18710 391 [Dwight 



Prof. Morse also made some remarks on the bones of the 

 carpus and tarsus in birds and reptiles. 



Dr. Thomas Dwight remarked on a peculiar nerve plexus, 

 which he had noticed in the upper lip of Phoca vitulina, the 

 harbor seal. 



The fifth pair of nerves is extremely large and breaks into fibres, 

 some going to the root of the whiskers, and others beyond, but one 

 set formed a loop following down the sensory filaments nearly to the 

 roots of the hair, then recurving accompany the motor filaments 

 which pass down from the facial nerves. He could find no account 

 of this structure in works on the subject, and was unable to say 

 whether it was the usual or exceptional condition. 



Prof. Morse gave some observations of his on a species of 

 "frog-hopper" or "spittle insect." 



It has been stated that these insects excrete their frothy covering, 

 but they, in fact, excrete a perfectly clear liquid and add the bubble 

 afterwards. When placed in the middle of a drop of clear fluid the 

 little insect immediately backs to the margin, and protruding the cau- 

 dal appendages, grasps a bubble of air and draws back into the drop. 

 The air thus obtained runs along the concave ventral surface of the 

 abdomen, where it can be noticed shining like little quicksilver glob- 

 ules. This air supplies the abdominal spiracles, and when it becomes 

 no longer fit to breathe, is allowed to escape into the fluid. The in- 

 sect then proceeds to take another bubble of air and this process is 

 repeated until the originally clear drop is blown up into a frothy mass, 

 forming an effective retreat for its inhabitant. 



Section of Entomology. November 22, 1871. 

 Mr. S. Henshaw in the chair. Ten members present. 



Mr. James Boll exhibited specimens of Ploiaria and Emesa 

 captured in stables in Cambridge. 



Dr. Hagen exhibited the eggs of Ploiaria brevipennis, 

 which are of an elongated, conical form. 



