Movements of Detached Portions of Bivalve Molluscs. ] 49 



Similar comparative observations have been made on the 

 ft*esh water mussel and the oyster. Even detached portions 

 of the frog have been found to move, and it will be a genuine 

 surprise to physiologists to learn, that the heart of the frog, 

 so long and so much investigated, has likewise a wonderful 

 power hitherto unnoticed, that of travelling about when 

 detached from the body, having covered a distance of 

 half-an-inch in 10 minutes. These and other matters will, 

 however, require separate treatment. 



Art. XIV. — Rainfall and Floods Discharge. 

 By G. K. B. Steane. 



[Eead November 5, 1887.] 



The subject of maximum Flood Discharge is one of 

 considerable importance to the engineering profession, 

 particularly to those upon whom falls the responsibility of 

 constructing drainage outlets, culverts, bridges, &c. Though 

 the subject has been practised for thousands of years and 

 there have been millions of opportunities for observation, 

 the bulk of the opportunities have been lost, owing to the 

 fact that the surroundino; circumstances have not been 

 observed, and the information has not been published. 



A few engineers have paid attention to the matter of 

 river discharge and published the information, but on the 

 whole, I think, the subject has been neglected. I know of 

 very many instances where costly works have been con- 

 structed to answer certain purposes and have failed, causing 

 damage to many times the value of a proper structure. As 

 an evidence of the difference of opinion held by authorities, 

 I cannot refrain from referring to evidence given at an 



