TRANSACTION’S OP THE SECTIONS. 
81 
Oncerlain Blind Species of Insects. By J. O. Westu'Ood, F.L.S. 
After alluding to the physiological interest possessed by those species of animals 
tliicli are deficient of the oi^;ans of one or more of the senses which are enjoyed by 
ikajority of the species throughout the classes of which they are members, and 
hit nwessity for investigating the habits of sneh species, so as lo discover the 
pealiarittfs which arc concorrent with such deficiency of any organ of sense, Mr. 
*iat»w)d mentioned the rare occurrence of the want of organs of sight in the annu- 
Iwiflitniils, alluding to the recent discovery of a blind Macrouroua Crustacean { Cnlo- 
Jfaowdrrtf, Bell, Bril. Crust p. 233). and to two other blind species commu- 
KMai by W.Thompson to the British Association on the preceding day-, also to 
huineolar discovery of various blind species of hexapod insecta in the mammotli 
owof Kentucky, and in the cares of Stvria, where the Protean anyuinHit occurs; 
terricofa of Wesmael, the Anophthatmun LangelaiuHi of Aube, and 
" *[wies of ants, also blind, one of which ne has deficrilied untler the name of 
fiilva, and had placed it in the family Formicida?, a situation which had 
l** unce disputed by Mr. Shucltard, but which Mr. Westwood had clearly deter- 
•i*«lbyilie examination of other allied gencraof ants, as welt as of the other blind 
Kabich he exhibited to the meeting, and wliich from its singular habits (as de- 
b)- Afr. Savage in the Transactions of the Eotomologtcal Society, vol. v. 
JWl/p. 1) is known in western tropical Africa under the name of the Driver, 
^the fircumstance that this species is very sensitive to the rays of the sun, Mr. 
®*ood suggested the possibility of the existence of the nidiment of the optic 
beneath the corneous integument of the sides of the head. 
BOTANY. 
^‘‘peculiurityin the Structure of the Stomata r/Ci-raloptorw thalictroidcs. 
^ By Prof. Allmak, M.H.LA. 
distinct cells enter into the formation of the stomata of this plant. Two of 
like the ordinary stoma-cellfl, bi-iiig, during tlxe open condition of the stoma, 
^nlicwith the concave surfaces opposed, while the third ia an elongated cell 
Urutis round the other two, coniplutoly surrounding them, except in a very 
j. ^?l>ace, which remains exposed at one extremity of the long axis of the stoma. 
of the peristomntic cell is invariably turned in a direction opposite 
base of the frond. 
aw. opparentbj xmdescrUml (ienns of Freshwater Algte. 
^ By Prof. Allmak, 
j^^wbjcctof this communication is to be found in the form of minute gelatinous 
the submersed stemsof certain water-plants. When examined under the 
patches may be seen to consist of radiating, dichotoraously- 
filaments atlhering in their entire length to the .surface on winch 
^ weloped and composed each of a single scries of cells flattened on the ad- 
‘‘f'd convex on the free, where they arc also much contracted at the 
branches are approximated, and the centre of the upper or free 
’^inni.i * cell pves origin to a short vertical filament which la formed 
® contracted at the articulations. The whole plant is 
^l'<ftcpliora in a iniicaas investment. Its afliaities to this genus are 
'■*"vl(l obvious, while its relations to Coleocheeie are also well-mark^. 
constitute a highly interesting transitional form ihioxigh which 
into Cohochtctc. It was obtained by Dr. Allman in July 1846, 
rd the " Blacklough," near Roscrca, co. Tipperary, 
Tb* 
Otc employment cf Gvtta Percht for Modelling. 
By George Busk, F.L.S. 
circumstances which appear to him favourable to the em- 
ib47. 8nhstancc~in taking moulds of anatomical subjects, the human 
