Natural History. 317 



ly spread and formed the upper layer of the dermal skeleton. 

 Under this was formed a layer of pigment cells, and below 

 this again layers of smaller cells till the whole integument 

 was formed. The younger the animal the oftener this process 

 went on, — till at last it went on very slowly or ceased alto- 

 gether. Second, — the shedding of the exuviae. This process 

 seemed in a great measure under the control of the animal ; 

 as when watched it frequently suspended this operation, or 

 when excited, hastened it. It seenis to be attended with 

 excitement of the nervous system, — as at this period the 

 animal was more pugnacious than at any other. Third, — the 

 reproduction of limbs. This process only took place after 

 the exuviation of the old skin, although a reparative process 

 was evidently set up in the injured part. At the moult 

 immediately subsequent to the loss of a limb, the new limb 

 was not so large as those which represented uninjured 

 limbs. 



" A Notice of the Distribution of the Herbaria of the Hon- 

 ourable East India Company,'' was read by Dr Royle. — The 

 collections in the possession of the Company consisted of 

 the plants collected by Royle, Griffiths, Falconer, Harris, 

 Stocks, and others. Duplicates of the specimens contained 

 in these collections had been sent to various public bodies. 



" On the Anatomy of the Doris," by A. Hancock and Dr 

 Embleton. — The paper contained a description of the differ- 

 ent internal organs and embraced several new points, name- 

 ly : — Some hitherto unnoticed modifications of the digestive 

 organs. A full account of the complicated organs of repro- 

 duction and their varieties : — these organs have long been 

 matter of dispute. 



" On the Vertebral Homologies of the Basicranium," by 

 Professor W. Macdonald. 



" Remarks on the Anacharis Aldnastrum^'' by Mr C. C Ba- 

 bington, — who exhibited specimens. — The plant was gathered 

 in a river in Berwickshire where it had been seen by Dr 

 Johnston ten years ago. It was not, however, till recently 

 that it had been recognized as a British plant. It appears 

 now to be very generally diffused, — and where once intro- 

 duced, to grow with the greatest possible rapidity. In some 



