Zoological Notices. 171 



double system of vessels much developed, so that the circula- 

 tion can take place in a complete manner. In certain circum- 

 stances the current is very rapid ; but there is nothing that can 

 be compared to a heart, and the circular movement is deter- 

 mined by the vibratile ciliai which cover the inner side of the 

 vessels situate at one extremity of the system. This, as will 

 be seen, is a mode of circulation of which we have as yet no 

 example. — Milne Edwards. 



9. Coralline Polypidoms, (Poly piers coralligenes,) — The 

 stony polypidoms, of which M. de Blainville has formed his ge- 

 nus Dendrophyllia, have a structure both external and internal, 

 which differs but little from that of the Actinia, and especially 

 of the Caryophyllia properly so called. They possess, as do the 

 animals higher up the scale, distinct sexual organs. Some arc 

 provided with ovaries, whilst others possess in the usual situa- 

 tion of the female organs, testes of the same form as these last, 

 and inclosing spermatic animalculi, instead of ova. — Milne 

 Edwards and Peters, 



Description of several New or Bare Plants which have latelj/ 

 Flowered in the Neighbourhood of Edifiburgh, and chieflg 

 in the Boyal Botanic Garden. By Dr Graham, Professor 

 of Botany. 



\Oth June 1840. 



Bossiflea tenuicaulis. 



B. tenuicavlis ; ramis teretibus, dilFusis, filiformibus, foliisque ovatis 

 subacutis rigidis mucronulatis, adpresse pubescentibus. 



Description. — Shruh procumbent, branches long, slender, straggling, 

 round, leafy, with adpresscd pubescence. Leaves subsessile, ovate, sub- 

 acute, mucronulate, dark green above, paler below, rigid, denticulate 

 and recurved in their edges, having adpressed pubescence on both sides, 

 slightly bullate above, middle rib and reticulated veins prominent be- 

 low. Stipules filiform, marcescent, reflected. Flotvers solitary, axillary, 

 pedunculate, crowded into pseudo-spikes at the extremities of the 

 branches. Peduncles rather shorter than the leaves, with two minute sub- 

 opposite bracteolae above the middle. Calyx glabrous, keeled along the 

 upper side, bilabiate ; the upper lip divided into two broad rounded lobes, 

 each with a tooth at its outer edge ; lower lip of three small revolute 

 ovate acute teeth. Corolla (7 lines across) handsome ; vexillum reflect- 

 ed, slightly revolute in its sides, kidney-shaped, notched, yellow, behind 

 and in the throat streaked with red, claw obconical ; alse half as long 



