PEACHIA, Gosse.

Corpus elongatum, subcylindricum, pyriforme, v. fusiforme, ditrematum, liberum; tentaculis paucis, brevibus (disci diametrum haud superantibus), crassis, conicis, uniseriatis; oviductu in tuberculum papillosum desinente.

1. PEACHIA HASTATA, corpore roseo lineis æqualibus pallidis, tentaculis 12 albo-hyalinis seriebus 2 parallelis macularum sagittatarum brunnearum notatis, disco circulis duobus macularum brunnearum V-formium cincto, oviductûs papillis numerosis aggregatis.

2? P.? CHRYSANTHELLUM, corpore cylindrico albido lineis inæqualiter latis, tentaculis brunneo-annulatis.

Mr. Gosse considers the principal interest of this form to consist in the decided approach which it makes to a higher type than that of Actinodermata, assisting, together with the genus Edwardsia of M. Quatrefages, to diminish the interval between the Actinia and Holothuride. Of the genus Edwardsia he observes that there are two British species, one of which was described and figured by himself, in the Annals of Natural History' for Sept. 1853, under the name of Scolanthus callimorphus, which genus he is now convinced ought to be abolished; and the other, described in a letter from Mr. Kingsley, appears to be identical with Edwardsia Beautempsii, Quatr.

The author then proceeds to remark on the importance of still further dividing the large remainder of species, which, even after the separation of the genera already constructed from it, still remain united under the name of Actinia. After discussing the principles on which he conceives that this division may be most properly founded, he goes on to establish the following generic types, adding after each the names of the British, and of some of the exotic species belonging to it.

SAGARTIA, Gosse.

Actinia basi adhærentes; tentaculis conicis facilè retractilibus; sphærulis marginalibus nullis. Corpus everrucosum, filamenta capsulifera e poris emittens; filis urticantibus brevibus, pilorum fasciculo densè armatis. Sp. Brit.-Act. viduata (=anguicoma, Price), Troglodytes, Aurora, candida, rosea, nivea, venusta, parasitica, Bellis, Dianthus ; fortè etiam A. aurantiaca et pulchella, Jord.

The following exotic species, figured by Mr. Dana in the Zoophytes of the American Exploring Expedition, seem to be referable to this genus, viz. A. Primula; the beautiful decorata and Fuegensis, both allied to our Bellis; and Achates, reticulata and Paumotensis, which are evidently allied to Dianthus.

BUNODES, Gosse.

Actinic sphærulis marginalibus nullis; corpus verrucosum; cute coriaceâ, filamentis missilibus nullis; filis urticantibus longis simplicibus; tentaculis plerumque crassis, conicis, obtusis.

Sp. Brit.-A. gemmacea, Thallia, clavata, crassicornis, monile (fortè crassicornis junior)? Chrysoplenium?, alba?, miniata?

Of exotic species, A. Diadema, pluvia, Gemma, Artemisia of Dana's Zoophytes, probably belong to this genus.

ACTINIA, L. (pars).

Sphærule capsuliferæ ad disci marginem seriatæ; corpus everrucosum, poris filamentisque missilibus destitutum; cute lævi.

Sp. Brit.-A. Mesembryanthemum, margaritifera, Chiococca.

Of exotic species, A. Tabella and graminea of Dana are here referable.

The following British species are of doubtful position, viz. A. coccinea, intestinalis, biserialis and vermicularis. The very curious A. biserialis has a close parallel in Dana's Rhodora; and these may perhaps form together another genus when more is known about them. A. intestinalis and Vermiculum show, in their slender lengthened form, an approach to the free condition of Peachia, &c.

Mr. Gosse next exhibits in a tabular manner one of the modes in which the British non-coralligenous Actiniade may be artificially distributed; and under the head of each genus comments on its structure, limits, and affinities, concluding his paper with a diagram intended to express, as nearly as such a representation can, the varied consanguinities and cross-alliances of the group.

The paper was illustrated by figures of Peachia hastata; and by magnified representations of the thread-cells and threads of several species of Sagartia.

April 3.-T. Bell, Esq., President, in the Chair. The following letters were read :—

"DEAR SIR,

"12 South Frederick Street, Glasgow, 22nd March, 1855.

"At Dr. Hooker's suggestion I send you, for the herbarium, two specimens of a rare British plant (Hierochloë borealis), which, after having been erased from the list, was rediscovered near Thurso by Mr. Robert Dick, who states that it flowers so early in the year as May and the beginning of June, disappearing soon afterwards; so that there was no wonder I and others could not find it in Don's station, Glen Kella, Angusshire, as botanists seldom go there before the end of July.

"R. Kippist, Esq."

