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THE ANNALS
AND
MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY,
INCLUDING ZOOLOGY, BOTANY, ann GEOLOGY.
(BEING A CONTINUATION OF THE ‘ANNALS ’ COMBINED WITH LOUDON AND CHARLESWORTH 'S ‘MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY.’)
CONDUCTED BY
CHARLES C. BABINGTON, Esa., M.A,, F.R.S., F.LS., F.G.S., JOHN EDWARD GRAY, Ph.D., F.R.S., F.LS., V.P.ZS. &e., WILLIAM S. DALLAS, F.LS.,
AND
WILLIAM FRANCIS, Ph.D., F.L.S.
—— —_ — ees
VOL. V.—FOURTH Sve aie
AR ARR AARP AAA IIS OOS
LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS.
SOLD BY LONGMANS, GREEN, READER, AND DYER; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.; KENT AND CO.; BAILLIERE, REGENT STREET, AND PARIS: MACLACHLAN AND STEWART, EDINBURGH ?}
HODGES AND SMITH, DUBLIN: AND ASHER, BERLIN.
1870.
“ Omnes res create sunt divine sapientiz et potentiz testes, divitiz felicitatis humane :—ex harum usu Jonitas Creatoris; ex pulchritudine sapéentia Domini ; ex cconomiad in conservatione, proportione, renovatione, potentia majestatis elucet. Harum itaque indagatio ab hominibus sibi relictis semper sestimata ; a veré eruditis et sapientibus semper exculta; malé doctis et barbaris semper inimica fuit.”—Linnavs.
“Quel que soit le principe de la vie animale, il ne faut qu’ouvrir les yeux pour voir qu’elle est le chef-d’eeuyre de la Toute-puissance, et le but auquel se rappor- tent toutes ses opérations.”—Bruckner, Théorie du Systéme Animal, Leyden, 1767.
06 0 eonoen . . . . The sylvan powers Obey our summons; from their deepest dells The Dryads come, and throw their garlands wild And odorous branches at our feet; the Nymphs That press with nimble step the mountain-thyme And purple heath-flower come not empty-handed, But scatter round ten thousand forms minute Of velvet moss or lichen, torn from rock Or rifted oak or cavern deep: the Naiads too Quit their loved native stream, from whose smooth face They crop the lily, and each sedge and rush That drinks the rippling tide: the frozen poles, Where peril waits the bold adventurer’s tread, The burning sands of Borneo and Cayenne, All, all to us unlock their secret stores And pay their cheerful tribute.
J. Taytor, Norwich, 1818.
ALERE {§ FLAMMAM.
CONTENTS OF VOL. V.
[FOURTH SERIES. }
NUMBER XXV.
I. On the Organization of Sponges, and their Relationship to the Coral Gy NSE EUACIORD. crn ou siaciec a sch aces 04 ce Se pe waaay
II. On the Species of the Genus Phi/hydrus found in the Atlantic LEVON CCMA 8 gpl DSS] 5 7) 5 Da eR mR gO ATL AB
III. On a Byssiferous Fossil Trigonta. By Joun Lycert, M.D..
IV. On the Coleoptera of St. Helena, By T. Vernon Wot- bP. Wein! Dy as Lave yl 2-5 We a aim 8 ee A EA
V. Notule Lichenologice. No. XXXI. By the Rev. W. A. LEIGHTON, B.A., F.L.S., F.B.S.Ed.—On certain new Characters in the Species of the Genera Nephroma (Ach.) and Nephromium, Ny]. .
VI. On a new Genus of Testacellide in Australia. By C. SEMPER
VII. On a new Species of the Genus Pennella. By Epwarp PER- cEVAL Wriaut, M.D., F.L.S., Professor of Botany in the University OU ee ER eM eee crs sa helenae iat haen weet sts
VIII. On Janassa bituminosa, Schlotheim, from the Marl-Slate of Midderidge, Durham. By ArBpany Hancock, F.L.S.,and RicHarD Howstie: (Plates UE GBH.) yo sc het alates de caper aaa He
IX. Description of a supposed new Species of Pigeon. By JoHn RO gee Matt dite oo neta aetna sacdip ie nee one «er eveseis areata ees
Deep-sea Researches, by Dr. G. C. Wallich; On the Specitie Dis- tinctness of Anodonta anatina, by R. M. Lloyd; On the Strue- ture and Mode of Growth of the Scales of Fishes, by Dr. Salbey; On the Anatomy of the Aleyonarta, by MM. G. Pouchet and A. Myévre ; Observations on the Nasal Glands of Birds, by M. Jo- bert; On Remains of the Beaver in New Jersey, by Mason C. Weld; Note on the Respiration of the Nymphe of the Libellule, by M. Oustalet ; The late Professor Michael Sars, of
Page
Christiania, by J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S. 2........5.0.. 63—71
NUMBER XXVI.
X. Note on the Sponges Grayella, Osculina, and Cliona. By H. J. MA eee ee ee NC. AG 8.4. SS ohne so a a ces oben aE
iv CONTENTS.
XI. Reply to Mr. Frederick Smith on the Relations between Wasps and Rhipiphori. By ANDREW Murray, F.LS. ..........
XII. Additions to the Tenebrionide of Australia &c. By Francis SPARCOR, FU,5:) EZ.0. 9 MGs, ove vies a ciple Wm olel alles 9 srpubens oye lebuslame
XIII. On the Organization of Sponges, and their Relationship to the Corals. By Ernst HACKEL
© éiele a/R 6) 0] © 18 04%. (6 6/0) 0) 0. e098 wis is) eke mae sere
XIV. On a new Genus of the Madreporaria or Stony Corals (Ste- nohelia). By Wm. S. Kent, F.Z.8., F.R.M.S., of the Geological Department, British Museum
aS oa aie 6 a) o fe uo ae) 6 8) Be. 6. 0) ete, wipe Ra ms: Oe
XV. Notule Lichenologice. No. XXXII. By the Rev. W. A. LerenTon, B.A., F.L.S., &e.—Dr. E. Stizenberger’s Analytical Key to the Lecidee
ie we 6 Le RAO ee eee) eB) 8 Res! el eee ne eeu a) eels OR Le meee eee eRe ce ae
New Books :—Flora Europea Algarum aque dulcis et submarine, auctore Ludovico Rabenhorst, Philos. Dr., Ordinis Albrecht. Equite, Acad. et Societ. plur. Sodali—Microscopic Objects figured and described, by John H. Martin, Secretary to the
Page
83
94
107
Maidstone and Mid-Kent Natural-History Society. No. I. 127—1388
Upon the Mode of Formation of the Egg and the Embryonic Deve- lopment of the Sacculine, by M. E. van Beneden; Food of Oceanic Animals, by J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S.; Note on the Habits of the Discophora, by the Rev. Thomas Hincks, B.A. ; Note on the Occurrence of two Species of Crustacea not hitherto observed in Scotland, by M. Watson, M.D.; Spatangus meri- dionalis, Risso, by J. Gwyn Jeffreys; Note on the Arrangement of the Pores or Afferent Orifices in Cliona celata, Grant, by M. Léon Vaillant ; British Killer or Orca, by Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., &e.; On the Antiquity of the Ass and Horse as Domestic Ani- mals in Egypt, by M. F. Lenormant; Embryonic Development of Bothriocephalus proboscideus, by E. Mecznikow; Note on a Station of a living Encrinus (Pentacrinus europeus) upon the Coasts of France, by M. Lacaze-Duthiers ; Observations on the Salivary Glands in Myrmecophaga tamandua, by M. J. Chatin. .
140—152
NUMBER XXVII.
XVI. On the Myology of the Wombat (Phascolomys wombata) and the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus ursinus). By ALEXANDER MacatisTER, Professor of Zoology and Director of the Museum, Wniveraty of Dublin, <<. 5 cay. sack oss piste et eae emai ttca
XVII. Descriptions of three new Species of Birds from China. By Rosert Swinuor, F.Z.S. ....
CONTENTS. W
Page XVIII. Prodromus of a System of the Calcareous Sponges. By Re get NC Ree anise bicicemdeles ainsie le ey aivcis woke cererms sei sia ces 176 XIX. On the Parasitism of Rhipiphorus paradoxus. By T. Au- SUIDEE IS OMNES MUNN NE MNT AL Sh AN Win favel gaia ste tetas ees oe Seance art 191
XX. Concluding Observations on the Parasitism of Rhipiphorus paradoxus. By FrrpEricK Smiru, Assistant in the Zoological Dopantment-of the British Museum’... ah Bek so were wielels oe 198
XXI. Hiickel on the Relationship of the Sponges to the Corals. By Ws. S. Kent, F.Z.S., F.R.M.S., of the Geological Department,
TeyiA cet Slee WERE MAA eae ecko Sel gas ce Saga etd ana labo ace waa y aero 204 XXII. Descriptions of some new Species of Birds from Southern Asia. By Arnruur, Viscount WALDEN, P.Z.S. &......... 60sec 218
XXIII. List of the Bones of Seals and Whales in the Colonial Museum, Wellington, New Zealand. By Dr. JamEs HecrTor, F.R.S. Us MDa Nl 0 SL 2 a) 3s Oe 220
New Books :—Index to the Fossil Remains of Aves, Ornithosauria, and Reptilia, from the Secondary System of Strata, arranged in the Woodwardian Museum of the University of Cambridge, by H. G. Seeley, of St. John’s College, Cambridge. With a Prefatory Notice by the Rev. A. Sedgwick, LL.D., &c. &c. Mémoire sur les Ascoboles, par M. EK. Boudier.......... 225, 226
On the Genus Asterostoma, belonging to the Family Echinocorydee, by MG; Cotteau’s’ Sars Pandy. ).2'. Au ely aos 230—232
NUMBER XXVIII. XXIV. On the Structure and Development of the Antheridium in
Betas see eb ley Lis JKONy,. (iebate: Vile) 1s sarek Va Para web's vane Hepes 233 XXV. On Additions to the Coleopterous Fauna of the Cape-Verde Islands. By T. Vernon Wottaston, M.A., F.L.S. ............ 245 ~
XXVI. Notes on the Structure of the Crinotdea, Cystidea, and Blastoidea. By E. Bruurnes, F.G.8., Paleeontologist of the Geolo- pieammVey: Of OREM.) oy cc kn oealcue ginweVaaoa.s Oe eh vs oF pa ek 251
XXVIII. Note on an undescribed Fossil Fish from the Newsham Coal-shale near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. By Atsany Hancock, A Sande PetOy ABT UIOS Eh nh 8 Oa sake. 2 wre dior sue ate 266
XXVIII. On a new Species of Sagitta from the South Pacific (8. tricuspidata). By Wm. S. Kent, F.Z.S., F.R.M.S., of the Geological Department, British Museum 2.5 4.0.0. cc cei ek seek deehveceens 268
vi CONTENTS.
XXIX. On the Pairing of Zoospores, the Morphologically Funda- mental Form of Reproduction in the Vegetable Kingdom. By N. MP ARPTROM cc ig e vsleie's Slain os ae Vane a FAN ee > 500s oa eee
XXX. A last word in Reply to Dr. Chapman and Mr. Frederick Smith on the Relations of the Wasp and Rhipiphorus. By, ANDREW DRAB Pe recreates aca al ORE ME eta et TGR esta a ae acme
XXXI. On Ornithopsis, a Gigantic Animal of the Pterodactyle kind from the Wealden. By Harry G. Srerey, F.G.S., Assistant to Prof. Sedgwick in the Woodwardian Museum of the University RRO RMEUDEIADO. Oo cdc she's ia eon ete cine ore. tes can eyy yeas ot tee omens
XXXII. On Zoocapsa dolichorhamphia, a Sessile Cirripede from the Lias of Lyme Regis. By Harry G. SErxey, F.G.S., Assistant to Prof. Sedgwick in the Woodwardian Museum of the University DE ORMOND Crag Sa sre celens sd fe shojscviatdle Weis Ge apckAes oe oan cee eee
New Book :—Catalogus methodicus et synomymicus Hemipterorum Heteropterorum Italize indigenorum, accedit descriptio aliquot specierum vel minus vel nondum cognitarum, auctore Antonio
Pee lett BLAS ek caste Becks al inset ae
Proceedings of the Royal Society ......0..6..s:eeseeenne pee
On Parthenogenesis in Polistes gallica, by Prof. C. T. von Siebold ; On Force and Will, by B. A. Gould; On the Constitution and Mode of Formation of the Ovum of the Sacculine, by M. Bal- biani ; On some Mammalia from Eastern Thibet, by M. A. Milne- Edwards ; On the Transformation of the Nests of the House- Martin (Hirundo urbica, Linn.), by M. A. Pouchet; Character of a new Species of Crossoptilon, by the Abbé Armand David. .
Page
272
278
279
285
298—308
NUMBER XXIX.
XXXII. On two new Species of the Foraminiferous Genus Squa- mulina; and on a new Species of Diftugia. By H. J. Carter, F.R.S. &e. (Plates IV. & V.)
XXXIV. Descriptions of new Species of Birds from the Solomon and Banks's Groups of Islands. By G. R. Gray .............-..
XXXV. On Fertilization in Ferns. By Dr. Epwarp Srras- BURGER
Yip i eect ac Pee eet a ar er ee ye ec! Fy eed ta
ove mye where aim os RUS iain ol eis) E Bs Cee e026 wees ore 6,0 mus ese, atese ele ce) ebu tele ke fale leon ies 0 is)
XXXVI. On the British Species of Didymograpsus. By Henry ALLEYNE Nicuoxson, M.D., D.Sc., M.A., F.R.S.E., F.G.S., Lee-
309
327
331
CONTENTS. vil Page
turer on Natural History in the Extra-Academical School of Edin- Buin Ce la teaV Ely ae hs 8 th aire aus e orteg WES slentefesarets sokh ats 307
XXXVI. List of Species,in a small Collection of Butterflies from the South Seas. By ArtHur GarpINneR But eR, F.L.S. &. .... 857
XXXVITI, On new Diurnal Lepidoptera. By A. G. BuTEr, [Sh CES. 3 CaN MCR nee Ag ey ES a RET a POO MTGE SOLA, SAPS Reo 362
XXXIX. A word in explanation of a passage occurring in my “ Concluding Observations on the Parasitism of Rhipiphorus para- doxus.” By FREDERICK SMITH ..... Wrestle ate e.o Gate erage 365
XL. Notes on Myriosteon Higginsii. By Dr. J. E. Gray, LES US Pc Bec para ar We aR ae nee Eee ip ne Pe Bernice St Gee mT e 366
XLI. Researches on the Freshwater Crustacea of Belgium. (Se- cond and Third’ Parts.) By Peure PLATEAU. ec eta share at 367
XLII. Note on Polytrema miniaceum. By Prof. G. J. ALLMAN, Lgl ats Bee Gm arbi wy oy toadnaricy ghee ete ICS oe MO ir eR ENE bar ae eR 372
XLII. On the Occurrence of Loxomma Allmanni in the Northum- berland Coal-field. By AtBany Hancock, F.L.S., and THomas ING PIE Boyce Te CUA Gs es eee ea a es oe eee Ce 374
The Male Prothallium of the Vascular Cryptogamia, by A. Millardet ; Morphological Researches on the Mollusca (first memoir : Gas- teropods), by M. Lacaze-Duthiers; A new British Land-Shell, by J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S.; On the presence of peculiar Or- gans belonging to the Branchial Apparatus in the Rays of the Genus Cephaloptera, by M. A. Duméril; Observations on the Turning of Fungi, by M. P. Duchartre; Deep-sea Dredging in TAGS Gi bie ciel ape ea A Sen Se a 8, 379—888
NUMBER XXX.
XLIV. On Haliphysema ramulosa (Bowerbank) and the Sponge- spicules of Polytrema. By H. J. Carrer, F.R.S. &............. 389
XLV. Notes on a Collection of Spiders made in Sicily in the Spring of 1868. By E. Percevat Wrieut, M.D., F.L.S., Professor of Botany, Trinity College, Dublin. With a List of the Species, and Descriptions of some new Species and of a new Genus, by JoHN BEAK wearer EL s655,.° CE UNbea WIE eas shea le is salar o-uteeeh 3 392
XLVI. Notes on some new Genera and Species of Aleyonoid Corals in the British Museum. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., &e.. 405
XLVII. Notes on the Structure of the Crinoidea, Cystidea, and Blastoidea. By E. Briurnes, F.G.8., Paleontologist of the Geolo- SICA MOUV CY. ME OARAM st. o's sreia ca afc migrore aa dotatslerstuls, eth" Sm seh evel 409
Vill CONTENTS.
Page XLVIII. Descriptions of some new Species of Birds from Southern Asia. By Artruur, Viscount WALDEN, P.Z.S. &.............-. 416
XLIX. On some Species of Proboscidiferous Gasteropods which in-
habit the Seas of Japan. By ArTHuR Apams, F.L.S., Staff-Surgeon PE ek Seah ies bofe a ic td te isute te wi tvR Ee ofateurbe reels int ts 9A, bel ore 418
L. List of Coleoptera received from Old Calabar, on the West Coast of Africa. By ANDREW Murray, F.L.S. ........0-.-+05: 430
LI. Norwegian Mollusca. By J. Gwyn Jerrreys, F.R.S. .... 458
On Anthozoanthus parasiticus, Deshayes, MS. (Algiers), by H. J. Carter, F.R.S.; Notes on Myriosteon, by H. J. Carter, F.R.S. ; Geographical Distribution of Australian Whales, by Dr. J. E. Gray; On the Structure of a Fern-Stem from the Lower Kocene of Herne Bay, and on its Allies, recent and fossil, by W. Carru- thers, Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S8. ; Observations on the Ornithological Fauna of the Bourbonnais during the Middle Tertiary Period, by M. A. Milne-Edwards; On the Pancreas in Osseous Fishes, and on the nature of the Vessels discovered by Weber, by S. Legouis; On the Megadactylus polyzelus of Hitchcock, by E. D. BOR tend Svs cg ete cies se nate ge oo arene 449—454
Index
PLATES IN VOL. V.
PuaTe I, New Species of Pennella. ah \y anassa bituminosa.
IV. Squamulina scopula. V. Squamulina varians.—Difflugia bipes. VI. Structure of the Antheridium in Ferns. VII. British Species of Didymograpsus. VUI. New Genus and Species of Spiders.
THE ANNALS
AND
MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY.
[FOURTH SERIES. }
SO cpm oA OHO per litora spargite muscum, Naiades, et circiim vitreos considite fontes: Pollice virgineo teneros hic carpite flores: Floribus et pictum, dive, replete canistrum. At vos, o Nymphe Craterides, ite sub undas; Ite, recurvato variata corallia trunco Vellite muscosis e rupibus, et mihi conchas Ferte, Dew pelagi, et pingui conchylia succo.”
N. Parthenii Giannettasii Ecl. 1,
No. 25. JANUARY 1870.
I.—On the Organization of Sponges, and their Relationship to the Corals. By Ernst HACKEL*.
THE class of Sponges has hitherto stood, in many respects, isolated in the world of organisms. No other class of the animal or vegetable kingdom, containing an equal number of abundant, large, and multifarious forms, has left naturalists, even up to the most recent times, so much in doubt as to its true nature, or called forth such a number of contradictory opinions. Whilst most of the older naturalists regarded the Sponges as plants, and most of the modern ones considered them to be ani- mals, the intermediate opinion also made itself felt from time to time—namely, that from the indifferency of the characters of their organization, and from their mixture of animal and vegetable peculiarities, they were to be assigned to that remark- able group of the lowest and simplest organisms, which (in my ‘General Morphology of Organisms’) I have placed as the kingdom of the Protista, between the animal and vegetable kingdoms. Without entering here upon an historical exposition of the numerous different opinions which have ever been en- tertained by naturalists as to the position of the Sponges in the classification of organisms, the opposite stand-points of the most esteemed naturalists may nevertheless be briefly indicated.
* From the ‘ Jenaische Zeitschrift,’ Band y. pp. 207-254; translated by W.S. Dallas, F.L.S.
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser.4. Vol. v. 1
2 M. E. Hiackel on the Organization of Sponges,
Placing at the head of them, as is customary, the name of Aristotle, even this “ father of natural history” was quite in doubt as to the nature of the sponges; for while, in many passages, he describes the sponges known to him as animals, he regards them in another place as plants, and in a third refers them to those indifferent organisms which constitute the ee and imperceptible transition from the animal to the plant.
Linné, who regarded all the sponges known to him as spe- cies of a single genus, Spongia, placed them, in 1735 (in his ‘Systema Nature’), at the end of the vegetable kingdom, be- low the lowest Cryptogamia, combining them with the corals and coralliform Bryozoa as Lithophyta. Even in the tenth edition of his ‘Systema Nature’ (1760) this view is main- tained. But in the twelfth edition (1767) he adopts the views of Ellis and Pallas, who had in the meanwhile declared the sponges to be animals, and placed them with the corals, among the Zoophyta.
Of those naturalists who even subsequently regarded the sponges as plants, Spallanzani, Sprengel, and Oken are espe- cially to be noted; and this opinion has been held, even up to the most recent period, by Burmeister and Ehrenberg. Never- theless the sponges have pretty generally passed as animals since Grant, in 1826, thoroughly described the canal-system of the sponges with its “ pores”? and “oscula,’”’ and also ascer- tained their reproduction by means of ciliated free-swimming larvee.
With regard to the position occupied by the sponges in the system of animals, two different views especially stand at pre- sent in opposition to one another, and have done so for more than twenty years. In conjunction with Cuvier, most zoolo- gists regarded the sponges as the nearest allies of the corals or polypes, and referred them, with these, to the primary divi- sion of the Radiata. The determining motive for this posi- tion was not, however, the recognition of the actual agreement of the sponges and corals in their most essential characters of organization, but rather the external similarity which exists between many sponges and corals in outward habit, and espe- cially in the mode of stock-formation. But when, about a
uarter of a century ago, it began to be perceived that the so- called “ Radiate type” was a confusedly mixed assemblage of very various lower animals, and when, afterwards, as the re- cognition of their differences of organization advanced, the Radiata were divided into the three quite different main groups of the Echinodermata, Coelenterata, and Protozoa, the sponges were not left with the corals or Anthozoa among the Ceelen-
and their Relationship to the Corals. 3
terata, but degraded into the lowest section of the animal kingdom—a particular place being assigned to them, with the Infusoria and Rhizopoda, among the Protozoa.
The accurate investigations of the minute organization of the sponges which have been made since 1848, with improved microscopic appliances, and in accordance with the require- ments of modern anatomy, appeared at first to fix this last position afresh. The very careful anatomical investigations - of Carter in the East Indies (from 1848) and of Lieberkiihn in Berlin (from 1856) seemed concordantly to lead to the re- sult that the sponges were true Protozoa, and possessed close relations of affinity, on the one hand, to the Rhizopoda, and especially to the Amcebee, and, on the other, to the true Infu- soria (Ciliata) and to the Flagellata. In particular the struc- ture of the parts of the siliceous skeleton of the siliceous sponges was compared to that of the similar and often scarcely distinguishable siliceous formations of the Sphzerozoa and other Radiolaria. Moreover certain isolated sponge-cells were not to be distinguished from Ameebe. ‘The isolated ciliary cells from the canal-system of the sponges, which bear only one long whip-like cilium, resembled the individual Fla- gellata. Whilst thus the relationships of the sponges to the other Protozoa were sought in various directions, on the other hand the characteristic canal-system of the sponge-body could not but appear as a higher organic contrivance, which was entirely wanting in the other Protozoa, or at the utmost ad- mitted of a very distant physiological comparison with the contractile vesicle of the Infusoria and Amcebe. Hence, in proportion as more extended investigations revealed the multi- farious modifications of this canal-system in the various groups of sponges, the opinion became more and more general that this was a quite peculiar vascular apparatus, and that the whole class of sponges was in consequence to be regarded as a class of animals sui generts, which stood in no near relations of affinity to any other class, either among the Protozoa or among the Ccelenterata.
