Miscellaneous. 235 



up. It would be curious to witness in what manner the toad ma- 

 nages to seize and secure such a powerful prey as the Carahus, as 

 something more than the viscid and adhesive secretion of the tongue 

 must be required for this purpose. — Alfred Tulk. 



PHOPAGATION OF THE GENUS SYLLIS. 



Among other results obtained by M. de Quatrefages in studying 

 the Annelida, the most singular is that which relates to the propa- 

 gation of Syllis. He met upon the coast of Brittany with a great 

 number of this genus aggregated together in a manner similar to 

 that described and figured by O. F. Miiller in the double Annelide, 

 _named by him Nereis prolif era. M. de Quatrefages has proved that 

 the two individuals are formed in Syllis also, at the expense of a 

 single one, by the body of the latter becoming strangulated in the 

 middle, and dividing, after the first rings of the posterior segment 

 are modified, so as to constitute a head. But the two individuals, 

 though thus similar in their exterior, are endowed, according to him, 

 with very different functions. The first continues to be nourished 

 in the ordinary way and to perform all the necessary vital functions, 

 and in all probability becomes complete by reproducing a tail similar 

 to the one which ;t has lost. But the second, formed at the expense 

 of this tail, is destined only to multiply the species ; its alimentary 

 canal exhibits a tendency to become atrophied, and it appears to be 

 nourished as it were upon matters pre-existing in its body ; but it 

 incloses the whole of the generative organs possessed by the parent 

 stock, and after its separation continues to live sufficiently long 

 for these organs, by fulfilling all their functions, and producing either 

 ova or spermatozoa to insure the perpetuity of the species. — Ab- 

 stracted from the Comptes Rendus, Jan. 15, 1844. 



VESSELS PIERCED BY THE WEAPON OF THE SWORD-FISH. 



Although notices have at various times been published respecting 

 vessels at sea being pierced by the weapon of the Sword-fish, it seems 

 to me that the positive information conveyed in the following letter 

 from Robert M'Calmont, Esq. of Eaton iSquare, London, is worthy 

 of a place in the ' Annals.' The portion of the weapon alluded to 

 and preserved in the Belfast Museum is about nine inches in length, 

 and two inches in diameter. It belonged, not to a sword-fish or X^ Am, 

 but to a fish of the allied genus Histiophorus. 



" London, 22nd October, 1834. 

 " My dear Sir, — I send you along with this a small parcel con- 

 taining part of the horn of a sword-fish, which may perhaps be con- 

 sidered deserving a place in your museum, from the manner in which 

 it came into my possession. A vessel of ours, called the Euphemia, 

 when on her passage to Brazil a few months ago became rather leaky, 

 and upon examination at the end of her voyage was found to have 

 been pierced by this horn through the copper-plank, and about nine 

 inches through the solid timbers. It was broken off close to the 

 copper, probably by the struggles of the fish, and the other end was 



