268 Scientific JSfotices. 



the cavity of the pharynx, beyond and above the opening of the glottis, 

 to which it thus affords additional protection. A sort of membranous 

 strainer is thus produced, through the small aperture of which the 

 grosser particles of unmasticated food are prevented from passing. The 

 muscles attached to these parts were shewn to consist in a sphincter of 

 the funnel shaped membrane, connected with and supported by an 

 anterior and posterior muscular column on each side. The two anterior 

 columns arising from the fore part of the Os Hyoides, and ascending 

 behind and partly through the muscular fibres of the root of the tongue, 

 are continued upwards one on each side of the funnel, and are inserted 

 into the posterior part of the palatine membrane ; the posterior columns 

 are attached above to the palate and descend on either side of the funnel 

 to be inserted into the lateral parts of the pharynx. These four mus- 

 cular supports of the membranous strainer or funnel shaped velum palati, 

 are considered by the authour as analogous to the muscles forming the 

 pillars of the fauces in other animals. 



A paper was also read, entitled, " j^n attempt to introduce a more pre- 

 cise distribution of the genus Papilio, by George Milne, Esq., F.L.S. 

 The authour proposes a recurrence to the Linnean genus Papilio, and its 

 subdivision into eight phalanges ; and concludes his paper with some 

 remarks upon the innovations made on the Linnean system, chiefly as 

 regards Lepidopterous insects. 



Art. XXXVII. Scientific .Yotice^. 



J\''ote on the British Species of Caryophyllia. Stokes. 



In a " Note" appended to some very interesting " J\''otes on the 

 " habits of a Caryophyllia from Tor Bay, Devon., by H, T. De la 

 " Beche, Esq., F.R.S., ^c." inserted in the Zoological Journal, (Vol. 

 III., page 481), the Coral referred to by the authour was described by 

 Mr. Broderip as a new species, under the name of Caryophyllia Smithii. 

 Dr. Fleming has recently, in the Edinburgli New rhilosophical Journal, 