This opinon, which is now predominant, that the peculiar canal-system of the sponges represents a perfectly specific nutritive apparatus, such as occurs in no other animals, and that, consequently, the Spongie are to be regarded as a pecu- liar and isolated class of animals sud generis, was expressed even by Grant (1826) and Johnston (1842), and has been maintained in recent times, especially by those zoologists who have gained most credit for the classification of sponges, namely, Oscar Schmidt and Bowerbank. The further the systematic investigations of the latter extended, and the more
1%
4 M. E. Hickel on the Organization of Sponges,
the minute structure of the sponges has been made known of late by the researches of Lieberkiihn and Klliker, the more did this isolated position of the class of sponges with its spe- cific “ water-vascular system ”’ appear to be established.
In opposition to this predominant conception, only a few naturalists have of late adhered to the older opinion, that the Spongie were of all animals most nearly allied to the corals. Among these few Leuckart is especially to be noted. In 1854 he directly asserted the relationship of the sponges and polypes (corals) in the following words :— If we imagine a polype- colony with imperfectly separated individuals, without tenta- cles, stomachal sac, and internal septa, we have in fact the image of a sponge with its large ‘ water-canals’ opening out- wardly.”” Leuckart accordingly placed the sponges in the system with the corals, in the natural primary group of the Ceelenterata, the typical arrangement of the organization of which he had been the first to recognize, in 1848, in their gastrovascular apparatus, the “ ccelenteric canal-system.” He did not, however, either then or afterwards, adduce any fur- ther proof of the near relationship of the sponges and corals, or demonstrate in detail the homologies actually existing be- tween the two classes.
When I was staying, for three months, in the winter of 1866-67, upon the Canarian island of Lanzarote, I induced my travelling companion and pupil, M. Miklucho-Maclay, of St. Petersburg, to mvestigate thoroughly the extraordinarily rich sponge-fauna which we met with upon the lava-blocks of Puerto del Arrecife, the harbour of the island. The most important result of these spongiological investigations, of the correctness of which I have repeatedly convinced myself by my own observations, was the fact that the sponges stand in a much nearer relationship to the corals than has been pre- viously admitted, and even than Leuckart had supposed. In particular, it appeared, from Miklucho’s investigations, that the “ perfectly peculiar” canal-system of the sponge-body was by no means such a peculiarly specific arrangement, but rather equivalent in general, both in form and function, to the gastro- vascular system or ccelenteric apparatus of the Ccelenterata, and especially of the corals; in fact that this “nutritive sys- tem” is both homologous and analogous in the two classes. I was able the more impartially to recognize this highly im-
ortant fact, by which the true affinity of the Spongie and celenterata is definitively established, because previously, following the prevailing opinion, and supported particularly upon the views of Lieberkiihn and Oscar Schmidt, I had re- garded the sponges as peculiar Protozoa, most nearly allied to
~
and their Relationship to the Corals. in
the Rhizopoda, and had placed them, in my ‘ General Morpho- logy,’ in the indifferent kingdom of the Protista. —
Miklucho has published the most important results of his researches in his ‘ Beitriige zur Kenntniss der Spongien,” which appeared in 1868 in the fourth volume of the ‘ Jenaische Zeitschritt ’ (pp. 221-240, pls. 4&5). They relate chietly to the remarkable Guancha blanca, a small calcareous sponge, which is to be reckoned one of the most interesting forms of the whole animal kingdom; for it forms small stocks (corm), the constituent individuals (persons) of which belong, accord- ing to their structure, to different genera, and even different families, of the Calcispongiz, and nevertheless grow forthtrom one and the same root.
Miklucho’s remarkable observations on Guancha blanca, of the accuracy of which I constantly convinced myself with my own eyes while in Lanzarote, induced me last winter to submit to a comparative examination the numerous small calcareous sponges which I had previously collected in the North Sea at Heligoland, and in the Mediterranean at Nice, Naples, and Messina. Subsequently I also found some interesting small calcareous sponges on stones, univalve shells, and alge, which I had collected, during my return journey from the Canary Islands, on the north-west coast of Africa, near Mogador, and in the Straits of Gibraltar, near Algeciras, and brought with me well preserved in spirits. To this rich material of my own was added the calcareous sponges of the Zoological Museums of Edinburgh, Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, which MM. Allman, Peters, Von Siebold, and Bolau were kind enough to send me. Through M. Schmeltz, I obtained from the Godef- froy Museum a number of interesting Australian calcareous sponges from Bass’s Straits. My honoured friend and col- league, Professor Oscar Schmidt of Gratz, was good enough to send me specimens of the greater part of the calcareous sponges collected by him in the Adriatic. How abundant was the material thus placed at my command may be best learnt from the fact that I have been able to distinguish no fewer than 42 genera and 132 species among the Calcispongiz.
I shall give exact descriptions and figures of these cal- careous sponges, increased by a number of new forms which I expect to have sent to me by various colleagues, in the special part of my monograph of the Calcispongiz, now im course of preparation. In the general part of this monograph I shall give a detailed exposition of the general natural history of the Cal- cispongiw, which, I hope, will advance not only the knowledge of this little group, but in many respects that of the sponges in general. For although the legion of the Calcispongiz is
6 M. E. Hickel on the Organization of Sponges,
one of the smallest legions of the class of sponges, and, more- over, for the major part, contains exceptionally small, nay, even microscopic forms, it is nevertheless capable, more than all other sponges, of throwing a valuable general light upon the conditions of organization and affinity of the whole class. Moreover the special systematic and morphological relations of this small order are so simple and clear, and the genealo- gical relationships of its different genera and species so instruc- tive and interesting, that a thorough elucidation of them is of great importance even to the general classification of or- ganisms.
As the most important result of my investigations, I start with the following general proposition :—The sponges are most nearly allied to the corals of all organisms. Certain sponges differ from certain corals only by a less degree of histo- logical differentiation, and especially by the want of urticating organs. The most essential peculiarity of the organization of sponges is their nutritive canal-system, which is both ho- mologous with and analogous to the so-called ccelenteric vas- cular system, or gastrovascular apparatus of the Coelenterata. In the sponges, just as in the corals, and, indeed, in the Ceelenterata generally, all the different parts of the body originate by differentiation from two primitive simple forma- tive membranes or germ-lamelle, the entoderm and the ecto- derm. These two lamelle originate by differentiation from the originally homogeneous cells which (having been produced by the segmentation of the ovum) compose the spherical body of the ciliated embryo or of the primitive larva (Planula). From the inner or vegetative germ-lamella, the entoderm, originate the nutritive epithelium of the canal-system and the reproduc- tive organs. From the outer or animal germ-lamella, the ec- toderm, all the other parts originate.
Before I proceed to support this proposition by a brief state- ment of the results of my observations, I may be permitted to make a few remarks upon the position which, in accordance with it, the sponges will henceforward have to occupy in the system of the animal kingdom, beside or below the Ceelenterata. For as we must infer, from the general homology which exists between all parts of the sponge- and coral-organisms, not merely an apparent anatomical agreement, but an actual blood-relationship of the two classes of animals, the question forces itself upon us, with respect to the system, what particular place the sponges will have to take in the existing classification of the Coelenterata.
In recent zoological systems the stem or type of the Coelen- terata is pretty generally divided into three classes :—1. Corals (Polypes or Anthozoa); 2. Hydromeduse (Hydroida and
and their Relationship to the Corals. 7
Medusz) ; 3. Ctenophora (Ciliograda). All the animals of these three classes agree not only in the characteristic formation of the nutritive vascular system, but also in the possession of urticating organs, for, which reason Huxley grouped them to- gether as Nematophora. These characteristic urticating organs are entirely deficient in all true sponges. The absolute defi- ciency of the urticating organs in all sponges, and their constant presence in all corals, Hydromedusz, and Ctenophora, is at present the sole morphological character which sharply and decidedly separates the first class from the last three. I have therefore, in my ‘ Monograph of the Monera,’ and subsequently in my ‘ Natural History of Creation,’ included the three last- mentioned classes under the old name of Acalephe or, Cnride (nettle-animals). Even Aristotle comprehended under this denomination the two characteristic primary types of the group, the free-swimming Meduse and the sedentary Actinie. Moreover the distinctive character of the nettle-animals, namely the possession of urticating organs, is just as clearly expressed by this denomination as by Huxley’s name Nema- tophora.
We should therefore have to divide the stem or phylum of the Zoophytes (Coelenterata s. Zoophyta) mto two primary groups (subphyla or cladi)—1, Sponges (Sponge s. Pori- Jera), and, 2, Nettle-animals (Acalepha, s. Cnide, s. Nemato- phora). ‘The latter would divide into the three classes of the Corals, Hydromedusz, and Ctenophora. Among the sponges we might provisionally distinguish as two classes the Auto- spongie and the fossil Petrospongie, as hitherto these two groups have not allowed themselves to be brought into near connexion either in the whole or in detail. Among the Auto- sie the Calcispongie would form a distinct subclass or
egion.
We might perhaps go even further, and, supported by the very near relations of affinity of the sponges and corals, speak in favour of the following division of the Coelenterata :—
Cladus I. Bush-animals (THAMNODA). Class 1. Sponges (Spongie). Class 2. Corals (Corallia).
Cladus II. Sea-jellies (Mepus#).
Class 1. Umbrella-jellies (Hydromeduse). Class 2. Comb-jellies (Ctenophore).
Time only can decide which grouping best corresponds to the natural relationships, when the genealogy of the
8 M. E. Hickel on the Organization of Sponges,
Ccelenterata can be more completely established upon the basis of extended ontogenetic and comparative anatomical in- vestigations.
That the essential agreement in the internal organization of the sponges and corals, their actual homology, has hitherto been for the most part overlooked is due, among other things, to the fact that the most accurate anatomical investigations of recent times (especially those of Lieberkiihn) took their start from the two best-known and commonest forms of sponges— namely, the freshwater sponge (Spongilla), which belongs to the group of the true siliceous sponges, and the common sponge (Euspongia), belonging to the group of horny sponges. But these very two forms of sponges differ in many respects con- siderably from the original and typical structure of the entire class, have been in many ways modified and retromorphosed by adaptation to special conditions of existence, and therefore easily lead to erroneous conceptions, especially as their inves- tigation is comparatively difficult.
On the other hand, among all the sponges, no group appears better fitted to shed full light upon the typical organization and the true relations of affinity of the whole class than the legion of the Calcispongiz. Lieberkiihn has already expressly acknowledged this in his ‘ Beitrige zur Anatomie der Kalk- spongien’ (1865), and endeavoured, from the results obtained from the Calcispongie, to render the other sponges more in- telligible.
This applies in the first instance even to the ¢ndividuality of the Calcispongiz, which is adapted, in a far higher degree than that of most other sponges, to elucidate the difficult tec- tology or theory of individuality of the sponges. Reserving the circumstantial statement of these conditions, which are equally interesting and important, for my monograph of the Calcispongiz, I will here cite only the result of my special in- vestigations upon this point. ‘This consists essentially (leav- ing out of consideration some modifications) in a confirmation of the opinion quite recently put forward by O. Schmidt, that every part of the sponge-body which possesses an excurrent orifice (oscu/wm) is to be regarded as a distinct “‘ individual.” This ‘ true individual ”’ of the sponge-body I denominate, in accordance with my theory of individuality, a “ person ;” and every sponge-body that consists of two or more persons (7. e. that possesses two or more oscula) I denominate a “ stock ”’ or “ cormus.” The special limitation of these two ideas, which are rendered necessary by the peculiar conditions of indi- viduality of the sponges, I reserve for my monograph. There are consequently simple (solitary or monozoic) and compound
and their Relationship to the Corals. 9
(social or polyzoic) sponges. Of simple sponges or persons we have examples in Sycum and Ute among the calcareous sponges, Caminus among the bark sponges, and Huplectella among the siliceous sponges. On the other hand, Leucosolenia and Nardoa among the calcareous sponges, Huspongia among the horny sponges, and Spongilla among the siliceous forms are com- pound sponges or stocks.
I do not, like most other authors, regard the characteristic canal-system of the sponges as something quite specific and peculiar to this class, an arrangement sud generis, but share in the opinion of Leuckart and Miklucho, that it is essentially homologous with the ceelenteric vascular system or gastrovas- cular apparatus of the corals and Hydromedusee—in fact, of all the Acalephz or nettle-animals. Indeed I am so thoroughly convinced of this homology that I (with Miklucho) designate the largest cavity into which that canal-system is dilated in the sponge-body, and which is usually called the excurrent tube or flue (caminus), as the stomach, or digestive cavity, and its outer orifice, which is usually called the excurrent orifice or osculum, as the buccal orifice or mouth.
In opposition to this conception two objections especially will be urged—namely, in the first place, that there are sponges with no flue and osculum, and, secondly, that the direction of the flow of water in the sponge-body is not reconcilable with it. As regards the first objection, I think I can invalidate it by a simple reference to developmental history. The sponges with- out flue and without osculum are either primitive sponge-forms, whose ancestors had never attained to the differentiation of this central part of the canal-system, or they are retromorphosed forms whose ancestors have lost stomach and mouth by phy- letic degeneration. The latter stand in the same relation to the more highly developed sponges furnished with mouth and stomach as the Cestode worms to the Trematoda. The Cestoda (in consequence of their stronger adaptation to the parasitic mode of life) have also lost the intestine and mouth, which their trematodiform ancestors possessed. Most of the mouth- less sponges, such, especially, as the Clistosyca and Cophosyca among the Calcispongiz, are probably to be regarded as such retromorphosed, and not as originally astomatous forms ; and if their embryos, which are still unknown to us, actually ac- quire a mouth and stomach like the other sponge-embryos, this ontogenetic fact would most decidedly confirm our phylogenetic hypothesis. Sycocystis, the young form of which is provided with a mouth, while the mature form is astomatous, may even now be cited in its favour.
The physiological conditions of the water-circulation in the
10 M. E. Hiickel on the Organization of Sponges,
sponge-body seem to constitute a more substantial objection to our interpretation. It is well known that generally (but not always!) the direction of the flow of the water which passes through the canal-system of the living sponge-body is as fol- lows :—The water flows in through very numerous and fine cuticular pores (the so-called ‘ incurrent apertures ”’); usually perceptible only by means of the microscope, and through these fine “ incurrent canals,” which often ramify and anasto- mose repeatedly, reaches a few larger canals, which finally open into the central ‘excurrent cavity” (our “ stomachal cavity’). From this the used water then escapes outwards with the useless solid particles through the “‘ excurrent orifice” (our ‘‘ mouth ’’).
In the corals or Anthozoa, on the other hand, as also in the other Cnidz, the direction of the flow of the water which tra- verses the cavities of the body appears to be different, and in a certain sense opposed to the ordinary direction of the current in the sponges. ‘The water, which at the same time conveys the food into the body, is usually, in the Cnide and, especially, in the corals, taken up by the mouth, passes through this into the stomach, and hence into the other canals which traverse the body. ‘The part played in this process by the cutaneous pores of the corals is unfortunately still as good as unknown. These fine apertures in the skin, usually perceptible only through the microscope, through which the finest canals of the ccelenteric vascular system open outwards in the corals, just as in the sponges, have by no means attracted so much attention in the former as in the latter. Nay, they have scarcely even been compared! Whilst the greatest importance has been attached to the cutaneous pores of the sponges, those of the corals, although long known, have been almost universally ig- nored; and yet the two are evidently homologous, and of one and the same origin! Nay, it is even very possible (not to say probable) that through the skin of the corals, as through that of the sponges, respiratory currents of water constantly penetrate into the body by means of the cutaneous pores, and that these traverse the canals of the body-wall, and finally discharge themselves into the stomachal cavity. .The cuta- neous pores in the corals might then, just as much as in the sponges, be designated “ incurrent apertures.”
So much, at any rate, is certain, that an essential morpho- logical difference does not exist between the nutrient vascular system of the sponges and corals. If we compare single, so- litary, perfectly developed persons of the two classes, e. g. Sycum and Actinia, we find in both a central cavity as the true principal part of the nutrient canal-system—a central cavity
and their Relationship to the Corals. 11
(flue or stomach) which opens outwards by a single large ori- fice (osculum or mouth). From this cavity canals issue in all directions, which traverse the body-wall, and finally open on their surface by the cutaneous pores. If, on the other hand, we compare a sponge-stock (e. g. Sycodendrum, Spongilla) and a coral-stock (e. g. Dendrophyllia, Gorgonia), we find in like manner, in both, a nutrient canal-system of the coenenchyma or ccenosoma, which places the cavities of the individual per- sons in communication with each other.
The difference in the direction of the current of water which is usually admitted in the two classes is a matter of perfect indifference in this close morphological comparison. Even if this difference was really constant, general, and thoroughgoing, it would not be capable of invalidating our notion of the ho- mology of the canal-system in the body of the sponge and coral. The difference in the circulation of the nutrient stream of water in the two classes of animals would merely prove that no physiological comparison, no analogy, exists between the individual parts of the vascular system, but that this has rather been lost by adaptation to ditterent conditions of nutri- tion. But by this our morphological comparison of the corre- sponding parts, their homology, which we must ascribe to inheritance from common ancestors, is in no way affected. But when we have to grasp the true relation of affinity of two groups of animals, we must consider only their actual homo- logies, @. e. those similarities arising from common inheritance, which alone constitute the true guiding-star in every compara- tive exposition. On the other hand, we must leave entirely out of consideration the analogies which depend upon mere adaptation, because these are much better fitted to obscure and conceal than to illuminate and clear up this relation of affinity.
But-it must be pointed out that this contrast in the direction of the current of water, which is almost universally assumed to occur in the vascular system of the sponges and corals, and regarded as without exception, is by no means an absolute and unfailing one. Miklucho has already shown that in a great many sponges the mouth or osculum by no means per- mits only the outflow, but also the inflow of water. I have repeatedly convinced myself, by my own observations, of the correctness of this assertion. Consequently the mouth in many sponges, just as in the corals, serves for both the recep- tion and expulsion of the water and the nutritive constituents contained in it.
For the right understanding of these relations, those sponges which have no cutaneous pores at all, and in which the sole
12 M. E. Hickel on the Organization of Sponges.
aperture of the perfectly simple stomachal cavity is the osculum or mouth, are of peculiar importance. Such a sponge without cutaneous pores, and the entire ccelenteric canal-system of which consists, as in Hydra, of a perfectly simple stomachal cavity with a simple mouth-orifice, was believed by Miklucho to be presented in his G'wancha blanca. I have, however, by subsequent careful examination of the forms of Guancha col- lected by Miklucho himself and handed over to me, ascertained that this sponge possesses simple cutaneous pores. On the other hand, I have examined two microscopically small, but yet perfectly developed (7. e. ovigerous), calcareous sponges collected by me in Naples, in which there are actually no traces of cutaneous pores. The entire body of these most pri- mitive forms of Calcispongiz consists of an elongate rounded sac (stomach), with a single opening (mouth) on that extremity of the body which is opposite to the point of attachment. For this extremely interesting primitive form, which must evi- dently open the series of the Calcispongiz, I propose the name of Prosycum.,
But full light is thrown upon these, as upon all other organic relations, only by developmental history. The earliest young forms of the sponges, the ciliated embryos, which afterwards swarm about freely as larvee by means of their ciliary coat, dif- fuse this light in the most desirable manner. I have traced the ontogeny of these youngest forms (which were previously known among the Calcispongiz only in Sycum and Dunster- villia) in a number of quite distinct genera, and have by this means arrived at the following results, which in part confirm, and in part essentially enlarge, the existing observations on the ontogeny of the sponges.
After the egg has been broken up, in consequence of the process of segmentation, into a spherical, mulberry-like aggre- gation of closely adpressed, homogeneous, naked spherical cells, the mulberry-like embryo, by stronger growth in one direction, acquires an ellipsoidal or oval form, and covers its surface with cilia. A small central cavity (stomach) is then produced in its interior ; this extends, and, breaking through at one pole of the longitudinal axis, acquires an aperture, the mouth.
Either before the buccal orifice of the stomach is perforated, or at any rate soon afterwards, the free-swimming, ciliated larva of the calcareous sponges sinks to the bottom of the sea and attaches itself there. The point of adhesion is usually situated at the pole of the longitudinal axis which is opposite to the mouth (aboral pole). The body of the young sponge now forms a simple, elongate rounded, adherent sac, the cavity
Mr. D. Sharp on the Atlantic Species of Philhydrus. 13
of which communicates with the surrounding sea-water only by a single aperture, the mouth, placed opposite to the point of attachment. Jn this early young state, when it constitutes a simple cup-shaped body with solid walls and a simple aper- ture, the young sponge is not essentially different from a young coral which is still in the same early period of ontogenesis. But just as the common freshwater Polype (Hydra) presents persistently throughout life, in its simple sac-like body-cavity, a similar coelenteric primitive state to that which all corals pass through in their youth, so does this just-mentioned simplest calcareous sponge (Prosycum) remain throughout its life, until perfect maturity, in the same ccelenteric primitive state which the other calcareous sponges have to pass through rapidly in their earliest youth. Considering, now, that extremely impor- tant and intimate causal connexion which everywhere exists between ontogeny and phylogeny,—considering the morphoge- netic fundamental law, that the ontogeny (that is to say, the individual developmental history of the organism) constitutes a short and rapid (causally conditioned by the laws of inherit- ance and adaptation) repetition of its phylogeny, that is, of the paleontological developmental history of the ancestors of its entire stock,—considering this high phylogenetic signification of all ontogenetic states, we must, from these simple facts, from this ontogenetic concordance between the young states of the sponges and corals, draw the extremely important phylogenetic conclusion, that the sponges and corals are near blood-re- lations, whose origin is derived from one and the same ori- ginal common stock-form. This unknown stock-form, of whose special structure no fossil remains are preserved to us from the archolithic period of the earth’s history, but as to whose former existence we may conclude with perfect cer- tainty from the adduced facts, nay, of whose general form we have even still an approximate picture in Prosycum simplicis- simum!, must have possessed a simple cup-shaped body, with a single orifice placed opposite to its point of attachment. We will give this the name of the primitive sac, PROTASCUS. From this hypothetical Protascus probably originated, as two divergent branchlets, Prosycum (the stock-form of the Calci- spongiz) and Procorallum (the stock-form of the corals). [To be continued. |
I1.—On the Species of the Genus Philhydrus found in the Atlantic Islands. By D. Suarp, M.B.
WHEN engaged last spring in making an examination of our British Philhydri, and comparing them with the few speci-
14 Mr. D. Sharp on the Species of Philhydrus
mens in my possession of the same genus from other parts of the world, I was surprised to find, amongst some material which had been collected in the Canary Islands by the Messrs. Crotch, examples of the P. maritimus, Th., which in no way differed from our British individuals of that species. As the P. maritimus is not included in Mr. Wollaston’s ‘ Coleoptera Atlantidum,’ I communicated the fact in a letter to that gentleman ; and in return he kindly sent to me for examina- tion such specimens of Philhydrus trom the Madeiran, Cana- rian, and Cape-Verde archipelagos as were still accessible to him; and as we have found two species amongst them which are apparently undescribed, and have ascertained also that the one which he had regarded as the melanocephalus of Olivier is better identified with what I believe to be Kiister’s politus, found in Mediterranean latitudes, I have thought that it might not be amiss to call attention to the several species, collec- tively, which have hitherto been observed in those islands. I regret, however, that I have not sufficient examples before me to enable me in every case to decide positively whether certain forms should be treated as distinct species or not; and in order therefore to avoid encumbering the Atlantic Catalogue un- necessarily, I have regarded all such doubtful ones as varveties, and thus can distinguish with certainty but four species, which are as follows :—
1. Philhydrus maritimus, Th., Sk. Col. ii. p. 96 (1860).
The entirely pale upper surface of this species, as well as the stronger punctuation of its elytra, are characters amply sufficient to distinguish it at a glance from any of the fol- lowing.
