NOTICES OF SERIALS. 215 



Professor Sedgwick's Article, published in the Annals and Magazine of Natural 

 History, 2nd Series, No. 76, April, 1854. Here we have five more pages taken 

 up with this Palasontographical dispute, which, though it may be very interesting 

 to the parties engaged therein, still we are much mistaken if the scientific world 

 at large would not much rather it had its beginning and ending at the same time. 

 (P. L. Sclater) A Synopsis of the Fissirostral Family, Bucconidae ; (T. S. Cobbold, 

 M.D.) On the Anatomy of the Giraffe (Camelopardalis giraffa, Linn.) ; (P. H. 

 Gosse) On the Growth of Sea-weeds. Proceedings of Learned Societies — Zoologi- 

 cal Society, May 25, J. Gould, F.R.S., V.P., in the chair ; July 27, G. E. Water- 

 house in the chair. Royal Society — March 2, Professor Graham, V.P., in the 

 chair. Botanical Society of Edinburgh — April 13, Professor Balfour, President, in 

 the chair. Miscellaneous — (C. S. Bate) On Bellia arenaria ; (Lieut. Peg us) On 

 the Habits of Mungoos (Herpestes griseus) ; (J. Paget) On Some Varieties of 

 Land Shells, from the south of France. Meteorological Observations fur April, 

 1854. 



No. 79, July :—( John Miers, F.R.S.) On the Genus Lycium ; (J. E. Gray, 

 F.R.S.) Additions and corrections to the arrangement of families of Bivalve 

 shells ; (John Blackwall) Supplement to a catalogue of British spiders, including 

 remarks on their structure, functions, economy, and systematic arrangement (con- 

 tinued from p. 120 of vol. xi.). This catalogue contains the names of many of the 

 arachnida, which have been added to our British lists, principally during 1853. 

 Thorn isus floricolens is, for the first time, added to the number of our indigenous 

 spiders, from specimens transmitted to Mr. Blackwall, in December, 1853, by Mr. 

 R. H. Meade; they were captured at Piercefield, near Chepstow, Monmouthshire, 

 by Mr. F. Walker. (J. Williams, M.D.) On the Mechanism of Aquatic Respira- 

 tion, and on the structure of the Organs of Breathing in Invertebrate Animals, with 

 two plates (continued from vol. xiii., p. 312); (E. L. Layard) Notes on the Orni- 

 thology of Ceylon (continued from p. 453, vol. xiii.). These notes continue as 

 deeply interesting as ever. The account of the Turtur humitis will be read with 

 much interest. Mr. Layard mentions his purchasing Cochin- China fowl for 7^d. 

 each, which is a great contrast to the enormous and absurd prices obtained for 

 birds of this species in England. (P. H. Gosse, A.L.S.) On Manufactured Sea- 

 water for the Aquarium. Anxious for the general adoption of the marine aquarium, 

 and knowing the delay and expense attendant on the procuring of sea water from 

 the coast or ocean, Mr. Gosse had recourse to Schweitzer and Laurent's analysis 

 of sea water ; and dismissing those component parts, which, from their extreme 

 minuteness, appeared unnecessary, took of common table salt, 3| ounces ; Epsom 

 salts, j ounce ; chloride of magnesium, 200 grains, troy ; and chloride of potas- 

 sium, 40 grains, troy. To these salts, thrown into a jar, a little less than four 

 quarts of water were added ; so that the solution was of that density, that a specific 

 gravity bubble 1.026, would just sink in it. Reckoning the cost of the salt and 

 water at nil, the total expense per gallon was 5|d. — of course, if a larger quantity 

 were required the cost of the materials would be diminished, so that 5d. per gallo 

 may be set down as the maximum cost of sea water thus made. It is better to 

 filter this water through a sponge before using, and to introduce the sea-weeds, 

 after the order of nature — plants first, then animals — for a week before the animals. 

 Water thus manufactured was found, after six weeks' trial, by Mr. Gosse, to succeed 

 admirably. Proceedings of Learned Societies— Royal Society ; Zoological Society ; 



