290 Zoological Proceedings of Societies. 



January ^5, 1827. — The name of Professor Jameson was 

 ordered to be inserted in the printed lists of the Society, 



Feb, 1. — A paper was read, entitled. Account of a new genus 

 of serpentijorm sea-animals ; by J. Harwood, M.D., F.L.S., Pro- 

 fessor of Natural History in the Royal Institution : communicated 

 by Daniel Moore, Esq. F.R.S. 



Feb. 8. — A. paper was read, entitled^ jin Examination into 

 the Structure of the Cells of the Human Lungs^ with a view to 

 ascertain the office they perform in Respiration; by Sir E. Home, 

 Bart., V.P.R.S. Illustrated by microscopical observations, by F. 

 Bauer, Esq., F.R.S. 



These papers will be found published in the first part of the 

 Philosophical Transactions for 1827. 



March 1. — Dr. J. C. Prichard was admitted a Fellow of the 

 Society, and a paper was read, entitled, On the structure and 

 use of the submaxillary odoriferous gland of the Crocodile ; by 

 Thomas Bell, Esq. F.L.S. ; communicated by Sir E. Home, Bart. 

 V.P.R.S. 



Beneath the lower jaw of the Alligator and the Crocodile, on 

 each side, is situated a gland which secretes an unctuous sub- 

 stance of a strong musky odour. About two years since, the 

 authour of this paper discovered in it a structure which is without 

 parallel in the glandular system of other animals. His obser- 

 vations were made on the comrnon American Alligator. In this 

 animal the external orifice of the gland is situated about two- 

 thirds of the length of the lower-jaw backwards from the sym- 

 physis, being a longitudinal slit a little within the lower edge 

 of the basis of the jaw, through which exudes the substance just 

 mentioned. During warm weather, when the animal feeds freely, 

 the secretion is copious ; but in winter it is much diminished in 

 quantity and is less powerful in scent. The gland itself is a 

 simple follicle pf an elongated pyriform figure, lying between 

 the skin and the under surface of the tongue. In an Alligator of 

 four feet in length, it is about half an inch long and one sixth 

 of an inch in diameter. This gland is enveloped by extremely 

 fine and delicate muscular fibres, disposed obliquely, consisting 

 of two fasciculi passing repeatedly over and under the gland, 



