144 Zoological Society ;— 



stationary, while the adjacent ones on either side are in motion — 

 then those which have been still begin to play, and those that were 

 previously moving remain still : no regular succession of procedure 

 is observable ; but some portion of the bands of cilia are kept 

 constantly in action, all seeming to perform their duties quite irre- 

 spective of the rest. 



" The tentacula of these beautiful animals are, next to their cilia, 

 the most interesting portions of their strncture. These organs are 

 not always apparent, but remain enclosed in the creature's body. 

 They are seldom displayed immediately after the Beroes have been 

 captured, nor when the glass vessel in which they are kept is too 

 much crowded. When, however, not more than five or six are 

 placed together, the tentacula may be seen developed to their fullest 

 extent, frequently extending above six times the length of the body 

 of the animal. The tentacula are often projected from their tubes to 

 their full extent by one impulse, and the slow uncoiling of the slen- 

 der serpentine filaments from their margin is then very beautiful. 

 Indeed it is scarcely possible to convey by any description an idea of 

 the elegance and diversity of their forms. They seem endowed with 

 exquisite sensibility, which, however, is not always equally delicate. 

 At times, the slightest touch will cause a tentaculum to be drawn 

 back into its sheath with a sudden jerk ; at other times it is apparently 

 unfelt. The Beroes never seem to be poised or supported in the 

 water by the assistance of these remarkable organs ; but sometimes, 

 when they are extended to the bottom of the vessel, they seem to act 

 as suckers, and to form fixed points whence the animal rises and 

 falls at pleasure, appearing as if moored by these delicate and novel 

 cables." 



But our space warns us of the necessity of bringing this notice to a 

 conclusion, which we do in the hope that the samples of the quality 

 of Professor Rymer Jones's work which we have here given, will in- 

 duce our readers to gratify themselves by a perusal of the whole. We 

 may add, that it is illustrated by eight plates, well executed in chromo- 

 lithograi)hy by Mr. Tuffen West, and containing excellent represen- 

 tations of nearly all the objects referred to in the book. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



January 26, 1858. — P. L. Sclater, Esq., F.L.S., in the Chair. 



On nkw Species of Birds from the Rio Napo, in the Re- 

 puni.ic OF Ecuador. By Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A., 

 F.L.S. etc. 



Anabates melanopezus. 



Supra saturate umhrino-hrunneus, uropygio rvfescente, cauda 

 •pure rvfa : subtus jtaHide cinerascenti-brunneus, medialiter 



