should be preserved. The Southern Chi- mera (Callorhynchus antarcticus) merits also the especial attention of the Naturalist, and the same specimens of this species should be preserved as of the Cestracion.
3. REPTILES.
Specimens ‘of Turtle should be carefully examined for parasitic animals; a curious Barnacle (Chelonobia) and a Leech (Hirudo branchiata) are occasionally found adhering to these marine Reptilia.
In the event of the expedition touching at the Galapagos Islands, specimens of Amblyrhynchus, a lizard of marine habits, should be secured, and the particular locality of the capture noted.
4. Birps. The Chionis or Sheath-bill of the Falkland Islands and Cape Horn. The Great Penguin (Aptenodytes). : The Penguin of the Isle San Lorenzo.
to the Antarctic Regions. 4}
Of these rare and desirable birds, besides the prepared skins, the entire body should be preserved in spirits for anatomical purposes. The young of the Great Penguin, and the eggs at different stages of incubation, should likewise be similarly preserved.
5. Mamata.
The skulls, skeletons, and viscera of a specimen of each species of the Cetacea of the Southern Ocean are worthy of being preserved. With respect to the Sperm Whale, an entire foetus, or, if of large size, the brain, eyes, pharynx, larynx, and blow-holes, and the vis- cera; a part of the impregnated uterus; the ovaria, and a portion of the membrane of the fcetus; are all parts worthy of preservation.
The same observations apply to the great Elephant-Seals (Phoca (Cystophora) proboscidea) ; of which the skull and skeleton of both male and female are very desirable.
The skulls or skeletons of all the species of the Southern Seals should be preserved, the sex being noted.
6. In Particutar Regions.
In Australia or Van Diemen’s Land the following species are more especially worthy of attention.
Thylacinus Harrisii, Hyena of the Colonists.
Of this species, the skeletons of male and female, detached skulls, an entire specimen in the saline solution for dissection, the viscera, and more especially the impregnated uterus, and a young specimen for the changes in dentition are particularly desirable; such speci- mens not having been as yet transmitted to the museums of this country or on the continent.
The skeletons, skulls, and female organs of every marsupial qua- druped, and of the Ornithorhynchus and Echidna (or Porcupine of the Colonists) should be preserved.
The smaller Mammalia of Australia, whether Marsupial or Rodent, should be preserved in spirit, and particular notice taken of their lo- cality and habits.
Among the birds of Australia the Lyre-Pheasant (Menura) would be an interesting subject for anatomical investigation. Of this spe- cies are wanting the skeletons of a male and female, and of the young bird; and the entire body of both sexes in spirit, or the saline solu- tion.
The same with respect to the large-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops), and Sea-Partridge (Glareola).
In New Zealand similar preparations should be obtained of the Megapodius, and of the Apteryx australis.
Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol.4. No. 21. Sept. 1839. E
42 Bibliographical Notices.
With regard to birds it may be observed, that if spirit be injected down the windpipe, it will pass through almost the whole body by means of the air-cells. In the case of a quadruped preserved in spirit, or in the saline solution, it is proper to inject the preserving liquor into the abdominal cavity and intestinal canal.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
Supplement to the History of British Fishes. By William Yarrell, F.L.S., V.P.Z.S., Illustrated by Wood-cuts. London, Van Voorst, 8vo. 1839.
In an early number of the ‘ Magazine of Zoology and Botany,’ we noticed the work to which that bearing the title above is a Sup- plement, considering it as one well executed in all its departments, and of much importance in bringing together our knowledge of a branch of the British Fauna which had not been investigated so minutely as either the zoology or ornithology ; and moreover we looked upon it as a work which was sure to cause the production of much ad- ditional information. In the latter prophecy the Supplement before us bears ample testimony that we have not been deceived, while it also exhibits the zeal of the author in his interesting department, and the assiduity with which he is assisted, which is mainly to be attributed to the excitement given to our ichthyologists by the in- terest of his previous volumes.
The execution of the Supplement more than equals that of the former volumes. Thirty-one figures of fishes are given, besides vig- nettes illustrating structure or characters. Among the species the greater number are new to our Fauna, the others being improved re- presentations of fishes previously illustrated, or taken from speci- mens where the former wood-cuts were, for want of better materials, copied from drawings or other engravings. In the letter-press se- veral mistakes and inadvertencies have been corrected. We trust that Mr. Yarrell will continue to collect materials as he has already done, and we will venture to predict that it will not be long before they will again swell to an extent even beyond that which he has already presented to the public.
The following may be noticed as occurring among the more im- portant corrections and additions to this Supplement :—Couch’s Serranus Mr. Yarrell has found to be identical with the Polyprion cernuum of Cuv. and Val. An improved figure of the baagmaer or Deal fish is given from the representation of Professor Reinhart of
Bibliographical Notices. 43
Copenhagen, together with extracts from that naturalist’s not easily accessible memoir. There is a beautifully cut figure of Crenilabrus rupestris, which formed the subject of an interesting paper by Mr. Selby in an early number of this periodical, and which (since atten- tion has been directed to the species) has been met with on several parts of the English and Irish shores. In the paper alluded to ‘ Mag. of Zool. and Bot.’ i. p. 137, the third specimen is said to have been found on the shore near “‘ Barncleugh :” there is no such place, the name is a misprint for Bamborough, which we regret to see copied by Mr. Yarrell, as well as by foreign writers without blame on their parts, and we trust that this notice will tend to correction. The Pomera- nian Bream, C. Buggenhaggii, is a fine addition to our Cyprinide, and has been taken in Dagenhambreach, Essex, and by Mr. Thompson in the river Logan near Belfast. Of the very singular genus Hemi- ramphus, a fish is represented under the title of H. Europeus, de- tected several years since by Mr. Couch of Polpero. In the descrip- tion Mr. Yarrell remarks, ‘‘ one question may be hazarded :—Is this fish, with its unequally developed jaws, the very young state of our common Garfish, Belone vulgaris?’ and we would request our ich- thyologists to attend to this query, very interesting and important, whether it proves us to have a British member of the genus Hemi- ramphus, or that the lengthened jaw is only a peculiar structure in another division; and perhaps touching upon another question im- mediately suggested by Mr. Yarrell’s surmise,—whether or not the Hemiramphi may not be all a young or immature form of this fish, and if so what is the use of the elongation of the under jaw at this early period ? Among the Salmonide we have a second figure of S. feroxr from an Irish specimen, authenticating its Irish range. Mr. Yarrell also mentions having received specimens of trout weighing 32 and 34 lbs. from Lake Wenern, and which are considered identical with the British fish. A species of smelt, Osmerus Hebridicus, taken near the Isle of Bute, is given as new to Britain and to ichythology. The powan of Loch Lomond, and pollan of Loch Neagh, are also now figured. Platessa elongata, taken at Stoford, in Bridgewater Bay, is described as new to ichthyology. Among the British Sturgeons ichthyologists will find interesting employment, and we refer to Mr. Yarrell’s finely cut figures of the heads of two, and to his short observations for excitement. Echinorhinus spinosus is a very inter- esting addition, but surely there is much difference between Mr. Yar- rell’s figure and Dr. Smith’s in the proportion and relative positions of the members, and also in the form of the teeth. We judge now
only from the figures before us. E 2
44 Bibliographical Notices.
Lpicrisis Systematis Mycologici seu Synopsis Hymenomycetum. Elias Fries. Upsaliz, 1836—1838. Vol. I. 8vo.
Twenty years have elapsed since the preparation of the first volume of the ‘Systema Mycologicum,’ which appeared in 1821. Nume- rous species have since been published by the learned author himself in his ‘ Elenchus,’ and in the ‘ Linnea,’ and various new labourers have arisen in the mycological field. The author’s intention in the present work, of which we have here only the commencement, is to give short characters of all the fungi hitherto published or known in Herbaria under manuscript names. At the same time he takes the opportunity of completely revising the species, correcting errors, im- proving the synonyms where needful, and making such alterations in the arrangements and such new genera as the very enlarged number of species may demand. The difficulty and labour of the task can scarcely be fully estimated, except by persons versed in the intricacies of the subjects, though some notion perhaps may be formed from the fact that the volume, which comprises only the Hymeno- mycetes, contains specific characters of nearly 2560 species. The number of genera amounts to 65; of these about 28 are either new or sectional divisions of different value raised to the rank of genera. As it is, the genus Agaricus, after nine dismemberments, some of which are very extensive, still comprises 980 species. Of the value of the new genera it would be very rash to speak without careful inves- tigation. The whole group is so natural that it is exceedingly diffi- cult to define genera very nicely, though the species associated are evidently allied in a more peculiar degree amongst each other; and the characters assigned will be judged sufficient or insufficient ac- cording to the notions which individuals attach to the term genera, which are confessedly artificial assemblages ; for genera do not exist in nature. It is at present uncertain whether the other orders of Fungi will be reviewed, as the encouragement to mycological works is so small, that even in the case of an author of such superior qua- lifications no publisher could be found to undertake the risk. The work is therefore published ‘“ sumtibus auctoris,’—a circumstance which we hope will be an inducement, not only to mycologists, to whom it is indispensable, but to botanists not so immediately inter- ested in the subject, to become purchasers. As it was imperative upon the author to bring the book out at as little cost as possible, he has been obliged to curtail the descriptions as far as is consist- ent with clearness, to give only the most important synonyms, and to forgo a general index. It is painful to find the author after sa
Bibliographical Notices. 45
many years of labour expressing himself in such terms as the fol- lowing: “‘ Mycologia enim referatur ad vilia illa et a plerisque neg- lecta studia que nec pecuniam nec honores suis parant cultoribus ; sed eo ipso fidos tantum semper habebit, licet paucos, quibus satis erit in nature gremio acquiescendo infinitam rerum creatarum varie- tatem et artificium admirari.”” Sweden however is not singular in this respect. Little encouragement is given at home to works on Cryptogamic botany, especially on Mycology; and in France, we know from the highest authority, that it is regarded as a very infe- rior branch of botany. Germany alone appears duly to appreciate its value.
Linnea, ein Journal fiir die Botanik, &c. Vol. XII. Part 6. Vol. XIII. Parts 1, 2, 1839.
