348 Dr. A. Giinther vn new Species of Snakes 



selves do not possess this character. If they do constitute ca- 

 pillary anastomotic tubes at their origin, this condition does not 

 last. 



The spiral vessels have closed extremities, and anastomose ; 

 if they communicate with each other, it is an accidental circum- 

 stance. They are adapted by their length to serve as channels 

 for the rapid transmission of liquids to a great distance ; but 

 they do not disperse or diffuse them except so far as the per- 

 meability of their walls permits. 



The cortical tubes and fibres, which are only modified con- 

 ditions of the same structure, present a similar disposition : they 

 are closed at their exti^emities, and by intermediate phases ap- 

 proximate in characters with cells ; their walls are permeable 

 only to liquid substances. 



The appellation lateos cannot advantageously be applied to the 

 liquid they enclose, for the name has been given to juices essen- 

 tially different : nor can the name laticiferous vessels be given 

 to these tubes, for they are not vessels in the usual signification 

 of the word ; it has, moreover, been employed to designate 

 channels of another description. The expressions latex and 

 laticiferous vessels seem to' me calculated only to cause confusion 

 in science, and to be rightly rejected ; they perpetuate an erro- 

 neous idea, by assigning to plants those centralized functions 

 peculiar to animals. In plants, all the organic constituents 

 possess an individual life, and concur in the maintenance of the 

 common life; all, even to the cells which compose the simplest 

 hairs, are organs of transmission and the seat of processes of 

 elaboration ; in all, the fluids undergo movements of cyclosis or 

 of gyration, and the materials peculiar to nutrition are prepared 

 by a process which combines the elementary principles, or sepa- 

 rates those which are hurtful or useless. Every single cell or 

 vessel thus creates the substances which are required for its 

 growth ; each allows the transudation of those materials which 

 form, in contact with its walls, the new tissues which preserve 

 unchanged the characters of the species, even when the mass of 

 elaborated juices is derived from another species grafted on the 

 plant; lastly, each one is able to supply juices to distant parts, 

 just as it has itself received such from them. 



XXXV. — Third Account of new Species of Snakes in the Collection 

 of the British Museum. By Albert Gtjnther, M.A., M.D., 

 Ph.D. 



[Plates V. & VI.] 



The following species of Ophidians have been added to the 

 Collection of the British Museum since the pubhcation of 



