234 THE CANx'^DIAN NATURALIST. June] 



the length of the shell, being encased in a sand tube differing in 

 no respect from the sand tubes of neighbouring annelids. In many 

 instances the peduncle was broken in sifting them from the sand, 

 yet the wound was quickly healed and a new sand-tube promptly 

 formed. When placed on the surface of the sand they were 

 noticed to move quite freely, by the sliding motion, in all 

 directions, of the dorsal and ventral plates, aided at the same 

 time by the rows of setae or bristles, which swung back and forth 

 like a galley of oars, leaving a peculiar track in the sand. The 

 peduncle was hollow, and the blood could be seen coursing back 

 and forth in this channel. It was distinctly regularly ringed^ 

 and presented a remarkably worm-like appearance. It had layers 

 of circular and longitudinal muscular fibre, and coiled itself in 

 numerous folds or unwound at full leuo-th. It was contractile, 

 also, and quickly jerked the body beneath the sand when alarmed. 

 But the most startling discovery in connection with this interest- 

 ing animal was the fact that its blood was red. This was strongly 

 marked in the gills, which were found in the shape of a series of 

 rows of simple lamellae, hanging from the internal surface of the 

 mouth ; thus proving the correctness of Vogt's observations from 

 alcoholic specimens. At times the peduncle would become con- 

 gested, and a deep rose blush was markedly distinct. The sexes 

 were distinct. The writer believes the Brachiopods to be true 

 articulates, having certain affinities with the Crustacea, but properly 

 belonnfino' to the worms, comius' nearest the tubicolous annelids 

 They may better be regarded as forming a comprehensive type, 

 w'.t'i general articulate features. Possibly they have affinities 

 with the mollusks, through the homologies pointed out by Allman 

 as existing between the Polyzoa and Tunicates. It is interesting 

 to remember that Lingula, though one of the earliest animals 

 created, has yet remained essentially the same through all geolog- 

 ical ages to the present time. — American Naturalist. 



At a meeting of the Brighton and Sussex Natural History 

 Society, held June 9th, 1870, a paper " On Diptera and their 

 Wings," by Mr. Peake, was read in the absence of that gentleman 

 by Mr. Wonfor, Hon. Secretary. 



While wings are common to the whole order of insects, the 

 Diptera consists entirely of two-winged flies, which, instead of a 

 second or hinder pair, have little thread-like bodies terminated by 

 knobs and called haltereSj originally considered balancers, supposed 



