448 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [DeC. 



animals, were thouglit to be aberrant bivalve'molluscs. Througli 

 the polyzoa and the tunicates, their affinities were supposed to be 

 with ordinary bivalves, such as the oyster, mussel, cockle, or clam. 



Prof. Morse has carefully examined the anatomy of several 

 species of Brachiopoda, and has been struck with the close struc- 

 tural resemblance existing between them and the marine worms. 

 The so called hearts of the Brachiopods, according to Prof Morse, 

 are really ovaries, and what were thought to be arteries turn out 

 to be nerves. An elaborate account was given of the minute 

 points in the anatomy of brachiopods and of marine worms 

 illustrated by graphic diagrammatic sketches on the black board, 

 and it was shown that the structural affinities of these two groups 

 were very close. In conclusion, the lecturer stated that the bra- 

 chiopods, in his judgment, should be removed from the mollusca, 

 and grouped near to the marine worms. 



Mr. Billings said that the trilobites and echiuoderms of the 

 primordial zone had a very worm-like character, and that in the 

 Black Biver limestone he had obtained a specimen of Lingula, 

 with its penduncle silicified ; also a bivalve with parts of its adduc- 

 tor muscle preserved in the same way. 



Mr. Whiteaves made some remarks on the anatomy and 

 affinities of the Brachiopoda, and exhibited a series of rare exotic 

 species from his own cabinet ; also alcoholic preparations of the 

 Canadian species, dredged by himself in Gaspe 



Dr. Carpenter said that he had the pleasure of seeing the 

 living Lingula which Prof. Morse had collected in South Carolina 

 and of observing their habits, and expressed his belief that Prof. 

 Morse's views v>^ould ultimately meet with general acceptation. 



A vote of thanks to the lecturer, having been moved by 

 Dr. Edwards, and seconded by Mr. Cotte, was unanimously 

 adopted, after which the proceedings terminated. 



7th ordinary meeting, held April 24th ; the President in the chair. 



The Lecture and Conversazione Committee submitted a report 

 to the Society, of which the following is an abstract. 



With reference to the conversazione, the report stated that 

 although it had been productive of more than ordinary interest in 

 consequence of the introduction of some new features, it had yet 

 not proved successful pecuniarily. The price of admission had 

 been lower than heretofore; but even at the reduced rate it was 

 thought a diifcrent result could be attained on future occasions by 



