etre resenge eo OE m9 ee anthem nto ane Po vntnve-wlotanguetyrenaton-verea ceecon orton estl- mdr nadag eee in ne a ‘(Se | Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from University of Toronto http://www.archive.org/details/nsquarterlyjournO8comp a brn id ane cue VE ira. en QUARTERLY JOURNAL MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE: EDITED BY EDWIN LANKESTER, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., AND GEORGE BUSK, F.R.C.8.E., F.R.S., Sec. LS. VOLUME VIII.—New Sentes. @ith Allustrations on Wood and Stone. LONDON: JOHN CHURCHILL AND SONS, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1868. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. On PotyMorpHisM in the FrucriricaTion of LicHENs. By W. Lauper Linpsay, M.D., F.R.S. Edinburgh, F.LS. London. AxovuT ten years ago I made the secondary or complemen- tary reproductive organs of Lichens a subject,of special study, submitting to careful and repeated microscopical examination several thousand specimens from all parts of the known world. ‘The fruits of these researches have as yet only been partly published, and that mostly so far as relates to the higher Lichens. I was struck with the discovery of many instances of what I have been since led to regard as Polymorphism in the fructification—plurality in the reproductive organs—of Lichens. I refer here more especially to the occurrence in the same species of more than one form of Spermogonium or Pycni- dium. I hesitated, however, to publish my results for various reasons, and, inter alia, because— I. The observations in question, if correct, are a novelty in lichenology. II. I distrusted the correctness of my observations, re- ferring the multiple forms of Spermogonia and Pycenidia in question to various Fungi unknown, which did not exhibit their ordinary fructification in the specimens examined by me. But since that date I have repeatedly met with instances of the same multiple forms of secondary fructification in con- nection with JLichens only; my comparative study of Lichenoid Fungi has led me every year to discover further and closer links of connection between the Fungi and Lichens ; I see less and less reason to doubt that the same plurality of reproductive organs which characterises Fungi _ May to a less extent equally characterise Lichens ; and I have been more and more led to assign the subjects of my observa- tions to Lichens, in connection with which they occur, rather VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. A 2 LINDSAY, ON POLYMORPHISM IN LICHENS. than to Fungi, which exhibit none of their other and more usual forms of fructification. I can no longer, therefore, hesitate in at least calling the attention of botanists to the subject, in order that observation may be directed to the groups of organs in question, with a view to the confirmation or correction of my results as the issue may prove. It may be that, as Nylander suggests, the organs which I refer to Lichens as multiple forms of Spermogonium or Pyeni- dium are to be assigned rather to Fungi. But if such assign- ment is to be agreed to, it must be made on much stronger grounds than those advanced by that individual, though experienced, Lichenologist ; especially seeing that my obser- vations appear to have been so far confirmed by those of Fuisting in Germany* and Gibelli in Italyt—according to Professor de Bary of Halle.t Until it is proved that the subjects of my present remarks belong to Fungi, with which | I have never seen them connected, I prefer assigning them to the lower Lichens, with which I hayve—sometimes re- peatedly—found them associated, and in the same relative position with the recognised Spermogonia and Pyenidia of Lichens. The solution of the question is, however, beset with diffi- culties: whereof the principal is probably the fact that the Spermogonia or Pycnidia in question sometimes or frequently occur by themselves, without association with sporiduferous apothecia or perithecia, whether of Lichens or Fungi. This group of isolated secondary reproductive organs may be held to be illustrated by the old pseudo-genera Pyrenothea and Thrombium, which all Lichenologists are agreed, I think, in referring to Lichens as either Spermogonia or Pycnidia. The subjects of my present remarks are indistinguishable in any of their essential characters from these genera, and are, I believe, quite as much entitled as they to be assigned to Lichens. The puzzling group known to the older writers as Pyrenothea contains, I believe, various forms both of Spermo- gonium and Pycnidium — sometimes referable to the same species (e.g., Lecidea abietina), sometimes to different species, especially of genera of the Verrucariacee, Lecideacee, and Graphidee (Arthonia and Opegrapha). Indeed, I re_ gard it as an illustrative group of the organs which are the subject of this communication. It includes the following * Vide footnote, p. 9. + Vide footnote, pp. 7 and 9. , { ‘Handbuch der Physiologischen Botanik,’ by Prof. Hofmeister: Section on “ Morphologie und Physiologie der Pilze, Flechten, und Myxomyceten,” by Prof. qe Bary : Leipzig, 1866, p. 276. LINDSAY, ON POLYMORPHISM IN LICHENS. 3 types of secondary reproductive organs—whether these are to be designated Spermogonia or Pycnidia: I. White-pruinose, distinct, comparatively large tubercles, é.g., in Pyrenothea leucocephala. P. vermicellifera. II. Black, lecidiiform, distinct, also comparatively large organs, é.g., In P. corrugata. III. Minute or microscopic, black, punctiform or papille- form conceptacles—by far the commonest form, e. g., in P. aphanes. P. rudis. P. byssacea. Another source of confusion is to be found in the fact that not a few Lichenicolous (parasitic) Micro-Fungi occupy the positions usually occupied by Spermogonia or Pycnidia, from which, moreover, they are indistinguishable externally, e.g., species of the genera Spheria and Torula. But the latter are distinguishable by their sporidia or spores, or by other characters supposed by fungologists, on very insufficient grounds frequently, to separate Fungi from Lichens. Con- fusion may arise in the same way from lichenicolous (parasitic) Micro-Lichens, which are apt to be confounded with Spermo- gonia and Pycnidia, e. g., species of Verrucaria or Micro- thelia, Tichothectum or Pharcidia, Pheospora or Endococcus. A third source of difficulty is the varying definition of the terms “ Spermogonium”’ and ** Pycnidium,” and the conflicting views as to the relation which the one organ bears to the other, more especially in respect of function. The two highest living authorities on the subject of Lichen-reproduc- tion, Tulasne and Nylander, differ as to the nomencla- ture of the secondary reproductive organs of Peltigera, which, according to the former, are Spermogonia, to the latter, Pycnidia. Many of the organs which I regard as Pycnidia are included by Nylander and other lichenologists among Spermogonia; while Tulasne regards as Spermo- gonia the conceptacles which, in association with Lecidea abietina, I am disposed to denominate Pycnidia. Hence it is an obvious necessity to the understanding of any question affecting the secondary reproductive organs of Lichens that an author should render clear and intelligible his distinc- tion between the groups of organs respectively designated 4 LINDSAY, ON POLYMORPHISM IN LICHENS, by him Spermogonia and Pyenidia. The distinction which I recognise—and hereto append—is simply an anatomical one —one of convenience. Hereafter it may prove to be coincident with a physiological difference; but as yet the function of neither Spermogonium nor Pyenidium has been satisfactorily demonstrated or determined. Anatomical or Structural Distinction between Spermogonia and Pycnidia. Externally indistinguishable, being similar as to site, size, form, and colour; verruceeform, papilleform, or punctiform conceptacles, generally black, sometimes white-pruinose ; in- terior—of same or of a different colour, or subhyaline. I. Spermatia. 1. Form.—Generally linear and cylindrical ; long in pro- portion totheir breadth; some- times in exceptional cases split into two after being shed from their sterigmata; of regular form; simple; straight or curved. 2. Size—Generally mi- nute, especially as regards their transverse dimension, compared with stylospores ; sometimes divide into two; otherwise uniform ; frequent- ly atomic (and then mostly regularly ellipsoid or sub- spherical). 3. Number. — Usually in myriads. 4. Colour.—Always line—devoid of colour. hya- 5. Texture.-—Solid and ho- mogeneous. 6. Site-—Borne on apices I. Stylospores. 1. Form.—Generally some modification of spherical [ob- long-ellipsoid, pyriform, oval]; frequently broad in propor- tion to length; variable and irregular ; sometimes bears a relation to that of the spori- dium; sometimes multicellu- lar and septate. 2. Size.— Usually larger in all dimensions ; variable. 3. Number.—Usually less numerous than the sperma- tia. 4. Colour.—Sometimes pale yellow, though usually co- lourless. 5. Texture-—Vesicular or cellular ; heterogeneous ; con- tents frequently oily, or gra- nular, or both. 6. Site.— Borne on the LINDSAY, ON POLYMORPHISM IN LICHENS. 3) or sides of Sterigmata ; in the case of compound Sterigmata, many from each “ Arthro- sterigma.” 7. Origin.—Given off from the cells constituting the ste- rigmata, by a process called by Nylander “ Spiculation,” whereby the cell-wall be- comes protruded into a spi- cule, which is ultimately de- tached by gradual constriction of its base. apices only of the Basidia, one from each Basidium. 7. Origin. —Given off from the Basidium-cell or tube, by a process called by Nylander ““Progemmation,” whereby new terminal or apicial cells are developed from or upon other older or basal ones. If it can be proved that spermatia are solid, and stylospores hollow bodies, it may be admitted that the process of separa- tion in the two cases essentially differs. But in all other re- spects the processes in question appear identical or similar. 8. Function—Absence of all germinative faculty, so far as known. 9. Associated substances.— Oil-globules never inter- mixed. II. Sterigmata. 1. Form.—Simple or com- pound; latter—known as ““Arthrosterigmata”’— consist of a few or many superim- posed cellules of varying 8. Function.—Nylander as- signs the power of germina- tion. Berkeley always speaks of stylospores in Fungi as ““naked spores”’—as second- ary spores capable of germi- nation; and he distinguishes in some Spherie, Pycnidia from Spermogonia, by obsery- ing whether the terminal cel- lules are or are not capable of germination. ‘The fact and function of germination may exist; but. in Lichens it still requires proof. I have not observed it myself, nor am I aware of any record of such an observation by others. 9. Associated substances.— Oil-globules frequently and copiously intermixed. Il. Basidia. 1. Form.—Always simple or unicellular ; usually linear and cylindrical; each bear- ing at its apex a single stylo- spore ; comparatively uniform. 6 LINDSAY, ON POLYMORPHISM IN LICHENS. length and breadth; fre- quently of short, roundish, or oblong, articulated cellules, each of which bears at its apex or side a spermatium ; frequently more or less ra- mose, sometimes only at base ; variable. 2. Size. — “ Arthrosterig- 2. Size. — Usually short; mata” frequently long; va- comparatively uniform. riable. The chief forms of polymorphism, or plurality of fructifica- tion, I have apparently observed in the same species of Lichen are the following: 1. More than one form of Spermogonium. 2. More than one form of Pyenidium. 3. Pycnidia in addition to Spermogonia ; or Spermogonia in addition to Pyenidia. 4, Pycnidia instead of Spermogonia. 5. Spermatia and Sporidia in the same conceptacle. 6. Different sizes and forms of Spermatia and Sterigmata, or of Stylospores and Basidia. Multiple forms of the reproductive organs I have met with chiefly in the Jower Lichens, in species, e.g. of the genera Verrucaria, Strigula, Stigmatidium, Trachylia, Calicium, Ar- thonia, Opegrapha, Graphis, Lecidea, Abrothallus, Lecanora. But I have found them also in a few of the higher Lichens, e.g. in species of Parmelia, Roccella, Alectoria. The following short catalogue of species in which I found deviations from, modifications of, or additions to, the ordi- nary reproductive organs, with an enumeration of these deviations, modifications, or additions, will probably suffice to illustrate the general subject of my present communica- tion, and to indicate the direction in which future observya- tion is likely to prove useful, either by correcting the errors of previous authors, or by confirming and extending their results : I. Genus Verrucaria. V. Taylori, V. chlorotica, V. nitida, V. epidermidis, V. biformis. ‘Two or more forms of secondary re- productive organs [Spermogonium or Pycnidium. ] V. gemmata. Spermogonia and Pyenidia. V. glabrata. Two forms of Spermatia and Sterig- mata. LINDSAY, ON POLYMORPHISM IN LICHENS. 7 V. atomaria. Spermatia and Sporidia in same Perithecium. I made apparently the same observation in Spheria Lind- sayana, a New Zealand species ;* and Gibelli, in Italy, re- cords the occurrence of Spermatia in the asciferous Perithecia of several Verrucarie.t II. Genus Arthonia. A. cinereo-pruinosa. ‘Two or more forms of Sper- mogonia. A. pruinosa, Pyenidia. <5 var. Spilomatica. ‘Two forms of Stylo- spores and Basidia. A. astroidea. Spermogonia and Pycnidia. =: var. Swartziana. 'Two forms of Stylo- spores and Basidia. III. Genus Opegrapha. O. herpetica, O. vulgata. ‘Two or more forms of Spermogonia. O. atra, O. varia. Pycnidia. IV. Genus Lecidea : L. parasema, L. dryina. Two forms of Spermogonia. L. luteola, L. petrea, L. anomala, L. disciformis, L. albo-atra, L. Cladoniaria. Spermogonia and Pyenidia. L. entcroleuca. Pycnidia in lieu of Spermogonia. LL. abietina. Pyenidia, and two forms of Spermo- gonia. L, flexuosa. Pyenidia. * « Observations on New Lichens and Fungi of Otago, N. Z.,”’ ‘ Trans. of Royal Society of Edinburgh,’ vol. xxiv, p. 423, pl. xxx, figs. 1—7. + Dr. Giuseppe Gibelli, of Pavia, ‘‘ Sugli Org. reprod.del. Gen. Verru- caria’” (‘ Mem. Soe. Sci. Nat. Ital.’), quoted in “Notule Lichenologice ” of the Rev. W. A. Leighton (‘Annals of Nat. History,’ April, 1866, p. 270.) He asserts—though his statement is contradicted by other lichenologists (e.g., by Nylander, ‘ Flora,’ 1865, p. 579)—that in a number of Verrucaria, especially those with simple spores and no distinct paraphyses,—?.e., all sazi- colous species—there are no separate spermogonia, but the upper portion of the asciferous perithecium is lined with sterigmata bearing spermatia. He calls this spermatigerous apparatus, when enclosed in an asciferous perithceium, a “Spermatokalium: ’’and he describes Verrucaria as hermaphrodite where the spermatokalia constitute a fringe in the upper patt of the perithecium impend- ing over the asci, and their sporidia. On the other hand, he designates Ver- rucari@, which have separate spermogonia and distinct paraphyses, dicinous. All the saxicolous species belong to the former category, and the erticolous to the latter. A very convenient generalisation, if it le founded a fact ! 8 LINDSAY, ON POLYMORPHISM IN LICHENS. V. Genus Lecanora : L. varia, especially var. aitema, L. subfusca, L. atra, L. Ehrhartiana; Pyenidia; and two or more forms of Spermogonia. L. umbrina. Pyenidia. L. cerina. Two or more forms of Spermogonia. Further, in the genus Strigula, Spermogonia, Pycnidia, and Apothecia occur together, or Pyenidia alone ; in Graphis scripta, Pycnidia, two or more forms; in Stigmatidium crassum, Trachylia tigillaris, and Roccella Montagnei, two or more forms of Spermogonia; in Parmelia sinuosa, and P. saxatilis, var. sulcata, Spermogonia and Pycnidia ; in Alec- toria jubata, Pycnidia; in A. lata, Spermogonia with Sper- matia and Sterigmata of the character of those of Ramalina ; in Scutula Wallrothii, Pycnidia and Spermogonia; in Abrothallus, Pyenidia, and Spermogonia; in Neuropogon me- lavanthus var. ciliatus; two sizes of Spermatia—full and half-sized. Of some of these observations, the details have been already published in various memoirs in the ‘ Transactions ’ or ‘ Pro- ceedings’ of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, of the Linnean Society of London, or in the ‘ Quart. Journ. of Mic. Sci. ;* of the remainder the details will be given probably in a ‘Memoir on the Spermogonia and Pycnidia of the Lower Lichens,” now in course of preparation. The few lichenologists, to whom these organs are familiar, describe Pyenidia as rare in Lichens—as occurring excep- tionally only in a few cases—while Spermogonia are most abundant. But such a statement arises, I believe, mainly from the circumstance that Lichen-Pycnidia have not been made the subject of special research. Among the higher - lichens they are undoubtedly, in my own experience, compa- ratively uncommon; but among the /ower lichens they are, on the contrary, comparatively abundant, sometimes nearly as much so as the Spermogonia. In those genera and species, whose secondary reproductive organs are represented by the pseudo-genus Pyrenothea, I have found Pycnidia to Spermo- * «Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,’ vol. xxii, p. 101, “Spermogonia and Pyenidia of the Higher Lichens;” vol. xxiv, p. 407, “ New Zealand Lichens and Fungi.” ‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,’ vol. iv, p. 174, “Spermogonia and Pycnidia of the Higher Lichens.” ‘Transactions of the Linnean Society,’ vol. xxv, p. 493, “ New Zealand Lichens.” ‘Journal of the Linnean Society,’ vol. ix, p. 268, “‘Arthonia melaspermella.” ‘Quart. Journ. Mic. Sci.’ January, 1857, “ Abrothallus.” LINDSAY, ON POLYMORPHISM IN LICHENS. 9 gonia in the proportion of twenty of the former to thirty of the latter.* In a few cases, of which I subjoin illustrations, I have met with a certain resemblance in form between the Stylospores and Sporidia. There is insufficient ground, as yet, for supposing that this is other than an accidental coincidence. But should there hereafter prove to be a morphological rela- tion between the two, holding good through genera and groups, it would afford a certain additional probability in favour of the supposed function of the Stylospores—of the present current belief that they are secondary spores, capable of germination. Illustrative examples— Opegrapha pulicaris ; Spores fusiform ; 3-5-septate. fs 4s Stylospores ellipsoid or oblong; fre- quently 3-septate. O. atra; Spores fusiform, or obovate-fusiform ; 3-septate. si Stylospores broadly ellipsoid, or oblong ; 1-sep- tate. Verrucaria Taylori ; Spores subfusiform ; 1-septate. a rf Stylospores broadly ellipsoid or oblong ; 1-septate. V. cinereo-pruinosa ; Spores oblong; constricted in middle ; 1-septate. 3, Stylospores oblong or ellipsoid ; sometimes figure- 8 or dumb-bell-shaped. V. chlorotica ; Spores oblong ; simple. sg Stylospores oblong, or oblong-oval, or pyri- form, or dumb-bell-shaped ; sometimes 1-septate. Lecidea abietina ; Spores acicular or subfusiform; 3-sep- tate. a Stylospores ; ellipsoid or fusiform ; simple. Nylander and other lichenologists apparently regard Sper- mogonia as male or complementary organs of reproduction. There are many arguments in favour of such a view; but the function has yet to be proved. There is no reason to doubt * Gibelli found Pyenidia in Verrucaria carpinea, Pers., Sagedia carpinea, Mass., S. Zizyphi, Mass., S. callopisma, Mass., S. Thuretii, Korb., Pyrenula minuta, Neg., P. olivacea, Pers., Verrucaria gibelliana, Gar. While Fuisting, of Berlin, met with them in Opegropha varia, Pers., Acrocordia gemminata, Mass., 4. tersa, Korb., Sagedia netrospora, Hepp., S. aenea, Wallr. In Acro- cordia tersa the stylospores are simple; in Opegrapha varia, Acrocordiu gem- minata, and the majority of lichens, in which they occur, septate. 10 LINDSAY, ON POLYMORPHISM IN LICHENS. the physiological relation of the Spermogonia to the Apothecia or perithecia—of the Spermatia to the Sporidia—save the ar- cumstance that no act equivalent to impregnation has yet been actually observed. If my observations and those of Gibelli, as to the discovery of Spermatia and Sporidia in the same conceptacle, should hereafter be confirmed, the fact then proved will furnish a strong argument in favour of the pro- bability of the occurrence of some such action or function as impregnation. Meanwhile, if we assume the physiological relation of Spermogonia to Apothecia, lichens may be regarded, as they have been described by Bayrhoffer and other specula- tive writers, as Monecious and Diecious, according as Sper- mogonia occur on the same individuals with the apothecia or not. It is in the latter case especially,—where Spermogonia occur by themselves—that the most expert lichenologist and the most careful student will frequently find it next to im- possible to determine to what species or genus to refer the isolated and secondary organs in question. Fortunately, the general rule is that Lichens are monecious ; and in the cases in which they are diecious, they are more frequently so acci- dentally than normally. There are many other forms of polymorphism in the re- productive organs or bodies of Lichens, which are of great interest to the philosophical botanist. Our knowledge thereof consists, however, of fragmentary and isolated ob- servations, casually made in different parts of Europe. They are not more numerous, I believe, simply because Lichen- ology has been hitherto almost exclusively studied by mere systematists—by species-makers, who describe phases of plant-life as species, genera, or groups! Philosophical bio- graphers of Lichens have been very few—physiologists, I mean—who have given themselves the time-consuming, and often fruitless, task of studying all the phases of development of even a single Lichen. Such labour I believe to be of the most recondite character; and it is, perhaps, not surprising that Lichenologists should always have preferred the in- finitely more easy task of discovering and describing so- called new species, three-fourths, however, whereof will, probably, ultimately be shown by the philosophical Lichen- biographer to be merely forms or conditions of growth, un- deserving, for the most part, separate nomenclature. There is a most puzzling polymorphism in Gonidie segmen- tation in Lichens, and its results under varying external in- fluences, e.g. temperature and moisture. The Leprarioid stage of development of Lichens—the fruit of gonidic seg- mentation—has, in the hands of systematists, hitherto been LINDSAY, ON POLYMORPHISM IN LICHENS. hat described as various genera of Alge (e.g. genera Protococcus, Chlorococcus, Hematococcus, Coccochioris, Gleocapsa, Pal- moglea, &c.). Kiitzing long ago affirmed that the Lichen-goni- dium might be developed into an Alga or Lichen, according to the external influences to which it was exposed. Iam notina position to confirm his observations, because I have not my- self watched the development of the gonidic cell under the varying conditions referred to. But I have sufficiently studied gonidic development in Lichens to admit at least the probable correctness of Kiitzing’s view; while I have no doubt of this fact, that the cells which constitute a certain stage of development of certain Alge, Lichens, and Mosses, and which are generally known as forms of the typical Lichen-gonidium, are indistinguishable, if they are not iden- tical. The subject is one to which I hope to give attention at some future time, by growing the Lichen-gonidium artificially, and watching its gradual development under different condi- tions of warmth and moisture, or their negatives. These ex- periments, I trust, will be connected with a comparative series by Chas. Jenner, F.R.S. Edinb., on certain of the so- called Unicellular Alge.* Meanwhile, I may direct atten- tion to the suggestive papers of Dr. Hicks, on the ‘ Gonidia of Algze, Mosses, and Lichens,’ in this Journal,+ and in the ‘Transactions of the Linnean Society,’+ papers which contain some very interesting results of similar series of experiments. Among minor forms of polymorphism may be mentioned —1, different forms of sporidia ; 2, differences in the number of sporidia, in the same apothecium or species. For instance, quite recently Carroll records a var. heterospora of Lecanora sophodes, Ach.,§ which, he says, “is remarkable for having * Mr. Jenner writes me (November, 1867)—* The subject is . one of the most subtle in nature, and one the exposition of which is only possible by laborious and well-considered methods of germination . There is no more interesting or important study connected with Natural His- tory than that arising from the influence of circumstances on the develop- ment of the Stapler forms of life. Early vegetable life, being more simple and facile of investigation than animal forms of life, renders it, in our present state of knowledge, the more valuable of the two. . . I ‘have no doubt at all myself as to the transmutation of species; but the evidence that. is ample to satisfy the individual worker is insufficient to establish a fact, which is at variance with principles of thought that rule the world Te shall gladly join you in experiments on germination . . . I scarcely doubt some important results may be eliminated.” 7 ‘Quart. Journ. Mic. Sci.,’ 1860, pp. 239; 1861, p. 15, 90. ~ Vol. xxiii, p. 567. All Dr. Hicks’s papers have instructive relative coloured plates. § ‘Seeman’s Journal of Botany,’ ] 867, p. 338. 12 LINDSAY, ON POLYMORTHISM IN LICHENS. some Asci containing simple, round or oval spores, along with others filled with spores of the usual form, all in the same apothecium.”* And again, Th. M. Fries describes a condition of Lecidea (Rhizocarpon) geminatum, Fw., in which, he says, “ sporas singulas et binas in eodem apothe- cio observavimus.”+ My own records of observations during the last ten years will enable me to give many facts of a similar kind, when I have leisure to treat of the “‘ Variation of the Sporidium in Lichens.” I cannot, however, at present, further pursue the subject of polymorphism in the reproduction of Lichens. T have said enough, I think, to show what I mean by the term, and in what directions the subject may be studied with advan- tage. I trust that some of the increasing number of stu- dents of Lichenology throughout Europe will give attention to the Biology or Physiology of Lichens, rather than to the mere effort at the multiplication of species and the devising of new names, to the greater confusion of an already alarm- ingly confused synonymy. I have no wish to depreciate the labours of systematists, of species-describers, of Lichen- ographers so-called, provided they possess the necessary qualifications for the determination and description of spe- cies, and for classification—qualifications that should, how- ever, confine such authors to a mere fraction of those that at present are incessantly adding to the already too bulky ** Literature of Lichenology.” But my experience has led me, under present circumstances at least, to esteem more highly the botanist who studies Lichen-life in all its phases, over wide areas, and in all the external conditions to which such life is exposed in Nature. Studies of such a character, besides correcting, or contributing to, our knowledge of the physiology of the Lichens (the nature, for instance, of the various processes of reproduction, of which we have as yet little positive information), cannot fail to generate liberal and philosophical views of the range of variation and the artificial or book-limits of species, and so to lead to the reduction and re- arrangement—on a simplified plan—of the present unnecessa- rily and mischievously great redundancy of species and genera. Quite recently two Russian observerst have discovered Zoospores as one of the phases or forms of deyelopment of * The var. ocfospora, Nyl., of Lecanora vitellina, Ach., differs from the type in containing eight, instead of twenty or thirty sporidia. + “ Lichenes Spitsbergenses,” p. 45, ‘ Kong]. Svenska Vetenshaps-Akade- miens Handlingar,’ 1867. { ‘ Beitrag zur Entwickelungsgeschichte der Gonidien und Zoosperen-bil- dung bei Physcia parietina, D. N.” ; by Famintzin and Baranietzky, ‘ Bota- nische Zeitung,’ 1867, p. 189. KITTON, ON DIATOMACES. 13 the gonidia of the common Physcia parietina, L.; and, as in the case of Kiitzing’s results, though I have had no oppor- tunity of confirming the observation, I have no reason to dis- believe its correctness. On the contrary, we are on the eve, I believe, of important discoveries, calculated to increase materially the number of links in that chain, which connects the Lichens with the higher and lower Cryptogamia, and even with the Phzenogamia.* Remarks on some of the New Species of DIATOMACEx recently published by the Rey. E. O'Meara. By Freperic Kirron, Norwich. Havine studied the Diatomacee for many years, I am convinced that a large proportion of the new genera and species obtained from dredgings or deposits have no claim to that distinction; no satisfactory generic or specific characters can be deduced from form procured from such sources. It is also a great error to suppose that the locality from whence a dredging is obtained is the habitat of the forms found in it. In the majority of instances the valves only are found, perhaps only one, perhaps only a fragment. The fact that only one valve or frustule is found, is of itself sufficient evidence that we do not know its habitat (it may be a few yards off or a thousand miles away). The living diatom multiples with great rapidity; if we found its true habitat, it would occur in myriads and not as arare or unique specimen. The forms found in dredgings, &c., have probably been deposited by the decay of animal and vegetable matter, as Noctiluce, Ascidians, mollusks, seaweed, &c., and brought there by ocean currents from far distant localities ; or it may even happen that they have been washed out of some diatomaceous deposit by river action, and carried forward to the ocean, and at last deposited amongst the debris of recent species. I have been induced to make these remarks by the publication of two papers (‘ Mic. Jour.,’ Vol. VII, n. s.), by the Rev. E. O’Meara, on “ New Species of Diatomacez pro- * The character of their cellular tissue, of their chemical constitution, of their contained raphidian or other crystals, of their-spiral vessels (recently observed in Evernia prunastri, L., byA dmiral Jones, ‘Dublin Quarterly Journal of Science,’ Jan., 1865, p. 91) form strong points of resemblance to flowering plants. 14. KITTON, ON DIATOMACEX. cured from Dredgings.” In the following observations I have assumed the amplification in the first paper to be the same as that in the second, viz., 600 diameters. The following forms, described in the Rey. E. O’Meara’s papers (Vol. VII.), may, I think, be referred to previously described species. Navicula pellucida, O’M., fig. 2, is a state of N. Pandura of De Brébisson. Navicula Wrightii, O’M., fig. 4. is certainly only N. clavata of W. Gregory; the striz next the median line being obli- terated by abrasion. Navicula amphoroides, O’M., fig. 3, seems to be an Amphora resembling A. salina of the Synopsis (= A. proteus of W. Gregory). Query, is not the nodule a small grain of quartz ? Pinnularia constricta, O’M., fig. 8, possibly a form of Navicula truncata, a very variable species both in size and cost. Pinnularia divaricata, O’M., fig. 7, if correctly figured and described, can be neither a Pinnularia nor Nayicula, as none of these genera have forked striz or costz. Surirella pulchella and gracilis,* O’M., figs. 10 and 11, are only forms of S. lata of the Synopsis, and this is merely a variety of that most variable form S. fastuosa. In a good gathering of this species, S. pulchella, S. gracilis, S. lata, may all be detected, and probably a dozen other species if slight differences in size, outline, or striation, constitute new species. Dr. Greville, in‘ Trans. of Mic. Soc.,’ 1862, p. 19, makes the only difference between S. lata and 8S. fastuosa to consist in the form of the median space; but an examina- tion of numerous specimens proves that his only character is of no value, for in specimens from the same locality all forms of the median space appear. Dr. Gregory proposed uniting his Campylodiscus simulans with S. fastuosa, but the former is a true Campylodiscus having the poles of the opposite valves at right angles to each other (a feature not peculiar to C. simulans or C. bicruciatus, im the Campylodisci the opposite valves of the frustule are always in that position). C. bieru- ciatus is only a frustule of C. simulans, and the latter is only a large variety of C. parvulus. Coscinodiscus fasciculatus, O’M., fig. 1, Vol VII, is an * Herr Grunow describes and figures aS. gracilis. The following are his specific characters :—* S. gracilis in (= Tryblionella gracilis, W. Smith ? ?) Mittelgross, Schalen breit linear mit abgerundeten oder conischen Enden, Rippen 12—14 im 0:001 Im siisswasser.” ‘ Verhand. der k.k. zoo.-bot. Gesellschaft in Wien,’ Band 12, s. 450, u. , Taf. vii, fig. 11. KITTON, ON DIATOMACE. 15 injured valve Actinocyclus (Eupodiscus, Smith) Ralfsi (var. E. sparsus of Gregory), that portion of the valve upon which the pseudo nodule occurs was, I suspect, broken off, as the author says it was an imperfect specimen, or it may have been overlooked as it is sometimes very minute. This is commonly the case withthe Coscinodiscus Barklyi of the Yarra Yarra deposit and which is, I believe, identical with C. fuscus ; both are species of Actinocyclus (the presence of a pseudo nodule is not recognised by Ehrenberg). Stauroneis costata, O’M, fig. is, I think, a sporangial state of Achnanthidium lineare. The valves of Cocconeis, like those of Arachnoidiscus, Actinoptychus, and some other genera, are composed of two generally) dissimilar plates; the upper valve (both plates) and the lower plate of the lower valve have neither median line nor nodule, while the upper plate of the lower valve has both, and when the two valves are united, we see the median line and central nodule of the lower through the upper valve and imagine it belongs to the upper. All figures hitherto published are imperfect in so far as they do not give—lIst, both valves in conjunction, 2nd, upper plate of the upper valve, 3rd, lower plate of ditto, 4th, lower valve, 5th, upper plate of ditto, 6th, lower plate of ditto. Occasionally two or three species present precisely the same appearance in the lower plate of each valve, and the chief characters are therefore to be got from the upper plates of the two valves. But we cannot contrast any figure of the two valves with either an upper or lower valve separated, nor one of these with the other. It will thus be evident that any description of new species from a single specimen or even series of specimens procured from deposits or dredgings must be erroneous. Cocconeis Portii, O’M, fig. 7, Vol. VII, n. s., shows both valyes in conjunction and appears to be a small state of C. scutellum. Raphoneis liburnica, OM, fig. 8, is the upper valve of a Cocconeis, but of what species I am not able to say ; it may probably be C. distans, W. Gregory. R. suborbicularis, O'M, fig. 9, is one of the plates of the upper valve of Cocconeis Grevillit. R. Jonesii and R. Moorii, O’M, figs. 10 and 11, are both the upper valves of one and the same species of Cocconeis, perhaps C. scutellum. The absence of the hyaline margin in fig. 10 is of no specific value, it has possibly become detached, an accident of frequent occurrence ; Cyclotedla rotula and 16 KITTON, ON DIATOMACEZ. C. antiqua are frequently found with the marginal band detached. R. Archerii, O’M, fig. 12, is the upper valve of a Cocconeis with the puncta abraded, probably it is C. costata of W. Gregory (Cocconeis divergens, fig. 5, may be the same but the lower valve). Eupodiscus excentricus, O’M, fig. 2, seems to be a valve of Coscinodiscus minor of Kiitzing, with an abnormal marginal development similar to a state of Amphitetras antediluviana, fig. by Mr. Brightwell, in Vol. VIII of the ‘ Mic. Journ.’ In conclusion, I will venture to observe that the publica- tion of isolated and imperfect specimens not only do not ad- vance our knowledge, but, on the contrary, are an hindrance to the study of these minute forms, and it would be far better to keep all such in an obscure corner of the cabinet or throw them into the fire, than publish them with crude and im- perfect characters. A far greater service would be rendered to the study of minute forms of organic life, if the extent of variation in one single species was made the subject of ex- amination than the publishing a score of RARE SPECIES. Description of a New Genus of DIATOMACE®, and observa- tions on the coste of PINNULARIA PEREGRINA. By FrepeEric Kirron, Norwich. A VALUED correspondent has informed me that the form described in the Synopsis as Gomphonema Fibula is not a Gomphonema, but must be considered a new genus. PrRONTIA, N. G., Brébisson and Arnott. Frustules solitary, elongated, linear, and slightly cuneate, attached by the base. Valves attenuated but obtuse at the base. Constricted and subcapitate at the apex, destitute of nodule, and median line, strie transverse pervious (across the whole valve). P. erinacea, Bréb. and Arn.; Gomphonema tibula, Bréb. MS. ; G. Fibula, Kiitzing, Smith; Synedra spinuleformis, Sm. MSS. Syn. Fibula, Smith, in Brit. Mus. Cat., p. 33. Fibula being more a clasp than the tongue or pin of the clasp, is scarcely so good a name for the genus as the Greek one Peronia, but, at the same time, is too closely allied to permit it to be used for the specific name. This diatom covers the leaves of Sphagnum, and the margin of the decaying leaves of grasses like pins in a pincushion. KITTON, ON DIATOMACE. lL? Pinnularia peregrina —Whilst examining the valves of this form with a high power (800 diameters), I accidentally discovered that the coste are transversely striate on their internal surface. The strie are about 50 in ‘001 of an inch. I have not been able to detect this peculiarity in any other species, nor has it been noticed in any work with which I am acquainted. Dr. Gregory, in ‘ Mic. Journ.,’ Vol. III, Trans., p. 15, says, ‘‘ I may mention that a friend informs me that the strix on P. gracilis have been found by him to be moniliform, although the fact may not yet be thoroughly established. This, it will be observed, corresponds with Mr. Smith’s observation on the strie of P. peregrina.’ But where does Smith say so? I may mention that oblique light at right angles to the valve is necessary to bring out the striz. VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. B TRANSLATION. Tagttagelser anstillede i Loibet af Vinteren, 1863-64, som have ledet til Opdagelsen af de hidtil ukjendte Berruct- NINGSORGANER hos BuapsvAMPENE. Af Prof. A. S. OrrsteD. (Observations made in the course of the Winter of 1863-64, which have led to the discovery of the hitherto unknown Organs of FRuctTIFICATION in the AGARICINI. By Prof. A. 8. OERSTED.) (‘ Oversigt over det Kongelige danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhand- linger.” Copenhagen, 1865, p. 11, pls. i, ii.) Ve ALTHOUGH, Within the last decade, organs of fructification have been demonstrated in so many of the lowest cryptogams, that we are justified in assuming that a distinction of sex pervades the whole plant-world, as well as that, as regards the maintenance of the species, fructification is of the same import for the spore-bearing as for the flowering plants— nevertheless, there are whole great groups, especially in the class of Fungi, in which organs of fertilisation are still quite unknown. ‘Thus, this applies to the Agaricini (Bladsvampe), which, as well as by their complex structure, their richness in forms, and their size, take the highest place in the system of Fungi. Gleditsch and Bulliard, certainly, have already attributed the same import as that of the stamens of flower- ing plants to the cylindrical or clavate cells, discovered by Micheli in 1729, and designated as “ filamenta” or “ ste- mones,”” which so frequently occur amongst the basidia in Agarics ;* and so also afterwards Léveillé, who brought the name ‘‘ Cystidia” for these organs into use, and especially Corda,+ who called them “ Pollinaria,’? and compared them with the pollen-grains in the flowering plants, and likewise ABI Te Befruchtungsprocess im Pflanzenreiche,’ yon L. Radlkofer, p. 2. + “ Ueber Micheli’s Antheren der Fleischpilze,” ‘Flora (Regensburg),’ 834, 1, p. 118. ‘Teones Fungor,’ tom. iii, p. 44. OERSTED, ON THE AGARICINI. 19 also Klotsch,* who sought to maintain the import of these organs as that of male organs of fructification; but, after Hoffmann’s researches, it must be regarded as settled that the pollinaria are only a sterile form of basidia.t If now we add to this that Tulasne has shown that the organs designated spermatia by Hoffmann cannot be accepted as organs of fertilisation, but that they correspond rather to the conidia (microconidia) in other Fungi,t whereby likewise Karsten’s observations§ lose their significance, we thus arrive at the result that no one has hitherto succeeded in demonstrating organs in the Agaricini, to which, in the present state of knowledge of the lower plants, there could be attributed the import of organs of fertilisation. 2. The consideration of the Agaricini, viewed morpholo- gically, leads to the conviction that the whole spore- receptacle (Sporehus) must be a result of fertilisation, and that thus the organs of fertilisation must have their seat in the aye ee and for several years I have had my attention directed to this organ. Experiments in culture were undertaken in order to follow out the development from the germinating spore to the formation of the receptacle, but they did not lead to any successful result, for the mycelium always died away shortly after germination, I had only then to go back to Nature to seek out the first stages of development of the receptacles in order to be guided through these to the organs of fertilisa- tion; but the difficulty here presents itself that the mycelium is always underground, and does not admit of being easily brought under the microscope in such a condition that one can get a clear view of the individual filaments. At last I succeeded in getting a clue to an agaric, which, contrary to the habit of Fungi, spreads its mycelium above ground. This is Agaricus (Crepidotus) variabilis, Pers., which, for our present research, presents that very favorable condition ; one of the earliest known Fungi, which has been many times described and figured, but one whose development-history has been hitherto the same thing as unknown.|| It was in the * In Dietrich’s ‘ Flora des Konigreichs Preussen,’ Bd. vi. + ‘ Botanische Zeitung,’ 1856, p. 135. £ ‘Selecta Fungorum Carpologia,’ Tom.i, p. 161. In the 9th chapter of this classic work is given a complete review of the whole of the literature treating on the fructification of Fungi. § ‘Bonplandia,’ 1861, p. 63. || E. Fries, ‘Systema mycol.,’ i, p. 275; ‘ Hpicrisis,’ p. 211. Crepi- 20 OERSTED, ON THE AGARICINI. mushroom-bed in “‘ Rosenborg ”? garden that this Fungus had flourished. In the bed prepared for mushrooms it spread its mycelium like a delicate cobweb over the earth, and in the same spot one could find receptacles of all sizes. It was thus easy, by arranging the different stages of development in a descending sequence, to form a series of steps which gra- dually led from the fully-grown spore-receptacle down to its first rudiments, hardly perceptible as a white point. Under a slight magnifying power this shows itself as a conical felted body. ‘This form is retained by the receptacle until it has attained a size of 1-2mm. The first rudiments of the pileus begin now to be evident as a little globular expansion at the point of the conical stem. At the beginning the pileus grows uniformly at all sides, and the receptacle is therefore at this stage regularly formed, as in Agarics in general.* The expanded base of the stem passes quite gradually over into the mycelium-filaments, which radiate towards all sides, so that here the organ designated as a root by the older mycologists is wanting.t Only when the receptacle has at- tained the size of 4—-Smm. does the pileus begin to grow more strongly at one side, and thus by degrees the horizontal position is exchanged for the vertical. Since the stem, when the pileus is first commenced, ceases altogether to grow, the fully-grown receptacle is very short-stemmed. The pileus is undulate, wavy at the margin, bulged or lobed, membranous or half-pellucid. The receptacle is often compound and formed of two receptacles growing together by the stems, or of three or more united by their bases. For so far the observation of the development of the receptacle offers no difficulties. These begin only when, by the aid of the microscope, we would seek to account for the relations of the earliest developmental stages to the organs of fertilisation, and it was only after many unsuccessful trials that I succeeded in making preparations which would serve to give a distinct conception of these organs. The mycelium- dotus, by reason of its short-stalked or stalkless eccentrically attached pia forms a subgenus amongst the brown-spored Agarici, analogous to leurotus amongst the white-spored. Both subgenera likewise have this in common, that they, almost without exception, include species which grow on trees, The above-named species has been already described in 1690 as Fungus albus minimus trilobatus (Ray, ‘Synops. method. stirp. brit.’). It is figured (amongst other places) in Persoon’s ‘ Observationes mycologice,’ ii, t. v, f. 12, and twice in ‘Flora Danica,’ viz., t. 1078 (as Agaricus pubes- cens, Vahl), and t. 1586. oe condition has not escaped Persoon’s attention (‘Observ. mye.,’ ii, p. 46). + The present species is thus described by E, Fries, “radiculis nullis ” (‘ Syst. myc.,’ i, p. 275), OERSTED, ON THE AGARICINI. 21 filaments have, indeed, so thin, soft, and gelatinous a mem- brane, that, when one tries to loose them from the soil, they become, at the- slightest contact, confluent into a mucous mass, or a mucous net, with larger or smaller openings. Little better success attends placing some of the soil overgrown by the mycelium under the microscope, for one is not able to apply a sufficiently high magnifying power. However, one can, even by this plan, satisfy oneself of the existence of two organs on the mycelium which cannot be seen by the un- assisted eye. There thus present themselves numerous short filaments, which arise up vertically, and bear at their point a globular cell. ‘These filaments are thinner towards the points, and appear to consist of three cells, of which the lowest is only a little longer than broad, the next about twice as long, and the uppermost much longer. Besides these filaments one can discern another organ, much smaller, ap- pearing only just a little above the mycelium-filaments ; but it is seen so indistinctly that one is not at all able to form a conception of its structure. I tried, therefore, placing thin glass plates over the soil, in order to get the mycelium to become spread thereon. ‘This succeeded so far that one could get a very clear view of the growth and ramification of the mycelium. ‘The mycelium grows very quickly, and in the space of a few hours the glass plate, 10mm. long and 6mm. broad, became quite covered over by the delicate filaments, which adhere as closely to the glass as if they were attached with gum. Since the filaments hardly alter their form in drying, these glass plates may be preserved without any further preparation as instructive specimens of the mycelium. The mycelium so formed remained, however, sterile, and I was almost about to give up hope of a successful result, when I hit upon the idea that the mycelium spread upon the soil would, perhaps, after being dried, more readily admit of being separated and brought under the microscope in sueh a condition that one could get a clear view of the organs seated thereon. ‘This proved itself indeed to be the case, since the soft and mucous mycelium-filaments are prevented by drying from falling together, and can be separated by a fine needle into minute portions, which are quite free from particles of earth, and thus can be examined under the microscope, with the highest magnifying powers. The mycelium is now softened, first with alcohol—when this precaution is not observed, the view is made very indistinct by the quantity of air-bubbles—and, after a drop of water is added, the indi- vidual filaments and the organs seated thereon quickly assume the same nature which they had preyious to being dried. 22 OERSTED, ON THE AGARICINI. It was only by preparations made in this way that I sue- ceeded in getting a clear view of the mycelium-filaments, and of the organs seated thereon, of which I had previously only got an indistinct glimpse, as well as arriving at a knowledge of the organs of fertilisation so long in yain sought after in these fungi. 3. The mycelium consists of very long, tubular, and branched cells, =} = 75 mm. in diameter, and loosely felted amongst one another. ‘These cells are very regularly dichotomously branched, which is especially distinctly seen when the mycelium is formed, as above mentioned, upon little glass plates, as the mycelium then forms only a single layer. ac ‘The principal stem divides into two branches ; these divide again in the same manner ; and this branching is repeated to the extreme points. The cell-membrane is extraordinarily thin and soft and mucous—it has almost the character of a mucous membrane—so that the cell-filaments readily become confiuent, a condition which has a peculiar interest in that it shows the relationship of these mycelium filaments with the plasmodium of the Myxogastres (Slimsvampe) ;* the cell-con- tents, when slightly magnified, appear as a light-yellow mucus ; but with a higher magnifying power they are seen to be almost exclusively formed of greyish, partly very minute, partly larger granules, amongst which occur minute yellow globules (oil-drops?); the larger granules are often sur- rounded by a clear mucous investment, and sometimes there occur large, almost clear, slightly reddish, mucous masses. Of the organs which present themselves upon the myce- lium, should be first mentioned the bud-cells (Knopceller), or the above mentioned three-celled filaments, with a globular cell at the apex. These now present themselves under so different an appearance, that one cannot readily believe them to be the same organs which were previously before one. The septa have quite disappeared from the stems, and, instead of the globular cell, have come a considerable number of very minute cells. ‘That the above described form, that under which these organs present themselves when seen in air, depends upon an optical illusion produced by the drawing together of the cell-contents and cell-membrane, we can readily satisfy ourselves by observing the gradual transforma- * Compare, thus, the mucous net formed by the union of the mycelium filaments (tab. i, fig. 10) with the plasmodium of Didymium leucopus (Prings- heim’s ‘ Jahrbiicher fiir wissench. Botanik,’ 3 Bd., 1863, tab. xviii, fig. 7). OERSTED, ON THE AGARICINI. 23 tion which takes place when the alcohol, and afterwards the water, is brought in beneath the covering-glass, under which the dry mycelium is placed. One sees then that these organs, by degrees, expand to more than double their dimensions, whilst at the same time they are changed, so that the septa disappear, and the (seemingly) single terminal cell gradually breaks up into a number of smaller cells. The stem-cell is often slightly narrowed at the base, and it is not separated by any septum from the mycelium cells, whence it proceeds, and has the same contents as it. The cells united into a globular head at the end of the stem vary much in size and number; sometimes they are larger, and then fewer in number ; sometimes smaller, and then much more numerous. They easily fall off, and then it is seen that they are oval, and that they present themselves as round only when seen from the ends; they have hyaline contents, and only seldom is there seen a nucleus-like body. As regards the develop- ment of these organs, there appears to be formed first a cell at the end of the stem-cell; when this has reached a size of about =; mm., and while the stem grows in length to about !5 mm., the end cells gradually increase in number. These organs cannot be regarded as serving fertilisation, but cor- respond quite to the conidia or bud-cells, which of late years we have learned to know in many fungi, and especially in many Spherie,* whilst under this form they haye not hitherto been known in agarics. But if they have not been known as conidia, yet have they been not quite unknown ; of this we may satisfy ourselves by comparing with Corda’s figure of Cephalosporium macrocarpum.t There cannot, in- deed, be any doubt but that both figures refer to the same plant; and we arrive thus at the result that the species included under the genus Cepkalosporium are not independent fungi, but the mycelium of Agarics forming bud-cells. From the same mycelium-filaments which bear the bud- cells, or from others, proceed likewise the organs of fructifi- cation. The female organ of fructification occurs, as in most of the lowest spore-bearing plants, as a single cell—the oogonium. ‘The first rudiments of this cell present them- selves as an eyersion, which from the beginning is curved down towards the mycelium filament, and, by degrees, as the oogonium grows, it becomes almost reniform, becoming appressed, its apex lying against the side of the mycelium filament. Such oogonia originate in numbers from the mycelium filaments, and have always essentially the same * Tulasne, ‘Selecta Fungorum Carpologia, tom. 2. + ‘Icon, Fung.,’ iii, tab. ii, fig. 30. 24 OERSTED, ON THE AGARICINI. form, the same size, and the same position.* ‘They have a length of ;!; mm., and are about ;}> mm. in diameter; and they seem to be separated by a septum from the filaments whence they proceed. The contents are mostly but little different from those of the mycelium, only the granules are larger ; and especially there are found here many of the yellow or yellow-brown globular bodies, which, besides, are very large. However, there are often seen inthe oogonia a quite clear, hollow space (vacuole) of varied form, and taking up about the one half of the cavity of the cell. In the hollow space is observed a nucleus-like body, or in its place are seen several yellow-brown globules. In one oogonium was found, in place of the hollow space, a clear, yellow mucus ; and here the yellow-brown globules lay between this and the cell-membrane. From the base of the oogonium there proceeds at each side a filiform antheridium-cell, which is very thin (only =1,- 4t>;mm. in diameter), two or three times as long as the oogonium, and usually gradually diminishing in thickness towards the point; sometimes the antheridial cells are furcately branched ; or only one of them is normally de- veloped, whilst the other is either altogether wanting or is very short. The contents are usually quite pellucid, more rarely a few granules are present, but antherozoids are not found here any more than in most other Fungi. As regards the relation of the antheridial cells to the oogonia, they are usually seen hanging freely at the side without coming in contact with the latter. Only twce were the antheridial cells seen in such a union with the oogonia as is ac- customed to take place during fertilisation. In one of the cases it was the antheridial cells belonging to the oogonium, in another case it was an antheridial cell from another oogonium which presented itself in this union. Amongst many antheridial cells an altogether peculiar condition was observed but once, and there can hardly be attributed to it therefore any special significance. ‘This con- sisted in the fact that three adjacent antheridial cells, placed about the usual distance from one another, were mutually united. Notwithstanding that thus we have only:imperfect observa- tions with regard to the act of fertilisation itself, it yet does not admit of the slightest doubt but that the organs just described actually have the significancy which has been here attributed to them, since they agree so exactly with the rgans of fertilisation in other Fungi (for instance, in * Once were seen two oogonia proceeding from the same place. OERSTED, ON THE AGARICINI. 25 Peronospora and Saprolegnia); in the flowering plants, indeed, fertilisation has been observed in only a compara- tively emall number of species, and yet it will not be doubted that this takes place in all plants furnished with stamens and pistils. If, then, we come to inquire as to the operation of the fertilisation, and as to the relation of the organs of fertilisa- tion to the receptacle, I have not yet succeeded in obtaining so clear a view of this stage of development as to be able to repeat it by a figure; but, after what I have seen, it must be assumed that the operation of the fertilisation consists in there being thereby called forth a peculiar growth of the mycelium filaments bearing the oogonia, so that there be- comes produced a dense tissue proceeding from them, in- cluding several oogonia, which, when it has attained a certain size, presents itself as a little white felted spot, hardly evident to the naked eye—the above-mentioned first rudi- ments of the receptacle. ‘The oogonia after fertilisation do not appear to undergo any further transformation ; only once was seen a beaklike elongation of the anterior part of the oogonium. ‘The fertilisation thus appears to stand in the same relation to the formation of the receptacle as that which (resulting from de Bary’s researches) must be assumed to take place in Peziza.* To sum up, in conclusion, the results to which the fore- going observations in the development of Agaricus variabilis have led, are as follow: 1. The mycelium of this Fungus is formed of long dicho- tomously branched tubular cells, without septa, united into a loose web, and with so thin and soft a membrane that it has almost quite the character of a mucous membrane. 2. From the mycelium cells proceed both vegetative organs of propagation or bud-cells and organs of fructification. 3. The organs formed as bud-cells have been previously decribed as and independent species amongst Hyphomycetes (Cephalosporium macrocarpum). 4, The female organ of fructification is a reniform oogo- nium, which is curved down against the mycelium-filament, whence it originates, with its apex pressed towards it. The male organ of fructification consists of two filiform antheridial cells proceeding from the base of the oogonium. 5. After fertilisation several oogonia in union give rise to the formation of a receptacle. The oogonia are included in a ‘ Ueber die Fruchtentwickelung der Ascomyceten,’ yon Dr. A, de Bary, 3, 26 OERSTED, ON THE AGARICINI. the dense filamentous tissue which forms the first rudiments of the receptacle, without (as it appears) their undergoing any transformation. 6. The stem is that part of the receptacle which is first produced, afterwards the pileus. ‘This is at first regular, horizontal, and attached to the stem by the middle of the under surface, afterwards it becomes oblique, vertical, and attached to the stem in the neighbourhood of the margin. QUARTERLY CHRONICLE OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. Archiv fur Mikroskopische Anatomie. Bd. III, heft iti. Supplementary Notice. Our Chronicle was necessarily curtailed considerably last quarter, hence we here give more extended notices of some of the Papers in this part of the ‘ Archiv.’ 1. “ On the Genesis of the Seminal Corpuscles,’”’ by La Valette St. George. Referring to a paper published in 1865, in the ‘ Archiv,’ by Schweigger-Seidel, the writer remarks that that author states that the substance of which the spermatic corpuscles are composed is by no means of uniform nature throughout, but always presents peculiar characters at various parts. These apparently simple corpuscles, consequently, are composed of segments distinctly differing in form and chemical constitu- tion. For instance, in the mammalia the upper part of the filament is distinguished from the remainder by its large and more uniform thickness, greater brilliancy, and different be- haviour under various chemical reagents. Neither does it take any part in the movements of the filament. In birds and amphibia it is also characterised by certain differences. Schweigger-Seidel, therefore, regards it as a special segment or “ intermediate-piece,” interposed between the head and tail. M. Valette St. George, however, states that in some instances in human spermatozoa he has noticed this inter- mediate-piece, which it is sometimes difficult to discern, to take part, though faintly, in the motion. In those of the Hedgehog, taken from the epididymis, this “‘ intermediate-piece ” was usually very readily discernible, though sometimes not so well defined. M. St. George states that the festis of this animal is peculiarly well adapted for the study of the development of the spermatozoon, owing to the greater transparency of the contents of the sperm-cells. Inthe Guinea-pig, Rabbit, and Dog, a similar constitution of the corpuscles can be readily perceived. 28 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE, ~~ With respect to the development of the spermatic bodies, nearly all that is essential has been already communicated by Schweigger-Seidel in the paper above cited; and like that observer, M. Valette St. George has been able to trace the transformation of the nucleus of the sperm-cell into the rod- shaped head, as well as the formation of the filament from the cell-contents. The process may be well seen, he says, in the Spotted Salamander. ‘The nucleus becomes elongated and transformed into the head of the spermatozoon, being frequently rolled up in the cell. Its outermost part forms a distinctly defined appendage, 0°008mm. long. The author proceeds to compare the result of his re- searches on the development of the spermatozoon in the Ver- tebrata with those of other observers—as Kolliker, Anker- mann, Pfliiger, and Henle, who, though agreeing with Kolliker that the head of the spermatozoon is a metamorphosed nucleus, conceives, nevertheless, that for the formation of the tail a persistent connection of the head with the cell is indispensable. He also notices the views of Grohe, who considers the nucleus of the sperm-cell’as merely a particle of contractile substance, which he thinks it probable is de- veloped spontaneously from the cell-contents.* According to Schweigger-Seidel the spermatozoon is not a simple nuclear formation, but corresponds, as a transformed one-rayed ciliate cell, to an entire cell. Of the two kinds of cells found in the tubuli seminiferi, only one kind with minute clear nuclei undergoes the transformation into spermatozoa. The author’s own views, as aboye stated, appear to coin- cide pretty nearly with those of Schweigger-Seidel, viz., that the nucleus and the cell-contents are both engaged in the formation of the spermatozoon. In the mammalia the first change consists in the nucleus becoming more trans- parent, and losing its granular contents, or exhibiting instead around nucleolus, which in its turn disappears. One half of the nucleus then exhibits a thickened contour as well as an appendage in the form of a nodule, which may become developed into a sort of cap. At the same time it becomes elongated, and assumes a brilliant aspect, and now, or a little before this, a filament sprouts out of the cell which comes into connection with the nucleus. The cell substance disappears by degrees, and ultimately becomes attached as a smaller or larger appendage to that part of the filament designated by Schweigger-Seidel the ‘‘ intermediate-piece.” Some observations, but not of much importance, on the * “Ueber die Bewegung der Samenkérper.” Von F. Grohe. Virchow’s * Archiv,’ xxxii, QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 29 development of the spermatozoa in certain insects and snails, conclude the paper, which is illustrated by numerous figures. 2. “On the Structure and Development of the Labyrinthulee,”’ by Professor L. Cienkowski. In the last Chronicle a brief notice of this paper was given, and the author’s summary of his conclusions (vol. vil, p- 277). The organisms in question were found in the harbour of Odessa by Professor Cienkowski. His observations have led him to recognise provisionally in them a new group, for which he proposes the name of Labyrinthulez. The members of this family are of microscopic dimensions. They form thin, reticulate, colourless filaments, on which fusiform bodies circulate very slowly in various directions. The meshes of the net exhibit extreme differences in size and shape. Another characteristic of these organisms consists in the presence in various parts of imbedded globular or fusi- form masses, from and into which the filaments appear to arise and to be inserted. The reticular arrangement is often wholly absent, when the filaments are disposed in an ar- borescent manner. The network, as well as the arborescent ramifications, spring from a central mass, which is sometimes as big as a pin’s head. And in these globular or irregularly formed aggregations the Labyrinthulex are met with on fragments of wood encrusted with alge, when they have been allowed to remain in water for several days. The author has been able at present to make out only two specifically distinct forms, in one of which the fusiform par- ticles are of a yellow colour, and in the other colourless. Including both in one genus, Labyrinthula, he names one L. vitellina and the other L. macrocystis. In L. vitellina the central mass consists of an aggregation of globules 0°012mm. in diameter and haying a very delicate contour, and whose contents seem to derive their colour from a reddish or bright yellow pigment. The entire mass is held together by a delicate, finely-granular, cortical substance, which often forms at the periphery a thin enveloping layer. On the addition of alcohol this layer appears in the form of a delicate membrane at some distance from the shrunken globules. The material of which it is composed is not coloured either blue or brown by iodine. It is dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid, but the author has been unable to perceive any proof of its containing cellulose. Besides the large central mass, there are observed in various parts of the net smaller aggregations of globules, 30 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. which, however, are not surrounded by any cortical sub- stance. From the central mass, as well as from these smaller masses, spring in all directions the colourless, usually very fine, but sometimes coarser, anastomosing threads in which the coloured fusiform corpuscles, either simply or several together, pursue their lazy course. Observation shows that by degrees all the globules in the central and other aggregations assume the fusiform shape, and proceed along the filaments until, at the end of several hours, the greater part of them may be observed to have reached the edge of the fluid in which the specimen was immersed. The fusiform corpuscles vary greatly both in size and shape; the latter varying from perfectly globular to that of a thread slightly thickened in the middle. They seem to consist of a homogeneous protoplasmic substance. ‘They are never seen to coalesce. When closely examined the body is seen to be flattened, and without any visible membranous envelope ; it represents a mucus-corpuscle, with scattered granules and pigmentary particles. In the centre is a nucleus, which ap- pears like a clear vacuole, containing a strongly refractive nucleolus. The colouring matter in its chemical reactions seems to resemble the red spots in EHuglena, the Rotifera, Uredinee, &ce. The motion of the fusiform particles, which, from the de- scription, would appear to bear some analogy with that of the granules in Tradescantia, &c., is excessively slow, not ex- ceeding, according to the author’s observations, ;;th to ~th of a millimetre in a minute, nor is it very uniform. The principal direction seems to be towards the periphery of the drop of water, but the shortest road is not invariably selected, so that sometimes, missing the way, they return to the central mass from which they had started. With respect to the cause of the motion the author has been unable to make out anything satisfactory. It appears certain, however, that whatever it is, it resides in the corpuscle, and not in the fila- ment, although the former is unable to moye, except when in connexion with the latter. With regard to the nature and properties of the filaments and the substance of which they are composed, it is re- marked that they are solid, and the substance non-contractile ; consequently, they in no way resemble the pseudopodia of the Rhizopoda. The author enters into a long discussion regarding the mode of origin of the threads and their component fibrille, and the result at which he has arrived is, that the ultimate QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. $1 fibrils of which the thicker filaments are composed are all produced from the fusiform corpuscles. ‘The whole network, in fact, may be described as a gelatinous, fibrillated secretion of the corpuscles. The second species, LZ. macrocystis, agrees with the former in all essential particulars of structure, &c. Its corpuscles, however, are somewhat larger (0°018—0-025 mm.) and of denser consistence; the nucleus is better defined, and the contents more granular and colourless, or with the faintest yellow tinge. The cells constituting the central mass have in this species usually an arched or curved form, with rounded ends, and the convexity directed towards the periphery of the mass. When viewed with a pocket lens, the masses appear as white or yellowish gelatinous drops, which are sometimes aggregated into vermiform growths which are seen, sev eral. together, on various parts of the algan incrusta- tion. In further illustration of the nature of the Labyrinthulee, the author states that the fusiform corpuscles multiply by division, the first indication of which is the formation of a septum, usually running obliquely across the cell in the line of its future scission. In this process the nucleus does not divide, but a new nucleus is formed in one of the segments. Under certain circumstances, as, for instance, when exposed to partial desiccation, L. macroc ystis has the power of very readily becoming quiescent, that is to say, of becoming encysted, in which condition it may remain for many weeks unchanged. 3. On Clathrulina, a New Actinophryan Genus,” by Pro- fessor L. Cienkowski. The growths to which the name of Clathrulina has been applied, and of which it would seem Professor Cienkowski has distinguished two species, or rather varieties, consist of protoplasmic masses, lodged free within a fenestrated shell, through the wide openings of which the numerous pointed pseudopodia project, and which is supported on a long, rigid peduncle, by which it is affixed to various subaqueous objects. The shell or case also not unfrequently itself forms the basis of support of the peduncles of other Clathruline disposed in a radial manner, and again serving for the support of a second series, and so on. It was in this aggregated form that the author first dis- covered the genus about ten years since in St. Petersburg, in a tank containing Nitella, Vaucheria, &c.; and he has since observed it in Dresden, Franzensbad, but very rarely, and in small quantity. The growth may be simply described as an Actinophrys contained in a fenestrated case of a globular or 32 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. pyriform shape, about 0-072 mm. in diameter, and whose wall is composed of polygonal, firmly connected convex rings, or perforated plates. Its surface consequently presents nume- rous depressions. The Jenestre are of various sizes and forms ; most haye a rounded or polygonal, more or less regular out- line, but the smallest are large enough to admit conveniently Chlam ydomonade, spores of Alge, &e. The stem is many times longer than thick, and it is tubular, the calibre being about 0:003 mm. Clathrulina multiplies itself much in the same way as Actinophrys, &c., viz., by scission, and the production of motile zoospores after haying undergone the process of encysting ; of course it is only the soft protoplasmic mass that participates in these processes. In either case the segments of the divided body, or the motile zoospores, escape through the fenestre; and either at once, or after moving about for a short time, become affixed, and, secreting the fenestrated case, become Clathruline. The systematic relations of this interesting genus are too obvious to require remark, but, as the author observes, it is extremely interesting to find in it an intermediate form of Rhizopoda between Actinophrys and the Radiolariz, as re- presented, for instance, by Coscinosphera of Stuart,* which may, in fact, as he says, be described as a cased Actinophrys furnished with pigment-cells. 4. “On the Origin and Development of Bacterium termo, Duj., Vibreo lineola, Ehrb,” by Joh. Liiders, of Kiel. 5. Remarks on the above paper,’ by Dr. Hensen. The very interesting observations of Frau Liiders on the develop- ment of Vibriones from the spores and germ-filaments of various of the lower fungi were first communicated in the ‘Botanische Zeitung’ (1866, p- 35); and her results were commented upon, and strongly controverted, by Professor Hallier in the ‘ Archiy. f. Mikroskop. Anatomie,’ vol. ii p: 67, 1866. The present paper by Frau Liiders is intended to support her previous observations, and to establish her conclusions upon fresh experimental g erounds. In the second brief communication, by Professor Hensel, all that she says is strongly supported ; and there can be no doubt that the subject is one demanding the earnest and zealous attention of microscopists. Madame Liiders conceives that she has proved that Vibriones (leaving aside the question of there being more than one * © Zeitsch. f, wiss.,’ Bd. xvi, Heft. 3. QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 35 species) are produced from the spores and germinal filaments of various fungi—amongst which are enumerated Mucor, Penicillium, Botrytis, Torula, Manilia, Aspergillum, Septo- sporium, Arthrobotrys, Acremonium, and Verticillium. In Madame Liiders’ experiments on the cultivation upon the stage of the microscope, either under a covering-glass or in the moist chamber, all the glasses employed, both thin and thick, were previously purified from all organic germs, by exposure to a strong heat in the spirit lamp; and in order to avoid both the drying of the preparation and the admis- sion of foreign germs, they were kept under a glass bell, secured by water. In cases where it was intended to kill the spores by dry heat, they were kept for fifteen to thirty minutes at a tempe- rature of 160° C., for Madame Liiders has seen them germi- nate after they had been heated to only 100°, when placed for some days in flesh- or sugar-water. The experiment farther consisted in the sowing in test- glasses, prepared as above stated, and filled with boiled flesh- water, at the moment they were taken from the boiling apparatus, the spores of the various j/uzgi above enumerated, taken by means of forceps which had previously been heated to redness; the tubes were then closed with varnish, &c. When the tubes thus prepared were placed, immediately after the sowing, into the warm bath, a cloudiness was often observed in the fluid in the course of a few hours, and within twenty-four hours they always swarmed with Vibriones, whilst at the same time the contents of a similar tube, con- taining the same fluid, and prepared in precisely the same way, but into which no spores had been introduced, remained unchanged. The Vibriones produced in this way by direct germination from the spores of fungi differ in no respect from those which are commonly found in putrescent fluids. Madame Liiders is induced to believe that the blood of living animals contains Vibriones, either in the catenated form or in that of the constituent granules ; but during life, and until putrescency commences, these are always “quiescent, and show no signs of active existence. An experiment, by Professor Hensen, in support of this opinion, is thus described : The extremity of a glass-tube, bent in the form of a W with the ends drawn out, and quite closed, and which had been exposed for half an hour to 200° C., was thrust into the heart of a recently killed guinea pig, and then broken off. After the blood had been sucked into the tube from the VOL, VIII.