S58 Anal;ytical Notices of Books, 



of Phasma Ferula^ naturally led the author to investigate those 

 of other Insects, and a vast number of observations, all tending 

 to establish the same conclusion, which can no longer be con- 

 sidered as doubtful, are detailed in the subsequent pages. The 

 observations are arranged under an arbitrary division, resulting 

 from the shape and disposition of the ovaries, which are distri- 

 buted into fifteen distinct forms, giving rise to corresponding 

 differences in the number and insertion of the connecting fila- 

 ments, which vary from one to fifty or more on each side. But 

 as these varieties appear to be totally unconnected with the na- 

 tural afiinities of Insects, the most opposite families and even 

 orders, frequently presenting nearly the same form of ovary, it 

 would be useless to reproduce them here. We must not, how- 

 ever, entirely omit one observation which occurs in the descrip- 

 tion of the nervous system of the Phasma ; we mean the dis>- 

 covery of a ganglionic, in contradistinction to the dorsal system^ 

 which is universally, we believe, considered as the only one 

 possessed by Insects. This single system has in fact been 

 generally regarded by physiologists in the light of a ganglionic 

 system ; but our excellent and truly scientific countryman, Mr, 

 Kirby, has lately given strong reasons for believing these animals 

 to be possessed of the faculties which result from a union of both 

 systems, and if the discovery of the learned Professor, which he 

 proposes to investigate further, be founded in fact, here will be 

 another most important alteration to make in the received 

 theories. At the same time we cannot help suspecting that an 

 ulterior examination will prove the ganglionic system of Dr. 

 Muller to be either identical with, or analogous to, the recurrent 

 nerves described by Swammerdam, Lyonnet, and Cuvier, the 

 functions of which undoubtedly stand in need of further eluci- 

 dation. The authour also notices a connection of the gall-vessel 

 with the dorsal vessel in Mantis JEgyptiaca^ and although he 

 does not venture to assert, he seems inclined to believe, that 

 similar communications will ultimately be detected between the 

 latter and all the secretory organs of Insects. 



The novelty and importance of the principal fact established 

 in this excellent Paper, have led us to incroach somewhat more 



