28 CAPTITRE OF THE LANCELET, 



in times of gi'eat drouglit; this is done by preventing tlie siin's rays falling 

 upon the deeper structures of the leaf, which would otherwise abstract so much 

 moisture as to cause it to shrivel up and decayj of this the Verbascum 

 tJtapsus forms an excellent example. Certain cells, as those at the base of 

 of the hairs on Nettles, are possessed of the property of Coivtractility, by 

 virtue of which a variety of phenomena in different plants are effected. It is 

 owing to this irritability that we observe those curious and familiar move- 

 ments in the Mimosa pudica, or sensitive plant; and another striking illustration 

 of this property is exhibited in the leaves of the Dionoea mibscijpxda, or 

 Venus' Fly Trap. The closure of the leaf is here caused by the flies 

 touching certain hairs which grow from the upper surface of the blade. 



We have other appendages to leaves in the form of Thorns or PricldeSj 

 and sometimes even flowers. I could only mention concerning the former, that 

 they are merely continuations of the Ribs or Veins, beyond the ordinary 

 cellular tissue at the margin of the leaf, the points of which become very 

 hard and sharp, owing to the increased deposit in its cells of woody matter, 

 or lignine. These occur, however, more frequently as abortive branches. 



Edinhurgh, January, 1852. 



CAPTURE OF THE LANCELET, (AMPHIOXUS 

 LANCEOLATUS,) AT HERM. 



BY J. W, LUKIS, ESQ. 



The notice of the discovery of so rare a little fish in our seas, as the 

 Amphioxus lanceolatus may not be altogether out of place in your valuable 

 pages. I here send you the following account, taken from my notes on the 

 day of its discovery, etc. 



On the 4th. of April, 1848, I visited the island of Herm, which is 

 distant about three miles east of Guernsey, for the purpose of examining its 

 lovely shell beach, called Bel-val, which lies on the east side of the island. 

 This island is between three and four miles in circumference, sloping to the 

 north, and possesses many attractions for the conchologist over its sister isles. 

 There are a few cromlechs, Druidic circles, etc., as well as the remains of an 

 ancient chapel, which now forms part of the farmer's house who rents the 

 land, to interest the antiquary. 



The 4th. of April was a splendid morning, hardly a breath of air was 

 stirring; a more propitious day for a water excursion could scarcely be had. 

 The sea reflected the rocks and headlands, as in one vast mirror; the Sea- 

 Gulls seemed to check their flapping wings, as if in doubt whether the still 



