43 



Mr. Gould then exhibited a new species of the genus Padar- 

 gus, from Java, which he proposes to name P. stellatus. 



PoDARGUs Stellatus. 



Podarg. corporis plumis, alis, cauddque crebre guttuUs, notisque irre- 

 gulariter interruptis, kis pallide brunneis, illisfuscis, ornatis, colli 

 plumis lined angustd nigrd fasciatis ad apicem latis, et albescenti- 

 bus lunulam facientibus ; post oculos plumis pilosis elongatis ori- 

 entibus, et postice directis tectricibus alarum ad apicem margi- 

 nis interioris notd albescente, nigro postice cinctd, ornatis scapu- 

 laribus inferioribus pallidioribus ; pectoris plumis nonnullis fiaves- 

 centi albo guttatis ; rostro pedibusque pallide fuscis. 



Long. tot. 8 unc. ; rostri, l^; al(e,4; tarsi, į. 



Hab. Java. 



Some observations on the Phy salia, by George Bennett, Esq., 

 F.L.S., Superintendant of the Australian Museum at Sydney, and 

 Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society, vvei'e then read. 



Some specimens of Physalia pelagica having been captured by 

 Mr. Bennett while on his voyage to Sydney, he had an opportunity 

 of obser\ang the action of the numerous filamentary bodies attached 

 to the air-bladder of this animal. 



The longest of these appendages are used by the Physalia for the 

 capture of its prey, and are capable of being coiled up \vithin half 

 an inch of the air bladder, and then darted out -vvith astonishing 

 rapidity to the distance of 12 or 1 8 feet, twining round and paraly- 

 zing by means of an acid secretion any small fish -^vithin that di- 

 stance. The food thus seized by the tentacula is rapidly conveyed to 

 the short appendages or tubes, which are furnished -vvith mouths for 

 its reception. These tubes appear to constitute the stomach of the 

 animal, for upon a careful dissection nothing likę a common recept- 

 acle for food could be observed, nor could Mr. Bennett detect any 

 Communications between them and the air-bladder, to the inferior 

 portion of -vvhich they are attached by means of a dense muscular 

 band. After an examination of an immense number of specimens, 

 Mr. Bennett \vas unable to discover the orifice usually stated to 

 exist at the pointed end of the bladder, nor could he ever succeed 

 in expelling any portion of the contained air without a puncture 

 being previously made. This organ consists of tw^o coats, the outer 

 of vi^hich is dense and muscular, readily separating from the inner, 

 ■vvhich resembles a cellidar membrane. 



The partial escape of air from the bladder did not at all aiFect the 

 buoyancy, or appear in any way to incommode the Physalia ; and 

 even when it had completely coUapsed, the animal still floated on 

 the surface ; upon removing the bladder entirely, the mass of ten- 

 tacula sank to the bottom of the vessel, and though their vitality re- 

 mained, all power of action was entirely destroyed. 



