d9(i Imperial Institute of France, 



branches cannot be followed into the external organs, nor 

 into those of motion : it even seems, according to M. Tied- 

 man, that a vascular system totally different is disirihuied 

 to the numerous, pedunculi, which in thege animals serve 

 as instruments of locomotion. 



The organs of respiration differ vnateriallv according to 

 the genera ; in the hulothurii they represent hollow trees, 

 the vessels of which are filled oj- evacuated from the exr 

 ternal water, and are interlaced with a vascular net-work. 

 In the sea stars and bears, the water penetrates immediately 

 into the cavity of the body and visits every part of it. 



This elegant work was accompanied by some very fine 

 drawings executed by M. Martin Miinz, doctor in physic, 

 and appeared to the Class well deserving of the prize, from 

 the quantity of new facts and observations which it con- 

 tains, and from the addition which it rviust niake to our 

 knowledge of the echino-dermes, although the problem 

 proposed as to their circulation has not been resolved in a, 

 manner completely satisfactory.' 



A tan)ily much simpler in its organization than that of 

 the echino-dermes, but much more numerous in species, 

 that of the corals and other animals oniposeJ of a solid 

 case, b<i=: been specifically arranged by M. LiTnouroux. 

 This naturalist has made an extensive collection of those 

 whose base is not stony, and which present forms often 

 singular and agreeable : by cnmpaiing with great care the 

 form, the mutual position of the cellules from which the 

 polypi issue, and ail the other different appearances, he 

 purposes addina; twenty-eight new genera. This is a work 

 «f unquestionably great viiilitv to the improveineiU of our 

 know ledge of the animal kingdom, but fiom its nature it 

 tloes not admit of an abridged analysis. A speedy publica- 

 tion of the entire men)oir will be hij:hly gratifying. 



M. Guvier, purposing soon to commence the printing of 

 his great work on Comp:irative Anatomy, which has occu- 

 pied his attention for so many years, fias presented to the 

 Class the table of the divisions according to which the 

 animal kingdom ought to be ilistribulcd in this work. For 

 a long lime n:'turalists were struck with the great differences 

 v'hich distinguish the inverlebral animals from each other, 

 while the veriebral animals resemble each other in so many 

 respects, ^ence resulted s, great difficulty in drawing up 

 their comparative anatomy; the animals with verlehrae be- 

 ing easily gcmralized, but not the others: a remedy how- 

 ever has been suggested for this difficulty : from the way 

 iu which ilie propositions relative to each organ were 



always 