{Continued from vol. ii. p. 465. ]
Contributions to the genus Mentha; by A. Rochel.—Supplement- ary observations on Papaveracee and Fumariacee ; by Prof. Bern- hardi.—On the structure of the Flowers of Balsaminee ; by Prof. Bernhardi.—Observations on the Hairs in the Air-tubes of Limnan- themum and Villarsia ; by Drs. Grisebach and Hoffmann.—Monstro- sities of Plants; by Schlechtendal.
Vol. XIJI. No. I.
Anatomical investigation of the reproductive organs of Riccia glauca; by Prof. Unger.—On Brasilian Vetches; by Dr. Vogel.— On the Liverworts, collected by Beyrich in North America; by E. Hampe. —Description of Mount Slavnik and its botanical rarities, particularly Pedicularis Friederici Augusti; by M. Tommasini.— A very interesting account of a Botanical Excursion to the mountainous regions between Trieste and Fiume; by the Botanists who accom- panied Mr. Forbes in his botanical excursion to the mountains of Ternova, of which an account is given in this work, vol. ili. p. 236. —Description of a new Pancratium and Gilia ; by C. Bouché.—Re- marks on American Laurocerasi ; by the Editor.—To the memory of Chamisso; by Schlechtendal.
Vol. XIII. No. 2.
On Jungermannia Porella, Dick ; by Prof. Schwaigrichen.—On the origin and development of Botrytis Bassiana and another parasitic mould ; by Prof. Crivellii—On a curious monstrosity of Hordeum Himalayense trifurcatum; by T. Irmisch.—Supplement to the enu- meration of Mexican Ferns, collected by Schiede, Ehrenberg, and
46 Bibliographical Notices.
others; by Kunze.—On Conyza chilensis, Spreng, and C. diversi- folia, Weinw. ; by Weinmann.— Review of a century of Brazilian Malpighiacee ; by Dr. Grisebach.—On Mexican Plants collected by Schiede, &c.; by Schlechtendal.
Plantes Cryptogames de France. Par J. B. H. Q. Desmazieres.
Of this valuable work three Numbers, 18—20, have appeared since our last notice. It would take up too much room to give a list of the species, which amount te 150, contained in them; but it may truly be said that with every number the interest increases.
Deutschlands Kryptogamische Giftgewiichse, 8c. Von Dr. P. Phoebus. Berlin, 1838. 4to. _ This is a continuation of Brandt and Ratzeburg’s account of the poisonous plants of Germany. With the exception of the Fungi, the cryptogamic plants noticed as possessing deleterious qualities are confined to one or two species of Mquisetum and Lycopodium. ‘The poisonous fungi are admirably described, with remarkably full syn- onyms, and of many of the more common ones there are excellent figures, with a very correct analysis. ‘There is a very complete ac- count of Ergot beautifully illustrated. We recommend the work very highly to the notice of such as wish to become acquainted with dangerous Fungi, and to the general cryptogamic student. The price is very reasonable.
Fauna Coleopterorum Helvetica, auctore Oswaldo Heer. Pars I. Fasc. I. Turici.—The present first fasciculus contains the Carabide and the commencement of the Dytiscide.
We are glad to learn that the Rev. Dr. Pye Smith’s Congrega- tional Lecture on the Relation between the Holy Scriptures and some parts of Geological Science is in the press.
PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. BRITISH ASSOCIATION. August 26.—J. E. Gray, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. Secretaries :—Mr. E. Forbes and Mr. Patterson. The first paper read was by Mr. Lankester, on the Formation of Woody Tissue, the conclusions in which were opposed to the views,
supported in this country by Dr. Lindley, of the formation of fibrous tissue by descent from the buds and leaves, and contained some in-
. Zoological Society. 47
teresting observations on what have been termed by Dutrochet ‘Embryo Buds.’
A notice, by Mr. Forbes and Mr. Goodsir, of Zoological Re- searches in Orkney and Shetland, the result of a journey made in June last, in which twenty-three new species were described, chiefly Mollusca, Radiata and Zoophytes, and many new facts stated in re- gard to some of the rarer British marine animals.
A notice, by Dr. Wilde, on Peruvian Mummies ;—and on the preservation of Fish.
A paper on the same subject, by Mr. Lankester, who exhibited specimens, well preserved by a very ready and expeditious method.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
November 13, 1838.—Professor Owen, in the Chair.
A letter from Alexander Gordon, Esq. was read, begging the Society’s acceptance of the animal described by Mr. Waterhouse under the name of Myrmecobius fasciatus, and also the Perameles la- gotis. Both of these animals, Mr. Gordon stated, were from Swan River and not from Van Diemen’s Land as had been supposed.
A paper entitled ‘“‘ Observations on certain modifications observed in the dentition of the Flying Opossums (the genus Petaurus of authors),” was communicated by Mr. G. R. Waterhouse.
“In the ‘ Dents des Mammiferes’ of M. F. Cuvier, the dentition of the Flying Opossums and that of the Phalangers is described under the two heads ‘ Petaurus’ and ‘ Phalangers proprement dits.’ Both the groups termed Petaurus and Phalangers by M. F. Cuvier contain certain species of Flying Opossums, and likewise species of Phalangers. Those species, however, which have the flank-membrane extended from limb to limb, enabling them to sail in the air like a parachute, are now with universal consent separated from the Phalan- gers (Phalangista), and arranged under the generic title Petaurus or Petaurista.
“In grouping the Phalangers and Petaurists as above mentioned, M. F. Cuvier was guided only by the characters offered by the den- tition; that of Petaurus Taguanoides certainly bearing a very close resemblance to that of Phalangista Cookii. The teeth of Petaurus sciureus, however, do not bear so close a resemblance to those of Phalangista vulpina and P. maculata, although the three animals mentioned are placed in the same division by the author alluded to. Regarding the Petauri as a distinct genus from the Phalangers, I will proceed to describe their dentition as I find it in the skulls before me, which I may observe consist of two specimens of each of the
48 Zooloyical Society.
following species :—P., taguanoides, P. flaviventer, P. sciureus, and P. pygmeus, and one skull of a new species hereafter described. ‘‘In these crania three distinct modifications in the dentition are observable ; and as they are combined with certain differences in the skulls and in the external characters of the animals to which they be- long, they may be regarded as forming three subordinate sections, to which for convenience I shall apply the names, Petaurus, Belideus, and Acrobata. Two of these names will be found in the ‘ Mammologie,’ by M. Desmarest. The dentition observable in the species of the first of these RECmonA (Petaurus) is as acfollomirs :—Incisors—, a canines 3 false molars * — true molars — jc: I am induced rh call the two first teeth alguns the incisors canines, since they re- present those which are evidently canines in the two next sections. The incisors of the upper jaw are arranged laterally, the three on either side being placed close together; the two foremost are sepa- rated from one another by a space about equal to their diameter ; they are narrow at the base, and expanded and somewhat compressed above the base. ‘The next incisor on each side is larger than the last or posterior one, and about half the height of the first, narrow at the base, and wide and truncated at the apex. ‘The third incisor is small and but slightly wider at the tip than at the base. The canine is very small, being in size about equal to the posterior inci- sor ; its tip is rounded, and it springs from the maxilla a little behind the intermaxillary suture; the space between it and the canine being about equal to twice its diameter or more; for there is a difference in this respect in the specimens before me. The first false molar is minute and conical, separated by a considerable space from the canine and also from the following molars. The next two molars on each side I have called false molars, because they do not possess the inner tubercles which are observed in those behind ; they are broad at the base and compressed at the tip; the foremost presents an an- terior larger, and a posterior small compressed tubercle; the third is divided at the tip into three compressed points. The true molars are nearly square, but rather longer than broad ; the crown of each, with the exception of the last, presents four tubercles, with sharp cutting edges, and very much resemble those of a Ruminant animal. Inthe last molar there are but three of these tubercles, two in front and one behind. The incisors of the lower jaw are large, nearly cylindrical at the base; beyond this they are somewhat dilated, flattened, pointed, and have two sharp edges. There are no minute detached false molars in the lower jaw. ‘The single false molar on each side is placed close to the true molars, compressed in front and expanded
Zoological Society. 49
behind: a small anterior tubercle is separated from the body of the tooth by a sli ht transverse incision. The true molars resemble those of the upper jaw, excepting that they are narrower, and the last molar has four tubercles instead of three.
«* The above description is taken from P. Taguanoides. The cra- nium differs from that of the species of the second section (Belideus), in being proportionately smaller, more contracted, and deeply con- cave between the orbits; the cranial cavity is smaller, the zygoma- tic arches deeper, and the bony palate is deeply. emarginated poste- riorly ; in fact, the palatine portion of the palatine bone is wanting. The dense woolly fur on the outer side of the ears will serve to dis- tinguish the animal externally from either of the species of the next subgenus. P. macrourus I suspect belongs also to this section. In M. F. Cuvier’s‘ Dents des Mammiféres,’ it is stated, that besides the false molars described by me there are two others on each side, which are small ;—these I have not seen, nor are they shown in the plate of the work quoted. Perhaps they are shed at an early pe- riod, or perhaps M. Cuvier may have described the dentition of Phalangista Cookii and figured that of Petaurus Taguanoides.
. . Wace . 6 . 1—1 «Section 2. Belideus.—Dentition: Incisors, g) canines, 5; false
= 4—4 . : ° molars true molars, =_,=—40. ‘The anterior incisors of the
3-3 | are upper jaw are large, somewhat suddenly dilated immediately above their insertion in the intermaxillaries, and assuming a triangular form. In P. flaviventer they are broader than in either P. sciureus or the new species here described under the specific name of breviceps, where these incisors are proportionately shorter, and perhaps a little broader than in P. sciureus. The next incisor on each side is smaller than the posterior one, narrow at the base, and broad at the apex. The third incisor is broad, and has a sharp incurved cutting edge. The canine is tolerably large, and has its origin close behind the in- termaxillary suture; in fact, is in the usual situation of the canine. It is separated by a small space on either side from the false molars and the incisors, compressed and pointed, and its anterior and posterior edges are sharp. The apex projects beyond the level of either of the molars. The first false molar on each side is rather large, broad, compressed and pointed, has a very faint indication of an anterior and posterior lobe, and two distinct fangs (which is not the case in the small and cylindrical corresponding tooth in Petaurus Tagua- noides). ‘The second false molar is small, short, and compressed, and has a minute anterior lobe. This tooth is separated by a con- siderable space from the first false molar, and by a narrow space from the third. The latter touches the first true molar, is narrow in
50 Zoological Society.
front, and consists chiefly of one triangular and pointed tubercle. The first true molar on each side is considerably larger than the fol- lowing molars, each of which is smaller than the preceding, so that the last is not equal in bulk to one half of the first. With the ex- ception of the last, all the true molars possess four somewhat blunt and rounded tubercles, and in general appearance very much resem- ble the corresponding teeth of a Squirrel. The last molar has but three tubercles, two in front and one behind.