"I am, dear Sir, yours truly,

"WM. GOURLIE."

The specimens forwarded with this letter were marked as gathered by Mr. Robert Dick, at “Thurso, Caithness, May 1854."

"Cedar Terrace, Henwick, Worcester, March 21st, 1855.

"MY DEAR SIR, "In the account of the Meetings of the Linnean Society which have met my view, I have seen no notice of a very interesting addition to the British Flora which was made in 1854 in this neighbourhood, on the confines of Worcestershire and Herefordshire, though strictly within the latter county. The plant I allude to (a specimen of which I enclose for the inspection of the Society) is the pretty little Orchid, Epipogium aphyllum, which was never before, that I am

aware of, met with in England, and has not been alluded to as a probable native in any of our local or general floras.

"It was first noticed in July of last year (1854), by Mrs. Anderton Smith, then staying at Tedstone Rectory, and other specimens were afterwards gathered by her husband, who communicated with me on the subject, and indicated the place where Mrs. Smith first gathered the plant. The locality has quite a subalpine aspect, the Sapey brook there running in a deep glen shadowed on all sides by lofty trees, and near the spot a little water-fall gurgles over the massive sandstone rocks. It was the felling of some of these trees that brought the plant to light. I have also to mention another locality for the Neottia or Spiranthes æstivalis, hitherto, I believe, only found in England in the New Forest, Hampshire; but the last autumn a specimen of the Spiranthes æstivalis was shown to me, which was gathered by Mr. George Jordan of Bewdley, on the confines of the great bog in Wyne Forest, Worcestershire. I have been careful to examine the plant gathered by Mr. Jordan, and to visit the spot where it was found, so that the information may be relied on, and thus the range of the Spiranthes æstivalis is extended in England. This it may be interesting to note.

"The enclosed specimen can be exhibited at the next Meeting of the Society, if the plant has not been previously brought before their notice as a native of Britain. It is the only one I at present possess; but if the Linnean Society has not a British specimen in their collection and you think it may be any way advantageous to botanical science, or be useful for metropolitan batanists to examine, I will with pleasure permit the retention of it for the Society. Otherwise please return it to me at your leisure after it has been examined.

I remain, my dear Sir, yours very truly.
"EDWIN LEES."

"R. Kippist, Esq."
The specimen of Epipogium, which (in compliance with Mr. Lees'
kind permission) has been placed in the herbarium of the Society,
is stated on the ticket to have been " gathered in a woody dingle
on the banks of Sapey Brook, Tedstone, Herefordshire, about a
mile and a half south of Clifton-on-Teme, Worcestershire; July
1854."

MISCELLANEOUS.

Sibbald's Drawings of Scottish Animals.
By the late Dr. GEORGE JOHNSTON.

THERE is a small quarto volume of original drawings with the title "Piscium et Aquatilium Icones, a Joanne Alexandro ad vivum depictæ. Anno Domini M.DCC.VII," preserved in the Library of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The drawings were undoubtedly made for Sir Robert Sibbald, and a few

of them have been engraved to illustrate his book on Whales, and his Natural History of Scotland. On the inside of the board of the volume there is written—“ Hic liber olim viri docti D. Roberti Sibbaldi Eq. Aur. fuit, et multorum variorum apud nos piscium icones continet." The title is written within a square border, very neatly ornamented. In the centre of the top there is a clam-shell with a figure of Neptune, his trident, and horses; and on each side a classical Dolphin. To the right, a figure of the Sepia is suspended over an upright figure of the Loligo sagittata, with a Crab between; and on the left, the Sturgeon and the Tusk make the border, with the Turritella terebra as a piece of separation.

