Dr. Bell Salter on three neiv species of Rubus. 305 



while on the inner one the entrance to the large cavity was closed 



by an ajjparently stout membrane. 



In other specimens which I examined, sometimes neither of the 

 mammffi were perforated ; at others one would be slightly open, 

 while the o])posite one was entirely closed. AVhether the curious 

 conformation of these parts is the result of accident occurring at 

 the moment of the withch-awal of the leech from the young and 

 tender cocoon, or whether it arises from a vital action inherent in 

 this body and essential to the opening of this organ and the con- 

 sequent liberation of the young contained within it, it is difficult 

 to conjecture ; but I am inclined to believe in the latter idea, and 

 more cs])ecially so, as in by far the greater number that I have 

 examined no perforation existed, although, from Dr. Johnson's 

 account of other species, this is evidently the point at which the 

 young effect their liberation. 



XLIII. — Description of three new species of Rubus. 



By T. Bell Salter, M.D., F.L.S. 



1. Rubus tenuis. Caule procumbente, tereti, subglauco aculeis 



sequalibus, foHis ternatis, rarius quinatis, supra subglabris, subtus 



pubescentibus ; foliolis obovato-acuminatis, duplo serratis ; latera- 



libus extrorsum lobatis ; panicula decomposita, rarius cymosa ; 



calycibus pubescentibus, lanceolatis acuminatis, fructui adpressis ; 



fructu parvo, nigro, drupeolis paucis, magnis composito. 

 Var. ft.ferox, aculeis crebris, uncinatis. 

 Syn. Rubus affinis c. W. et N. Rubi Germ. p. 3. tab. 3 b. Rubi cxsii 



et R. corj'lifolii pars auct. var. 

 Hab. in variis locis in Britannia australi. Var. ft. hab. ad " Apes 



Down " in Insula Vecte. 



The habit of this bramble comes so near to that of Rubus ca- 

 sius, that there can be little doubt it may be often overlooked as 

 being the ordinary dewbcriy ; it is however readily distinguished 

 from that species by the absence of glands generally, and bv the 

 absence of both glands and hairs from the gro^nng shoot, and 

 also by the beny being black instead of blue as in the true R. 

 casius ; the calyx embraces it precisely as in that species, but the 

 sepals are rather more broadly lanceolate. The flavour of the 

 fruit differs considerably, that of R. tenuis, though acid like that 

 of R. casius, not having the peculiarly gratefid lemon flavour of 

 that species. Rubus affinis (W. et N.) is described in the ' Rubi 

 Germanici ' as having the caljTc reflexed, yet one of the varieties 

 is figm-ed with the calj'x embracing the fruit. As this is the 

 principal character which distinguishes the present species fi'om 

 R. affinis, I can entertain no doubt that the variety (8.) there 

 figured is in fact the one now described as a distinct species. It 

 holds a near affinity both with R. casiits and R. affinis, but hanng 



