Miscellaneous, 233 



species, Neuropteris Loshii and N. tenuifolia, appear to be common 

 to the Carboniferous and Permian systems. 



U'he author then points out, that, owing to the variations in dif- 

 ferent parts of the same frond (variations corresponding to those in 

 many recent Ferns), the described species of Neuropteris have been 

 too much multiplied ; and he concludes with critical observations on 

 a few of them. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Remarks on the Zoe of Eurynome aspera, and the Habits of the 

 Animal in Confinement. By Prof. Kinahan. 



The passage of the majority of the higher Crustacea through the 

 Zoe state is now a recognized fact in zoology, and fresh species are 

 turning up almost daily as Zoes. The present xase is an example of 

 this, as the Zoe of any of the Lambridse, as far as I know, has never 

 been described. 



The specimens from which the ova were obtained were captured 

 during one of the minor excursions of the British Association, in a 

 dredging party, formed through the kindness and liberality of that 

 well-known and indefatigable naturalist, Robert M'Andrew, Esq., 

 consisting of Professors Allman, Archer, Redfern, Rev. P. Carpenter, 

 of Warrington, Robert M'Andrew, Esq., and son, Dr. Edwards, 

 Mr. Hyndman, and myself. The scene of our labours was the 

 Kish Bank, where, in addition to many other Crustacea, five speci- 

 mens of E. aspera were obtained, two of them loaded with spawn. 



These I placed in a small salt-water tank, changing the water 

 occasionally. They were first placed in the tank on the 1st of Sep- 

 tember ; the ova then being of a bright salmon colour. On the 7th 

 I found that the ova in one of them had become much darker, being 

 of a dirty drab colour under the microscope, but little change could be 

 detected in the appearance of their contents. On the 10th the ova 

 were of a much darker drab, and the black eyes of the Zoes plainly 

 distinguishable by the naked eye. The parent had all this time most 

 assiduously kept up a perpetual current around and through the ova, 

 seemingly by means of the pedipalps, at the same time keeping the 

 mass in constant vibration by rhythmical up-and-down motions of 

 the abdominal false feet, to which the ova were attached. She also 

 sought the sunny side of the tank more than her wont now is. On 

 the evening of the 12th the Zoes could be distinguished coiled up in the 

 ova, fully formed, and the motions for aeration were very vigorously 

 carried on ; and on examining the tank on the morning of the 13th, 

 I found it completely filled with many thousands of Zoes, which kept 

 together in one continuous swarm at the side nearest the light. These 

 gradually increased in size, and also altered in their form, seeming so 

 active and healthy, that I was in hopes I might have been able to 

 trace their complete changes ; but unfortunately the second specimen 



