228 



Linncean Society. 



generic characters. " The same observation may be applied to tbe 

 odoriferous bags attached to the prepuce of the Musk and Antilope 

 gutturosa ; so that, upon the whole, the crumens, maxillary and fa- 

 cial glands, are the only organs of this nature which appear entitled 

 to the rank of generic characters." 



The modifications of the feet are considered as scarcely definite 

 enough to be employed for generic definitions : " the glands or pores 

 which open between the toes of many Ruminants afford much better 

 characters for this purpose, and bear a very evident relation to the 

 habits and geographical distribution of the animals. These glands 

 are of greater or lesser extent in different genera, according to the 

 nature of the localities which they frequent ; in the Gazelles, Ante- 

 lopes, Bubals, and Oryxes, which inhabit the burning deserts of 

 Africa and central Asia, they are extremely large, and frequently 

 occupy the whole interspace between the first and second phalanges ; 

 in the Sheep, Capricorns, and Tragelaphs again, which live on the open 

 grassy downs and mountains of a less arid nature, they are of a much 

 smaller size ; whilst in the Oxen, Calliopes, &e., which inhabit the 

 moist forests and swamps of tropical regions, or grassy meadows of 

 temperate climates, they are altogether wanting. 



After describing the uses of these digital pores, and pointing out 

 the great influence they have on the ceconomy and manners of the 

 animals, the author observes that he is not aware of their having 

 been noticed by any previous zoologists, and concludes by expressing 

 the hope that the employment of this and other influential characters, 

 which it is the object of this first part of his monograph to explain, 

 will be found to establish a logical, scientific, and natural arrange- 

 ment among the Ruminantia, instead of the prevailing arbitrary and 

 artificial system. 



LINNjEAN society. 

 April 7th. — Mr. Forster, V.P., in the Chair. 



Dr. Farre, F.L.S., exhibited specimens of a singular form of gall 

 on the leaves of a species of oak from Mexico. The gall consisted 

 of an aggregation of hollow cylindrical tubes, nearly an inch in 

 length, and furnished with a fringed orifice. The tubes were 

 remarkable for their elegance and uniformity; their colour was 

 white, suffused with red, especially towards the apex. 



Mr. Yarrell, F.L.S., exhibited a specimen of a satin-like mass of 

 Conferva fluviatilis, which grew in a water meadow near Totness. 

 A spring, which flows only in winter, rises in the meadow, and this 

 substance is taken from narrow gutters, from one of which, twelve 

 inches wide, a piece was taken up which measured seventy-nine feet 

 in length, so firm and tough was its consistence ; and another piece 

 broke off at thirty-nine feet. In consistence and appearance it bore 

 considerable resemblance to a piece of cotton wadding, but of a 

 firmer texture. A portion was carefully examined under the micro- 

 scope, and found to consist entirely of an interwoven mass of filaments 

 of Conferva fluviatilis. The plant was compared with the authentic 



