Zoological Society. 229 



the blood could be maintained in them by any cause corresponding 

 to a power of suction in the heart. 



The latter part of the paper is occupied by an inquiry into the 

 sources and nature of the powers which really support the circula- 

 tion of the blood. The capillaries, he observes, maintain the mo- 

 tion of their blood long after the heart has ceased to beat; this 

 motion not being immediately affected even by the entire removal 

 of the heart ; but being accelerated, retarded, or arrested, according 

 as the action of the capillaries is increased, impaired, or destroyed, 

 by agents of which the operation is wholly confined to the vessels 

 themselves. As the destruction of the heart does not immediately 

 influence the motion of the blood in the capillaries, so the action of 

 this organ, when in full vigour, can produce no motion of the blood in 

 the capillaries, when these vessels are themselves deprived of power. 

 Experiments are related with the view of proving that the arteries 

 and veins, and more particularly the latter, are also capable of car- 

 rying on the blood they contain, even in opposition to the force of 

 gravitation, with the greatest ease, and without the aid of any ex- 

 traneous power. With regard to the nature of the power exerted 

 by the blood-vessels, the author shows that the capillaries are as 

 readily influenced by .stimulants and by sedatives, as the heart itself; 

 and that the arteries and veins may also be made to obey the action 

 of stimulants ; and further, that the power of the vessels bears the 

 same relation to the nervous system as that of the heart, which is 

 peculiar, and very different from the relation subsisting between 

 that system and the muscles of voluntary motion. From the whole 

 of the facts and experiments stated in this paper, the author de- 

 duces the conclusions, that the circulation is maintained by the 

 combined power of the heart and blood-vessels, and that the power 

 of both is a muscular power, 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



June 14, 1831. Joshua Brookes, Esq. in the Chair. 

 A letter addressed to the Secretary of the Society by Charles 

 Telfair, Esq., Corr. IVIemb. Z. S., dated Port Louis, December 

 15th, 1830, was read. It referred to previous unsuccessful 

 attempts on the part of the Society's valuable correspondent to 

 transport from the Mauritius to England living Gouramies and 

 Tattrccs, and promised a repetition of the experiment. IVIr. Tel- 

 fair states tiiat he has now a pair of living Tanrecs fully grown 

 ready to send to England when he can place them under proper 

 care. " They live on boiled rice, but will probably not exist long 

 upon that alone, as their natural food is chiefly composed of worms, 

 insects, lizards, and the eggs of snails, of which it would be difficult 

 to carry a sufficient supply in a living state on board ship. Fresh 

 supplies migiit, however, be obtained at Madagascar or the Cape of 

 (iood Hope, at St. Helena, Ascension, and the Cape de Verd 

 Islands ; and the animals might tliu.s arrive in good health in En- 

 gland, where they would probably survive for some time burrowing 

 under a dungheai), or living in straw in a hot-house or green- 

 house. 