‘“* The incisors of the lower jaw are long, compressed, and pointed, and have the upper and lower edges sharp ; they are almost horizon- tal in their direction, being but slightly curved upwards. Next follows a series of four small teeth on each side, which I have called false molars, though possibly the last only is properly so called, that having two fangs, whereas the others appear to have but one. The true molars nearly resemble those of the upper jaw, though they are narrower and longer. ‘The first has a large irregular anterior lobe, which is higher than the posterior portion of the tooth, which is divided into two tubercles. The three posterior molars have each four tubercles.
‘* Besides the points of distinction already alluded to between the species of the present section and the preceding, there are other characters which cannot be considered unimportant. The space occupied by the grinding teeth of the upper jaw, compared with the space between the last incisor and the first true molar in the species of Belideus, is much less than in Petaurus. In Belideus the molars oc- : cupy a space equal to rather more than two-thirds of that between the incisors and first true molar; whereas in Petaurus, the four last molars occupy more space than that which extends from them to the incisors. There is a corresponding difference in the lower jaw. In Petaurus the molars are very nearly equal in size, whereas in Beli- deus they decrease considerably from the first molar to the last. In Petaurus, again, there are five molars on each side of the lower jaw opposed to six in the upper jaw, all of which are fitted for the masti- cation of the food; whilst in Belideus the molar corresponding to the first on either side of each jaw in Petaurus is so small, and its crown is so low, that it cannot be used in mastication. The com- paratively large size of the canines, and the series of small teeth in front of the molars, will also serve to distinguish the species of the present section from the preceding, where the upper murgin of the ramus of the lower jaw somewhat suddenly descends in front of the molars, and the coronoid process is comparatively broad.
“« Petaurus sciureus may be regarded as the type of the section Be- iideus, which will also contain P. flaviventer and P. breviceps.
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«* In the third section, which is the subgenus Acrobata of Des-
te OMe 6 . 1—1 3 marest, the incisors are 5; canines, »—); false molars, =; true mo-
33 lars, eS 36. The incisors resemble those of Belideus; the canines are well-developed, long, pointed, and recurved, placed close to the intermaxillary suture, and even encroaching slightly on the intermax- illary bone. The three false molars of the upper jaw have each two fangs, they are compressed, sharply pointed, and viewed laterally, of a triangular form. The first and second are about equal in size, and larger than the third, the apex of which projects beyond the level of the crowns of the true molars. Between the first and second false molars on each side there is a narrow space; the third is placed close to the true molars; these as well as those of the under jaw resemble the true molars of Belideus; there is however one less on each side of both jaws. The incisors of the lower jaw also resemble those in Belideus. Behind these incisors there are two minute teeth on each side, which are followed by two sharply pointed false molars, the foremost of which is the larger, and the apex of the second is raised above the plane of the true molars.
«The difference in the form of the false molar teeth pointed out, together with the reduced number of true molars, the slenderness
the zygomatic arch, and the incurved angle of the lower jaw, combined with the imperfect state of the palate, will serve to distin- guish the species of the present section from the preceding. Exter- nally, the P. pygmeus (which is the type of M. Desmarest’s sub- genus) may be distinguished by its distichous tail.
Petaurus BREVICEPS. P. cinerea, lined dorsali longitudinah membrandque laterali supra nigrescentibus, hae ad latera albé s corpore subtis sordidé et pallidé cinereo: caudd gracili, ad apicem fuliginosé ; auribus mediocribus.
Longitudo ab apice rostri ad caude basin.... 6 6 BOM ois re Sed s Sa BE Bg ee fae 2% tarsi digiiorumques ‘sis s.36i35se eae 5s koi PEPER oa och So soem sah ae ae beceyn 2a 0:9
Habitat New South Wales.
«This species very much resembles the P. sctwreus in colouring ; the under parts, however, have a distinct grayish tint: the dark mark which extends from the tip of the nose along the back is in- distinct. It is of a much smaller size than P. sciureus, the tail is much more slender, and occasionally has a white tip. The skull is proportionately broader and shorter than that of P.sciureus, as will be seen in the following dimensions.”
oy] bo
Zoological Society.
P. breviceps. P. sciureus. in. lin. in. lin. Total length of skull ........ 1 34 ...... | ie Length of nasal bones........ 0 Be Nees Ose Bength of frontal....0...:... 0 64 .... 5 oe Length of palate .:.......... 0 8. 2. > 0a PU ROCO OC BROUG bn5 kPa ee 8S 3 oy 10 oto
Mr. Waterhouse then proceeded to point out some peculiarities in the skull and dentition of the American Badger (Meles Labra- doria). ‘Three skulls of this species, belonging to individuals of different ages, were exhibited to the Meeting. ‘‘ The most striking peculiarity in the skull of the American Badger,” observes Mr. Wa- terhouse, “‘ consists in the great expanse of the occipital region; the width of the occiput being equal to that of the skull measured from the outer surface of the zygomaticarches. ‘The general form of the skull is almost conical ; viewed laterally, the outline of the upper surface is most elevated at, or very near the occiput; thence it runs downwards with a slightly convex curve to the nasal bones. The interorbital portion is considerably contracted, and is narrowest pos- teriorly. ‘The occipital crest is well-developed, but the sagittal crest is very slightly elevated; in this respect differing from the corre- sponding ridge in the Meles vulgaris.
«The auditory bulle are very large and convex. The articulating surface of the temporal bone, or glenoid cavity, like that of the Com- mon Badger, has its anterior and posterior process ; these processes, however, merely serve to prevent the protrusion or retraction of the lower jaw, and not to enclose and lock the condyle as in that animal. Comparing the lower jaw with that of the Common Badger, the most striking difference consists in the form of the coronoid process. The anterior margin of this process is less oblique than in the last-men- tioned animal ; its apex is somewhat pointed, whereas in the Common Badger it is rounded: the posterior margin is formed of two lines, an upper one, running backwards and downwards from the apex of the coronoid process, and a lower one, which is perpendicular, and forms an obtuse angle with the first. In this form of the coronoid process we perceive a similarity between the American Badger and the Otter.”
Dentition.—*‘ In the number of the teeth the present animal agrees with the Common Badger, excepting that in the skulls now before me, and which belong to animals of different ages, I do not find the molar corresponding to the small first false molar of the lower jaw of that animal. In the relative size and form of the teeth there is much difference. The incisors of the upper jaw are arranged in an
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arch, but form together a segment of a larger circle than those of Meles vulgaris ; they are proportionately smaller and shorter. In the canines there is but little difference ; the posterior cutting edge ob- served in the Badger is here almost obliterated. The false molars likewise scarcely differ. In the ‘ curnassiére’ and true molar, however, there is much difference, the former being of great size and equal to the last molar. It is nearly in the form of a right-angled triangle, the cutting edge is much raised, and there is a large tubercle on the inner lobe of this tooth, which has no analogue in the Badger. The true molar is also nearly triangular; the tubercles with which it is furnished are but slightly raised, and are much less developed than in the corresponding grinding molar of the Badger. The principal differences observable in the teeth of the lower jaw, consist in the smaller size of the incisors, the larger size of the last false molar, and its being furnished with two distinct tubercles at its apex ; that of the Common Badger being simply pointed: the smaller size of the ‘ carnassiére,’ which is not distinctly dilated posteriorly, as in the Badger, and the cutting edge being higher; the true molar is smaller.
*« The ‘carnassiére’ of the lower jaw may be dividedintotwoportions, that which is opposed to the ‘carnassi@re’ of the upper jaw, and which is the cutting portion, having high sharp cusps; and that which is opposed to the true molar, which is the grinding portion. Now in the Common Badger (Meles vulgaris) the latter portion decidedly exceeds the former in bulk, whereas in the American Badger the reverse is the case, arising from the comparatively large size of the ‘carnassiére’ of the upper jaw, and smaller size of the true molar.”
Mr. Waterhouse also pointed out other distinctions between the American Badger and the European species. Independent of the differences observable in the colouring and markings, the former may be distinguished by its muzzle being hairy at the tip, the fore limbs stouter, and the claws larger and stronger.
The peculiar form of the skull in the present animal, and the mo- difications in the dentition are such, as, in Mr. Waterhouse’s opinion, would indicate a subgeneric rather than a specific distinction ; and should his views be borne out by the discovery of other species agreeing essentially with the above animal, he suggested that the name Tazidea might be an appropriate title for the group.
November 27, 1838.— Lieut.-Colonel W. H. Sykes in the Chair.
Dr. Horsfield laid before the Meeting a series of Mammalia and Birds collected in India by John M°Clelland, Esq., Assistant Sur-
54 Zoological Society.
geon E.J.C.S., and proceeded to point out the characters of some which were undescribed.
A paper on the Fishes of the Deccan, illustrated with numerous coloured drawings, was read by Colonel yikes
*« In submitting to the Society an account of the fishes of Dukhun,” observes Colonel Sykes, ‘ it will scarcely excite surprise, that out of 46 species described no less than 42 are new to science, since they are from a hitherto untrodden field, and from peculiar localities, on the great plateau of the Dukhun (Deccan), none of them coming from a less elevation than 1500 feet above the sea; many from near 2000 feet, and others from yet higher situations. The chief features in the collection are the paucity of orders to which the collection be- longs, and the remarkable prevalence of the members of the families of Siluride and Cyprinide. ‘There is but one apodal Malacopterygian, but 4 Acanthopterygit, and the whole of the rest of the fish belong to the order Abdominal Malacopterygians. Of the families there are only eight: Percide, Scombride, ‘Pharyngiens Labyrinthiformes,’ Gobiade, Siluride, Cyprinide, Esocide, and Murenide, comprising 15 genera and 9 subgenera, including one subgenus, which I have been compelled to add to the Cyprinidae. An attempt has been made to methodize and distinguish the multitudinous members of the fa- milies of Siluride and Cyprinide. ‘The fact is, the continued inos- culation in the character of the teeth, of the cirri, of the spines (ser- rated or not) of the fins, the armature of the head, and the position of the fins in the Siluride; and the number of cirri, and form and position of the fins in the Cyprinide, together with the character of the mouth, produce such approximations in species to each other, and in individuals of one genus to another, that not only is there infinite difficulty in determining the genera of the fishes of these families, but their identity as species is occasionally not less difficult. Some of my Siluride do not exactly correspond with the generic characters of the genera of this family as now constituted, and I might have added to the number of genera; but to this I have an objection, unless as an evidently necessary measure. In the Cyprinide, how- ever, I was obliged to set aside my repugnance, for three species were not referrible to any one even of the numerous subgenera which Buchanan Hamilton wished to establish. It only remains to state that the whole of my fishes were drawn from absolute measurement, and have a scale of size attached to each figure; they were caught in the various rivers on whose banks I encamped, as individuals were required; so that my draftsman, who worked constantly under my own eye, never had to finish his drawings from shriveled and
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discoloured specimens. I have to a great extent adopted the names by which the fishes are called by the Mahrattas as specific names, so that naturalists who travel the country can always obtain them.
