Royal Physical Society. 381 



mentioning to him the existence of a rich vein of sulphuret of 

 lead, in the same district of Ayrshire, which had been favour- 

 ably exposed under my inspection. These relations so far ex- 

 cited his attention as to induce him to visit those localities, 

 and upon his return he told me that I had rather understated 

 the importance of these deposits. Subsequently, he informed 

 me that he had taken a lease of the lead, and that he was in 

 treaty about a lease of the iron ore. It is therefore with much 

 satisfaction that I understand the zeal and intelligence of Mr 

 Holdsworth have made him at last disturb the long repose of 

 this mass of valuable iron ore. Thus I have shown that the 

 discovery of the ore in question is not new ; and I could scarce- 

 ly forbear making a few remarks allied to the subject. There 

 is another immense deposit of red hematite belonging to the 

 same proprietor, on the southern confines of Ayrshire, upon 

 which, if agreeable to the Society, I shall offer a few remarks 

 on a future occasion. 



III. On the Skeleton, Muscles, and Viscera of Malapterurus Beninensis. 

 By John Cleland, M.D., Demonstrator of Anatomy in the University 

 of Edinburgh. 



The anatomy of the electric apparatus and nervous system 

 of Malapterurus electricus has been already beautifully 

 elucidated by Dr Bilharz of Cairo.* The results of his in- 

 vestigations can only be expected to be verified with newly- 

 killed specimens at command, and such an opportunity has 

 yet been lacking ; but as the genus Malapterurus is a remark- 

 able one, and belongs to an interesting group, and since the 

 species from the west coast of Africa has been only recently 

 distinguished by Mr Murray from that inhabiting the Nile, 

 I have, meantime, under the auspices of Professor Goodsir, 

 undertaken an account of the skeleton, muscles, and viscera 

 of the former. I shall notice the differences between it and 

 Malapterurus electricus, as far as Dr Bilharz's book affords 

 material for comparison. I am indebted to Professor Good- 

 sir and Mr Murray for specimens. 



t Das Electrische organ des Zitterwelses anatornisch beschrieben von Dr 

 Theodor Bilharz, Professor der Anatomie in Kairo, Leipzig, 1857. 



