78 



adopted, " that membranes upon which no glandular structure can 

 be discovered are capable of secreting mucus," is confirmed. 



From the annexed chemical examination of the Javanese swallow's 

 nest, it appears to possess a close analogy to albumen ; differing 

 from the ordinary properties of that principle in being easily soluble 

 in liquid ammonia, and in the solution of its subcarbonate, and in 

 affording a relatively smaller proportion of ammoniacal products 

 when submitted to destructive distillation. 



This paper is accompanied by a drawing, exhibiting magnified 

 representations of the gastric glands in the blackbird, and in the 

 common and Java swallow ; thus rendering the differences of struc- 

 ture, so as to preclude the necessity of any extensive details. 



Observations on the Hirudo complanata, and Hirudo stagnalis, now 

 formed into a distinct Genus under the name, Glossopora. By Dr. 

 Johnson, of Bristol. Communicated by Sir Everard Home, Bart. 

 V.P.R.S. Read June 26, 1817. [Phil. Trans. 1817, p. 339.] 



The animals named in the title of this paper differ so considerably 

 from the Leech, as to induce the author to remove them from the 

 genus Hirudo, and to form them into a distinct one under the term 

 Glossopora, a term derived from a prominent feature of the animal, 

 namely, its projectile tubular tongue. 



They resemble the leech, in the body being furnished with a series 

 of rings, in locomotion being effected by the alternate motion of the 

 head and tail, and in the division of one general stomach into several 

 lateral cells or partitions. They differ from the leech in the mouth 

 being furnished with a projectile tubular tongue ; in the flat pyriform 

 shape of the body ; and in having an abdominal pouch or cavity for 

 the reception of their young. After enumerating the character of 

 the genus, Dr. Johnson expresses his opinion that the Hirudo cir- 

 culans, Hirudo crenata, Hirudo hyalina, and Hirudo tessulata, will 

 be found to belong to it ; and the Hirudo sexoculata, described by 

 Bergmann in the Stockholm Transactions, seems to be the same ani- 

 mal. Its tongue is cartilaginous, flexible, and about one eighth of 

 an inch long. The author describes the Glossopora tuberculata and 

 the Glossopora punctata. The notion that they are capable of repro- 

 duction when cut or divided, he considers without foundation. Their 

 food consists chiefly of water Helices ; into the shell of which they 

 easily penetrate in consequence of their tapering head, and from the 

 flexibility of the tongue they are enabled to follow their victim to 

 the innermost recess of its habitation. The ova are received into the 

 abdominal pouch of the parent, where they remain till fully evolved, 

 and they are unproductive if moved from this situation. 



An annexed drawing illustrates the anatomy and habits of these 

 animals. 