—NEW SER, c 34 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. other end, which was melted off in order to remove any small quantity of fluid that might have entered in the process of suction, the ends of the tube having been hermetically closed, it was kept at a temperature of from 13° to 15°C. From one of several tubes thus prepared, on the 8th Nov., 1866, the point was broken off on the 10th, and on the follow- ing day a drop of the blood was expelled by warming the air contained in it. Microscopic examination showed that this blood contained numerous fungus-germ-vibriones, in the form both of isolated granules, as well as in that of rods or chains ; mobile rods, however, were’rare. On the 12th the latter had become more numerous, and their motions were much accele- rated on the addition of water. Milk also contains the minute, isolated germs of vibrios in still greater abundance, and which, as in the case of the blood, are motionless until putrescency commences. As might be expected, cheese contains them in greater abundance even than milk, as may be proved by placing a bit of cheese in water, which soon becomes filled with active vibrios, which correspond in every respect with what M. Pasteur describes as the butyric-acid ferment. Similar germs are also found in the yolk of eggs treated in the same way as the blood in the experiment above related ; and Madame Liiders thence remarks that it is by no means necessary to conclude from M. Donné’s experiments, in which the access of extraneous spores to the egg was prevented, that the Vibrios found in it were the product of spontaneous generation. In the mouth and on the epithelium of the tongue the Vibrio-germs occur in the form of Leptothrix buccalis, Remak. When Lepiothriv, or fungus-spores, are cultivated in pure water, the rods, it is true, exhibit but very faint indications of movement ; but when placed in flesh- or bloody water, they multiply and present all the phenomena witnessed in the Vibriones produced in such media from the spores of moulds, or in those which arise spontaneously in putritying fluids. The facts first made known by Professor Hallier, that, under certain circumstances, Yeast may be produced from Lepto- thrix, has received confirmation from Madame Liiders’ re- searches, as have also the statements of Bail, Berkeley, and Hoffmann, that yeastcan be produced from the spores of various moulds. In experiments on this subject much depends on the composition of the fluid, the amount of germs introduced into it, but, above all, on the temperature. ‘The mixture which afforded the best results contained from 12 to 16 parts of cane-sugar to 100 of water. When QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 35 this solution, after haying been heated to 140° C., is exa- mined microscopically, the minute germs which it always contains are seen to be still browner than the fluid, and they never germinate. The solution, consequently, in this con- dition is fitted for further experiment with the spores of various fungi. When these have been introduced the tubes should be placed ina bath at from 30° to 40° C., which should be maintained as nearly as possible uniform. In three or four days yeast will be abundantly formed. The spores of Peni- cillium glaucum appear to afford the most certain and copious results, whilst from those of Mucor, Aspergillus, Arthro- botrys, Verticillium, and Acremonium, it is more difficult to produce yeast in pure sugar water, especially when the spores are at all old. But the addition of a little fruit-juice at once promotes its production. The results at a lower temperature are widely different. Eyen at the temperature of 25° C. an extraordinary quantity of thick germ-filaments are produced, which, as it were, ab- sorb the entire plasma for their own nutrition, and conse- quently few or no granules are afforded. In similar manner it would seem that the yeast-cells may be produced from the Vibriones of a putrescent fluid in the course of forty-eight hours. In this experiment care must be taken that too great a quantity of the Vibrio-germs should not be introduced into the sugar solution. Vice versd, on the addition of yeast-cells to a putrescent animal fluid, the production of Vibrio-germs from them may be witnessed. In the few observations appended to this valuable commu- nication by Madame Liiders Professor Hensen gives his testimony as to the patience, perseverance, and care with which the experiments were performed, many of which were repeated by himself with similar results. He remarks also upon the fact, deducible from all recorded observations on the subject, that the germination of fungi, the formation of yeast-cells, and of Vibrios, never proceed at one and the same time and spot, but are always successive—one form disappear- ing as the other comes upon the stage. In illustration of this general law he cites a valuable paper by Oehl and Cantoni,* who, in their researches with an extract of beans, invariably observed, after the disappearance of the Vibrio-fauna, the en- trance of a flora, eventually passing into the development of fungi. 6. A Contribution towards the Knowledge of the “‘ Sacculi of Miescher.” By Professor W. Manz.—Miescher’s Sacculi * « Aunali universali,’ vol. cxevi, p. 352, “ Ricecherche sullo sviluppo degli Infusori.” 36: . QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. are the minute bodies which occur in muscular tissue, and which were known as “Cattle Plague Entozoa” in this country ayear or two since. They have, of course, nothing to do with cattle plague, and were well known to the German microscopists twenty years since, and haye also been described by Mr. Rainey, who regarded them as embryo-cysticert, from the pig, m 1859. Dr. Beale’s paper in the ‘ Med. Times and Gazette,’ in which he described these sacculi very carefully at the time when they attracted atten- tion in England, is not referred to by Professor Manz: It is avery strange thing that not one of the writers on these animals (which evidently belong to the group of Gregarinida) has given them a name. We offer that of Sarcocystis Mieschert for the use of future writers. Professor Manz observes that the common cylindrical form of these vesicles depends entirely on their size; and the change of size is the consequence of a development which takes place longitudinally ; the thickness does not depend upon this; they are some- times broader and sometimes narrower than the primitive bundle of muscular tissue in which they occur. The tunic of the sacculi is composed of a fine homogeneous membrane which surrounds its contents pretty close. From some observa- tions made on decomposing sacculi, the author thought the tunic was very porous, but in fresh subjects I could discover no trace of such a condition. Smaller sacculi from the pig were observed, which were acuminate at one, or, more frequently, at both ends; and at these points a conical space was left containing no reniform corpuscles, but only brilliant granules. A very important character of the tunic of the sacculi is the presence of a ciliary investment, which was first described by Mr. Rainey. This exists, however, only on the smaller or younger sacculi ; it is of a very delicate nature, and may easily be detached in the extraction of the sacculus from its site. Its aspect con- veyed to the author the same impression that it has done to Leuckart, viz. that it is due to a cuticular fissuring or stria- tion, rather than to the existence of actual cilia, for ciliary movement has never been witnessed in it. The contents of the sacculi consist of a homogeneous, very transparent, gelatinous substance, in whichare imbedded the well-known kidney- or bean-shaped corpuscles. But besides these the author has noticed bodies of a crescentic form, and pointed at each end; and also, but more rarely, straight rods, and, lastly, spherical corpuscles.. The latter appear to have aspecial significance, inasmuch as they repre- sent the earlier stage of development of the others. They are found chiefly, if not exclusively, in the smallest sacculi. QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 37 In appearance not unlike the colourless blood-corpuscles, these bodies at first appeared pale, with faintly granular con- tents and ill-defined nucleus. But when placed in dilute glycerine their aspect soon changed, owing to the retraction at one spot of the contents from the now distinctly visible membrane, the contents presenting a defined outline, whilst at the same time the vacuole-like nucleus was also more dis- tinctly seen. This condition, howeyer, did not last long; the membrane soon bursting, the contents escaped in an elongated form, and assumed the bee acter of the well-known reniform corpuscles, which are thus seen to arise from the direct trans- formation of the contents of a cell. ‘That this phenomenon is a normal one, and indicative of a normal process of develop- ment, is shown in the circumstance that the reniform cor- puscles are found in sacculi, lodged in perfectly fresh muscle. With regard to the structure of the reniform corpuscles, the nucleus, as remarked by Hessling, rather appears like a divi- sion of the protoplasm; but, from the part it takes in the scission of the corpuscle, it must be regarded as a true nucleus, It is, without doubt, vesicular, usually solitary, and placed in the middle of the corpuscle towards its concave side. Other smaller, probably fatty particles, or minute vacuoles, are seen in the pointed extremities of the corpuscle. The corpuscle does not seem to be furnished with a mem- brane, the existence of which would scarcely be reconcilable with the above-described mode of its genesis. Hessling states that he has often witnessed division of the corpuscles. The author has sometimes, in corpuscles from the smaller-sized sacculi, noticed the appearance of a delicate line crossing the nucleus, and probably betokening its division. Besides this, he has frequently observed what may be regarded as the ‘ast stage in the process of scission, viz., two corpuscles in close apposition by their concave sides, and still attached to each other at one end, but both of which presented the fully deve- loped reniform shape. As nothing like a membrane could be seen surrounding these twin corpuscles, he concludes that the scission does not take place within a cell. The movements of the corpuscles appear to depend alto- gether upon external agencies, such as currents in the fluid in which they may be placed, or upon the molecular motion or the miriute brilliant particles to which some are attached by delicate filaments. The corpuscles, when within the sacculus, are imbedded in a matrix, which is subdivided into separate segments, which, as long as they remain enclosed, have a polygonal shape from their mutual pressure, but, when ft eed, assume a globular form. 38 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. Amongst the animals (which other observers say are in- habited by psorospermian vesicles) the author has found them in the deer, ox, mouse, rat, and pig, but never in the human body. He always found them inhabiting the trans- versely-striped muscles, and in no other organ or texture. They are, like the Trichin, found in great numbers at the commencement of the tendon of the muscle. If in large numbers, they are found in almost every muscle of the animal. It is also to be remarked that where they are few and small, they occur chiefly in the peritoneal covering and the regions about the stomach. According to the size of the vesicles so is the number; where they are few they are small—from a quarter to one line in length ; and where numerous, larger, even two inches long. As to the exact time of year of their appearance the author is uncertain, for he was not able to carry on his observations during a whole year, He can only say that in the early months of last year he examined a great many animals, and found numbers of the cysts both in rats and pigs, whereas in the following summer until August he found none; but from August to October they appeared again, though only of the small or very smallest size. To prove the manner in which these parasites are communicated, he made numerous experiments, placing them in wet earth, in sugar-water, and leaving the flesh in which they were found to putrify or to dry ; but in all these experiments the sacculi perished, or rather the contents, which underwent a sort of granular disintegration, usually even before the mus- cular structure itself had disappeared. He then tried feeding different animals on flesh which contained them, but when these were opened he simply found remains of the yesicles in the stomach, but no trace of them in the muscles. Although these results were all negative, and although he has not met with any of the granular bodies in the flesh of the heart, which Hessling believes to be the young stage, the author thinks that the different sacculi, which are found in various animals, simply indicate degrees of age, which are distinguished by the absence of cia and the comparative abundance of the spherical or of the reniform corpuscles. Since he has ascertained from direct observation that the reniform or fusiform corpuscles are developed in the spherical cells above noticed, from which they are subsequently liberated, and, moreover, since in the sacculi of the smallest size only these spherical cells with uniform granular contents are met with, there can be no doubt that those sacculi, in which the spherical cells predominate, are younger than those contain- ing the fusiform corpuscles. But it is precisely the sacculi, ju the former condition, which are almost invariably furnished QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 39 with cilia, which organs, on the other hand, are wanting in those of the largest as well as in those of the smallest size. The occurrence of the ciliated investment in the young sacculi suggests the question whether the ci/ia may not have some- thing to do with their migration? As yet we know nothing with respect to the form under which the parasite penetrates “into the muscular substance, whether in that of a sacculus, or whether, as would appear probable from Hessling’s observa- tion, the saccular membrane be not developed secondarily around an aggregation of psorosperms, or perhaps of the sphe- rical cells, their parents, which had previously penetrated. As regards the latter point, he has no facts to adduce, and in support of the former has only a single observation to record. In a sacculus of the smaller size, taken from the diaphragm of a pig, one end of it appeared to be produced into a filament about four times the length of the sacculus itself, and con- tinued in a straight line with it, parallel to the long axis, and through the otherwise untouched striated substance of the fasciculus. But what was at first taken for a filament turned out, upon closer inspection, to be merely a narrow fissure in the muscular substance, which gradually widened as it approached the sacculus. The suggestion at once arose whether this fissure might not represent the accidentally remaining vestige of the passage of the sacculus. ‘The expla- nation, however, is given with reservation, as the appearance in question was only observed once. Although the author has not been able to say anything positive as to the way in which the vesicles penetrate the mus- cles, he thinks, considering their being so like the Trichina, and also that they are generally found in the neighbourhood of the stomach, that we may pretty safely conclude that it is through some part of the alimentary canal that they first enter the body. Itis also certain that they are conveyed from here by some means to different parts of the body ; why not by the blood-vessels ? He has himself only observed one case which in any way would prove this; a young sacculus was found very close indeed to an artery in the diaphragm. Nothing however can at present be positively stated until the whole history of the development of the sacculi is known. 7. “On the Structure of the Human Conjunctiva,” by Pro- fessor Ludwig Stieda.—The author’s observations, founded upon sections in various directions of the conjunctival mu- cous membrane, show that it presents numerous deeper or shal- lower grooves or furrows, which pervade it in all directions, and are lined with a cylindrical epithelium, whilst the inter- mediate parts of the surface are covered with a scaly epithe. 40 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. lium. By the existence of this structure, he thinks, may be reconciled the somewhat conflicting views of anatomists re- specting the structure of the conjunctiva. By it he also explains the appearances which have induced Henle to imagine that it was furnished with innumerable glandular follicles, inasmuch as in vertical sections of the membrane the appearance afforded by the deeper furrows is precisely. that of mucous follicles. Sections parallel with the surface are requisite to show the true structure. 8. “ Description of a Gas-Chamber for Microscopical pur- poses.” by Dr. 8. Stricker.—It is often desirable to be able to examine certain objects exposed to various gases, and also to be able to pass a galvanic current through them or the fluid in which they are immersed; and it may be added that an apparatus suitable for these purposes might be made available for the application of various chemical reagents to objects contained in a close chamber under the microscope. These objects appear to be very ingeniously and, he says, comfortably carried out by Dr. Stricker’s contrivance, which may be thus briefly described with the aid of a woodcut : In the middle of a piece of thickish plate glass of suitable dimensions (A) a circular groove (7) is cut, and from this a ED straight furrow (g, g), of the same depth, to each end. In each of these furrows is placed a slender metallic tube (# and t’), preferably of platinum, and each having at its extremity a small bulbous enlargement, for the purpose, when needed, of affixing caoutchouc tubes. These metallic tubes are ce- iwnented into the furrows by means of shellac or other suitable cement, and thus serve as the sole means of communication with the circular furrow (7). ‘The whole surface of the glass is now covered either with a layer of paper or of some var- nish, but in either case has a circular space left open in the centre (a, a). ‘The object of the paper or other covering is to keep the covering glass (0, b, 6, 6) at a suitable distance from the central circular portion of glass (0) upon which the object to be examined is placed. ‘The mode of using this QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 4) simple contrivance will be readily perceived. When it is desired to apply a current of gas of any kind, or of a fluid, it will be readily carried through the tubes and central space by suction at one of the tubes, or by forcing the gas onwards. In the same way the tubes, either of themselves or as admit- ting the passage of a fine wire, may be made to conduct a gal- yanic current, when brought into connection through the wires (d, d) with the poles of a battery. The covering glass is secured round the edges by a little softened tallow. 9. “Spongological Notes,” by Oscar Schmidt.—In a very brief communication O. Schmidt makes some remarks on the structure of the Halisarcine, founded mainly upon H. guttula and H. lobularis. He has ascertained that in the interior of these sponges there is an internal sarcodous network, and also an external layer, which are continuous with each other. This network encloses numerous irregular vacuities, which are quite distinct from the ciliated true canals. He points out certain points of analogy between these forms and the Gumminee. Among the calcareous sponges he notices a new Sycon-like form, with the characters of Dunstervillea, in which latter he states that he has as yet been unable to detect the non-cili- ated canals described by Kolhker. He has confirmed his previous observation that Nardoa is, if not always, yet fre- quently, furnished with oscula. With respect to the siliceous sponges, the author remarks that a new species of Scoparina shows, from the same locality, the extreme variability of the spicula, and that thus some doubt may exist as to the value of the specific charac- ters derived from these elements. In conclusion, he states that Lieberkiihn’s Halichondria (Myzilla) anhelans is not a species, but composed of two distinct forms, for which, sepa- rating them from Myzilla, he proposes the names of Reniera inflata (blue, with only one kind of spicules) and R. muggiana (brownish, with the spicules described by Lieberkiihn). Siebold and Kolliker’s Zeitschrift—The fourth part of this journal for the year 1867 contains the following microscopical papers, which we cannot notice in this number:—1. “ Re- searches on the Natural History of the Worms. On Cheto- soma and Rhabdogaster,’ by Elias Metschnikoff. 2. “ Studies on the Development of the Sexual Glands in the Lepidoptera,” by Dr. E. Bessels. 3. “ Onthe Muscles of the Cyclostomiuns and Leptocardians,” by H. Grenacher. 4. “On the Semi- circular Canal System in Birds,” by Dr. C. Hasse. Sitzungsber d. Wien, Akad. June, 1867.—< Observations on 42 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. the Morphological Constitution of the Red Corpuscles of the Blood,” by Professor Brucke. On treating the red corpuscles of the blood of the Tritons with boracic acid, Brucke found that they consist of two distinct parts, which he names, the one zooid, the other ecoid. Having cut off the head of a living Triton, he let the blood drop into a solution which contained one part of boracic acid dissolved in one hundred parts of water; the globules fell to the bottom, and were examined with the im- mersion lens of Hartnack. Then were recognised two parts—the one uncoloured and diaphanous, which is the cecoid ; the other coloured with the colour of the globules, which is the zooid. At first the zooid is completely within the cecoid, then it is implanted upon it, and finally in many cases it becomes entirely separated. The ecoid is not the supposed membrane of the globules, for there is no sudden rupture, but a gentle development, by which the zooid se- parates itself from the ecoid. ‘The cecoid is a soft substance which takes a spheroid or ellipsoid form during and after the act of separation ; sometimes there is to be seen the vestige of a crater in which the zooid was last implanted before separation. The zooid is made up of two different parts—of a nucleus which can be seen in the living corpuscle as a colourless elliptical spot, and of a part of the corpuscle which contains all the hemoglobin (cruorine), and which in the living state is spread out in the entire globule, but contracts itself round the nucleus under the influence of boracic acid, Sometimes there may be seen coloured prolongations of the zooid in some number, which pass to the periphery of the ccoid, which then has preserved the form of the globule almost un- altered. It seems, therefore, that the tracts, according to which the coloured substance of the zooid is distributed in the globule when alive and whole, are disposed in a radial manner; and that the form of the living corpuscle is the consequence of the intimate junction of the zooid with the cecoid; in fact, that this changes its form during the separa- tion not by a vital act, but as the result of the same physical causes by which fluid masses floating in fluids of the same density tend to assume the spherical form. The action of boracic acid on non-nucleated corpuscles is said to be very curious, but it is not given in detail. Bibliotheque Univers. Oct., 1867.—“‘ The Development of Sepiola,” by Elias Mecznikow. A notice of this memoir, which appeared in Russian, is given by M. Claparéde. Van Beneden and Kélliker have investigated the embryology of the Cephalopoda, but have QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 43 left something to be done. The ova of Sepiola are oblong in shape, and contained, to the number of fifteen or sixteen, in a thick mucilage. The ovum has but a single envelope, which is not the vitelline membrane, since it is furnished with a micropyle, and must hence be regarded as a true chorion. ‘The ova are quite transparent, and their develop- ment lasts from thirty-four to thirty-five days. Three periods are distinguished by the author—to the completion of the blastoderm, ten days; formation of organs, five days; de- velopment and completion of organs, twenty days. The two lamelle of the blastoderm form on the third day, and by the eighth day its growth envelops the whole ovum. The single layer of cells in each lamella execute very marked ameeboid movements. At the commencement of the second period the cells of the outer lamella of the superior part of the blasto- derm become covered with vibratile cilia, the movements of which cause a rotation of the embryo. The demarcation of the foetus from the vitelline vesicle placed above it gradually proceeds, and the rudiments of eyes, mantle, arms, &c., ap- pear. ‘These organs are formed chiefly at the expense of the inner lamella. The nutritive-vitellus at the end of the second period presents a projection corresponding to the mantle ; it also gives off two prolongations into the cephalic sinuses, beneath the optic ganglia. The author denies that this vitellus is surrounded by the proper membrane described by Kolliker. In the third period the growth of the organs is the chief feature. The nutritive-vitellus is absorbed little by little into the body of the fetus, and finally only re- presents a sort of wart upon the head between the bases of the arms. ‘The cartilaginous skeleton of the head is now developed, whilst about the same time the chromatophores develop in the skin, and the rvdiments of the cuttle bone make their appearance. The two lamelle which play so im- portant a part are called by M. Mecznikow epithelial (ex- terior) and parenchymatous (interior) lamelle. ‘The first gives rise to the general envelope of the body, the cartilages, the organs of sense and digestion, and the inkbag. ‘The inner layer gives origin to the muscles, the nervous system, the mass of the pharynx, and the vascular system. These lamelle correspond exactly to what M. Mecznikow has de- scribed in the embryo of the scorpion. It appears from this that the formation of the nervous system of the Sepiole cannot be paralleled with that of the same system in the Vertebrata. On the other hand, the formation of the skin and the organs of sense is effected, as in Vertebrata, at the expense of the internal lamella. 44 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. Hensen’s observations on chickens seem also to authorise a parallelism between the formation of the internal skeleton of Sepiole and that of the chorda dorsalis of Vertebrata. M. Mecznikow rejects all analogy between the foot of the Cephalophora and the siphon of the Cephalopoda. He is equally adverse to Hackel’s hypothesis, according to which the Pteropoda are the ancestors of the Cephalopoda. Robin’s Journal de l'Anatomie et de la Physiolgie. Septem- ber and October. 1. On the Peripheral Termination of Motor Nerves. By Professor S. 'Trinchese, of Genoa. ‘This paper is illustrated by four very clear and well-drawn plates, in which are figured the “‘ plaques motrices”’ of various animals in con- nection with the terminating nerve-filament and the sarco- lemma of the muscle-fibre—Echinoderms, Molluscs, Fish, Reptiles, and Mammals. These corpuscles are considered by the author to be, with- out doubt, the terminal bodies of the nerves, and he remarks that they are held to be so by Doyére, Quatrefages, Rouget, Kiihne, Krause, Engelmann, Waldeyer, Greef, and Moxon, whilst only Kolliker and Beale refuse to believe in them. The first-named authors are only disagreed as to the connec- tion of the pldques motrices with the cylinder axis. Professor Trinchese’s paper, though interesting in many ways, does not throw that light on the subject which a careful examination of these bodies in connection with the different methods of preparation used by various authors, would do. He has used very dilute hydrochloric acid as a reagent, and a power of only 300 diameters. It is obviously most unfair in this case, then, to speak of Dr Beale’s researches im the slighting manner which he makes use of. He says that Dr. Beale’s beautiful drawings give but a confused idea of his observations, and are unlike what can be seen. Now, nearly all impartial observers must admit the faithfulness of Dr. Beale’s draw- ings; he has drawn only what he has seen; there is nothing diagrammatic in them, as in Professor Trinchese’s. Dr. Beale has used a power of 1500 diameters and elaborate methods of preparation ; and only one who will do the same has a right to pronounce upon the truth of Dr. Beale’s views. It is not at all improbable that the two views of nerve termination, as to networks and terminal plates, may then be reconciled. Professor Trinchese’s observations may be taken for what they are worth—as observations made with an ordinary power of 300 diameters—but cannot prove that more than what he has seen cannot be seen. Professor Trinchese states his conclusions as follows :— QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. ADS 1. In all animals in which it has been possible to study the termination of motor nerves, a special organ has been found, named the “ motor plate” (pldéque motrice), at the extremity of the cylinder axis. 2. The union of the nervous element with the muscular bundle is accomplished in the following manner. When the muscular bundle is provided with sar- colemma, and the nervous element with a sheath, this latter becomes fused with the envelope of the primitive muscular bundle, at the point where the nervous element meets the muscular bundle. At this same point, or a little before, the medullary substance stops, whilst the cylinder axis pursues its course, and penetrates the “ motor plate.” 3. The motor plate is placed beneath the sarcolemma. It presents usually the form of a cone, with its summit directed to the side of the nerve-tube, whilst the base is applied to the primitive muscular fibres. 4. This plate is formed by two superposed and yery distinct layers, especially in those animals provided with large “ plates,” as, for instance, in the torpedo. ‘The sub- stance of the superior layer is granular, that of the inferior layer is perfectly homogeneous, and probably it is nothing more than a thickening of the cylinder axis. 6. In the sub- stance of the granular layer of the plate is found, in the torpedo, a system of canals, in which the cylinder axis rami- fies, forming a coarse network. These canals are limited by a Seen hick forms their walls. 6. When the muscular bundles possess a central canal, the granular substance of the plate is continuous with the granular substance contained in this canal. 7. In animals provided only with smooth mus- cular fibres the cylinder axis traverses the granular substance of the plate, dividing itself into two filaments, which pass to the two extremities to terminate in the points of the contrac- tile element. 8. Everything tends to the belief that each primitive muscular fibre has but one motor plate. In this, one or seyeral nervous elements can terminate, arising from the subdivision of one and the same nerve-tube. 9. The diameter of the motor plate augments in proportion to the thickness of the primitive muscular bundle. In Dr. Beale’s new edition of his work ‘On the Micro- scope, recently published, a reiteration of his views will be found, and a defence against such attacks as this of Pro- fessor Trinchese. November and December.—1. ‘‘ Memoir on the Anatomy and Zoology of the Acari, of the Genera Cheyletus, Glyci- phagus, and Tyroglyphus,” by MM.'A. Fumouze and Ch.Robin. This is the continuation and finish of a very detailed and 46 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE, no doubt valuable account of these genera of Acari, illus- trated with several plates. 2. “ Histological Researches on the Genesis and on the Structure of the Capillaries,’ by Dy. Stricker, of Vienna, notice by M. Ominus. Dr. Stricker, from investigations on the capillaries of the tadpole and frog, is led to very interesting results. The nictitating membrane of the frog was found very well adapted for observation, since its vessels remain filled with blood when it is cut away, and it is easy to see the walls of the capillaries. Dr. Stricker maintains that there are peri- vascular spaces around the capillary vessels, confirming the opinion of Robin, and others who have demonstrated them by injection. Kélliker’s supposition that the perivascular spaces were post-mortem products is answered by Dr. Stricker’s observations on living frogs. The contractility of the walls of the capillaries was observed also, and it is urged as likely that they would have independent contractility, since they are formed by protoplasm that simplest of elementary tissues which Max Schultze, Haeckel, and Briicke have de- scribed as essentially a contractile substance. M. Ominus remarks that protoplasm, used in this sense, viz., as forming the moving substance of diatoms, mycetozoa, white blood- cells, and sarcode more or less, must not be confounded with the old restricted use of the word, in which it means the intracellular substance merely in vegetables or embryonic animals. The capillary wall is then not to be regarded as structureless, but as modified protoplasm, producing fresh capillary branches by giving off processes. Further, Dr. Stricker has observed blood-corpuscles traverse, and in the act of traversing, the capillary-wall, which can only be ac- counted for by the hypothesis of innumerable perforations, or of a jelly-like consistency, which is the view Dr. Stricker takes. As to the fact of the capillary wall being penetrated and traversed by blood-corpuscles, he is confirmed very fully by his pupil M. Prussak. Dr. Stricker has observed in studying inflammation in the brain of the fowl, that ca- pillaries may be produced and branch out in all directions from those normally existing, thus increasing greatly the vascularity of a tissue. The use of injections of nitrate of silver is interesting, as demonstrating different chemical properties in this and that part of the capillary vessels, but cannot, Dr. Stricker be- lieves, be considered as indicating any particular embryo- logical development. Dr. Stricker then concludes that the finest capillary vessels QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. AZ are formed of protoplasm in the embryo, and the same in the adult, at any rate for a great part of their thickness. With high powers granulations may be detected here and there, just such as may be observed in protoplasm. The conditions which determine the contractions of the finest capillaries are not known, nor are those which determine the contractions of protoplasm in other forms of life. Mem. Acad. Imp. de St. Petersb,—‘‘ On the Anatomy of Balanoglossus,’ by M. A. Kowalewsky. Under the name of Balanoglossus, Delle Chiaje described a vermiform animal of the Bay of Naples, known to the fishermen as lingua di bue. It has since attracted but little attention from naturalists, and the very incomplete inyestiga- tion of it made in 1860 by M. Keferstein taught us nothing of importance about it. Balanoglassus, according to M. KXowalewsky, is a vermiform animal having its body com- posed of a series of successive regions—of which the first is a tactile organ, the second a mouth-bearing muscular collar, the third a branchial region, presenting within a perforated sac, like that of Ascidians, and apertures above, by which the water taken in at the mouth is expelled; the fourth region bears the sexual glands, and succeeding it are numerous papille, into which diverticula of the intestine pass; lastly, there is a smooth, finely annulated caudal region. The vascular system is simple, consisting of a dorsal vessel impelling the blood forward, and a ventral vessel carrying it in the opposite direction. M. Keferstein has ascribed to these very interesting animals a position amongst the Nemertida, whilst M. Kowalewsky especially approxi- mates them to the Annelida. Another writer considers it necessary to make the Balanoglossi a distinct group of Vermes, allying that sub-kingdom to the Vertebrata. It will hardly do, we think, to refer every animal with a segmented body to Vermes, without reference to other structural characters. Annals of Nat, Hist. November.