lodging itself partly in a gutter, into which the inferior | ferous production very short; and, lastly, in the mode of In the actual state of our knowledge with regard to the The following is M. de Blainville's arrangement. a. Diphyde whose anterior part has but a single cavity. Body, provided with a large proboscidiform exsertile Example, Cucubalus cordiformis, the only species cited of the genus established by MM. Quoy and Gaimard. Length, two lines. Differs from the other Diphyde, first, in having the nucleus much less hidden and sunk in the anterior natatory body, which has moreover only one large cavity in which it is plunged; secondly, in having the ovi This (says M. de Blainville) is the opinion of M. Eschscholtz, who gives to this part the name of ductus nutritorius (nourishing canal), which, he says, is simple, or provided with a single sucker, in the first section, and complex or provided with many suckers, in the second. Cucubalus cordiformis, Cucullus. sucker, with a bunch of ovaries at its base, lodged in a deep Locality New Guinea. Cucullus Doreyanus. M. de Blainville observes that this genus does not really differ from the preceding, excepting in the form of the natatory organs, and he doubts the propriety of retaining it, especially as it consists but of one species. M. Botta, he observes, who had occasion frequently to observe in nearly all the seas of warm climates, from the coast of Peru to the Indian archipelago, a great number of animals resembling the Cucullus of MM. Quoy and Gaimard, and having found them sometimes free and at other times forming part of the cirrhigerous and oviferous production the ordinary Diphyes, has been led to think that the Cuculli may be only a degree of development of a Diphyes. Although, concludes M. de Blainville, this is conceivable up to a certain point, inasmuch as in the Cuculli there is no cirrhigerous production, which seems to prove that they are not adults, the difference nevertheless of the natatory organs is so great that he dares not come to this decision." Cymba (Nacelle).* Body furnished with a large exsertile proboscidiform sucker, having at its base a mass of ovariform organs, lodged in the single and rather deep cavity of a naviform natatory organ, receiving and partially hiding the posterior natatory organ, which is sagittiform, pierced behind with a rounded orifice crowned with points, and hollowed on its free border by a longitudinal gutter. Example, Cymba sagittata (Quoy and Gaimard); N. sagittata (De Blainville). Locality, Straits of Gibraltar. N. sagittata. M. de Blainville remarks that he ought to observe that • Mr. Broderip had appropriated this name to a subgenus of Volutidæ. DIP This again, according to M. de Blainville, is a genus scarcely distinguishable from the preceding genera, and only by the form and proportion of the natatory organs. 'As,' says M. de Blainville, I have had a considerable number of individuals at my disposal, I have been able to satisfy myself as to the characteristic which I have given of them. I have in fact clearly recognized that the great and single cavity of the anterior and cubic organ contained a considerable visceral nucleus, in which I have been able to distinguish a sort of proboscidiform stomach, surrounded at its base with an hepatic organ; and further backward, a granular ovary, contained in its proper membrane, and whence escaped a long ovigerous production. I have also been equally able to satisfy myself that the natatory posterior organ, of the same conformation, as far as the rest, as in the true Diphyes, was entirely hid in the excavation of the anterior organ with the visceral mass. Enneagona. Body nucleiform, provided with a large exsertile sucker, having at its base an assemblage of ovaries, whence proceeds an oviferous production. Anterior natatory organ enneagonal, containing with the nucleus in a single? excavation the posterior organ, which is much smaller, with five points, and canaliculated below. Example, Enneagona hyalina (Quoy and Gaimard). Amphiroa alata. 1, 1 a, Amphiroa alata; 1b, its nucleus extracted. tion. Another species, he adds, Amphiroo truncata, would appear to approximate nearly to the Calpes of MM. Quoy and Gaimard, by the great disproportion of the two parts. 3. Diphyde whose anterior part is furnished with two dis tinct cavities. London. Pubfisted lex Charles & night, 25. Ludgate-street.--Pchited to Wilham Clowes and Sons, Stamford-street. 1 a 1 c 1d 1 b Enneagona hyalina. Calpe pentagona. 1, Calpe pentagona (profile); 1 a (under side); 1b, nucleus. M. de Blainville observes that this genus is really sufficiently distinct from the true Diphyes, with which it has nevertheless many relations, not only by the great difference of the two locomotive organs, but because the posterior organ is only applied against the anterior one, and does not penetrate into the visceral cavity. He remarks that he has 1. 1 a, 1b, Enneagona hyalina under different aspects; 1c, visceral part; examined some individuals well preserved in spirit, and has 1 d, nucleus. Amphiroa.