34 



some molluscous animals and zoophytes, preserved in spirits, from 

 Sicily. 



A paper by John Wyllie, Esq., describing the peculiar structure 

 of the branchial appendages of one of the Indian Silurida, was read. 

 " The fish to whose singular branchial appendages I wish to draw 

 the attention of the Society," says Mr. Wyllie, " is named ' Singee* 

 in the Mahratta, and ' Bichoo-Mutchie' (Scorpion Fish) in the 

 Hindostanni language. It is the Silurus Singio of Dr. Hamilton's 

 ' Fishes of the Ganges.' " 



" The following description is drawn fi'om memoranda taken at 

 Nagpoor, December 6, 1825 : — 



" B. 7 ; D. G ; P. ^ ; V. 6 ; A. 65 ; C. 14 ; Cirrhi, S. 

 " Length of body 7| inches, breadth at anus one inch. Head 

 much depressed, very hard, without scales, terminating posteriorly 

 in three equal spinous processes, resembling a trident. 



" Body elongated, much compressed ; above rounded, below 

 carinated, naked. Colour, when alive, of a very dark olive green ; 

 when dead, of a bluish black. Ventral and dorsal fins opposite ; 

 pectoral quadrangular with one very strong sharp bony ray, and 

 six soft rays ; anal extending as far as the tail ; lateral line mesial. 

 " Cirrhi of nearly equal length, one pair arising immediately before 

 the nostrils ; another from the angles of the mouth ; and a third and 

 fourth from the lower jaw, near the angles of the mouth. 



" Stomach small, with a moderate cul-de-sac ; intestines equal, 

 without caeca, of several convolutions, measuring seven inches in 

 length. 



" No air-bladder. 



"The peculiar organs to which I wish to direct attention are 

 situated exterior of the abdomen : there is one on each side, lying 

 immediately over the transverse processes of the vertebrae ; and in the 

 angle formed between them and the spinous processes they are 

 loosely attached to the surrounding parts, and covered only by the 

 general integuments. They have the form of cylindrical tubes, are 

 about the size of an ordinary black-lead pencil ; they are closed at 

 the posterior extremity, which extends within about three inches of 

 the tail, and they open under the base of the cranium, between two 

 of the branchial pairs. They are of loose cellular texture, of a 

 whitish gray colour, speckled with numerous minute black points ; 

 they are traversed from one extremity to the other by a blood-vessel 

 (vein ?) of considerable size, into which numerous smaller branches 

 open at right angles. 



" These sacs are perhaps intended for reservoirs of water, to enable 

 the animal, during its migrations from tank to tank, to maintain the 

 gills in a constantly moist condition. They may also perhaps serve, 

 in ordinary circumstances, as an extension of the respiratory surface, 

 and the numerous blood-vessels that are seen on their coats would 

 iend to give a probability to such a conjecture." 



Mr. Ogilby pointed out the characters of a new species of Ante- 



