PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 33 
place of the absent external branchie. He states that the size of the jaw- 
chamber is increased by the raising of the “‘ compasses” when the transverse 
muscles contract, especially if the jaws be protruded. Under such conditions 
water finds ingress by a crevice produced, and the interiorly-placed gills 
thus bathed. The peculiar mechanism of the teeth and jaws was here 
explained, and the function of the so-called “compasses” noted. As regards 
the “ pedicillarie ” of the Cidaride, Mr. Stewart observed that when the jaw 
ends in a terminal fang the chamber has a second opening in addition to 
the large triangular tooth-armed orifice near the tip, the fang itself being 
hollow and perforated external to and in front of the tip. He suggests that 
this probably serves as a channel for the injection of a poison, secreted by 
two glands placed in the vicinity of the pedicillarian head. He compares 
this to the falces of the spider or to the poison-fangs of venomous serpents. 
Another point to which he called attention was that in Cidaris tribulotdes 
and Phyllacanthus bucculora, in addition to the calcareous arches bridging 
over the ambulacral pores (J. Miiller’s vertebral processes) there are delicate 
solid spines between each pair of pores, which project downward and tend 
to arch over the ambulacral vessel. These spines recal the similar processes 
scattered over the inner surface of the corona of the Clypeastride. He 
further showed the genital gland of Dorocidaris papillata as possessing a 
calcareous spicular framework, and that the abundance or paucity of these 
vary considerably according to circumstances. In Sir Wyville Thomson’s 
lately-described new species of Cidaris (C. nutrix), the latter condition is 
dwelt on as distinguishing it from D. papillata—a consideration which may 
hereafter require to be modified. 
A short note “ On the Migration of Wild Geese,” by Dr. R. C. A. Prior, 
was read, in his absence, by the Secretary, and was to the effect that an 
immense flock of Wild Geese had lately passed over the Azores, and these 
were supposed to have come from Newfoundland and to be on their way 
towards Morocco. He considered that a wide dispersion of the seeds of 
water-plants would be likely to result from such a migration. 
Mr. Charles O. Waterhouse communicated a “Report on a small 
Collection of Insects obtained by Dr. J.C. Ploém in Java, with a Description 
of a new Species of Hoplia.” These insects had been collected in the 
vicinity of Sindang-leeja, and transmitted safely to England by post in the 
hollow of a piece of bamboo. Besides a number of specimens of the new 
species (Hoplia awrantiaca) there were examples of Popilia biguttata, Wied., 
Chalcosoma atlas, Linn., Dascyllus fulvulus, Wied., a variety, Rhyparida? sp., 
and some undetermined species of Gryllus and Forficula. 
Several botanical papers were then read, and some exhibitions followed.— 
J. Muriz. 