Ord. ACANTHOPTERYGII.
Fam. Percide. Ambassis, Agass.
Amb. Barlovi, Sykes. An Ambassis with the two back fins united, with the first ray indented on the edge, and containing 7 spines, and the second 14 spines; all the spines longer than the membrane, with 18 rays longer than the membrane in the anal fin, and with a short vertically compressed dia- phanous body.
Closely allied to Changa Ranga of Hamilton. ‘Fishes of the Ganges.’ This fish is dedicated to our Secretary.
Fam. Scombride. Mastacembelus, Gron.
Mast. armatus, Sykes. A Mastacembelus with the fins of the tail, back, and vent united, with thirty-nine to forty short sharp bony spines along the back, and two behind the vent.
This fish has not the exact generic characters of Macrognathus, Mastacembelus, or Notacanthus, and might probably consti- tute a genus between the two last.
Fam. ‘ Pharyngiens Labyrinthiformes,’ Cuv. Ophicephalus, Bloch.
Oph. leucopunctatus, Sykes. An Ophicephalus with from 51 to 53 rays in the dorsal, and 6 in each ventral fin, and with the rays of the dorsal and anal fins undivided; the pectoral fins ending in a central point, and the fish covered with white dots.
I have never known this remarkably fine fish crawl on shore or in the grass, as some species of the genus are said to do. It is excellent eating.
Fam. Gobiade. Gobius, Linn.
Gob. Kurpah, Sykes. A Gobius with 7 rays in the first dorsal fin, 11 in the second, which is of similar size with the anal fin; 19 in the pectoral, and 10 in the anal fin.
In different individuals of this species I have found the number of rays in the fins slightly differ. Of a sweet flavour.
Ord. MaLaAcorreryGi1 ABDOMINALES.
Fam. Cyprinidz. Cyprinus, Linn. Cyp. Abramioides, Sykes. A Cyprinus with 20 rays in the dorsal, 8 in the anal, and 18 in the pectoral fins, without tendrils, with tuberculated nose, red edged fins, and with a red lunule on each scale. This very fine fish is called Tambra by the natives, from the
56 Zoological Society.
general prevalence of a copper colour over it. Attains the length of 21 inches and more; height 7 inches. Is excellent eating.
Cyp. Potail, Sykes.
A Cyprinus proper, deep and fleshy, slightly compressed, with- out tendrils, with the dorsal fin of 13 rays, pectoral of 14, and anal of 9. Scales large and silvery; length 10 or more inches; height &} inches.
Cyp. Nukta, Sykes.
A Cyprinus with two tendrils on the under jaw, and with two short horns or bosses on the space between the eyes, which together with the deflected upper lip are tuberculated; large scales.
In the judgement of my friend Mr. Yarrell, to which I subscribe, this very singular fish is considered a monstrosity of Cyp. au- ratus. Dr. Riippell, who did me the favour to look over my drawings, expresses the same opinion. Found very abun- dantly in the Inderanee river 18 miles north of Poona. It is called Nukta (or nob) by the Mahratta fishermen.
Varicorhinus, Riippell.
Var. Bobree, Sykes. A, Varicorhinus with tuberculated nose, without tendrils; with 17 rays in the dorsal, and 8 in the anal fin; with the form of a tench.
It may be a question whether this is not a real Labeo of Cuvier, with long dorsal, no spines or cirri, and thick fleshy lips fre- quently crenated ; size 6 inches by 1, high.
Barbus, Cuv. Barb. Mussullah, Sykes. A Barbus with 12 rays in the dorsal, 8 in the anal, and 16 in the pectoral fins, with the mouth furnished with 4 very short cirri, and tuberculated nose ; sometimes 3 feet and more long, and a foot high, and weigh- ing 42 pounds. Found in the Goreh river.
Barb. Khudree, Sykes. A Barbus with 4 cirri, blood-stained fins, large hexagonal scales, elongated body, and with 14 rays in the dorsal, 14 in the pectoral, and 7 in the anal fins.
Found in the Mota Mola river, 8 miles east of Poona.
Barb. Kolus, Sykes. A Barbus with 13 rays in the dorsal fin, 8 in the anal, and 10 in the ventral; with moderate-sized scales; with callous tubercles on the head, and a short cirrus at each corner of the mouth.
This fish shows the difficulty of drawing up generic characters to embrace all the species of a genus. Having only 2 cirri, it should not be a Barbel; but having czrri at all, it does not belong to the next genus Gobio ;—moreover, it has a spine in the dorsal.
Chondrostoma, Agassiz, the first division of the genus Leuciscus of Klein. Dorsal fin in the centre of the back.
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Chond. Kawrus, Sykes. A Chondrostoma, without lateral line, tubercles, or cirri, with 12 rays in the dorsal, 8 in the anal, and 16 in the pectoral fins.
A sub-cylindrical fish found in the Beema river; grows to a foot in length, but is usually smaller. Proportion of length to height in one specimen, 6 inches by 174, inch.
Chond. Fulungee, Sykes. A Chondrostoma, with dorsal fin of 10 rays, anal 6, and pectoral of 10; of an elongated, not much compressed shape. Length about a foot; height 4 inches.
Chond. Boggut, Sykes. A Chondrostoma, without tendrils or tubercles on the nose, with 12 rays in the dorsal, 15 in the pectoral, and 8 in the anal fin; body of an elongated form. Length from 7 to 11 inches; height 14 to 2 inches.
Chond. Mullya, Sykes. A Chondrostoma, with a short, obtuse head, without tubercles or tendrils; sub-cylindrical body, with 11 rays in the dorsal, 14 to 16 in the pectoral, and 8 in the anal fins; a red process or protuberance on the snout between the nostrils. Length 5 to 6 inches; 14 to 2 in diameter.
Chond. Wattanah, Sykes. A Chondrostoma of an elongated form, without tubercles or tendrils, with the dorsal fin high, and having 11 rays: and 9 or 10 in the ventral, and 8 in the anal fin; subcylindrical form. Length 44 inches, height 3 of an inch.
Found in the Beema river.
Chela, Buchanan Hamilton. A sub-genus of Leuciscus, with the dorsal fin very far behind over the anal; straight back, and nose on the level of the line of the back.
Chel. Balookee, Sykes. A Chela of the size of a minnow; back straight; body elongated; dorsal fin situated far back, and having 8 rays, 14 rays in the anal, and 12 in the pectoral fins. Length 3 inches.
Very sweet eating, the bones as well as other parts. Common in all the rivers.
~ Chel. Oweni, Sykes. A Chela,with straight back, elongated and
vertically compressed body; dorsal fin situated far back, with 11 rays, 12 in the pectoral, and 19 in the anal fins, with scales so minute as to be scarcely discoverable. Length 5 inches; greatest size 7 inches.
Found in most of the rivers. The Cyprinus Cultratus of Bloch would appear to be the type of the sub-genus.
I have dedicated this fish to my friend Mr. Owen, the distin- guished naturalist.
Chel. Jorah, Sykes. A Chela, with straight back, convex belly, dorsal fin far behind; size of a large minnow; with 10 rays
Ann. Nat. Hist, Vol.4. No.21. Sept. 1839. F
58 Zoological Sociely.
in the dorsal, 12 in the pectoral, and 8 rays in the anal fin. Length about 4 inches, height 8,ths of an inch.
Excellent eating. Found abundantly in the Beema river near Pairgaon.
Chel. Teekanee, Sykes. A small Chela, with nearly straight back; snout on the continuation of the line of the back; belly arched; with 10 rays in the dorsal, 12 in the pectoral, and 14 in the anal fins. Length 24 inches, height 3 inch.
Found in the Beema.
Chel. Alkootee, Sykes. An elongated, silver-white, slightly compressed, minute Chela, with the dorsal fin of about 8 rays, very far back; ventral of about 7, and anal of about 10 rays, with burnished silver gill covers and black orbits ; rarely more than an inch long, and not much thicker than a good-sized crow quill.
This very beautiful fish has a sweet flavour.
Leuciscus, Klein. First division. The dorsal situated a little behind the centre of the back, above the space between the ventral and anal fins.
Leuc. Morar, Cyprinus Morar, Buchanan Hamilton. A Leu- ciscus allied to Chela, but with the dorsal fin a little behind the centre of the back, with 8 rays in each ventral fin, 12 in the anal, and 10 in the dorsal, and with the edge of the belly smooth. Length 43 inches; height ,'y.
Differs slightly from Buchanan Hamilton’s L. Morar.
Leuc. Sandkhol, Sykes. A SLeuciscus, with nearly cylindrical body ; dorsal fin of 12 rays, pectoral of 14, and ventral of 10 rays; gibbous head; 8 to 10 inches long by 14 to 2 inches high; eyes with whitish narrow irides. The dorsal in this fish is situated a little before the centre of the back.
Found in the Goreh river at Kullumb.
Leuc. Chitul, Sykes. A Leuciscus, with 14 rays in the dorsal, 14 in the pectoral, and 8 in the anal fins; of a reddish grey colour, and rounded head. Sub-cylindrical. Length about 5 inches, height 14 inch.
Found in the Inderanee river near Chakun.
It being found impracticable to arrange, in any of the sub-genera described, the following fishes of the Carp family, it is proposed to place them in a new sub-genus, which I will call by the native Mahratta name of Rohtee.
