PRUNELLA PSYCHE. 



501 



the exception ot the terminal one, these bones are 

 very perfectly ossified ; but their articulations to 

 each other very much resemble those of fishes that 

 is to say, each of the two ends which are opposed to 

 each other has a hollow cavity, and the two cavities 

 are filled with cartilage. The ribs are seven on each 

 side, and merely rudimental. There is no sternum, 

 but there is a cartilaginous envelope to the heart, 

 which in some sort answers the purpose of a sternum. 

 The bones of the extremities are exceedingly imper- 

 fect, the blade-bone being the only part of the shoul- 

 der which is not cartilage, the bones of the pelvis 

 being still less perfect, and those of the feet carti- 

 laginous at their extremities. It appears that the 

 animal has the power of St-nding a current of water 

 from the mouth to the gills ; for there are openings 

 in the, hinder part of the mouth which have their exit, 

 between the tufts of the gill. The liver consists of 

 three lobes ; the gall-bladder is very ample. The 

 heart, which is situated between the fore feet, and 

 whose cartilaginous envelope appears to assist in keep- 

 ing them asunder, has but a single ventricle and 

 auricle. The lungs are exceedingly simple, consist- 

 ing of a few small and short tubes, a little dilated at 

 their extremities. The stomach is thick and leathery; 

 but the intestinal canal is slender. Small shelled 

 mollusca appear to form part of the food of the 

 proteus, as they have been found in the stomach ; 

 but the habits of the animal are so exceedingly ob- 

 scure, that very little is known respecting them ; and 

 those which have been kept for a short time in con- 

 finement, have refused every kind of food. Of their 

 mode of production nothing is known ; and, indeed, 

 the traces of organs for this purpose are very 

 obscure. 



Altogether this is one of the most singular animals 

 in Europe; and its impatience of the light, and dis- 

 position to lurk in the sand, under stones, or in the 

 darkness of subterranean waters, is greater than that 

 of any other known animal. It also seems to be ex- 

 ceedingly sensitive and delicate, as no supply of 

 water.no shading, and no treatment which has been 

 hitherto resorted tr>, have succeeded in keeping it 

 alive for any length of time. 



Another species, almost equally obscure, and found 

 in some parts of the United States, especially in New 

 Jersey, has been referred to this genus, but apparently 

 without propriety. It is a smaller animal, round in 

 the body, with a groove down the back, having the 

 tail flattened like an oar, and four little toes upon 

 each of the feet. The accounts of it are, however, 

 very vague. 



PRUNELLA (Linnaeus). A genus of perennial 

 herbs, natives of the northern parts of America and 

 Europe. Thev have mostly didynamous purple flowers, 

 and belong to" Labiattc. A few of them are admitted 

 into the flower garden, but the majority are only use- 

 less weeds. 



PRUNUS (Linnaeus). A genus of deciduous shrubs 

 and trees, mostly natives of Britain and other parts of 

 Europe. They belong to the class Icosandria of 

 Limucus, and to the natural order Rosacecc. The 

 species are the wild sloes of our hedges, and the culti- 

 vated plums of our gardens. 



PSELAPHIDyE (Leach). A family of coleo- 

 pterous insects, nearly allied to the rose beetles (Bra- 

 c/ie///tm), but having the tarsi only three-jointed. 

 These curious little insects have attracted much 

 attention from the singularity of their characters. The 

 abdomen is short and oval or rounded, and partially 



| covered by a pair of short truncated elytra ; the 

 : antennae are thickened at the tips, sometimes only 

 ' six-jointed, but more generally with elevenjoints, some 

 : of which are curiously formed in one of the sexes ; 

 1 in some of the species the palpi are in general verv 

 | long, and resemble an additional pair of antenna; ; the 

 tarsal joints are entire and slender, and ofien termi- 

 nated by a single claw. These little insects are found 

 | in moss or amongst .grass, at the roots, whilst others 

 I frequent ants' nests. The genera are Pselaphus, Ba- 

 trhus, C/iennhim, Dioiu/.v, liythinus, Areopagus, Cfc- 

 itixfrs, Brya.i'is, Tt/chns, Eitplectea, Clavigcr, and 

 Articcrux, the most remarkable of which have been 

 noticed in their alphabetical situation. 



The genus Pselaphus, in its restricted state, com- 

 ! prises only those species which have the maxillary 

 palpi elbowed and as long as the antenna', which 

 latter are eleven-jointed ; the tarsi are terminated by 

 a single hook. There are several British species, the 

 type being the Psefaji/nis Hci.tci of Herbst. 



The monographs of Leach (Zoolog. Miscell, vol. 3), 

 Reichenbach, and Aube, must be consulted for the 

 characters of the genera and species of this family. 



PSID1UM (LinniEus). A genus of tropical forest 

 trees, bearing icosandrous flowers, and belonging to 

 the natural order Murtacca:. The fruit are the guavas 

 of the colonists, some of which are equal in quality 

 to our summer pears. The different sorts grow freely 

 in our stoves and bear fruit, but they are not held in 

 estimation so much as to be cultivated entirely for 

 their fruit, as some other tropical fruits are. They 

 are propagated by layers or cuttings. 



PSOCID^E (Leach). A family of neuropterous 

 insects, belonging to the section Filicornes, having the 

 head not anteriorly produced into a rostrum ; the 

 first segment of the thorax very short ; the second 

 large and exposed ; the wings deflexed at the sides, 

 slightly reticulated, the posterior pair being the 

 smallest ; the tarsi are composed of two or three 

 joints ; the antennae are setaceous and ten-jointed ; 

 the maxillary palpi exposed ; the labial palpi indis- 

 tinct. The family derives its name from the Greek, 

 and signifies to pull to pieces, and is given to it in 

 consequence of the habits of the larva?, which, as well 

 as the perfect insects, are found in old books, neg- 

 lected collections of natural history, on old palings, 

 under stones, &c. They are very active, running and 

 flying quickly, and leaping out of the reach of danger. 

 The larvae resemble the perfect insects, both in habits 

 and appearance ; they are, however, unfurnished 

 with wings, and unable to continue their kind ; in 

 the pupa state the wing covers are rudimental ; the 

 species are rather numerous, and of very small size. 

 The type is the Psocus quadripunclatus (Fabricius), 

 belonging to the typical genus Psocus; the other 

 genus, Atropos, is described in its place. 



PSORALEA (Linnaeus). A genus of evergreen 

 shrubs and herbs, mostly natives of Africa ; they 

 belong to Leguminosce. They are all more or less 

 ornamental, and one, the P.esculenta, having tuberous 

 roots, is cultivated on the banks of the Missouri. It 

 is the Pommc de Prairie of the Canadians, and affords, 

 during winter, a nutritious farinaceous food. Several 

 of the species are medicinal. They are easy of culti- 

 vation, and propagated by cuttings. 



PSYCHE (Schrank). A very curious genus of 

 lepidopterous insects, belonging to the family Arctiidcc 

 (Stephens), having the body slender ; the antenna; of 

 the male bipectinated, of the females simple : the for- 

 mer sex is provided with ample wing?, of which the 



