103 REPORT— 1867. 



concentrated into red corpuscles, which, was not the case Avilh iuveituhratua. A 

 new gi-een hlood-colouriug-uiatter was described by its spoctnim, found in the 

 blood of some annelids (Siphonostomd). A large number of orange, red, green, and 

 yellow pigments were obtained in solution \>j ether, from marine Sponges, Polyzoa, 

 Crustacea, and other animals; but none of these had given delinite absoi-ption-bands 

 by which they could be recognized and characterized. It appeared that mere pig- 

 ments did not present the phenomenon, whilst other bodies not of a fatty nature 

 did. It was very desirable that fui'ther observations shoidd be made with the 

 spectroscope on animal substauces. 



Nouvelle comparaison des memhres pdviers et tJioraciques cJiez VHomme, les 

 Mammiferes, les Oiseaux et les lieptiles deduite de la torsion de Vhumerus. 

 Par Charles Martins*. 



Life — its Nature, Origin, iSf-c. By P. Melville. 



Notes of E.vperiments tvith Poisons 4'c. on Young Salmon. By Dr. M'I>'iosii. 



These experiments were performed in 18G2 and 18(33 on newly hatched fish, 

 which, from their transparency, are very favourable subjects. The most numerous 

 were those with Flem. tinct. of aconite, which at fii'st caused STOiptoms of irrita- 

 tion, with twitchings and considerable muscular movement. The heart's action 

 by-and-by became irregular, and then a remarkable tendencj' to more rapid 

 motion oi the auricle appeared, with a slowing of the ventricular action, and the 

 latter became more marked as the paralysis of the umseles generally increased. 

 Under the action of this poison some veiy interesting obseiTations may l;e made oir 

 the heart's action ; and from the nou-rhythmical movements of the cavities, a 

 halt was now and then caused by the contractions occurring at the same time. 

 The general residt was that the auricle contracted twice for each ventricular action. 

 This condition was independent of the respiratory process. Other drugs experi- 

 mented with were tinct. digitalis, creosote, sulphuric ether, chloric ether, mor- 

 phia, chloroform, bleachiug-powder, anmionia, &c. A few minims of a solution of 

 bleaching-powder proved rapidh^ ftital ; and though the fish was placed imder 

 running water in a few minutes, and before motion ceased, it did not recover. 

 Muscular irritability and con\-ulsive movements continued for about a minute 

 after the heart's action had ceased under chloroform. Considerable vitality was 

 exhibited when the iish was placed in sea-water, death ensuing slowly from cardiac 

 congestion caused by the shrivelling of the superficial textures, and consequent 

 shutting up of the blood-channels; and secondly, from a peculiar coagulation 

 and hardening of the yelk-sac and the resulting interference with nutrition. The 

 tentacles of an anemone (Tealia crassicornis) did not appear to exert a poisonous or 

 paralyzing action, but the young fish died slowly from the physical injuries in- 

 iiicted by the dart-cells, llegeneration of artificial wounds rapidly ensued, and 

 when the tip of the tail M'as cut ott'some curious etiects were observed in regard 

 to the clot which formed at the tip of the artery. 



On the Adaptation of tlie Structure of the Shell of the Bird's Egy to the 

 Function of liespiration. By Dr. G. Ogilvie. 

 The principal object of this paper was to call attention to the constant occm-reuce 

 of a cavernous stratum on the interior of the shell of the egg, formed by a series of 

 wartj' excrescences from the calcai'eous crust, and covered in by the lining mem- 

 brane of the shell, which adheres so intimately to the points of the tubercles tliat 

 a fleecy film is always left when the membrane is torn oft" from the inside of the 

 shell, and in many cases can be removed only by burning it oft' by calcination, 

 though the uatm-e of the sti-uctm-e may be shown in other ways, as by sections and 

 the use of aniline dyes, which tinge the fibrous tissue, witli little or no efl'ect on the 

 shell proper. The penetration of the external air into the cavernous structure, 

 tlu-ough the overlj'ing stratum of the calcai'eous crust, is facilitated by the pore-Hke 

 pits un the outside of the shell, which, though in many cases they do not go directly 



* Sue Appendix. 