Folio i. A characteristic figure of the Scad or Horse-Mackerel.— Fol. ii. "Piscis in lacu Mabano seu vandosus;" and "a Whale cast in at Rosyth castle." The Vendace is very unlike the figure of that fish in Yarrell; nor can I identify the whale with any figured in Bell's work on the Mammalia. It appears to be a species of Beluga.Fol. iii. Balaenoptera Physalus.-Fol. iv. "A Sperma Ceti Whale." Two figures, viz. a side and a back view. There is written on the paper-"Whale at Moryfurth, Feb. 23, 1703. Side, but it did lay halfe vpon the side that one Ey and a little of the bellie was sanded. 57 foots long, and 56 round. booth under and all the skin blackish blew werie smooth and as thick as a bull's and all white fat within and nixt the skin."-Fol. iv. A rude figure of Coronula diadema: a better figure of the Vendace: and "a horse markrett "-which is something I cannot decipher.-Fol. v. A whale cast in at a place which is illegible. The whale is Balaenoptera Physalus, and is about 50 feet long. Fol. vi. Probably a species of Hyperoodon. It is called a North-Caper.-Fol. vii. Fig. sup. Scorpio marinus nostras the longspined Cottus, Yarrell. Fig. med. Galeus lævis=Acanthias vulgaris or Dog-Fish. Fig. inf. Cataphractus nostras Aspidophorus europæus.-Fol. viii. A repetition of the figure of the Beluga?-Fol. ix. Fig. 1. The Cat-fish. (2) Gymnetrus Banksii! (3) Galeus nostras =The Dog-fish. (4) Gobius maculis undatis nostras the unctuous Sucker. (5) Aculeatus marinus major nostras the Fifteen-spined Stickleback.-Fol. x. A good figure, and appears to represent the Cook Wrasse of Yarrell.-Fol. xi. The Hiatula the Ballan Wrasse. -Fol. xii. The Bonnet Flooke. This is the Holibut.-Fol. xiii. A very rude and unfinished figure of a "Salmon Stour"? "taken in Sanda in Orkney." The figure is one of the Tunny. There is, on the same folio, the figure of a Tusk without the head, as it is salted. -Fol. xiv. Teeth of the Spermaceti Whale-" Dentes Balenæ macrocephala."-Fol. xv. "Loligo," viz. L. media; and Raia vulgaris = the Common Skate.-Fol. xvi. " Polypus nostras," viz.=Ĕledone ventricosa. Fol. xvii. "Sepia nostras" = Sepia officinalis. Both this and the preceding are excellent figures.-Fol. xviii. Loligo sagittata: good. Fol. xix. A Fossil Nautilus.-Fol. xx. Fossil Nautilus, two species.-Fol. xxi. “Vulva marina, supina fascies"=an Ascidia. "Favus marinus "The ovisacs of the Fusus antiquus on a stone covered with a Serpula. -Fol. xxii. "The Harper Crab" = Hyas Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. xvi.

20

araneus. "A shore Crab," but it is really Portunus depurator.Fol.xxiii. Fig.sup. Perhaps Nymphon giganteum. Fig.med. “Cancer araneus "Stenorynchus Phalangium. Fig. inf. The Common Crab. -Fol. xxiv. "Scolopendra marina nostras"=Aphrodite aculeata.Fol. xxv." Loligo nostras"=L. sagittata. Fol. xxvi. "The Lugg" Arenicola piscatorum. "Urtica rarior sphæricus," a species of Medusa unknown to me.-Fol. xxvii. Four unfinished sketches of Medusa, probably the M. cruciata; and three equally rude figures of Lobularia digitata. Fol. xxviii. The claws of the Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus); and a "chela Astaci monstrosa."-Fol. xxix. "Canis carchariæ Icon rudior". -so rude as to be beyond specific identification-" Stella echinata" = Ophiocoma rosula. Fol. xxx. "Gurnadus griseus"=the Grey Gurnard.-Fol. xxxi. The Tunny : a good figure.-Fol. xxxii. The Tusk: a finished drawing.Fol. xxxiii. "Gurnardus griseus"-the Grey Gurnard again.Fol. xxxiv. “Trachurus "-viz. the Horse-Mackerel.-Fol. xxxv. A figure probably of the Cook Wrasse.

The only other figures are copies of those which have been engraved for the Scotia Prod. Nat. Hist. and for Sibbald's other works, more especially his little volume on Whales.

CLAUSILIA ROLPHII.

Some of the "6 new localities" for British plants and shells, discovered by the Rev. W. H. Hawker and given in the last Number of the Annals' (p. 212), are so remarkable, that I was glad to see one which I could confirm from personal observation; viz. the station for Clausilia Rolphii (plicatula, Drap.) in Ashford Woods, where I met with it fifteen years ago, when collecting with Mr. Wm. Harris, F.G.S., of Charing.-S. P. WOODWARD.

HELIX ASPERSA.

A curious specimen of the common Garden Snail has been sent me by Miss A. Hodgson of Ulverstone. It is an adult shell with a second, half-grown individual, fixed to its spire and partly imbedded in the suture of the body-whorl. The winter door (epiphragm) remains in the exposed part of the small shell's aperture, showing that it had died during the first hybernation, whilst its neighbour had survived, and not getting free from the incubus of the empty house of the deceased, had partially enveloped it in the course of its growth to maturity.-S. P. WOODWARD.

Descriptions of some New Species of Birds.

By the Viscount DU BUS DE GISIGNIES.

1. Vireosylvia frenata. V. supra flavido-cinerea; pileo pure cinereo; superciliis ad nucham productis et genis dilute fulvescentibus; subtus albida; hypochondriis dilute flavido-cinerascentibus; gula utrinque stria atra a basi mandibulæ descendente marginata; remigibus