131 



the mouth, but altogether through the nasal passages : an instinc- 

 tive feeling prompting it to supply the loss of that substance by suck- 

 ing the teat of the mother. Dr. Prout, who analysed a portion of 

 this substance at the request of the author, finds it to be composed 

 principally of coagulated albumen slightly modified. The author 

 regards it as a secretion from the tongue of the foal. 



3. " Journal of the Weather, kept at High Wycombe during the 

 year 1831, with monthly Observations," by James G. Tatem, Esq. 

 Communicated by William Allen, Esq. F.R.S. 



These tables exhibit the greatest elevations and depressions of the 

 barometer and thermometer for the year 1831, together with the 

 means of the observations, which were made at 8 A.M., 3 P.M., and 

 10 P.M.; the extremes of cold being given by a self-registering ther- 

 mometer. The quantity of rain was measured every morning at 8 

 o'clock. The course of the wind is noted, and remarks subjoined, 

 showing the results of a comparison with former years. 



4-. " Physical and Geological observations on the Lake of Oo near 

 Bagneres de la Chou, in the year 1831," by M. Neree Boubee, Pro- 

 fessor of Geology at Paris. Communicated by P. M. Roget, M.D., 

 Sec. R.S. 



The author ascertained that the bottom of the lake, which is 230 

 French feet in depth, forms a level plane of great extent, and is co- 

 vered with a stratum of mud composed of fine micaceous sand of a 

 blue colour. The temperature of the bottom of the lake was 7° of 

 the centigrade scale, at the middle 9°, at the surface 11° ; that of 

 the air varying from 14° to 15°. There was no indication of any 

 current on the surface. A cascade 954 feet in height falls into 

 the lake, carrying down the detritus of the surrounding rocks. 



5. " Observations on the anatomyand habits of Marine Testaceous 

 Mollusca, illustrative of their mode of feeding," by Edward Osier, 

 Esq. Communicated by L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. F.R.S. 



The author observes that in studying the physiology of the Mol- 

 lusca, more satisfactory results may generally be obtained by tracing 

 the organization connected with each important function, through 

 different families, than by complete dissections of individual species ; 

 and, by thus connecting the study of function with that of structure, 

 the zoologist is led to more certain inferences relating to those habits, 

 the knowledge of which the pelagic character of the animal, and the 

 difficulty of direct observation, would otherwise have rendered unat- 

 tainable. The present paper is devoted to the anatomical investiga- 

 tion of the organs by which the food is received into the bodies of 

 certain Mollusca. The herbivorous Mollusca which the author has 

 examined have three modes of feeding. Some, as the Trochus crassus, 

 browse with opposite horizontal jaws : others, as the Turbo littoreus, 

 rasp their food with an armed tongue stretched over an elastic and 

 moveable support : while others again, as the Patella vulgata, gorge 

 it entire. The author enters into a minute anatomical description of 

 the organs of manducation and deglutition, and also of that part of 

 the nervous system situated in the neighbourhood of these organs, in 

 each of these respective Mollusca,— illustrated by numerous draw- 



