Miscellaneous. 187 
the lower surface of the disk from the filaments covered with barbules 
which occupy the circumference. 
Each of these proliferous tentacles forms a regular raceme, of 
which the grains are small Medusee in different states of development ; 
they are suspended from a pedicle by the pole opposite to the orifice 
of the bell. The extremity of the tentacle is inflated, and presents an 
orifice. 
A little later, about the 15th of September, the same winds blow- 
ing, I again met with Porpite, but this time very much damaged ; 
nevertheless they still bore bunches of little Medusze; and some 
Velelle which I collected in better condition, in the same locality, 
furnished me with very numerous little medusiform corpuscles. In 
relation to the period of reproduction, this fact is worthy of remark. 
In 1858, during the month of May, I obtained great quantities of 
Meduse from Velelle, which I was able to observe for a considerable 
time. If, therefore, the reproduction takes place in Africa as in 
Corsica, we may conclude that the production of the little medusi- 
form corpuscles goes on for a long time.— Comptes Rendus, Nov. 11, 
1861, p. 851. 
On some Points in the Anatomy of the Apteryx australis. 
By Prof. Hyrtu. 
The lumbar artery of this bird, when it arrives at the popliteal 
flexure, is divided (as it is generally) into two tibial arteries—an 
anterior and a posterior. The first of these, after having passed the 
interosseal tibial space, passes back over the plane of extension and 
the articulation of the knee to supply the anterior muscles in the 
femoral portion of the leg. The other artery also passes through 
the intertibial space, to come in front of the tibia, leaving behind it 
a very feeble branch, sufficient for the supply of the scarcely deve- 
loped post-tibial muscles. The main branch runs downward between 
the extensors of the toes to the back of the tarsus, where it ramifies 
into digital arteries. Between the middle of the tibia and the centre 
of the tarsus, this artery is surrounded on all sides by an arterial 
plexus (rete mirabile), divided into a number of delicate branches, 
leaving a distinct impression on the corresponding portion of the 
tibia. If carefully examined, no doubt similar impressions might be 
found on the tibia of Dinornis, Notornis, and other extinct forms, 
whose only still extant representative is the Apteryx australis.— 
Imp. Acad. Vienna, Meeting, Oct. 10, 1861. 
On a gigantic Cuttle-fish, found in the Atlantic Ocean, between 
Madeira and Teneriffe. 
Several instances are on record of the occurrence of enormous 
Cephalopoda, which almost seem to warrant the belief, formerly pre- 
valent in Scandinavia, in the existence of the Kraken. M. Milne- 
Edwards quotes Aristotle as speaking of a great Cuttle-fish five 
fathoms in length, and refers to other observers, such as Péron, who 
found, in the waters surrounding Tasmania, a Squid, of which the 
