12 
NOTICES OF SERIALS. 
description of the Polype of Beania mirabilis, and of the vesicle of Campanularia 
integra. (C. S. Harris) On the Marine Vivarium. Proceedings of Learned Societies 
—Zoological Society, January 11,1853, Dr. Gray, V.P., in the Chair; January 25, 
1853, Dr. Gray, V.P., in the Chair; February 8, J. Gould, F.R.S., in the Chair; 
March 8, Dr. Gray, V.P., in the Chair ; March 22, Dr. Gray in the Chair ; April 
12, J. Gould, F.R.S., in the Chair. Linnean Society, February 7, 1854, T. 
Bell, Esq., President, in the Chair ; February 21, T. Bell, Esq., President, in the 
Chair; March 21, Thomas Bell, Esq., President, in the Chair. Royal Society, 
November 16, 1854, Col. Sabine in the Chair. Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 
December 14, 1854. Miscellaneous Observations—On the Nests of Humming¬ 
birds, by John Gould, F.R.S.; On a Marsupial Frog from Venezuela, by Dr. D. 
F. Weinland; Descriptions of two new species of Ptilonopus, by Dr. J. E. Gray. 
Metevological Observations and Table for December, 1854. 
No. 87, March:—(E. Blyth) A Monograph of the Indian species of Phylloscopus 
and its immediate affines; (T. Wright, M.D.) On Fossil Echinoderms from the 
Island of Malta, with notes on the Stratigraphical Distribution of the Fossil 
Organisms in the Maltese Beds ; (J. Miers, F.R.S.) On the Genera Pionandra, 
Cliocarpus, and Pascilochroma; (B. Dowler, M.D.) On the Discovery of Vivi¬ 
parous Fish in Louisiana. This is an extract from Silliman’s American Journal 
for January, 1855. The fish is determined by Professor Agassiz to be the 
Psecilia multilineata, and is found abundantly in the lagoons in the immediate 
vicinity of Mobile and New Orleans ; it is of very minute size—its whole length 
being only two inches. The specimen examined by Dr. Dowler contained twenty- 
two foetuses, each about half an inch long. This family of fishes contains the 
smallest representatives of the great type of Vertebrata. The Heterandria formosa 
of Agassiz is, when full grown, not quite an inch long, and does not weigh more 
than five grains. (Dr. J. E. Gray) On the Anomalous Oyster-shell described in 
the “ Annals” for February. This shelf, which was described in the last number of 
the “ Annals” by Mr. Busk, appears to be that of an oyster growing on the inside of 
a valve of Pholas Candida; also, it appears that the shell of the Pholas must have 
been that of a dead specimen, since it had growing upon it a Membranipora or 
Flustra, which was impressed on the outer surface of the oyster; and, hence, a 
further proof is afforded, that the Pholas was external, and served as a mould to 
the oyster-shell. We have found oysters which have grown upon the large oper¬ 
culum of Fusus antiquus, which was completely enveloped in the shelly matter, and 
projected like a wing from the side of the shell. (E. Claparede) On Actinophrys 
sol, with a plate. Proceedings of Learned Societies—Zoological Society, May 24, 
1853, Dr. Gray, V.P., in the Chair; June 14, Dr. Gray, V.P., in the Chair; 
July 26, Dr. Gray, V.P., in the Chair ; November, Dr. Gray, V.P., in the Chair. 
On the Anatomy of the Walrus, by Professor Owen. Royal Society, November 
23, 1854, J. Bell, Esq., V.P., in the Chair; December 21, 1854, Lord Wrottesley, 
President, in the Chair; January 11, 1855, J. Bell, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 
Botanical Society of Edinburgh, January 11, 1855, Professor Balfour, President, 
in the Chair. Miscellaneous-—On the Movements and Reproduction of the 
Naviculse, by M. Focke ; On Lottia zebrina and L. scurra, by Dr. J. E. Gray ; 
Description of a new species of Sorex from India, by R. Templeton ; Meterological 
Observations and Table for January, 1855. 
