41 
Fresrvary 22np. 
MICROSCOPICAL MEETING.—MR. T. H. HENNAH ON 
THE PALATES OF MOLLUSKS. 
Mr. Hennau prefaced his remarks on the Palates of Mollusks by 
stating that he should chiefly consider them as objects especially caleu- 
lated to foster a true spirit of microscopical enquiry. They (the palates) 
might be briefly described as membranes, studded more or less with 
teeth, found in the buccal cavity of univalve and shell-less mollusks. 
While the arrangement of the teeth was always symmetrical, the 
palates appeared to fulfil several functions : in some mollusks acting as 
a gizzard only, being supplemented with strong cutting mandibles, as 
- in snails, cuttle-fish, &c.; in others acting both as a rasp and asa 
gizzard. In some, the provison for wear and tear was prodigious: the 
palates of the limpet and periwinkle being longer than the animals 
themselves ; while in other cases, they were comparatively small and 
out of proportion as contrasted with the animals. Thus, the palate 
of the cuttle-fish was about the same size as that of the common 
snail. 
As elsewhere in the Animal kingdom, specially-adapted contri- 
vances were found, so also was the palate of the mollusk adapted in its 
form, position, and arrangement, to the special habits of each species. 
In this variety—apart from its scientific interest—lay an inducement to 
go on with the examination, when it was once begun. He well re- 
membered dissecting out a palate of a common snail—his first dissec- 
tion and almost his first microscopical preparation—and he could safely 
say he was grateful for the influence on his pursuits still exercised by 
the silent tongue of the poor snail. Whelks, periwinkles, slugs, é&c., 
were its successors, and although he found each had its palate covered 
with brilliant teeth, different methods of dissection were required 
with each; and thus a foundation was laid for a knowledge. of the 
comparative anatomy of different species of the same family. 
He thought that nothing gaye a sounder teaching in Natural His- 
tory, than the thorough examination of any one organ, such as the 
palate, or, more correctly, the ‘‘lingual membrane” of the mollusca. 
The variety was very great, but yet there was a family likeness run- 
ning through the palates of many allied species. 
Attempts had been made to base a classification of the univalve 
