192 



co by containing descriptions of new genera and species of Phytophagous 

 Coleoptera. — P. L. Sciate r, Secretary. 



2. Linnean Society of London. 



Febr. 17, 1881. — Mr. A. Hammond drew attention to a micro- 

 scopic specimen and drawing of portion of the wall of the socalled glandular 

 sac of the larva of the Puss moth [Cerura vinula), from which that insect 

 ejects an acid liquid when alarmed or irritated. Although doubtless the 

 organ is the source of the excretion, it yet is questionable to regard it as a 

 true glandular structure inasmuch as its tissue is largely composed of chiti- 

 nous matter. — Dr. Francis Day read a paper, observations on some British 

 fishes. In this he pointed out : that Pimeleptems coi-mibiensis is identical 

 with the American Pammelas perciformis , Mitchell ; that great confusion 

 exists in the works of Yarrell and Couch respecting the Tunnies and their 

 allies, most, if not all, the examples of the short -finned Tunnies being 

 in reality specimens of Pelamys sarda ; that the Comber Wrasse [Labrtis 

 Donovani, Cuv. and Val.], is a peculiarly coloured variety of L. macidattis, 

 Bloch ; that Crenilahrus Baillonii, Couch, is the C. melops, Cuv. and Val. 

 Adult examples of Brill and Sole, coloured on both sides, but in which the 

 eyes were normal, were exhibited. Some Sprats obtained ofi" St. Ives were 

 adverted to, which had fully-developed ova in January this year. It was also 

 proved that the specimen of Ostracion quadricornis figured by Couch as a 

 British fish had been brought in salt from abroad by a sailor. Observations 

 also were made by Dr. Day concerning the habits of the Thresher Shark to- 

 wards the Whale. — Prof. P. M. Duncan read a paper on some sponges 

 obtained among a mass of fistulöse coral from deep water off the coast of 

 Spain during the expedition of the Porcupine. One kind, apparently new, 

 is described as a species of Leiodermatium^ L. afßne^ Dune, and another 

 belongs to the genus AphrocalUstes. 



IT. Personal-Notizen. 



Bremen. — An Stelle des nach Gießen berufenen Prof. H. Ludwig 

 ist Dr. J. W. Spengel (bisher Privatdocent in Göttingen) zum Director 

 der städtischen Sammlungen für Naturgeschichte und Ethnographie in Bre- 

 men ernannt worden. 



N e c r I g. 



Am 30. Jan. starb in London A. W. E. O'Shaugh nessy, Assistent 

 am British Museum, durch verschiedene zoologische Arbeiten bekannt. 



Am 7. März starb in London Mr. Edward Richard Als ton im Alter 

 von 35 Jahren, ein um die Kenntnis der Säugethiere (über welche er fünf 

 Jahre lang den Bericht im Zoological Record schrieb] sehr verdienter Zoolog. 



Am 11. März starb in York Mr. Robert Hind, ein um die englische 

 Fauna verdienter Lepidopterolog. 



Druck von Breitkopf und Härtel in Leipzig. 