RourTeEz, nov. genus. Carps with a lozenge-shaped body, rather long dorsal and anal fins, the former seated on the angle of the back, with the first complete ray serrated posteriorly ; scales minute.
Rohtee Ogilbii, Sykes. A Rohtee, with 12 rays in the dorsal,
9 in the ventral, and 17 in the anal fins; the body very compressed, and very high, with the back sloping to each
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end from the centre; head sharpish ; pectoral fins, narrow acuminated. First complete dorsal ray, a strong bone, ser- rated behind. Length, 43 inches, height 1; inch. A bony fish.
Found in the Beema river near Pairgaon. This fish is dedicated to my friend Mr. Ogilby, a distinguished member of the Society.
Roht. Vigorsit, Sykes. A Rohtee, with armed dorsal fin of 11 rays, ventral of 10, and anal of 28 rays; compressed body ; high in the middle, and sloping to each end; head slightly recurved; eyes very large. Length, 6 inches; height, 1% inches; greatest length, 8 inches.
Found abundantly in the Beema river at Pairgaon. I have dedicated this fish to my friend Mr. Vigors.
Roht. Pangut, Sykes. A Rohtee, compressed, deep, angular- backed, with 12 rays in the dorsal, 14 or 15 in the pectoral, and 8 in the anal fins, and with the first 3 or 4 rays of the dorsal fin black at their tips; scales larger than in the pre- ceding species. Length, 5 inches; height, 14 inch.
Found in the Baum and Beema rivers.
Roht. Ticto; Cyprinus Ticto of Buchanan Hamilton. A Rohtee, 14 inch long, with 4 to 6 black spots on the body; the 2nd ray of the dorsal toothed behind with sharp incurved teeth ; with 10 rays in the dorsal, 8 in the anal, and 8 in the ventral fins; pectoral fins narrow, acuminate.
Found in the Mota Mola at Poona. ‘This fish differs slightly from Dr. Buchanan Hamilton’s Cyprinus Ticto.
Cobitis, Lin.
Cob. Rupelli, Sykes. A nearly cylindrical scaleless Cobitis, not much thicker than a large goose-quill; from 2 to 3 inches long, with 6 cirri; the lateral line marked with short brown bars, and the rays of the dorsal and anal fins similarly barred ; dorsal fin of 13 rays, pectoral of 12, and ventral of 8 rays.
This fish is much esteemed for food. Found in the Beema river at Taimbournee and Mota Mola near Poona. I have dedi- cated this beautiful little fish to Riippell, who did me the favour to look over my drawings, and at the same time gave me his opinion respecting the genera of the fishes.
Cob. Mooreh, Sykes. Differs from the preceding only in being of a smaller size, in having 12 rays in the dorsal, and 7 in the anal fin; the head is more obtusely pointed, and there are more dark blotches on it; the bars on the lateral line are differently arranged.
Cob. Maya, Sykes. Differs from the first species in having a spine under each eye, and in having a blunter head; 9 rays in the dorsal, 7 in the ventral fins.
gr 2
60 Zoological Society.
Fam. Esocide. Belone, Cuv.
Bel. Graii, Sykes. A Belone with the fin of the tail rounded and emarginate, with both jaws elongated into a quadrangular beak ; with very minute scales; dorsal of 16 rays and anal of 16 rays: closely allied to the Hsor Cancila of Buchanan Hamilton.
I have dedicated this fish to a gentleman well known for his contributions in natural history.
Fam. Siluride.
Schilbe, Cuv.
Sch. Pabo; Silurus Pabo, Buchanan Hamilton. A Schilbe, with the tail divided into 2 unequal lobes, both pointing down- wards; with 4 cirri, 2 shorter than the head, and with from 68 to 70 rays in the anal fin. Length from 12 to 15 inches, height 2} to 3 inches.
Found in most of the rivers. Differs slightly from Buchanan Hamilton’s Silurus Pabo. No second dorsal.
Sch. Boalis, Silurus Boalis, Buchanan Hamilton. A Schilbe, with the fin of the tail divided into 2 unequal lobes; with 4 cirri, of which 2 extend to the middle of the fish; all the fins unarmed; dorsal of 5 rays, pectoral of 15; ventral fins very small, of 9 rays; anal fin of 84 rays. Attains the length of 3 feet, and the weight of 8 lbs.
Found in the Mota Mola at Poona. Differs slightly from the Silurus Boalis of Buchanan Hamilton. No second dorsal.
Hypophthalmus, Spix.
Hyp. Goongwaree, Sykes. An Hypophthalmus, with 8 cirri, all longer than the head, but not extending to the middle of the fish; with 7 rays in the dorsal, and 52 in the anal fin, with an extremely minute second dorsal; first ray in the pectoral, and first in the dorsal, spinose and serrated behind. Greatest length, 28 inches: body vertically compressed.
Found in the Mota Mola near Poona.
Hyp. Taakree, Sykes. An Hypophthalmus, with 8 cirri, 2 of which reach to the ventral fins, 2 very minute near the nos- trils, and 4 on the chin, nearly as long as the head; with the first dorsal and pectoral rays serrated on the posterior edge, with 8 rays in the dorsal and 50 in the anal fin. Length, 9 inches; height, 2 inches.
Bagrus, Cuvier.
Bagr. Yarrelli, Sykes. A Bagrus, with the first rays of the pectoral and dorsal fins terminating in long fleshy tendrils and serrated behind; with 8 cirri, two of which are as long as the head, thick, fleshy, and being lateral elongations of the upper lip; other cirri very short; head broad, covered with a granulated bony plate; the fish olive brown, marked with black blotches like a Dalmatian dog; 2nd dorsal fleshy,
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triangular. Length, 18 inches, but attains to a very great size; body not vertically compressed. Found in the Mota Mola at Poona.
Bagr. Lonah, Sykes. A Bagrus, with 8 small cirrz; flat, granulated head ; first dorsal fin of 7 rays, and pectoral of 10 rays, the first ray of which is furnished on the posterior edge with long sharp teeth; anal fin of 10 rays; 2nd dorsal of a trian- gular form and fleshy: something resembling the preceding in colour.
Platystoma, Agassiz.
Plat. Seenghala, Sykes. A Platystoma, with the tail fin crescent-shaped, lobes unequal; with 8 cirri, two of which only are longer than the head, reaching to two-thirds of the length of the fish; the first ray of the pectoral and ventral fins serrated behind; head long, flat, spatulate, covered with a granulated bony plate. Dorsal fin of 8 rays; high, ventral fins, very far back, of 6 rays. Grows to a great size; flesh heating and soft.
Phractocephalus, Agassiz. Pirarara of Spix.
Phract. Kuturnee, Sykes. A Phractocephalus, with 6 cirri, 2 of which only are longer than the head; the first pec- toral spine serrated on both edges; the Ist dorsal spine on the posterior edge only; these two spines terminating in a filament: the shoulder-bone elongated into a point behind. Greatest length, 6 inches; dorsal fin of 7 rays; pectoral of 9 rays; ventral fin small, of 7 rays; second dorsal replaced by a small adipose fin.
Phract. Itchkeea, Sykes. A Phractocephalus, with 8 cirri, 2 of which from the upper lip, extend to the end of the pectoral fins; the other 2 very minute, with the 4 on the chin nearly as long as the head; with the lst ray in the pectoral fins only serrated; with § rays in the dorsal, and 12 in the anal fins; with a sharp prolongation of the scapula. Fish handsomely marked on the back with dark colours. Length, 2 inches.
This fish presents some slight deviations from the generic characters.
Phract. Gogra, Sykes. A Phractocephalus, with 4 shortish cirri; the plates of the shoulder elongated into acute, an- gular, broad spines, with a dorsal fin of 8 rays; first ray a bone serrated behind; pectoral fins of 10 rays, the first ray a broad compressed bone serrated on both edges; head flat and broad; second dorsal small, fleshy. Size 6 inches, but grows larger.
Pimelodus, Lacepéde.
Pimelodus Seengtee, Sykes. A Pimelodus, with the caudal fin divided into 2 unequal sharpish lobes, and having & cirri, 2 of which reach to the tail fin, and 4 to the end of the head, and 2 are shorter than the head; the dorsal fin high and
62 Zoological Society.
without spine, of 9 rays; 12 rays in the anal fin; the second
dorsal adipose, and extending from the termination of the
first dorsal to near the tail. Length of fish, 6 inches. Ageneiosus, Laceptde.
Ageneiosus Childieni, Sykes. An Ageneiosus, without cirri, with the first ray of the dorsal and pectoral fins serrated on the anterior edge only; with 8 rays in the dorsal, and 42 in the anal fin; with two sharp lobes to the tail, the upper being somewhat the smallest. Length of fish, 18 inches; height, 4: inches, but grows to a larger size. Second dorsal adipose, minute.
Fam. Clupeide. Mystus, Buchanan Hamilton; Notopterus, La Cepede.
Mystus Badgee, Sykes. A Mystus, with not less than 105 rays in the anal fin, 7 or 8 in the dorsal, and in the pectoral from 13 to 16, all unarmed; without apparent ventral fins, and with a single small dorsal; the anal and caudal fins uniting, and terminating in a point at the end of the body; posterior edge of the last gill plate crenated; scales minute. ‘This remarkable fish belongs to the genus Mystus of Buchanan Hamilton, but not to the genus Mystus of Cuvier. Fish vertically compressed. Length, 11 inches; height, 3 mches.
Ord. Aropzs. Fam. Murenide. Anguilla, Cuv.
Ang. Elphinstonei, Sykes. An Anguilla, with the lower jaw the longest; with the back, tail, and anal fins united, and with a broadish, flat head; body dark green, blotched with black; with 2 short tubular processes, one on each side of the upper jaw. Attains the length of 3 feet, and diameter of 3 inches.
I have dedicated this fine fish to the Honourable Mountstewart Elphinstone.
In concluding my characters of the fishes of Dukhun (Deccan), I may be allowed to state, that I have found the number of cirri, whether in the Siluride or Cyprinide, insufficient as a generic cha- racter; different species of the same genus varying in the number of their cirri.”
December 11, 1838.—Dr. Bostock in the Chair. A Wasp’s Nest, of very large size, was also exhibited to the Mem- bers present. This nest was sent from Ceylon by the Governor of
that island, and was accompanied by the following letter from Lieut.