* Body nucleiform, of considerable volume, furnished with a proboscidiform stomach, having at its base a bunch of ovaries, prolonged into a long filament, contained in an anterior, polygonal, short, natatory organ, cut squarely, with a single cavity in which the posterior organ, which is equally short, polygonal, and truncated, is inserted. Example, Amphiroa alata (Lesueur). Locality, Seas of Bahama. M. de Blainville observes that this genus is only known by the beautiful figures sent by M. Lesueur, and of which one reached M. de Blainville more than ten years ago, but without description, the want of which prevented him from publishing it. Nevertheless it is evident, he remarks, on referring to these figures, that the Amphiroce are Diphyda, but with natatory organs of a particular form and propor The term Amphiroa is also employed by Lamouro"x and others to distinguish a genus of Corallines, easily seen that the nucleus is composed of a sort of stomach Abyla. Body nucleiform, inconsiderable, with a very long cirrhigerous and oviferous production. Anterior natatory body much shorter than the other, subcuboid, with a distinct ald oy cavity for the reception of the anterior extremity of the la [Abyla trigona.j 15 1, Abyla trigona; 1a, posterior part; 1 b, anterior or visceral part. M. de Blainville observes that this genus does not really differ from the preceding, excepting in the form of the natatory organs, and above all in that the anterior part is pierced with a depression sufficiently considerable for the lodgment of a part of the other, which has a long inferior furrow (sillon) and a posterior terminal opening. To this genus M. de Blainville refers a species of Diphyde, found by MM. Quoy and Gaimard in Bass's Strait, and of which they had provisionally formed the genus Bassia, which does not seem to M. de Blainville to be sufficiently characterized. M. Eschscholtz, remarks M. de Blainville, rightly unites this genus with the preceding, as well as the genus Rosacea of Quoy and Gaimard, the latter perhaps erroneously. is the most common and the most generally spread in al. seas, is used in the work of MM. Quoy and Gaimard for species which have the natatory organs nearly equal in form and size, the first whereof has two deep cavities, of which the one receives a part only of the other which has a long inferior ridge for the lodgment of the cirrhigerous production. M. Lesueur, he adds, who has equally adopted this division of the Diphyde, gives it the name of Dagysa adopted by Solander, and also by Gmelin; but M. de Biainville asks, is it certain that the animal seen by Solander was a Diphyes, and not a Biphore? He adds, that M. Lesueur has figured five species belonging to this genus, perhaps all new, and from the seas of South America. ville admits that he knows no more of it than is to be colThis genus was established by M. Otto, and M. de Blainlected from M. Otto's description and figure. He seems to doubt, however, whether the genus may not have been founded on the posterior natatory organ of a Diphyes, perhaps of the division properly so called. his genus Eudoria, which comprehends Cucubulus and M. Eschscholtz makes this organized body a species of natatory organs are intimately united so as to form, appaCucullus of Quoy and Gaimard, admitting that the two rently, but one. Praia. Body subgelatinous, rather soft, transparent, binary, depressed, obtuse, and truncated obliquely at the two extremities, hollowed into a cavity of little depth, with a round aperture nearly as large as the cavity, and provided with a large canal or furrow above. Example, Praia dubia (Quoy and Gaimard). 16 [Diphyes Bory. 1 d 1, The entire animal (profile); 1 a, anterior part of the same; 1b, posterior part; 1 c animal magnified; 1 d, posterior part of the same. M. de Blainville observes that the denomination of Diphyes, employed by M. Cuvier for a single species, which P. C., No. 532. Praia dubia.] M. de Blainville describes, from personal observation, this provisional genus of MM. Quoy and Gaimard as being subgelatinous, rather soft, and transparent. Its form, he remarks, is regularly symmetrical, and it seems to be divided into two equal parts by a great furrow which traverses it from one end to the other. It has a shallow cavity with a rounded aperture, without denticles or appendages at its circumference. In the tissue M. de Blainville perceived a mesial vessel, giving of two lateral branches, with very similar ramifications; and he is inclined to think that the form is only the natatory organ of some large species of Physsophora: the substance is too soft for a true Diphyes. many individuals obtained in the course of his circumnavigation. It seemed to De Blainville that these animals differed really from the Diphyde, and approached the Beröes. To confirm this approximation it would have been necessary to find the posterior aperture of the internal canal, of which, he remarks, no observer has spoken; but it appears to him that the existence of the two series of cirrhi, their relation with a canal which follows their root, the distinct and muscular walls of the cavity, and the position of the ovary, are sufficient to show in these animals a passage at least towards the Beröes. Rosacea. Body free, gelatinous, very soft, transparent, suborbicular, with a single terminal aperture at one of the poles leading into an oval cavity which communicates with a depression, whence proceeds a cirrhigerous and