160 Lectures on the Results of the 



Organs of the Senses. — The auditory capsules are micro- 

 scopic, composed of two concentric vesicles, the inner en- 

 closing numerous oval, nucleated otolithes. The eyes are 

 minute black dots beneath the skin, attached by a pedicle to 

 a small ganglion. They are made up of a cup of pigment, 

 receiving from behind the nerve, and lodging in front a lens, 

 having in advance of it a cornea, the whole enclosed by a 

 fine capsule. The authors believe they have shewn the dor- 

 sal tentacles to be the olfactory organs. 



The organs of touch are the general surface of the skin, 

 but more particularly the oral tentacles or veil. Taste is 

 most probably located in the lips and channel of the mouth ; 

 the tongue being a prehensile organ, and ill adapted as the 

 seat of such a function. 



In conclusion, the authors comment on the high organisa- 

 tion of the Doridae, and express their belief that the genus, 

 as at present understood, will require to be broken up into 

 several groups. 



On three important Chemical Discoveries from the Exhibition 

 of 185 L — (A.) Mercer's Contraction of Cotton by Alkalies; 

 — (B.) Young's Paraffine and Mineral Oil from Coal; — 

 (C.) Schrotter's Amorphous Phosphorus. By Dr Lyon Play- 

 fair, C.B., F.R.S.* 



[The following statements and arguments were supplied by Dr 

 Lyon Playfair, as embodying considerations which he desired to 

 impress on the attention of the Members of the Royal Institution.] 



It is incumbent on those who, like myself, have been connected 

 with the Great Exhibition, to inculcate its teachings, in order that 

 it may influence the future, by being a starting-point for industry. 

 Unless it imparts new life to productive industry, it has failed in 

 the attainment of its object, and will, in history, degenerate into 

 the record of a gigantic show, fitted only to pander to an idle 

 curiosity. All of us have, no doubt, examined it with a higher 

 object, and have derived lessons varying in character and amount 

 according to the opportunities which we enjoyed in their acquisi- 

 tion. Those who have attended to its teachings with regard to 

 the comparative progress of manufactures in different countries, 



* Mooting of Royal Institution, Feb. 27, 1852. 



