found on the Head of a Bed. 149 



between the lobes of the vesicle, which clasps it firmly, turning it 

 to and fro in all directions, and vibrating now and then in a 

 spasmodic manner. Four or five minutes having elapsed, during 

 which time the ovum remains between its lobes, the vesicle dis- 

 appears by re-entering its internal situation. The ovum is left 

 upon the inferior labrum, and this being elevated, along with all 

 the palpi that compose the rostrum, thrusts the ovum upon the 

 duo-cephalic plate, or in front of the body — these acts being 

 renewed for as many ova as the female may have to discharge." 

 A series of very interesting experiments made by Professor Gene 

 are then related, bearing upon the correctness of the foregoing. 



Before drawing this lengthy article to a conclusion, it is neces- 

 sary not to omit noticing that the parasites of the bat's ear prefer 

 the inner surface, where the hairs are fewest and the glands most 

 numerous. They collect in companies (vide Fig. 1, where twenty 

 are seen, and seven apertures made through the dermis left by the 

 detached insects). This figure represents a very hungiy lot, and 

 they generally, so far as coidd be judged, seek those parts of the 

 inner surface of the ear that are well provided with nerves; a 

 nerve bundle is shown at * *. Moreover, they appear to prefer 

 to use the aperture through which the hair protrudes, than to be 

 at the trouble of tearing one open. They seem to fix themselves 

 much in the same way as the tick to one spot, and by then- pre- 

 sence cause a considerable amount of mischief, inducing much con- 

 gestion and thickening of the tissues beneath. Two such apertures 

 are represented more highly magnified at Fig. 8, one having a 

 minute hole at *; the other, ***, showed no such opening. The 

 hair follicle and sebaceous glands appear totally destroyed in most 

 of the openings; the cartilaginous tissue seemed to sufier only 

 slightly ; the vessels looked enlarged ; a large nerve bundle is 

 seen at * * , * *. In these examinations the skin was dissected off 

 both sides of the cartilage, to obtain the necessary transparency; 

 portions were subjected to various reagents, and showed that the 

 ear of the bat seems almost in its amount of nerves, &c., to rival its 

 wing, described in abstract in the June number of the Society's 

 Journal, p. 272, from Dr. Joseph Schobl's most interesting obser- 

 vations. However, it would be only in recent and injected speci- 

 mens any attempt could be satisfactorily made in the examination 

 of these organs. The incompleteness of this paper is regretted, 

 but it is hoped sufficient has been stated to induce other observers, 

 when opportunity offers, to give us the benefits of a more extended 

 examination. 



