TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 777 



brandies connecting the sympathetic and vagus, but with anatomical relations 

 varying not only in different species, but in different specimens of the same species. 

 The influence of these nerves over the heart has been described. 



(2.) Certain other nerves with peculiar functions in relation to the heart that 

 cannot be readily summarised. 



(3.) They have also noted in the case of two species of land turtle that the vena; 

 cava superwres when isolated from the heart are pulsatile, and under the control of 



the vagus. 



6. On the Functions of the Marginal Convolution. 

 By V. Horsley, M.B., B.Sc, and Professor E. A. Schafer, F.B.S. 1 



The object of experiments made by the authors was to ascertain the effect of 

 stimulation of localised areas of the marginal convolution in the monkey, and their 

 results filled up a gap in the well-known work of Ferrier in that they were able to 

 show that, removal of certain areas, the excitation of which had previously caused 

 movements of muscles of the trunk, &c, on both sides led to paralysis of muscles of 

 the trunk of such a degree that the animal was unable to stand. By removal of 

 the frontal lobes no paralysis of voluntary movements was obtained. These results 

 were in opposition to those obtained by Munk, of Berlin. 



TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER ?.. 



The following Papers and Report were read : — 

 1. On the Ova of Monotremes. By Professor H. N. Moselet, LL.D., F.B.S. 



The President stated that he had a most important announcement to make. lie 

 had just received a cablegram from Sydney, from Professor Liversidge, announcing 

 that Mr. Caldwell, the Balfour student, who was sent out to Australia to investigate 

 the mysteries in connection with the mammals of that country, had discovered 

 that the Monotremes were oviparous. He did not consider that a more important 

 telegram in a scientific sense had ever passed through the submarine cables before. 

 The Monotremes formed two families characterised by the duck-billed Platypus and 

 an animal which was known to the Australians as the ant-eater. These were the 

 lowest forms of mammals, and it had never been known how they produced their 

 young. The extraordinary discovery was now made that these mammals laid eggs, 

 and that the development of these eggs bore a close resemblance to the development 

 of the eggs of the Reptilia ; proving that these animals were more closely connected 

 with the Sauropsida than with the Amphibia. 



2. Report on the Influence of Bodily Exercise on the Elimination of 

 Nitrogen. — See Reports, p. 265. 



3. BemarJcs on the Caldwell Automatic Microtome. 



4. On Sensory Nerve-sacs in the Shin of Amiurus (Siluridos). 

 By Professor R. Ramsay Weight, M.A., B.Sc. 



In his recent work, ' Ueber die Hautdecke und Hautsinnesorgane der Fiscbe,' 

 Leydig refers to certain pores in the skin of Lota which, although not situated in 

 the course of the lateral line or in that of the ' mucous ' canals of the head, 



1 See ' Proceedings of the Royal Society,' No. 231, 1884. 



