64 Proceedings of the British Association. 



city has been sustained several days without water, taking only 

 a handful of maize. Their flesh is considered equal to venison, 

 being commonly eaten by the Peruvians, who state the slaughter 

 of them for food to be about four millions annually. The impor- 

 tation of the alpaca wool in 1839, is stated at one million pounds, 

 and within the last year at three millions. It seemed, however, 

 doubtful whether the animal could be made to thrive in Great 

 Britain. 



Prof. Agassiz made a communication on animals found in Red 

 Snow. He stated that Shuttle worth had lately demonstrated 

 that besides the Protococcus nivalis, the red snow contained sev- 

 eral species of infusoria. The results of Prof. A.'s observations 

 led him to conclude that the red snow was altogether an animal 

 production, and that the so-called Protococcus nivalis is the ova of 

 a species of rotiferous animal called by Ehrenberg Philodina ro- 

 seola. This animalcule he had found dead in the red snow, and 

 abundantly in ditches in the neighborhood, at the bottom of 

 which its ova produced a red deposit. Under the microscope the 

 colored ova in the ovaries could be distinctly observed. He had 

 also seen the infusoria described by Shuttleworth. 



The following papers were also communicated to this Section. 



On the preservation of animal and vegetable substances ; by Prof. Henslow 

 and the committee. 



Further researches on the British Ciliograda; by Edward Forbes and John 

 Goodsir. 



On the plants and animals found in the sulphureous springs of Askern and Har- 

 rowgate, Yorkshire ; by Dr. Lankester. 



On the structure of fishes; by Dr. Macdonald. 



On the regeneration of lost organs discharging the functions of the head and 

 viscera, by the Holothuria and Ampliitrite, two marine animals j by Sir John G. 

 Dalyeli. 



Report of a committee appointed to dredge various parts of the Coasts of Great 

 Britain for marine animals. 



On an anomalous form of the plum observed in the gardens of the province of 

 New Brunswick ; by Prof. Robb. 



On the identity of the fish called the parr with the fry of the salmon ; by Messrs 

 Shaw and Wilson. 



On the true method of discovering the natural system in Zoology and Botany ; 

 by Hugh Strickland. 



On the organs of sense in the Salmon ; by Dr. Lizars. 



On a new Salmon-stair, with a model ; by Mr. Smith, of Deanston. 



On the development of the embryo in the ova of fishes, inore especially of the 

 family Salmonida; ; by Prof Agassiz. 



On a new genus of Ascidians, viz. Pclonaia; by Messrs. Forbes and Goodsir. 



On the Medusae ; by Mr. Patterson. 



On the various modes of fishing employed by Indians in the West of Guiana ; 

 by Mr. Schomburgk. 



