348 Information respecting Zoological ^ Botanical Travellers, 



that the Amphioxus had never had, at any period of its existence, 

 branchial clefts ; — that it was an animal which had arrived at its per- 

 fect development before the branchial clefts had appeared, and, con- 

 sequently, with an undeveloped osseous and nervous system, without 

 a liver, and with an unilocular heart. 



After examining the generative organs, and other departments of 

 its anatomy, the author entered upon the consideration of the zoo- 

 logical position of Amphioxus, which he observed could no longer be 

 ranked with Petromyzon and Myxine, but must take an ordinal place 

 in any new arrangement of the class. In conclusion he remarked, 

 that although genera allied to Amphioxus might now be rare, yet in 

 the ages which have passed since the development of organic forms 

 commenced, Abranchiated fishes may have been more common, and 

 may yet afford subjects of research to the paleeontologist. 



XXXVII. — Information respecting Zoological and Botanical 

 Travellers. 



May 27 — The subjoined letter, giving news of our friends Mr. 

 Forbes and Mr. Thompson, has arrived just in time for insertion ; 

 and our wish to communicate it to our readers must be our excuse 

 for omitting several articles. A letter from Mr. Schomburgk, dated 

 Demerara, April 6, informs us that he was just setting out on a two 

 months' expedition, intending to return in June, and to start again 

 at the latter end of August. 



To Richard Taylor, Esq. 



My Dear Sir, Syra, 7th May, 1841. 



According to my promise, I send a letter for the Annals, 

 giving a sketch of our natural history proceedings, so far. I 

 hope the news may interest my brother naturalists at home. 

 Best respects to all friends for myself and Mr. Thompson. 

 Believe me ever, dear Sir, most sincerely yours, 



Edward Forbes. 



On the 17th of April Mr. Thompson and I arrived at Malta, and 

 found the Beacon about to sail for the Archipelago. During the four 

 days we remained at ^'^aletta we made some short excursions into 

 the country, and were rewarded, amongst other things, by finding 

 Clausilia syracusana in abundance, a species hitherto unrecorded out 

 of Sicily. We left on the 21st, and directed our course to the Morea, 

 proposing to water the ship at Navarino, and were a week on the 

 passage, the winds being very light, and the weather delightfully fine, 

 which afforded a favourable opportunity for making observations on 

 the pelagic animals of the Mediterranean. The tow-net was over- 

 board, and the hand-net in requisition whenever it was possible, 

 but hitherto we have not met with that abundance of floating life 

 which so delights the explorers of more northern seas. MedustB have 

 been few and far between, three or four species only having been 

 seen, and but few individuals of each. Few floating creatures ap- 



