164 Mr. G. C. Hyndman on the Occurrence of 



results presented scarcely any remarkable difference. The 

 physiological needle was stuck in the spadix to the depth of 

 one millimetre, which for this purpose was introduced through 

 a copper ball fixed at an opening made in the jar^ and move- 

 able in all directions ; which apparatus was made with the 

 utmost accuracy by M. E. Wenkebach, philosophical instru- 

 ment maker at Amsterdam. 



The analysis of the atmosphere produced the same results 

 as in the former experiments, viz. the replacing of oxygen gas 

 by carbonic acid gas. 



As soon as an opportunity presents itself for the repetition 

 of these experiments, we shall endeavour to maintain the usual 

 proportion of the gases from the atmosphere in the jar, by sup- 

 plying oxygen gas in the same ratio as it will be found to be 

 absorbed from the enclosed air, and by removing the newly- 

 formed carbonic acid gas. 



We do not doubt, that by this mode of proceeding, the ele- 

 vation of temperature in the spadix of Colocasia odor a can be 

 kept up the second and third day, and perhaps even to a 

 longer period. 



Amsterdam, August 13th, 1840. 



XX. — Note on the Occurrence of the Genus Diphya on the 

 Coast of Ireland. By G. C. Hyndman, Esq., Member of 

 the Natural History Society of Belfast. 



Whilst dredging in Belfast Bay on the 6th October, 1838, 

 I had the pleasure of taking in a small towing-net, along with 

 a number of Beroes, a specimen of the remarkable genus 

 Diphya, Cuv., the occurrence of which in the British seas is 

 hitherto unrecorded. 



With Cuvier's definition of the genus the specimen exactly 

 agreed, as it did with that of Blainville, except that there were^ 

 no teeth round the aperture of the swimming cavity, as de- 

 scribed by the latter author. This appearance instead arose 

 from the extension of the acute ridges by which the body of 

 the animal is formed, and which is indeed shown by the 

 figures in PI. V. of his ^ Actinologie.^ Referring for the spe- 

 cies to this work, to Eschscholtz^s ' System der Acalephen,' 

 to Comte^s and to Guerin^s ^ Illustrations of Cuvier's Regne 

 Animal,' and to Jones's ^ Outlines of the Animal Kingdom,' 

 the only works in which I have had the opportunity of seeing 

 the genus represented, 1 find that my specimen differs in 

 species from all in its more elongated form ; I should therefore 

 propose to name it 



