BRITAIN, 39 



number, one hundred and seventy, ninety-nine are described as new species. 

 The following new genera are characterized — Stratiomidae, Culcua and Evaza, the 

 venation in both like that of Clitellaria, and the scutellum four-spined ; Helomy- 

 zides, Gauzania. (Hicks) On a new organ in Insects; with a plate — p. 136- 

 140. A peculiar structure of the halteres of the Diptera is described, consisting 

 in microscopic vesicles arranged in rows, alternating with hairs. Similar appen- 

 dages exist on the base of the subcostal, or costal nervure of the wings, both in 

 this and the other orders. Considered in connection with the magnitude of the 

 nerves which go to the base of the wings and halteres, this structure probably 

 indicates an Organ of Sense, which Mr. Hicks is even disposed to think may be 

 that of Smel 1 . It seems to us, howerer, that the researches of Lehmann, Erich- 

 son, Burmeister, and others, into the minute structure of the antennae of insects, 

 as the probable seat of this sense, have deserved better than to be set aside so 

 easily, by the learned author — with this aphorism, "the olfactory organ has 

 never been decided on" — in favour of mere arbitrary conjectures. 



Botany. (Bentham) On Loganiacea, concluded — p. 97-114, (Hooker, J. D.) 

 On some collections of Arctic Plants, chiefly made on the Expeditions in search 

 of Sir John Franklin — p. 114-124. (Same) Botany of Raoul Island, one of 

 the Kermadee group in the S. Pacific — p. 125 129. New species described, 

 Coprosma petiolata, acutifolia ; Asimina lanceolata. (Gray, Asa) Note on 

 Obolaria virginica L. — p. 129, 130. It is a true Gentianea, even in regard to the 

 placentalion, which was before considered as exceptional. The only anomaly is 

 the imbricative (not convolutive) aestivation of its corolla. (Darwin) Action of 

 Beawater on the Germination of Seeds — p. 130 140. (Salter) Vitality of Seeds 

 after prolonged Submersion in the Sea — p. 140-142. (Berkeley) Note on the 

 development of Fungi upon Patna Opium — p. 143. 



Journal of the Royal Dublin Society. Published quarterly. No. 1, 

 April. No. 2, July. No. 3, October, 1856. Dublin : Hodges, Smith, & Co. 



We are glad to see that the Dublin Society are determined to publish their 

 proceedings in so convenient a form as this Journal ; and we trust that the 

 Council, to whom the management of the affairs of the Society is committed, 

 •will do everything in their power to assist the Editor in making it — what it ought 

 to be — a fitting representative of such a scientific body. It has compeers in the 

 Journals of the London and Edinburgh Royal Societies ; and we hope it will soon 

 equal either in importance. 



We were not aware that the talented Editor had enlisted under the " Septe- 

 nary'' banner, but we find in each number exactly " seven" papers, and, to make 

 up this number on the October cover, he publishes a communication made to the 

 Society exactly thirty- six years ago. 



No. 1, April — Among other papers, contains : — (Dr. Steele) On Chloride of 

 Lime as a Preventive of Smut in Wheat. (Dr. Carte) Report of the Progress 

 of the Museum of Natural History of the Royal Dublin Society for the year 

 1855 ; and an Account of the Ceremony of laying the Foundation Stone of the 

 New Museum. 



No. 2, July. — (Dr. Carte) Nidification of the Ivory Gull ; with a Chart and 

 Plate. (Dr. Kinahan) On the Guano Deposits of the Chinchas Islands, 

 Peru— p. 89-100. (David Moore) The Mosses of Ireland— additions to. List of 

 British Crustacea : — What is this list inserted in the Proceedings of the Society 

 for? Is it to show that the Museum contains specimens of all the British Crus- 

 tacea, except the desiderata given at the end of it? if so, the Museum is most 

 fortunate. And if not, it is mere waste of money and paper. English names, too, 

 are attached to some of the species — why not to all ? Surely, there would have 

 been no difficulty in " coining" some. 



No. 3, October — (Dr. Kinahan) On the habits and distribution of the Marine 

 Crustacea of Port Philip— p. 111-134; with two plates. Two new genera and 

 five new species are described. (Mr. Griffith; Report relative to the Moving 



