PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 271 



Eimer in the Mole, the nerves seen being representatives of the nerves 

 upon an ordinary hair-follicle ; (2) forked nerve termination on hair-follicle of 

 Mole's tail ; (3) nerve endings in nose of Cat ; (4) termination of a nerve in 

 the ganglion cells upou a " feeler" hair in the Horse, and that of an ordinary 

 hair in the same, showing forked and cellular endings and encircling fibres. 

 Dr. Hoggan related his observations on the habits of a Mole (Talpa) kept 

 in confinement, more particularly concerning its nasal organ as a special 

 sense of touch, and of the tail as a tactile organ. He compared the develop- 

 ment of the nerve in these with the cutaneous nerve structures of other 

 Mammalia, dealing with the effects of habit in causing evolution of the 

 so-called " organ of Eimer." Treating in detail of the differentiation of 

 structure and function in this latter, he summed up as follows : — The central 

 fibrils in the organ in question, and the nerve-cells at the base, with which 

 they are continuous, are similar in character to the subepidermic nerve-cells 

 and their intra-epidermic fibrillar prolongations. The outer circle of fibrils 

 have equally their existence and nature explained, as well as the cause of 

 their being dragged into their present position in the epiderm. Then, as 

 relates to function, Eimer was certainly correct, or at all events within the 

 truth, when he spoke of the organ he had discovered in the Mole as a 

 "tactile instrument," for it certainly possesses most remarkable powers of 

 touch, but along with this other sensorial functions. Indeed it may be 

 considered very probable that the inner circle of fibrils are the analogues 

 and homologues of the forked endings, and that they provide for the sense 

 of touch, while the centre fibrils and those of the outer circle provide for 

 the sense of temperature, pain, and any functions connected with the 

 sympathetic nerve system. The Paccinian bodies at the root of the organ, 

 but not properly connected with it, are probably the agents for registering 

 pressure, so that in itself the organ of Eimer is completely provided with 

 the full armament of peripheral nerve terminations. 



A paper was read " On the Ascidians collected in the South Coast of 

 England during the Cruise of the yacht ' Glimpse ' in the year 1881," by 

 Mr H. A. Sorby and Prof. W. A. Herdman. A notice was given of the 

 localities visited round the south coast of England, the depth where 

 specimens were obtained, the nature of bottom, &c, followed by particulars 

 respecting twelve species of simple Ascidians, one of these being a new 

 form of Molgula, dredged in Hole's Bay, near Poole, and named by the 

 authors M. ccepaformis. Only a few compound Ascidians were obtained 

 during the cruise. 



Mr. P. Herbert Carpenter followed with " Descriptions of new or little- 

 known Comatula" being materials derived from the ' Challenger' Expedition 

 and from the Hamburg Museum. These comprise three species of Atele- 

 crinus, one A. Wyvilli, a new form dredged near the Fiji Islands ; four 

 species of Ophiocrmus (= Eudiocrinus, n. g.), three of which are new ; nine 



