240 SELECTED NOTES FROM 



fera found by Mr. Nicholson, and figured on PI. XXVI., Fig. 4, 

 belongs to the genus Li?iguii?ia, and does not differ in any appre- 

 ciable respect from Z. cari?iata, although, as some unnamed 

 British fossil species have been found in the Gravesend chalk, we 

 must suppose that some naturahsts would separate it under a dif- 

 ferent specific name. 



Tongue of Loligo (PL XXVL, Fig. 3). — In the Boulogne 

 aquarium we had the advantage of watching a number of Squids 

 in the living state, and were much struck with the ease, rapidity, 

 and elegance of their movements. They swim horizontally, like 

 fish, and in general build resemble a hippopotamus without limbs. 

 The tentacles are usually held close together in front of the 

 mouth, occasionally unrolling a little so as to show the suckers ; 

 the eye has a similar resemblance to that of the Dog-fish — watch- 

 ful and wary, yet with something about it that gave the idea of 

 being cruelly cold and repellent. 



Head of Empis (PI. XXVL, Figs, i and 2). — Viewed in connec- 

 tion with their mode of life, few things are more interesting than the 

 mouths of insects. The Empidce feed upon living flies, and may 

 frequently be seen on the wing sucking the juices of their prey. 

 The powerful mandibles, armed with stout spikes for holding ; the 

 lancet-like maxillae for making the first incisions ; the tongue 

 acting like the chopper of a sausage-machine ; and the curious 

 pump of the under lip — all these here forcibly arrest the attention. 



Larva of Gnat. — Two species of larvge may frequently be found 

 in our water-butts, one of which has the mandibles formed of a 

 series of combs, whilst in the other they are mere brushes formed 

 of plain setse. 



Sept, 1878. E. M. West. 



Selected Mote9 from tbe Socictv^'0 



1Rotc=^Boofe0. 



Foraminif^^a from Hollow Flint (PI. XXVL, Fig. 4).— This 

 was found in the chalky matter of a hollow flint where water could 

 not enter. How, then, did the Foraminifera become silicified, 

 thus excluded from light, heat, and moisture, and widely differing 

 in appearance from the common flint? It polarises beautifully 

 with a 2 or 3 in. object-glass and selenite. I wish to direct atten- 

 tion to a connected series of cells unlike any I have before met 

 with (see Sketch). 



A. Nicholson. 



