Abstract
LONDON Linnean Society, April 15.—The Rev. G. Henslow in the chair.—The Secretary read a paper for the Rev. R. Boog Watson, on the Mollusca of the Challenger Expedition (Part 5). Some thirty-five species are described and compared, whereof the greater part are new forms and belonging to the families Solenoconchia, Trochida, Risscellidee, Litorinida, and Cerithiidae. The author observes that temperature even more than mere depth seems an important condition in molluscan life, while both prove barriers to distribution, though great length of time naturally helps escape from these barriers. Where barriers of depth and temperature do not check distribution there is no limit to universality of distribution, and such is the case with certain existing species; still there is no trace of especial, lasting, and progressive change.—A communication was read by Mr. N. E. Brown on some new Aroidese, with observations on other known forms (Part I). Of the former the specimens are contained in the Kew Herbarium, and the latter are annotations, chiefly supplementary to Prof. Engler's recent monograph of the order. While following Engler, the author has given preference to the classification of Schott. Among others several interesting new Bornean forms are described.—Prof. F. Jeffrey Bell next read a note on an abnormal (quadriradiate) specimen of Amblypneustes formosus, and afterwards Mr. Chas. Stewart exhibited and made remarks on another but differently abnormal specimen of the same species.—Prof. Bell, after a full description of his specimen, observes: that with more or less reason some naturalists have looked on the possession of other than five rays as a character of some specific value among the Asteridse and Ophiorida, and have considered that, on account of its greater rarity among the latter, it is of greater value as a mark of distinction; but such a view must be taken with considerable limitation. The pentamerous arrangement of parts in the regular Echinida is, then, only disturbed in one example; information and specimens are, however, at hand to show how this may have happened. The rarity of any divergence from this five-part division, in face of the numerous variations which occur in the Echinodermata, will doubtless become more and more important as a factor in determining the genealogical history of the group.—A series of microscopic sections of pearls exhibiting irregularities in structural detail were shown by Dr. J. Murie and their several peculiarities explained.—Messrs. S. H. Wintle and George Bay (of Tasmania) were elected Fellows of the Society.
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Societies and Academies . Nature 21, 603–604 (1880). https://doi.org/10.1038/021603b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/021603b0