159 



of these bucks cast either horn, nor was any lateral influence ob- 

 servable. They shed their horns as usual in the following spring, 

 the new homs coming in due course ; but in the autumn, when the 

 horns had ceased to grow, and [had] become hard, all four horns were 

 those of the third year, and not those of the fifth year : no lateral 

 influence was observable, but it was plainly shown that the dimi- 

 nished sexual pomer, conseąuent upon the operation, had produced 

 a corresponding diminution in the size of the horns in both cases." 



That any " diminished sexual power" existed^er se, as the cause 

 of the deficient size of the horns in these instances, is, as in the case 

 of the hind which dropped a calf having a diseased ovary, quite con- 

 jectural ; but the horns not being fuUy developed, according with 

 the age of the animals, after such an operation as the removal of a 

 testicle, I conceive may be satisfactorily esplained on more likely 

 and on reasonable grounds, viz. the conseąuent deterioration of the 

 . general health which ordinarily would follow such a shock to the 

 system, which in the adult animal is often severe, and the local dis- 

 turbance very great. During ill-health and debility, secretion is im- 

 peded and absorption increased, the body becoming lean and the 

 museles losing their volume, and the secretion of horny (bony) sub- 

 stance, in common with that of all other solid secretions, would partake 

 of the lessened action of the produeing ąuality of the blood. It is 

 from few facts that sexual power can be estimated ; and I believe the 

 loss of one testicle no more impairs that power than the loss of one 

 eye impairs the vision of the other ; — of course I speak of animals 

 in perfect health. In the human race I know two examples, where 

 marriage, after extirpation of one tęstis, was followed by a fine, and 

 a resembling progeny to the malė parent. It is much to be re- 

 gretted that the further observation of these two bucks was prevented 

 by the sale of the Society's stock at the farm at Kingston, as, on the 

 recovery of their health and strength, I believe the horns afterwards 

 produced would have borne testimony of the increase of their age. 



3. Description of New Species of Shells collected by 

 Mr. t. Bridges in the Bay of Panama and its Vicinity, 



IN THE CoLLECTION OF HuGH CuMING, Esū. By PhILIP P. 



Carpenter. 



Note. — Mr. Cuming, knowing that I am now engaged in working 

 out the shells of the "West Coast of North America for a Report at 

 the forthcoming meeting of the British Association, has most kindly 

 sent me all the shells lately collected by Mr. Bridges which he 

 regards as new, ■with a request that I should describe them for him ; 

 at the šame time enclosing the published species which he regarded 

 as bemg the most alhed forms. I trust to his well-known accuracy 

 for the fact of their not being as yet described. Unfortunately 

 many of the specimens had gone through the acid process, which has 

 destroyed much of the microscopic markings which often furnish the 

 best guide for the discrimination of species. 



Warrington, June 9th, 1856. 



