50S 



Zoological Society. 



" The granules may possibly be regarded as yolk-globules, in 

 which case I apprehend the numerous secondary cysts, or cells, must 

 be considered as so many different yolks. 



" On the oval Corpuscles of the Cysticercus. 



" If the opake part near the head of this entozoon be gently 

 pressed, a little rather viscid fluid will escape, which on examination 

 will be found to be pervaded by a great number of oval corpuscles, 

 presenting a very beautiful microscopic object. They have a re- 

 markably distinct dark outline, with a brilliant surface, semitrans- 

 parent, and apparently homogeneous, except very rarely, when they 

 appear to contain an inner corpuscle or cellule. 



" They are generally but slightly oval, their length often scarcely 

 exceeding their breadth by a third, as exhibited in the drawing, 

 though they may occasionally be seen nearly twice as long as they 

 are broad. A common size of the corpuscles is about f^^th °^ an 

 inch long, and goW^ 1 Droaa - 



" The bladder-like body of these hydatids is everywhere pervaded 

 by distinct spherules, presenting a bright oil-like appearance, vary- 

 ing in diameter from 20000^ t° 40V o^h of an inch. They have no 

 resemblance whatever to the oval corpuscles. 



" Hydatids are described as being without discernible generative 

 organs. Whether the remarkable oval corpuscles shown in the 

 drawing be ova or gemmules, must be determined by future obser- 

 vation. That they are the former appears probable, from their form 

 and general regularity of size. Besides they are situated in one 

 particular part of the parent, never appearing in the walls of the 

 transparent sac. If this conjecture should be confirmed, the cysti- 

 cercus can no longer be regarded as destitute of any distinct gene- 

 rative organ, for the part in which the ova are contained will corre- 

 spond to the uterus of the higher entozoa, and probably lead to a 

 further knowledge of the method by which the different species of 

 this genus are propagated. 



" I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Siddall for the accompany- 

 ing drawings, which have been made by the aid of the camera lucida. 

 As they were taken from dried specimens, the internal structure of 

 the ova of the Distoma is not well exhibited, though the form is 

 faithfully shown." 



May 26. — William Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



A letter from Hugh Cuming, Esq., was read. This letter is dated 

 Manilla, November 5, 1839, and gives an account of some cases of 

 specimens forwarded to the Society. Mr. Cuming states that he 

 has not yet been successful in procuring a certain Ruminant, known 

 by the name Tamaroo, but he entertains hopes of having a spec'men 

 forwarded to England after him, he being about to return. With 

 the exception of this animal, he had procured all the quadrupeds of 

 the Philippines of which he could obtain any information. The 

 letter, moreover, states that he observed two varieties of the Monkey 

 he had sent home (Macacus cynomolyus), and which is the only spe- 



