66 REPORT — 1842. 



light had three buds at the end of it. This was planted, ana in May 1842 one of the 

 buds opened in the form of an imperfect flower, having some green leaves with 

 spikes on the edge, as in ordinary leaves, and others approaching to the form and 

 colour of true petals, and two perfect stamens, with anthers and tanna, and others 

 distorted. 



On the Migration of Birds and Flowering of Plants in Cornwall. 

 By Jon. Couch, Esq., F.L.S. 



List of Summer Birds observed in Denbighshire, inl he Spring of 1842. 

 By John Blackwall, Esq., F.L.S. 



On the Nidus and Growth of the Purpura lapillu3, and also on the Patella 

 pellucida and P. laevis. By C. W. Peach. 

 Ellis in his 'Essay on the British Corallines,' says that the "Sea Cup" is the ovary 

 of the Periwinkle shell-fish ; but from a series of observations made by Mr. Peach, 

 commencing in January of the present year nnd eontinued up to Monday the 20th 

 of June, it appears that the " Sea Cup" belongs not to Turbo littoreus, but Pur- 

 pura lapilhcs. Mr. Peach had seen the Purpura lapillus employed in the formation 

 of these interesting fabrics, and on pulling these shells from the rock on which they 

 were fixed, he found that they enveloped three or four of these cups with their man- 

 tles and that there were indentations in the mantle answering to the number of cups 

 that it had covered. These "Sea Cups" are firmly attached to the rocks, and when left 

 by the whelks the mouth is securely sealed up, and they are then of a pale yellowish 

 colour : after some time the internal part assumes a granular appearance, and is of a 

 pinkish hue ; the young fry leave their habitation at the end of about four months, 

 and take refuge in the crevices and shelter afforded by the sea-weeds and shells at- 

 tached to the rocks. The author exhibited a series of specimens in all their various 

 stages of growth, with some of the nidi, and amongst them some young shells which 

 had been reared in his house from the nidi kept in a dish of salt-water, and which had 

 all the peculiarities of the adult, such as canal, striae, and propensity of remaining for 

 considerable periods out of the water on the side of the dish ; leaving no doubt that 

 they were the Purpura lapillus. 



The author also stated that, from a series of observations and examination of thou- 

 sands of specimens in all their various stages of growth, he does not hesitate to say 

 that the Patella lesvis is the young of the Patella pellucida. The P. Utvis is first found 

 on the leaves of the larger sea- weeds ; after a short time it descends to the stem, and 

 as it increases in age lower and lower; and before reaching the lowest part it scoops 

 out a small cavity, and on arriving at age and strength it cuts a road through the 

 roots of the sea-weed and takes possession of its final abode in a cup which it forms 

 at the foot of the weed, and is there suspended apex downwards. The author has 

 never found it attached to the rocks, like the P. vulgata, P. virginea, &c. 



The transition may be traced from youth to age, and all the beautiful blue ray3 ob- 

 served with all the characteristic appearance. 



He also exhibited several other shells which had been taken from the corks and 

 ropes used by the crab-catchers on the coast of Cornwall, to show the rapidity of 

 their growth : also specimens of the Anatifera fascicularis and A. lavis on feathers, 

 cork, coal and wood cinders, straws, wood, the shell of the cuttle-fish, &c. &c, the 

 whole from the Cornish coast. 



Mr. Peach exhibited some undescribed species of Cornish zoophyta. 



On the Palpi of Spiders. By John Blackwall, F.L.S. 

 As arachnologists do not appear to have bestowed that degree of attention on the 

 palpi of spiders°to which their greatly diversified structure and remarkable functions 

 undoubtedly entitle them, a few observations relative to this interesting subject may 

 not perhaps be wholly devoid of utility. 



