Zoological Proceedings of Societies. 267 



2. Paussus, Linn., of which twelve species are described, four of them 

 new. 3. i??/fotor«.9, Dalm., consists but of a single species, Hyl. Buce- 

 phalus, Dalm. 4. Platijrhopalus, Westw., has for its type the Paussus 

 denticornis, Don. It contains four species, two of which are new. 5. 

 Cerapterus, Swed., is composed of three species, one of which is sup- 

 posed to be new. 6. Trochoideus, Westw., is founded on a single 

 species, Paussus cruciatus, Dalm., discovered by that authour in a package 

 of Copal Gum. Mr. Westwood also mentions the Hispa hihamata, Linn., 

 as supposed to belong to this family ; and gives the characters of a new 

 genus, which he names Megadeuterus, related to the Telephorida:, and 

 containing two species, the type being Paussus Jtavicornis, Fabr. The 

 drawings in illustration of this paper comprise fifty-five figures of species 

 and their anatomical details, and include representations of all the 

 genera, and of the new species described by the authour. 



A paper by John Morgan, Esq., F.L.S., describing some Anatomical 

 peculiarities in the Organs of Deglutition in several animals of the 

 Order of Rodentia, was also read. In the Capybara, f Hydrochcerus 

 CapybaraJ, and in some other animals of the Rodent order, the authour 

 has observed a singular developement of the velum pendulum palati, to 

 which he has assigned functions of a different description from those 

 which are attributed to the same organ in any other tribe of animals. 

 After noticing the great extent of the grinding surfaces of the molar 

 teeth of the Capybara, and the necessity for such an arrangement in the 

 masticating organs of an animal living occasionally upon hard vegetable 

 substances, and possessing a single stomach, he proceeds to show that the 

 complete mastication of the food is not only provided for by the form and 

 extent of the teeth, but that it is rendered absolutely indispensable to 

 the passage of nutriment from the mouth to the stomach. This necessity 

 arises from the peculiar formation of the velum, which occupying the 

 whole area of the passage through the fauces, would form a complete 

 septum between the mouth and pharynx, but for the existence of a small 

 circular aperture in its centre through which the food is allowed to 

 pass. The velum palati thus enlarged assumes, during the act of swal- 

 lowing, from the pressure of the food against its anterior surface, the 

 shape of a cone or funnel ; and the smaller end or apex of this funnel, 

 which is terminated by the central aperture, is tluiisl backward!? into 



