208 Proceedings of the Royal Society. 



Thursday, February 1. 



A paper was communicated by D. Moore, Esq., F. R. S., giving 

 an Account of a new genus of Serpentiform Sea Animals, by J. 

 Harwood, Esq., M. D., F. L. S., Prof. Nat. Hist. R. I. 



This singular animal was taken up at sea by Capt. Sawyer, in 

 lat. 62° N. and long. 57° W. It was in an exhausted state, ap- 

 parently in consequence of having gorged a very large fish. 



Dr. Harwood observes, that in several characters this animal 

 resembles the ophidian reptiles, especially in the structure of the 

 jaws, which are truly serpentiform, with the exception of the 

 interarticular bones. From this resemblance, und from the large 

 sac with which it is provided. Dr. Harwood gives it the generic 

 name of Ophiognathus, with the following characters : — 



Corpus, nudum lubricum, colubriforme, compressum, sacco amplo 

 abdominali. 



Caput, antice depressum ; maxilla superiore (paulo) longiore. 



Dentes, in maxilla inferiore, et ossibus intermaxillaribus j subulati 

 retroflexi. 



Maxillae elongatae, patulae, dilatabiles (serpentium instar). 



Lingua, vix conspicua. 



Spiracula, ante et sub pinnas pectorales ; magna. 



Pinnae pectorales, dorsales, analesque, radiis mollibus. Ventrales, 

 nullae. 



Oculi minimi ; prope extremitatem maxillae superioris positi. 



Cauda elongata, in filamentum apterum producta. 



The author then enters into a detailed description of the animal, 

 to which he gives the specific name AmpuUaceics^ and which is 

 illustrated by three drawings. 



G. Poulett Scrope, Esq., was admitted a Fellow of the Society. 



Friday, Feb. 8. 



Sir Everard Home communicated a paper, entitled " An Exami- 

 nation into the Structure of the Cells of the Human Lungs, with 

 a view to ascertain the office they perform in Respiration ; illus- 

 trated by microscopical observations." By J. Bauer, Esq., F.R.S. 



The author*s chief object in this paper appeared to be, the dis- 

 proval of the usually-accepted chemical theories of respiration, 

 and to show that air, or at least oxygen, is actually absorbed in 

 that function. This view of the subject he principally founds upon 

 the anatomical structure of the air-cells, respecting which some 

 new facts are brought forward, to which we shall take another 

 opportunity of calling the attention of our readers. 



