120 REPORT— 1860. 



Dr. Lankester called attention to the completion of the first part of Mr. Black- 

 wall's work on British Spiders, — a copy of which he placed on the table. The 

 work contains twelve coloured plates, and is one of the most complete monographs 

 hitherto published of the class of animals to which it is devoted. It forms the Kay- 

 Society's volume for 1859. 



On the Statistics of the Herring Fishery. By Charles W. Peach. 



On Cydippe. By John Price, Chester. 



I will only remind my fellow-naturalists that the Cydippe (which has been, like 

 everything else, retarded by this cold season) was pretty abundant in the Mersey 

 on the 16th of June, and may therefore be looked for confidently on the coast 

 henceforward. 



In order to enjoy the sight of this most enchanting Oceanid, I advise them — 



1. To provide tall glass jars, or, fa ute de mieux, the largest size of " sample bot- 

 tles/' quite transparent, and with large mouths. The last can be taken to the shore 

 in a frame like a cruet stand to hold several bottles, corked during carriage. 



2. To catch the animals in some cup or ladle large enough to take up a gill of 

 water with them, to prevent damage. Best of all, in a J spherical ladle, with 

 tubular handle. 



In either case, plunge it in a full inch in advance of the swimming Cydippe, to 

 save the trains, which easily break. 



3. To keep them, when transferred to their permanent lodging-jar, glass or 

 u Aquarium," as cold as possible ; and never (except when examining them) in a 



jm light. 



4. To watch minutely for the ova ( grey specks smaller than "Noctilucai ") floating 

 near the siirface ; and ladle them out (say with a salt-spoon) as most interesting 

 microscopic objects before and after hatching. 



5. To microscope, with a low power, Cydippes containing food: easily known, as 

 they are transparent. And if you get the right kind of prawn, they will capture 

 and swallow them, but not shrimps. 



6. If Beroes are to be had, and Cydippes are " as plenty as blackberries," re- 

 member that the latter are the natural food of the former, who will bolt as many 

 as five, one after the other. 



7. By uniting the two last hints, my curious friends may see, by virtue of the 

 transparency of both animals, two digestions going on (for a short' time) at once. 

 The Cydippe digests the prawn, whilst the Beroe digests 'the Cydippe. Qu. /diges- 

 tion ?, ingestion ?, indigestion ?. 



_ 8. To remember that a number of these creatures were kept in the " good old 

 times" for 13 weeks, without plants, and only changing the water occasionally ; 

 that these perished after all by mere accident, and that it is the pleasing duty of the 

 rising generation to keep them all tin- year round under the improved regime. 



On tfie Aspergillum or Watering-pot Mollush. 

 By Lovell Reeve, F.L.S., F.G.S. 



The Aspergillum is a siphoned bivalve niollusk which ceases in an early stage of 

 its existence to live free, and while yet no more than the eighth of an inch' in length, 

 sinks into the sand, or adheres to shell or stone, and directs its calcifying functions 

 to the formation of a comparatively large tubular sheath. Upwards the sheath 

 enlarges with the growth of the siphons for their special protection ; downwards 

 the animal closes in the sheath by a disc like the rose of a watering-pot, fissured and 

 erforated and bordered by a frill of small tubes.' The mantle of the animal, which 

 as been observed once, and only once, on the shores of the Red Sea, enlarges on 

 commencing its sheath growth, and a number of tentacles are emitted, each corre- 

 sponding with a perforation or tube of the disc. Freqm n< distortion is imparted to 

 the shell, more especially lo the disc end of it, the seat of the niollusk, according to 

 the circumstances of its place of habitation ; and when adhering to shell or stone 

 the disc may be scarcely recognizable. Shells with the strength of growth even of 

 Spondylus, become distorted by their inability to contend against the outward press- 



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