330 Proceedings. 
Mr. Milligan also submitted for examination a new and very beautiful 
species of Petromyzon—Lamprey, probably marine, recently taken at the 
mouth of a creek at Oyster Cove, in D’Entreeasteaux Channel: it measures 
twenty-two and a-half inches in length, and is a little thicker than a man’s 
thumb—there are two dorsal crests or fin-like processes, but no pectoral 
or ventral fins; the rays in the dorsal fins are soft, and the posterior one 
is not continued so as to meet the narrow border which edges the tail. 
There are, as usual, seven spiracles on each side, very distinct, the upper- 
most being an inch distant from the eye, which is about an inch from the 
mouth, and covered with a fold of skin. This lamprey has a greyish lead 
colour, with a bluish green, or nearly sea-green band running along each 
side of its back, from the back of the head to the tail fin; each of the 
dorsal fins have a setting, as it were, of sea-green, and are delicately edged 
with the same tint. Upon the back of the head, about an inch from the 
mouth, there is a small papilla, in which there is the aperture ofa fine tube 
passing inwards; the jaws are represented by semicircular rings of bone, 
terminating, in the case of the lower, in a minutely serrated edge, and in 
that of the upper in four conical sharp teeth,—the two outer largest, and 
standing forwards and downwards,—the two inner finely acuminated, and 
standing downwards and backwards; the top of the piston-like tongue 
appears in the middle, surmounted with dental plates, and having a tubercle 
in the centre. The Petromyzon marinum (a spotted European species, 
which only visits the fresh water in early spring), is said to form a delicious 
dish for the table. Persons meeting with the present species would do well 
to ascertain its qualities and value for the market. 
The following note, read from “Mr. W. Archer, M.L.C., accompanying 
drawings of microscopic organisms observed in the naturally formed 
“brown paper,” obtained in April last, from the dried channel of a rivulet, 
amongst the Syenitic ranges near Falmouth, on the East coast. 
“ Cheshunt, 10th July, 1852. 
“ My pear Sir,—As I cannot get back to Hobart Town in time for the 
monthly meeting of the Royal Society, I send you sketches of a few of the 
forms observed in your “ brown paper,” which I take to be a mass of 
dried conferve. What the other forms are I know not, but they are 
extremely small, (Iam sorry that I have not measured them); some, 
however, are like a species of Navicula. I will tell you more about them 
when I reach Hobart Town, and place them under my highest powers. 
‘7 send you part of a blade of grass, with a small fungus upon it, very 
common at this season. 
“ Believe me, 
“ Yours very truly, 
“ Joseph Milligan, Esq.” “ WittiaM ARCHER. 
