TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 109 
by Mr. Halliday, many differences were detected, more particularly the total absence 
of ocelli, fourteen of which are figured by Schindte on each side of the head of his 
Lipura; but not a trace of ocelli was found in the Mitchelstown Cave specimens. 
Mr. Halliday observed that there were some other points, in which Schiodte’s obser- 
vations, or at least his interpretation of them, were at variance with what is known 
of the common structure of this family. Hence he was led to hesitate as to the im- 
portance to be attached to the differences noted. His Lipura, as well as another 
species of the family (certainly blind), Tritomurus scutellatus, had both been ascer- 
tained to have an extensive range in the caves of the Austrian territory, and it did 
not seem so improbable that they should occur in similar situations even in these 
islands. The other species found in the Mitchelstown caves having distinct eyes, and 
the structure of the anal fork agreeing with Macrotoma, could not be confounded 
with the last-named insect. 
The list of the proper subterranean Fauna of the European caves (independent of 
the immigrant animals which occur on the outer world also) had been largely added 
to since Mr. A. Murray’s paper ‘‘ On Blind Insects and Blind Vision” was written. 
Mr. Halliday submitted a list which, in its turn, would doubtless soon be antiquated 
by the fresh investigations so diligently pursued by the Austrian naturalists. The 
present list comprises :—Vertebrata, 1; Insecta, 31 ; Arachnida, 7 ; Myriapoda, 1; 
~Crustacea, 5; Annelida, 1; Mollusca, 17. 
PHYSIOLOGY. 
The PresipEnT of the Physiological Sub-Section said that it would be in the recol- 
lection of several persons present, that in the year 1835, when the British Associa- 
tion met first in Dublin, a Physiological or Medical Section had been formed and 
had worked with great success, and that many important additions to science had 
emanated from its labours. Since that period, however, at the meetings of the 
Association which took place in the principal towns throughout the empire, no 
Physiological Section existed, nor indeed had it been originally intended in the 
arrangements for the present meeting in Dublin to establish any such Section as a 
distinct one. It had been found, however, that many distinguished scientific medi- 
cal men had assembled in the city, representing not merely England and Scotland, 
but several of the Continental countries, and even America, and it was determined, 
even at the present late hour, to organize a Sub-section, in which the labours of these 
eminent medical men could be made available for the promotion of science, and he 
(Professor Harrison) was happy to congratulate the meeting on the distinguished 
array of gentlemen now assembled in this room. 
On certain a priori Principles of Biology. By Professor Atison, M.D. 
The writer stated that there were certain principles which should be admitted as 
ultimate facts, as stated, very accurately, by Cuvier, because exceptions to the laws of 
inorganic matter; and that they formed the same basis for physiological science as 
the principles of Gravity, the Inertia of Matter, or the Laws of Chemistry, for the 
sciences of dead matter, and as certain inductive principles to the science of morals. 
It might be said that the object of the paper was to apply the logic of the Scotch 
school of metaphysics to physiological science ; but on account of the recent illness of 
the distinguished author, the communication was incomplete*. 
_ * Dr. Gairdner, of Edinburgh, as a pupil of Professor Alison, explained the nature and ob- 
ject of his distinguished preceptor’s views, which he said were chiefly directed to oppose the 
modern tendency of medical investigation, which he regarded as likely to degrade the science 
to that of a subordinate department of chemistry on the one hand, and of mechanical science 
on the other, omitting the one consideration of that indispensable though less intelligible class 
of phenomena which were known to Ge vital. 