W. Williams, R.A. 7 Colombo, 27th May, 1838.
‘The specimen of the Social Wasp’s nest, now on board the barque ‘ Morning Star,’ was found by me in a talipot tree near Colombo in Ceylon: its apex was secured at the junction of two of
Zoological Society. 63
the smallest leaves of this magnificent tree, and the bottom of the nest was about seventy feet from the ground, at which elevation the leaves began to shoot.
«« It had been abandoned by the wasps, audits exterior walls were much injured by the monsoon rains and storms, which left the ter- races unprotected and unsupported, except by their interior pillars : and the natives were in consequence unable to lower it from such a height without destroying some of the lower terraces.
«‘T shall not attempt to enter further on this subject, a structure so well known to naturalists. The appearance of the nest, as it hung upwards of seventy feet from the ground, the shaft to it per- fectly bare ; and the larger leaves (used by the natives as umbrellas and tents) waving over it, presented a very singular appearance : and I hope its remains may reach England in a state of preservation sufficient to satisfy thé inspection of the curious.
«W. Wits, Lieut. R. Artillery.”
January 8th, 1839.—Professor Owen in the Chair.
Dr. Harlan read a paper entitled, ‘‘ Description of a new species of Meriones inhabiting the United States of North America.”
««A male and female specimen of the species which it is now proposed to add to the Fauna of the United States, were taken some time during 1836, on the farm of Mr. Beck, in Philadelphia County, a few miles north-east of the city. The female at the moment of her capture carried several young, which adhered to the teats firmly, notwithstanding the violent efforts and leaps of the pa- rent.
“In the descriptive details which follow, the usual allowance must be made when such are drawn from impaled skins.”
Merrones MicrocerHatus. Mer. supern? nigro flavoque miziis, flavo apud latera prevalente ornatus ; corpore subtus albescente, flavido lavato; auribus mediocribus, pilis flavis et nigris intermiztis, intis atque extis instructis.
Male. Length of the body, three inches ; of the tail, four inches ; total length of the hind leg, one inch four-eighths; of the thigh, three-eighths ; of the leg, five eighths ; of the foot, four-eighths. Five toes behind; four before; with a rudimentary nailed thumb; all the toes sparsely hairy, and terminating in strong, sharp claws.
‘«« Colour above, plumbeous, interspersed with reddish fawn; be- low, white, similarly interspersed in a less degree, a lateral longi- tudinal band of reddish fawn colour separating the sides from the abdomen; tail, sparsely hairy, dark coloured above, white beneath,
64 Zoological Sociely.
with a pencil of hairs at the extremity; this member being propor- tionably longer, and the head much smaller and more elongated than in G. Canadensis. The last-named species has been figured by the late Professor B. T. Barton, in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, also in the Encyclopédie Méthodique, but was for the first time adequately described from living specimens in the ‘ Fauna Americana,’ p. 156, when specimens were deposited in the cabinet of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia.
“The subjects of the present memoir were placed in my hands for description by Mr. Chaloner, a Member of the Academy. The female is larger than the male, and of purer white beneath.”
The specimens of Gerbillus microcephalus above referred to, were presented by Dr. Harlan to the Society ; and also a species of Sper- mophilus, which Dr. Harlan exhibited to the Meeting. ‘The last- mentioned animal very closely resembles the S. Franklinii; but being of a much smaller size, Dr. Harlan was anxious that it should be submitted to examination, and should be carefully compared with that animal upon some future occasion.
Several specimens of the’ Bean Goose (Anser segetum), the Gray- Lag Goose (Anser cinereus), the White-fronted Goose, (Anser albi- frons), and of another species ailied to these, were exhibited by Mr. A. D. Bartlett, in order to illustrate a paper which he communicated to the Meeting, ‘‘ On a new British species of the genus Anser, with remarks on the nearly-allied species.”
‘It may be necessary, before describing the new species,” says Mr. Bartlett, “‘ to notice the three birds most nearly allied, in order more clearly to point out the distinctions existing between them; I do this in consequence of the imperfect descriptions given by au- thors, from which it is almost impossible to distinguish the species. I shall commence with that which is the most common.
“« Anser segetum, Meyer. Bean Goose. Entire length, 33 inches ; extent, 64; from the carpal joint to the end of wing, 19 inches. The head and neck are brown, tinged with grey: back and scapulars, darker brown, slightly tinged with grey, each feather being mar- gined with greyish white; primaries, dark brown, tinged with grey ; shoulders of wings and secondary quill-feathers, greyish brown ; rump, blackish brown; upper tail-coverts, white ; tail, dark brown, deeply edged with greyish white; breast and belly, dirty white ; abdomen and under tail-coverts, pure white; bill, 2} inches long, rather slender, flattened and narrow towards the tip; the base, sides and nail, black; immediately above the nail commences a yellowish orange mark, extending a little beyond the anterior margin of the
Zoological Society. 65
nostrils in front, and passing under and beyond the termination of them at the sides, but seldom reaching the corner of the mouth, except in very old individuals, in which this mark extends under and behind the nostrils, crosses the base of the bill next the fore- head, leaving only the central part of the bill (between the nostrils) and the nail black; which latter part is sometimes, though rarely, white; legs and feet, reddish orange; wings, when closed, reaching 2 inches beyond the tail. The young of this species are darker, and the markings less distinct; the bill is shorter, the mark upon it narrower, and of a deep red colour; the legs and feet, pale orange.
“« Anser cinereus, Meyer. Grey Lag Goose. Entire length, 35 inches ; extent, 64; from the carpal joint to end of wing, 174 inches. The plumage more cinereous than in the last-described species ; the shoulders and rump, light grey; breast and belly, white, sometimes spotted with black ; the bill, 25 inches long; more robust, deeper, broader, and the laminze much more developed than in the Bean Goose, and of a dull yellow, inclining to flesh colour towards the nail, which is white; in summer the bill assumes a redder tint ; legs and feet, pale flesh colour ; wings, when closed, even with the end of the tail. The young of this species are darker than the adults, but the grey upon the shoulders and rump, the form of the bill, and colour of the legs and feet, will always distinguish them from the young of any of the other species.
** Anser albifrons, Bechstein. White-fronted Goose. Entire length, 26 inches ; extent, 52; from the carpal joint to end of wing, 164 inches. The adult of this species may be distinguished from others of the genus by the conspicuous white mark upon the fore- head and sides of the bill, and the irregular patches of black and white upon the breast and belly; the bill, 12 of an inch long, of a reddish flesh colour; the nail, white; legs and feet, bright orange ; wings, when closed, reaching 1} inch beyond the tail. The young of this species are much darker than the adult; the forehead and sides of the bill, nearly black; the breast and belly, dirty white, spotted with brown; bill, brown, inclining to flesh colour; nail, dark brown; legs and feet, pale orange.
*« Anser phenicopus, Bartlett. Pink-footed Goose. Entire length, 28 inches ; extent, 60; from carpal joint to end of wing, 173 inches. Top of the head and back of the neck, dark brown; sides of the face, forepart of the neck, and upper part of the breast, light brown ; back and scapulars, dark brown, tinged with grey; each feather deeply margined with greyish white; shoulders of wings and rump, greyish ash; primaries, brown, tinged with grey; tail, brownish
66 Linnean Society.
ash, deeply edged with white; lower part of belly, upper and under tail-coverts, pure white; legs and feet, of a reddish flesh colour or pink ; the hind toe closely united by the membrane that runs along the edge of the inner toe; the feet, remarkably thick and fleshy ; bill, 12 of an inch, long, narrow, and much contracted towards the tip; the base, sides and nail, black; the space between the nail and the nostrils, reddish flesh colour or pink ; wings, when closed, reach- ing 14 inch beyond the tail.
‘* Having thus noticed the three nearly-allied species, and described the new one, I will endeavour to point out more particularly the distinctions between this new species and the Bean Goose, to which it bears the nearest resemblance. First, the great difference in the size; the average size of the Bean Goose is 33 inches in length, and 64 inches in extent; while the average size of the new species is 28 inches in length, and 60 inches in extent. Secondly, the bill is much smaller, shorter, more contracted towards the tip, and of a different colour. Thirdly, the difference in colour and in form of the legs and feet, and in the fleshy character of the foot, and the hind toe being more closely united by its membrane, has consequently, less freedom of motion. Fourthly, the plumage on the rump and shoulders being more inclined to grey. And lastly, in the form of the sternum, which differs from that of the Bean Goose in shape and bears a more close resemblance to that of the White-fronted Goose. In conclusion, I may remark that I have examined, in all, twelve specimens of this new species, four of which were alive; one of them is now living in the garden of the Zoological Society, where it has been, I am told, eight years, without exhibiting any per- ceptible alteration in its plumage, or in the colour of its legs and feet.
“The Grey Lag Goose is by far the most rare of the four species here referred to.”
Professor Owen commenced the reading of a paper, ‘‘ On the Classification and Affinities of the Marsupial Animals.”
LINNZAN SOCIETY.
June 18, 1839.—Mr. Foster, V.P., in the Chair.
The Secretary read a letter addressed to him by the President no- minating the four following Members of the Council to be Vice-Pre- sidents for the year ensuing, commencing the 24th of last month, viz.
Robert Brown, Esq.; Edward Forster, Esq.; Thomas Horsfield, M.D.; Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq. |
Linnean Society. 67
The V. P., in the chair, read a notice, addressed to the Society from Upsal, announcing the death of Louisa von Linné, the third and last surviving daughter of Linnzus, which took place at Upsal, on the 21st of March last, at the very advanced age of 90.
Read ‘“‘ A Biographical Sketch of Ferdinand Bauer, Natural Hi- story Painter to the Expedition under Capt. Flinders.” By Dr. John Lhotsky. Communicated by the Secretary.
Ferdinand Bauer, the celebrated Natural History Painter and Tra- veller, was born in the year 1760, at Feldsberg in Austria, where his father held the appointment of Painter to Prince Lichtenstein.
In the year 1775 we find him employed by the Rev. Norbert Boccius, of the same place, to make miniature paintings of plants from nature.
In 1784, while still in the same employment, he was through the recommendation of tlie elder Jacquin engaged by Dr. Sibthorp to accompany him in his first Journey to Greece, and on his return he was for several years occupied in finishing the numerous drawings of plants made in that journey, and which prove him to have been, even at that period, a very accurate observer, as well as a highly ac- complished artist.
