REPORT ON ZOOLOGY. -ggg 



sion of Mudiata, with the exception of the Entozoa. I speak 

 of the 60th volume of the Diet, des Scien. Nat., the greater part 

 of which is taken up with the article Zoophytes by the above 

 author*. Blainville, however, has exposed some peculiar views 

 respecting the affinities of certain families hitherto considered 

 as belonging to the Acalepha, to which it is necessary to make 

 some allusionf . These relate particularly to the PhysalicB, which, 

 he observes, are of a very anomalous character, and in some mea- 

 sure seem to depart from every known type. He has, however, 

 ventiu'ed an opinion, grounded on an examination of specimens 

 of Physsophora and Stephanomia communicated to him by 

 Quoy and Gairaard, that the Phi/salice ought to be removed 

 from the place usually assigned them, and made to constitute a 

 distinct order among the 3IoUusca, near the orders called in his 

 system Polyhranches and NucUohranches. Blain\ ille appears 

 to have been led to this idea more from observing the arrange- 

 ment of the external parts of these animals, than from any close 

 investigation of their internal oi-ganization. On this ground, 

 Cuvier expresses himself as decidedly opposed to \t%. He ob- 

 serves, that before we can admit them to a place in that division, 

 it ought to be shown that they possess a nervous, as well as 

 vascular system, a heart, and liver, as well as male and female 

 organs of generation, all which he (Cuvier) has in vain sought 

 for. Blainville in like manner differs from other naturalists 

 with respect to the affinities of the Diphyce, which he thinks 

 constitute a group intermediate to the Salpce and Pkyssophurae. 

 Also the genus Beroe he thinks should be removed from the 

 great family oi Medusce {Arachnodermaires, Blainv.), with which 

 it is so constantly associated. It must be obvious that many 

 speculations will arise with respect to the situation and affinities, 

 not of these groups only, but of several others amongst the lower 

 animals, until we are made better acquainted with their organi- 

 zation and habits. These oiler to us the only sure grounds upon 

 which we can proceed in the endeavour to determine their place 

 in the natural system ; and very many researches relating to 

 these points remain yet to be made amongst the Acalepha. The 

 Diphycs in particular astonish us by the singulai-ity of their 

 form and structure. Composed of two polygonal, subcartilagi- 



• The Entozoa are treated of in a former volume under the art. Vers, which 

 indudes also the Annelida. To this article allusion has been already made in 

 a former part of this Report. 



\ A second edition of the above work has been published during the present 

 year (1834) under the title oi Manuel d'Actinologie. The views of its author 

 remain, however, unchanged with respect to the above aflinities. 



I Analyse des Trav., 1828. 