—‘ On the Structure of the Annelida,” by ¥. Claparéde. Professor Claparéde is without doubt one of the most care- ful and reliable of zoological observers ; he is eminently well fitted to undertake the decision of disputed questions, and his observations and opinions have the very highest authority. During a sojourn of some six months at Naples, he has, in spite of the ill-health which caused him to go there, investi- gated minutely the Annelida of the Bay, and has now in the press a work on these animals, which is to be illustrated by thirty-one quarto plates of his beautiful drawings. In this 48 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. paper he gives a brief summary of some of his results, more especially criticising the statements lately put forward by M. de Quatrefages in his volumes on the natural history of the Annclids. He pays a high tribute to Delle Chiaje, for he remarks, ‘‘ In every page in the course of this memoir I shall have to bring Delle Chiaje out of the undeserved obscurity in which he has too often remained immersed, and to show him shining in the front rank. I hope I shall not be accused of partiality in his favour. If I often leave his errors, which, I admit, are numerous, in oblivion, it is be- cause ‘they have no influence on the progress of science.” M. Claparéde is very severe on M. de Quatrefages for neglecting the bibliography of his subject, and for not fully verify ing “references, &c., and he also condemns (as we had occasion to do) the numerous new species which he has made from specimens preserved in spirit in the Paris museum. In’ the present sketch of his own work, M. Claparede gives a running comment on the ‘ Histoire Naturelle des Annelés,’ and discusses various points in their order of treatment in that work. We can here notice only one or two points. The integument is described by Professor Claparéde as com- posed of two layers—one internal and cellular (coriwm, Rathke), corresponding with the subcuticular or chiti- nogenous layer of the other articulata; the other extra- cellular, the cuticle (epidermis, Rathke), sometimes very delicate, and sometimes composed of a thick layer of chitin. Kdlliker is the author who has studied the mteguments carefully, but his observations are not mentioned by de Quatrefages. The cells of the hypodermis are often not well defined, but present scattered nuclei in a granular stratum, as has been seen in some Arthropoda, The cuticle when thick presents a double series of strive crossing at right angles, which have been well observed by Kélliker. The tubular pores which perforate the integument, when they exist, are distributed in lines congruent with these strie. K6lliker doubted whether these pores should be compared to the tubular pores (Porenkaniile) of the Arthropoda, or whether they were the apertures of cutaneous glands, such as those described by Leydig in the Piscicole, or, again, might they represent the har 1s of insects and crustacea ? Claparéde states that the two categories of pores exist in Annelida, and he has described them minutely in Kunice—both large glandular pores few and scattered, and minute numerous canal-pores. In the subcuticular layer exist glandular folli- cles in all parts of the worm, discharging themselves out- wards by the large scattered granular pores; some of these QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 49 secrete only a thick liquid, others produce bundles of bacilli in their interior, others, again, secrete granules. The bacilli- parous follicles have been described by M. Claparéde (who compares them to cells filled with acicule in Turbellaria, and to Nematophores) and by other authors in very many genera. They are not mentioned by de Quatrefages. The muscular tissue varies very much, being sometimes simply fibrous, sometimes nucleated, and sometimes an un- fibrillated protoplasmic mass, with scattered nuclei. M. Claparéde promises details on this subject. The perivisceral cavity is im some cases throughout lined with cilia, but by no means always ; certain points, such as the segment organs, being often the only ciliated parts. The ciliation is stated, as a rule, to be general only in those genera which have no vascular system. The following are anangian Annelids :—All the Aphro- ditea (except A. aculeata), Glycerea, Polycirrida, and Tomopteridea. The existence of blood-corpuscles in the vessels of certain Annelida is now-a-days indubitable. In Glycera the red corpuscles are floating in the perivisceral cavity, no vessels existing (hence a condition very similar to that of a Vertebrate is brought about), and Phoronis is denied a place among Annelids by M. Claparéde. The true cases are to be found among the Syllidea, in the Opheliea, the Cirratulea, and Staurocephale. M. Claparéde promises some important details on the generative glands and segment-organs. He maintains that a ‘connective-tissue framework and vascular supply can always be detected as the origin of the ova and sperm-cells. Figures of segment-organs from many species will be given. In some genera they are represented by apertures. Their functions may be partly educatory of generative products and partly excretory. The structure of the nervous system has also been carefully investigated, and a follicular arrangement such as that described by Leydig in the Hirudinea, observed in many genera. ‘The terminations of the nerves both in organs of sight and hearing, and tactile corpuscles, is very fully to be entered upon. Victor Carus is wrong in stating in his ‘Handbuch’ that nearly all Annelida have auditory capsules. Remarkable observations on the regeneration of lost parts are referred to. In many cases M, Claparéde has no doubt that the anterior region, both head and many succeeding segments, is reproduced. Altogether from his own account of it, M. Claparéde’s VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. - D 50 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE, forthcoming volume (in the Soc. de Phys. and Hist. Nat. de Genéve) promises to be a most valuable and important work, perhaps exceeding in value, if that be possible, his former essays on the Oligocheta, Development, &c. Boston Society of Natural History (America).—‘‘ On the Spon- gie Ciliate as Infusoria Flagellata; or, Observations on the Structure, Animality and Relationship of Leucosolenia botry- oides, Bowerbank, by H. James-Clark, A.B., B.S. We have already had occasion to notice a portion of this memoir, which appeared a few months since, but wish to draw atten- tion to the paper in its complete form, which has a very high interest, and should be carefully read by those interested in the lowest forms of animals. Two plates illustrate the memoir, which are certainly more satisfactory than the white and black outlines which illustrate the author’s first series of observations, / Professor James-Clarke has applied a power of 1200 diameters to that form of life which is usually spoken of as a “ Monad,” in fact, the Monas termo of Ehrenberg. In this very common and minute creature he has demonstrated a mouth, contractile vesicle, and nucleus spot, which has not been recognised by previous observers. By a gradual series of forms he passes from this Monas, which sometimes is free, and sometimes attached by a short stem as are Vorticelli, up to the ciliated sponges, the individual elements of which he most clearly shows may fairly be regarded as Monas-forms. Some forms closely allied to Monas present a projecting cup or calyx surrounding the oval end of the creature, and from within it arises the flagellum. New genera and species presenting this calyx structure, and varying in aggregation from solitary to compound animals of five or six, are described, and these gradually lead on to Leucosolenia, a cilated sponge in which the calyx, flagellum, and mouth are traceable in the cell-like monads embedded in the sponge tissue, which build it up as a colony of compound Actinozoa build up a coral reef. Mr. James-Clark’s paper also contains some observa- tions on Dysteria, that very strange flagellate Infusorian first described by Prof. Huxley in this Journal, and a description of a remarkable new form, Heteromastiz. The author’s conclusions may be accepted so far as they prove a close relationship in elementary structure between the cilated Sponges and flagellate Infusoria, but we do not know that as yet there is any ground for a change in the classification of either group on this account. We have one deficiency to note in Prof. James-Clark’s treatment of his subject, and that ——— QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 51 is, that he has not given measurements of his Infusoria, but has satisfied himself by stating the diameter-power of the glass used. It would be well just to state, in fractions of an inch or millimetre, the size of the various objects, or to give a scale of thousandths of an inch on the plate, NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. On a New Nozzle and Pipe for Injecting Syringes.—Having had many years’ experience in the frequent use both of small and large injecting syringes, either for the injection of the whole animal or detached organs, I have frequently felt the great inconyenience of the ordinary plan of fixing the syringe on to the injecting pipe, and consequent need of some simple plan for keeping the pipe firmly attached to the syringe while in use. By the present method of fitting the nozzle of the syringe to the pipe it is generally necessary, more particularly when the syringe is large, to keep the left hand constantly on the pipe to prevent its being forced away from the syringe when any amount of pressure is being applied, thus preventing the hand being quite free to lift the specimen from time to time, to see how the injection is going on. When any extravasation takes place, and an assistant is not at hand (the operator wishing to have both hands quite free), it is not safe to lay the syringe with the pipe attached down, but the nozzle has to be detached and a cork placed in the pipe till the extravasating vessels are taken up. It also often happens that when considerable pressure is being applied to the syringe, and the hand is not kept firmly on the pipe, it is violently forced away from the nozzle, and the ope- rator and articles about the room are smothered with injecting fluid. This happens very often with beginners, and is one of their greatest difficulties. I had for many years thought of various plans for fixing the pipe on the syringe, but had never hit on a satisfactory and simple method till I joined the volunteer force, and became acquainted with the method of fixing the bayonet to the long Enfield rifle, when it oc- curred to me that a similar arrangement was just what was required to remedy the evils I have enumerated. A small pin is inserted into the nozzle of the syringe, suf- ficiently long to project a little way beyond a corresponding MEMORANDA. 58 slit im the pipe, when fixed in its place (fig. 1). A slita trifle larger than the pin on the nozzle is carried a short dis- tance down one side of the pipe, and then a short way across and slightly downwards, to allow the pin to tighten against the edge of the slit without going right across,and also to allow for the slight wear which takes place in turning the syringe off and on (fig. 2). I have had several large and small syringes fitted with this simple contrivance, and if the fitting is carefully done there ought not to be any leakage, and the nozzle should twist off and on quite easily. — CHARLES Rosertson, Demonstrator of Anatomy, Oxford. Note on the Synapte of Guernsey and Herm, and a New Parasitic Rotifer— When in Guernsey last summer I had a brief opportunity of examining the Synapte so abundant in the sandy part of the shore there, and at the opposite island of Herm. Besides the differences mentioned by Dr. Hera- path, in his paper in this Journal on Synapte, I noted one or two other points which distinguish Synapta Sarniensis from Synapta inherens or Duvernea. S. inherens is of a much deeper rose tint, and its integument is tougher and less elastic than in S. Sarniensis. 'The colouring matter, when extracted with ether, did not furnish any marked absorption bands with the spectroscope in either case. An important distinctive character is found in the miliary spicules, espe- ially those of the tentacles, in the two species. In S. in- 54 MEMORANDA. herens these average ;1, of an inch in length, and are much branched and broken up at either end; in S. Sarnien- sis, on the other hand (in which the large wheel and anchor plates are the more ornate), the miliary spicules are very small, irregularly oblong rods, quite simple in form, and averaging ++, of an inch in length. This is a most de- cisive differentia, and may be thoroughly depended on. It is a curious, and to me inexplicable fact, that S. Sarniensis occurs only on the Guernsey shore, with an occasional S. in- herens as an intruder; while exactly opposite, on the Herm shore, four miles distant only, S. inherens occurs, and very abundantly. I hoped to find the remarkable molluscan genus Entocon- chon, described by Miller from S. digitata, in the Guernsey Synaptee, but in a rather hurried examination failed. I, how- ever, found a very remarkable parasite in the body-cavity of both the Channel-Island species in very great abundance, 37 ae ) Miliary spicule from tentacle of S. inherens. New Parasitic Rotifer. re Oa hs Ss ' LL Miliary spicules from tentacle of Method of progression. S. Sarniensis. namely, a Rotifer. In the figure is given all that I could aseer- tain of the structure of the parasite at that time. It never favoured me with a view of its expanded discs, and was ex- MEMORANDA. 55 ceedingly small (;4, of an inch), whilst the difficulty of close observation was further increased by the débris of the genitalia of the Synapte, with which it was always con- nected. Mr. Gosse has kindly given me his opinion as to the Rotifer, which he regards as likely to prove the type of anew genus; but no definite opinion is warranted by my fragmentary observation. Associated with the Rotifer in the body-cavity of the Synapta was also a very active T7i- chodina, very similar to that infesting the common Hydra viridis.—E. Ray LankEsTER, Christ Church, Oxford. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Royat Microscoricat Socrery. October 9th, 1867. Tuts was the first meeting of the season. The chair was taken by James GuatsHeEr, Hsq., F.R.S., and the attendance of Fellows was numerous. The PrestpENT announced that the Library of the Society (Room No. 5), King’s College, Somerset House, would be open for the use of Fellows, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 11 to 4 p.m.; on Wednesdays, in the evening only, from 6 to 10 p.m.; and on Saturdays, from 11 till 2 p.m. The issue of volumes from the library he recommended to be suspended for the present, and steps taken to make the collection of books more complete. He likewise stated that the cabinet of slides was being rearranged to facilitate their use. The cabinet would be opened to Fellows as early as possible, together with the Society’s collection of microscopes, but the issue of slides to Fellows as heretofore would be suspended. Notice was given that a special general meeting would be held in the Library of King’s College, at the close of the ordinary meeting to be held on the 13th of November next, at 8 p.m., to consider the following resolutions for altering the Bye-Laws, to be moved by Ellis G. Lobb, Esq. : “Every Fellow who shall be elected after the meeting on 11th December, 1867, shall, in addition to the entrance-fee of two guineas, pay a further sum of two guineas as his first annual sub- scription; and shall pay, so long as he continues a Fellow, an annual subscription of two guineas, which shall be due on the 1st of January in each year; and that Bye-law No. 6, Sect. 2, be altered in conformity with this resolution.” “Every Fellow who shall be elected after the meeting on the 11th of December, 1867, and who may desire to compound for his future annual subscriptions, may dso by a payment of twenty guineas, in addition to his entrance-fee of two guineas; and that Bye-law No. 7, Sect. 2, be altered in conformity with this resolu- tion.” PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 57 The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the respective donors : Presented by Twenty slides of Gold from various parts of the world . T. Ross, Esq. The Quarterly Geological Journal. : . The Society. The Popular Science Review : : . The Publisher. The Intellectual Observer. 3 Nos. . : . Ditto. The Journal of the Linnean Society . . . The Society. The Journal of the Society of Arts . 5 . Ditto. The Floral World, by Shirley Hibberd : . The Author. The Proceedings of the Essex Institute The Society. The Proceedings of the Boston Natural History Society . . Ditto. The Results of Twenty- five Years’ Meteorological Observa- tions in Hobart Town, by Francis Abbot . The Author. Report on Epidemic Cholera in the Army of the United States during the year 1866. Surgeon General. A Handy Book to the Collection and Preparation of Fresh- water and Marine Alge, Diatoms, Desmids, etc., by Johann Nave, translated and edited by the Rev. W. W. Spicer, M.A. . The Author. A set of Photographs : : ‘ .M.J.Girard, Paris The names of the following gentlemen proposed for election as Fellows were ordered to be suspended: G. E. Legge Pearce, M.R.C.S. Eng., 2, St. George’s Square; Peter Yeames Gowlland, F.R.C.S., F.R.Med.Chir.S., &e., 34, Finsbury Square; Charles Coppock, 31, Cornhill; H. Sugden Evans, Holland Road, Kensington, W.; and John Williams, Royal Astronomical Society, Somerset House, as an Honorary Fellow. The following gentlemen were balloted for and duly elected: Daniel Woodin, Peldon, Richmond; Henry Alexander Glass, Gray’s Inn Square. A paper was read by Dr. Guy, F.R.S., Professor of Forensic Medicine, King’s College, &c., on ‘ ‘ Microscopic Sublimation, and especially onthe Sublimates of the Alkaloids.” (See ‘ Trans.,’ p. 1.) The usual vote of thanks was passed to the author, and ‘a short discussion followed, in which Dr. Carpenter, Dr. SILVER, Prof. Tennant, and Mr. ‘Hose, took part. Mr. J. Hoge, Hon. Sec., placed on the table a collection of Photomicrographs, the productions of Dr. Maddox, many of which were considered very fine examples of the art. Mr. Hogg said that Dr. Maddox had sueceeded in showing, under a magnifying power of 3000 diameters, some of the peculiarities of the Pleuro- sigma, which, when attentively examined, must be thought to have the effect of unsettling the minds of those who, after re- peated examinations with the best objectives, believed that they had finally succeeded in resolving their markings. Take for in- stance the Pleurosigma formosum, magnified 3000 diameters, printed for the stereoscope, a copy of a print sent to America; it is not printed deep enough: it nevertheless shows the white spaces as little ivory-balls suspended between the eye and 58 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. the object. Another, also imperfectly printed, and magnified 3000 diameters, shows short, abrupt, strongly-defined shadows, sup- porting, as it were, the areas—an effect produced probably by interference at the junction of the hemispheres. This print should be examined and compared with another of Plewrosigma JSormosum, which shows the valve under various powers from 700 up to 3000 diameters. There is a small bit of print on this card which is remarkable and valuable to those particu- larly interested in resolving markings. The print of P. angu- latum presents some interesting points as to its structure. Some of the areas appear quite round, not hexagonal; bright angular points separate these nodules in the one case, converting them into divisional lines in another; and the curious point is, they are both from the same negative. With regard to this plate, Dr. Maddox observes that “the negative was a failure from the plate being dirty ;”’ nevertheless it is very instructive in various points. The larger prints exhibuted should be regarded rather as pictures than representations of the sharp outline figures seen in the microscope. Nov. 13th, 1867. James GuarsHER, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and con- firmed. The following presents were announced and thanks voted— Presented by A Four Inch Object Glass ; , . TT. Ross, Esq. Hogg on the Microscope, Sixth Editio : . The Author. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society . . The Society. The Journal of the Society of Arts. 4 Nos. . . Ditto. Acta Universitatis Lundinensis. 3 Parts 4 . Ditto. Natural History Transactions of North Durham . Ditto. Intellectual Observer : : : The Publisher. Certificates in favour of the following gentlemen were ordered to be suspended : George Potter, 7, Montpellier Road, Upper Holloway ; Richard Bannister, Inland Revenue Laboratory, Somerset House; F. Thos. Baker, 184, King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W.; Henry Owens, M.D., Croydon, S.; William Thomas Loy, Dingwell Road, Croy- don, 8S.; the Rey. Frederick William Russell, M.A., Charing Cross Hospital; the Rev. Francis Pigou, M.A., 14, Suffolk Place, Pall Mall East; James Murie, M.D., Zoological Gardens, Regents Park; John Mayall, 224, Regent Street; James J. Simmons, 18, Burton Crescent, W.C.; Thomas Wilcox Edmunds, 32, Old Change; Frederick Clarkson Francis, 9, PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 59 St. Thomas Place, Hackney; John Hopkinson, 8, Lawn Road, Haverstock Hill, N.W.; John Barber, 29, Bruns- wick Gardens, Campden Hill; Samuel John McIntire, 22, Bessborough Gardens, 8.W.; William Allbon, 525, New Oxford Street; James Bell, Inland Revenue Laboratory, Somerset House; Arthur Raymond Betts, St. John’s Park, Upper Holloway; Henry James Helm, The J.aboratory, Somerset House; John Edmund Ingpen, 7, Putney Hill, Surrey; William Manning, 47, Clifton Road East; John Rogerson, St. Clair Cottage, St. John’s Wood; George Naylor Stokor, Inland Revenue Laboratory, Somerset House; Arthur O’Brien Jones, The Shrubbery, Epsom, Surrey; John Martin, M.D., Cambridge House, Portsmouth ; John Robinson Barnes, M.D., Ewell, Surrey ; William Savill Kent, 56, Queen’s Road, Notting Hill; William White, 3, Milner Square, Islington. The following gentlemen were balloted for and duly elected Fellows of the Society : Charles Coppock, Peter J. Gowlland, F.R.C.S., G. E. Legg Pearce, Henry Sugden Evans, and John Williams, as Honorary Fellow. The PRresmpENnT repeated the notice given at the former meet- ing respecting the opening of the Library. A paper was read by Jonn Goruam, M.R.C.S., &., “On Some Peculiarities in the Distribution of Veins in Umbellifere.”’ (See ‘ Trans.,’ p. 14.) Mr. Janez Hoge expressed surprise to find that a subject of apparently much interest, one most ably brought to the notice of the Society, had received so small an amount of attention from botanical writers. In a letter received from Dr. Maxwell Masters, that botanist offered a few remarks bearing on the question before them, which he would, with the permission of the president, read to the Society. Dr. Masters says:—“I have had some correspondence with Mr. Gorham about the matter (of the venation of the Umbellifere), and believe that the facts he has discovered have not been recorded before; at any rate, I have failed to find any notice of them up to the present time. The peculiarity in question is found in some other plants, and is not, I should imagine, of any very great physiological importance. In a group like the Umbelliferee, where the species, and even the genera, are often so hard to discriminate, it is an excellent thing to get hold of facts like those discovered by Mr. Gorham, and I am very glad that he has taken the matter up, as I believe there are many similar things that have been overlooked, and which when collated will be very serviceable. Nature printing has done a good deal in this way. The publications of some Austrian botanists—Ettingohausen, Pokorny, and others—are worthy of at- tentive examination with reference to the venation of fossil, or of recent leaves.” Although quite true that some other plants have a similar kind of venation, Mr. Hogg believed it would be difficult to show that 60 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. a peculiar kind of venation runs through the whole of any other order than that of the Umbellifere, and that it runs through that order appeared to be a fact. After having carefully examined all the plants he, Mr. Hogg, could get together, they one and all confirmed the statements made by Mr. Gorham with regard to this group. It was quite true that some few attempts had been made to classify, or rather tabulate the venation of plants, but only a slight advance had been seen in this respect since the time of Dr. Grew, who, in his treatise on the “ Anatomy of Plants,” presented to the Royal Society in 1682, noticed the peculiarities of the structure of the fibres of the leaf, and published drawings showing something like an attempt at classification. As Mr. Gorham had shown his observations to Dr. Lindley it appeared” strange that this eminent botanist had not made use of them to perfect his own classification of leaf venation, which, it must be acknowledged, was left in a very imperfect state. Now, however, Mr. Gorham proposes to reduce the question of leaf venation to practical utility, and in a large and important order of plants as that of the Umbelliferee, which includes those yielding articles of diet, medicinal substances, and acro-narcotic poisons, it must become a subject of considerable value; and, although the facts brought to the notice of the Society may not at the present moment appear to have “any great physiological importance,” it was, nevertheless, an excellent thing to get hold of a point in the perfect discrimination of a large genus, which, in- cluding as it does so many edible species, has very many more containing active poisonous principles, aromatic oils, gum-resins, &c. A morphological analogy had been shown to exist between the stem and the ribs or veins of the leaf; doubtless an analogy can be traced between the skeleton of the leaf and the skeleton of the branch in a number of points, as well as in the general resemblance between the ramifications of the plant and that of the venation of the leaf. On making a close examination under a power of fifty diameters of the leaves of the Umbellifere pre- pared by Mr. Gorham, Mr. Hogg observed that the analogy is borne out to a remarkable degree in the whole: and further that the analogy can be carried even to the venation of the petals and stamens. The umbels of the hemlock show this exceedingly well, and, no doubt, when others have been more closely examined, it will be found that the plant, the branches, the leaves, and flowers, present a morphology as uniform as it is remarkable. Thanks were unanimously voted to Mr. Gorham for his paper. ‘he meeting was then made special. Exuis J. Loss, Esq., proposed the following resolutions : “That every Fellow who shall be elected after the meeting on 11th December, 1867, shall, in addition to the entrance-fee of two guineas, pay a further sum of two guineas as his first annual subscription ; and shall pay, so long as he continues a Fellow, an annual subscription of two guineas, which shall be due on the PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 61 Ist of January in each year; and that Bye-law No. 6, Sect. 2, be altered in conformity with this resolution. “ Every Fellow who shall be elected after the meeting on the 11th of December, 1867, and who may desire to compound for his future annual subscriptions, may do so by a payment of twenty guineas, in addition to his entrance fee of two guineas; and that Bye-law, No. 7, Sect. 2, be altered in conformity with this resolution. “© And that Bye-laws 6 and 7, Sect. 2, be altered accordingly.” Major Owen seconded the ‘resolutions, which, after a brief discussion, were put from the chair and carried. December 11th, 1867. James GuaIsHER, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following presents were announced : Presented by Vv A Two-thirds Object-glass, with 50° angle of aperture. {WR ae An Investigating Tube. : : . E. Richards, Journal of the Society of Arts ; : . The Society. The Canadian Journal : ; ; . Institute. The Photographic Journal . . . The Society. The Journal of the Linnean Society. - . Ditto. Catalogue of the Surgical Section of the U.S. Army Medi- The Surgeon- cal Museum : Gen. of U.S. Daphnia Pulex, framed. : F . Mr.T. Curties. British Journal of Dental Science. : . The Society. Land and Water (Weekly) : . The Editor. Life and Death in our Mines, by J. Hoge . The Author. Anatomy of Urethra and Glans Penis, by J. Hogg . Ditto. Vegetable Parasites of Human Skin, by J. Hoge Ditto. Developmental History of Tufusorial and Animal Life, by J. Hoge. Ditto. The Vinegar Eel, by J. Hoge : : . Ditto. The Common Truffle, by J. Hoge. Ditto. The Structure and Formation of Certain Nervous Centres, by Dr. Beale, F.R.S. Ditto. How to Work with the Microscope. “Fourth Edition. By Dr. Beale . Ditto. The Microscope in its Application to Practical Medicine. Third Edition, by Dr. Beale Ditto. Germinal Matter and the Contact Theory, by Dr. Morris. Ditto. Natural History Review. Vol.1 . J. Hogg. The following certificates were ordered for sea :—-Alfred James Puitick, 47, Leicester Square, W.C. : Hildebrand Ramsden, M.A., Cantab, Forest Rise, Walthamstow, Essex, N.E. The twenty-eight gentlemen whose certificates were ordered to be suspended at the previous meeting were balloted for, and duly 62 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. elected Fellows of the Society. (For names see report of 13th November meeting). Cuartes Stewart, Esq., M.R.CS., F.L.S., &c., read a paper, illustrated by drawings, on the “ Pedicellariz of the Cidaride.” Mr. Janez Hoge remarked on the importance of examining these appendages in the living animal. He also inquired whether Mr. Stewart had arrived at any conclusion as to the functions performed by pedicellarie. He had witnessed their action in handing particles of food from one to another till they reached the mouth. Mr. Srewarr stated that he had examined the pedicellarie of the living animals in many species, but had not had that ad- vantage with respect to the Cidaride. From the position of the pedicellariz,and the nature of the food of the Echinoderms to which they belonged, he did not think that the passing forward of particles of food to the mouth could be their chief or special function. The more these objects were studied in the different classes of animals furnished with them, the greater was the diffi- culty of assigning any special functions to them. One particular form, the Snake’s Head, was found near the mouth. Other forms were extensively scattered, and were abundant near the anus in Cidaris. In Gonaster they were embedded in the thick calcareous surface layer with their two valves flush with the surface, so that they could not pass anything to the mouth. In Luidia stalked forms were found near the secondary spines. Mr. Coox remarked that Agassiz had seen pedicellaria pass fecal matter away from the anus. H. J. Stack, Esq., F.G.S., Sec. R.M.S., read a paper on a “ Ferment found in Red French. Wine.” Mr. Janez Hoae remarked on the value of reasearches into these organisms, which he regarded as: agents of destruction. He con- sidered M. Pasteur wrong in asserting that Bacteria were found in the butyric fermentation. They belonged to the lactic fermen- tation, which was an-earlier stage. The PrestpEn? then called upon Dr. Maddox to show a series of photographs to the Fellows. | Dr. Mappox said he had the pleasure of bringing before the notice of the Fellows of the Royal Microscopical Society a series of beautiful photomicrographs, which he had just received from the Army Medical Department, Washington, the labours of Drs. Woodward and Curtis, and trusted he might be able to con- vey to those gentlemen the thanks of the Society, He thought that the interest occasioned by a little “ generous rivalry” might advance the subject in this country, where he was sorry to find existed so much negligence and apathy in this branch of science. Other countries were utilising its advantages, as France, America, &c., the latter being in advance of all. Some of these photo- micrographs were exhibited as competitive photographic tests of various lenses, ranging from Powell and Lealand’s jth, th, and 3;th; Wales’ 3th and amplifier; Wales’ jth immersion ; PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 63 and Hartnack’s No. 11 immersion lens; the object being the Podura scale, and the diameters 2100 and 756. In the foremost rank, in Dr. Maddox’s opinion, stood Powell and Lealand’s 5th ; then Wales’ {th and amplifier; Wales’ 34th immersion; and Powell and Lealand’s 34th. Hartuack’s did not give a good image photographically: but as Dr. Woodward, in a private letter to Dr. Maddox, remarked, this might have depended on the great want of coincidence of the visual and chemical rays, as it had to be “ruled out” considerably ; but Dr. Maddox seemed to think it might be due to some trifling error in the centring, when the necessary chemical correction was made. Dr. Maddox said he believed the Podura scale had never yet, in this country, been photographed by a =th. The series of twenty photomicrographs were greatly admired, especially a Navicula rhomboides, magnified more than 800 dia- meters, and taken with Wales’ 4th and amplifier. The Fellows of the Society felt themselves highly gratified with the opportunity of examining the excellent results that had been placed before them. Mr. Srack exhibited an ingenious lamp, made by Mr. Collins, and devised by Mr. Bockett. Mr. Highley had been the first, many years ago, to construct lamps so shaded that no light was allowed to escape except in the direction required for microscopic use. Mr. Bockett carried out the same idea by means of a para- bolic silvered reflector and a dark screen. All the rays from this lamp were emitted straightforwards, in approximately parallel rays. Such a plan would effectually screen the eyes of an ob- server from extraneous light. In reply to an inguiry, Mr. Cours said the parabolic reflector, without the lamp, would cost about 7s. 6d. Mr. Brownitne remarked that, with such a reflector, it was highly necessary to correct the increased amount of the yellow ray, by using a blue chimney, as Mr. Bockett had done. The following papers were read : pie “On the Anatomical Differences observed in some Species of the Helices and Limaces,” by Edwin T. Newton, Esq. (See ‘Trans.,’ p. 26.) “ On New Species of Microscopic Animals,’ by T. G. Tatem, Esq. (See ‘ Trans.,’ p. 31.) The usual vote of thanks was passed to their respective authors ; and the President announced that. at the next meeting, January 8th, Professor Rupert Jones, F.G.S., would read a paper “On Recent and Fossil Bivalved Entomostraca.” Errata.—The errors in reference to some of the figures named in the text in Dr. Maddox’s paper on “ Parasites of the Common Haddock,” not correspond: ing with those in the plate, arises from all the illustrations sent not being engraved. It is necessary to erase references to figures on pp. 88, 90, and 92. 64 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. QureKerr MrcroscopicaL CLUB. September 27, 1867. Mr. Artuur E. Duruam, President, in the Chair. Mr. Suffolk called attention to his most recent method of Dry Mounting. Mr. J. Slade read a paper on “ Snails’ Teeth.” Dr. Maddox exhibited a collection of beautifully executed micro-photographs. Two members were elected. October 25, 1867. The President in the Chair. Mr. McIntire read a paper on “ Chelifers,” whichhe illustrated with drawings and numerous living specimens. A paper by Mr. Charles Nicolson, M.A., B.Se., on “ Object- ‘Glasses fur the Microscope,” was read. Nine members were elected. November 22, 1867. The President in the Chair. Mr. N. Burgess read the first portion of a paper on “The Wools of Commerce, Commercially and Microscopically Con- sidered,” and exhibited specimens of fine wool. Mr. Bockett read a paper on a New Four-inch Object-Glass, by Ross. Eight members were elected. Dustin Microscorican Cuvups. 