oviferous production. Example, Rosacea Ceutensis (Quoy and Gaimard). wwww [Rosacea Ceutensis.] Eschscholtz unites this genus with those of Calpe and Abyla under the first appellation. De Blainville, who states that he only knows the form from the figures and description given by Quoy and Gaimard, is at a loss to determine positively what it is, but he supposes it to be a Physsophora rather than a Diphyes. Noctiluca. Body free, gelatinous, transparent, spheroidal, reniform, with a sort of infundibuliform cavity, whence proceeds a proboscidiform, contractile production. Example, Noctiluca miliaris, Lamarck. [Sulculeolaria quadrivalvis.] A genus characterized by De Blainville, who found it established in the figures of Lesueur, from those figures; but the former is strongly inclined to believe that the genus is founded on the part of an animal, and not on an entire one. If these bodies should turn out to be merely organs or parts, M. de Blainville thinks they ought to belong to the genus Calpe of Quoy and Gaimard. Galeolaria. Body gelatinous, rather firm, perfectly regular, symmetrical, subpolygonal or oval, compressed on the sides and furnished with two lateral rows of extremely fine cirrhi. A large posterior aperture pierced in a sort of diaphragm with appendicular lobes, binary above, leading into a large cavity with muscular walls. An ovary at the anterior superior surface, coming out by a mesial and bilabiated orifice. Example, Galeolaria australis, Beröides australis (Quoy and Gaimard). [Galeolaria australis.] Known to M. de Blainville from the drawings of Lesueur, who gave the form the name of Galeolaria, which the former adopts in preference to Beröides, the term employed by Quoy and Gaimard. Galeolaria however is the name given by Lamarck to a genus of his Serpulida. From the manuscript memoir of Quoy and Gaimard lent by them to De Blainville, he ascertained the peculiarity of the two rows of cilia on each side. Botta sent him also in spirit [Noctiluca miliaris ] M. Surriray, a doctor of medicine, while investigating the cause of the phosphorescence of the sea-water at Hâvre, appears to have been the first who observed and called attention to the genus Noctiluca, which he described and figured in the memoir that he communicated to the class of sciences of the French Institute. Its size hardly equals that of a small pin's head, and it is as transparent as crystal; he found it very common in the basins at Hâvre, sometimes in such abundance as to form a considerably thick crust (croûte assez epaisse) on the surface of the water. Lamarck adopted the genus, placing it between Beröe and Lucernaria, which last, in his system, immediately precedes Physsophora. To these minute animals Dr. Surriray attributes the phosphorescence of the sea at Hâvre. M. de Blainville states that he has often had occasion to observe these minute beings with Dr. Surriray, aided by the microscope. It appeared to me,' says De Blainville, speaking of Noctiluca miliaris, nearly regularly spherical, but somewhat notched (fendu), or excavated on its anterior part so as a little to resemble a cherry. From the middle of the excavation proceeds a sort of long cylindrical tentacle diminishing little in size throughout its extent, and terminating in an obtuse extremity. During life this organ moves in all directions somewhat after the manner of an elephant's trunk (en se repliant, un peu a la manière de la trompe de l'elephant). It seemed to me, in fact, to be composed of annular fibres and traversed by a canal throughout its length, so that it may be supposed to be terminated by a sucker. The body is enveloped in a transparent membrane, forming sometimes irregular plaits. Within may be perceived a kind of funnel-like œsophagus (espèce d'œsophage en entonnoir) commencing anteriorly towards the proboscis and terminating posteriorly by a sort | the Physsophora, which I have named Diphytu, by reason of of spherical stomach. I was unable to determine whether the existence of two natatory organs only, which are median there was an intestinal canal with an anal opening. In and placed one before the other, and of rows of cartilagisome individuals, but, as it would appear, at a certain nous squamellæ upon the root of the cirrhigerous producperiod of the year only, may be seen in the interior many tions, does not permit a doubt of the great relationship groups, or small masses irregularly placed, and composed of which exists between the Diphyes, properly so called, a transparent envelope, containing small globules of blackish and the Physograda; and that these two great genera brown, which M. Surriray considers to be eggs. At a more ought to be united under the same family, as has been advanced period, which M. Surriray supposes to be that of previously stated. M. Brandt has proposed to establish two spawning, the water becomes of a red colour (d'un rouge lie subgenera only among the Diphyes, the first consisting of de vin), and then there are found a certain number of indi- those in which the cartilaginous scales of the cirrhigerous viduals which have the proboscidiform production twice its production are scattered or distant, as in Diphyes dispar, usual length (du double plus long), and which he regards and the second, which he