Inhabits the Canarian archipelago, a few examples of it having been found by the Messrs. Crotch in Gomera.
2. Philhydrus politus, Kiist., Kaif. Eur. 18. 9 (1849).
P. oblongo-ovalis, convexus, nitidus, niger, prothoracis elytrorumque marginibus fusco-testaceis, capite maculis duabus ante oculos, tarsis, antennis (clava excepta) palpisque rufo-testaceis, his arti- culo secundo basi infuscato ; prothorace crebre subtiliter punctato; elytris parce subtilius punctatis, seriebus tribus punctorum ma- jorum impressis.
Long. fere 3 lin.
Mas tarsorum unguiculis fere angulatim curvatis, basi dente valido instructis.
Fem. tarsorum unguiculis basi dente minore instructis.
Inhabits the Madeiran and Canarian archipelagos, the exact form defined above (which I have regarded as the type) having
found in the Atlantic Islands. 15
been met with by Mr. Wollaston in Teneriffe and Gomera, of the Canarian group, in the latter of which islands it was found
likewise by Messrs. Gray and Crotch.
Var. 3 paulo angustior, prothorace obsoletius punctato, palpis arti- culo secundo haud infuscato, tibiis piceo-rufis. Long. 23 lin.
Inhabits the Canaries, the single example (before me) which I have described as the “ var. 8,” having been taken by Mr. Wollaston in Fuerteventura.
Var. y supra fusco-testaceus, prothoracis limbo dilutiore, capite nigro maculis duabus magnis rufo-testaceis, palpis articulo se- cundo basi infuscato, tibiis tarsisque fusco-testaceis. Long. fere 3 lin.
Inhabits the Canaries, having, like the “ var. 8,” been found by Messrs. Wollaston and Gray in Fuerteventura.
Var. 6 “var. y” similis, prothorace elytrisque magis infuscatis, palpis totis testaceis. Long. vix 23 lin.
Inhabits the Madeiran archipelago, having been captured by Mr. Wollaston abundantly in the island of Porto Santo, where it swarms along the edges of the half-dried brackish streams.
I hope I may prove correct in referring the type of this apparently variable species to the P. politus, Kiist. Kiister’s description, however, indicates the sculpture of the elytra as much more distinct than it would appear to be in the Atlantic examples before me. But I have, at any rate, Spanish ones from Carthagena (the very locality from which Kiister’s spe- cimens of P. politus were obtained) agreeing in every respect with the particular form from the Canary Isles which I have above regarded as the type of the species.
A specimen of the “ var. 6”? was many years ago identified by Dr. Aubé as P. melanocephalus, Oliv., from which spe- cies nevertheless it is entirely distinct. On the strength, however, of this determination, Mr. Wollaston admitted P. melanocephalus into his list of Atlantic Coleoptera; but in reality we have no evidence as yet of its occurrence in any of those sub-African islands. The description of P. atlanticus, Blanchard, in ‘ Voy. au Pole sud,’ Zool., tome iv. p. 51 (A. D. 1853), I am unable to refer with certainty to any species or variety at present before me ; but it is said to inhabit Teneriffe.
I would also remark that it is not altogether impossible that some one (or perhaps more) of the forms which I have here treated as varieties of P. politus may prove eventually to be a distinct species.
16 Mr. D. Sharp on the Atlantic Species of Philhydrus.
3. Philhydrus Wollastoni, n. sp.
P. subovalis, sat convexus, nitidus, piceo-niger, prothoracis elytrorum- que limbo dilutiore, capite maculis duabus parvis ante oculos, palpis antennarumque basi testaceis, pedibus piceo-rufis ; capite prothoraceque crebre subtiliter, elytris parcius obsoletiusque punctatis, his seriebus tribus punctorum majorum impressis.
Long. 23 lin.
Inhabits the Cape-Verde archipelago, having been found by Messrs. Wollaston and Gray in the islands of S. Antonio, S. Vicente, 8. Iago, and Brava—in the first of which it was met with likewise by Dr. H. Dohrn.
Var. 8 paulo brevior et magis convexus, colore dilutiore, palpis paulo brevioribus et crassioribus.
Found in §. Antonio, this very slightly different form being the one which is distinctive of that island. «
Nearly as large as the northern P. melanocephalus, but darker and more uniform in colour, with its elytra sparingly and much more indistinctly punctured, and with the claws of its tarsi much smaller and scarcely differing in struc- ture in the two sexes,—in which last respect it resembles P. ovalis, Th., and marginellus, Fab., and differs decidedly from P. politus, Kiist., and maritimus, Th.
4, Philhydrus hesperidum, n. sp.
P. oblongo-ovalis, leviter convexus, nitidus, capite nigro, maculis duabus parvis ante oculos, antennarum basi palpisque testaceis, his apice summo subinfuscato; prothorace disco piceo-nigro, marginibus testaceis; elytris fusco-testaceis, parce obsoleteque punctatis, seriebus tribus punctorum majorum impressis ; pedibus piceis, tarsis dilutioribus.
Long. 13-2 lin.
Inhabits the Cape-Verde archipelago, having been detected by Messrs. Wollaston and Gray in 8. Antonio, 8. Vicente,
S. Iago, and Brava.
Closely allied in form and appearance to the European P. marginellus, but not quite so large as that species, and at once distinguishable from it by its very sparingly and obsoletely punctured elytra. It pretty closely resembles P. Wollas- tont; but its smaller size and more oblong form, as well as several differences in the details of its colour and punctation, will suffice to distinguish it.
Dr. J. Lycett on a Byssiferous Fossil Trigonia. 17
II.—On a Byssiferous Fossil 'Trigonia. By Joun Lycert, M.D.
THE discovery of a byssal aperture in a fossil Zrigonia, in connexion with certain features which are presumed to have been physically connected with such a condition of existence, is a novelty in fossil zoology, and, as such, needs no apology, although the species was figured and partially described up- wards of twenty-eight years since. [allude to Trigonia cari- nata, Agassiz, found in the Lower Greensand of various French and English localities. The well-known memoir by Agassiz on the genus 77rigonia contains figures of this species represent- ing merely immature casts, in which the ornamentation of the surface is only very imperfectly indicated; and the description also accords with such an unsatisfactory condition. D’Orbigny, in his ‘ Paléontologie Frangaise,’ has given elaborate figures of a single perfect specimen of adult or nearly adult growth. Upon referring to plate 286 of the work last cited, we find a marvellously perfect example of 7. carinata, possessing all the usual sectional characters of the costate, remarkable more especially for the salient ornamentation of the area, with its large carine and intermediate costelle: these features, so beautiful in the earlier stage of its growth, disappear altogether in specimens that have attained to about half the dimensions of adult shells, and are replaced by irregular, large, rugose, transverse plications ; but in the figures of D’Orbigny we dis- cover nothing of this: the area retains its pristine ornamenta- tion unaltered to its ultimate stage of growth—a condition of existence which we may never expect to discover in any actual specimen. The same figures have no indication of a byssal aperture, and the cost have less than their real obli- quity. The author’s text is only a brief description of the jigures of the artist.
The general figure of 7. carinata is remarkable as com- pared with examples of the genus generally; it is oblong or ovately oblong, much lengthened and narrow or inflated along its mesial portion, and has in fact much general resem- blance to Byssoarca. The byssal aperture is not large, and is placed at the anterior or antero-inferior border. An examina- tion of the lines of growth shows that this orifice was formed only when the valves approached to their adult condition. Specimens which exhibit the complete or uninjured outline of the valves are all of immature growth, and had not formed the byssal aperture. Valves of adult growth are found in a condition altogether different and in accordance with the al- tered habits of the mollusk: the lively bivalve, with its salta-
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Vol. v. 2
18 Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena.
tory motions, had then become sedentary, and lay moored to a rocky surface, or was partially buried in its sandy matrix ; in such a position its upper or more exposed surface consisted of the posteal half of the area; and this portion, either exposed or discovered by the motion of the excurrent and incurrent siphons, invariably became a prey to the marine flesh-eaters : a portion more or less large is always found broken away and removed, The whole general aspect of the adult valves ex- hibits that worn or abraded condition with which we are also familiar in Byssoarca, and doubtless resulted from similar causes in both instances.
I hope to present faithfully executed figures of this byssi- ferous Zrigonia in a Monograph on the British Trigonias, now in preparation for the Paleontographical Society.
IV.—On the Coleoptera of St. Helena. By T. VERNON WOLLASTON, M.A., F.L.S.
{Concluded from vol. iv. p. 417. | Fam. 19. Anthribide. (Subfam. ARAOCERIDES.
Linea transversa prothoracica basilaris, marginem ipsum ba- salem elevatum efficiens.)
Genus 35. ARMOCERUS. Schénherr, Cure. Disp. Meth. 40 [script. Areecerus] (1826).
52. Areocerus fasciculatus*.
A. breviter ovalis, crassus, brunneo-piceus, pube brevi squameeformi demissa cinerea griseaque vestitus necnon in elytris plus minus obsoletissime (sc. in interstitiis alternis) longitudinaliter tessel- latus ; capite prothoraceque (subter pube) opacis, densissime et rugose punctatis, illo in medio tenuiter carinulato oculis maximis prominentibus, hoc subconico, postice lato bisinuato, costa trans- versa in marginem basalem coéunte necnon utrinque marginem lateralem (usque ad medium lateris ductum) efficiente, angulis posticis subrectis ; elytris apice truncato-rotundatis, (subter pube) subopacis, densissime et rugose granulatis ac leviter crenulato- striatis; antennis pedibusque elongatis et (preecipue illis) graci- libus, illis rufo-testaceis clava obscuriore, his rufo-ferrugineis, tarsorum art® 1™° longissimo.
Long. corp. lin. 2-22.
Curculio fasciculatus, De Geer, Ins. v. 276, t. 16, f. 2 (1775). Anthribus coffee, Fab., Syst. Eleuth. ii. 411 (1801).
Two examples of an Areocerus, which were taken at St. Helena by Mr. Melliss, I feel almost confident are referable to the A. fasciculatus (which is usually known in collections as the coffee of Fabricius), though I have thought it desirable to
Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena. 19
give a careful diagnosis of them, in the event, perhaps, of their being identified hereafter with some cognate form. The insect, however, is evidently a variable one; and there are individuals in the British Museum, bearing the label “ coffee,” which seem in no way to differ from the pair now before me ; whilst the fact that the species (the larva of which appears to subsist within various seeds and berries which are used as articles of food) has become naturalized, through the medium of commerce, in most of the warmer countries of the civilized world would go far to render it probable that the St.-Helena - one is the true fasciculatus, and has been established in the island (as elsewhere) by indirect human agency.
With the exception of the Notioxenus Bewickit, the present insect is considerably larger than any of the other members of the Anthribide hitherto detected in St. Helena; and, apart from the greatly elongated first joint of its feet, and the fact of its transverse prothoracic keel being removed to the extreme base (so as to form a mere elevated margin to the pronotum), and then produced, at right angles, to about midway along the lateral edge (characters which are more strictly generic ones), it may be further recognized by its compact thickened body and short-oval outline, and by its brownish piceous surface being clothed with an abbreviated, decumbent, scale-like, cinereous pubescence, the alternate elytral interstices having additionally more or less obsolete indications of being obscurely tessellated, which, however, is sometimes scarcely traceable. Its eyes are large and prominent, its antenne rufo-testaceous and extremely slender, and its surface, when the pubescence is removed, will be seen to be nearly opaque, and closely and coarsely sculptured.
(Subfam. NoTIOXENIDES.
Linea transversa prothoracica conspicue ante basin sita, utrin- : pe) que plus minus arcuata sed nullo modo per marginem late- ralem retrorsum ducta.)
Genus 36. NOTIOXENUS. Wollaston, Journ. of Ent. 1. 212 (1861).
Corpus vel oblongum vel ovato-oblongum, aut pubescenti-varie- gatum aut subglabrum, plus minus pictum: rostro brevi, triangulari, apice rotundato-truncato; oculis rotundatis, integris: prothorace subovato postice truncato, ante basin vel linea impressa vel (sepius) carinula elevata, utrinque plus minus leviter arcuata, transversim instructo: scutello minutissimo, egre observanda: elytris ovalibus (rarius ovatis) basi truncatis, postice subabbreviatis (pygidium vix tegentibus) necnon ad apicem ipsum singulatim paulo rotundatis. Antenne graciles, recte,in pagina superiore rostri (mox intra oculos
O*
20 Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena.
in fovea) inserts; artis 1™° et 24° Jongiusculis (illo paulo robus- tiore curvato), 3te ad 8™™ longitudine subsqualibus, latitudine leviter crescentibus, reliquis clavam elongatam laxam sat abruptam pilosam 3-articulatam efficientibus (9° et 10™° intus obsolete sub- productis, ult™° subgloboso). Pedes breviusculi, subgraciles; tibis rectis, ad apicem muticis ; tarsis pseudotetrameris, art® 1™° quam 244s in anterioribus vix sed in posticis multo longiore, 24° paulo latiore, ad apicem leviter emarginato, 3t™ Jatiorem bilobum recipiente ; unguiculis appendiculatis.
[ have thought it desirable to give a fresh (and slightly amended) diagnosis of this interesting genus, not merely on account of its extreme eccentricity, but because, in conjunction with Microxylobius, Nesiotes, and Trachyphleosoma, of the Curculionide, it is amongst the most characteristic and truly indigenous of the Coleopterous forms which have hitherto been detected in St. Helena. Indeed it is difficult to overrate the importance, in a small insular catalogue, of a group like the present one—combining as it does the structural features of the Anthribide with the external outline and aspect of the genuine Curculionids ; and I may add that the great specific dissimi- larity of the four representatives enunciated below induces me to suspect still (as I did in 1861, when only two of them had been brought to light) that there are many Notéowen7, of a more or less intermediate facies, yet to be discovered, and for which therefore we may confidently look. Apart from its singular Curculionideous contour, Notéoxrenus is remarkable amongst its immediate congeners for (more especially) its transverse prothoracic keel being considerably removed from the immediate base of the prothorax, and for being replaced in one of the species (the VN. Bewicki’, which I have nevertheless regarded as the type of the genus) by an impressed line. In both instances, however, the line (whether channel or keel) is more or less arcuate, or very gradually and slightly curved towards either side; but it is not produced at right angles, in any degree whatsoever, along the lateral edges of the pro- notum. The sculpture of the Notioxent varies greatly, accord- ing to the species; but they appear to be ornamented with (sometimes obscure) patches and bands, either on the surface itself or (more often) produced by the short and somewhat paler decumbent pubescence with which they are more or less clothed. Whether they possess any saltatory power (as in Areocerus) I have not yet been able to ascertain.
§ 1. Linea prothoracica impressa, canaliculum efficiens. 53. Nottoxenus Bewickit. J. fusco-niger, subopacus, impunctatus sed minutissime obsoleteque
Mr. T. V. Woilaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena. 21
subrugulosus, pube brevi squameformi demissa grisea vestitus necnon hine inde cinereo-pictus ; capite distinctius ruguloso (fere etiam punctato), oculis magnis sed haud prominentibus ; pro- thorace linea subbasali utrinque regulariter subcurvata impresso plagisque 3 longitudinalibus, plus minus obsoletis, fractis, cinereo- squamosis picto; elytris argute impunctato-striatis, maculis mi- nutis plurimis cinereo-squamosis irroratis, ad basin et humeros interdum obsolete rufescentioribus; antennis gracilibus, rufo- testaceis, apicem versus infuscatis; pedibus fusco-piceis, genibus rufescentioribus, tarsis picescenti-testaceis. Long. corp. lin. circa 3. Notioxenus Bewickii, Woll., loc. cit, 218, pl. xiv. f. 1 (1861).
A most remarkable species, differing from the other Notioxent hitherto detected not only in its much larger size and in its griseous-black, densely clothed surface, which appears to be obscurely ornamented with small and indistinct dull cinereous patches, but likewise (which is an extremely anomalous fea- ture) in its subbasal prothoracic line being ¢mpressed, imstead of raised. With the exception of the head, which is more coarsely sculptured, its surface is impunctate, though rather alutaceous and subopaque (as may be seen when the pubes- cence is removed); and its elytral strie are also perfectly simple. The only two examples of this Notdowenus which have yet come under my notice were taken—one, in 1860, by the late Mr. Bewicke (to whom the species is dedicated), “amongst native vegetation on the extreme summit of the island,’ and the other, more recently, by Mr. Melliss.
§ I. Linea prothoracica elevata, carinulam efficiens.
54. Notioxenus rufopictus.
NV. ater, nitidus, subealvus (sc. pube brevi demissa fulvo-cinerea parcissime irroratus); capite prothoraceque sat rugulose punc- tatis, hujus linea subbasali elevata subrecta (i. e. utrinque vix curvata); elytris profunde crenato-striatis, interstitiis convexis, parce, minutissime et irregulariter punctulatis, maculis parvis plurimis (presertim ad basin et versus latera) rufis aut testaceo- rufis (plus minus confluentibus) ornatis; anteunis breviusculis, rufo-testaceis, apicem versus infuscatis; pedibus nigro-piceis, femoribus apicem versus genibusque rufescentioribus, tarsis pices- .centi-testaceis.
Long. corp. lin. circa 13.
Notioxenus rufopictus, W oll., loc. cit. 213, pl. xiv. f. 2 (1861).
The only example of this beautiful Notioxenus which I have yet seen was captured by the late Mr. Bewicke, during his few hours’ collecting at St. Helena, on the 21st of July 1860, amongst native vegetation, on the extreme summit of the
22. Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena.
island. It is very much smaller than the last species, but rather larger than either of those which follow; and it may be further recognized by its black, shining, and comparatively unpubescent surface, by its strongly and closely punctured head and prothorax (the subbasal line of which is ravsed, as in the two following species, and hardly at all curved), and by the convex interstices, deep crenate striz, and numerous bright red patches of its nearly glabrous elytra.
55. Notioxenus dimidiatus, n. sp.
NV. subovatus, viridi- (immaturus piceo-) ceneus, nitidus, pube grossa demissa cinerea parce yestitus ; capite profunde rugoso-punctato ; prothorace in disco antico levius parciusque punctato, linea sub- basali subcurvata et valde elevata; elytris grosse striato-punc- tatis, punctis striisque (suturali profundiore basi evanescente ex- cepta) in dimidia parte postica evanescentibus, margine basali ipsissimo rugose elevato; antennis picescentibus, apicem versus pedibusque (tibiis versus basin rufescentioribus exceptis) nigres- centibus.
Variat immaturus colore omnino pallidiore, etiam senescenti-ferru- gineo, elytrisque fascia media dentata obscura nigrescentiore ornatis.
Long. corp. lin. 13-13.
This species appears to be a little more ovate, and perhaps also (on the average) a trifle smaller, than the N. rufopictus ; and it is abundantly distinguished by its greenish-brassy, shining, and coarsely but sparingly pubescent surface, by its greatly elevated and evidently curved subbasal prothoracic line, and by the striz and largely developed punctures be- coming evanescent on the posterior half of its elytra. One of the two specimens now before me (and which were taken in St. Helena by Mr. Melliss) seems to be immature; for it is altogether paler (indeed well-nigh sneo-ferruginous), and there are indications on its elytra of an obscure, central, den- tate, blackish fascia, which the darker surface of the other example appears to render quite untraceable.
56. Notioxenus alutaceus, n. sp.
JV. viridi-eneus, subnitidus, alutaceus (sed haud punctatus), pube demissa fulvescente parce vestitus; prothoracis linea subbasali subcurvata elevata; elytris postice magis abbreviatis, striis (sutu- rali profunda basi evanescente excepta) obsoletis ; antennis piceis, basi rufo-testaceis; pedibus picescentibus, tibiis (tarsisque ad basin minus eyidenter) dilute rufo-testaceis.
Long. corp. lin. vix 13.
Judging from the single example now before me, and which
Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena. 23
was found in St. Helena by Mr. Melliss, this would seem to be the smallest of the true Notéorent hitherto brought to light ; and whilst it agrees with the last species in its somewhat brassy-green hue, it recedes from it totally in its unpunctured, alutaceous, and less shining surface, and from all the others here enumerated in its elytra (which are a good deal shortened behind) being free from striz, with the exception of a single deep one (evanescent anteriorly) on each alongside the suture.
(Subfam. HomMaoperipDEs.
Prothorax simplex, sc. linea transversa nulla instruetus.)
Genus 37. Homaopera (nov. gen.).
Corpus et instrumenta cibaria fere ut in Notioweno, sed antenne aperte remotius ab oculis inserts, prothorawv simplex (nec linea basali instructus), atque articulus primus tarsorum posticorum minus elongatus.
Ab épotos, similis, et d€py, thorax.
The prima facie aspect of the three species described below is so much that of the smaller Notéoxend (the N. dimidiatus and alutaceus) that I had at first imagined them actually to belong to the same genus; but a more careful inspection will show that they have certain peculiarities which, although in- significant perhaps in other families, are of primary import- ance amongst the Anthribide, and which necessitate the es- tablishment of a special group for their reception. Thus, they have no appearance whatsoever of a transverse line either be- fore or at the extreme base of their prothorax (a structure of peculiar significance in the Anthribids) ; their antenne also are implanted distinctly further from the eyes than is the case in Notioxenus (where the scrobs absolutely adjoins the anterior margin); and the first joint of their two hinder feet is less elongated. In their more or less faintly metallic, sparingly pubescent, and sculptured surfaces they have much the ap- pearance of minute Notioxent.
57. Homeodera rotundipennis, n. sp.
H. subovata, nigra, in elytris subeenescens, pube grossa demissa fulvescente parce nebulosa; capite prothoraceque subrugose stri- guloso-(vel etiam subreticulato-) alutaceis sed vix punctatis, opacis; elytris subrotundatis basi truncatis sed pone medium paulo latioribus, obsolete subseneo-micantibus, grosse et profunde striato-punctatis, punctis magnis, interstitiis rugosis et subcostato-
24 Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena.
elevatis, ante apicem obsolete subfasciatis; antennis pedibusque
nigro-piceis, illis ad basin rufo-ferrugineis. Long. corp. lin. 14.
The apparently somewhat larger size (judging from the single example now before me) of this little Homaodera, added to its slightly darker and more opaque and roughened head and prothorax (which seem to be free from even an obscure brassy tinge, and are rather more substrigulose perhaps, or even granulous, than punctate), its more rounded and coarsely sculptured elytra (the punctures and striz of which are exceed- ingly large, with the interstices roughened and elevated, or subcostate), and its appreciably blacker limbs, will sufficiently distinguish it from both of the following species. The ex- ample from which my diagnosis has been drawn out was
taken in St. Helena by Mr, Melliss.
58. Homeodera alutaceicollis, n. sp.
H. suboblonga, subseneo-nigra, pube grossa demissa fulvescente parce nebulosa; capite prothoraceque argute, regulariter, et obtuse alutaceis (necnon, oculo fortissime armato, punctis levissimis obsoletis remotis parcissime irroratis), subopacis ; elytris ovalibus, nitidioribus, argute striato-punctatis, ante apicem plerumque ob- solete subfasciatis; antennis pedibusque aut piceis aut testaceo- piceis, illis ad basin rufo-ferrugineis, articulis intermediis sensim brevioribus.
Long. corp. lin. 1-14.
