08 EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS. 



two filaments which proceed from these ganglions reuniting after a short distance, 

 whilst they send forth other threads. But the nervous system of these two 

 worms has nevertheless this in common, that the situation of the ganglion in 

 Pentastoma entirely corresponds with that of Amphistoma, and that they both 

 transmit two filaments extending from each side along the abdominal cavity. 

 — From an elaborate paper on P. toenioides, by Mons. C. E. Miram. 



3. On Antediluvian Blatt;e. — A paper was published in the Annales de la 

 Societe Entomologique de France, for 1836, by De. Bebendt, on antediluvian 

 Blattce, Orthopterous insects. The author has turned his attention to the species 

 of Blatta frequently found in yellow amber with other insects. They are more 

 commonly in the larva than in the perfect state. Still their characters are 

 sufficiently obvious to determine the species. The author is of opinion, that the 

 in sectsfound in yellow amber are not identical with, but only analogous to, the 

 living species, and that, in this respect, the general law among geologists applies 

 to fossil insects. He has figured seven species of Blatta, only two of which are 

 winged, the others being younger, and some very small. There are doubtless 

 more species, but it is difficult to determine whether the differences observed are 

 to be accounted specific, or whether they belong to age or sex. 



4. The Leeches and Beptiles of Chili. — It is a remarkable fact that the 

 Leeches of Chili are all terrestrial, living in the woods, and never in water. M. 

 Gay assures us, that he could not make a botanical excursion without having his 

 legs bitten by these blood-suckers. They crawl upon plants, along trunks of 

 trees, and ascend shrubs, but never approach marshes or rivers ; the only one which 

 M. Gay accidentally discovered in these latter habitats, is a very small kind of 

 Branchiobolelle, which has the singular habit of living in the pulmonary cavity 

 of the Auricula Dombeii. M. Gay had previously discovered, in the environs of 

 Santiago, another Leech of the same genus, which lives under the branchiee of a 

 species of Lobster. (The Leeches of Chili, in their sylvan manners, resemble the 

 Leeches of Ceylon.) 



A fact not less interesting is this ; in these western regions the reptiles have 

 a tendency to become viviparous. The greater number of those which M. Gay 

 dissected, afforded him proofs of this assertion. Not only the harmless Snake of 

 Valdivia brings forth living young, but likewise all the pretty Inguanians allied 

 to the genus Leposoma of Spix, and which, from the beauty of the colours, M. 

 Gay provisionally calls Chrysosaurus. Even those species which are oviparous 

 at Santiago are here viviparous. The Batricians furnish some examples of the 

 same fact, although in general they are all oviparous. However, a genus allied 

 to the Rhinella of Fitzinger, consisting of several agreeably coloured species, is 

 constantly viviparous, and consequently adds to the proofs of a fact the more 



