500 Miscellaneous. 



of the College of Surgeons, pi. 12. f. 20, having been collected by 

 Dr. Mantell's son, at Plymouth, New Zealand. 



Dr. Balfour likewise read a communication from Dr. James Dun- 

 can, on the supposed poisonous effects of the seeds of Abrus preca- 

 torius. This communication had reference to the case of three chil- 

 dren in a family, who after swallowing some of the seeds, well-known 

 as the red West Indian Peas with black specks on them, had been 

 attacked with vomiting, giddiness, and other symptoms of poisoning. 

 The peas had been swallowed about three in the afternoon, and the 

 symptoms developed themselves about eight in the evening. Under 

 the use of emetics the children all recoveied. It was remarked that 

 considerable diflFercnce of opinion exists as to the qualities of these 

 peas. Dr. M'Fadyen in his 'Flora of Jamaica' says, that they are 

 merely indigestible, and not poisonous ; while Lindley and others 

 state that they belong to the narcotic division of leguminous plants. 

 The present case confirms the latter view, and points out the necessity 

 of caution, in allowing children to amuse themselves with these seeds. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



GONOPLAX ANGULATA. 



To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 



Weymouth, May 20, 1851. 



Gentlemen, — I send you an additional description of Oonoplax 

 angulata, the Angular Crab of Bell's Crustacea, and at the same 

 time have the satisfaction of recording it as an inhabitant of the Dor- 

 setshire coast. The following description is taken from the younger 

 of two male specimens in my collection. 



Six individuals, all males, have passed through my hands within 

 this last twelvemonth, all of which were taken in the bay fonned by 

 the Isle of Portland on the western, and Whitmore Head in the Isle 

 of Purbeck on the eastern horn. This space comprises Weymouth 

 Bay (properly so called), Portland Roads, and a margin beyond of 

 about one mile and a half. 



Description. — A depressed wavy line in the form of a circumflex 

 with the ends directed forwards, and of a much deeper red than the 

 remainder, runs across the carapace, dividing it in two nearly equal 

 halves : this line divides the colours, the anterior portion being much 

 darker than the posterior. The anterior portion of the carapace is 

 of a dark, almost vinous red, the posterior portion being of a cream 

 colour sHghtly tinged with pink. All the legs, with the exception of 

 the anterior legs, are of a uniform pale cream colour beneath and 

 mottled with red above. At the base of the second joint in each of 

 the last two pairs of legs is a very dark brown oblong depressed spot, 

 which, under a lens, appears a new piece of shell growing over a 

 fracture, and has a curious appearance ; these spots are present and 

 very regularly so in both my specimens. The under parts of the 

 wrist and arm are of a uniform cream colour, but of the hand mottled 

 with pale red. The upper portion of the hand, arm and wrist, and 



