1848.] Linnean Society. 5 



ducts for conveying an (hypothetical) acrid fluid from an (hypotheti- 

 cal) poison-gland. He also controverts M. Lesson's opinion that cer- 

 tain of the colourless tentacles are to be regarded as branchiae ; being 

 quite convinced that there is no diff'erence between these and the 

 ordinary tentacles except in the absence of colour. As regards the 

 function of the cyathiform bodies, he has no other than analogical 

 evidence to offer. The only organs in the Acalephce with which he 

 conceives them to have any resemblance are the natatorial organs of 

 the Physophorce. But their little adaptation to a similar purpose, and 

 the entire absence even of their rudiments in young Physalife, dis- 

 courage this comparison ; while on the other hand they bear a sin- 

 gular resemblance to the female generative organs of a Diphja, and 

 this resemblance extends even to the younger stages of both. 



Mr. Huxley concludes by referring Physalia to the position as- 

 signed to it by Eschscholtz among Physophorce, and near Discolabe or 

 Angela. In fact, he regards Physalia as in all its essential elements 

 nothing but a Physopliora, whose terminal dilatation has increased 

 at the expense of the rest of the stem, and hence carries all its 

 organs at the base of this dilatation. 



The paper was illustrated by pencil drawings of the structures de- 

 scribed. 



Read also a translation* from the Swedish, of "Almanac notes 

 for the year 1735, by Charles von Linne." 



* Note by Dr. Wallich. — The Council of the Society did me the honour 

 at the end of last session to entrust the duty of translation to my care. It 

 has been made in the first instance from a communication by Joh. Aug. 

 Holmstrom, in "Botanical Notices" edited by Al. Ed. Lindblom, No. 12 for 

 December 1845, pp. 210-218, with the following motto and preface. Mr. 

 Bentham having pointed out to me that there existed a German translation 

 by Dr. Bcilschmid in the Flora for P'ebruary 1847, pp. 97-104, I have gladly 

 availed myself of this additional aid. Nor have I altogether neglected to 

 consult the precious little relic itself, how in the Society's possession, although 

 of course without any other result than that of verifying the fidelity of Mr. 

 Holmstrom's edition. All the notes are his with very few exceptions, which 

 have been duly marked. I have taken the liberty of frequently leaving Lin- 

 nasus's abbreviations in statu quo, and very rarely indeed altered his ortho- 

 graphy. 



" Parva h«c quippe, et quanquam paucis percontantibus adorata, tamen 

 ignorantibus transcursa." — Apuleius, l^lorida. 



Every, even the smallest memorial of a truly and through all ages 

 great man, possesses its value, and deserves to be secured from de- 

 cay and oblivion. It is on that account that I have thought it my 

 duty to publish these notes of the ' Princeps Botanicorum,' which 

 have accidentally come into my hands. Although containing nothing 



