Royal Physical Society. 243 



V. Notes on the British species of Patella, from information communi- 

 cated by Br Knapp. By Andrew Murray, Esq., W.S. 



The object of this paper was to point out a very marked variety of the 

 Patella vulgata, which had been found by Dr Knapp in Guernsey and 

 Jersey. It was principally characterized by its rich yellow or brown- 

 creamy colour inside, its more depressed form, and more prominent ribs, 

 white at the top. A very fine series of specimens, both of this variety and 

 the other British species of Patella, was exhibited. Notwithstanding its 

 marked peculiarities, Mr Murray considered it only a variety of P. vul- 

 gata, and proposed to call it P. vulgaia, var. intermedia. 



Wednesday, 25th February 1857. — Professor Balfour, President, in 

 the Chair. 



The following donations were laid on the Table, and thanks voted to the 

 donor : — 



1. Memorias de la Real Academia de Ciencias de Madrid. Tomo So, 

 Ciencias Fisicas, 2a Serie. Tomo lo, parte la, 1856. 2. Tomo 4o, Cien- 

 cias Naturales, 3a Serie. Tomo 2o, parte la, 1856. Programa de Pre- 

 mios para el ano de 1857. 3. Anuncio del Eclipse Anular y Central que 

 Tendra Lugar el 15 de Marzo de 1858. Por Don Antonio Aguilar. 

 From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Madrid. 



The Communications read were the following : — 



I. On the genus Ateuchus (the Egyptian Scarabseus), and its South Ame- 

 rican representatives, with descriptions of new species of the latter. 

 (Specimens were exhibited.) By Andrew Murray, Esq. W.S. 



Mr Murray commenced by referring to the interest which attached to 

 this group of beetles, from its having been an object of veneration to the 

 ancient Egyptians, and sculptured so frequently on their ancient monu- 

 ments. He exhibited a series of specimens of these antiques, and pointed 

 out that it was quite easy to distinguish to which species they ought to be 

 referred. Those specimens exhibited all belonged either to Ateuchus 

 sacer, or Ateuchus laticollis. He detailed several interesting anecdotes 

 connected with their habits, and their wonderful instinct of making, roll- 

 ing, and burying balls of excrementitious ' matter, generally containing 

 their eggs. He also explained their geographical distribution, show- 

 ing that they were confined to the Old World, but possessed representa- 

 tives in South America (known under the generic name of Eucranium), 

 bearing a very close afimity to a South African species (Pachysoma JEscu- 

 lapei). He concluded by describing some new species of these South 



vol. i. x 



