Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/54

32 account of "deck-work," so to say, on board the 'Alert' by the abovementioned naturalist, who in previous contributions on southern surface fauna has shown much activity and capacity in this field of observation.

The third paper was "On the Annelids of the British North Polar Expedition (1875-6)," by Dr. W.C. M'ntosh. In this collection, dredged between 79° and 82° N., there were some eight species not found among the Annelids procured by H.M.S. 'Valorous' in Davis Straits. All, however, have already been entered in the catalogue of the Arctic Fauna as obtained elsewhere, the majority of the species having a wide range in northern waters. Some even are common to the British Seas, the North Atlantic generally, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The value of the present collection must therefore depend on its being taken along with series from other localities. A critical comparison with American forms is desirable before clear views can be arrived at respecting the geographical distribution of the northern Annelids.

A lively and interesting discussion followed the reading of these papers. Among the speakers were Capt. Sir George Nares, Dr. Rae, Capt. Feilden (who humorously related incidents of insect capture—no easy matter in these inhospitable regions), and the Vice-President, Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys, whose valuable physical researches and dredging experiences while in the 'Valorous,' as tender to the Arctic ships, have already appeared in the Royal Society's publications. A volume of Dr. Moss's sketches of marine creatures, with maps and diagrams, illustrated the regions in question and the several subjects brought forward.

December 6, 1877.—Prof. F.R.S., President, in the chair.

The following gentlemen were elected Fellows of the Society:—Messrs. J. Nugent Fitch (Newman Street, W.), J.S. Gamble (Assist. Conserv. Forests, Simla), F.S. Piggott (Essex Court, Temple), A.B. Stewart (Rowcliffe Lodge, Laugside, Glasgow), and Prof. John Macoun (Belleville, Canada).

Mr. Charles Stewart gave the gist of a paper "On certain Organs of the Cidaridæ" illustrated by some beautiful pencil drawings from nature. The main points of this communication may thus be summarized:—Among the Sea Urchins, or Echinoidea, the families Diadematidæ, Echinometridæ, and Echinidæ have long been known to possess external branchiæ in the form of five pairs of hollow conical processes, with secondary diverticula therefrom, the same being strengthened by calcareous plates or spicules. The existence of such branchiæ in the Cidaridæ was denied by Müller, but insisted on by Alex. Agassiz, in his 'Revision of the Echini.' Mr. Stewart, in his examinations of a spirit specimen of Dorocidaris papillata, around the buccal membrane, failed to perceive them; but on removing the dorsal half of the corona, discovered five organs within, which functionally take the