The present species and the following one are rather more oblong than the H. rotundipennis, their elytra being relatively a trifle longer and less rounded; but in point of mere size (although apparently there is not much difference between them) they would seem to follow each other in a regular se- quence. In other respects the //. alutaceicollis may be known by its head and prothorax being conspicuously (but not roughly) alutaceous, which makes the surface subopaque without being at all roughened, and gives to it, when viewed beneath the microscope, the texture somewhat of seal-skin ; and by its elytra being sharply striate-punctate, but rather less coarsely (and roughly) so than is the case in either of its allies. Several examples of it are amongst the St.-Helena collection of Mr, Melliss. ;
59. Homeodera pygmea, n. sp.
H. suboblonga, subseneo- vel subviridi-nigra, parum nitida, pube grossa demissa fulvescente parce nebulosa; capite prothoraceque rugulose alutaceis punctisque magnis. sed vix profundis dense
Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena. 25
obsitis; elytris ovalibus, rugose punctato-striatis, interstitiis
rugosis ac parum elevatis, ante apicem plerumque obsolete sub-
fasciatis ; antennis pedibusque fere ut in specie precedente. Long. corp. lin. ?-1.
The few examples which I have yet seen of this Homeodera were, like those of the last, collected by Mr. Melliss. It is apparently a trifle smaller, on the average, than the HZ. aluta- ceicollis, to which, however, in its somewhat oblong outline and general facies it is closely allied. It may nevertheless be recognized from both of the preceding species by its head and prothorax being a little less opaque (or nearly as shining as the elytra), and densely studded with large but not particularly deep punctures. Its elytral sculpture is appreciably coarser and rougher than that of alutacedcollis, but not so coarse as in rotundipennis.
Fam. 20. Bruchide.
Genus 38. BRUCHUS. Geofiroy, Ins. de Paris, i. 163 (1762).
60. Bruchus rufo-brunneus, n. sp. ?
B. subquadrato-ovatus, rufo-brunnens, elytris clarioribus, subtus dense cinereo, supra ineequaliter fulvescente et cinereo piloso- variegatus, antennis pedibusque piceo-testaceis, illis versus apicem (saltem in sexu masculo) pedibusque posticis paulo obscurioribus ; capite prothoraceque conico dense ruguloso-punctatis, illo fortiter carinato, hoc in parte media basali macula subquadrata sub- bipartita cinerea notato; elytris profunde striatis, interstitiis ru- gulosis convexis, fasciis 3 obsoletissimis nigrescentibus (interdum cinereo terminatis) intus valde abbreviatis seepius obscure nebu- loso ornatis; femoribus posticis denticulis duobus contiguis (e marginibus externo et interno surgentibus) subtus armatis, tibiis posticis ad angulos apicales internos spinis duabus ineequalibus (una sc., preesertim in sexu masculo, elongata robusta) terminatis.
Mas antennis multo longioribus, paulo crassioribus, ac intus longe pectinatis ; pedibus anterioribus etiam subgracilioribus longiori- busque.
Long. corp. lin. cirea 13.
It is with the greatest reluctance that J venture to describe as new several examples of a Bruchus which are now before me, and which were captured by Mr. Melliss at St. Helena, because such a vast majority of the Bruch? hitherto known are so peculiarly liable to accidental importation throughout the civilized world, along with various seeds and fruits, that I cannot but feel it probable that.the one now under consideration may have been found in or about the houses and stores, and may
26 Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena.
be well known (and perhaps even recorded) for some other tropical country. Yet, as I have been unable to identify it with any of the numerous species to which I have had access, I think it better to run the risk of its having been already described than to omit it altogether from the present catalogue.
The main features of this Bruchus seem to consist in its reddish-brown hue, the elytra, however, being more pale and rufescent than the head and prothorax; in the latter being dappled with cinereous scales, which are concentrated into a squarish central bipartite patch in the middle (behind the scutellum), and sometimes apparently into two obsolete and fragmentary (or broken-up) oblique bands; in its head being powerfully keeled; in its elytra being deeply striate (with the interstices convex), and lkewise ornamented (in unrubbed specimens) with rudimentary bands or fasciz, on either side, composed, in examples which are highly coloured, of darkish cloudy patches with a few ashy scales between ; in the antennee of the male being very much longer than those of the female, and deeply pectinated internally; and in its two posterior femora being armed beneath with two small denticles, along- side each other and arising out of the inner and outer edges respectively—whilst the two inner angles of its two hinder tibie are each terminated by a spine, one of which (particu- larly in the male sex) is robust and elongated.
61. Bruchus advena, n. sp.?
B. fere ut species preecedens, sed paulo angustior ac sensim magis ellipticus (pygidio minus perpendiculari), capite minus evidenter carinato, prothorace sensim profundius punctato, elytris clarius rufescentibus letiusque pictis, multo magis tenuiter leviusque subcrenulato-striatis, interstitiis valde depressis (nec convexis), antennis brevioribus, femoribusque posticis omnino simplicibus (nec subtus denticulatis) et spinis terminalibus minus robustis.
Long. corp. lin. 13.
Although with much the same colouring, and primé facie aspect, as the last species, it is quite impossible to identify with it the single example from which the above diagnosis has been drawn out—though I feel it extremely likely that both of them are natives of the same country (wheresoever that may be), and may perhaps have become naturalized, through the medium of commerce, in the stores and granaries of St. Helena. The specimen before me (which was captured by Mr. Melliss) appears to be a female one, so that I am unable to decide whether there are any particular features (of anten- ne &c.) to distinguish the opposite sex; but, judging from this individual, the species is a trifle narrower and more
Mr. 'T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena. 27
elliptic than the B. rufobrunneus (its pygidium being less perpendicularly decurved), with its head less evidently keeled, its antenne shorter and more compact, its prothorax rather more deeply punctured, and with its elytra not only of a redder tint and more conspicuously marked, but also very much more finely and lightly striated, and considerably flatter in the in- terstices. The terminal spines of its two hinder tibiz also are less developed, and its hinder femora are entirely free from all traces of the two small denticles which characterize its ally.
Fam. 21. Halticida.
Genus 39. LONGITARSUS. Latreille, Fam. Nat. 405 (1825).
62. Longitarsus Helene.
L. oblongo-ovatus, seneo-viridis, subnitidus, alutaceus; capite im- punctato; prothorace punctulis levibus minutis parce irrorato, ante medium latiusculo, postice paulo angustiore, angulis posticis obtusis ; elytris profundius punctatis; antennis pedibusque lon- gissimis, rufo-testaceis, illis versus apicem femoribusque posticis vix obscurioribus.
Mas {an quoque foom.?] tarsis anterioribus art® 1™° magno, valde dilatato.
Long. corp. lin. 1.
Longitarsus Helene, Woll., Journ. of Ent. i. 214 (1861).
A single example of this distinct Longitarsus was taken in St. Helena by Mr. Bewicke, in 1860; and two more have lately been communicated by Mr. Melliss. It may easily be known by its alutaceous surface and brassy-green hue, by its pale elongated limbs, and by the largely developed joint of the four anterior feet of the male. Its head appears to be quite unpunctured, and its prothorax sparingly sprinkled with punc- tules which are extremely minute, whilst its elytra are rather strongly punctate *.
* Whether any Cryptocephalus or Clythra occurs in St. Helena I can- not say ; but I may call attention, in this part of my catalogue, to the Cryptocephalus ruficollis of Fabricius, which was originally described by him (Syst. Ent. 109) in 1775 from a St.-Helena specimen (or specimens) in the collection of Sir Joseph Banks. Judging from his own publications, he seems to have fallen into some unaccountable mistake (or even mis- representation) regarding this species, which he had himself first defined, and ultimately to have shifted his diagnosis to a Mediterranean insect which in all probability is totally distinct from the St.-Helena one; for, in 1792 (vide Ent. Syst. i. ii. 61), he added to his original description, and
ave as the habitat not only St. Helena, but (on the authority of Prof. elwig) Italy!! In 1798 (vede Suppl. 114, of the Ent. Syst.) he appears
28 Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena.
Fam. 22. Cassidide.
Genus 40. ASPIDOMORPHA.
Hope, Col. Man. (1840). 63. Aspidomorpha miliaris.
A, “flava, thorace immaculato, elytris nigro punctatis: margine bifasciato. Habitat in ins. St. Helene. Mus. Dom. Banks. Statura C. marginate. Antenne flave, apice nigra. Thoracis clypeus rotundatus, integer, immaculatus. LElytra leevia, flava, punctis circiter 10 nigris sparsis. Margo uti in reliquis dilatatus fasciis duabus, altera ad basin, altera versus apicem, nigris. Su- tura apice nigra. Subtus nigra, margine flavescente. Pedes flavi.” [Ex Fabricio. | :
Cassida miliaris, Fab., Syst. Ent. 91 (1775).
, Oliv., Encyel. Méth. v. 385 (1791).
—— ——,, Id., Ent. vi. 943. 33, t. 2. £, 25 (1808).
—— — , Fab., Ent. Syst. i. 800 (1792).
, Id., Syst. Eleuth. i, 400 (1801). Aspidomorpha miliaris ?, Bohem., Mon. Cass. ii. 261 (1854).
I know nothing of the present insect beyond the mere fact of the above quotation from Fabricius ; but as the species is stated plainly to have come from St. Helena, and to be in the Banksian collection, I can see no reason for doubting its ha- bitat, particularly since other Coleoptera belonging to the late Sir Joseph Banks were unquestionably (as in the case of the Cydonia lunata) received from the same island. I therefore conclude that there is some member of the Cassidide to be
to have discovered that the insect was a Clythra, and cited it accordingly, though whether this conclusion was arrived at after a re-examination of the original St.-Helena example, or merely of those from southern Europe, it is impossible now to tell; ba in any case it is quite clear that his first description applied to the St.-Helena one, and not to that from Italy. Having thus, however, altered his diagnosis so as to make it tally with the Italian species, he appears to have lost sight of the original St.-Helena type altogether ; for in the Syst. Eleuth. (ii. 38) he still refers ¢o his former volumes, but records southern Europe as the only habitat for his “ Clythra ruficollis,” omitting even a passing allusion to St. Helena!! After this admission of his own, it is not surprising that European naturalists should have accepted, on his authority, the name of ruficollis (although applied at first to a St.-Helena species) for the Mediterranean insect ; and accord- ingly every subsequent writer, including even Lacordaire (Mon. des Phy- toph. ii. 100), has so done; and yet it seems to me to be more than doubtful whether the well-known Clythra (or Macrolenes) rujficollis of southern Europe ¢s in reality identical with Fabricius’s original “ Crypto- cephalus ruficollis” (despite his own subsequent representation) from St. Helena. If it should prove ultimately that the two are different, it fol- lows of necessity that the title “rwficollis” (whatsoever the genus may be) will have to apply to the insect from that island, and that the Euro- pean one must receive a new name.
Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena. 29
found in St. Helena, answering to the Fabrician diagnosis, which has escaped detection in more recent times; and my reason for regarding it as an Aspidomorpha (a genus which occurs in western Africa and the Cape-Verde archipelago) is simply because Boheman, in his Monograph of the family, cites the Casstda miliaris of Fabricius as a member of that particular genus. Yet, on the other hand, Boheman does not acknowledge the species which he has identified with the Fabrician one as a native of St. Helena at all, but, rather, of the East Indies, Java, Celebes, China, and the Philippine Islands, which at once raises a geographical difficulty which it is not easy to solve. But, as there appears no cause (in the absence of any kind of explanation by Boheman) for assuming the originally asserted habitat, of Fabricius, to be incorrect, I prefer the contrary conclusion, and should be inclined to think that Boheman may himself have been mistaken in identifying a Cassida of Eastern Asia with one (perhaps closely allied) from St. Helena. At any rate, as I have no evidence (beyond the tacit assumption of Boheman) that Fabricius and Sir Joseph Banks were alike in error concerning the country from which the original C. miliaris was received, I have no choice but to iclude the species in the present memoir,
Fam. 23. Coccinellide.
Genus 41. Cyponra. Mulsant, Sécurip. 430 (1851).
64. Cydonia lunata.
Coccinella lunata, Fab., Syst. Ent. 86 (1775). ,Id., Syst. Eleuth, i. 384 (1801). Cydonia lunata, Muls., Sécurip. 431 (1851).
, Woll., Journ. of Ent. i. 214 (1861).
This curiously and prettily marked Coccinellid appears to be common in St. Helena, where it has been taken abundantly by Mr. Melliss and previously also by Mr. Bewicke and others. Indeed, although with a wide geographical range (it having been recorded from Senegal, the Cape of Good Hope, Caffraria, Madagascar, the islands of Bourbon and Mauritius, the East Indies and Java), it was originally described by Fabricius (in 1775) from St.-Helena specimens, now in the Banksian col- lection; and therefore, whatever doubt may be entertained as to the claim for specific separation of some of the extreme states which have been ascribed to it, there can at least be no question about the St.-Helena form, which must of necessity be looked upon as the typical one.
30 Mr. T.V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena.
Genus 42. EPILACHNA. Chevrolat, Dict. Univ. d’Hist. Nat. iv. 43 (1844).
65. Epilachna chrysomelina.
E. “ coleopteris rufis: punctis duodecim nigris, thorace immaculato. Habitat in ins. St. Helene. Mus. Dom. Banks. Major, Caput et thorax rubra, immaculata, margine paullo pallidiora, Elytra rufa, punctis sex nigris per paria distributis. Pedes flavescentes.” [Ex Fabricio. |
Coccinella chrysomelina, Fab., Syst. Ent. 82 (1775).
capensis, Thunb., Nov. Ins. Spec. i. 16, tab. 1. f. 21 (1781).
chrysomelina, Fab., Ent. Syst. i. 278 (1792).
, Id., Syst. Eleuth. i. 368 (1801).
Epilachna chrysomelina, Muls., Sécurip. 793 (1851).
Although I have never seen a St.-Helena example of the Mediterranean LE. chrysomelina, I can scarcely refuse it a place in the present memoir, inasmuch as it was originally described by Fabricius, in 1775 [vide the above diagnosis], from an ex- ample, or examples, in the collection of Sir Joseph Banks, which had been obtained in that island. Indeed, as it appears to occur also at the Cape of Good Hope, and Fabricius himself in 1792 cites as its habitat “in Cacto opuntio Africe,” there is no reason for doubting that the Banksian type was truly (as stated) a St.-Helena one, though it is of course highly probable that the species may have been introduced acciden- tally into the island, perhaps along with plants of the Cactus opuntia (or “ prickly pear”’), and so have become naturalized. It is recorded likewise in the north of Africa; but it has not yet been observed in any of the Atlantic archipelagos.
Fam. 24. Opatride.
Genus 43. OPATRUM. Fabricius, Syst. Ent. 76 (1775).
66. Opatrum hadroides.
O. oblongum, latiusculum, nigrum, opacum, ubique granulato- rugulosum, breviter fulvescenti-pubescens ; capite lato, ad latera ante oculos subrotundato-ampliato; prothorace brevi, ad latera subsequaliter leviter rotundato, angulis anticis acutiusculis, pos- ticis acutis sed haud longe productis; elytris parallelis (ad hu- meros rectangulis), subpunctato-striatis, interstitiis subconvexis.
Long. corp. lin. 34-5.
Opatrum hadroides, Woll., Journ. of Ent. i. 215 (1861).
The present Opatrum, like most of the allied species in the various Atlantic archipelagos, appears to abound in St. Helena, where it was taken by the late Mr. Bewicke in 1860, and
Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena. 31
where, according to Mr. Melliss, it is often peculiarly grega- rious in cultivated spots, especially the potato-grounds. When publishing my diagnosis of it in 1861, I stated that “ although unwilling to erect a new species in such an extensive and ob- scure genus as Opatrum, yet, after a careful comparison of the insect under consideration with a long series of Atlantic forms (from Madeira, the Canaries, the Cape Verdes, and the Cape of Good Hope), I am induced to do so in this instance, since the remoteness of its island habitat renders it probable that it will be found to be peculiar to St. Helena. The whole of the winged Opatra (i.e. the Gonocephala of Solier) are moulded so nearly on the same type, that small differences which might be disregarded in many groups become important with them ; and, after a close examination, I am convinced that there are no characters so much to be depended upon as the exact form of the gene, or dilated sides of the head immediately in front of the eyes, and the relative depth of the emargination (in- volving the greater or less acuteness of the anterior angles) of the prothorax. The O. hadroides is very nearly akin to a species which was taken by Mr. Bewicke at the Cape of Good Hope; but it is altogether rather larger, broader, and more parallel, its head is a little wider, with the gene more rounded, its prothorax is less deeply scooped-out in front, with the an- terior angles consequently less porrect and more obtuse, the hinder angles also are somewhat less produced, and its shoul- ders are more rectangular. Although narrower and on a smaller scale, it has a slight prima facie resemblance, in ge- neral contour, to the more parallel-sided Hadri of the Madeiran group—a circumstance which has suggested its trivial name.”
Fam. 25. Ulomide.
Genus 44. ALPHITOBIUS. Stephens, Il. Brit. Ent. v. 11 (1832).
67. Alphitobius diaperinus*. Tenebrio diaperinus, Kugel., in Pnz. Fna Ins. Germ. 37. 16 (1797). Alphitobius diaperinus, Woll., Col. Atl. 419 (1865). , Id., Col. Hesp. 208 (1867).
Judging from the specimens which were taken by Mr. Mel- liss, the widely spread A. diaperinus has become established in St. Helena, as is the case with it in the Madeiras, Canaries, Cape-Verdes, and Ascension, and indeed throughout the greater portion of the civilized world; but I need scarcely add that it
32. Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena.
is no more connected, in reality, with our present fauna than it is with that of any other country where it has in like man- ner been introduced through the medium of commerce.
68. Alphitobius piceus*. Tenebrio mauritanicus, Fab. [nec L., 1767], Ent. Syst. i. 118 (1792). Helops piceus, Oliv., Ent. iii. 58. 17. 22 (1795). Tenebrio fagi, Pnz., Fna Ins. Germ. 61. 3 (1799). Alphitobius piceus, Woll., Col. Atl. 419 (1865). , Id., Col. Hesp. 208 (1867).
Likewise obtained by Mr. Melliss in St. Helena, but, of course (as in the case of the preceding species), naturalized through the medium of commerce. It has been established equally in the Azores, Madeiras, Canaries, Cape-Verdes, and in Ascension, in which last-mentioned island it was found, in company with the A. diaperinus, by the late Mr. Bewicke, not in houses and amongst farinaceous substances, as we should have expected, but ‘in the dung of sea-birds, miles from habitable parts,” which is undoubtedly a singular habit for these common and almost cosmopolitan insects to have ac- quired.
A. piceus may be known from diaperinus by being a trifle narrower and less shining, by its prothorax being re- latively a little broader, rounder (and more margined) at the sides, somewhat more thickly punctured, and with the hinder angles more acute, by the punctures of its elytral interstices being larger and more numerous, and by its tibie being ap- preciably less widened, and almost free from (even minute) spinules. Moreover it scarcely attains quite so large a sta- ture as its ally.
Genus 45. GNATHOCERUS. Thunberg, Act. Holmiens. 47 (1814).
69. Gnathocerus cornutus*.
Trogosita cornuta, Fab., Ent. Syst. (Suppl.) 51 (1798). Cerandria cornuta, Woll., Ins. Mad. 490 (1854). Gnathocerus cornutus, Id., Col. Atl. 420 (1865).
, Id., Col. Hesp. 204 (1867).
Like the last two species, and the two which follow, the almost cosmopolitan G. cornutus has (judging from examples now before me, which were captured by Mr. Melliss) become established in St. Helena, where, no doubt, it must occur, amongst farinaceous and other substances, in and about the houses and stores. It has in like manner been introduced (of
Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena. 33
course through the medium of commerce) in the Madeiras, Canaries, Cape-Verdes, and Ascension.
Genus 46. TRIBOLIUM. MacLeay, Annul. Javan. 47 (1825).
70. Tribolium ferrugineum*.
Tenebrio ferrugineus, Fab., Spec. Ins. i, 824 (1781). Tribolium ferrugineum, Woll., Col. Atl. 420 (1865). , Id., Col. Hesp. 204 (1867).
There is hardly any Coleopterous insect more liable to acci- dental introduction, along with numerous articles of food and commerce, into the various countries of the civilized world than the present one; and it is not surprising, therefore, that it should have been found by Mr. Melliss, together with other species of similar habits, in St. Helena. It has become esta- blished, in like manner, in the Azorean, Madeiran, Canarian,
and Cape-Verde archipelagos.
Fam. 26. Tenebrionide.
Genus 47. TENEBRIO. Linnzus, Syst. Nat. edit. 6 (1748).
71. Tenebrio obscurus*.
Tenebrio obscurus, Fab., Ent. Syst. i. 111 (1792). , Woll., Col. Atl. 424 (1865).
The common Tenebrio obscurus has become naturalized in the houses and granaries of St. Helena, where it was taken abundantly by Mr. Melliss. It would seem to have acquired a more southern range, on the whole, than 7. molitor; for while it has been established almost universally through- out the Azorean, Madeiran, and Canarian archipelagos, 7° molitor, on the contrary, I have never yet fallen in with in any of them—two examples, which were captured in Madeira, many years ago, by the late Dr. Heineken, supplying the only instance, so far as I am aware, of its occurrence in the Atlantic groups.
Genus 48. ZOPHOBAS. (Dejean) Blanch., Hist. Nat. des Ins. i. 15 (1840).
72. Zophobas concolor, n. sp.
Z. subparallelo-elongatus, niger (concolor), subnitidus sed interdum hinc inde quasi nebuloso-subopacus, calvus, alatus ; capite antice
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Vol. v.
34 Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena.
_ parce sed postice etiam parcius grossiusque punctato, utrinque intra angulos frontales foveola minuta impresso; prothorace transverso-subquadrato, antice paulo latiore et leviter rotundato, angulis anticis rotundate obtusis, posticis subproducte acutius- culis, sensim marginato, convexo, in disco punctis magnis remotis parcissime irrorato, postice in medio transversim impresso, necnon utrinque ad basin ipsissimam foveola parva brevi notato ; elytris prothorace paulo latioribus, postice regulariter leniterque attenu- atis, grosse punctato-sulcatis; antennis pedibusque longiusculis, in utroque sexu similibus eequalibus.
Mas, vix minor, clypeo antice profunde arcuato-emarginato, tibiis anticis intus omnino calyis, posterioribus versus apicem paululum fulvo-pubescentibus.
Feem., vix major, clypeo antice recte truncato, tibiis intus versus apicem (prasertim anticis) breviter fulvo-pubescentibus.
Long. corp. lin, 93-10.
Judging from the very short and imperfect ‘ diagnosis ”’ (so called) of Fabricius, this large and uniformly black Tenebrionid might possibly agree with his Helops morio from the West Indies and other parts of Equatorial America; but I think that its sexual peculiarities do not tally with what little I can gather elsewhere about those of that species ; for there seems to be no difference in the relative length of the limbs, and curvature of the tibiee, between the males and females of the insect from St. Helena. Yet, as in some of the other recorded members of this singular group, there is the strange dissimi- larity in the form of the clypeus (which is straightly truncate in the females, but deeply scooped-out in the opposite sex), as well as the perfect freedom from hairs of the front male tibie, whilst the female ones are (like the four hinder ones of that sex) furnished internally, towards their apex, with a short fulvescent pile. Were it not for the greater length of its limbs (particularly the antenne), the present insect, in its comparatively narrow elongated outline, and general contour, would have much the primd@ facie aspect of a large Tenebrio ; and it may be further recognized by its deep-black surface being somewhat dulled, or clouded, in parts (especially to- wards the sides and behind), as though by a kind of bloom, by its prothorax being simply besprinkled on the disk with a few large and remote punctures, and by its elytra (which are gradually attenuated towards the apex) being regularly and coarsely punctate-sulcate. Its head is branded with a little foveolet on either side in front, just within the angle of the clypeus; and its prothorax (which is transversely impressed across the greater portion of its base) has a somewhat similar one, and almost equally minute, adjoining the extreme mar- gin, at either end of the transverse impression.
Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena. 35
The two examples from which the above diagnosis has been compiled were taken in St. Helena by Mr. Melliss; but whether the species has been naturalized accidentally from America, and occurs’ only about the houses and cultivated spots, or whether it may have all the appearance in situ of being truly indigenous, my ignorance of the circumstances under which the specimens were captured forbids me to con- jecture.
Fam. 27. Mordellide. Genus 49. MorpELLA. Linneus, Syst. Nat. edit. i. 420 (1758).
73. Mordella Mellissiana, n. sp.
M. angusto-elliptica, supra arcuata, rufo-brunnea (rarius nigro- brunnea) et pube fulvescente valde demissa dense sericata ; capite subsemicirculari, deflexo, oculis magnis; prothorace subconico, basi bisinuato ; scutello minuto; elytris regulariter versus apicem attenuatis, apice singulatim rotundatis, haud striatis ; pygidio in mucronem elongatum producto; antennis pedibusque anterioribus paulo clarioribus.
Long. corp. lin. 2-3.
The uniformly reddish-brown surface of this rather large Mordella, which is densely clothed with a very decumbent, yellowish, or fulvescent silken pubescence, must serve to dis- tinguish it. The strong mucro into which its pygidium is produced, although merely a generic character, will addition- ally separate it from everything else with which we have to do in the St.-Helena catalogue. The few examples which have come under my notice were captured by Mr. Melliss, after whom it gives me much pleasure to name the species.
Fam. 28. Staphylinide. Genus 50. CREOPHILUS. (Kirby) Steph., Ill. Brit, Ent. v. 202 (1832).
74. Creophilus maxillosus*.
Staphylinus maxillosus, Linn., Syst. Nat. 421 ((1758). , Woll., Cat. Mad. Col. 188 (1857). Creophilus mazillosus, Id., Col. Atl. 487 (1865).
A single example of the common European C. mawillosus is amongst Mr. Melliss’s collectanea from St. Helena; and there
cannot be the slightest doubt, therefore, that the species has Qe
36 Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena.
been naturalized in the island from more northern latitudes. It has in like manner become established in the Azores, Ma-
deiras, and Canaries.
CATALOGUS SYSTEMATICUS.
CARABIDA.
1. Haplothorax, Waterh. 1. Burchellii, Waterh. 2. Calosoma, Weber. 2. haligena, W. 3. Helenze, Hope. 3. Pristonychus, De}. 4. complanatus, Dej. 4. Bembidium, auct. 5. Mellissii, W. SPH®RIDIADA. 5. Dactylosternum, W. 6. abdominale, Fab. 6. Spheridium, Fab. 7. dytiscoides, Fab. Cucusip&.
7. Lemophleus, (Dej.) Erichs. *8. pusillus, Schon.
8. Cryptamorpha, W. 9. musze, W,
CRYPTOPHAGID2®.
9. Cryptophagus, Ubst. *10. affinis, S¢. MYCETOPHAGID®. 10. Mycetea, (Kby.) Steph. *11. hirta, Gy/l. 11. Typhea, (Kby.) Steph. *12. fumata, Linn. DERMESTID2. 12. Dermestes, Linn. *13. cadaverinus, Fab. *14, vulpinus, Fab. 13. Attagenus, Lat. *15. gloriose, Fab, HIsTERIDZ. 14. Tribalus, Erichs. 16. 4-striatus, W. 15. Saprinus, Erichs. 17. lautus, W. APHODIADZ. 16. Aphodius, Ilig. *18. lividus, Oliv. RUTELID&.
17. Adoretus, (Eschsch.) Castln.
19, versutus, Harold.
DyYNASTID A. 18. Heteronychus, (Dej.) Burm. 20. arator, Fab. 19, Melissius, (Bates) W. 21. eudoxus (Dej.), W. 22. adumbratus, W. ELATERID®. 20. Heteroderes, Lat. 23. puncticollis, W. CLERIDZ.
21. Corynetes, Hbst. *24. rufipes, Thunb. PTINIDZ. 22. Gibbium, Scop. *25, scotias, Kab. ANOBIAD®.
23. Anobium, Fab. *26. velatum, W. *27, paniceum, Linn. *28. striatum, Oliv. *29, confertum, W.
BostTRICHID#&. 24. Rhizopertha, Steph. *30. bifoveolata, W. *31. pusilla, Fab. ToMmIcID»#.
25. Tomicus, Lat. 32. emulus, W.
HYLESINID&. 26. Hylurgus, Lat. *33. ligniperda, Fab. CURCULIONIDE. (Cossonides. )
27. Stenoscelis, W. 34. hylastoides, W. 28. Microxylobius, Chevr. 35. Westwoodii, Chevr. 36. vestitus, W. 37. lacertosus, WV. 38. lucifugus, W. 39. terebrans, W. AO, obliteratus, W. 41. debilis, W. 42. Chevrolatii, WV, 43. conicollis, W. 44, monilicornis, W,
Rey. W. A. Leighton on Nephroma and Nephromium, 37
' 29, Pentarthrum, W. 45, subceecum, W.
(Rhynchophorides. ) 30, Sttophilus, Schonh. 46, oryzee, Linn. (Synaptonychides. ) 31. Nesiotes, W.
47, squamosus, W. 48. asperatus, W.
(Trachyphleides.)
32. Trachyphleosoma, W.
49, setosum, W. (Otiorhynchides. )
38. Scrobius, Schonh. 50. subnodosus, W.
34, Otiorhynchus, Germ, *51. sulcatus, Fab.
ANTHRIBID. 35. Are@ocerus, Schonh.
*52. fasciculatus, De Geer.
36. Notioxenus, W. *53. Bewickii, W.
54, rufopictus, W. 55. dimidiatus, W, 56. alutaceus, W.
37. Homeodera, W. 57. rotundipennis, W, 58. alutaceicollis, W. 59. pygmeea, W,
BrucHID.
38. Bruchus, Geoftr. 60. rufobrunneus, W. 61, advena, W.
HALrtricimp»®,
39, Longitarsus, Lat. 62. Helens, W.
_ CAssIpIpz&.
40. Aspidomorpha, Hope. 63, miliaris, Fub. CoccrnELLIp&. 41. Cydonia, Muls. 64, lunata, Fab, 42. Epilachna, Chevr. 65. chrysomelina, Fab. OPATRID&, 43, Opatrum, Fab. 66, hadroides, W. ULomIp&. 44, Alphitobius, Steph. *67. diaperinus, Kugel. *68, piceus, Oliv. 45, Gnathocerus, Thunb. *69. cornutus, Fab. 46, Tribolium, MacLeay. *70. ferrugineum, Fab. TENEBRIONID. 47. Tenebrio, Linn. *71. obscurus, Fab. 48. Zophobas, (De}.) Blanch. 72. concolor, W. MorvDELLID&. 49, Mordella, Linn. 75. Mellissiana, W. STAPHYLINID®. 50. Creophilus, (Kby.) Steph. *74. maxillosus, Zznn.
V.—Notule Lichenologice. No. XXXI. By the Rev. W. A. Leicuton, B.A., F.L.8., F.B.S. Ed.
On certain new Characters in the Species of the Genera
Nephroma (Ach.) and Nephromium, Ny/.
Every student of the Lichenes, who examines his specimens with close observation, must frequently have noticed many characters which are not included in the diagnoses of species generally given by writers. ‘hese characters, which may be termed secondary, are usually minute and easily over- looked. Nevertheless where they are found to be constant, they prove to be important and characteristic, and of a useful
38 Rey. W. A. Leighton on new Characters in
value in recognizing and determining the species or varieties in which they occur. More especially are they serviceable in those genera in which the spores, from their general simila- rity, are only partially available. In the preparation of my ‘ Lichen-Flora of Great Britain,’ now drawing towards com- pletion, these secondary characters have been frequently no- ticed in many genera; and I have accordingly pressed them into service. By accident my attention has been very re- cently drawn to the genera Nephroma and Nephromium, the species of which have been hitherto involved in very con- siderable confusion, especially those of the latter genus, by reason of the several species and varieties being frequently found growing in the same locality, and often in inter- mixture.
The new characters which I have detected here are the chemical reaction of the thallus, the colour of the medullary stratum and its chemical reaction, and the structure of the back of the receptacle of the apothecia. Having gone through the goodly store of specimens in my own herbarium with satisfactory results, I was naturally anxious to extend my researches through the Hookerian Herbarium at Kew. Dr. Hooker, with that generous liberality so characteristic both of himself and of his father, the lamented Sir W. J. Hooker, ever ready and desirous to aid and promote scientific in- quiry, at once opened these collections to me. The examina- tion has enabled me to effect a double service—to test and establish the certainty and constancy of these characters, and to rearrange in a more complete manner these genera in that herbarium.
The genus Nephroma is distinguished by the gonidial stra- tum being of a pale yellow-green colour and composed of simple gonidia; whilst Nephromium has that layer of a dark blue or verdigris-green, and composed of granular gonima. The thallus in Nephroma is, moreover, by reason of its pale ochroleucous colour, capable of exhibiting certain chemical reactions with hydrate of potash and hypochlorite of lime, which serve also to separate it from Nephromiwm, in which the fuscescent or darker colour of the thallus renders any such reaction imperceptible. Practically, of course, it is of little real consequence whether we regard these as sections of one genus or as separate genera, so long as we can readily distin- guish them by fixed characters. For readier comparison I have tabulated the characters to which I would call attention in the following way.
romium.,
the Spe
of Nephroma and Neph
cles O
j ayey-rieeg yer) j puvydery yseqy
‘JOJORIVY O[GVyeISTUL | -un ue spioye ‘njhjzonphjod psahyyag Oy] Peplarip “ymaz ey} ynq ‘ uswto -ads ou wees aavy T sotoods stq3 JQ
j Zepuvuiey uene jo pursy jpuereezy MeN | BIUBIUSET,
j Loyeyy JUNOT jo opis ‘eAoF) SUIWRT “39 = | WIOPT adeg jurpesryy jo syreyg j puey TOPS j OOO ‘soy Morary | GO)
jAresumyy jyesdg j pursy s.teanoo -UBA [| SUIvJUMOT AYPY | punog onq -9Z}0Y jSUOIsey ooIy | puerpunoy -MON j CANOUATIOT, 8 PION Weg np
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42 M. C. Semper on a new Genus of 'Testacellide.
VI.—On a new Genus of Testacellides in Australia. | By C. Semper.
Ir is a fact often complained of that it is extremely difficult or
- even impossible to obtain the animals of tropical shells, espe- cially of the land-shells. This, indeed, is to be regretted the | more, as even conchologists begin to understand that the | examination of the animals will furnish many interesting ob-
servations, especially valuable for the geography of the species.
_ Very lately I met with an instance which may be worth
_ashort notice. Through the kindness of Herr v. Frauenfeld - I obtained two well-preserved specimens of Helix inequalis, _ Pfr., which, apparently, is common in Australia, the examina-
tion of which proved that I had a genuine Testacellid before me. The jaw is entirely wanting ; and, as the drawing shows,
oh
! Rhytida inequalis, Pfr.
the teeth of the tongue so completely resemble those of Glan- dina (of which genus I have had occasion to examine three species) that this Australian Helicean must necessarily be ranged close to Glandina.
In the work of Albers on the Helicide: this species is placed in the group Rhytida, which is considered there the last sub- genus of those allied to Patula. The type of the subgenus is Helix Greenwoodi of New Zealand, which is nearly related to the Australian species; however, Helix Stranget, Pfr., living also in Australia, comes nearer to it. The last species has lately been classified in the genus Zonites by Mousson (Journ. de Conch. ser. 3. vol. ix. p. 36); and indeed it cannot be gain- said that both these flat Rhyt¢da-species possess a certain habitus of Zonites; yet Crosse rightly remarks (¢b¢d. p.57. 1) that it
Dr. E. P. Wright on a new Species of Pennella. 43
is to be doubted if this species, the animal being unknown, is a genuine Zonites. If, indeed, all those species (to which, how- ever, Helix dictyodes, Pfr., cannot possibly belong) ranged by Albers in his group of Rhytida really are the most nearly related to inequalis, Pfr., which I examined, the whole group, under the name given by Albers, might be removed from the series of the Helices and placed among the Testacellide ; however, I would caution against so summary a procedure, although convenient, and would rather encourage Australian and other malacologists not to shun the trouble of examining these animals, as, surely, through anatomical investigation the relations between the dif- ferent groups of Pulmonata will be discovered more easily and sooner than by a continual accumulation of shells only. Cer- tainly a conscientious comparison of shells will gradually lead to natural groups; but, in spite of immense collections, this conchological method will always be slow and at the same time dangerous, for the material available on this field is too easily monopolized. If, instead of the thousands of shells that annually are sent home by collecting travellers, only a few hundred species in spirits, allowing a more minute examina- tion, were one day to reach Europe, such an event might well be hailed by malacozoology. Wiirzburg, December 9, 1869.
VIL.—On a new Species of the Genus Pennella. By Epwarp PercevaL Wriaut, M.D., F.L.S., Professor of Botany in the University of Dublin.
[Plate I.]
THE memoirs of Steenstrup and Liitken in the ‘ Transactions of the Danish Academy’*, and of Nordmann in the ‘ Bulletin of the Moscow Society of Naturalists’t, have added very largely to our knowledge not only of the species of the genus Pennella, but also of the great variation to which several of the species appear liable. The specific characters, however, are for the most part difficult to determine ; this is fully recognized by Professor Claus in his memoir on the Lerneide ft. This
* “Bidrag til Kundskab om det aabne Havs Snyltekrebs og Lernzer samt om nogle andre nye eller hidtil kun ufuldsteendigt kjendte parasi- tiske Copepoder,” Vidensk. Selsk. Skr. 5. R., Naturvidensk. og mathem. Afd. 5. Rd. 1861, pp. 841-482, tab. 1-15.
+ “Neue Beitrage zur parasitischer Copepoden,” Bull. Soc. Imp. des Naturalistes de Moscou, 1864, tom. xxxvii. pp. 461-520, Taf. 5-8.
t ‘Beobachtungen iiber Lerneocera, Pentculus und Lernea, ein Bei- trag zur Naturgeschichte der Lernaeen,’ Marburg & Leipsig, 4to, pp. 1-32, Taf. 1-4: 1868.
44 Dr. E. P. Wright on a new Species of Pennella.
difficulty chiefly arises from the fact that all the organs of these strange, grotesque creatures are subject to such wondrous transformations. Such a division, for example, as that of Milne-Edwards* into those having a head with two horns and those having a head with three, disappears before such a species or variety as the P. varians, St. & L.t Heller; in the ‘ Novara-Reise’}, divides the family Lernzeide into two groups or subfamilies, the second of which is distinguished by the females having filiform ovisacs: this section he calls Pennel- line, subdividing it as follows :—
I. Those with a rostriform mouth, ovisacs long and not con- voluted, bodies covered with a thin integument.
II. Those with a non-rostriform mouth, ovisacs convoluted, bodies covered with a hard integument.
The genera placed in the first division are :—Pennella, Oken; Peniculus, Nordmann; Lerneonema, M.-Edw.; and Peroderma, Heller.
Pennella sultana, Nord., is placed by Heller§ in the second division, and forms a new genus, Lerneolophus, which, so far as regards the possession of abdominal plumose appendages, takes the place in this division that Pennella does in the first division.
While, therefore, fully aware of the difficulties that for the present surround this question of classification, and ready to admit that neither length of body nor size of cephalic, thoracic, or abdominal appendages can be looked on as certain indica- tions of specific differences, I yet venture to bring forward as new the following species, in the belief that it is undescribed, and with the hope of throwing some little light on our know- ledge of the genus. These parasites do not occur so very frequently as to lead me to hope that by waiting I might be able to decide the questions as to its range of variation &c. thoroughly.
Pennella orthagorisct, sp. n.
9. Cephalic region. ‘Twice as broad as long, divided into two lobes. On its dorsal surface, and situated between these lobes, an eye-spot; on either side of which, but scarcely in front, a pair of minute antennules with from thirteen to fifteen longish sete: on each; still further in front a pair of antenne obscurely
* ‘Histoire Naturelle des Crustacés,’ tome iii. p. 522.
+ L.c. p. 413.
{ Zoologischer Theil, Bd. ii. Abth. 3. Crustaceen beschrieben von ©. Heller. Wien, 1865, p. 244.
So Terpe aol,
Dr. E. P. Wright on a new Species of Pennella. 45
three-jointed, the distal jomt cheliform. On-the front of the head, on its ventral surface and surrounding the oral opening, are a number of small cauliflower-like excrescences, of which a few are more conspicuous than the others ; sometimes these spring each from a separate base, sometimes two or more from the same twig. At the junction of the thoracic with the ce- phalic region there are two long horn-like appendages an inch and a half each in length; these arise from the dorsal surface, and, like the thoracic and abdominal regions, are invested by a thin, almost colourless integument, which forms a kind of tube around them.
Thoracic region. Applying this name to the region inter- vening between the horn-like appendages and the origin of the ovisacs, it is 52 inches in length: for the first three inches it is about an eighth of an inch in diameter; it then gradually expands until, where it joins the abdomen, it is fully a quarter of an inch in diameter; the integument forms a clear tube- like covering over it, and is quite smooth and glistening. Close to the head, on the ventral surface, are four pairs of minute appendages (feet), the first three pairs close together, the fourth and most anterior pair somewhat separated from the others: these very rudimentary feet, when highly magni- fied, appear to end in a minute claw.
Abdominal region. At the commencement of this region, and from its ventral surface, the two long ovisacs arise; these measure just 11 inches in length; they are straight, and ap- pear obscurely jointed, joints long. The plumose filaments are lateral and numerous ; they are compound ; that is to say, from two to five spring from the same base; but the common basal portion is very short; towards the anal orifice they are gene- rally given off in pairs. The terminal portion of the body is destitute of filaments; the anal orifice is oval, central, and terminal.
Colour (as seen some days after death, preserved in sea- water). Head and horns of a bright brown colour; body, seen through the glistening investing membrane, of a dark olive- brown, with circular stripes of a lighter hue ; ovisacs greyish white; plumose appendages deep black, but the clear integu- ment investing these gave the terminal points of each the appearance of being tipped with silver.
Male unknown.
Habitat. In the body of Orthagoriscus mola, on either side of the dorsal fin. Cork Harbour, November 1869.
Total length of the perfect specimen examined, from top of head to anal opening, 7 inches.
I am indebted for this species to my friend Dr. Harvey, of
46 Dr. EK. P. Wright on a new Species of Pennella.
Cork, one of the few medical men of Ireland who never, amid the exigencies of a large professional practice, forget the in- terests of science. He informs me that the two specimens were found projecting from a circular depression in the thick skin of a young sunfish, near to its dorsal fin; they were buried in the skin and muscle of the fish to an extent of three inches. One specimen was broken off in removing it. There were also two specimens of Tristoma coccineum adhering to the head of the fish.
I have compared this species with all those of which I could find an account. Some figures and descriptions, like those in the ‘ Voyage de la Peyrouse,’ represent species which it would be impossible to determine without the aid of the original spe- cimens. The largest species described, and the one that I think approaches nearest to P. orthagorisct, is the P. pustulosa, Baird. This species was originally published in Angas’s ‘Savage Life and Scenes in Australia ;’ but Dr. Baird’s de- scription was copied into the ‘ Annals,’ ser. 1. vol. xix. 1847, p- 280; the woodcut is not very characteristic. The specimen was found buried in a dolphin’s body, near its gills (the dolphin was captured in lat. 11° 54’ 8., long. 27° W.); the length was 4 inches. The plumose appendages are described as simple, and the abdomen as being of a very dark purple colour, and studded all over with small whitish pustules. If there be no mistake in the description of the plumose ap- pendages, the species from the dolphin is not the same as that from the sunfish. Dr. Baird informs me that he examined a esas of Pennella from a sunfish captured at Megavissey,
ornwall, which he refers to P. filosa, Linn. This will have been, I think, the first instance of the capture of this species on the coast of Great Britain.
Professor Claus* figures the eye of a species of Pennella, which he found placed below the cheliform antenne. He de- scribes it as consisting of a collection of pigment-cells covered by three clear cornea-like portions—one central, and one on either side. I cannot find, on a close examination of two specimens of P. orthagorisct, any appearance of a corneal structure. In the place indicated by Professor Claus there is a collection of pig- ment, which certainly acts as an eye, and there are obscure traces of the pigment matter being arranged into a series of hexagonal facets. The feathered antennules (or appendages to the second cephalic somite) were distinctly to be seen on both specimens examined. I cannot find that they have been described or figured as occurring in any species of Pennella. Their exist- ence is a matter of some little interest; for we thus find the
* L.c. p. 5, pl. 2. fig. 10.
Messrs. Hancock & Howse on Janassa bituminosa. 47
first three and most constant segments of the head represented by their appendages, though these are diminished to a very minute size, so as not, in P. orthagorisci, to be visible to the unassisted vision. ‘As we also find four out of the five pairs of thoracic appendages present, it is pretty plain that it is chiefly the ordinary oral appendages, or rather those appen- dages usually modified for the purpose of assisting in the pre- hension and mastication of food, that become altered into the strange-looking arborescent follicles met with around the mouth.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.
Fig. 1. Pennella orthagorisci, 9, natural size. (The specimen has shrunk, from being preserved in spirits. )
Fig. 2. Head, enlarged, dorsal aspect.
Fig. 3. The same, ventral aspect.
Fig. 4. Eye-spot (a), antennules (6), antenne (c).
Fig. 5. Anal orifice.
Fig. 6. Head of second specimen, showing the comparatively short horns.
VIII.—On Janassa bituminosa, Schlotheim, from the Marl- Slate of Midderidge, Durham. By A.pany HANCOCK, F.L.S., and Ricuarp Howse.
[Plates II. & II.] THROUGH the obliging kindness of Joseph Duff, Esq., who
has been for many years actively investigating the fossil flora and fauna of the south of Durham, we have lately had an opportunity of thoroughly examining the structure of the jaw- teeth and shagreen skin of this most interesting addition to the fauna of the English Marl-slate, which is the exact equivalent of the German Kupferschiefer.
Four groups of these remarkable jaw-teeth have been ob- tained by Mr. Duff at Midderidge—the first group in the year 1865, and the others during the autumn of the present year, 1869. These are, we believe, the first and only specimens that have been discovered in England.
But in Germany this species has been frequently found in the Kupferschiefer, which is very much worked, on account of the valuable copper-pyrites which it contains, in numerous localities ; and consequently the general appearance of these teeth must be well known to those who are familiar with the works of Schlotheim, Miinster, Geinitz, and others. Accord- ing to the last-named author, the beautiful specimen still
48 Messrs. Hancock & Howse on Janassa bituminosa
preserved in the Dresden Museum was well figured in the Dresden Magazine in the year 1762. Afterwards, in the year 1820, it was described by Schlotheim as a Trilobite, under the name Trilobites bituminosus (Petrefactenkunde, p. 39); and in 1823 two figures were given by this author, in his ‘ Nachtrag’ ii, tab. 22. f..9a, 96.