18th July, 1867. Dr. John Barker drew attention to a little epiphytic growth seated upon Hormospora mutabilis. This consisted of what one might most quickly convey an idea of by saying it represented a green “comma,” the tail prolonged into an extremely slender stipes, reaching through the enveloping gelatine and standing upon the cell of the Hormospora. This, though presenting a considerable resemblance to the little “ pin-like” production drawn attention to by Dr. Wright at the January meeting (probably identical with that alluded to by Dr. Wallich, as found upon Streptonema trilobatum, Wall. ‘Ann. Nat. Hist.,’ 1860), was quite a different thing. The filament bearing this very minute production in rather considerable numbers, was very singular- looking. Mr. Archer was desirous to record the occurrence of a seemingly PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 65 rare little alga—Dictyospherium reniforme (Bulnheim)—in a gathering lately made near Snowdon in North Wales, thus new to Britain. This he identified from the description and figure given in Rabenhorst’s. “ Kryptogamen-Flora von Sachsen, &e. ;” the figure, however, he thought, must have been drawn from a specimen, or rather group or family, somewhat distorted by the pressure of the covering-glass. The individual cells stand more regularly than is there depicted; they are naturally posed with their concave side, that is the sinus of the reniform cell, towards the centre of the group, and it is by the sinus that they are attached (by whatever means that may be) to the slender stipes. This stipes on each self-division of the cells at the summit (seem- ingly usually into four), becomes itself branched. The colour of the cells is a deep green, being densely filled with contents; reminding one considerably in this respect of those of Nephrocy- tium, in which plants the cells, likewise, are reniform, but not so . distinctly so as in Dictyospherium reniforme. So densely filled were the cells, that the two eye-like granules inferred in the figure given in Rabenhorst, did not at all present themselves in the Welsh specimens. Mr. Archer showed Welsh and Irish specimens of a Celastrum, side by side, to show the absolute identity deducible from the marked character presented by the form. This form he would refer to Celastrum microporum (Al. Braun), as given in a note (but without a figure, and only briefly referred to, hardly described) in Braun’s work (“Algarum unicellularium genera nova et minus cognita,”’ page 70.). The group (ccenobium) is formed of rather large cells, externally globularly rounded, their margins, where in mutual contact, being straight, and leaving at the angles exceedingly minute, somewhat triangular interspaces, like very minute pores, leading into the central cavity, charac- teristic of the forms appertaining to this genus. Mr..Archer was able to present some specimens showing some of the cells with a young ccenobium within, formed from the contents of the parent cell; and these were seen to be quite like the parent in all respects as regards form of the cells and their mutual arrangement, differing only in size. Simultaneously therewith Mr. Archer was able to show another form of Ccelastrum, obtained on his late brief visit to Wales, which was not referable to either of the remaining forms as described by Nageli, though perhaps showing most affinity With Calastrum cubicum (Niig.), but differing in each cell possessing but one process or tubercle-like appendage, not three. These likewise showed various conditions of growth of the young coenobia within the mother-cells, from the earliest stage, the most minute of which showed the full character of the cells, each with the truncate tubercle-like process. It seems to differ quite from C. sphericum (Nig.) by the cells possessing this process and not being, like those of the species just referred to, conically rounded. For this form, Mr. Archer would propose the name Ceelastrum cambricum. VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. & 66 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Mr. Crowe exhibited Welsh specimens of Luastrum didelta con- jugated, showing the zygospore fully formed. Thisis very like that of Euastrum oblongum, only, as a matter of course, the species being itself considerably smaller, so too is the zygospore. Ralfs does not figure the zygospore of this species, but he describes it as spinous, the spines subulate. They do not, however, appear to be subulate but nearly cylindrical, and ending bluntly, and they are pellucid. Sometimes they are not posed vertically on the zygospore, but lean a little in different directions, and this is more especially the case in regard to those spines which project through the apertures of the empty halves of the parent-cells into their cavities ; this circumstance, that is the divergence of the spines, seems as if it assisted in retaining the empty halves for some time attached. By a curious coincidence, Mr. Archer too was able to present Trish specimens (from near Carrig Mountain) of the same species, Euastrum didelta, also conjugated, and showing in all respects characters similar to those of the examples exhibited by Mr. Crowe, gathered in Wales. Conjugated specimens of this species had also presented themselves to Mr. Archer during his late excursion to Wales. He was besides able to bring forward fine conjugated examples of Euastrum oblongum from the Co. Wick- low locality which had presented the zygospores of Ewastrum didelta simultaneously exhibited,—an opportunity to see at one time the zygospores of these in themselves common forms, yet seemingly very rarely found conjugated, would not be without interest to the meeting. Mr. Archer likewise exhibited a solitary “skeleton” brought from Wales, the only one which he had seen outof Ireland, and it was not living, of the Radiolarian Rhizopod he had previously found and exhibited living from “ Callery-bog,” near Bray (see minutes of April last). This creature seemed to him to come nearest to certain marine forms close to Heliosphera amongst the Ethmo- spheerida (Hack.), From them, however, it differed in at least two points seemingly of importance, one of a negative, the other of a positive character. In the first place the so-called “ yellow cells” were quite absent, and in the second place the hollow perforate globe, containing within it the sarcode actinophryan body, was supported, when living, upon a nearly pellucid stipes. At first Mr. Archer had overlooked this stipes, and eyen when, by the seeming constancy of its occurrence in the living specimens, it had caught attention, he had at first taken it for a fibre of some Leptothrix-like plant upon which the perforate shell had got accidentally, as it were, impaled. But by degrees it became evident that this hyaline thread-like structure, which bore aloft the perforate globe, was indeed part of the organisation of this curious and interesting form. ‘Two points had been mentioned in which this creature presented a dissimilarity to the marine Radiolarians. A further more important negative character would be the absence of a “central capsule,” if really there were am PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 67 none; but still a fair proportion of the examples seen by him showed, within the perforate shell, an inner sharply-marked outline, possibly indicating that of an inner vesicle or membrane of some kind, which might represent the boundary of a very thin-walled or delicate central capsule, or at least correspond to that part of the typical organisation of a “ Radiolarian ” in Hiickel’s application of the term. But be that as it may, further examination of future specimens might, he hoped, throw some further light on this interesting form, seemingly connecting, be it more or less di- rectly, the fresh-water Actinophryans with the marine Radiolaria. Tt was to be regretted, however, that this creature seems suffi- ciently rare—only a limited number of specimens had as yet turned up; they are exceedingly minute, and hence, in a great measure, only accidentally observed; therefore, the discovery of even a dead shell at the other side of the Channel might have some interest. This form had been brought before the Natural History Society by Mr. Archer at a recent meeting, under the name of Podosphera Haeckeliana. Mr. Tichborne exhibited a slide of Cryptopia. This is an alka- loid, occurring in opium in very minute quantities. It was lately discovered by Messrs. T. and H. Smith. It is difficult to erystallise well on a slide, but when produced makes a very pretty and characteristic polariscopic object. It forms hexagonal plates when crystallised from alcohol. Read—the following extract from a letter addressed by Dr. Steele to Mr. Archer, secretary :—‘‘ Will you kindly mention at the Microscopical Club a very singular fact relative to the pollen of certain species of Primula which appears to me deserving of record. Most persons are aware that the flowers of the garden ‘ Polyanthus,’ as well as those of the Primula veris and P. vulgaris, assume two forms, called by gardeners ‘ Pin-eyes’ and ‘ Trim-eyes.’ In the former the pistil reaches to the summit of the corolline tube, within which latter the anthers are sessile, about half way up. In the latter the pistil is relatively much shorter, the stigma reaching to about the middle of the tube, whilst the anthers are sessile at the mouth. The point to which I wish to direct the attention of observers, however, is, that the grains of the pollen of the former (‘Pin-eyes’) are about half the size of those of the latter (‘'Trim-eyes’).”’ 15th August, 1867. Rey. E. O’Meara exhibited some new and interesting diatoms ; amongst which were a new species of Pleurosigma, remarkable for a row of bead-like dots running round the margins and along both sides of the median line, and a new Navicula. These were from the prolific Arran gathering; full descriptions and figures thereof will appear in this Journal. Mr. Archer showed specimens of a Staurastrum which he considered identical with Stawrastrum apiculatum (Bréb.) ; it was 68 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. longer in the spines than is figured in the illustrative plate accompanying M. de Brébisson’s “ Liste des Desmidiées observées en Basse-Normandie; otherwise, however, agreeing therewith. These examples were accompanied by St. dejectum and St. cuspi- datum, but always seemed quite distinguishable from both. This belongs, indeed, toa group of nearly allied forms, which, although they agreed essentially in outward characters, Mr. Archer ventured to think seemed always readily distinguishable; these are Staurastrum apiculatum, St. dejectum, St. cuspidatum, St. Diekiei, St. O Mearii, St. glabrum. Mr. Archer showed, new to Ireland, Spivotenia minuta (Thuret); this occurred near Carrig Mountain. Dr. Frazer showed a sublimate of arsenious acid in fine crystals displaying interesting hemihedral forms. Dr. Frazer likewise, on the part of Mr. Woodworth, exhibited specimens of human hair, now much sold in commerce for the manufacture of chignons, as ‘‘ Marseilles hair.”’ This had the hair-bulbs unremoved, and the enlargements had been imagined to indicate the presence of “ Gregarine,” but the microscope showed their true nature. An interesting inquiry results as to the origin of this kind of hair in commerce: it cannot be derived from living human beings, for its removal in quantity by epilating would be extremely painful, and, if obtained from the dead, it is probably removed when putrefaction has set in. 19th September, 1867. Mr. Archer exhibited good recent specimens of the two little alge lately recorded by him from Wales, then new to Britain, and now for the first time discovered in Ireland—Dictyospherium reniforme (Bulnh.), and Cosmocladium saxonicum (de Bary). These specimens, which were from near Carrig Mountain, were quite identical in every respect with those from Wales. For the first record of these pretty little plants, see Club minutes of June and July last. Rey. E. O’Meara showed a new species of Gephyria, of which figures and descriptions will hereafter appear in this Journal. Mr. Archer also showed conjugated specimens, with the zygo- spores, of Peniwm digitus (Ehr.), Bréb., now recorded for the first time, commonly as this species presents itself. As, however, might almost be predicated, the zygospore is simply large and elliptic and smooth, being placed between the for some time per- sistent empty parent cells, which are kept apart from the zygo- spore by a conspicuous and thick gelatinous envelope. Mr. Archer drew attention to a form of Arcella agreeing with Arcella angulata in surface characters of the test and in colour (no foreign bodies whatever entered into its composition), but differing in being of a quite globose form, with the exception of a small chord, as it were, being cut off at the aperture, in place of being hemispherical or rather more or less broadly campanulate. Thus, PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 69 in place of the flat surface bearing the (as usual in Arcella inverted) aperture being much dilated, as is the case in the ordinary form, by reason of its hemispherical or campanulate figure, in the present form the flat surface was much contracted by reason of its globular figure, hence the tests were prone to roll over and over. This was, moreover, a large form—though, not at any point expanded (like the ordinary form) out of the even globular outline—its diameter was considerably greater than that of D. angulata. In Dr. Wallich’s plate of Difflugian forms (‘ Ann. Nat. Hist.’) none, properly referable to Arcella, occur like this. It was not to be mistaken for the so-called Arcella aculeata, nor does Wallich’s figure 22 (pl. xvi., loc. cit.), agree with the form now shown, either in form of aperture or in character of test, as that is evidently a built-up test. Pending the rediscovery of this form and further examination, Mr. Archer thought it would be not without advantage that, for sake of reference, it should possess a name, and he would venture therefore to call it, ad interim, Arcella globosa. In the same gathering, Mr. Archer pointed out a couple of specimens of the rather common Difllugia spiralis, which seemed, as it were, to be turning a Closteriwm lunula to some advantageous account. They were closely attached thereto by the apertures of the tests, and seemed, as it were, to be sucking their prey; the contents of the Closterium were nearly completely effete and brown. A similar occurrence appears, indeed, not to be very uncommon. Mr. Archer exhibited a form of Actinophrys, first drawn attention to by Dr. John Barker, and which he lkewise had obtained himself in a gathering made from the same locality. This form was minute, colourless, pseudopodia very long and rather slender, but variable in thickness. It was, moreover, remarkable for two seeming specialities, one internal, the other external. The first consisted in the orbicular sarcode mass possessing two well-marked regions—a sharply-defined central body, which was surrounded by shallow margin of a lighter colour and of a “streaky” appearance, with an indefinite outline, whence emanated the pseudopodia. The central portion, occupying by far the greater proportion of the mass, was some- what different in colour and much more dense in structure than the marginal portion, being of that granular appearance and somewhat bluish hue characteristic of the “nucleus”? in Ameeba. This description calls to mind Stein’s Actinophrys ocuiata, but, judging from his figures (repeated in ‘ Pritchard,’ pl. xxiii, figs. 24, 25), they represent, indeed, quite a different thing. In that form the “ nucleus,” or eye-like central body giving the specific name, is very small, instead of occupying by far the greater portion of the mass of the body. The character alluded to, however, certainly indicates a resemblance, and in both this central body may be homologous, whatever be its actual nature or function. But the present form is still further unlike by reason of the 70 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. absence of the conspicuous series of marginal vacuoles and by the much more long and slender pseudopodia than depicted by Stein. So far as can be judged, too, from Carter’s figures (‘ Ann. Nat. Hist.,’ xv, pl. xii, fig, 1), his form does not seem to be identical with that of Stein, nor with the present. Having proceeded so far with the description and exhibition of this form, fearing that a certain amount of coincidence of its characters with those of the form Mr. Archer had brought forward before the Club in April last (see minutes of that date) might lead some to suppose they were identical, he again presented some good examples of the latter. This latter is much more frequently met with in our moor pools (near Bray, &c.), than is the form which was now particularly drawn attention to. A very slight inspection showed it was indeed quite a distinct-looking thing, both in colour and in structure of body and character of pseudopodia. But if the Actinophrys now for the first time exhibited to the Club appeared @ priori to be a different thing from Actinophrys oculata in the points alluded to, it seemed (in a measure) to agree with it in that cireumstance which had been alluded to as the second or external speciality—and that was, their occurring occa- sionally consociated into elegantly and definitely arranged groups ; this union being caused, however, not by a complete confluence of the bodies, but merely by the mutual fusion of a number of the pseudopodia, along which certain granules could be occasionally seen to flow from one animal to another. These composite groups did not contain many individuals, six being the greatest number observed ; and these were mostly arranged in two alternating triangles, or four arranged in two alternate pairs, but three or two individuals only were sometimes joined. This combination by means of the fusion of the pseudopodia did not, however, extend to the bodies, like that of A. oculata. A suggestion then presents itself, looking on these groups in a perhaps superficial way—a suggestion, indeed, which future examination of this animal, when it may be again encountered b observers, may refute. May, indeed, the large central body with its sharply-defined outline, almost looking like a definite wall or envelope, be considered at all homologous with the “central capsule” of such marine Radiolarian forms as Collozoum? Nor would the absence of spicules militate against the correctness of this idea, for Collozoum is without them, and the central capsules of certain of the Radiolaria are described as very delicate and thin. The constituent animalcules of a group seem to cohere much in the same kind of way as do those of the compound marine forms ; in the form now exhibited this union does not seem to represent any “conjugation,” but rather a combination of individuals carrying on a community of life, but at the same time, as the free individuals upon the slide proved, quite capable of becoming disengaged and living solitary. Compare it, too, with Mr. Archer’s animal, Raphidiophrys viridis (referred to in Club PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 7A minutes of December, 1866), which rhizopod indicates a kind of compound life, not only by the union of numerous hollow globular clusters of granules pointing to so many centres, as it were, of a kind of secondary individuality, but these seemingly compound clusters are themselves sometimes combined, in certain limited numbers, into larger groups by the union of the pseudopodia. Raphidiophrys, too, is furnished with spicules—as marked as Spherozoum italicum (Hack.)—but it is destitute of “ yellow cells.” Equally, however, with Raphidiophrys, as well as the Radiolarian with a perforate shell twice brought before the Club by Mr. Archer (from Ireland and Wales: see minutes of April and July), which latter indicated even stronger affinity to the marine types, the present Actinophryan likewise showed nothing comparable to the “yellow cells ;”” and hence the perhaps vague idea here thrown out touching the principal subject of the present exhibition may be of little value. Yet, though the similarity may be regarded as but superficial and the affinity be thought remote, still one could not look at Hickel’s figures nor his statements without being at least in a measure struck by the resemblance. The allusion to the perforate Radiolarian suggested to Mr. Archer to inform the Club that identically the same animal as his had been brought forward in May last, by Cienkowski, in Schultze’s ‘ Archiv fiir mikroskopische Anatomie’ (Bd. iii, Heft iii, 1867, p. 311, t. xviii), which Mr. Archer had only just had an opportunity of seeing. Cienkowski had described it under the name of Clathrulina elegans. There could not be any doubt whatever that the animal Mr. Archer had mentioned (and which he had described at the June meeting of the Natural History Society of Dublin, but which he would now withdraw) was perfectly iden- tical with the newly-described Radiolarian, Clathrulina elegans (Cienkowski). Having, however, seen Cienkowski’s paper and figures, it now seemed probable to Mr. Archer that he must have mistaken the “cyst” referred to by that author for the repre- sentative of the “central capsule” (see pl. xviii, fig. 7, loe. cit.). Of these sharply-defined bodies (probably Cienskowski’s cysts) only one had ever presented itself in any single individual of the Irish specimens as yet, hence (not having been so fortunate as to see any further development) the mistake might be considered the more excusable, as, moreover, a by no means indefinite internal contour was to be seen even in examples with extended pseudo- odia. a It would at least be not without its interest, however, to have recorded the occurrence of this novel form in the British Islands, especially as only two other localities are given for it (in Russia and in Germany); and there as here, as Cienskowski states, it “occurs very sparingly and rarely.” Its minuteness, however, may be partly the cause of its not having been previously detected in other localities. As indicating the likelihood of this, Mr. Archer thought it might be interesting to add another Irish locality to that of Callery Bog, and that was in Co. Tipperary, in a gathering 72 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. from whence he had found a single dead shell or skeleton— enough, however, to establish its occurrence. Although without the experience justifying him to speak at all definitely on Rotatoria, Mr. Archer ventured to bring forward as new a very handsome free-swimming form belonging to the Family Brachioncea, and seemingly appertaining to Perty’s genus Poly- chetus, a genus disallowed by Leydig, as he imagined Perty’s Polychetus subquadratus to represent some Crustacean. Yet the present form (obtained both from Carrig and Callery districts) seemed to fit here, and it at least was assuredly a rotatorian. However, the character of the genus (if this animal be correctly referred as congeneric with Perty’s) must be slightly modified, inasmuch as the present form had a carapace toothed not only at the four corners of its subquadrate outline, but was minutely toothed all round the margin—more strongly, however, at the upper outer angles, and more strongly still at the posterior angles, which were each terminated by a long conspicuous spine accom- panied by two intermediate. Instead of from ten to twelve long spines on the flat surface, as in P. subquadratus, there were four only, and these of considerable length. When the animal turned so as to present a side view, these spines stood forth, long and conspicuous, as sword-like weapons. At a distance from each lateral margin of about one-fourth of the width of the carapace, and seemingly on both surfaces, there was presented a line or series of spines, similar to those fringing the margin and running parallel thereto and taking a nearly similar curve, from the anterior to the posterior end of the carapace. All the intervening portion of the surface of the carapace was thickly covered with very minute tooth- like acute spines, rather irregularly scattered, and giving it a rough appearance. On the “tail” (of two joints) were also two rather long acute spines, and there were two spinous “toes.” The eye was single, large and red, and the head whiskered on each side by a row of minute, very acute spines, very prominent when the animal’s head and neck became fully protruded from the carapace—in fact then standing out like a comb on each side—the teeth at the middle being the longest, and gradually diminishing above and below. There was a frontal continuous tuft of cilia, not conveying the idea of a “rotatory”? motion, but waved with considerable energy. The motion of this pretty creature was not very rapid or active ; it seemed rather to glide, or in a measure gently flutter about. The thickness of the body was comparatively pretty considerable, and the viscera appeared very opaque. It would seem, hence, difficult to portray the internal organisation, and Mr. Archer had much to regret that, partly from this cause and partly from his want of experience in these animals, he was unable to throw any light on the imternal characters. In the meantime, however, he ventured to think there could be no doubt but that this was an undescribed rotatorian, and he would suggest for this elegant creature the name of Polychetus spinulosus. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. On New Sprecizs of DIATOMACE®, being a Repry to Mr. Kirton’s Remarks. By the Rev. KE. O’Meara. In reply to Mr. Kitton’s animadversions on my two papers recently published in the ‘ Microscopical Journal,’ I venture to make a few remarks. ‘To resent the temper of his criti- cisms could subserye no useful purpose, and therefore I refer to it merely to express my sincere regret that the intrinsic value of the remarks should have been depreciated by the tone in which they have been expressed. It is not unneces- sary to say that I have been for very many years devoted to the study of the Diatomacez of Ireland, and have carefully examined many thousands of gatherings made by me, in all parts of the country and at all seasons, and have never at- tempted to publish any forms as new until the Arran dredg- ings of Dr. E. Percival Wright were placed by him in my hands. Ido not make this statement of facts for the pur- pose of arrogating to myself a right to speak on the subject with an authority equal to that which Mr. Kitton has assumed, but of vindicating myself from the charge of being a novice in the matter, and of being affected with the dis- ease usually known as the cacoethes scribendi, which his observations not very graciously suggest. How inapplicable are some of Mr. Kitton’s observations on dredgings to the forms found by me in the dredgings from Arran, the following letter from Dr. E. P. Wright sufficiently proves: “ My pear O’MeEara,—The collection of Diatoms from Arran was made by me during the autumn of 1866, under the following circumstances. In the harbour of the larger island, and near the little island called Straw Island, I found large meadows of several species of brown Algz, such as Desmarestea ligulata, Cordaria flagelliformis, &. On one or two days in which the wind was too strong to admit of dredging in the open bay, I made a large collection of these VOL, VIII.—NEW SER, F 74 O’MEARA, ON DIATOMACE. different Algee. The dredge was thrown into water of some seven or eight fathoms’ depth at low water, and dredged along into water of such a depth that the boat would just float. I brought the material thus gathered to the hotel for the purpose of searching it over for minute Crustacea, Anne- lids, &e., &c.; and being struck on several occasions, when examining it with a low power (1+ objective) of the micro- scope for Foraminifera, with the number of Diatoms present, I dried the weed in the sun, and then shook off all or the greater part of the fine particles adherent to it, This siliceous dust I gave to you. I also brought a small basket- ful of the weed with me to Dublin, and haying steeped it for some hours in about two quarts of distilled water, I filtered it gradually through a muslin strainer, and gave you a bottleful of finely divided mud that passed through. One very small stream of fresh water flowed into this bay, a fact that may account for the presence of fresh-water forms in the Arran gathering. I feel very certain that all the Diatoms were attached to the Algze, and were not taken on the ground, as, owing to the quantity of sea-weed, the dredge did not scrape the bottom.—LEver very sincerely yours, Epw. PER- civaAL Wriaut, Lect. on Zoology Dub. University.” It will, doubtless, seem strange to most readers that Mr. Kitton should have ventured to pronounce his judgment on the forms referred to without having had an opportunity of examining them. Had he vouchsafed to ask, I would have gladly supplied him with some of the material, and then he would haye been in a better position to forma judgment, and more weight would attach to his opinion. I cannot forbear to express the surprise I experienced on the perusal of his paper to find that one so sharp to detect what he regards as the mistakes of others, and so forward to expose them, should himself have been guilty of such in- accuracies as the following—inaccuracies I cannot attribute to any other cause than a hasty and superficial perusal of the papers he undertook to criticise. ** Navicula pellucida, O’M., fig. 2, is a state of Navicula Pandura of De Brébisson.” In my paper, N. pellucida is fig. 3, and to it his observations are utterly inapplicable. I suppose he intended to refer to N. denticulata, fig. 2, which does exhibit some general resemblance to N. Pandura, though at the same time the difference is so marked and so constant, as not only to justify but as I think to require a distinct name. Again, “ Raphoneis liburnica, O’M., fig. 8.” In my paper this form is referred to in the following terms :—Raphoneis O’MEARA, ON DIATOMACE. 75 hburnica, var., fig. 8. By the word he has omitted, and the letters he has unwarrantably introduced, Mr. Kitton charges me with claiming this designation as my own, whereas I attributed it to Grunow, and represented the form described by me merely as a variety of Raphoneis liburnica of that distinguished author. Again, at page 16, we read, “ Cocconeis divergens, fig. 5, may be the same,” &c. Although no form so named occurs in my papers, that to which I suppose he intended to refer is Cocconeis clavigera, which is so dissimilar in all respects to C. costata of W. Gregory, as well as to Raphoneis Archeri, it is difficult to comprehend how they could be confounded. These inaccuracies, however, although evidences of care- lessness, do not materially affect the judgment pronounced, but the same cannot be said regarding the following mistake. Page 14, “In the following observations I have assumed the amplification i in the first paper to be the same as in the second, viz., 600 diameters.” Now, the amplification in the second paper is not invariably 600 diameters, as the words referred to would lead the reader to suppose. In some in- stances, as indicated in the table, it is 800 diameters; and in the description of the figures, which accompanied the first paper, the amplification is plainly stated to be 400 diameters, and not 600, as was assumed. As regards the forms in my papers which have happily escaped animadyversion, it is to be presumed they are exempt from objection; and if so, enough remains to attach con- siderable interest and value to the Arran gatherings. But as regards the forms which have provoked the censure of Mr. Kitton, what is his judgment, and by what process has he reached it ? “The following forms described in Rey. E. O’Meara’s papers may, I think, be referred to previously described spe- cies.” It is difficult to understand how his remarks on Pinnularia divaricata are reconcileable with this form of ex- pression. They are to this effect. “ Pinnularia divaricata, O’M., fig. 7, if correctly figured and described, can neither be a Pinnularia nor Navicula, as none of these genera have forked striz or coste.’”? On the assumption, then, that the figure and description are correct, and I can assure him that they are, this form, in Mr. Kitton’s opinion, must be sepa- rated from these genera—must, in fact, be assigned to a new genus. How incongruous the opinion thus expressed with the previous statement, so far as the form in question 1s con- cerned, “the following forms may, I think, be referred to previously described species.” 76 O’MEARA, ON DIATOMACEZ. The decision Mr. Kitton has pronounced is expressed with so much doubtfulness, and so much that is conjectural, as might reasonably, in my opinion, have suggested the propriety of dealing with the subject ina gentler tone. But to give colour to the verdict as it stands it is necessary to supply the deficiency of facts from the suggestions of imagination. It is necessary to presume that the forms are imperfectly figured and described—that I am not capable of discrimi- nating between a central nodule and a small grain of quartz that chance has thrown in the position—that the sculpture in certain portions of the valve has been obliterated by abra- sion—that a certain peculiarity of structure is nothing more than an abnormal marginal development. How far such presumptions are warrantable, and what weight is due to a judgment reached by such a process, I leave to others to decide. Some of Mr. Kitton’s remarks I freely acknowledge, on mature consideration of them, appear not without some reason to support them, though many others, as I think, afford ample justification to doubt their accuracy. Having carefully re-examined my specimens of Navicula Wrightii, I have no hesitation in expressing my conyiction that the absence of sculpture in the spaces on either side of the median line is perfectly normal, not a trace of striz is to be found throughout their entire length, while on the mar- ginal portion of the valve the striz are in all cases perfectly distinct, and exhibit no traces of the valve haying been sub- jected to the process of abrasion. ‘The general resemblance, indeed, between Navicular clavata, N. Hennedyi, and N. Wrightit is so obvious that I consider future systematisers would be warranted in so modifying the descriptions of these forms as to include them under one denomination, but so long as the two former are regarded by the authorities as distinct from each other the last has a right to be regarded as distinct from both. It is not improbable that Raphoneis Jonesit and Raphoneis Moortt might be advantageously classed with Cocconeis scutellum, to which they bear m some respects a strong family resemblance, but a careful inspection of the valve, and, as I think, a careful consideration of the figures and descriptions, would conyince that Mr. Kitton’s opinion that they belong to one and the same species is untenable. The sculpture in the two forms exhibits a much greater diversity of structure than is considered sufficient in other forms to mark diversity of species. The figures, unhappily, were printed off without being submitted to me for correction, but to obviate the mis- take which mere inspection of the figures might lead to, I O’MEARA, ON DIATOMACES. (ih added to my original descriptions of the forms such further particulars as I considered necessary to convey a clear con- ception of the difference between them so obvious to the observer. If these forms be referred to Cocconeis scutellum, they differ from any I have seen in nature, or in the figures of such authors as have come under my notice, and seem entitled to be regarded as undescribed and distinct varieties. On this subject [ may remark further that Mr. Kitton appears to confound what I call the border in Raphoneis Jonesit with the cingulum or hoop which unites the two valves of the frustule; the latter is separable, as he observes, but the former, as an essential portion of the valve, is not altogether an insignificant character of the structure. Before Mr. Kitton’s remarks came under my notice, the valuable German publication ‘ Hedwigia’ had made me aware that the specific name of gracilis had been previously applied to a form of Surriclla, and I had determined on the first occasion that offered to correct my mistake, and give the name Gracillima instead of Gracilis. Grunow’s figure was familiar to me, and I know not how the name escaped my notice when examining his list, as well as others, to ascertain whether the name I had selected had been anticipated. Mr. Kitton’s remarks on Surirella are at variance with the views of the highest published authorities on the subject; Dr. Gregory and Dr. Greville, as he frankly acknowledges, differ from him. Pritchard and Grunow in their classification of the genus Surirella make use of those differences in the out- line of the valve and the structure of the coste, which Mr. Kitton considers of little value. Swrirella lata and S. fastuosa are regarded by these authors, as well as by Smyth, as dis- tinct species. Both the species I have described occur frequently in the Arran dredgings; the forms belonging to them respectively differ little im outline, and invariably exhibit the peculiarities in the shape and arrangement of the costee which I have noticed in my descriptions. Supported by the example of these authors, so illustrious in this depart- ment of science, I considered myself—and still consider my- self—justifiable in giving distinct names to these forms of Surirella. In addition to the characters already referred to, I avail myself of the present opportunity to notice a peculiarity in the general structure of these forms, which strengthens my reasons for separating them from S. fastuosa. On the side view the valves in these species are flat, whereas in S. fastuosa the centre is deeply depressed, and in the front view, although 78 O’MEARA, ON DIATOMACEX. the valves are larger than those of S. fastuosa, their breadth is considerably less. When Mr. Kitton suggested that Pinnularia constricta may be “possibly a form of Navicula truncata, a very variable species both in size and coste,” I presume he referred to a species so named in Dr. Donkin’s interesting paper published in the ‘Mic. Journal,’ Jan., 1861. The side view of Dr. Donkin’s form is not described, and from a careful com- parison of my form with his figure I considered they were distinct. In any case the specific name of Truncata for that form must be dropped, because Kiitzing, in his ‘ Bacillarien oder Diatomeen,’ taf. iii, fig. 34, and taf. v, fig. 4, has figured and described a form with this specific name which bears no resemblance to Pinnularia constricta. But further, some of Mr. Kitton’s conjectures seem to me untenable, except on principles which would haye the effect of involving the classification of the Diatoms in utter con- fusion ; for if Navicula denticulata is to be confounded with N. pandura—N. amphoroides with Amphora salina (An which case I must assure Mr. Kitton that the suggestion so un- graciously offered in the “ query,’ is not the nodule a small erain of quartz ?’’ is the baseless figment of his fancy )—Rapho- neis Archeri with Cocconeis costata or C. clavigera—Eupo- discus excentricus with Coscinodiscus minor—the hope of dis- tinguishing species with any reasonable certainty must be abandoned in despair. In the case of Raphoneis Archeri there is nothing to sustain Mr. Kitton’s conjecture that the puncta have been abraded. Since the paper describing it was published, the same form has been found by me in considerable abundance on sea- weeds from the Falkland Islands and from Kerguelen’s Land. In the structure of Hupodiscus excentricus there is not even a remote resemblance to that of Coscinodiscus minor. Had Mr. Kitton identified it with Coscinodiscus excentricus, he would have had some reason to support his view, for in this form the sculpture is similar to that of Coscinodiscus excen- tricus, a fact which suggested the name. This form frequently occurred in the dredgings, and invariably exhibited the pecu- liarities noticed—a smooth submarginal border, and distinct processes on the secondary surface. Hyen suppose it be con- ceded that the former is, as Mr. Kitton suggests, ‘‘ an abnormal marginal development,” he has not accounted for the latter, namely, the processes which seem to remove the form from the genus Coscinodiscus, as defined by the latest published authorities on the subject. O’MEARA, ON DIATOMACER. 