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IX. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 

 [Continued from vol. v. p. 4.^9.] 



1834. nPHE following Papers were read : 

 June 19. — -■- 1 . ** Observations on the Teredo navalis and Limnoria 

 terebrans, as at present existing in certain localities of the British 

 Islands." By William Thompson, Esq., Vice-President of the Natural 

 History Society of Belfast. Communicated by J. G. Children, Esq. 

 Sec. U.S. 



The opinion which has been advanced, that the Teredo navalis is 

 no longer to be found on the British coast, is shown by the author to 

 be erroneous ; for numerous specimens of that destructive animal, 

 collected from the piles used in the formation of the pier at Port- 

 patrick in Ayrshire, were furnished to him by Captain Frayer, R.N. 

 (of His Majesty's Steam-packet Spitfire). Some of these specimens 

 had attained the length of nearly two feet and a half, a magnitude at 

 least equal to, if not exceeding, the largest brought from the Indian 

 seas. After giving a description of the animal, the author enters into 

 an inquiry into the agency it employs to perforate the timber which 

 it consumes as food, and in which it establishes its habitation. He 

 ascribes to the action of a solvent, applied by the proboscis, the smooth 

 and rounded termination of its cell, which is afterwards enlarged by 

 the mechanical action of the primary valves. 



The author then gives an account of the natural history and opera- 

 tions of another animal, the Limnoria terebrans, of Leach, belong- 

 ing to the class of Crustacea, whose depredations on timber are no 

 less extensive and formidable than the Teredo* At Portpatrick it ap- 

 pears that both these animals have combined their forces in the work 

 of destruction, the Teredo consuming the interior, and the Limnoria 

 the superficial parts of the wood; the latter continuing its labours 

 until it comes in contact with the shells of the former, so that the 

 whole mass is speedily deprived of cohesion. It is stated, on the au- 

 thorities of Mr. Hyndman and Mr. Stephen, that the Limnoria is al- 

 ready committing great ravages in the timber at Donaghadee. 



2. " On the Nervous System of the Sphinx ligustri (Linn.) during 

 the latter Stages of its Pupa and its Imago States ; and on the Means 

 by which its Development is effected." By George Newport, Esq. 

 Communicated by P. M. Roget, M.D., Sec.'R.S. 



In a paper formerly read to the Royal Society, and printed in the 

 Philosophical Transactions*, the author has given a description of the 

 anatomy of the nervous system of the Sphinx ligustri in its larva, and 

 the earlier periods of its pupa, state ; and he has since prosecuted the 

 inquiry then commenced, following the changes of structure through 

 the remaining stages, until the insect has arrived at its full develop- 

 ment. He enters into minute details of all these changes, which 

 vary considerably in the rapidity with which they take place at dif- 

 ferent periods, according as the vital powers are called into action by 



* An abstract of Mr. Newport*s former paper will be found in Lond.and 

 Edinb. Phil. Mag., vol. i. p. 382. 



