100 Proceedings of the Royal Society, 



A paper by Mr. W. Ritdiie was read, entitled Improvements 

 on Leslie*s Photometer. 



March 17. — A paper was communicated by Sir Everard Home, 

 on the Influence of Nerves and Ganglions in producing Animal 

 Heat. 



Art. XII. ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 



I. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London ; for 

 the year l$24>. Part 11. 



The first paper in this part of the Transactions is entitled. 



Some curious Facts respecting the Walrus and Seal, discovered by the 

 examination of Specimens brought to England by the different ships 

 lately returned from the Polar Circle. By Sir Everard Home, 

 Bart. V.P.R.S. In a letter addressed to Sir Humphry Davy, 

 Bart. P.R.S. 



The first part of these '• curious facts" is a peculiarity in the hind 

 foot of the Walrus, which enables it to carry on progressive mo- 

 tion " against gravity;" this is effected by an apparatus resem- 

 bling that of the foot of the fly, and in operation, not unlike a cup- 

 ping glass : the anatomical details are illustrated by two plates ; 

 they exhibit, as far as bony structure is concerned, a striking re- 

 semblance to the human hand. 



The second of Sir Everard's discoveries, is the mode in which 

 the bile in the Walrus is collected in a reservoir, and thence im- 

 pelled with great force into the duodenum. The anatomical struc- 

 ture, as shown in the plate annexed to this paper, is very peculiar. 



Sir Everard's third new fact, is the peculiar structure of the 

 funis and placenta of the seal ; the trunks forming the funis are 

 not twisted together ; " their whole length is nine inches ; three 

 inches from the placenta they begin to give off branches, which 

 freely anastomose with one another ; these branches are connected 

 to the placenta itself by three membranous folds', like so many 

 mesenteries ; between these folds the blood-vessels are conveyed 

 to the substance of the placenta, on the surface of which they ra- 

 mify to a great degree of minuteness. This structure will give a 

 greater facility than common to the circulation through the pla- 

 centa, which makes it an object of inquiry, whether the same pecu- 

 liarities exist in other marine animals." 