79 In common with many who haye deyoted their attention to the study of the Diatoms, I entertain the opinion that the system of classification requires and is capable of much im- provement. Generic characters might be more satisfactorily defined than they are at present, and more comprehensive specific descriptions might be adopted; and by this means the existing nomenclature might be advantageously reduced. I hope and expect that the promised work of Herr Th. Eulenstein, whose extensive experience and sober judgment eminently qualify him for the task, shall soon supply the desideratum, and place the classification of the Diatoms on a basis more simple and more satisfactory than the present. But Mr. Kitton, as it appears to me, would apply the knife before the patient is prepared for the operation. Deep-seated and long-standing maladies may be allayed, perhaps, by superficial applications, but will certainly return unless the remedy be of such a nature as to reach the seat of the disease. That our department of science has been embarrassed by an excessive nomenclature must be obvious to every experienced observer. ‘The evil is traceable in some considerable degree to the fact that the descriptions of species are not as compre- hensive as they might be. When, therefore, the student, in the course of his investigations, discovers forms similar to some he finds described, but at the same time exhibiting constantly some peculiarities not noticed in the description, he has no alternative but that of either adopting a defective description or of marking the peculiarities he has noticed by some distinctive name. By the adoption of the former course he relieves his memory at the cost of exactness; by choosing the latter he secures precision, though it be at the expense of a tax upon his memory. This latter method I regard as the more scientific, and that which will eventually prove more efficacious to remedy the evil and obviate its recurrence for the future. Impressed with this conviction, and with this object in view, I consider the proper course for the student is to adopt the existing descriptions of species, to note carefully all con- stantly occurring deviations, and to mark them by a distinc- tive name. By such means his labours will increase the materials for the construction of a more satisfactory system of classification ; and if this result be ultimately attained, they whose observations haye been conducted on this principle will be amply consoled for the animadversions their method may have occasionally provoked. 80 On certain BurrerRrLy Scaues characteristic of Sux. By T. W. Wonror, Hon. Sec. (Read before the Members of the Brighton and Sussex Natural History Society, Nov. 1867.) NEARLY every one who has worked with the microscope and turned his attention to the scales of insects (especially the Butterfly tribe) has perhaps been struck with the great variety of form to be found not only in different butterflies, but on the under and upper side of the wings of the same insect. If, too, an attempt has been made to find in the “whites” or “blues” the scales described in all works on the Microscope, as found on certain members of each group, he has undoubtedly met with disappointment, especially if he has looked where our standard works tell us they are to be found. Thus, in the case of the azure blue (Polyom- matus argiolus), we meet with instructions tending to mis- lead; thus in the ‘ Micrographic Dictionary,’ under ‘ Poly- ommatus,” p. 564, we read— The scales upon the under surface of the wings of P. argiolus and P. argus have been proposed as test objects. They are of two kinds—one re- sembling in structure the ordinary scales of insects, the other of a battledore form.” Again, under the head of ‘ Pontia,” p- 571 :—* The form and structure of certain scales existing upon the wnder side of the male is curious.” Now, any in- quirer looking, in either case, in the situations named, will undoubtedly not find them, for the simple reason that these particular scales are never found on the wnder side. It was in endeavouring to work out, in 1864, these and a kindred scale that I hit upon certain facts, which perhaps may have been discovered before; but as I have not been able to find any record of them, I thought the subject sufficiently inte- resting to bring before the microscopic world. One fact has reference to the position of the battledore scales; the other tends to the belief that they, and certain other forms to be described, are, in the three families of the Polyommatus, Pontia (or Pieris), and Hipparchia, characteristic marks of sex—at least I have proved such to be the case, as far as I have been able to obtain specimens for observation. In the ‘blues ” proper there is a marked dissimilarity in the colour of the sexes; for, while the males are of various shades of blue, answering to the names azure, mazarine, &c., the females are of a brownish hue, spotted or dashed with bluish scales. Any person seeing them together for the first time WONFOR, ON BUTTERFLY SCALES. 81 would consider the brown-coloured ones a distinct species ; in fact, one often hears the remark made, “‘ Are you sure they are blues?” Now, this difference of colour may have led to the ordinary error that the “battledore” is found on the “blues,” for undoubtedly it is found only on the dlwe- coloured males. Curiously enough these “ battledore ” scales are placed in rows, under the ordinary scales, and at the in- tervals, as in fig. 10; so that, if the ordinary scales be re- moved from the upper portion of the wings, the “ battledores ”’ will be found arranged in rows, plentifully on the fore wings, but more sparsely on the hinder wings. I have examined P. alexis, Pl. I, fig. 1 (common blue); P. argiolus, fig. 2 (azure blue); P. acis, fig. 3 (mazarine blue); P. corydon, fig. 4 (Chalk-Hill blue); P. adonis, fig. 5 (Clifden blue) ; P. argus, fig. 6 (silver-studded blue); P. arion, fig. 7 (large blue) ; P. alsus, fig. 8 (Bedford, or little blue) ; and P. detica, fig. 9 (tailed, or Brighton blue) ; and in each case found them only on the upper surface of the wings of the males, and arranged, as before mentioned, in rows; in the case of un- battered and well-preserved insects in about equal propor- tions with ordinary scales. As might, perhaps, be expected, the battledores differ in size, shape, length of blade or handle, according to the particular species, and, perhaps, might be used as adjuncts in determining varieties sometimes met with. Iam anxious to obtain an hermaphrodite form of the common blue P. alexis, as figured in ‘ Humphrey and West- wood’s Butterflies,’ in which one side is of the character of the ordinary blue male, the other of the brownish female. Thus far with the ‘‘ blues” my observations have proved that the ‘‘ battledore”’ is characteristic of sex. I had a con- firmation of this in the case of the “tailed blue.” A collector had supplied me with portions of wings of one of these in- sects, but was uncertain whether from males or females. I examined all without finding any trace of a battledore; but the next day, obtaining from him an undoubted male, I found at once any number of battledores. By reference to figs. 1—9, all drawn to the same scale (240 diam.), it will be seen how great a difference exists in form and size; thus figs. 4 and 7 are from the Chalk-Hill and large blue respectively, the two largest British; while fig. 8 is from not only the smallest blue, but our smallest butterfly. To turn now to the whites, or genus Pontia or Pieris. I had found the two forms of ‘tasseled” scales, or those haying a brush-like termination, figured in the ‘ Micro- graphic Dictionary,’ on males of the large and small cabbage 82 WONFOR, ON BUTTERFLY SCALES. white (Pontia or Pieris brassice, fig. 11, and P. rape, fig. 13), and argued that something similar ought to be found on other members of the same family. The first I tried was the green- veined P. napi (fig. 14). ‘This gave a scale differing slightly from the small white, but somewhat broader and more trian- gular. The orange tip (P. cardimines, fig. 12) for a long time puzzled me, as my specimens were battered ; but having caught insects in good condition, I found the short brush- like scale differing considerably from the other whites. On the Bath white (Mancipium or Pieris daplidice, fig. 15) I found a scale half-way between the orange tip and small white, that is, the ribbon-like form of the one and triangular brush of the other. All these whites differ also in their modes of attachment to the wing, the stalk being of a different construction from that of the ordinary scale or the battledore of the blues. Though the arrangement of the scales is in rows and at intervals, as in the battledores, they are not so readily made out in situ, but from their greater length present the appearance of hairs. In the case of the Hipparchia family, I happened while at Dorking this summer toco me across plenty of the H. semele, fig. 18 (grayling), and conceived, as there was a well-known scale, brush-like and tapering after the manner of the large white, but differing from it in the markings on the ribbon- like portion, on the H. jariva, fig. 17 (meadow brown), that there might be something on the grayling. At first I was disappointed, until I discovered my specimens were all females. The next morning I caught some males, when a decidedly shaying-brush like scale was the result. Pursuing the same plan with all the Hipparchie I could procure, I have obtained the following results: distinctive scales, differ- ing from each other in H. tithonus (large heath), fig. 16; H. pamphilus (small heath), fig. 19; H. egeria (wood argus), fig. 21; and H. magera (wall argus), fig. 20. In all these cases the brush-like scales are plentifully arranged in rows, and project considerably beyond the ordinary scales. I have not yet had the opportunity of pursuing? my investigations among the other families ;* but as far as I have gone, I think it is clear there are in the three families of Polyommatus, Pieris or Pontia, and Hipparchia, forms of scales found only on the males. In addition to this, the ordinary scales in males and females are the same, so that these peculiar scales may be taken to be characteristic of sex. What purpose, if any, they serve, I cannot conceive. ‘They seem to me to have their * I have since found characteristic scales on members of the Argynnide (Eritillaries), WONFOR, ON BUTTERFLY SCALES. 83 analogues in the beard of man, the mane of the lion, and the plumage of some birds. : In obtaining the scales, I have found the best way to examine a wing is to lay it on a clean slide, place another upon it, and apply a moderate amount of pressure. Upon separating the slips, plenty of scales from either side, in their relative positions, will be found on the glass slides. If re- quired to mount, a ring of varnish may be run round, and when nearly set, a glass cover being laid on the slide, it re- quires only a finishing coat when dry to make it ready for the cabinet. Nore.—My observations have been confirmed by the examination of many tropical and Continental species of the above-mentioned families ; and since January of this year (1868), 1 have become aware that Mr. J. Watson, of Manchester, has read papers on the “ Plumules,” before the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, and is engaged, as I learn by corres- pondence, in publishing a work on that subject, to be illustrated by 600 figures. REVIEWS. The Microscope, its History, Construction, and Application. By Janez Hoce, F.L.S., Sec. R.M.S, Sixth Edition. London: George Routledge and Sons. Ir is quite needless for us todo more than to announce this new edition of Mr. Hoge’s work. A book that has gone through six editions, each edition consisting of ten thousand copies, has little need of any recommendation from the reviewer, whilst its enormous sale is its own best advertise- meut. We may, however, say a word or two on the reasons of the success of Mr. Hogg’s book. In the first place, it is a very complete history of all that has been done with the microscope, and may be used, through the aid of its good index, as a dictionary on all matters connected with the instrument. In this new edition, also, Mr. Hogg has brought his information up to the present time, and we are especially flattered to see how extensively he has used our own pages to bring up his book to the knowledge of his day. It has always been our effort in the ‘Journal,’ which accompanies the ‘Transactions of the Royal Microscopical Society,’ to supplement these important labours of our own great school of English microscopists, by giving an account of everything that is being done in other countries, and in our local English Societies. We are glad to find our labours extensively acknowledged, and it is gratifying to find them contributing to so valuable a volume as that by Mr. Hogg. In the next place, Mr. Hogg’s volume is really capitally illustrated. It contains upwards of three hundred and fifty wood en- gravings, and the present edition contains eight beautiful coloured plates, executed by Tuffen West. The name of Mr. West is a sufficient guarantee for the accuracy and value of these illustrations. We have never seen more suc- cessful work turned out even by Mr. West himself. In addition to these great recommendations, the price of this volume is so small that nothing but its amazing sale could HARLEY, ON HISTOLOGICAL DEMONSTRATIONS. 85 have enabled its enterprising publishers to have offered the volume for so small a sum. We most cordially recommend this sixth edition of Mr. Hogg’s book. Histological Demonstrations for the Use of the Medical and Veterinary Professions. By Gerorce Hartry, M.D., F.R.S., and Grorce T. Brown, M.R.C.V.S. London: Longmans. We ought to have noticed this book earlier, but have put it aside from quarter to quarter in the hope of being able to write such a notice of its contents as its value and importance demands. Press of other matter has, however, prevented this, and we now feel that we ought not to allow another issue to pass without introducing it to our readers. For many years Dr. Harley has been in the habit of giving a course of physiological demonstrations at University College. “The observation of the facility with which objects were pre- pared for examination in the presence of the class, and the readiness with which the directions of the demonstrator were comprehended and carried into effect by the students,” sug- gested to Mr. Brown “the possibility of describing in an intelligible manner the method of instruction which was so successful in practice.” The volume thus commenced by the pupil has been superintended by the master, and a very valuable aid to anatomical research by the use of the micro- scope has been the result. There is no doubt that the microscope is popularly regarded as a very amusing instrument, and we wish we could divest our minds of the feeling that a great many microscopical societies regard it as anything more, but the medical student should remember that it is as much his duty to use the microscope as an instrument of observation as the stetho- scope, the laryngoscope, or any other instrument that modern science has put into his hand. Examining boards may not think so, and some medical examiners would perhaps be sorely puzzled to make the simplest microscopic demon- stration, but, nevertheless, life and death may hang on the ability of a medical man to make a microscopic diagnosis, and woe to the man, however many diplomas he may possess, who goes through life with “ knowledge through one entrance quite shut cut.” The medical student will find this volume a thorough 86 NAVE, ON ALGA, FUNGI, LICHENS, ETC, introduction to both physiological and morbid histology. The introductory chapters are devoted to a short account of the best instruments and apparatus to be employed for histo- logical purposes. Subsequently each healthy tissue is taken up and examined. After this, diseased tissues are considered, and all the principal points in microscopic investigation which ought to be mastered by the medical student are taken up. The descriptions of tissues and morbid products are accompanied with an extensive series of illustrations on wood, some of which are copied from Kolliker’s great work, others are taken from the ‘ Cyclopedia of Anatomy,’ whilst a large number are original. This work will not only be found useful to the medical student, but the medical prac- titioner whose early education was conducted in a pre-micro- scopic era will find in it a most convenient manual for teaching him what are the practical points to which the microscope may be applied in the practice of medicine. A Handy Book to the Collection of Alga, Fungi, Lichens, Mosses, Diatoms, and Desmids. By JoHann Nave. Trans- lated by the Rev. W. W. Spicer, M.A., F.R.M.S. London: Hardwicke. AutHoveH this little book is devoted to the subject of the collection and preparation of all the lower Cryptogamia, it will have a peculiar interest to the microscopist on account of the especial directions given for the collection and pre- servation of the microscopic forms of plants. A large pro- portion of the work is devoted to the fresh-water Confervee, the Diatomaceze, and Desmidiacex, and there are few collec- tors, however practised, who will not find valuable hints in it. To the young collector it will prove a storehouse of information, and contribute greatly to the success of his re- searches. The work is accompanied by a series of plates in wood, which will materially assist the beginner in working at the microscopic alge. It has been translated with great care by the Rev. W. Spicer, and no one interested in the lower forms of plants can fail to receive instruction and interest from its unpretending pages. QUARTERLY CHRONICLE OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. Siebold and Kolliker’s Zeitschrift. f. wissensch Zoologie.— Bd. xviii, heft i. I. Studies on the Central Nervous System in the Osseous Fishes, by Dr. Ludwig Stieda. In 1861, Dr. Stieda published, under the title of ‘The Spinal Chord and some part of the Brain of Esox Lucius, certain observations on the central nervous system of the pike. Simce then he has investigated the same parts in various classes of the vertebrata, and the results so far as con- cerns the osseous fishes, are given in the present valuable com- munication, illustrated by two plates. The subject is treated under the heads of (1) the nerve-cells; (2) nerve-fibres ; (3) the connective tissue and blood-vessels; and (4) the epithelia. The cells, both peripheral and central, are described as bodies furnished with a vesicular spherical nucleus, and usually also with a nucleolus. They have no cell-membrane, and are consequently to be regarded as simple masses of protoplasm, which presents a finely granular aspect. These cells differ in size and form, the latter depending upon the number of processes given off, and which vary in number from one to four or five. The processes are merely continua- tions of the granular cell-substance, and, so far as the author has seen, are never connected with the nucleus. He regards the apparently apolar cells as artificial products, and he has never noticed any division of the processes, nor any connection between one cell and another. Besides these true nerve- cells, the central nervous substance presents numerous minute cellular elements, whose nature is not quite deter- mined, but which have been termed “granules” from their resemblance to the so-termed “granules” in the retina. The author, contrary to an opinion he formerly entertained, is now disposed, with Gerlach and others, to regard these bodies as a kind of “nerve-cells.” The nerve-cells are 88 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. described as enclosed in a delicate covering of connective tissue, which in the fresh state is closely applied to the surface of the granular cell-substance, but in chromic acid preparations becomes separated from it by a clear space, which the author denominates the “ area.” 2. The peripheral nerve-fibres consist of an “ axis- cylinder,” enclosed in a medullary sheath, and surrounded by a delicate neurilemma of connective tissue. The axis- cylinder is, as before said, a direct continuation of the cell substance, whilst the medullary sheath, which occupies the space between the axis-cylinder and the neurilemma, appears to commence abruptly at the nerve-cell, but to have no other connection with it. The neurilemma is described as con- tinuous with the connective-tissue sacculus in which the nerve-cell is lodged. In the central organs the fibres consist only of the “ axis-filament,” and the author has never been able to trace any direct continuation of these fibres into the sheathed peripheral ones; notwithstanding the frequent assertion to the contrary of other observers. 3. The matrix, as it may be termed, of the central nervous masses presents different appearances in different parts. In some places it exhibits more or less of a granular aspect, and has been termed by the author the “ granular matrix,” whilst in others it has a finely reticulated structure, and has thence been termed the “reticulated basis-substance.” The colour varies according to the greater or less prevalence of the “ axis-fibres,” or of the “ medullary fibres” by which it is pervaded. As regards the blood-vessels, the author has nothing par- ticular to remark. After these general histological observations, the remainder of the paper is occupied with a full and minute description of the structure of the spinal chord and brain, in which will be found much highly interesting information. Il. “ The Histology of the Semicircular Canals and the Otolite-Sacculus of the Frog,” by Dr. C. Hasse. In this paper we have a very minute and detailed account of the structure of the parts in question, and a comparison between it and that of the same tissues in the Mammalia and birds. III. “On the Egg of the Ephemeride,” by Dr. H. Grenacher. The author describes certain appearances observed by him in ova, procured from the larve of a species of Ephemera. The ova in question, about 0°27 mm. in length, by 0:12 mm. breadth, were furnished at either end with a semicircular appendage. These appendages were of a reddish-brown QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 89 colour, and formed rather more than half a sphere. Two distinct portions might be discerned in them, an outer, con- sisting apparently of radiating rods or fibres im close apposi- tion, and a basal portion of a solid homogeneous substance, forming a short stumpy peduncle. The author observes that these polar appendages doubtless correspond with those noticed by Leuckart in the ova of three other species of Ephemeride: Palingenia horaria, Oxycypha luctuosa, and O. lactea ; and which were described by that observer as constituted of adherent masses of sper- matozoa, struggling to enter the micropyle. Dr. Grenacher, however, has traced the gradual formation of these appendages from the ovarian ovum, and shows clearly enough that they are not of the nature assigned to them by Leuckart. He farther describes other curious appendages which arise to the number of from eight to twelve in two circular zones from the source of the ovum. When fully developed, they consist of an elongated filament composed of excessively delicate fibrils, from four to six times as long as the ovum, and supporting at the extremity a globular capitulum, which seems to be fashioned something like a suctorial acetabulum. He regards these processes as serving to fix the ovum upon foreign bodies, and consequently terms them “ anchors.” IV. “ Contributions to the Anatomy of Enchytreus vermicu- laris,” by Fritz Ratzel. This paper contains— 1. A description of a special pharyngeal system of nerves, corresponding apparently with the visceral nerves in various other annelids. 2. On the structure and development of the receptacula seminis. The author is inclined, with M. Claparéde, to look upon these organs, and consequently upon their homologues in the earth-worm, as representing a portion, at any rate, of the “segmental organ,” and so far to agree with the views of the late Dr. Williams. » affinis » fulgens Tabellaria flocculosa Terpsinoé musica *Tetracylus lacustris Triceratium arcticum 105 Test-Diatoms.—When one speaks of “ test,” how is it possible that Navicula affinis and N. rhomboides can be con- founded? These diatoms do not resemble each other in any way, either in form or in the fineness of their striz. Navicula affinis is always distinguished by the line or nervure which runs along the margins of the valve, which is gently contracted towards its extremities, and the ends of which are rounded off. The striz, though difficult to resolve, are much less closely packed (46°60 in -001”) than those of N. rhom- boides. Different authors, however, have described and drawn VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. H 106 MEMORANDA. the one for the other. The opticians often give to N. affnis the name of N. amici, no doubt because this diatom was the favourite test of that able micrographer. WN. affinis is also confounded with the N. gracilis, N. rhombica, N. cuspidata, &c., in such a way that it is sometimes difficult to recognise them. I have said that the two diatoms in question ought not to be confounded. In fact, whilst the N. affinis, with the elliptic valve, is pinched up towards its ends, it is quite other- wise with N. rhomboides, which has a nearly quadrangular form, and the ends of which are lanceolate. The striz of this diatom (85 in ‘001”) make it a test of the first order. What astonishes me is that certain authors of consideration, such as MM. Arthur Chevalier, Henri Van Heurck, Heinrick Frey, and many others, have not given to the diatom, which they describe as the N. affinis, or test of Amici, its real name. Lastly, it appears that M. de Brébisson, the able French micrographer, in a new work, which he is preparing on the diatoms, has dedicated to one of these authors, M. Henri Van Heurck, a genus Vanheurckia, which ought to com- prise N. rhomboides, crassinervis, cuspidata, ambigua, collet. viridum, and vulgare Perhaps this will preserve us from the approach of complete confusion.—Movcuet, Rochefort-sur- mer. Corethra plumicornis.—The note on the Bibliography of this interesting insect and its larve, which appeared in the Notes and Correspondence of the October number of the ‘Journal,’ in which number, also, Professor Jones’s paper appeared, should have been signed ‘‘ T. Rymer Jones,” since it was sent for publication to the Editors by that gentleman. Note on a Proposed Form of Condenser.—By the intersec- tion at right angles of two equal and similar half-cylinders, whose flat sides are in the same plane, a solid is formed, which is represented in the accompanying figure. MEMORANDA. 107 Were such a solid made of glass, and placed below the stage of the microscope, with its square side uppermost, rays entering its curved surfaces in directions parallel to the axis of the instrument would all be focalised into two lines, or narrow spaces, intersecting each other at right angles. The light would increase in intensity towards the centre of the field. By stopping off a diagonal half of the square side I think that a form of illumination would be obtained well adapted for exhibiting at the same time the longitudinal and transverse lines of Pl. fasciola, Nav. rhomboides, &c.— Witiram Rosertson, M.D., Edinburgh. Fiddian’s Metallic Chimney. At the last meeting of the Royal Microscopical Society Mr. C. Collins exhibited a novelty in the way of a chimney, shade, and reflector com- bined for the microscopist’s lamp. The chimney is very light, being made of thin copper, and without a seam, there- fore not likely to open out or crack with any amount of heat COLLINS’ FIDDIAN METALLIC CHIMNEY. that may be applied; the inside is coated over with a material of intense whiteness. An aperture is left in one side, as shown in the woodcut, for the insertion of a circular piece which carries a thin glass, either plain or tinted, through which the rays of light are emitted in one direction only. The durability, and consequent economy of such a constructed chimney, setting aside other qualities, is a recommendation of no small importance. 108 MEMORANDA. Cheap Achromatic Microscopes. Referring to the last edition of Beale, ‘ How to work with the Microscope,’ I note that on page 10, paragraph 15, Mr. Salmon and Mr. Highly are stated to have been the first in London to bring out a good and cheap Achromatic Microscope. I take it that this remark does mean to confine itself exclusively to London ; if this be so, I beg to inform you that this is by no means correct. My late partner and friend, Mr. A. Abraham, brought out as early as 1841 a very efficient instrument, with two sets of achromatics as powers, these last (the powers) being made by Nachet of Paris, and of which (complete in a case with apparatus) great numbers were sold at £8 retail. J am glad to be able to send you a lithograph of this instrument, with full description, printed at the time named. Upon the principle of awarding honour to whom honour is due, I shall be glad if you will insert this in your forthcoming number.—Geroree S. Woop, 20, Lord Street, Liverpool. “Slide-Cell,” or new Live-Box for Aquatic Objects. In the ex- amination of these objects, which from their numbers and variety are conveniently classed under the term “ pond life,” I have felt the want of some apparatus which would confine ~ them within a limited space, and yet afford means of watch- ing their habits and processes of development. After em- ploying the different patterns of live-boxes, troughs, &c., which have been recommended, I have found none more useful or better adapted for practical observation than the “ slide-cell,” and which, for the benefit of my fellow-micro- scopists, I briefly describe. By reference to the drawing it will be seen that the ap- paratus can be manufactured for a few pence, and this is, of course, a recommendation. Figures 1 and 2 are plan and section views of the “slide- cell.” A is a glass slip 3 x 1, in the centre of which a circular or oval well is “ punted” out in the usual manner. B is a thin elass cover, to one end of which is attached, by shellac or other cement, a brass disc, C, having a frilled edge. A hole is drilled through one end of the slip A, and also through the centre of the dise B. Through these holes is passed a stud pin D, which has a small head at the lower end, the other end being tapped to receive a small nut, E. A thin washer of leather is placed upon the stud D, between the dise and the slip to ensure a proper bite. By unscrewing the MEMORANDA. 109 nut E the disc B, and with it the thin glass cover, may be removed for the purpose of cleaning, or for attaching a fresh cover in the case of breakage. On moving the disc and cover FIG.| Dh Lannie il Seal NaN ia teeaaranintananmasentn ren aside, as shown in fig. 1, the object, with a sufficient supply of water, can be readily introduced; some care, however, is required in doing this, but dexterous management of the dipping tube will suffice to disperse all air-bubbles.—THomas Currteis, F.R.M.S. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Royat Microscopicat Socrety. January 8th, 1868. James GuaisHyr, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. THE minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. The Prestprenr reminded the Fellows that the Library of the Society, at King’s College, is open for their use, together with the collection of objects, microscopes, &c., on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p-m.; on Wednesdays in the evening only, from 6 to 10 p.m. ; and on these days Mr. Walter W. Reeves is in attendance as Assistant-Secretary, Librarian, and Curator. The following presents were announced, and thanks voted to the respective donors. Presented by Nine Slides of Test Objects ; : . Mr. Lobb. Journal of Linnean Society. : ; . The Society. Journal of Society of Arts ; : . Ditto, Journal of Geological Society ‘ . Ditto. Proceedings of Essex Institute, U. s. : - The Institute. Intellectual Observer. ; 3 . The Publisher. Land and Water (weekly) : : . The Editor. Popular Science Review . : . The Publisher. Photographic Journal —. The Editor. Martin’s Lectures on Natural and Experimental Philo- sophy . H. Lee, Esq. A Book containing a large collection of Original Drawings, and a Cabinet of Slides of 1031 : Dr. Wallich. In bringing to the notice of the Society the ae of Dr. Wallich, the President characterised it as a splendid present bestowed in the most handsome way. He remarked upon the great scientific value of the collection of slides, which was much enhanced by the MS. and drawings which Dr. Wallich bad sent with them. It would be the anxious desire of the Council to devise plans by which the valuable labours and original researches of Dr. Wallich, as represented in the objects, drawings, and MS. should be put to the best uses for the advancement and for the honour of their generous donor. The Presipent having read a letter from Dr. Wallich, which accompanied this valuable gift (see his Address, p. 67), proposed a special vote of thanks to Dr. Wallich, which was carried by acclamation. The following gentlemen were duly elected Fellows of the Society :— Alfred James Puttick, ; H. Ramsden, M.A. Professor Ruprrt Jones, F.G.S., then read a paper “On PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. dala b Recent and Fossil Bivalved Entomostraca.” (See ‘ Trans.,’ p. 39.) This was followed by a discussion. The Prestpenr remarked upon the high degree of interest which microscopists felt in the organisms to which Prof. R. Jones had called their attention. Mr. Siack observed that, in certain specimens of Artemia salina obtained during the season at Hayling Island by Mr. Burr, he had noticed the presence of groups of crystals, apparently uric acid, in their intestines, and suggested that it would be advisable to ascertain if similar products were to be found in other Ento- mostraca. Mr. Haun said that he had not been able to find any crystals in the specimens of Artemia he had examined. Mr. Hoae observed that the presence of urate of soda or urates in some form might be suspected in such animals. ANNIVERSARY MEETING. February 12th, 1868. JamMeES GuaisHeER, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The following presents were announced : Presented by British Journal of Dental Science . : . The Society. Photographic Journal. : : . The Editor. Land and Water (weekly) P ; . Ditto. Journal of Society of Arts - : . The Society. Naturalists’ Note Book, 1867 : ; . The Editor. Annual Report of Surgeon General, U.S. . . Surgeon General. Journal of Quekett Club : . The Club. The Student, No. 1 The Publisher. A Case containing selected Catalogues of Philosophical Newton Tomkins, Instruments ~ Esq Five Slides of Stagshorn i in section, with the Blood in them Thos. White, Esq. Twenty-four Slides of Indian Bat Hairs : W. M. Bywater, Esq. John Dawson, Esq., was elected a Fellow of the Society. The ballot was taken for the election of Officers for the year ensuing, when Mr. Stewart and Mr. Ladd, having been appointed pebaiincers’ declared the election to hen fallen « on the following gentlemen: President James Glaisher, Esq., F.R.S, &e. Vice- Presidents. W. B. Carpenter, M.D., ¥.B.S., &e. Arthur Farre, M.D., F.R.S., &e. The Rev. J. B. Reade, M.A., F.R.S., &e. G. C. Wallich, M.D., F.L.S., &e. Treasurer.—C. J. H. Allen, F.L.S., &e. Secretaries. H. J. Slack, F.G.S. | Jabez Hogg, F.L.S. 112 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Council. Charles Brooke, M.A., F.R.S. Ellis G. Lobb, Esq. H. C. Bastian, M.A., M.D., &c. | Richard Mestayer, Esq. W. A. Guy, M.B., F.R.S. John Millar, Esq., F.L.S. James Hilton, Esq. Major S. R. I. Owen, F.L.S. W. H. Ince, F.L.S. Thomas Sopwith, M.A., F.R.S. Henry Lee, F.L.8. & GS. F. H. Wenham, Esgq., C.E. The Auditors presented the Treasurer’s Report for the past year. (See ‘Trans.,’ p. 59.) The Cabinet and Library Committees duly presented their Reports, which were read and ordered to be entered on the Minutes. (See ‘Trans.,’ p. 55.) The Prestpent then delivered his Annual Address, which he was requested to print for distribution among the Fellows. March 11th, 1868. J. B. Reavz, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. The following presents and purchases were announced : Presented by A Photographic Portrait of Prof. Bell, F.R.S., framed and glazed. : : A . T. Bell, Esq. Journal of Society of Arts : : . The Society. Land and Water (weekly) : ‘ . The Editor. Journal of Dental Science : : . Ditto. Journal of Linnean Society ; : . The Society. Photographie Journal. 5 : . The Editor. The Student, No. 2 : ‘ : . The Publisher. Formation of so-called Cells in Animal Bodies. Ed. Montgomery s - : . Dr. Murie. American Patent Office Reports, 4 vols., 1863-4 . Commissioners of Patents, U.S. Quekett’s Histology, vol. 1. : : Thomas White, Esq. Five Slides of Hippuric Acid : : . Ditto. The Annals of Natural History. . ; . Purchased. A Monograph of British Entomostraca, by Norman and Brady. ; : é . Ditto. Johnston’s History of British Zoophytes. 2nd edition . Ditto. Darwin's Origin of Species. 4th edition : . Ditto. The Variations of Animals and Plants under Domestica- tion, Darwin : : : . Ditto. The presents to the Society included a series of nine slides, with models of the jaws and rotatory apparatus of a Rotifer, from the Rey. Lord S. G. Osborne; a very valuable and complete series of preparations of bones and teeth, numbering 424 slides, from Mr, Joseph Beck, to whom a special vote of thanks was moved, and carried by acclamation; a first-class binocular microscope with glass shade had been purchased of Mr. Baker, of Holborn, who had agreed to supply it at a price which made it partially a present. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 113 Mr. Beck’s Cabinet was accompanied by a letter addressed to the President, in the following terms: My DEAR Str,—I beg to offer for the acceptance of the Royal Micro- scopical Society a collection of bones and teeth made by me many years ago, when Professor Quekett was preparing for the publication of ‘ Part II Histo- logical Catalogue. The collection contains 424 specimens, and is pretty nearly complete. it originally formed part ofa collection in our Microscopical Subscription Room, and the slides have on them a monogram, which, however, by a liberal interpretation might be considered to imply Royal Microscopical Society. Iam so much occupied in business that I am but seldom able to look at them, and therefore I have ventured to offer them to the Society in the hopes that they may be useful.—Believe me, dear Sir, yours sincerely, Jos. BEcK. A gentleman, through H. Lee, Esq., engaged to present the Society with a complete series of objects, illustrating some special department of microscopy, to the extent of £20, hoping thereby to induce others who may have the means, to aid in fully furnish- ing the cabinet of the Society. The following gentlemen were duly elected Fellows of the Society: — Edward Thompson Draper, Arthur Waller, John Wheldon, Alfred Sangster, Wm. Barnett Burn. Mr. Stack called attention to a microscope which Mr. Crouch, of London Wall, had kindly sent for the Society’s inspection. It was a new modification of his “ Cheap Binocular,” as it was termed in his catalogue, and was fitted up with a very excellent rotatory stage of black glass, slightly modified from the form constructed by Nachet, and which Dr. Carpenter had highly commended. The rotation movement resembled that of Beck’s well-known popular microscope. ‘The object-holder was fitted to a glass plate, and moved very smoothly on the glass stage in any direction, being kept in its place by ivory points attached to brass springs, pressing upon it with sufficent force. This form of stage was adapted to all ordinary requirements, but when zoophyte troughs were used it did not give quite enough vertical motion. It was, however, easy to add to the instrument a simple trough-holder, which would obviate the difficulty. The instrument as a whole was well worthy of attention, and decidedly one of the best of the cheaper forms. Mr. C. Coxnrys introduced a new metallic chimney for micro- scope lamps, made by him for Mr. Fiddian, of Birmingham. The interior of the chimney is coated with plaster of Paris, and it emits a beautiful white light, in one direction only, through a circular aperture in the metal, to which a flat piece of glass is attached. The combustion appears to be more perfect than it is with the ordinary glass chimneys. The opaque sides of this chim- ney act as a screen, intercepting all rays excepting those actually required for use. A paper was read by Dr. Cortryewoonp, F.LS., &c., “On the Algz which cause the Colouration of the Sea in various parts of the World.”’ (See ‘Trans.,’ p. 85.) A discussion followed the reading of this paper, in which the 114 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. PresrpEnt, the Rev. J. B. Reapn, Dr. Waxuicn, and Mr, Hoce joined. ‘ Dr. Watiicu was fully able to confirm the valuable observa- tions of Dr. Collingwood, having had opportunities of examining and figuring the organisms referred to during voyages to and from Bengal, in the years 1851 and 1857. Although, in common with Dr. Collingwood, he had never witnessed the blood-red colour, ascribed by some writers to the occurrence of minute alge in the waters of the ocean, he had on many occasions, during protracted calms, seen the normal clearness modified to a considerable extent, and indeed tinged of a yellowish or greenish-yellow hue by in- numerable minute protophytic masses, in some cases consisting of structures allied to the Trichodesmium* of naturalists, in others of true Diatomacese. The former occurred in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, and were met with from 18° N. lat. to nearly 30° S. One form, probably similar to that spoken of by Dr. Col- lingwood, presented itself in minute spherical masses, about ',th of an inch in diameter, composed of filaments radiating from a common centre, each filament consisting of cells, about twice as broad as long, placed in linear series, and filled with a pale yellowish-green endochrome. ‘The other form occurred in fasci- cular clusters, like minute bundles of faggots, from 5th to ',th inch in length, compressed or constricted at the centre of the masses, and from the centre spreading out into brush-like expan- sions. In this variety the surface of the filaments was covered with very delicate hairs, but in other respects the filaments and cells were not distinguishable from those in the spherically-aggre- gated form.t The Diatomacez alluded to belonged to the genera Rhizoselenia and Coscinodiscus. The Rhizoselenia occurred in dishevelled tufts, varying in diameter from half an inch to an inch and a half, without any regular arrangement, and looking, whilst floating in the water, like flocculent tufts of delicate yellow silk. The indi- vidual filaments were of great length, being formed sometimes of a series of from twenty to forty frustules. It was whilst examining these in the fresh and living condition that Dr. Wallich found what he believes has not heretofore been noticed, namely, distinet connecting zones, which were wanting to prove the true diato- macean nature of the Rhizoseleniz. These connecting zones are extremely hyaline, and require most careful manipulation and lighting to render them visible under the microscope. They embrace the corresponding halves of adjoining frustules, are devoid of all striation, and from their very delicate nature are at once rendered invisible, or become actually destroyed, on submitting the organisms to the action of acids. Another notable character in this Rhizoselenia is afforded by the manner in which * See the translation of a paper by M. Dareste, published in Vol. III, N.S8., 1863, of the ‘ Societies’ Transactions,’ p. 1180. + Both forms are figured in the Volume of Sketches which Dr. Wallich had recently presented to the Society. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 115 the minute claw-like appendage at the apex of each frustule is inserted in a corresponding depression on the bevelled surface of the frustule with which it was in apposition, as if with the view to give additional support at the point of union of adjacent frustules. From the profusion in which these flocculent masses of Rhizo- selenia occur, and their rapid accumulation to a greater and greater extent so long as calms prevailed, it seems probable that at some depth below the surface they may form considerable layers; and this view is further borne out by the fact that the digestive cavities of Salpz and certain other oceanic Hydrozoa are at times found almost entirely filled with the frustules. On the Atlantic side of Africa Dr. Wallich captured salpe in chains, numbering from half a dozen to a score individuals, each five or six inches in Jength, the digestive sacs of which, measuring nearl three quarters of an inch in diameter, were completely distended with this organism only. Dr. Wallich wished to draw attention to this fact for another reason, namely, that it would indicate the possession by these humbly-organized beings of a power to search for and pick out from amongst a variety of free floating microscopic alge a par- ticular form; unless it be assumed (which is far from probable) that, having incepted a single frustule, this retains the faculty of growth and multiplication within the cavity in which it becomes imprisoned. Dr. Wallich invited the attention of those who have oppor- tunities of carrying on microscopic investigations at sea to the influences (whatever they may be) which cause the minute alge of the open ocean to rise at certain periods to the surface, and again to descend to unknown depths. He suggested that atmo- spheric pressure, or the more ready transmission of light and heat during calm weather, might produce the effect, but pointed out that the question is still an open one, and well calculated to repay any labour bestowed upon it. To show how little is really known of the extent to which animal life is capable of being carried on under the widely-varying pressures occurring near the surface and at great depths, he mentioned having repeatedly seen large turtle “caught napping” at the surface in the Bay of Bengal, several hundreds of miles away from the nearest point of land, and where the sea was many hundreds of fathoms in depth. These turtle must necessarily descend to the bottom to feed, if they feed at all. Healso drew attention to the circumstance that their carapaces were studded with minute living alge, diatoms, and foraminifera, the latter belonging, in some instances, to sessile families, such as the Miliolide. The Coscinodiscus referred to, and which has been described and figured by Dr. Wallich under the name of C. Regius,* is pro- bably the largest known diatom, the frustule measuring 54th of * One or more mounted specimens will be found in the Cabinet presented to the Society. 116 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. an inch in diameter. Like the minute tufts already spoken of, it was met with in countless myriads, during calms, in the Bay of Bengal ; its size and the brilliant tint of the endochrome enabling the frustules to be readily observed at a height of several feet above the surface. ‘Two frustules were generally found still ad- hering together after division had taken place. Dr. Wallich finally mentioned having, in 1859, seen Cosci- nodiscus present in great profusion, and under similar circum- stances as to weather, around the Channel Islands. Mr. Hoge thought it a remarkable circumstance that those with large opportunities for making investigations of the curious bodies which give colour to the waters should have seen nothing of “the blood-red colour” spoken of by some authors. Neither was it so certain that Cohn’s more recent investigations served to clear up “the mystery” which surrounds similar freshwater colorations, such as Mr. Sheppard’s “monad colouring matter.” To any one who had the opportunity of making an examination of this peculiar fluid it certainly did not appear quite possible to be- lieve it to be “identical with that which Cohn calls ‘phycocyan.’” The Rey. J. B. Reap, in proposing a vote of thanks to Dr. Collingwood, alluded to the value of the paper as a record of the personal and accurate observations of the author. Some who have written largely on the subject are indebted entirely to the observations of others, and these being cemented with a certain amount of imagination paste, yield a report of no substantial value. Of such inaccuracies the author justly complains. Mr. Reade referred to a paper in the ‘Phil. Trans.’ for 1772, by Captain Newbold, of the “ Kelsall,’ who described the appearance of the sea near Bombay as milky white, owing to an innumerable quantity of animalcules, perceptible to the naked eye. He also observed, with reference to the Red Sea, that Dean Stanley states, in his work on Palestine, and as a result of personal observation, that forests of submarine vegetation and red coral reefs gave the whole sea its Hebrew appellation of the “sea of weeds,” and that these coralline forests form the true weeds of this fantastic sea.* He referred also to the testimony of the late Captain Newbold, who describes the waters as marked with annular, crescent-shaped, and irregular blotches, of a purplish red, extending as far as the * In Ii Book of Kings, chap. iii, an account is given of the rebellion of the Moabites against the reigning kings of Judah, Israel, and Edom. Elisha had received a Divine intimation that though they should not see wind, neither rain, yet that the valley should be filled with water. ‘* And it came to pass in the morning, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. And the Moabites gathered all that were able to put on armour, and stood in the border. And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood. And they said, Zhis is blood : the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now, therefore, Moab, to the spoil.’ |The Moabites were thus deceived by this appearance and their, perhaps, not unnatural conclusion. They came ac- cordingly to the camp of Israel, and the Israelities rose up and smote them. od PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 117 eye could reach. They were curiously contrasted with the beau- tiful aquamarina of the water tying over the white coral reefs. “The red colour I ascertained,’ says Captain Newbold, “to be caused by the subjacent red sandstone and reddish coral reefs. A similar phenomenon is observed in the Straits of Babel Mandeb, and also near Suez, particularly when the rays of the sun fall on the water at a small angle.” Pliny speaks of the Red Sea asa vast forest: “ Rubrum mare et totus Orientis oceanus refertus est sylvis.” Sandstone and granite lend the strong red hue which is connected with the name of Edom. It is described by Diodorus Siculus as of a bright scarlet hue, and is represented in legendary pictures as of a bright crimson. We are thus supplied with sufh- cient reasons for the colour of the Red Sea without assigning it wholly, as some have done, to red alge, which Dr. Collingwood never saw. The nature and effect of what he did see is admirably described, and we are greatly indebted to him for his communi- cation. Dr. Murte read a paper “ On the Arrangement and Classifica- tion of Microscopie Objects in Cabinets.” The Cuarrman observed that the views brought forward by Dr. Murie were well worth attention, and oe be valuable in assisting the Council to rearrange the Society’s collections. He suggested that, as the subject was of a very technical character, and required mature consideration, it might be advisable to post- pone any discussion upon it. The best thanks of the Society were offered to the respective authors of these papers. QurKkeTrt MrcroscorrcaL Crus. December 27th, 1867. Mr. Artuur E. Duran, President, in the chair. Mr. N. Buresss read the concluding portion of a paper on “The Wools of Commerce, Commercially and Microscopically considered.” Mr. Bocxetr called attention to a form of live-box, in which he exhibited some Acari under a microscope. Specimens of Stephanoceros, Conochilus, and some sections of wood, were distributed. Eleven members were elected. January 24th, 1868. THE PRESIDENT in the chair. Mr. M. C. Cooxs read a paper on “‘ The Hair of Indian Bats,” which he illustrated with numerous diagrams and mounted speci- mens which he afterwards presented to the club. Eleven members were elected. February 28th, 1868. The PrestpEnT in the chair. Dr. T. F. Purley, of U. 8S. America, was introduced to the 118 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. meeting, and he exhibited an American objective of ~; power constructed for use on the immersion principle or otherwise. Mr. Histor read a paper entitled “ Some Suggestions on Oblique Illumination.” Mr. Draper read a paper “On the Proper Application of the Microscope by Amateurs.” Three members were elected. March 13th, 1868. The annual conversazione was given at University College, under the presidency of Mr. Durham, when the entire suite of rooms, comprising the noble library, Flaxman Hall, Shield Room, museum, and a dark room for the exhibition of the oxyhydrogen lantern was thrown open, and a numerous company of members and their friends assembled on the occasion. Various objects of interest were exhibited by the members. They were well supported by the leading opticians, who vied with each other in the introduction of attractive novelties. Some beautifully-executed photographs, a large collection of diagrams, electric apparatus, fish-hatching contrivances, micro-spectroscopes, stereoscopes, &c., greatly promoted the success of the evening. Dustin MicroscopicaL Crus. 17th October, 1867. Mr. ARcHER desired to record and to exhibit some examples of the zygospore of Closteriwm costatum (Corda) for the first time seen conjugated. The zygospore, as for this form might be a priori pre- dicated, is large, broadly elliptic, smooth, and placed between the for some time persistent, empty parent-cells, quite like the similar condition of Closteriwm striolatum. Mr. Archer likewise showed a Closterium new to this country, Closterium cynthia (De Notaris), if, indeed, he were right in the identification, which, without original authentic specimens, is, of course, open to some amount of uncertainty ; yet at the same time, in the present instance, he did not feel much doubt. This species has only just been published by De Notaris in his ‘ Elementi per lo Studio delle Desmidiacee Italiche’ (p. 65, tab. vil, fig. 71), and it is well distinguished amongst the much curved forms by the cell- wall being striolate, not smooth. It is, moreover, marked by having but a solitary, somewhat large granule in the middle of the terminal space, not a cluster of minute ones. It at once catches the eye by its peculiar curvature, differing from that of the much curved forms at all liable to be mistaken for it ; it is not so equally arched, and the ends are more rounded and blunt than in them; in fact, it is not so graceful a form as C. Leibleinit or C. Diane, which it seems most to approach in size ; it comes nearest C. Jennert in outline, but is a good deal larger. But from all these, as before mentioned, it differs in being striolate, not destitute of markings. Along with these specimens occurred a variety of other Closteria, PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 119 more or less closely related, but all perfectly distinguishable from each other. Rev. E. O’Meara showed some new diatoms, descriptions of which will hereafter appear. Mr. Archer exhibited specimens of three seemingly distinct forms of an organism, not any of which are by any means uncommon in moor gatherings, but at the same time seemingly not recorded in this country. One of these seemed to be referable to Monas conso- ciata (Fresenius), as figured in his ‘ Beitrage zur Kenntniss mikro- skopischer Organismen,’ which Mr. Archer exhibited (Pl. X, fig. 31). This formed minute, but variously sized mucous patches of a colour- less, semipellucid, somewhat granular appearance, the substance not forming, however, a uniform mass, but flattened and gradually expanding branches, arranged in a radiate or fan-like manner, some- times, indeed, almost forming a complete circle. The arms or branches (often several times irregularly divided) more or less ex- panded, toacertain extent in a staghorn-like manner, from the base upwards, or, if forming a circular mass, from the centre outwards. Immersed within the gelatinous granular substance, and seated close to the upper outer margin or extremity of the mucous branches, occur more or less numerous greenish, uniciliated, monadiform bodies, whose flagella wave about in the water. Occasionally this radiate or ramified appearance of the basic gelatinous substance seemed to be more obscure, and thus was a certain amount of homogeneity and a more uniform appearance produced. And in such instances the resemblance to the figure given by Fresenius is greater. The form here alluded to presented tufts or masses vary- ing in size. ‘The second form shown is of equally pale colour, and is ordinarily far smaller in mass and of an evenly rounded outline, without evident arm-like extensions; the centre of the almost disc- like mass is apparently less dense than the outer portion, and more granular in appearance, and the “ monads”’ are located more evenly and equidistantly from the centre, in an annular manner; and as one looks into the microscope, when present, these organisms render themselves noticeable by this ring-like appearance. The third form drawn attention to is of varying size in tle mass, but often seems to reach dimensions not attained by either of the others, and it seems distinguishable from them by its red or brown colour and more dense character ; the mass of indefinite figure, often more or less lobed, but without the expanded arm-like or branch-like character of the first. Seated all over the periphery are the “ monads.” The ciliary motion of the monads in specimens sufficiently small, and thus not impeded by being confined, imparts a, generally indeed very limited, locomotive power to the total “colony.” When seen side by side these three forms seemed to offer very tangible differ- ences, but he would leave them for further observation before he would venture to speak more decidedly as regards them. 21st November, 1867. Dr. John Barker exhibited a Chytridium, which, so far as could 120 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. be made out, is doubtless a new, and certainly a very distinct, form. This, when first detected, was found growing on Closteriwm didy- motocum, but the specimens now presented were upon Hremosphera viridis. This Chytridium, when fully formed, is globose, but beset all round by numerous minute, hyaline, acute, short, spine-like pro- cesses, one of these, somewhat longer than the rest, occupying the pole or summit, whilst a few smaller than this, but notably longer as a rule than those irregularly placed over the surface, stand out equatorially ; the young cells are without these little spinelets ; and when these become first manifested the polar one is the most pro- minent, and those equatorially disposed lend, along with it, some- what of a halbert-shape to the growing Chytridium. A root, or mycelium-like process, seems to penetrate into the infested plant. Dr. Barker had not seen the evolution of zoospores. For this seem- ingly very marked form in this curious little genus he would propose the name Chytridium spinulosum. Mr. Archer desired to place on record the occurrence, for a second time, of Chytridium Barkerianum, ejus; and again, from Callery Bog, and, as on the first occasion, growing upon Zygnema. It had occurred exceedingly sparingly ; but there could be no doubt what- ever but that it was one and the same thing as the form he had first brought forward (see Minutes of 20 Sept., 1866), and a very marked and distinct form in this genus, and seemingly rare. Mr. Archer likewise desired to record the occurrence of Cosmo- cladium saxonicum in the same gathering from Callery Bog; the first Irish specimens were from near Carrig Mountain. This appears an exceedingly sparing plant when met with. Mr. Archer exhibited some fine examples of an organism taken from Callery Bog, which he thought he would be justified in identi- fying as Synura uvella, Ehr. ‘This occurred tolerably plentifully along with several other pretty things, such as Pandorina morum, a few specimens of Goniwm pectorale, various Desmidier, &. They formed a very pretty sight, slowly revolving under the microscope. Carter has claimed Synura as some state of development of Volvox globator. Quite irrespective of its seeming complete difference in structure, Mr. Archer thought that one very strong argument against that assumption was that the present specimens, at least, were taken from a station (Callery Bog) which had never yet pro- duced Volvox globator, and he would venture to hazard a conjecture that it never would be found there. Volvox occurs in the Rocky Valley, some hundreds of feet lower down than Callery ; but it cer- tainly has never yet presented itself, after repeated searchings, so high up as the top of the Long Hill. Neither has it ever shown itself in Featherbed Bog. Parenthetically, then, he thought he might put the query, possibly not without its interest—At what elevation does Volvox cease? It does not appear to be an alpine form in its distribution. But further, Synura appears to be quite different in structure from Volvox, and quite different in colour too, being of a yellowish dull colour, in place of a bright herbaceous green, Unlike Volvox, the individual monad-like structures are uni- PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Tet ciliated, and they are prolonged below into a slender stipes-like posterior extremity, all these running towards a common point in the centre of the colony. These filiform stalk-like prolongations seemingly divide with every self-division of the bodies at the peri- phery, being sometimes simply forked, at others divided into four, each upper extremity bearing one of the monad-like structures, thus presenting a certain amount of parallelism with the algal genus Dictyospherium. Nay, the resemblance is thus greater to Uvella, or even to the forms brought forward at last meeting, one of which was doubtless the same thing as that called Monas consociata by Fresenius. The organism now shown, believed to be nothing else than Synura weella, ditfered, indeed, from MWonas consociata by the far less dense character of the mucous matrix, and by the tail-like or stalk-lhke terminations, and by the far more active motion of the total colony. But, notwithstanding these resemblances, the orga- nism now brought forward was clearly, @ priori, quite a distinct thing 7 itself from either Monas consociata, Uvella, or Volvox, or Pandorina, or from the so-called Spherosira Volvox ; and it is hard to see how so very distinct structures as the Synura and all these could be evolved the one from the other. It is satisfactory, until further research is bestowed on these organisms, to see that Diesing keeps them separate (‘ Revision der Prothelminthen,’ p. 377), for it does not seem justifiable to consider such forms as Synura as not autonomous merely on suspicion, for whilst volvocinaceous plants without doubt pass through very remarkable phases, Mr. Archer would venture to think that Synura hardly seems truly volvoci- naceous at all. Rev. E. O’Meara reported that certain diatomaceous materials submitted to him for examination by the Club had been investigated by him with the following result : No. 1, from the Geysers, Iceland, contained several species of Epithemiz, including H#. Argus, E. ocellata, E. zebra, and E. Westermanit. No. 2, fossil earth from New Zealand, transmitted by our corre- sponding member, Captain Hutton. This material was most interesting, containing peculiar forms of Melosira and Achnanthes in great abundance. Whether these species are new or not, remains for further investigation. No. 3, from Calcutta. This gathering contains Pleurosigma reversum (Greg.) in considerable abundance. The form was de- scribed by the late Dr. Gregory in his paper on the Clyde forms. Only four specimens were found by him, and in all cases the striz were so faint that he was unable to ascertain their character. In these specimens from Calcutta the strie are distinctly marked and transverse. Dr. Alexander Dickson exhibited embryos of Pinguicula vulgaris and P. grandiflora. He pointed out that the embryos of these species agreed in having only one cotyledon, but that they presented marked differences by which they might readily be distinguished from each other. In P. grandiflora the base of the single cotyledon almost VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. I 1k Co 2 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. completely surrounds the axis of the embryo; while in P. vulgaris there is a considerable interval between the two halves of the base of the cotyledon, exposing the extremity of the axis of the embryo or rudimentary plumule. In P. grandiflora, again, the extremtiy of the cotyledon is constantly and deeply bifid, while in P. vulgaris it is almost constantly entire, Dr. Dickson having only seen two or at most three cases, out of a large number of embryos, where the cotyledon was more or less divided at its extremity. Dr. John Barker showed examples of a Mallomonas (Perty), probably M. Plésslii (Perty), and referred to the copy of Perty’s figure given in Pritchard. Mr. Archer ventured to think there might be two forms con- founded in this genus, as the figure given by Fresenius (which fortunately he happened to have brought down with him) agreed much better with Dr. Barker’s specimens than did Perty’s figure ; the latter is stouter and broader, being broadly egg-shaped, whilst that of Fresenius and the present form is much narrower, and might be designated as oat-shaped. Rev. T. G. Stokes exhibited some pretty and interesting Diatoms. He remarked that it was very difficult to grasp the idea that the genera and species of the angular forms of Diatomacez did not depend upon the number of angles. He thought that at present, so far as he knew, the basis of induction for this theory was rather narrow, though the curious and bizarre forms of Triceratium variabile, throwing out, as they do, angles in every direction, formed a most important link in the evidence. It is no small confirmation of a theory if, assuming it to be true, and arguing from the seen to the unseen, we are enabled to explain known or predict the discovery of unknown phenomena, and that our views are justified by the result. He begged to direct the attention of the meeting to what he believed to be a ease of this kind. In October, 1865, the late Dr. Greville published a paper in which he said that he believed the Amphitetras parallela of Ehrenberg to be a quadrangular form of Triceratium, although the triangular form had not yet been discovered. Mr. Stokes then exhibited a specimen authenticated by Dr. Greville of the quadrangular form, and a form which he (Mr. Stokes) believed to be truly the triangular form of the same species. Both were from the Moron deposit. Mr. Roper, of London, however, thinks it to be a small form of Zriceratiwm giganteum. Mr. Stokes likewise showed a curious form which was discovered by Mr. O’Meara to consist of two frustules of Brddulphia aurita, united by a perfectly transpareut band of silex, leaving a fenestra-like opening in the centre. December 19th, 1867. Mr. Archer exhibited a Difflugia which occurs in the moors about Carrig and Callery, and yet not very commonly, but which he had long noticed, and would now refer to Difflugia oblonga (Ehr.), Fresenius ; and he showed the figure given by Fresenius in his use- ful paper, ‘ Beitraége zur Kenntniss mikroskopischer Organismen,’ PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 123 1858. This form seems quite distinct and constant; it is compara- tively but a small form, and the test of a reddish or foxy colour, and broadly elliptie figure; the foreign particles are impacted with beautiful regularity, so that the mosaic work presents a very even external surface; there is a short but distinct neck, of a smooth appearance and darker colour, seemingly without particles and undulate at the opening, presenting thus a few shallow lobes. This is a quite distinct looking form, its reddish colour and even outline causing it to be readily detected even under a moderate power. Dr. John Barker exhibited excellent characteristic examples of the very minute but seemingly very distinct and constant little rhizopod to which he had first drawn attention at the Club meeting February, 1867 ; but on that occasion he had not a specimen to show. This is exceedingly minute, nearly orbicular or broadly elliptic ; from two opposite points there emanates a tuft of filiform pseudopodia ; and in the body of the organism is immersed an oil- like refractive globule of an orange or amber colour. The tufts of pseudopodia have been here alluded to as opposite one another, but they are not diametrically so, being always placed slightly oblique to one another. There are, of course, two positions of the organism as regards the observer, when the tufts of pseudopodia might present the appearance of being exactly opposite, but a partial revolution of the organism shows that they are not really so. Dr. Barker showed some examples with the pseudopodia retracted, and their place occupied seemingly by a minute globular, hernia-like, sarcode pro- trusion ; other examples showed neither pseudopodia nor this little globular protrusion, but in their place a little depression, pointing to the existence of a kind of coat or cuticle, with two minute aper- tures for the emission of the pseudopodia. For this creature Dr. Barker would propose the name of Diplophrys (nov. gen.), and would call it Diplophrys Archert. Mr. Archer, in reference to Dr. Barker’s new rhizopodous form, said that, so far as he could venture to form an opinion, it should be relegated to a new genus, although, supposing it has a test, it might be thought by some to appertain to and form a second species in his own rhizopodous genus Amphitrema. But Diplophrys would be to Amphitrema in some measure as Cyphoderia or Euglypha to Pseudodifflugia (Schlumberger), or as Arcella to Difflugia, which he thought as yet to be well founded as distinct generic types, not- withstanding the views of some that all these are but extreme varieties of one and the same protean rhizopod. Nothing could be more distinct and constant, per se, than Dr. Barker’s little Diplophrys. Mr. Archer had several times met with it since Dr. Barker first pointed it out, and it was always readily recognisable when encountered, even when its pseudopodia were not extended ; but its great minuteness well calculated it to elude observation, unless it accidentally presented itself under a comparatively high amplification. Dr. Robert M‘Donnell exhibited some specimens of the entozoon known as the Zrichina spiralis, met with in the muscle of man, 124. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Dr. M’Donnell observed that the life history of this worm had been well worked out by German investigators. Existing, suppose, in the muscle of a mouse in what is known the encapsuled state, it remains, and seemingly would always remain, in the larval condition. If this mouse, however, is eaten by a cat, the encapsuled larval Trichine get into the intestinal canal, and there grow, and their sexual development becomes complete. They have offspring, which, while still very small, penetrate the wall of the intestine, migrate through the body, and finally take up their abode in the voluntary muscle of the cat, there to remain until it, in its turn, falls a prey to some flesh-eating animal. Dr. M’Donnell exhibited several pre- parations showing the minute worm coiled up within its capsule in the muscle, and also taken out of the capsule by dissection. Mr. Archer once more ventured to show Conochilus volvox, in fine condition ; but this would not be worthy of another record, except to mention that the numerous specimens to be seen were taken irom under ice some three or four inches in thickness (during the late brief and sudden frost), which had to be smashed with a heavy stone, after some labour, before a gathering could be made. More- over, the specimens had been nearly three weeks in the house, whilst sometimes in warmer months they had disappeared ere as many days. As it is sometimes thought that fine objects of inte- rest are not to be had in winter, this reference to this striking rota- torian may not be thought wholly uninteresting. Dr. Alex. Dickson exhibited the “ Protonema” of Schistostega osmundacea, showing the curious structure presented by the confer- void filaments giving off here and there a globose cell, which, in its turn, gave off by constriction strings and clusters of similar cells, each eventually cut off from its neighbour by a septum, thus originating an almost fruit-like structure. To the presence of these globose cells, which contain chlorophyll, is due the peculiar green lustre presented by this moss. Dr. Moore had taken this pretty little moss in Yorkshire, and had it under successful cultivation. Dr. Dickson further showed the unicellular hair-like roots from the thallus of Marchantia. These were seen to present the remarkable character amongst vegetable cells of possessing a secondary internal deposit, in the form of minute spine-like processes extending into the cell-cavity. It sometimes seemed as if these ran in a spiral direction, and occasionally the whole filament assumed a kind of spiral twisting, to use a familiar illustration, comparable to that of a stick of barley sugar. Dr. Hofmeister mentions a somewhat similar form of deposit in the hairs of the reiated genus Riccia, as well as Marchantia, to which Dr. Dickson referred. BIRMINGHAM AND Mripianp INstTITurer. Tue Second Annual Dress Conversazione of this institution was held in the Town Hall, Birmingham, on Wednesday evening, December 4th, 1867. The invitations to this meeting are PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 125 issued to those gentlemen only who are annual subscribers to the institute (of whom there are about 1000) and to ladies. The number present was upwards of 1100, and the spacious hall soon after the commencement of the proceedings presented a very animated appearance. We do not remember, in our some- what extensive experience of provincial microscopical soirées, having before noticed so large a number of people devote their attention solely to the microscopes for the greater part of the evening. Altogether, whether regarding the number of instruments exhibited, their character, or the appreciation of them shown by the company, the success of the display must have been highly gratifying to those gentlemen who have had the care and labour of making the arrangements. One of the gentlemen, on whom a large share of this labour fell (Mr. Thos. Viddian), exhibited and explained the use of the Sorby-Browning micro- spectroscope. This delicate instrument received a large amount of attention and admiration. Those portions of the floor of the hall which were not available for the display of microscopes, were placed at the disposal of Mr. C. J. Woodward, B.Sc., who had charge of the display of scientific apparatus. There, among many interesting objects, a collection of apparatus including Maxwell’s stereoscope and Graham’s polytrome, lent by Messrs. Elhott of London, an ice machine in operation, lent by the Wenham Lake Ice Company, a cylinder printing press anda pantograph, both in operation, were exhibited. A lithographic press was kept pretty constantly at work in printing copies of a drawing which had been reduced from its original size by means of the pantograph. Mr. Woodward also exhibited a, to us, novel arrangement for showing experiments with sensitive and singing flames. In the galleries we noticed some beautiful photograms trom Dr. Maddox’s nega- tives, a case of exquisite casts from the same by Woodbury’s process, and an extremely valuable collection of burettes for the purposes of volumetrical analysis, lent by Mr. J. How of London. Mr. Wheeler showed a large collection of microscopic objects and cabinets. Among its many objects of attraction, a set of models in operation showing Mr. Lewis Jones’ method of regulating clocks by electricity formed an interesting exhibition. The re- mainder of the space in the galleries was occupied by photograms, specimens of drawings produced by the new process of grapho- typing, a curious collection of books printed by Baskwills, some admirable stereoscopes and graphoscopes provided by Messrs. Murray and Heath and local makers, and a costly and exceedingly beautiful collection of enamels and jewellery from the respective establishments of Messrs. Elkington and Messrs. Randel, both of which are calculated to uphold the reputation of Birmingham for art metal work. 126 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Roya Coxiiece of Surceons, Hunter1an Lectures on the Invertesrata. By Prof. T. H. Huxley, F.R.S. (Abstract.) Lecture 1.