In 1801 he was selected by Sir Joseph Banks as the Natural Hi- story Painter in the voyage of Capt. Flinders. From this expedition he returned to Europe in 1805, bringing with him no less than 1600 finished sketches of plants, besides numerous drawings of animals, of equal merit, and for several years was engaged in finishing a se- lection of his drawings of plants, which are deposited at the Admi- ralty, the board by which he was employed.
After the Investigator was condemned as unfit for the prosecution of the voyage, and Capt. Flinders had left New Holland to return to Europe, Mr. Bauer, along with Mr. Brown, remained in New South Wales, chiefly at Port Jackson ; but he also visited and remained a considerable time in Norfolk Island, where he diligently collected and made drawings of all the plants of that remarkable island, and from his materials Dr. Endlicher has lately published his very interesting ‘Flora Insule Norfolkie.’
In 1813 Mr. Bauer commenced the publication of a work entitled ‘ Tllustrationes Flore Nove Hollandize,’ which did not extend beyond three numbers, and of these the last was finished at Vienna, where he had returned in 1814. This work met with very little encou- ragement, either in this country or in his own.
In the vicinity of Vienna he continued to reside, employing him- self in drawing the more remarkable plants that flowered in the im-
68 Linnean Society.
perial gardens of that capital, and even in making occasional bota- nical excursions into the Austrian and Styrian Alps. Besides the works already noticed, during his stay in England he prepared the greater part of the drawings of the first volume of Mr. Lambert's work on the genus Pinus, and the plates of that work were chiefly coloured by him. He also prepared a series of drawings of the spe- cies of Digitalis, which have since been published by Dr. Lindley, in his ‘ Digitalium Monographia.’
Mr. Bauer was seized with a severe illness in 1825, which termi- nated in his death on the 17th of March 1826, having attained the age of 66.
Read, ‘‘ A Notice of a Plant which produces perfect Seeds with- out any apparent action of Pollen on the Stigma.’ By Mr. John Smith, A.L.S.
The subject of the present notice belongs to the natural family of Euphorbiacee, and has been cultivated for several years in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, under the name of Sapium aquifolium. It is a native of Moreton Bay, on the east coast of New Holland, where it was discovered by Mr. Allan Cunningham, who sent three plants of it to Kew in 1829. A short time after their introduction the plants flowered, and they proving to be all females, they were na- turally passed over as belonging to a dicecious plant, until Mr. Smith’s attention was particularly drawn to them by the fact of their producing perfect seeds. They have annually flowered and matured their seeds since, and notwithstanding the most diligent search and constant attention no male flowers or any pollen-bearing organs have been detected. Young plants have been raised at different times from the seeds, and they bear so close a resemblance to their parents that it is scarcely possible even to suspect the access of pollen from any other plant.
Mr. Smith considers the plant as the type of a new genus, which he names Celebogyne. It forms an irregularly branched, rigid, ever- green shrub, of about three feet in height, with alternate, petiolate, elliptical, mucronate, coriaceous leaves, having three large spinous teeth on each side, and furnished with two small subulate persistent stipules. The paper was accompanied bya young plant raised from seed produced at Kew, and by a beautiful drawing of the parts of fructification from the pencil of Mr. Francis Bauer.
Read also, “ Descriptions of newly discovered Spiders.” By John Blackwall, Esq., F.L.S.
This paper comprises descriptions of new species of Spiders, re- cently discovered, and principally by the author himself, in the north
Miscellaneous. 69
of England and Wales, and it must be confessed that the success which has attended his labours in this department is greater than could have been anticipated, no fewer than fifty-three species having been added by him to the catalogue. Much of this success is to be attributed to the fact of his attention having been chiefly directed to those species which, on account of their diminutive size, require the aid of optical instruments, of a high magnifying power, for their accurate examination.
The genera to which the species chiefly belong are Drassus, Clu- biona, Lycosa, Agelena, Theridium, Walckenaera, Neriene and Liny- phia.
MISCELLANEOUS.
ON THE PLACE OF SCARABZUS LONGIMANUS IN THE SYSTEM.
M. Klug read before the Academy of Sciences of Berlin a paper upon the place of Scarabeus longimanus in the system. Its affinity to Geotrupes, Fabr. (Scarabeus, Latr.), among which it has been placed in modern systems, consists only in its considerable size. It is most decidedly removed from this genus by its very small and simply formed anterior half of the body, or head and prothorax, com- pared to the elytra or posterior portion, which, as is never the case in the Scarabei, are completely defenceless; by the quadrate cly- peus, which is deeper in the middle, but on the contrary is sharply edged anteriorly and at the sides; by the clearly visible, perpendi- cularly descending lip with a projecting tuft of hair, as in Lucanus ; by the similar lancet-formed mandibles, which lie concealed as in Ateuchus and Copris, Trichius and Cetonia; by the triangular hinder part of the body which projects over the elytra, as in Melolontha; lastly, as in the latter, by the curved claws armed in the centre with a strong curved tooth. It appears possible from the last-mentioned character, as well as from the form of the clypeus and the exceed- ingly similar form of the body, to reckon the Sc. longimanus amongst the true Melolonthide, yet the formation of the mandibles does not allow this, and it rather requires to be placed at some distance from Scarabeus and even after Cyclocephala, yet before Melolontha. 'The genus has been determined, and is according to Hope Kucheirus of Kirby. The Scarabeus mucronatus, Pall. would form a second spe- cies, which, under the name of Propomacrus Arbaces, has been de- scribed over again and delineated as new by Newman in the fourth number of the Entomological Magazine for the year 1837, ‘Thus
70 Miscellaneous.
the Scarabeus longimanus forms a distinct genus in a separate small group: Eucheirus, Kirby, Hope; Propomacrus, Newman. The ge- nus contains two species, /. longimanus (Scarabeus longimanus, L. Fabr.) and F. bimucronatus (Scarabeus bimucronatus, Pall., Propo- macrus Arbaces, Newman).
IDENTITY OF THE SHANNON WITH THE LOUGH NEAGH COREGONUS,
The examination of more specimens of the fish described as Core- gonus clupeoides, Nills.? in the ‘ Annals,’ vol. ii. pp. 266 and 421, pl. 16, has proved its identity with the Cor. Pollan. Different as the figures and descriptions of these Coregoni may appear, I have now seen individuals (so liable are they to variation) exhibiting all the intermediate characters.—W. TuHomrson.
PREVENTIVE AGAINST MADNESS IN ELEPHANTS, BY CARL FREIHERR VON HUGEL.
The announcement in the Berlin papers of the tragical end of M. Tourniaire’s Elephant*, certainly renders it desirable to know some means of preventing similar misfortunes, which have already occurred so frequently in Europe. The state of the Elephant which drives it to madness is termed by the Indians Mosti, literally, in- toxicated by sexual stimulus or by spirituous liquors, and as soon as the keeper of the Elephants observes the symptoms of the mosti coming on, he has a never-failing means of restoring the animal con- fided to his care immediately to his senses. He places before it a vessel with three seers (a seer is somewhat more than a pound) of fluid butter, called Ghie, which the Elephant swallows and again be- comes sober. When on great festivals Elephants are intoxicated with brandy for the purpose of fighting them, they are rendered sober as soon as desired by the same means. Ghie has moreover the same effect on Dromedaries and Camels when they are mosti. A portion of Ghie poured down their throats soon restores them to their usual state.—Wiegmann’s Archiv.
ARE THE CLOSTERIZ ANIMALS OR PLANTS ?
Ehrenberg enumerates the following reasons for considering the Closterig as belonging to the Animal Kingdom. They enjoy volun- tary motion, they have apertures at their extremities, they have
* Poisoned with hydrocyanic acid. Our readers will also remember the fate of Mr. Cross’s Elephant, which it became necessary to shoot from the same cause.
Meteorological Observations. 71
projecting permanent organs near the apertures, which are con- stantly in motion, and they increase by horizontal spontaneous divi- sion. Dr. Meyen, who is of the opposite opinion, mentions as the most important observations in favour of their vegetable nature, that their structure is exactly similar to that of the Conferve ; their formation of seed and the development of this seed is like that of the Conferve, The occurrence moreover of amylum in the interior of the Closterie with which they are frequently nearly filled, is a striking proof of their being plants ; they have no feet,—what Ehrenberg regards as such are molecules having a spontaneous motion, which occur in great number in Clos. Trabecula, and quite fill a canal the whole length of the plant. Their function is difficult to determine, but they also occur in very many Conferve, and may perhaps be compared with the Spermotazoa of plants.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR JULY, 1839.
Chiswick.—July 1—3. Fine. 4,5. Very fine. 6. Sultry. 7. Hot: thunder and much lightning at night, accompanied with unusually little rain. 8. Very fine. 9—I11. Fine. 12. Cloudy: slight rain. 13. Very fine. 14. Very fine: rain, 15,16. Fine. 17. Slightly overcast: thunder and heavy rain at night. 18. Showery: windy. 19, 20. Very boisterous. 21, 22, Fine. 23. Showery. 24, Rain: fine. 25. Overcast. 26. Very heavy rain. 27. Heavy thunder showers, 28. Cloudy. 29. Fine. 30, 31. Rain.
Boston.—July 1. Cloudy. 2. Cloudy: rain a.m. 9 Cloudy. 4. Fine. 5. Cloudy. 6. Fine. 7. Cloudy. 8. Fine: rain, with thunder and lightning A.M.: rainp.M. 9. Fine; rain, with thunder and lightning p.m. 10,11. Fine. 12, Fine: rainr.m. 13. Fine. 14. Fine; rainep.m. 15—17. Fine. 18. Cloudy: stormy, with rainp.m. 19. Stormy. 20—23. Cloudy. 24. Cloudy: rain early a.m. 25. Cloudy. 26. Cloudy: rainr.m. 27. Rain: rain early A.M.: thunder and lightning p.m. 28. Fine: rain early a.m. 29. Fine: rain pM. 30. Cloudy: rain early a.M.: raine.M. $31. Cloudy: rain early a.m.