names Diphyomorpha, in which as newly-born animals. The general movements of these the scales are so close-set as to be imbricated, as is seen in small animals appear to be very slow, and are essentially the new species observed by Mertens, and named by him executed by means of the species of trunk which is conti- Diphyes Stephanomia. Among the genera incerta sedis, nually moving from right to left. M. Surriray, who had which, wrong or right, have been connected with Physsofrequently occasion to observe them, has seen them some-phora or Diphyes, without even being very certain that they times disencumber themselves entirely of their membranous envelope even to the tentacula. During life the Noctiluca are excessively phosphorescent, and I have verified with M. Surriray the fact that at Havre the phosphorescence of the sea is owing to these animals; also, that in passing it through a strainer (à travers une étamine), it loses this property, which is much the strongest in warm and stormy weather, much weaker in the winter, and null under a west wind.' De Blainville remarks that though he arranges this animal provisionally in this section, he is far from considering that it is its true place, and that it seems to him, in fact, to have much relation with that form of which MM. de Chamisso and Eisenhardt have made their genus Flagellum, and which MM. Quoy and Gaimard have also designated under a particular denomination: he asks, in conclusion, whether Noctiluca may not be an animal near the Cucubali and Cuculli, whose natatory organs have been reduced to the membranous envelope? Doliolum. Body gelatinous, hyaline, cylindrical, truncated, and equally attenuated at the two extremities, which are largely opened and without apparent organs. Example, Doliolum Mediterraneum (Otto). [Doliolum Mediterraneum.] M. Otto describes the organism on which he has established this genus as swimming by ejecting and absorbing the water by means of the alternate dilatation and contraction of its two orifices. M. Delle Chiaje (Mem., tom. iii.) seems inclined to believe that the Doliolum of Otto is merely a fragment of a species of Holothuria, which he names Holothuria inhærens. De Blainville observes that if Otto's description of the motion, &c., above stated, be correct, it is probable that the animal is a true Biphore; but if, by any chance, there should be but one opening, then it would be the organ of some Physsophora, which would agree better with the total absence of internal organs. M. de Blainville's 'Manual' was published in 1834, and M. de Blainville then continues thus-The structure of are animals, we shall cite the two following genera intentionally omitted in our work.' De Blainville then mentions the following: CUPULITES (Quoy and Gaimard), placed among the Physsophora, whose capsules are disposed on each side of a very long axis, established on an organized body, figured pl. 87, fig. 4-16 in the zoological part of the Voyage of the Uranie. Not having met with this animal in their second voyage, MM. Quoy and Gaimard doubt (Astrolabe, Zoolog., t. iv. p. 53 n.) whether it is an incomplete Physsophora or a Stéphomonise (Stephanomia ?) with hollow natatory organs. Cuvier places the genus between Hippopus* and Racemis. POLYTOMA (Quoy and Gaimard, Zool. of the Uranie, pl. 87, fig. 12, 13), which may be defined to be an oval mass of globular trivalvular corpuscles (corpuscules globuleux comme trivalves), and which MM. Quoy and Gaimard conceive to be rather a Biphore than a Physograde. TETRAGONA (p. 10), Quoy and Gaimard, Zool. of the Uranie, pl. 86, fig. 11). This the authors themselves (Astrolabe iv. p. 103) have recognized as being nothing more than the posterior point of Diphyes hispida. RACEMIS (Delle Chiaje, Cuvier), figured by Delle Chiaje, Mem. tab. 50, f. 11, 12, and described as a globose vesicle endowed with a very quick motion, and disposed towards an ovate shape; but, observes De Blainville, the figures and description are too incomplete to afford a supposition of what it is; in fact, Delle Chiaje confines himself to stating that his Racemis ovata executes all the rotatory and rapid motions at the surface of the water, and that those of each vesicle are so lively that it has been absolutely impossible to perceive the aperture with which, according to Delle Chiaje, they are provided. Cuvier only adds to the description of Delle Chiaje, who also places Racemis near the Physsophora, a small membrane with which each vesicle is furnished. M. De Blainville concludes by observing that he had seen a drawing, by M. Laurillard, which had been taken at Nice from one of these organized bodies while alive, and that he supposed that it might well be a mass of eggs of Mollusca. From the difficulties with which the distinguished zoologists above quoted have found this subject surrounded, and the differences of opinion expressed by them, the reader will perceive that the natural history of these extraordinary organized bodies is anything but complete; and we have laid before him the information above given in order that he may see what has been done and how much remains to be elucidated. DI'PHYES. [DIPHYDES.] DIPHYLLI'DIA. [INFEROBRANCHIATA.] Generic character. Scales subconformable, minute, Toes 5, 5, • Hip- |