Mr. P. H. Gosse on the Growth of Sea-Weeds, 



I have but little to say concerning the tongue, which has been 

 most carefully anatomised by Professor Owen. We have injected 

 and dissected this organ, and, as Prof. Owen has shown, no vas- 

 cular reservoirs, or any trace of erectile tissue is to be found, 

 whereby (as Sir Everard Home supposed) the prehensile move- 

 ments of the organ might be regulated; on the contrary, its 

 exalted functions are due to muscular action, the motor nerves 

 supplying it being very large and tortuous when the tongue is 

 not stretched out. Imbedded in the cellular aponeurosis sur- 

 rounding the styloglossi and lingualis muscles, were found three 

 small semitransparent cysts, containing entozoa, and resembling 

 somewhat those cysticerci which we spoke of when describing 

 the liver. A microscopic examination of their contents throws 

 much doubt upon their identity, but upon these differences we 

 shall not now enter. The tongue measures in length 16 inches ; 

 in breadth (3 in. from tip) 2|, and at the molar region 3 inches ; 

 the anterior darker portion (or that continually exposed to the 

 air) measm-es rather more than 7 inches. 



In conclusion it may be noted, that at the anterior part of the 

 mouth, beneath the tongue and immediately behind the incisors, 

 there are two small membranous folds, at the base of each of 

 which the orifices of two salivary ducts are visible. The palatal 

 ridges and buccal papillae are largely developed. The passages 

 to the tonsils readily admit the tip of the little finger. The 

 rudimentary uvula consists of three small and closely approxi- 

 mated papillae. The trachea measures 4 feet in length, and if 

 shghtly stretched will be increased 7 inches. The elastic hga- 

 mentum nuchse, which in the living state extended about 5 feet 

 6 inches, after its removal measured only 3 feet 7 inches. Ex- 

 amined microscopically Professor Quekett tells us that the fibres 

 of this latter structure exhibit a transversely striated appearance, 

 which is due to the presence of certain (scalariform) openings, 

 which do not extend across the entire diameter of the fibres. 

 Several gentlemen have availed themselves of the opportunity 

 here afforded ; we have searched for these characteristic mark- 

 ings according to indications given by Prof. Quekett, but it does 

 not appear that any of us have succeeded in detecting the open- 

 ings in question. 



XL VII.— On the Growth of Sea-Weeds. 

 By P. H. Gosse, A.L.S. 



The Rhodosperms, or Red Sea-weeds, must be the test of suc- 

 cess in any attempts to cultivate the marine Algce, and this for 

 several reasons ; such as their superior beauty ; the great number 



