502 Teuton Zoological Transactions. 



anatomy of the animal is very interesting as are the relative 



nerves have not hitherto been shown in the Acalepha, they 

 will be found even in the simpler forms of MediW, which I 

 have shown elsew r here to be affected by light, as well as in 

 Actinia?, //ydrae, and Furcocercse;" To those who may be 

 anxious to examine this elegant creature for themselves, it 

 may be well to quote, that the boatmen of Sheerness " seemed 

 to be familiar with it under the name of the spawn of the sea 

 egg, which it somewhat resembles in its globular and ribbed 

 form." " Its longest diameter is about 6 lines, and its breadth 

 about 4 lines." Magnified figures of the animal, and of* its 

 cilia and nerves, are given; M The cilia of this beroe are the 

 largest I have yet met with in any animal." < 



3. Observations on the laws which appear to influence the 

 assumption ami changes of Plumage in Birds ; by Wm. Yar- 

 rell, Esq. F.L.S. and Z.S. This paper is one which every 

 ornithologist must read. The facts it includes, and the con- 

 clusions it derives from them, are very interesting. We shall 

 not attempt an abstract of them, lest we should not do them 

 justice; nor have we the requisite space. We may quote 

 what appears to be the universal principle in the actuation of 

 all the changes specified and remarked on; namely, the "fea- 

 thers are influenced by constitutional power [that of the bird's 

 constitution], and their colours affected as the secretions 

 alter under constitutional changes." We much value the de- 

 scription of the anatomical structure of a feather, and notice 

 of the process of developement and sustentation of feathers 

 as this process is effected and maintained in the body of the 

 bird. We should like to see this subject prosecuted in still 

 greater detail, and illustrated by engravings ; as we have often 

 felt there is enough in a feather to warrant it. 



4. On the structure and characters of Loligopsis, and an 

 account of a new species (L. guttata Grant), from the Indian 

 seas ; by Dr. Grant. The anatomy of the animal is explained 

 in great detail, and is illustrated by figures. 



5. On the characters and description of a new genus of 

 Carnivora, called Cynictis; by W. Ogilby, Esq. A.M. F.L.S. 

 &c. " The name Cynictis, by which 1 propose to distinguish 

 this genus, is intended to express the double relation which it 

 bears, on the one hand to the dog, and to the Fivenye [wea- 

 sels, &c], generally, on the other." The dental structure 

 and the external characters are described in detail; and a 

 p&ite is givenv ^O cl^io/MxjiiaJc .8 e £ybyqd won j; io UOJojJK 



6. On the Chinchillidce, a family of herbivorous Rodentia, 