Between the years 1833-1843, Count Miinster figured and described numerous examples of the strongly characterized teeth and the shagreen skin of this peculiar fish under two or three generic and five or six specific names. ‘These teeth were by him supposed to be palatal (an opinion which seems to be entertained by later German authors), and to belong to a fish of the Placoid order. After carefully examining the descrip- tions and figures given by Count Miinster, we fully agree with those writers who consider that the following references belong all to one species, and we also are quite assured that the speci- mens obtained from the English Marl-slate are perfectly identi- cal with those described by this author in his Beitriige zur Petre- factenkunde :—Heft i. Janassa angulata, p. 67, Taf. 4. £1, 2; J. Humboldii, p. 122, Taf. 14. f.4; J. bituminosa, Schloth. p. 122. Heft ii. J. angulata, p. 122, Tat. 3&4. f.5a; Dictea striata, p. 124, Taf.3 & 4. f.1,3,4; Taf. 8. f. 3, 4,6, 7,8, 9,10. Heft v. Janassa dictea, pp. 37-39, Taf. 15. f. 10-16. Byzenos latipinnatus, Heft vi. p. 50, Taf. 1. f. 2.
About the same time, Janassa was briefly described by Agassiz under the name of Acrodus larva, Poiss. Foss. iil. pp- 147, 174, 376, tab. 22. f. 23-25; and this learned author for the first time pointed out the probable affinities of these remarkable fish-remains.
Later German authorities, and especially our friend Dr. Geinitz, had already arrived at the conclusion that the va- rious species of Janassa and Dictea described by Count Miin- ster must all be brought back to one form, to which, by right of priority, Schlotheim’s specific name should -be attached. Indeed Dr. Geinitz has so recently (Dyas, 1861) examined and carefully commented on the various species described by Count Miinster, that we think it better to give a translation of his remarks than to offer detailed ones of our own, especi- ally as Dr. Geinitz would have the advantage of seeing many of the German specimens, and as we do not, excepting in one or two points, differ in opinion from the conclusions arrived at by this excellent naturalist. In fact Miinster himself seems to have been satisfied that his genera Janassa and Dictea were identical, and also to have had some doubts as to the value of some of the species which he has made of Janassa bituminosa. Dr. Geinitz observes :—
From the Marl-Slate of Midderidge. 49
“The beautiful original of J. Humboldt’ in the Dresden Museum (Dyas, tab. 4. f. 5), of which a very good figure was given in the year 1762 in the ‘ Dresden Magazine,’ and which happily was recovered from the ashes of the fire at the Zwinger, is again figured here, because Miinster’s figure is reversed. This still beautiful specimen deserves a new illustration, because it furnishes a proof that not only all Count Miinster’s species of Janassa, but also his Dictea striata, must be referred to the type to which the first name given by Schlotheim belongs.
“The oval, uniformly arched palate (Gaumen) is paved with from five to seven rows of chisel-formed, strongly curved at their upper enamelled end, and nail-shaped recurved teeth, which are indistinctly imbricated, and which are separated by a deep furrow into an anterior and a posterior division.
“In the teeth of the anterior division the nail-formed end is bent backwards to the throat (7b. tab. 5. f. 3), in those of the posterior, on the contrary, forwards (7b. tab. 5. fig.4). The three middle rows of the anterior division, of which each one has six teeth, the size of which increases from before backwards, contain generally the largest teeth: only these three rows have been figured by Schlotheim, who thought he saw in them the structure of the Trilobites. On each side lie two more rows of smaller teeth, which stand obliquely to the primary rows, and of which the outer ones only appear to be lamelliform*. They are not shown in Miinster’s figure of J. angulata (Beitr. 1. tab. 4. f. 1, 2). In Beitr. i. tab. 3 & 4, f. 5, they are only partly to be seen; but on the J. Hwmboldti they are better shown, while in Miinster’s J. Dictea (Beitr. v. tab. 15. f. 10) they stand a little separated, certainly from the result of dislocation.
“The posterior shorter group of teeth, which in Miinster’s figure (Beitr. v. tab. 15. f. 10) is represented as correctly as possible, contains as many longitudinal rows of teeth as the an- terior division, which in size decrease backwards and stand in five transverse rows. Their upper enamelled end seems in all to be bent forwards, or in the opposite direction to those of the anterior group of teeth. Miinster ascribes such a curva- ture to two teeth only, which in his specimen are situated im- mediately between the two divisions of the palate and out of place (Beitr. v. p. 39, tab. 15. f. 13,9, h) ; but he announces expressly that this palate is a little drawn out and dislocated, for which reason the teeth are not in their usual regular position.
* The lamelliform teeth of Geinitz are those we have named petalo- dontoid.
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser.4. Vol. v. 4
50 Messrs. Hancock & Howse on Janassa bituminosa
“Tn our Janassa, the original of J. Humboldt?, Miinster, all the remaining teeth of the first cross row of the posterior divi- sion, from the line a b, have an equal curvature forwards of their upper part. The teeth of the cross rows standing behind them are only marked by broken roots. This specimen shows yet another character of the genus Janassa, which has not yet been described in any other specimen. At the posterior part of the head, or rather at the entrance of the throat, there are two large, similarly formed, bent teeth (dd), like all the others of the posterior division, which Count Miinster took for ear-bones (Beitr. i. 1845, p. 122).
“ On the specimens which are broken through parallel to the palate-plate, as in ‘ Dyas,’ tab. 5. f.1, the six-sided form of the teeth shows itself clearly; but the boundary between the anterior and posterior divisions of the teeth shows itself also on these very distinctly, as the front teeth of the former have the anterior side concave and the hinder convex; but on the latter this appears reversed (7d. tab.5.f.1). In Miinster’s figures this relation is only taken into consideration in J. Dictea.
“Tn our J. Humboldti (cb. tab. 4. f. 5) the first cross row of teeth of the posterior division is by pressure driven close to the last cross row of the anterior division, and partly under it, for which reason one cannot see the separating furrow; and Count Miinster has felt himself justified in placing J. Hum- boldti with Dictea (Beitr. v. p. 38).
“ From the similar form of the teeth of Miinster’s Janassa and Dictea, of which the structure is always tubular, while the outer surface of the root shows more or less distinct transverse roots (Dyas, tab. 4. f.5, c, and tab. 5. f. 1), and from the perfectly similar arrangement of the teeth in J. angulata, J. Dictea, and J. Humboldti, Miinster, with that in our figures, which cannot be recognized in Miinster’s ideal and quite incorrect figure (Beitr. 11. tab. 3 & 4. f. 2), there can exist no doubt whatever as to the identity of both genera and the five different species in them.
“In Dictea striata, Minster (Beitr. 1. tab. 3 & 4. f.1), the whole contour of the fish appears before us, though the swim- ming-appendages which surround the body permit a different ex- eect because this specimen lies more on the belly. The
ength of the fish, without the caudal fin, is 0°390 metre ; the height of the head 0-080 metre, the body at the pectorals, not including these, 0°071 metre; the greatest width between the ventrals and the pectorals 0:110 metre, at the anal fin 0:055 metre, and at the base of the tail 0°035 metre broad. The whole body and all the fins or swimming-enlargements are covered with a fine shagreen skin.
from the Marl-Slate of Midderidge. 51
“The specimen shown (Dyas, tab. 5. f. 1) widens out at the back of the head on each side in an arched, triangular, wing- shaped, blunt process (cc), which may represent the cross bone (os transversale).
“ Byzenos latipinnatus, Miinster, 1843 (Beitr. vi. tab. 1. f. 2, p- 00), from the Kupferschiefer of Richelsdorf, is a fragment covered with fine shagreen, but which does not admit of a perfect description, and which might just as well be referred to J. bituminosa as to any other genus of fish.”
With the above remarks we entirely concur, excepting the statement that the teeth of Janassa are palatal, as it is proved, by their relationship to Myliobates, that they are true jaw- teeth. The other remark that does not appear to us satisfac- tory is, that the two bodies designated by Count Miinster ear- bones are considered by Dr. Geinitz to be teeth placed near the entrance of the throat. ‘The specimens from our locality do not show a trace of these peculiar bodies; but we are dis- posed to consider them casts of a pair of cranial cavities rather than teeth. That they are not teeth seems to be clearly indi- cated by the entire absence of enamel covering, as pointed out by Count Miinster. Dr. Geinitz has also incorrectly classified this fish with the Cestracionts ; but, by the observations made in a former paper, it will be seen that we agree with Professor Agassiz in placing Janassa among the Rays.
We now, after these introductory remarks, proceed to give a general description of the oral armature of this curious fish, and, in conclusion, a special description of the several speci- mens obtained by Mr. Duff.
The dental apparatus of Janassa bituminosa is very peculiar; it cannot, however, be distinguished generically from that of the so-called Chmaxodus lingueformis, Atthey, the Coal- measure representative of Miinster’s genus; and for a com- parison of the two we would refer to the previous paper on the subject, published in the November Number of the ‘ Annals ’*.
The teeth of the fish now before us, like those of the Coal- measure species, are of two kinds, primary and secondary, the latter being petalodontoid in form. ‘The largest of the pri- mary, including the root, are 14 inch long and 4 inch wide ;
* Hancock and Atthey, ‘On the Generic Identity of Climaxodus and Janassa.” In the figure of the restored row of teeth of the so-called Ci- maxodus lingueformes illustrating the former paper, the under row is re- presented as in advance of the upper, purposely to indicate its relation to the latter. But the specimen clearly demonstrates the fact that the upper
row projects a little in advance of the under, as is the case in Janassa bituminosa. 4*
52 = Messrs. Hancock & Howse on Janassa bituminosa
they are elongated, somewhat depressed, ovate, tapering a little posteriorly, and have the surface divided into two well- marked portions—an anterior scoop-like cutting-margin, and a posterior ridged crushing-surface or disk, with a long de- pressed root extending backwards (PI. II. figs. 2, 4, 5). The scoop-like cutting-margin is considerably more than one- fourth the entire length of the crown; it projects upwards and forwards, and is smooth and concave, with the edge usually obtuse and arched or a little sinuous from wear, but when comparatively fresh is pretty regularly arched, and when quite perfect is probably denticulated, if we may judge from the small lateral teeth. The crushing-surface or disk is elon- gated, the sides being nearly parallel, though tapering to a blunt poimt behind, the general form resembling that of a lengthened shield. The surface is convex, and is covered with about twenty close-set transverse ridges, imbricated for- wards, and irregularly undulated, notched and tuberculated, and arched forwards at the sides.
The scoop-like cutting-margin and the crushing-disk we shall call the upper surface, these being, in fact, the only exposed portions, though in reality they represent the surface that is usually considered the back of the tooth. The other or opposed surface, which in ordinary cases would be called the front, we shall name the under surface, because it is under- most as the tooth rests on the jaw. The under surface, then, presents a very peculiar appearance: it is divided into three sharply defined, longitudinal, flattened areas or facets; so that in transverse section this side would show as half a hexagon. The central area, which is divided from the two lateral areas by a ridge or angle, is usually a little channelled. The back of the scoop-like cutting-margin is also a little flattened at the sides and centre.
The root is a depressed process, longitudinally striated, somewhat narrower than the crown, and about half its length ; it originates in the under surface near to the posterior extre- mity, and arches backwards and downwards. It is con- sequently an extension, as it were, of the crown in a plane below the crushing-disk.
When seen in profile the primary teeth are observed to assume a decided sigmoid curve, the anterior scoop-like cut- ting-margin being turned rather abruptly im one direction, and the posterior extremity of the crushing-disk and root in the other or opposite direction (fig. 4).
The large primary teeth, which hold a central position, are symmetrical; the smaller lateral ones, though they agree in every other respect with the above, are more or less oblique,
from the Marl-Slate of Midderidge. 53
the sides being unequal, particularly the scoop-like portion, one side of which is more developed than the other. And the root likewise is turned a little to one side, especially in the second lateral.
The secondary or petalodontoid teeth are not more than $ in. long, and about the same wide; they are depressed and partake otherwise of the general characters of the primary teeth. They are more inequilateral and oblique than the smaller primaries, one side being much more arched than the other. The cutting-margin is slightly arched and denticu- lated, but is narrow and only a little concave; the crush- ing-disk, too, is wider than long, the transverse, imbricated ridges being reduced to about half a dozen.
The upper surface of all the teeth, whether primary or secondary, is covered with a thick layer of opaque white ena- mel-like matter. ‘This has a very striking appearance, con- trasting as it does with the dark hue of the rest of the tooth, and being strongly defined around the margin by a thickened rim, which is best seen when the tooth is turned with its face downwards.
And, moreover, when the enamelled surface is a little worn, it becomes pitted and freckled all over with dark irregular points, which are sometimes elongated, particularly on the anterior or cutting-margin.
There is little difficulty in determining the manner in which these curious teeth are placed in, or rather on, the jaws; for apparently the whole of the teeth of both jaws have been found lying in their original position, though the jaws them- selves have entirely disappeared, they having undoubtedly been composed of cartilage. Having carefully examined Mr. Duff's specimens, which will shortly be described, and after a full consideration of Count Miinster’s figures and descriptions, we can have little hesitation in giving the following account of the arrangement of these rather extraordinary dental organs— and this notwithstanding that we are acquainted with no- thing exactly like it, either in fossil or recent fishes, except in the so-called Climaxodus.
First, then, the teeth are arranged in both upper and lower jaws (PI. II. figs. 2, 3) in precisely the same order. In both they are placed in transverse horizontal rows, across the ante- rior portion of the jaws, and in such a manner that never more than a single row in each jaw is in operation at the same time. Each such horizontal row is composed of seven teeth (five primary, two secondary), placed lengthwise, with the cutting- margin in front. A large symmetrical primary tooth is situ- ated on the longitudinal median line, or exactly over the sym-
54 Messrs. Hancock & Howse on Janassa bituminosa
physis ; on each side of this central tooth are a first and a se- cond asymmetrical primary tooth, making up the five primaries. These are flanked on either hand with a single secondary or eee tooth, completing the full complement of seven.
hey diminish in size from the centre, the flanking petalodon- toid teeth being quite small in comparison with the large central primary tooth.
The rows are placed one above the other in horizontal ranges, the lower rows acting merely as mechanical supports to the upper row, or that which was alone employed in cutting and crushing the food. There are from four to seven such horizontal rows, the teeth diminishing in size downwards, the lower ones having been first developed, and in succes- sion having had their period of active operation. As they wear out (that is, as the cutting-margins become blunt, and as the imbricated ridges of the cutting-disks are obliterated or reduced), a new row is developed behind, and, rising up, falls forward, and rests upon the row last 1 in use ; while at the same time the dentigerous membrane is pushed forward, and the oldest row, the lowest in the series, or that which was first developed, falls away. Thus, by this double action of growth and decay perpetually going on, there is always an efficient row at the surface, able to initiate the process of alimentation, sustained at a proper elevation on a firm basis.
This constant renewal of the oral armature is nothing extraordinary, as it is common to all the Sharks and Rays, the close allies of Janassa. But that the new set of teeth should overlie and be supported by the old ones is indeed without a parallel, so far as we are acquainted with the subject of ichthyic dentition, with the exception of the so-called Climax- odus lingueformis ; "and that interesting Coal-measure species has been shown to be a true Janassa, in the paper previously quoted from the November number of the ‘Annals.’ The only instance that occurs to us in which something similar is found, is seen in the Greenland Shark, Squalus borealis, in which the older teeth of the lower jaw le in front of and give support tothe last-developed or those in use. Teeth of Petalodus, we believe, have also been found lying in regular order, as if forming a portion of a vertical row,
This curious pile of teeth forms a close, dense mass, increasing in size upwards, or as the last-developed teeth are approached— the smaller rows of teeth, as already stated, being below; and the teeth themselves are, as it were, interlocked. The central teeth of each horizontal row are the only ones that are placed exactly above each other; the lateral teeth of the successive rows are arranged in quincunx; so that they may .be looked
Jrom the Marl-Slate of Midderidge. 5d
upon as forming slightly diverging diagonal lines, having the central teeth as their starting-point. Now, the first primary lateral teeth, or those next the centre, underlie to some ex- tent the under surface of the central teeth ; and the second primary lateral underle in a similar manner the margins of the first primary, and so with the third or petalodontoid teeth. Thus the whole mass becomes interlocked like a piece of masonry; or, if we take all the central teeth to form a ver- tical row, and consider in like manner the various lateral teeth, then it might be said that the teeth composing such vertical rows had their lateral margins insinuated between those of the adjacent rows.
In consequence of this interlocking and close approximation, the back or under surface of each tooth becomes worn, and the three longitudinal areas or facets, already described, become more strongly defined. The central area and the two lateral areas are in this way affected by the three teeth that conduce to the support of each superincumbent tooth. That this is the fact is apparently demonstrated by the central area being occa- sionally grooved transversely, corresponding as the grooves do to the imbricated ridges of the crushing-disk of the sup- porting teeth (Pl. II. figs. 1 & 5).
As a further proof that such is the fact, it may be observed that when the crushing-disk has by previous use been worn smooth, which frequently occurs, the central facet of the cor- responding superincumbent tooth is likewise smooth. It is only when the ridges are retained that these impressions are observed in the upper teeth ; and, indeed, were no other evi- dence at hand, it is patent enough that these peculiar facets are in part the result of wear ; for they exhibit on their sur- faces the internal structure of the matter composing the tooth. And that the opposing crushing-disk is not equally and mutu- ally worn arises from the fact that it is covered with a layer of hard enamel-like matter.
The existence of the transverse grooves would seem also to prove that while they were produced by the rubbing-motion of the teeth upon each other, the motion itself must have been very limited, or neither the grooves nor the sharp definition of the facets could have existed. And in this way we have a corroboration that the retention of the old, effete teeth is merely for the mechanical support that they supply to the upper row of teeth, upon which teeth alone devolves the func- tion of cutting and crushing the food.
The four groups of teeth obtained by Mr. Duff at Midde- ridge are very instructive, and, though in a more or less dis- turbed state, are quite sufficient to show the original disposition
56 Messrs. Hancock & Howse on Janassa bituminosa
in the mouth. One of the specimens was quite perfect when found; but unfortunately an idle lad got hold of it, after the quarryman had carefully laid it aside, and in the mere lack of thought broke away a great number of the teeth. Happily, however, the anterior portions of nearly the whole of them are still left sticking in the matrix; so that not only their num- ber can be ascertained, but likewise the exact limit of those be- longing to the upper and lower jaws respectively, and their precise arrangement thereon.
This specimen of the buccal armature was not only complete when deposited, but is lying on the slab in its natural posi- tion ; and probably when buried the whole fish was present, and lay with its back uppermost. Consequently, the mouth being situated beneath, as in the Sharks and Rays, the teeth of the overhanging upper jaw would lie in advance of those of the lower. Such is the case in the specimen now before us, as is determined by the presence of a quantity of shagreen, indicating as it does the direction in which the body of the fish was deposited. There are about three inches of this sha- green, extending from the posterior margin of the mass of teeth, or those which belong to the under jaw. And, in fact, there can be little doubt that, had the slab been continued backwards sufticiently far, we should have had an impression of the whole fish, marked out by the shagreen, similar to the ~ figure given by Miinster of his Dictea striata.
The cutting or anterior margins of the teeth are downwards, for the most part buried in the matrix. Many of the roots and, toa great extent, the crushing-disks having been removed, as before stated, the specimen is, as it were, hollowed out, and pee an oval, disk-like aspect, an inch and three-quarters ong, and an inch and a quarter wide. ‘The broken anterior portions of the teeth line this eavity in almost perfect order, as if observed from the interior of the mouth, their external or anterior extremities bemg turned from the observer. The group thus seen is divided into two portions, an anterior and nosterior. The teeth of the former or upper jaw have their we or anterior scoop-like cutting-margins and crushing- disks, or as much of them as is left, turned downwards, and are closely packed together in five horizontal rows of seven teeth each. The central teeth of the five rows rest one upon the other in the median antero-posterior line, diminishing in size forwards and upwards as the specimen is seen. These five central teeth are flanked on either side by three others, which likewise diminish in size in front. These teeth, of which there are in all thirty-five, as already stated, belong to the upper jaw. A similar cluster of teeth belongs to the under
From the Marl-Slate of Midderidge. 57
jaw, and composes the posterior half of the general batch. These are arranged in the same fashion as those of the upper jaw; but instead of having the anterior scoop-like cutting- margins turned downwards, they are placed in the opposite direction, looking upwards. The anterior margins of the two sets of teeth meet in the transverse middle line, and are pressed close together, so that the entire batch is continuous, there being no hiatus anywhere, the mouth, in fact, being closed, and the teeth of the two jaws pressed together. In the under jaw there are likewise five horizontal rows of seven teeth each, though, on account of the injury the specimen has sus- tained, the exact number is not so easily determined as it is in the other jaw.
This specimen has apparently been as complete as that figured by Miinster (Beitr. Heft v. Taf. 15. figs. 10, 11) under the name of J. Dictea, and is, indeed, a very good counterpart of the specimen there represented; only in ours the front or scoop- like cutting-margins of the teeth are buried in the matrix, the view of the specimen being obtained as it were from the oral cavity ; while Count Miinster’s figure has the front of the teeth exposed, as they would be seen had the fish been laid upon its back.
Another of Mr. Duff’s specimens (PI. III. fig. 1), however, presents the same aspect as that of the figure just referred to, and is almost perfect, rising as that does in bold relief from the matrix, in the form of an irregularly rounded cluster, hav- ing the peculiar vesicular appearance seen in most of Miinster’s figures. This appearance is very remarkable, and at first sight has, as was suggested to us on showing the specimen to a friend, no little resemblance to a cluster of ova-capsules of Fusus antiquus, particularly when the teeth are a little dis- turbed.
In connexion with this cluster of teeth, a large patch of shagreen is beautifully displayed, and enables us to determine, in like manner as in the former instance, which is the anterior margin of the specimen, the spreading of the shagreen indica- ting the direction of the body of the fish.
In this specimen, as in the first-mentioned, the teeth are di- visible into two sets, which have their cutting-margins opposed to each other across the transverse median line. ‘Those of the anterior set belong to the upper jaw, and are closely packed to- gether and interlocked in the manner previously described, in four transverse or horizontal rows; the remains of a fifth row are distinctly visible. The arrangement is the same as in the first-described specimen: that is, in each row there is a cen- tral tooth with three lateral ones on each side, the extreme
58 Messrs. Hancock & Howse on Janassa bituminosa
flanking tooth on either hand being petalodontoid in form ; and the teeth composing the row next the transverse median line are the largest, while those in front, or those in the lower supporting rows, become gradually smaller.
The teeth of the lower jaw, or those at the posterior margin of the cluster, are in a comparatively disturbed state ; but the anterior cutting-margins are turned forward, so as to oppose those of the upper jaw, whose cutting-margins are turned backwards. In the lower jaw four horizontal rows are dis- tinctly determinable, while indications of a fifth can be traced. On account of the disturbance of these teeth, the central large teeth of four rows are well displayed in profile, being turned over towards the right of the observer, and lying in regular order, one behind the other, so that the whole length of the teeth is exposed, the roots being traceable in the matrix. Several of the lateral teeth are scattered on either side, and three or four are removed to some distance to the left.
This specimen is fortunately broken through transversely near the centre, in such a manner that the greater portion of the upper or crushing-disks, with the anterior cutting-margins of one row of teeth and the backs or under-surfaces of another, are finely displayed. And thus we obtain a clear demonstra- tion of the arrangement of the teeth in this fine specimen, and at the same time a complete exposition of the characters of the teeth themselves.
