RECORD: Owen, Richard. 1850.11.15. Report on The paper by Willm Huxley, Esq, On the Physalia. LINSOC-SP.585c[3]. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Photographed and transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Linnean Society of London.

Published as William Huxley. 1848. On the anatomy and physiology of Physalia, and on its place in the system of animals. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London 1 (5 December): 3-5. A misprint for Thomas Henry Huxley.


[1]

The paper by Willm Huxley, Esq, On the Physalia, includes an extensive series of close and microscopical observations on recent individuals of that genus of Acalephe, at different stages of their growth, by which a more complete and accurate idea of the organization of the animal is given than previously existed amongst Naturalists.

The structure of the float and the gradual formation of the sac within it; the structure of the gastric sacculi, and of the urticating tentacula; the discovery of the peculiar cyathiform bodies, and the ingenious & highly probable conjecture as to their relation to the generative function, are all valuable characteristics of this Paper, which render its publication in the Linnean Transactions highly desirable.

The same reasons urge me with even greater force to offer a similar recommendation in regard to the Memoir on Diphydæ & Physophoridæ, the structure and affinities of which were in a greater degree of obscurity of the families. I recommend the publication of all the drawings, with which these valuable papers are accompanied.

Richard Owen, F.R.S.

Royal College of Surgeons, November 15, 1850.


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