1848.] Linnean Society. 371 



of receiving others for the purpose of dissection, the author has now 

 made a careful examination of the insect. He described the forms 

 of branchiae in different genera of Neuroptera, and pointed out that 

 the peculiarity of Pteronarcys consists in its possessing in its winged 

 state, both branchiae for aquatic respiration and spiracles for the 

 direct respiration of air. 



He then described the branchiae, their connexion with the respi- 

 ratory organs, and the mode in which the blood circulates through 

 them, as he has seen in a neighbouring family, Sicdis, and reviewed 

 what is yet known of the habits of the insect in connexion with 

 these remarkable structures. 



The author regards Pteronarcijs, from the circumstance of its pos- 

 sessing in its winged state the means of both aquatic and aerial 

 respiration, as an Insect Pi'oteus, the representative of the Proteus of 

 Vertebrata, both in structure and habits. 



The anatomy of some parts of the dermo-skeleton, of the spiracles, 

 and of the distribution of its internal respiratory organs, as compared 

 with that of neighbouring genera, is then described, as well as of the 

 digestive organs, and nervous and reproductive system. These are 

 minutely examined and the structures delineated on an accompanying 

 plate. 



Anniversary Meeting. 

 May 24. 



The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. 



'I'his day, the Anniversary of the birth of Linnaeus, and that ap- 

 pointed by the Charter for the election of Council and Officers, the 

 President opened the business of the Meeting, and stated the num- 

 ber of Members whom the Society had lost during the past year ; 

 and the Secretary read the following notices of those Fellows with 

 whose decease the Society had become acquainted since the last 

 Anniversary. 



Mr. Arthur Biggs was for sCrae time gardener to Isaac^wainson, 

 Esq., and afterwards Curator of the Cambridge Botanic Garden. He 

 was elected an Associate of the Linnean Society in 1815, soon after 

 his appointment to the latter office ; and in December of the same 

 year he became a Fellow of the Society. While in the service of 