A third slab exhibits a dense mass of teeth of an irregularly rounded form, comprising numerous teeth of both jaws (Pl. IIT. fig. 2). Here, again, the shagreen shows the position in which the body of the fish was deposited ; but as all the teeth have the anterior scoop-like cutting-margins in one direction, there can be no question as to which is front. The specimen rests on the slab with the face uppermost, much as in the last case; only the whole are turned forward, and, unlike it, the teeth are in a much disturbed state, particularly those of the under jaw, which lie uppermost. These, or at least all that remain of them, have been pushed so far forward that they overlie those of the upper jaw towards the left side, leaving exposed the upper surtace of the large central tooth and the first lateral of the working row of the upper jaw, which are well exhibited in their true position ; and the remains of a second lateral tooth and one or two of the petalodontoid form are seen at the ex- treme right. These exposed teeth of the upper jaw have their crushing-disks and cutting-margins turned upwards; and their roots are well displayed, sinking backwards into the matrix. The few teeth of the under jaw already spoken of on the left have their under surfaces or backs exposed, the crushing-disks
from the Marl-Slate of Midderidge. 59
being turned down to oppose those of the upper jaw. At the posterior part of the general mass several of the second primary and petalodontoid teeth lie scattered about, chiefly with the under surfaces uppermost.
The remaining specimen (PI. II. fig. 1) to be noticed, though consisting of only a few teeth, is very interesting, inasmuch as it displays in profile an entire vertical row, lying in almost exact order, one resting upon the other. The whole length of the teeth is seen, from the cutting-margin to and including the root, bent in a deep sigmoidal curve. The series appears to be of the central teeth: four lie in close contact, the back or under surface of one individual resting upon and fitting exactly to the face or upper surface of that immediately below it. A very imperfect fragment of a fifth tooth is seen pressed to the under surface of the fourth of the series; and in front consi- derable portions of two lateral primaries lie with their under surfaces uppermost, one of which exhibits in a remarkable manner the transverse grooves caused by the rubbing of the erushing-disk of the tooth on that supporting it. Similar transverse grooves can be seen on one or two other teeth of the series. A considerable fragment of a second primary lies near the centre of the row.
The minute structure of the teeth is rather peculiar; and though we have not examined it in the entire tooth, and though our account of it must necessarily be imperfect, as it is from mere fragments, yet we cannot refrain from saying something on the subject.
We have stated that the upper surface (namely, the anterior scoop-like margin and the crushing-disk) is covered with a layer of opaque-white enamel-like matter. This coating is thickest over the crushing-disk, where it is of a considerable depth. When the tooth is quite fresh, there appears to overlie this a thin film of transparent enamel. ‘The interior is com- posed of a rich brown-coloured substance, which may be looked upon as a form of dentine, made up of large, branched and anastomosing tubes with thick walls, which, for the most part, run lengthwise ; their cavities are undoubtedly medullary chan- nels ; they are narrow in proportion to the thickness of the en- tire tube. These give off, almost at right angles, small, irre- gular, branched and anastomosing tubes, which, penetrating the overlying white enamel-like matter, abut near to the sur- face. ‘The white matter also penetrates occasionally into the interior of the tooth, insinuating itself between the tubes; but the central portion is usually so exceedingly dense that few traces of it are to be observed. On the upper or concave face of the cutting-margin, however, the dentinal tubes, which are
60 Messrs. Hancock & Howse on Janassa bituminosa
here small and arranged lengthwise in parallel order, lie buried in the white matter that in many instances permeates the en- tire scoop portion.
The tubular matter, whether at the surface or in the interior, is composed of concentric layers; and coarse, branched tubules, originating in the medullary channels, penetrate their walls. The whole of the brown tubular matter composing the mass of the tooth is probably dentine, as we have just stated; or it may be, as stated in the paper already quoted on Climaxodus and Janassa, osteodentine, the small marginal tubes only being dentine ; but the structure of the whole appears to be the same. We feel equally at a loss how to denominate the white matter*. It is minutely granular, but otherwise quite structureless. If we are correct in designating it enamel, then there must be two kinds of enamel; or what is the transparent film seen on the surface in perfect specimens ?
When the white coating is worn a little, the extremities of the small dentinal tubes that penetrate it are seen at the sur- face; and as they wear more readily than the white matter, the whole surface becomes minutely punctured. On the cut- ting-margin, however, the white matter is usually to some ex- tent minutely grooved longitudinally, in consequence of these superficial tubes of the dentine-like matter running parallel to the surface.
The minute structure of the tooth as above described is seen to be essentially the same as that of the so-called Climaxodus ; but in the latter the brown dentinal tubular matter of the in- terior is not so dense, consequently the white matter pene- trates more extensively through the tissue. The small dentinal tubes abutting at the surface, too, are more branched and are less regular. The external white layer appears to be not so thick ; but it is almost always so much stained with black carbonaceous matter that it is not easily distinguished. In- deed we have only in one instance detected it without the aid of transmitted light ; but in section when so viewed its presence is usually observed.
The shagreen (PI.II. fig. 6) with which the body of this fish is covered is exhibited in three of the four specimens obtained by Mr. Duff. In one of them a considerable patch of it is very beautifully displayed, no disturbance whatever having taken place in the tubercles. They are minute, and, though pretty close together, they are seldom in contact, there generally being
* In the paper on Chimaxodus and Janassa this white coating is called “cement.” On further examination, however, we find that it has not the character of cement, but is merely granular, and in every respect is similar to the white external layer in Janassa.
Strom the Marl-Slate of Midderidge. 61
a space between them less than half their diameter. They are in the form of irregularly rounded bosses, with the surface smooth and glossy, and the margins sinuous and produced into points. Sometimes, however, they are much elongated, and are frequently very irregular in shape, with the marginal pro- longations much produced, variously formed, sharp or obtuse. Others have one margin comparatively smooth, the points being confined to the opposite side. Some are quite devoid of all such irregularities, the margins being smooth or only a little sinuous at one side ; these are rounder and larger than the others (fig. 8). Another form (fig. 7), not by any means un- common, is irregularly stellate, with the rays ridged and some- times a little bifurcated.
From the fineness of the cutting-margin in the so-called Climaxodus, it was inferred in the former paper, so frequently referred to, that the food must have been composed of some soft material. We.are disposed to draw the same conclusion from the structure of the teeth of Janassa bituminosa. The scoop-like cutting-margin is certainly much used, for it is almost always greatly worn in a regular manner; only in one instance have we seen it a little broken. It would be an efficient instrument in cutting vegetable substances, and these might afterwards require the aid of the crushing-disk.
In corroboration of this view of the food, we may quote a passage from Miinster, who says, of his Byzenos latipinnatus, that “the intestine seems to have been very full when the fish died. It is more elevated than the other parts of the body. On some places one sees in the interior a black earthy mass in which small pointed bodies appear, which are like small pieces of shiny coal.” May not this “black earthy mass” and ‘pieces of shiny coal”? be carbonized vegetable matter, the food of the fish ?
It is unnecessary here to dilate on the affinities of Janassa, as the subject is discussed in the former paper, already quoted. We may remark, however, that the full investigation of the Permian species has only the more confirmed our opinion of its close alliance with the Coal-measure form (the so-called Climaxodus lingueformis), and of a certain relationship of both to Myliobates and Zygobaies.
We may also state that Janassa is more closely related to Petalodus than was at first thought ; for we now find that the latter genus is provided with both symmetrical and oblique teeth; so that it is quite probable that they may be found to be arranged in much the same manner as those of Janassa, especially as the former have been found in vertical series, as previously stated.
62 Mr.J.Gould on a supposed new Species of Pigeon.
EXPLANATION OF PLATES II. & III. PraTE ie
Fig. 1. Somewhat enlarged view of a central vertical row of teeth of Janassa bituminosa, seen in profile and exhibiting transverse grooves and ridges on the underside: a, under surface, with transverse grooves, of apparently two lateral teeth ; 0, a portion of a second lateral tooth.
Fig. 2. Horizontal row of teeth of the same, a little enlarged : a, anterior scoop-like cutting-margin; 6, crushing-disk ; ¢, root; d, first lateral tooth ; e, second ditto; f, flanking petalodontoid tooth.
Fig. 3. Diagram showing the central vertical row of teeth in profile, and to explain their relationship to the jaws: a, supposed upper jaw ; b, cy aes under jaw; c, the teeth in use; d, effete supporting teeth.
Fig. 4, Profile view of a central tooth, somewhat enlarged: a, anterior scoop-like cutting-margin ; 6, crushing-disk ; ¢, root.
Fig. 5. View of underside of central tooth: a, cutting-margin ; , central area or facet, exhibiting transverse grooves; c ¢, lateral facets ; d, root.
Fig. 6. Shagreen, tubercles much enlarged, in their natural order.
Fig. 7. Three stellate tubercles of the same.
Fiy. 8. Two smooth tubercles.
PLATE Il.
Fig. 1. A group of teeth, a little over the natural size, of Janassa bitumi- nosa, seen in front, the anterior cutting-margins being exposed : a, central row of teeth of upper jaw; 0, of under jaw, with their sides exposed; ce, petalodontoid teeth ; d, shagreen.
Fig. 2. Another group: a, the upper surface of two teeth of the upper jaw ; b, the remains of teeth of the under jaw, with their under surfaces exposed ; c, scattered petalodontoid teeth, with their undersides uppermost.
IX.—Description of a supposed new Species of Pigeon. By Joun GouLp, F.R.S.
Genus OTrIpiIpHarPs, Gould.
Size large, equalling that of a wood-pigeon, Columba enas ; écll longer than the head, straight, and plover-like ; wings short and round, armed with a spur at the shoulder; tac/ round and moderately long; tars? very long for a pigeon, and with the toes covered with thick plate-like scales ; nat/s some- what straight and pointed ; general structure adapted for the ground rather than for trees or for flight.
Otidiphaps nobilis, Gould.
Bill red or fleshy red, particularly on its basal portion; round the eye a bare space, which appears to have been of the same colour; crown of the head and occipital crest black, with steel- blue reflections ; back of the neck resplendent glaucous green ;
Miscellaneous. 63
breast and under surface purple; back and wings rich chestnut, with violet reflections when viewed in certain lights,and passing into golden bronze at the nape; rump and upper tail-coverts rich purplish blue; tail blackish green; legs yellow or reddish yellow.
Total length 16 inches; bill 14, wing 7, tail 62, tarsi 23.
I obtained this fine bird of Mr. James Gardner of Holborn, who could not inform me of the precise locality in which it was collected; but as it was accompanied by Paradisea papuana, Epimachus maximus, many specimens ot Semtoptera Wallace?, and Pitta maxima, it was probably procured on some one of the islands of the Eastern Archipelago or in New Guinea. Although the bill is not toothed, this species appears to be allied to Didunculus.
MISCELLANEOUS. Deep-sea Researches. To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History.
GeENTLEMEN,—You will oblige me, and at the same time, I be- lieve, further the interests of scientific truth, by inserting the follow- ing observations in the ‘ Annals.’
In a note which appeared in ‘ Nature,’ of Dec. 16th, p. 192, Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys makes known his views on the “ Food of Oceanic Animals” in these words :—
«The receipt of an interesting paper by Prof. Dickie, entitled ** Notes on range in depth of marine Algz,’” lately published by the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, induces me to call the attention of physiologists to the fact that plant-life appears to be absent in the ocean, with the exception of a comparatively narrow fringe (known as the littoral and laminarian zones) which girds the coasts, and of the “ Sargasso ” tract in the Gulf of Mexico.
“During the recent exploration, in H.M.S. ‘ Porcupine,’ of part of the North Atlantic, [ could not detect the slightest trace of any vegetable organism at a greater depth than fifteen fathoms. Animal orgamsms of all kinds and sizes, living and dead, were everywhere abundant, from the surface to the bottom; and it might at first be supposed that such constituted the only food of the oceanic animals which were observed, some of them being zoophagons, others sarco- phagons, none phytophagons. But inasmuch as all animals are said to exhale carbonic acid gas, and on their death the same gas is given out by their decomposition, whence do oceanic animals get that supply of carbon which terrestrial and littoral or shallow-water animals derive, directly or indirectly, from plants? Can any class of marine animals assimilate the carbon contained in the sea, as plants assimilate the carbon contained in the air?
“ Not being a physiologist, I will not presume to offer an opinion ; but the suggestions or questions which I have ventured to submit
64 Miscellaneous.
may perhaps be worth consideration. At all events the usual theory, that all animals ultimately depend for their nourishment on vegetable life, seems not to be applicable to the main ocean, and consequently not to one-half of the earth’s surface.
“ J, Gwyn JEFFREYS.”
It is quite unnecessary for me to criticise the remarkable opinions here offered regarding the Sargasso tract, the chemistry of decom- posing animal matter in the ocean, and the relative proportions of land and water on the globe. It will be seen that they are unique. But as Mr. Jeffreys has entered the lists as an authority on deep-sea lore, and now claims as his own the discovery that plant-life is absent in the deeper regions of the ocean, and the refutation of the theory (as applied to the inhabitants of the sea) that “all animals ultimately depend for their nourishment on vegetable life,” I must be excused if I endeavour to show that he has either forgotten what, at a not very remote period, he professed to have read of my wri- tings on these subjects, or that, not having forgotten them, he has nevertheless found it expedient, for some unaccountable reason, to repudiate them, and with them his own published estimate regard- ing their accuracy.
The absence of all living vegetation, even of the lowest types, in the deeper abysses of the ocean, and the vital process whereby the nutrition of the lowest animal forms is secured in failure of any- thing like a rudimentary digestive apparatus, such as is to be found in the higher orders of Rhizopods, was dwelt on by me in my ‘ Notes on the presence of Animal Life at great depths in the Ocean,’ pub- lished in Nov. 1860, p. 27,—in my ‘ North-Atlantic Sea-bed,’ pub- lished in 1862, pp. 130-132,—in a note which appeared in the ‘ An- nals & Mag. Nat. Hist.’ for Aug. 1863, p. 166,—and in two papers contributed by me to the ‘Monthly Journal of Microscopical Science,’ for Jan. 1869, pp. 39-40, and April of the same year, pp. 231-233. Reference to these publications will therefore show that Mr. Jef- freys’s statements are, to say the least of them, somewhat behind the times.
But to prove that Mr. Jeffreys cannot justly plead ignorance as to what had been previously published by me on the subject, I invite attention to two extracts from his ‘‘ Reports on Dredgings,” con- tained in the ‘ Annals’ of the respective dates given below.
‘ Annals,’ Noy. 1866, p. 387.
*“ Dr. Wallich, in his admirable and ‘« philosophical treatise with which all “marine zoologists and geologists are, “ or ought to be, familiar, believed that “certain starfishes” Ke. &e. ‘As to “ the accuracy of his statements, no rea- * sonable doubt can be entertained.”
‘ Annals,’ Oct. 1868, p. 305.
“Coccospheres and free Foramini- “ fera cover the bed of the Atlantic at “enormous depths. The occurrence, “ therefore, of such organisms on the “floor of the ocean at great depths “does not prove that they ever lived “there. I should rather be inclined to “believe that they dropped to the “ bottom when dead or after having ‘* passed through the stomachs of other ‘animals which had fed on them.”
Miscellaneous. 65
It is indisputable, therefore, that Mr. Jeffreys had studied my writings, and that the opinion entertained of them by him in 1866 was revoked in favour of that expressed by him in 1868; whilst that expressed in 1868 has again in its turn been superseded by the very positive contradiction it receives in his note in ‘ Nature’ published a fortnight ago !
It is likewise deserving of special notice that Dr. Carpenter, who might be supposed to have made himself acquainted with the whole past literature of the subject, should, at p. 181 of the official copy of his ‘ Preliminary Report on Dredging for 1868,’ have thought it expedient to single out from these two most conflicting statements that which was offered by Mr. Jeffreys in 1868 (see above), as evi- dence that “ Dr. Wallich’s just claims had not by any means com- manded the universal assent of naturalists ”»—an assent to which, if just, as it has now been most clearly proved that they were and are, those conclusions were long ago entitled.
With regard to Mr. Jeffreys’s division of oceanic animals into “‘zoophagons”’ and “sarcophagons,” I have nothing to urge beyond my avowed inability to discern any valid physiological difference be- tween those that are zoophagous and those that are sarcophagous. It rests with Mr. Jeffreys to explain on what grounds he has felt justified in declaring so emphatically that ‘‘none” of the animals “of all kinds and sizes, everywhere abundant from the surface to the bottom,” observed by him in his exploration of the North Atlantie, were phytophagous.
It only remains for me to add that for years I stood alone in maintaining, in opposition to the opinion of Ehrenberg and _ his followers, that all plant-life becomes extinct at depths exceeding 400 or 500 fathoms, and that the nutrition of the Foraminifera and some other orders of oceanic Rhizopods is effected by a special vital func- tion, whereby they are enabled to eliminate, from the medium in which they live, the elementary ingredients which enter into the for- mation of their body- and shell-substances. The facts and reasoning on which my observations were based will be found in the various published papers &c. already referred to.
I remain, Gentlemen, Yours very faithfully, G. C. Watiicn. Kensington, December 24, 1869.
On the Specific Distinctness of Anodonta anatina. To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History.
GenTLEMEN,—There has been, and, I believe, still is, a diversity of opinion as to whether Anodonta anatina is a distinct species or only a variety of Anodonta cygnea. I have, since I commenced the study of conchology, inclined to the former view; and I think I am now able to bring forward evidence in favour of it which has not been
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Vol. v. 2
66 Miscellaneous.
adduced before. It has been maintained that these animals are varieties because no difference is to be found in their soft parts, excepting as regards the general shape, which corresponds to that of the shell. But I have observed, in Anodonta anatina, that the branchial opening is not only comparatively, but actually, much larger and fringed with much more delicate and numefous tenta- cles than in Anodonta cygnea.
There also seem to be conflicting ideas as to the direction in which the respiratory current proceeds, some contending that it invari- ably enters through the branchial orifice, and makes its exit through the anal one, others that it may proceed either in this or the reverse direction. I have taken some pains in investigating this subject, and have repeatedly tried experiments with the animals to find out the facts of the case; and the conclusion I have arrived at is, that, under ordinary circumstances, the current enters through the branchial opening, and issues through the anal one only. It may, however, in addition, enter at the anterior end or any inter- mediate point; but it never issues from any place other than the anal opening, excepting under peculiar circumstances, which I will presently mention, and then it is spasmodically. The ordinary position in which the animal is found is with the posterior end projecting from the mud which forms the sides and bottom of its habitat, the rest being imbedded in it. In this case, the direction of the current is the normal one; but should the animal choose to repose wholly uncovered by the mud, as not unfrequently happens, it then will separate the edges of the mantle from one another at some point, and through this the water flows also into it. Should, however, the branchial orifice from any cause become covered by sand or mud and the anal one remain free, it will then draw water in through the anal opening and expel it through the branchial one, causing the sand or mud to be blown away with very great violence, after which the normal state of affairs is resumed. This action is purely mechanical, the animal relaxing the adductor muscles, the valves gape, the opening, however, which would otherwise have been formed remaining closed by the thickened edges of the mantle being kept in contact; this causes the water to enter the anal orifice; then the valves are suddenly closed, and the water ejected through the branchial opening, the whole action being, in fact, exactly that of a pair of bellows. If both orifices are covered and there is water between the valves, they are brought together, and the bran- chial one freed, the anal one afterwards being uncovered by the ordinary action of the current. Any other point on the free mar- gin of the shell may be uncovered in a similar manner. These facts I have tested by many trials, both with the Anodons and the Unios.
I remain, yours truly, R. M. Lroyp.
8 Weston Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, Dec. 9th, 1869.
Miscellaneous. 67
On the Structure and mode of Growth of the Scales of Fishes. By Dr. Savsey.
The author has made some investigations upon the structure of _ the skin in fishes which must lead to great modifications in our ideas, especially of the construction and growth of the scales.
Fishes are generally sticky to the touch—a phenomenon which M. L. Agassiz ascribed to a mucosity secreted by peculiar glands. Leydig, however, showed that no mucus-gland exists at the surface of a fish. The so-called mucosity is, in fact, only the most super- ficial layer of the epidermis. In the terrestrial Vertebrata the most superficial layers of the epidermis become hardened to form the stratum corneum which scales off at the surface. In fishes the superficial cells of the epidermis, instead of hardening, absorb water, become softer and softer, and constitute the mucous covering of the surface, which is easily removed. The corium, placed immediately beneath the epidermis, is formed essentially of two crossed systems of connective bundles. It contains numerous pouches, in each of which a scale 1s lodged.
It is well known that the ctenoid and cycloid scales present numerous concentric striz, which M. Agassiz interpreted as the margins of superposed layers forming the scale. This opinion, which is still generally accepted, is, however, quite erroneous, as has been clearly shown by Dr. Salbey by means of vertical sections. The striz are due to a series of irregular crests, which all belong to the superficial layer of the scale. The deeper and much thicker layer is formed by a series of superposed lamelle of two substances. The thickest lamelle are colourless and brilliant ; the thinner ones are yellowish and but slightly transparent; the former are calca- reous, the latter are composed of a sort of cement destitute of lime- salts. The calcareous lamelle being generally thicker in old indi- viduals than in the young, it is probable that their increase in thickness is caused by a gradual incrustation of the interposed layers of cement. The growth of the scale is explained by the fact, that a deposit of calcareous salts is formed periodically in the part of the corium which is directly applied against the lower surface of the scale. This incrusted layer becomes for a time the lowest lamina of the scale. Then a layer of cement is deposited between this cal- careous lamina and the corium: this alternate formation of calcare- ous and non-calcareous layers is repeated a great many times.
Besides the concentric lines, the scales present striae which radi- ate from the centre to the periphery. These are the “ longitudinal canals” of Mandl, the “ fan-like furrows” of M. Agassiz, and the “sutures” of M. Peters. The name proposed by M. Agassiz (sz- lons en éventail) is perhaps the best, inasmuch as the strie certainly correspond to furrows of the surface. But from the bottom of these furrows true partitions of unincrusted cement start, which traverse the whole thickness of the scale and divide it into a certain number of segments. By their partial incrustation these rays of cement may assist in the widening of the scale. At the centre of the system
5*
68 Miscellaneous.
of coricentric lines of the surface of the scale there is a region of peculiar appearance, which M. Agassiz designates the ‘“ centre of growth,” and Mandl the “focus,” by which he understands ‘ focus of nutrition.” M. Agassiz regards this region as the oldest portion of the scale, the layers of which have been worn away. As regards the first point, that of age, he is undoubtedly right ; as regards the second, this is not the case. If the asperities are less prominent in this part of the scale, it is because they date from a period when the fish was smaller.—Archiv fiir Anat. Phys. und wiss. Medizin, 1868, p. 729; Bibl. Univ. November 15, 1869: Bull. Sct. pp. 276— 278.
On the Anatomy of the Alcyonaria. By MM. G. Povcurr and A. Myévre.
The anatomical systems of most of the inferior animals have not even yet been clearly determined. The existence of distinct mus- cular elements in particular, long admitted upon the testimony of the movements which one sees executed by the animals, has only been demonstrated quite recently in the Actinie by M.Schwalbe. As to the Aleyonaria, M. C. Genth has indeed described the muscles of Solenogorgia tubulosa; but his description is very incomplete, and even it does not stand in any relation to what we have been able to make out of the muscles of two other Alcyonaria, Aleyoniwm digitatum and A. palmatum.
The muscular elements are pale fibres, soft during life, about 0-002 millim. in diameter when they are at the maximum of contraction, but usually much more slender. They are finely granular, without nuclei, and have distinct outlines. They may easily be isolated, at least in part of their length, which is variable. These muscular fibres are, by their appearance and size, very like those of the Nemertea. These fibres, in the Aleyonaria, are arranged sometimes in sheets, and sometimes in thicker or thinner bundles, which form true muscles, having sometimes very definite insertions, and needing to be described and named as so many primary organs.
