145 



The longitudinal muscles present the appearance of five pairs, 

 each muscle being divided in its whole length. 



Genital tubes slender, undivided. The pyriform sac is not 

 largely developed. 



The species in the tentacula,and the form of the body, resem- 

 bles Si/napta, near which the genus has been ranked, but in its 

 mode of respiration differs widely, as well as in its oral circle 

 and digestive apparatus. The posterior elongation of the body 

 is a striking feature, since it is shown to represent simply the 

 cloacal region, which is in other genera very short. 



Having neither the hooks of Synapta, nor the suckers of other 

 Holothurid(2, the species of this genus must move like many 

 worms, only by successive contractions of the body. 



Mr. Ayres stated that he had recently received from Dr. T. 

 M. Brewer and H. R. Storer, Esq., a specimen of Boiryodactyla 

 from Grand Manan. The species is closely allied to B. grandis, 

 but may be distinguished by the length and slenderness of the 

 tentacula, and the smaller size of the oral circle and pouch. It 

 may be called B. affinis Ayres ; a full description is not given, 

 for want of perfect specimens. 



We have in this a very good illustration of the different depths 

 inhabited by a single species. It has been brought by the fisher- 

 men from George's Bank in forty fathoms ; it was taken in Massa- 

 chusetts Bay in eighteen fathoms, and the specimen here noticed 

 was in water so shallow as to allow of its capture with a hand net. 

 It has been said that where the tide rises but a few feet, deep sea 

 animals are often taken within the range of the tide, and appa- 

 rent exceptions may thus occur. But to no locality can that 

 argument apply with less force than to the Bay of Fundy. 



The Comnnittee chosen early in the evening to nominate 

 Acting Curators, reported the name of Dr. T. M. Brewer 

 as Acting Curator of Oology. Dr. Brewer was accordingly 

 unanimously elected. 



Mr. H. R. Storer presented specimens of Bufo America- 

 mis, from Maine, Hylodes Pickeringii, Salamandra symme- 

 trica, and ^. erythronota, from the White Mountains, and 

 a living specimen of Emysaurus serpentina, from Fresh 

 Pond, Cambridge. 



PROCEEDINGS B. S, N. H. 10 MARCH, 1852, 