Applegarth Manse, Dum/fries-shire—July 1,2. Very fine summer days: clear sky. 3. Very hot. 4. Warm, but with a pleasant breeze. 5. The same: get- ting cloudy r.m. 6. Slight showers all day. 7. Rain. 8. Slight showers A.M.: cleared and was fine. 9. Showery. 10. Wet and stormy nearly all day. 11. Warm but cloudy: very wet p.m. 12. Heavy rain during night: showery : flood. 13. Fine bracing air. 14. Showery a.m.: cleared up noon: cloudy pM. 15. Showery a.m.: cleared, and was fine. 16. Remarkably fine day. 17. Cloudy and threatening, and electrical. 18. Frequent heavy showers and high wind. 19. Stormy day: rain nearly throughout. 20. Slight showers all day: flood. 21. Pleasant bracing air: getting cloudy pm. 22. The same: a very slight shower. 23. Showery all day. 24. Showery a.m.: cleared up pM. 25. Very fine day: air warm and genial. 26. The same: sultry p.m.: thunder. 27. Cooler: wind northerly: cloudy p.m. 28. Remark- ably fine day. 29. Showery all day: distant thunder. 30. Fair and pleasant. 31. Slight shower a.m.
Sun 25 days. Rain 17 days. Thunder 2 days.
Wind southerly 23 days. Northerly 5 days. Westerly 1 day. Lasterly 2 days.
Calm 14 days. Moderate 7 days. Brisk 4 days. Strong breeze 3 days, Boisterous 3 days.
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ANNALS OF NATURAL HISTORY.
IX.—On the Discoid Piths of Plants. By Cu. Morren, Professor of Botany in the University of Ligge, Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Brussels, &c.*
THE immortal Grew could not dissect the wood of the walnut tree (Juglans regia, L.) without being struck with the very singular form of its pith, which is formed of lenticular empty discs and of transversal membranous septat. Hill, in 1770, who also investigated the structure of woods, observed the same fact, and saw that this form originated exteriorly froma continuous ordinary pith ¢. Much later (in 1815) M. Mirbel made known a similar organization in the Nyssa aquatica, L. (Nyssa biflora, Mx.) and in Phytolacca decandra§. In 1827 M. DeCandolle the elder attempted to explain this fact by a rupture, asserting that the pith to assume this form must either have great cells or a tissue not susceptible of extension. The elongation of the young shoots then tore the pith across at the end of the first year, and thence arose both the discoidal cavities, and the transversal discs. This physiologist men- tioned, in addition to the walnut tree, the Jasminum officinale, as presenting the same structure ||. In 1835 Treviranus ap- pears to adopt the explication of Hill, that the cavities and the discs are derived from a compact pith, and in that Trevi- ranus is perfectly right ; he does not mention any other plant in which this structure might be found 4]. These remarkable organizations seem to have escaped the scrupulous attention of M. Meyen, who does not notice them in his ‘ Physio- logy **/
* A translation of the MS. original communicated by the Author.
+ Grew. Anat. Plantarum, 1682. PI. 19. f. 4.
t Hill. The Construction of Timber from its early growth explained by the Microscope. London, 1770. ‘Tab. X. fig. 1—4.
§ Mirbel. Elémens de Physiologie Végétale, 1815, vol. i. p. 112.
|| DeCandolle. Organographie, vol. i. p. 167.
q Treviranus. Physiologie der Gewachse, 1835, vol.i. p. 252.
** Meyen. Physiologie der Pflanzen, 1837, vol. i. p. 377.
Ann, Nat. Hist. Vol. 4. No. 22. Oct, 1839. G
74 Prof. C. Morren on the discoid Piths of Plants.
It is highly probable that this structure is much more com- mon than is generally supposed, since by counting the Begonie among those plants which present it to us, as we have ob- served, we find that the discoid piths exist in the families of the Santalacee, Juglandee, Phytolaccee, Jasminee, and Bego- niacee, which have no similarity with each other. This in- duces me to suppose that further inquiries will prove the ex- istence of this form in many more plants. I should however remark that species of the same genus may in this respect completely differ. Thus Begonia argyrostigma presents a dis- coid pith, whilst Begonia undulata, B. semperflorens, B. pa- pillosa, B. dichotoma, have a continuous pith*. Thus the Phytolacca decandra is furnished with a discoid pith, whilst that of the Phytolacca dioica, Ph. stricta, is continuous, &c. Some similar examples might also be taken from the genus Jasminum, the genus Nyssa, &c. This structure therefore de- pends upon some circumstance wholly specific, which neither extends to the genus nor to the family, and which consequently could never become of any importance in methodical distri- butions.
Observation however has taught us that the physiology of the pith of dicotyledons would receive useful and remarkable improvements from the careful study of the formation of these medullary discs, for it is known that to few parts have been assigned so many different uses as to the pith. It was considered by some as the nervous system of the plant, even as the brain of this system; by others, and that not long ago, as the apparatus of the ascension of the stem; for, said they, if the brain is placed in the head, the organ which is placed in front in the progression of animals, the pith is placed in the stalk, the organ which progresses upwardly in a plant. Then
* In vegetable physiology great attention has been paid to the secretions of the pith and consequently to its colour: it is correctly said to be green at its origin and white or brown at a later period and when it is dead. But the Begonia papillosa exhibits the phenomenon of a beautiful red pith when it arrives at maturity. The red is as bright as that of the beet-root, and this colour is caused by a red liquor without globules, which fills the prismen- chymatous cells of this pith, so that there is no difference between the kind of coloration of this part, which occupies the interior axis of the plant, and that of the most peripherical organs, such for instance as the derm, the pe-
tals. This fact corroborates the opinion that in this phenomenon the work is all cellular, that is to say, it resides in the cell itself and proceeds from it.
Prof. C. Morren on the discoid Piths of Planis. 75
the pith was said to be an organ which nourished the stem in its youth in order to aérate it subsequently (Hales) ; or it was that which formed the pistil, the supposed centre of the flower (Linnzus). Now it is taken for an apparatus which nourishes the fruit, as milk nourishes the young animal, the fruit of the mother (Magnol) ;—now the pith becomes an attracting pump, which draws water from the soil by the vacuum it causes in the branch (Borelli). With one (Mal- pighi) it is a conductor of the sap; with another (Plenck) it is a reservoir for the moisture which the young branch makes use of indry weather. A celebrated physiologist (DeCandolle) sees in it a cotyledon of the bud, that is to say an organ which nourishes the bud, as the cotyledon nourishes the plumula which germinates. - Another philosopher, whose views we must confess are very ingenious (Du Petit Thouars), supposes it to be the substitute for the cotyledons ; for where these do not exist (Lecythis) the pith is in excess.
Now in the midst of these differences of opinion one fact remains certain, which is that the bud has need of pith to be developed, it is its necessary sustentaculum. Raspail knew very well that the evolution of the bud is in reality a germina- tion under other forms. But, if this is become a settled truth, it must be acknowledged that a number of circumstances have remained unknown, and it is precisely the study of discoid piths which will reveal to us some of the most curious. This has induced me to publish at present the results of my ob- servations on these piths, the more so as these remarks have convinced me that if the explanation given by M. DeCandolle of their formation is correct, it must be understood in a cer- tain manner, and a restricted sense must be given to the word rupture; for were we to suppose that a rupture was a rent, a dis- solution of continuity effected with violence and with laceration of cells or of vessels, we should be quite wrong. In the same manner that a fruit opens by a predisposition of the tissues destined to break, that is to say to divide, so a pith perforated with transversal cavities is also thus pierced by a predisposition in the organic elements which lose their continuity by means of a structure appropriated to this purpose. If the text of adopted physiologies were taken literally, we should say that
G2
76 Prof. C. Morren on the discoid Piths of Plants.
it is the mode in which the elongation of the branch takes place which fears the pith regularly into discs, whilst obser- vation and the anatomy of the organs prove that these discs are the result of a condition of existence of the pith itself and not of the ligneous apparatus surrounding it. Such is the first conclusion I have come to in this investigation. It will subse- quently serve to prove that this phenomenon of the separation of the pith into discoid plates is attended with several remark- able changes in the cells of this apparatus, and these changes are in fact the strongest proofs that can be brought to show effectually that the pith is a species of mamilla for the bud ; that the modifications which take place in the alimentary cells are the same as those which take place in a cotyledon during ger- mination, but still with conditions often quite different and even inverse. The modifying operation takes place in fact altogether in the cell, to the detriment, in the first place, of its contents, and afterwards of its envelope also.
These results, and others in addition, which had not been thought of till now, will come out clearly from this investiga- tion ; and the better to convince the reader, I will go into the details themselves,—the analysis of the facts.
I will first keep to the investigation of Begonia argyrostig- ma, which suits this kind of inquiry extremely well.
If we take a young stem of this plant, fresh and quite healthy, the diameter of which at the bottom would be a centimetre and more, and diminishing by degrees from the bottom to the top by internodes of 8,7, 3, 1, $ centimetres in length, and we examine its pith, itis found to be of sucha size that it occupies ;’>ths of the stalk. Moreover this pith (Pl. II. fig. 1.) forms a column channeled by three deep grooves (A, B, C, fig. 1.), and by three slighter grooves alternating with the first (a, 0, ¢, fig.1.). When the internode is 10 or 9 millimetres in diameter we ob-- serve that the pith begins to be perforated with discoid cavi- ties tolerably equidistant, but separated by rather large masses of compact pith (e, f, fig. 2.). But if an internode of 6 or 7 millimetres in diameter is taken, we find a pith quite conti- nuous, compact, similar to that of a great number of plants. This change takes place suddenly; for two successive inter- nodes, the one of 7 millimetres in diameter, the other of 9,
Prof. C. Morren on the discoid Piths of Plants. ry’
exhibited a continuous pith in the first and an interrupted pith in the second.
On the section of an internode where the lenticular cavities are formed we see first the derm (a, fig. 2.), then the cellular envelope (6, fig. 2.), after which comes the ligneous sheath (c, fig. 2.), which at the nodes abuts on diaphragms that are also ligneous but not formed of fibres (d, fig. 2.). In the centre appears the pith (e, fig. 2.) and its cavities (f, fig. 2.). These cavities do not in their first state extend to the exterior limits of the pith, and their first appearance is that of a sim- ple transversal slit. These slits are separated by portions of compact pith, which are of six, eight, or ten times the extent of the slits.
These slits, are they Jacerations of tissue? So we should believe, according to the assertion of M.DeCandolle. But see- ing their evenness, the outline of their separation broken off all at once, and the smooth and polished surface of their sides, this became very improbable. Where there are rents of tissue there is raggedness, irregular indentations, and jagged frag- ments; here there are none of these. I presumed there- fore that this was rather a separation