144 Zoological Proceedings of Societies. 



M. Dumeril made a report on M. de Ferrusac's Memoir on the 

 animal of the genus Argonauta. 



January 17. — M. Majendie announced that he had ascertained 

 the insensibility of the retina, in a female on whom he operated 

 for cataract ; the contact of an instrument with that organ did not 

 produce any appreciable sensation : the patient recovered her 

 sight immediately after the operation. 



M. de Basterot read his geological description of the tertiary 

 district of the south-west of France, comprising some general 

 remarks on fossil Mollusca. 



M. Fodera announced that he should shortly communicate the 

 results of his researches on muscular contraction, on the action of 

 various agents on the nervous system and on muscular fibre, and 

 on the formation of white globules analagous to the white globules. 

 of the blood. M. Giron de Buzareingue read the first part of a 

 Memoir on the Generation of Animals. 



January 24. — M. Gaymard read some observations on the 

 Biplores and Beroes. M. Latreille communicated a notice re- 

 specting an insect of the genus Brachycerus, which is considered 

 as a talisman by the females of the kingdom of Berta. 



January 31.^ — Professor Briot, of Besan9on, communicated a 

 memoir entitled, Considerations on the Lachrymal Ducts^ their 

 disorders, and the means of curing them. M. Delapylaie com- 

 menced the reading of a Memoir on the Encornet of the French 

 fishermen. — M. Majendie communicated an observation confirm- 

 ing his view respecting the so-called olfactory nerve, that it is 

 not the nerve of smell : this was, that a man in whom the anterior 

 part of the brain and the olfactory nerve had been altered or 

 destroyed, still retained the sense of smell. 



February 14. — M. Bailly communicated several results of an 

 investigation in which he is engaged for the purpose of deter- 

 mining whether the births of males and females indicate any 

 appreciable coincidence with physical causes : he announced a 

 detailed memoir on the subject. 



February 28. — M. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire read a memoir on the 

 Natural Affinities of the Fossil Crocodile of Caen, and on the 

 formation of a new genus from it, denominated Teleosaurus. 