Ist. Longitudinal Muscles—They are eight in number, and corre- spond to each of the mesenteroid lamin, which they themselves assist to form. They extend from the peristome far into the coenen- chyma (sarcosome of M. Lacaze-Duthiers), which we find still very distinct upon the walls of the wide canal, which forms a con- tinuation of the bodies of the polypes (grossere Saft-Kandle of Kolliker). ;,
2nd. This canal presents throughout, beneath the epithelium which lines it, a layer of circular or transverse fibres, covering and crossing at right angles the fibres of the longitudinal muscles lying against the substance of the coenenchyma. These fibres, retaining their direction, give form to the mesenteroid lamine; and they are to be found still, under the same conditions, even on the wall of the perigastric cavities.
3rd. Sphincter—This muscle occupies the peristome. It is formed
Miscellaneous. 69
of eight portions, each nearly of a square form and corresponding to the base of a tentacle ; the eight parts are separated by raphes, which are only the lines of insertion of the mesenteroid lamin upon the peristome. :
4th. Tentacular muscles—Kach partition separating the peri- gastric cavities gives origin above to two distinct muscles, which rise to the right and left into the two tentacles bordering upon the parti- tion. Each tentacle thus receives two tentacular muscles, coming from the two septa bounding the perigastric cavity to which the tentacle corresponds. They ascend to the summit of the organ, ap- proaching each other at a very acute angle.
Sth. Intertentacular muscle.—In the angle formed by two neigh- bouring tentacles, we may clearly distinguish a muscular bundle which marks that angle and ascends on each side upon the borders of the two tentacles for nearly half their length.
These numerous muscles are inserted everywhere upon the funda- mental substance of the animal, and in most cases are applied againstit. This substance limits externally the body of each polype. It emits thin expansions, which serve above as a solid framework to the mesenteroid laminz, bound the perigastric cavities, and are connected internally with another equally delicate lamina supporting the walls of the stomachal cavity. Externally this substance, whether upon the body of the polypes or between them, is nowhere covered with epithelium. It therefore remains in contact with the surrounding medium (like the bony tissue of the dermal plates of certain fishes). It follows from this, at least in this state of deve- lopment of the Aleyonarian, that the fundamental substance does not correspond to the definition recently given of the so-called conjunc- tive tissues, which have been said to be “ every tissue, with the ex- ception of nerves or muscles, occurring between the external epi- thelial layer and the internal epithelial layer.” This fundamental substance, both in the walls of the body of the polype and in the mass of the coenenchyma, is everywhere identical.
It is fibrous in some places, and excavated by cavities of several kinds; and it is always in the midst of it, in places where it is perfectly homogeneous, that the spicules appear and become developed. Each polype is therefore in intimate relation of structure with the ccenenchyma by its constituent tissues. But the identity does not stop there, and we find it even in the tissues belonging to the group of products.
Throughout their length the wide canals are lined with the same vibratile epithelium, which is continued into the perigastric cavities, the tentacles, and the pinnules (A. digitatum). It is formed of spherical or slightly polyhedral cells of small dimensions. Those of the surface bear extremely delicate vibratile cilia, which appear to be but few upon each cell, and exhibit imperfectly rhythmical movements. The body of the cells appears to be formed of granula- tions enclosed in a hyaline substance. No nucleus is to be dis- tinguished.
On the other hand, the epithelium which clothes the surface of
70 Miscellaneous.
the tentacles turned towards the mouth is not vibratile. It pre- sents from place to place little projecting organs, about 0-025 millim. in length, sharp-pointed, slightly recurved, and endowed with no movement. Besides, this epithelium contains nematocysts, whilst there are none in the epithelium of the wide canals. But, on the other hand, their presence approximates the epithelium of the ten- tacles to the tissue which fills (but does not line, as has been stated) the small nutritive canals (kleine Saft-Kandle of Kélliker). These canals are entirely filled up by a granular substance individualized here and there into cells. These cells are irregular, polyhedral by reciprocal pressure, accumulated in the canals. They are more finely granular and more transparent than those of the vibratile epithelium, and have a small nucleus of a rose-colour, with ill-defined although very distinct contours. We find among these cells (and consequently in the heart of the coonenchyma) nematocysts exactly like those of the epithelium of the tentacles.
This peculiarity, in conjunction with the extension of the funda- mental substance of the ceenenchyma into the polypes, and the ex- tension of the muscles of the polypes into the heart of the coenen- chyma, establishes between them such an analogy of structure that it is not possible, in general anatomy, to distinguish them, or to find other than morphological differences between these parts.—Comptes Rendus, Noy. 22, 1869, tome Ixix. pp. 1097-1099,
Observations on the Nasal Glands of Birds. By M. Jozerr.
The secretory apparatus which occupies the greater part of the frontal region in birds, and which opens into the nasal fossve, is more complex than has been supposed. It consists of two pairs of glands, closely applied to each other, but organically very distinct, and each having a distinct secretory duct: these two ducts run at first side by side; but in the nasal fossze their course becomes very different, and their orifices are very wide apart. The author de- scribes the structure of these glands and their anatomical relations. —Comptes Rendus, November 15, 1869, tome lxix. p. 1016.
On Remains of the Beaver in New Jersey. By Mason C. WeExp.
I take the occasion of the recent discovery of a very interesting and novel fact to me to communicate with you. It is the finding of a genuine beaver-meadow on the very top and near the brink of the Palisades. The edge of the meadow is about 175 paces from the “steep rocks,” which are, I suppose, about 500 feet above the tide- water in the Hudson river, and which rises so abruptly that a stone may in some places be thrown from the top into the water.
Stumps gnawed off by beavers were found by workmen getting out swamp-muck on the land of Mr. Charles Nordhoff, and in the rear of his residence. The trench in which they were found (6 or 7 feet below the surface) is about 10 feet deep; and though it was
Lar A
Miscellaneous. 71
in the midst of the severest drought we had had for many years, water soon flowed into it. An eight-foot well on the place has con- tained a constant supply of water. An excavation made for a fish- pond, within ten rods of the steep rocks, filled up with water to the depth of two or three feet, without receiving a gill from rains or from the surface. Wells, springs, and brooks along the western slope and in the valley have gone dry in great numbers, while here and else- where along the top of the Palisades there has been an abundant supply. The beavers must have had permanent water. The size of the meadow is not more than four or five acres; the depth of the peat variable and uncertain; the bottom of the basin, where ex- posed, consists of a fine sandy hard-pan, with some small boulders and masses of trap; and the trap-rock in place is occasionally denuded.
To appearance there is an abundance of water along this whole range, which cannot be accounted for by the rainfall ; and yet it is iso- lated by miles of intervening hills and valleys from equally high land. Permanent springs, little influenced by the season or by abundance or dearth of rain, are not rare on the western slope of the Palisades, and they are found on some of the highest points ; one quite noted one is near Crum’s Rock, the highest point.—Stlliman’s American Journal, November 1869.
Note on the Respiration of the Nymphe of the Libellule. By M. Ovsrater.
The author gives a very detailed description of all the parts of the tracheal system of these animals, and indicates the mode of termina- tion of the aériferous tubes in the branchial lamelle with which the walls of the rectum are furnished. In these respiratory appen- dages the tracheee form a multitude of capillary tubes arranged in loops, a mode of termination which has not previously been no- ticed.— Comptes Rendus, November 15, 1869, tome Lxix. p. 1016.
The late Professor Micuart Sars, of Christiania.
This eminent zoologist died on the 22nd of October last; and his loss will be much felt by all naturalists who have benefited, as I haye done, by his long, laborious, and conscientious investigation of the invertebrate fauna of the Norwegian seas.
He was born on the 30th of August 1805, at Bergen, where his father was a shipowner. After finishing his academical studies at Christiania, and evincing at an early age his predilection for natural science, he entered into priest’s orders, and in 1830 be- came pastor at Kinn, in the diocese of Bergen. Ten years after- wards he had charge of the parish of Manger in the same diocese. As both these parishes were on the sea-coast, Sars had constant opportunities of pursuing his zoological researches. In 1829 he published his first essay, entitled ‘ Bidrag til Sdedyrenes Natur- historie,’ and in 1846 the first part of his celebrated work ‘ Fauna littoralis Norvegie.’ In 1854 he was appointed Professor Extra- ordinarius of Zoology at the University of Christiania, a position
rT} fj J { ay PTS j}etteuns +10 4 } VS
(v4 Miscellaneous.
which he filled up to the time of his lamented death with great honour to his country, and to the satisfaction of the whole world of science. His celebrity as a zoologist, as well asa paleontologist, was fully recognized by all naturalists and geologists, and he was elected a member of several foreign scientific societies. Our own distinguished countryman, the late Edward Forbes, individually showed his ap- preciation of Sars’s labours in eloquent pages (66 and 67) of his own posthumous work, ‘The Natural History of the European Seas,’ when he said, ‘‘ More complete or more valuable zoological researches than those of Sars have rarely been contributed to the science of Natural History; and the success with which he has prosecuted in- vestigations claiming not only a high systematic value, but also a deep physiological import, is a wonderful evidence of the abundance of intellectual resources which genius can develope, however se- cluded and wherever its lot be cast ;” and he added that the name of this Norwegian priest, “ who reaped reputation when seeking no more than knowledge, familiar to every naturalist in Europe and America, in Asia, and at the Antipodes—for there are great natura- lists settled far in the south, and many in the far east—is a sufficient proof that able work brings the rewards of applause and venera- tion, even when they be unasked for.” By the observations of Sars on the development of the Medusz he greatly advanced our know- ledge of that remarkable physiological phenomenon known as the alternation of generations, which Chamisso had first indicated in the Salpz. His last publication, ‘Mémoire pour servir a la con- naissance des Crinoides vivants,’ excited especial interest, by show- ing that a race of animals, supposed to have been extinct for a period so long as only to be measured by the duration of several past geolo- gical epochs, occurred in a living state in the abysses of the Norwe- gian seas. This discovery mainly induced the recent exploration of our own seas at great depths, which has produced such wonderful results ; and the living Crinoid, or “stone lily” (Rhizocrinus Lofo- tensis), has now been ascertained to inhabit many parts of the Atlantic from the Loffoden Isles to the Gulf of Mexico. The published works of Sars are seventy-four, and they are not less sound and valuable than numerous. One of his sons, Dr. George Ossian Sars, inherits the zoological inclinations and talent of the late Professor, and is second to none in the knowledge of the Sessile-eyed Crus- tacea.
It is exceedingly to be regretted that, in spite of the most rigid economy, the large family of Professor Sars is left in very im- poverished circumstances, six of his children being wholly unpro- vided for. May I hope that naturalists and lovers of science will assist me in making a subscription for the temporary relief of this distressed family, and that they will by such tribute to his memory express their admiration of his career and services? I shall be very glad to receive any contributions,
J. Gwyn JEFFREYS, 25 Devonshire Place, Portland Place, London, 21 December, 1869.
between Wasps and Rhipiphori. 89
the spirit. The Rhipiphorus differs in size, but-does not vary in size: this is not a distinction without a difference. There are two sizes; but these two are most constant. I have before me a series of about fifty of the smaller size taken out of the worker-cells, and they are as uniform in size as the workers of a hive of bees. The larger ones are scarcer, but all I have seen are of one size, too, and they all come from the female cells. All the little ones come from worker-cells, all the big ones from queen-cells, just as in the case of the wasps themselves, where all the little wasps come from the worker-cells, all the big ones (the queens) from the queen-cells; and to me this fact is a strong confirmation of the view that they must both be fed in the same way, viz. by the wasps. Whether, as in the case of bees, the wasps feed the tenants of the queen-cells with any special food, or use any special treatment by means of which the grubs in the queen-cells are developed into queens and those in drone-cells into drones, I believe is not known; but the presumption is in its favour. If it were mere increase of size that was produced, it might be said that it was due to more food and more space in which to grow; but more food should not alter the sex. The Lhdpiphorus, not being a wasp, would appear not to be affected by the same influence, so far as regards sex; for I have a male from a queen’s cell, but only benefited by it in the increase of its size; and it may be merely the effect of a longer continuance of feeding and a greater supply of food, as supposed by Mr. Smith; but then he will surely not carry his argument to the extreme of sup- posing that the mere difference between eating a worker-grub and a queen-grub is sufficient to account for the greater dimen- sions of the one in a queen’s cell over the one in a worker’s eel
But there are other and not less serious difficulties in the way of Mr. Smith’s hypothesis. The Rhipiphorus-grub is described as attacking the wasp-grub at the head, ‘‘ the mouth of the former buried in the body of the latter just below the head.” Of course it must begin at the head: it eould not begin at the tail, which is out of sight at the base of the cell; and equally, of course, it must eat its way inwards head foremost. When it has completed its repast, by which time it is to attain its full size, its position must therefore necessa- rily be head inmost, and it must perforce pass its metamor- phosis in that position; for the cell is too narrow for it to turn in; and it cannot back out, for the entrance is closed by the lid. But what is the fact in nature? Putting aside the ex- ceptional cases of doubtful position in cells doubly occupied, the Rhipiphort have invariably their head to the mouth of
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Vol. v. 7
90 Mr. A. Murray on the Relations
the cell, exactly as the wasps, and fitting it as closely. This argument alone seems to me fatal to the hypothesis that the Lhipiphorus-larva limits itself to one victim.
The alternative hypothesis, by which it is supposed to feed on many, which I shall now consider, will be found to be no sounder. Supposing that the footless parasite larva roams about, emptying cell after cell, and clearing off wasp-grub after wasp-grub, and developing and increasing in the normal way at the expense of many, until the time approaches when it is to take its last meal and pass into the pupa state, it must by that time have attained considerable dimensions. A full- grown wasp-grub might indeed find room in its cell for a tiny Lhipiphorus-grub fresh out of the egg; but one about to pass into the pupa state, and nearly as big as itself, is another thing altogether. But might it not begin upon it with half or the whole of its body out of its victim’s cell? No; because the cell has, by Mr. Smith’s hypothesis, to be spun up by its victim ; and it could not do this if the way were thus stopped, and, besides, it must not be so seriously injured or encroached on as to prevent its doing this. ‘There is plainly no room to hold both. Two quarts of beer are not to be got into one quart bottle by any process hitherto found out. But Mr. Smith may abandon his lid-theory. He may admit the ld to be spun by the Rhipiphorus. But even then he has something else to get over. How is he to get the RAipiphorus, which has entered the cell head foremost, turned round so as to have its head to the mouth of the cell? The creature, according to this theory, has the instinct of going head forward into the cells all the rest of its life. He must devise a new instinct for it to make it back out of the cell whose tenant it has eaten, and go on tail foremost into an empty cell when the proper time for it to back in comes. But if Mr. Smith admits all this—admits that the egg of the Rhipiphorus and of the wasp are the same and similarly placed, that the young larve of both are fed at first by the wasps, and that at last the mature larvee of both spin the lids to their cells themselves—I think he must also admit that the whole of the abstract grounds on which the Rhipiphorus might be expected to have a different economy from that of the wasp is swept away. If it is admitted that it and the wasp do all the things that it seems unlikely they should do, there ceases to be any reason for denying that their economy is alike out and out, and that the same system of feeding by the wasps with which they commenced is con- tinued to the end.
I shall now say a word or two as to Mr. Stone’s observa- tions: and here [ may premise that, as will be evident to any
between Wasps and Rhipiphori. 91
one who compares Mr. Smith’s quotations from them and my brief allusion to them in my former paper, I had not Mr. Stone’s paper before me when I wrote. My purpose then was to record my own observations, not to attack Mr. Stone’s ; and as I could not lay my hands on his paper, I rested satis- fied with a quotation as to the nature of its contents, which I received from my friend Mr. Pascoe. But now that I have read it all, I see nothing, with the exception of the one case which I have already questioned, which appears to me inca- pable of explanation, or, when rightly interpreted, irrecon- cilable with the views I hold or with the observations I made. His interpretation is of course irreconcilable, but not the facts themselves.
Mr. Stone only gives two actual cases of the alleged attacks of the Rhipiphorus-larva on the wasp-grub. He infers more, and Mr. Smith mfers more, from his finding, as he thinks, “these creatures retaining the skin and mandibles of their victim in their grasp even after they have passed into the pupa state.”” I shall speak to that immediately—one thing at a time; but as to actual cases of this attack, the two given by Mr. Stone are the only two recorded by him or by any other person whatever. Of part of the first I have already, to a certain extent, suggested an explanation ; but a portion of it remains which is very difficult of explanation. He opens the sealed lid of a cell in which should be a pupa, finds in it a wasp-larva with a minute Rhipiphorus-larva attached to it with its mouth firmly buried in the body of its victim just below the head; and it appeared to have only very recently fastened on its victim. May it not be possible that, m han- dling the nest and picking out the larve from the cells, Mr. Stone had inadvertently dropped this minute Rhipiphorus from his foreeps into either this newly opened cell or another beside it which he confounded with it ? If it fell upon a larva, of course there is nothing to be surprised at in its eating it, as the wasp-grub would have done with it if it had got the first chance. Both are admitted to be carnivorous; and that they should eat each other when they have the opportunity 1s only what might be expected. That those which I found living amicably together, two in the same cell, did not attack each other, was no doubt due to their having been brought up together and sufficiently fed otherwise. They were like the members of a young family of lions, which, although ready enough to carry death and destruction with them out of doors, live in peace and harmony at home. The fact that the little Rhipiphorus had only commenced its attack is, I think, in favour of this supposition. It is against all the rules of pro-
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92 Mr. A. Murray on the Relations
bability that the cell should have been opened at that precise conjuncture of time that it began its attack. It is also still more unlikely that, having been sealed up with it, it should not have sooner made its attack. It is so disrespectful to the instinct of the Rhipiphori that the parent should have laid an egg in a cell already tenanted, and within reach of the jaws of the tenant, that I shall not suggest that alternative.
As to the Rhipiphorus-pupe retaining the skin and mandi- bles of the grub they have eaten in their grasp, which Mr. Stone alleges of this one and of others which he subsequently observed, it is obviously a somewhat ludicrous blunder arising from a confusion of head and tail. I presume that by retain- ing in their grasp, he means holding in their jaws; they have no legs or claws to grasp with. But he must have forgotten that the parasite began at the head and, of course, finished off at the tail, and that it therefore should not be the mandibles that “it retained in its grasp,” but the other end. But it seems to me clear that he had observed the old cast skin of the larva, which lies at the bottom of the cell, sticking to the tail of the pupa, not retained in its mouth. We know that the tail forms a powerful sucker; and, of course, it sucks up into its cup, like the bottom of a seaman’s lead, anything that is lying loose at the bottom; and we know, too, that the last cast skin of a larva is very often found adhering to the chrysalis. We know, also, that when the larva undergoes its transformation, its muscles undergo a complete degrada- tion, becoming like milk, and all muscular power on the part of the pupa at that particular period vanishes. As the change goes on, the muscular power is restored by the re-formation or consolidation of the muscles; but the idea of a pupa holding anything in its jaws by the tenacity of its muscular power seems to me an impossibility. I have only to add that none of my pupe (and I have a number preserved in Canada balsam) has either skin or mandibles in its jaws, but most of them have them still adhering to the tail. This fact seems to prove that, like my pup, Mr. Stone’s must have had their heads to the mouth of the cell, instead of in the posi- tion which his and Mr. Smith’s hypothesis requires, at its base.
Next, as to the second and only other case of a Rhipiphorus- larva taken in the act of attacking a wasp-grub. The state- ment is as follows :—“ I was fortunate in discovering a small larva of I?hipiphorus firmly attached to its victim ; both were dead, and had become partially dried, so that, when immersed in spirits, they did not separate, but remained attached just as they were before death.”
This seems to me to be a case of a double occupation of
between Wasps and Rhipiphori. 93
one cell, similar to those which came under my notice ; and the attachment of the one to the other is probably no- thing more than what may be seen in every bottle of in- sects sent home from abroad or collected at home: some of the dying insects in their mortal agony have seized the nearest object with their mandibles, and arrive with a leg or some other part of their neighbour’s body in their mouth, still firmly clasped in the death grip,—that 1s, supposing that the jaws of the one really are fastened in the body of the other. It may be only a mutual adhesion by lesion of the skin in the process of decay or drying up. I hope to see the specimen in Mr. Smith’s hands before this goes to press ; and it I do, and it contains any information, I will mention it in a postscript.
P.S. Since writing the above, I have seen the specimen in Mr. Smith’s possession, and find it presenting almost exactly the same appearance as the specimen which I have above alluded to and which I have placed in the Collection of Economie Ento- mology in South-Kensington Museum. There are no means of saying whether the larve are merely in juxtaposition or if one has its jaws fastened on the other ; but both are well grown, and except where they touch each other (where there is some lesion) they are uninjured. I have no doubt it is a case of double occupation of one cell, of the same nature as those de- scribed by me, and that, if the lesion (which I attribute to the pressure of the one upon the other) is not so great as to have destroyed the parts, Mr. Smith, on separating them, would find that they were not fastened to each other at all.
I had also the pleasure of showing to Mr. Smith my speci- mens of pupze with the cast skin still sticking to their tail ; and I think he will no longer regard Mr. Stone’s observation of these cast skins as proof ‘of these creatures retaining the skin and mandibles of their victims in their grasp,” nor as additional observed instances of the attack of the wasp-grub by Lhipiphorus-larve. As I stated at the outset, these ob- served instances are reduced, nominally, to two, but really only to one,—one of the two being that above mentioned, which I maintain is not an instance of attack at all, but of double occupation of cell; and the other, of actual devouring, which I have endeavoured to account for, but which, whether my explanation be the true one or not, is, I feel perfectly con- vinced, not to be regarded as a genuine normal example of the habits of the animal, but as arising from some error of observation.
94 Mr. F. P. Pascoe on Additions to
XII.— Additions to the Tenebrionidee of Australia &e. By Francis P. Pascor, F.L.S., F.Z.8., &e.
THE following additions to the list of Australian Tenebrionide are mostly derived from a select collection sent me by Mr. George Masters, who has lately been collecting in Queensland and in Western Australia. ‘The value of the collection was greatly increased by notes of the habits or other particulars of the species composing it. Among the three or four new genera here described, the most interesting perhaps is one be- longing to Bolitophaginee (Mychestes), which frequents rotten wood in which probably some minute fungus has made its appearance. A few species remain for further investigation, some not being in sufficiently good condition for description. In the collection, but not belonging to the Tenebrionide or even to the Heteromera, was a remarkable new form*, appa- rently of Monotomide, found in ants’ nests,—also examples of Erichson’s curious genus Ancistria, hitherto known only from India, and of which no species occurred in the wonderfully rich collections made by Mr. Wallace in the intervening Ma- layan islands.
Scymenat amphibia.
S. ovalis, pallide testacea, subnitida; scutello valde transverso ; elytris sulcato-punctatis, punctis minutis.
Hab. King George’s Sound (sea-shore, burrowing in the sand).
Oval, moderately convex, pale testaceous, slightly nitid ; head finely punctured, line of separation between the clypeus and front not sharply defined, but of a darker colour ; antennz nearly as long as the breadth of the head, the outer joints slightly moniliform ; prothorax rather finely punctured, the apex very slightly emarginate; scutellum very transverse ; elytra suleate-punctate, the punctures small, placed in shallow grooves, the intervals very minutely, almost obsoletely punc- tured; tibiee and tarsi roughly ciliated, the latter somewhat slender. Length 3 lines.
In general appearance this species closely resembles the common Phaleria cadaverina of our southern coasts, and pro- bably, like it, preys on dead animal substances when it has the opportunity. My. Masters says that it is found ‘“ burrow-
* Since this was written, I have seen reason to believe that this is the in- sect described by the Count of Castelnau, in the Rey. et Mag. de Zoologie for September, p. 356, under the name of Nepharis alata. It is referred to the Colydiide, and “ perhaps near Cossyphodes,” and