339 



auxiliary of the generative parts in certain groups of the Lepidoptera. After 

 mention of mode of manipulation and general remarks on the subject the 

 author describes the Organs in question and there takes cognisance of the 

 apparatus as modified in many species of Ornithoptera and Papilio. 



1st June, 1882. — Frank Crisp, L.L.B., Treasurer, in the Chair. — 

 The following preparations were shown under the Microscope by Dr. Hog- 

 gan in illustration of his paper. »On some cutaneous Nerve terminations in 

 Mammals« : — I . Longitudinal and transverse views of the Organ of Eimer 

 in the Mole, the nerves seen being representatives of the nerves upon an 

 ordinary hair follicle. 2. Forked nerve termination on hair follicle of mole's 

 tail. 3. Nerve endings in nose of Cat. 4. Termination of a nerve in the 

 ganglion cells upon a «Feeler« hair in the Horse, and that of an ordinary 

 hair in the same showing forked and cellular endings and encircling fibres. 

 Dr. Hoggan related his observations on the habits of a mole [Talpa] kept 

 in confinement, more particularly concerning its nasal organ as a special 

 sense of touch and of the tail as a tactile organ. He compared the deve- 

 lopment of the nerve in these with the cutaneous nerve structures of other 

 mammalia, dealing with the efi"ects of habit in causing evolution of the so- 

 called »organ of Eimer«. Treating in detail of the difi"erentiation of structure 

 and function in this latter he summed up as follows: — The central fibrils 

 in the organ in question and the nerve cells at the base with which they are 

 continuous are similar in character to the subepidermic nerve cells and their 

 intraepidermic fibrillar prolongations. The outer circle of fibrils have equally 

 their existence and nature explained as well as the cause of their being drag- 

 ged into their present position in the epiderm. Then as relates to function 

 Eimer was certainly correct, or at all events within the truth when he spoke 

 of the organ he had discovered in the mole as a »tactile instrument«, for it 

 certainly possesses most remarkable powers of touch but along with this 

 other sensorial functions. Indeed it may be considered very probable that 

 the inner circle of fibrils are the analogues and homologues of the forked en- 

 dings and that they provide for the sense of touch, while the centre fibrils 

 and those of the outer circle provide for the sense of temperature, pain and 

 any functions connected with the sympathetic nerve system. The Pacin an 

 bodies at the root of the organ, but not properly connected with it are pro- 

 bably the agents for registering pressure so that in itself the organ of Eimer 

 is completely provided with the full armament of peripheral nerve termi- 

 nations. 



A paper was read on the Ascidians collected on the S. Coast of Eng- 

 land during the Cruise of the yacht »Glimpse« in the year 1881, by Mr. 

 H. C. Sorby and Prof. W.A.Herdman. Particulars were given respecting 

 twelve species of simple Ascidians, one of these being a new form of Mol- 

 gula dredged in Hole's Bay near Poole and named by the authors M. cepae- 

 formis. Only a few compound Ascidians were obtained during the cruise. 



Mr. P. Herbert Carpenter followed by Descriptions of new or little 

 known Comatulae, being material derived from the »Challenger« Expedition 

 and from the Hamburg Museum. These comprise; — three species of 

 Atelecrinus, one A Wyvilli , a new form dredged near the Fiji Islands; 

 four species of Ophiocrinus (= Eudiocrinus n. g.) three of which are new ; 

 nine species of Antedon of which eight are new ; and seven species of 

 Actinometra, two of these being hitherto unknown. The author institutes 