—Having treated of the vertebrata in previous courses, there remained for consideration the rest of the animal kingdom known as Invertebrata. Professor Huxley remarked that the line between Vertebrata and Invertebrata was very definite. There are no links leading m any way from any of the great groups of Invertebrata to the Verte- brata. It must not, however, be supposed that the Inver- tebrata are equivalent as a group to the Vertebrata: they are a much larger and more various assemblage. ‘The Inver- tebrata cannot be limited so sharply at the other end of the scale, viz., where they approach plants. The higher plants are very broadly distinguished from the higher animals. Plant-cells (using the term “cell” without prejudice) are surrounded by cellulose—a non-nitrogenous substance. No animal cell ever presents this. By this prison-wall of cellu- lose, all undoubted plants are prevented from exhibiting locomotive processes. For the same reason no plant takes solid nutriment. All the higher plants are manufacturers : they have the wonderful power of uniting carbonic acid, water, and ammonia, to form protein compounds. Plants alone are known to possess this power of making “ vital matter.’ All animals on the other hand (omitting the debateable organisms) exhibit the reverse action of breaking down and using up this vital matter. But when we come to the lowest forms of life, these tests of animality and vege- tability fail us. Cienkowski has recently shown that those well-known forms called monads lose their cilium and become amcebiform, taking in solid nutriment lke undoubted animals. But soon they become enclosed in a cyst of cellulose (by its reactions), and become coloured with chlorophyl. In this stage they are no less undeniably plants. The mass enclosed in the cyst breaks up into four or more pieces, which in due time become again the animal-like monad. This case and many similar examples have led many naturalists to abandon altogether the attempt to make a sharp line between plants and animals. Not only do the morphological tests fail, but also the physiological ;. for many fungi we know require to be fed | on organic materials. Professor Huxley believes that opinion has long been tending to this, that Man and the magnolia are but extreme terms of a continuous series. This must by no means be understood as implying development from a common stock; that is quite another question, and does not affect the facts. Other naturalists have proposed a group of neither plants nor animals—a sort of ‘no-man’s land” to PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 127 receive the doubtful forms. Ernst Hackel, of Jena, proposes to form such a group with the name Boose In it he includes the following ine Moneres. 2. Protoplasta. 3. Diatomea. 4. Flagellata. i eee ees 6. Noctiluce. 7. Rhizopoda. 8. SUR as Professor Huxley spoke most highly of Hickel’s recent work on the ‘General Mor- phology of the Organism,’ but he could not agree entirely with this grouping of the lower animals and plants. Proto- plasta, Noctilucee, Rhizopoda and Spongiade, he considers are certainly animals. Diatomea he regards as plants on account of their mode of nutrition and reproduction. Flagel- lata (Volvox Euglene, &c.) have only their lashing cilia in common with animals: the Myxomycetes (fungoid growths occurring on old tan and trees) are more doubtful. Anton de Barry’s researches have shown that they have an ameba stage, in which they take solid nutriment; but their mode of reproduction (by spores) places them among plants. Professor Huxley would admit the Moneres alone as intermediate ground: one of these beings, Protogenes, described by Hackel, is the simplest bit of living matter possible. It is clear and jelly-like, without any nucleus or contractile vesicle, and actively spreads its pseudopodia over the minute particles it feeds on. Its existence proves the absence of any mys- terious power in ‘‘ nuclei,” and shows that life is a property of the molecules of living matter, and that organization is the result of life, not life the result of organization. By using such a group as Protista we only double our difficulty, for we have to define it as well as plants and animals. All our classi- fications are very transitory, and are almost matters of sub- jective inclination. The important thing is the facts. You may have three sorts of classification : ist, Logical, which is very useful and desirable, but is artificial ; it consists in mark- ing off groups by sharp differentiation. 2nd, Gradational, one in which more attention is paid to resemblance than difference, and in which the gradation of formsis exhibited. 3rd, Genetic, which is the only one that can be final; in such a classifica- tion the relations of the various forms of life in their origin and descent would be exhibited. Professor Hulxey adopts the following grouping of Invertebrate animals : A. Protozoa. 1, Monerozoa; 2, Protoplasta; 3, Radiolaria; 4, Spongiade. B. Infusoria. c. Annuloida. c. Coelenterata. p. Annulata. p. Molluscoida. gr. Arthropoda. E. Mollusca. He thinks a gradation can be clearly pointed out from 128 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. the Protozoa through the Infusoria, and succeeding groups to the Arthropoda, whilst a similar gradation is trace- able from the Sponges, through Coelenterata to the Mollusca. The break, however, is very great between Sponges and Coelenterata. No hypothesis is imvolved in this: it is simply a matter of fact. The probability of genetic relations Pro- fessor Huxley did not propose to discuss. Lecture 11.—The Foraminifera were considered in this lec- ture. They may be placed as a group among the Monerozoa, containing, as they do, some of the very simplest forms of life. One of the simplest of Foraminifers is Gromia—a jelly-like mass, with extensive pseudopodia enclosed in a small horny shell. Some Foraminifers have more or less calcareous matter in place of this horn; and in Carpenteria, a very remarkable encrusting form, siliceous spicula exist, leading on thus to the Sponges. Some Foraminifera have an arenaceous shell, built up of particles of foreign matter cemented together, instead of an excreted one, and the arenaceous species exactly repeat in many cases the forms of the calcareous ones. By the aggregation of a number of simple chambers, such as that of Gromia or Orbulina, a great variety of forms may be produced; and it is in this way that many of the simpler Foraminifers are constructed. If the chambers grow one out of the other so as to leave a space between the adjacent walls of succeeding chambers, we get the interstitial canals of such genera as Operculina. If in addition to this the chambers completely enclose their predecessors as they develop—leaving at the same time an interval between the adjacent walls—we get the complicated structure of Nummulina. It is found that the most distinct-looking forms of Foraminifera—helicoid, globular, cylindrical, &e.— run into one another by completely gradated series, and hence the old classification of them by the form of aggrega- tion has been abandoned. Carpenter, Parker, and Rupert Jones have shown the impossibility of drawing such fine distinctions, and in some cases have demonstrated that fifteen genera of D’Orbigny are but varieties of a single “ species ”’ or type. The group is now divided, first, into Imperforata and Perforata, according as the shell-structure is whole or perforated by minute canals, through which the sarcode sub- stance of the animal passes in every direction. The Imper- forata includes three families: the Gromida, the Miliolida, and the Litwolida. The Perforata also presents three families : the Lagenida, the Globigerinida, and the Nummulinida. The Gromida, all have a membranous or horny shell ; the Milhio- lida have a porcellanous calcareous shell; the Lituolida repeat the Milliolida forms, but in arenaceous instead of calcareous PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 129 substance. The Lagenida are perforate, but present no inter- stitial canals—the Globigerinida are said to have coarse per- forations and interstitial canals—whilst the Nummulinida present perforations and interstitial canals as well as that peculiar mode of growth already mentioned. Professor Huxley, having had occasion to examine Glodigerina himself, states that he does not find the coarse perforations, but the surface presents a series of prismatic outgrowths which might mislead as to their presence. No distinctions of genera and species can be made at all satisfactorily in the Foraminifera. They present great linked and unbroken assemblages of forms. With regard to geographical distri- bution, all the larger species are found in the warmer oceans. Their geological distribution is more interesting. In the Laurentian rocks of Canada, below the great Cambrian series, once called Azoic, Sir William Logan found a struc- ture which Dr. Dawson of Montreal had the great courage to declare organic. This was the Hozoon, which is fairly proved to be an encrusting Foraminifer, such as Carpenteria in its habit, and not unlike Nummulina in structure. In the Lower Silurian beds Ehrenberg detected Foraminifera by internal casts of the chambers of their shells in silicate of iron, which formed a sort of greensand. The shells them- selves were dissolved away. In the Trias they are found, and thence abound in all strata to the present time. But in all this series there is no change in structure or inform; the species appear to be identical; in the chalk, at any rate, Globigerina abounds, as it does in the grey chalk now found in the bed of the Atlantic. This is an exceedingly significant fact. The bed of the Atlantic is a vast plain, covered by some 16,000 feet of water; the chalky matter now depositing there is made up of Globigerina, curious little bodies which Professor Huxley called Coccoliths, and five or six per cent. of Radioloria and Diatomez. Whence do they come? Pro- fessor Huxley believes that the Globigerinze live and die at the bottom; but the Radiolarians float while alive at the top, and sink when dead. Vast deposits are made up in the same way as the bed of the Atlantic. The great Nummulitic form- ation belonging to the Eocene period stretches from south England to India, and is made chiefly of the remains of the large Foraminifer Nummulina. The chalk presents exactly the same species as the Atlantic bed, and Mr. Sorby has detected in it even the little Coccoliths found in the Atlantic sea-bed. The siliceous organisms in the chalk have been in great measure dissolved and redeposited in cracks, seams, and cavities ; it is they, in fact, which have furnished the chalk- flints. VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. K OBITUARY. JOHN HEPWORTH, M.R.C.S. Died, 28th January, John Hepworth, M.R.C.S., at Croft’s Bank, near Manchester, set. 62, after a brief illness. Three days before he had been explaining a fine celestial microscope to a few friends, and seemed then much in his usual health, complaining, however, of spasms, He was a pupil of Mr. Jordan, of Manchester ; then studied at the Middlesex Hospital ; commenced practice in 1827. His published communications all appeared in the ‘ Quart. Jour. Mic. Sci.’ as follows: “On the Foot of the Fly,” Vol. II, 1854; two short additions on the same subject in Vols. III, IV, 1855—56 ; * On the Mandibles of Acari,” Vol. 1V; “ Practical Use of the Microscope’’ (in Medicine), Vol. V ; a more extended article on the same subject, with the title “On Compound Nucleated Cells,” in the same year; in Vol. V, N.S., appeared a paper “On the (Micro- scopic) Structure of the Horse’s Foot.” Mr. Hepworth’s collection of microscopic objects, most of which were mounted by himself, exceeded in number any other collection in Britain. These are now in the possession of his son, Mr. Francis Hepworth, M.R.C.S., of Eccles. The use of transparent carmine injection, after the model of the beautiful ones imported from the Continent, had received much attention, and a great deal, both of time and money, had been given to it with fair success. For some time before his death Mr. Hepworth had devoted much time to the examination of polarized light; he had intended shortly to give the results of his researches to the public. Unfortunately his ideas on the subject are not committed to paper. Mr. Hepworth was always ready to impart information to those whom he thought capable of appreciating it. His lectures at the Mechanics’ Institutions in his neighbourhood were invariably well attended. He was a man of genial disposition, and a great favourite with all who had the privilege of intercourse with him. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Nospert’s Test-PLAtTeE and Mopern MIcroscopsEs. By CHARLES STODDER. (From the ‘American Naturalist,’ April, 1868.) Every possessor of a first-class microscope wishes to know what his instrument is capable of doing. To the practical worker it is a matter of much importance, for when the utmost power of his instrument is exhausted he will know that it is a waste of time to endeavour to see more. One of the desirable and important properties of a microscope is the power to show or “resolve” very fine lines grouped together, e.g. the striation of the frustules* of the Diatomaceee. For the purpose of testing the resolving power of the microscope, the lines ruled on glass by EA. N obert, of Barth, Pomera- nia, have long been admitted by experts as the best known test, not only in consequence of their exceeding fineness, but also because they are ruled to a known scale, and because they are so close that physicists have asserted that it is im- possible that they ever can be seen, Nobert himself being in this category ; and all trials of these plates, except those to be herein mentioned, have resulted in alana to resolve the finer lines of these plates. The Nobert test is a series of groups of parallel lines ruled on glass thus ||\\\| |\\\||, each succeeding group being finer than the } preceding one. Different plates have a different number of groups, ruled to different scales. The one used by Messrs. Sullivant and Wormly (‘ American Journal of Science,’ 1861) has thirty bands or groups, the coarsest having its lines ,,';, of a Paris line apart, and the finest being =,;; each group or band being about ~,, of an English inch in width, and the whole thirty occupying a space perhaps a * A frustule (Z. frustrum, a fragment) is one of the fragments into which diatoms separate. VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. L 132 STODDER, ON NOBERT’S TEST-PLATE little more than =, of an inch. Now it is a difficult matter for the mind to appreciate such minute divisions of space, yet it is essential, in order to estimate a little of the difficulty of seeing such lines, to form some idea of their minuteness. ‘The average diameter of a human hair is about ;),, of an inch, yet in a space of only one half as great in the coarsest band of the Nobert plate there are seven lines, while in the 3Uth band tlfere are forty-five. The plate which I have used in the trials to be detailed was made in 1863. It has nineteen bands, the first being ruled to +;'55 of a Paris line, and each band increasing by five hundred, so that the 19th is ;~1,,. The following table gives in the second column the frac- tional part a Paris line* between the lines of each band; the third column, the decimal part of a line as marked on the plate by Nobert; the fourth, the number of lines to an Eng- lish inch; the fifth, the number of the band in a thirty-band plate corresponding in fineness. Corresponding Porinine Decimal of Lines to Eng- _No. of Sullivant % Paris line. lish inch. and Wormly’s plate. 1. 1-1000 1001 11,240 Ist 2. 1-1500 000633 3. 1-2000 0005 22,480 4. 1-2500 0004 Dd. 1-3000 000333 6. 1-3500 7. 1-4000 ‘00025 44,960 8. 1-4500 9. 1-5000 0002 56,200 15th 10. 1-5500 11. 1-6000 000167 67,622 20th 12. 1-6500 13. 1-7000 000143 78,737 25th 14. 1-7500 — 84,400 . ld. 1-8000 ‘000125 90,074 30th 16. 1-8500 ‘000117 96,234 17. 1-9000 ‘000111 101,434 18. 1-9500 000105 107,167 19. 1-10000 ‘000100 112,668 Has human art ever made an instrument capable of ren- dering lines 112,000 to an inch visible? If not, is it possi- ble to do so? Is there anything in the laws of light which renders it impossible to see lines so close, and therefore * One Paris line = ‘088815 of the English inch. AND MODERN MICROSCOPES. 133 renders useless the labours of the optician to improve his in- struments beyond a certain point? and, as a corollary, is it decided that it will be useless for the naturalist to try to investigate the structure of tissues beyond what the best existing instruments have shown? It must be borne in mind that the power of seeing a single object is not the question, but the power of distinguishing two or more objects nearly in contact. The problem is exactly the parallel of that of the power of the telescope of separating double stars. A brief sketch of what has been done and what opinions on the problem have been expressed by eminent microscopists and opticians is essential to a full understanding of the question. Professor Quecket, in 1855, asserted that “no achromatic has yet been made capable of separating lines closer together than the = 1, of an inch.” ‘ Mr. Ross found it impossible to ascertain the position of a line nearer than = 1, of an inch.” “Mr. De la Rue was unable to resolve any lines on Nobert’s test-plate closer than ,1,, of an inch.” Dr. William B. Carpenter, in his work on the micro- scope, published in 1896, says, ‘‘ Even the +z objective will probably not enable any band to be distinctly resolved whose lines are closer than =,1,, of an inch. At present, therefore, the existence of lines finer than this is a matter of faith rather than of sight; but there can be no reasonable doubt that the lines do exist, and the resolution of them would evince the extraordinary superiority of any objective, or of any system of illumination, which should enable them to be distinguished.” In his second edition, issued in 1859, Dr. Carpenter repeated the same remarks, but substituted sston for — 455, and then added, ‘‘ There is good reason to believe that the limit of perfection (in the objective) has now been nearly reached, since everything which seems theoreti- cally possible has been actually accomplished.” In the third edition, 1862, he again alters the figures to ;,1,,, but adds nothing more. On the other side the late Professor J. W. Bailey claimed to have seen lines as close together as =;,!;,; to the inch, and Messrs. Harrison and Solitt, of Hull, England, claimed to have measured lines on the diatom Amphipleura pellucida as fine as 120,000 to 130,000 to the inch, and expressed the opinion that lines as fine as 175,000 might be seen with proper means. To determine, if possible, the truth between these conflict- ing opinions, Messrs. Sullivant and Wormly (‘ American Journal of Science,’ January, 1861) made an exhaustive trial of one of these ‘ marvels of art.” They state that the opti- 134 STODDER, ON NOBERT’S TEST-PLATE eal apparatus at their command was ample; it included a Tolles’ ;!; objective of 160° angular nei e—an object of rare excellence in all respects—besides ; sl; and =}; objec- tives of other eminent opticians.” They were able to obtain an amplification of 6000 diameters. ‘The plate contained thirty bands, as previously eesuuicule “Up to the 26th band (;;{45) there was no serious diffi- culty in resolving and ascertaining the position of the lines ; but on this and the subsequent ones, spectral lines, that is, lines composed of two or more real lines, more or less pre- vailed, showing that the resolving power of the objective was approaching its limit. By a suitable arrangement, how- ever, of the illumination, these spurious lines were separated into the ultimate ones on the whole of the 26th, and very nearly on the whole of the 27th band (,,4,;); but on the 28th, and still more on the 29th, they so prevailed, that at no one focal adjustment could more than a portion of the width of these bands be resolved into the true lines. The true lines of the 30th band we were unable to see, at least with any degree of certainty. “These experiments induce us to believe that the limit of the resolvability of lines, in the present state of the objective, is wellnigh established,” and they draw the conclusion, ‘that lines on the Nobert’s test-plate, closer together than about 37 Opo 59 of an inch cannot be separated by ‘the modern objective.” Although the paper of Messrs. Sullivant and Wormly was republished i in the ‘ Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science,’ in London, and might be considered as being a challenge to the opticians and microscopists of Europe to show what they could do in resolving the test-plate, yet no report can be found of any attempts to resolve the lines until 1865, when Max Schultze (‘ Quart. Journ. Mie. Soc.,’ January, 1866) described the Nobert plate of nineteen bands, and gave the results of his trials for resolving them. ‘ ‘The highest set he has been able to define with central illumina- tion is the 9th, which is resolved with Hartnack’s immersion No. 10, and Merz’s immersion system z+. With oblique illumination he has not been able with any combination to get beyond the 15th.” It will be seen by reference to the table that Schultze saw finer lines than Sullivant and Wormly. ‘This is the only report we can find in print from Europe. In this country we find no published results; but Mr. R. C. Greenleaf, of Boston, and the writer were well satisfied that they saw the lines 90,000 to the inch with a AND MODERN MICROSCOPES. 135 Tolles’ + in 1863, and the next year Mr. Greenleaf saw the same lines, unmistakably, with a Tolles’ -;. Dr. J. J. Wood- ward, of Washington, in a communication to the ‘ Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science,’ London, October, 1867, p- 203, states that with monochromatic light, and Powell and Lealand’s =',, 2;, and +4; objectives, a Hevtaaee immer- sion, No. 11, anda Wales 4, with amplifier, he satisfactorily resolved the 29th and 30th bands of Nobert’s test-plate. In a letter to the writer written since, Dr: Woodward: informs me that the plate used was the same one used by Sullivant and Wormly, as the 30th band was the finest on that; the result did not show that finer lines could not be seen. Dr. Woodward informs me that, since writing that paper, he has received a Nobert plate with the nineteen bands, and that the covering glass was too thick for the =, objective, but with all the others he was able to resolve the 17th band (101,000 to the inch); the 18th and 19th he was unable to resolve. Dr. Woodward has sent to me a photograph of the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th bands, taken by Dr. Curtis with the Powell and Lealand ~;. In the photograph the lines of the 16th and 17th bands may be counted with some difficulty, but if the whole band is copied, or if the bands are of the width of = 3,, of an inch, there are not lines enough. The lines of the 18th and 19th bands cannot be counted in the photograph. From this it will be noticed that Dr. Woodward has resolved finer lines than any other observer had yet seen, so far as report gives us any informa- tion. My esteemed correspondent, M. Th. Eulenstien, of Stut- gard, Wirtemberg, writes to me, under date of Dec. 17th, 1867, *“T have myself resolved the 14th band with a ++, Powell and entaad, and also, but less unmistakably, with No. 11 Hartnack’s immersion, with oblique light.” ‘¢ Nobert him- self has never seen with his highest powers higher than the 14th.” ‘This will show you the Continental state of affairs.” Mr. R. C. Greenleaf and myself have lately tried several objectives, and the result is appended below.* * Wales’ + ang. ap., 140°, B eye- ee pone 475 diam., alight oblique ; . 8th band. Hartnack’s immersion No. 10 = za ang. ‘ap. 155°, power 1062, B eye-piece, light ee : elOthy . 5 Nachet’s immersion No. 6 = 548) arene ‘sunlight oblique . Suh Nachet’s immersion No. 10 = sp B eyes piece, ‘sunlight central . 9th ,, Nachet’s immersion No. 10 = sy B eye piece, ‘sunlight oblique . . ; ‘ alQthy 3 136 STODDER, ON NOBERT’S TEST-PLATE With Tolles’ | immersion, angular aperture 170°, B eye- eee: power 550, Mr. Greenleaf and myself both saw the 19th band satisfactorily, Thus being probably the first ever to see lines of 112,000 to the inch, ay establishing the fact of the visibility of such lines, contrary to the theory of the physicists. (It should, however, have been mentioned in the proper place that Mr. Eulenstien says that Nachet claims to have seen them by sunlight recently, which claim needs some confirmation, as his No. 10 failed so completely in my hands.) In the present month (January, 1868), Dr. F. A. P. Barnard writes to Mr. Greenleaf, that he had tried several objectives, naming a Spencer ‘5 and ;'z, a Tolles’ =; and 4 3 a Wales 1, and a Nachet Be ea No. 8, equal to a +5 “The Spencer ;'; and the Nachet 5 broke down at abba the 11th or 12th band. With the ene I ee ae far as ten, or perhaps eleven bands. With the Tolles’ 4 1 T made out distinctly ten.” In another communication he says, “'The highest band I can count is the 16th.” In a more recent letter to the writer Dr. Barnard gives the count of the lines on a portion of his plate, corresponding as nearly as could be expected to figures given in the table up to the 14th; but the 16th band he could not count satisfactorily, different attempts giving varying results. It has been said that the resolution of the lines to the eye implies the ability to count them, but this I think is a fallacy; a few lines of a group may be counted correctly, and then it becomes difficult to identify the line last counted and the one to be counted next. Let any one try to count the pickets in a fence, when the pickets are distinctly visible, say at a distance of 100 or 150 yards, he will find this difficulty almost insurmountable. In the micro- scope the micrometer is an aid in counting, but in counting lines of such exquisite fineness either the micrometer or the stage must be moved, and it is next to impossible to construct apparatus that can be moved at once +3355 Of an inch and no more. It would require the genius and skill of Nobert himself to do it. These trials show conclusively that it is not the great Tolles’ immersion 3, ang. ap. about 160°, to power about 800, sunlight central . Sth band. Tolles’ immersion 4, ang. ap. about 160°, B eye- piece, power about 800, sunlight oblique ote Tolles’ immersion ;35, ang. ap. about 160°, B eye- piece, petroleum, light oblique . : ; Lothar Tolles’ immersion j5, on another occasion T saw the . loth ,, a AND MODERN MICROSCOPES. 137 power of the objective that is important (for in many of the trials here reported the lower powers have given the best results, and the Tolles’ + immersion the best on record), but it is the skill of the optician in making the instrument. Mr. Greenleaf has just tried (February 7th) an immersion objective by Wales’ ;!,. He resolved the 10th, 11th, and 12th bands perfectly ; the 13th was doubtful. Another trial of the Hartnack No. 10 resolved the 15th band perfectly— the 14th doubtfully. I have since tried the Wales’ objective dry, and resolved the 13th band well, thus doing what Mr. G. did with it in water; the inference must be that Mr. G. did not obtain its best work. Norse.—Since the foregoing was written Dr. Barnard has made more trials, and I am well satisfied that he has seen the 19th band with a Spencer ;4 and Tolles’ +, both dry objectives. ‘This performance fairly surpasses anything yet done, either in this country or Europe. Dr. Barnard writes (Jan. 29), that he found that the counting of the lines was attended with the very difficulties referred to above, in addi- tion to which there is another trouble, the whole width of a band is not in perfect focus at once; this necessitates a slight change of focal adjustment, and any change renders it ex- tremely difficult to fix, even with the cobweb micrometer, the exact line last counted. He made five counts of the 19th band with the ~,, namely— 1. 110,592 to the English inch. 2 NOS240) =. B Sa lS iat) =: Pp = 1063226) .- 3, af G, ALTD ATA: ,. ai Mean, 110,820 __i,, = The number, according to Nobert, is 112,668. He counts for the 15th, 91,545; Nobert, 90,074. ‘Though there is apparently considerable discrepancy between the count and Nobert’s figures, yet I consider it as near as can be reason- ably expected when all the difficulties are appreciated. Besides, it must be remembered that Dr. Barnard gives as above the number of lines to an inch, not the number actually counted. The «actual number in the 19th band should be 56:5, if the band is exactly =); of an inch, a variation of two lines each way covers the extremes of his counting. 138 STODDER, ON NOBERT’S TEST-PLATE, ETC. English and American opticians name their objectives (i. e. the lens or lenses placed next the object, that next the eye being the eye-piece) from their magnifying power— thus a } inch objective has the same power as a simple lens of + inch fecus. Continental European makers generally distinguish their instruments by numbers, the higher num- bers indicating higher powers; but as each maker has his own system, the actual power of an instrument must be ascertained by trial. Instruments also often differ from their names, and they cannot generally be depended on. The theoretical power of a microscope is measured from an arbitrary standard of ten imches—thus, a one inch is said to magnify ten diameters; a 4 inch, forty diameters. If the standard is taken at five inches, as it is by some, then the “power” is but one half as much. The “ power” of the microscope is that of the objective multiplied by that of the eye-piece; if the objective magnifies ten diameters, and the eye-piece ten, the result is one hundred diameters. Angular aperture is the angle in the surface of the front lens, at which light will enter the objective—the greater the angular aperture, the more light, and usually the greater resolving power. An amplifier is an achromatic combination inserted in the compound body of the instrument to increase the ‘‘ power” of the objective and eye-piece. Immersion lenses have lately attracted great attention, though they were made by Amici many years since. The objective is immersed in water—that is, there is a film of water between the front of the objective and the object, or the thin glass covering it. ‘The effect is a great increase of light, and better definition. 139 New Specizs of DiAroMAcE®. By F. Kirton, Esq. In the previous number of this Journal, the Rey. E. O’Meara has charged me with carelessness, and thinks if I had read his papers with greater attention I should have expressed my doubts of the genuineness of his new species more cautiously. I have, mherelore! read them again, in order to apologise for any misrepresentation, and correct any errors. I find two or three mistakes; viz., Cocconeis divergens should have been C. clavigera, the remarks on Navicula pellucida ought to have preceded the passage quoted by the Rey. E. O’Meara. I have also madvertently made him the author of Raphoneis liburnica, whereas he is only respon- sible for the variety. With these exceptions, I really find nothing to retract. At page 91, the Rev. E. O’Meara says: ‘‘ How inapplicable are some of Mr. Kitton’s observa- tions on dredging to the forms found by me in the dredgings from Arran.” I find, on referring to his first paper, he says, “ this material was procured from depths varying from ten to thirty fathoms,”’ &c. I do not think, therefore, I was unjustified in assuming that his material was similar to others procured from like depths, and which, in almost every case, consist of sand, animal and vegetable débris, and valves of diatoms. My copy of the ‘ Microscopical Journal’ in which his first paper appears has no description of the figures. I therefore assumed that the figures were magnified 600 diameters, as that was the degree of amplification more frequently used in the second paper. I do not find the number of diameters stated in the text. If the Rev. E. O’Meara refers to the text of his first paper, he will find Navicula pellucida is fig. 2; and fig. 2 in the plate is the form which, I think, resembles Navicula pandura much too closely to entitle it to rank as a new species.* N. denticutala is fig. 3 in text. I am still unconvinced of the specific distinctness of Surirella pulchra and S. gracilis, or that they differ sufficiently from S. data to warrant their separa- tion from that species. I am willing to admit that a re- markable difference exists between the figures of S. pulchra and S. gracilis; viz., the crenulate margin; ale are also wanting, but as these differences are not noticed in the text, I am inclined to doubt the correctness of the figures, and * N. denticulata of the text. is frequent in the so-called ‘“ Corsican moss.” VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. M 140 KITYON, ON DIATOMACES. suppose the crenulations represent the undulations of the alee, and that the margin of the valve is not shown in the figure. °Mr. Roper, at page 17, vol. viii, of this Journal (Campy- lodiscus productus), says: ‘“ The markings and canaliculi on most species of Surirella are subject to considerable varia- tion, and afford no good grounds for specific distinction.” Professor W. L. Smith, who has long studied the habits of living diatoms (quoted by Dr. Lewis in his valuable paper on ‘‘ Extreme and Exceptional Variations of Diatoms’’), says: ‘When I find Navicula amphirynchus congregating, and producing Navicula ferma, Stauroneis gracilis producing S. Phenicenteron, and Surirella splendida S. nobilis, quite different in ca and striation, I cannot but doubt the propriety of making new species out of every different Form AND MARKING Eupodiscus excentricus J still refer to Coscinodiscus minor* of Kutzing (not of the synopsis), and, after a careful examination of many specimens from various localities, I find the excentric areolation precisely as figured by the Rev. E. O’Meara, and in he majority of cases a circle of obtuse spines may be easily seen. I do not, however, find any with what I suppose to be an abnormal marginal development, as shown in FE. excentricus. The Rey. E. O’Meara says, that a careful consideration of the figures and descriptions of Raphoneits Jonesit and R. Moorit would convince that Mr. Kitton’s opinion, that they are identical, is untenable. ‘‘ The sculpture in the two forms exhibits a greater diversity in structure than is considered sufficient in other forms to mark diversity of species.” I have carefully compared the figures, and to me the sculptur- ing seems to be precisely the same in both forms ; take away the margin, and it would be impossible to distinguish one from the other. I saw that the description did not accord perfectly with the figure, but as it was nowhere stated that the figure was erroneous, I had no means of knowing which was correct. The suggestion that Raphoneis Archerii might be the upper valve of Cocconeis clavigera is not so difficult to comprehend when the structure of the genus Cocconeis is understood ; the difference between Raphoneis Archerii and Cocconeis clavigera is not greater than that between the upper and lower valves of Cocconeis Grevilli. Stauroneis rhombica, n. sp., O’M., appears to resemble Stauroneis apiculata of D. Greville (in ‘ Edinburgh New * This may possibly be the small form of C. excentricus figured in the ‘Synopsis.’ a ee ——————————— ee KITTON, ON DIATOMACEZ. 141 Philosophical Journal,’ July, 1859) much too closely to warrant its separation from that species. The Rey. E. O’Meara remarks, “ that our department of science has been embarrassed by an excessive nomenclature must be obvious to every experienced observer. ‘The evil is traceable in some considerable degree that the descriptions of species are not as comprehensive as might be.” Surely the reason why they are not so, obviously arises from the circumstance of so many new genera and species being constituted from unique or rare specimens, and until the system of making new species of scarce forms is abolished, this evil will continue. Before a species can be correctly described, it is necessary to see it in a living condition, and, if possible, its sporangial form. A botanist, before he published a new species, would require to see more than a few leaves. In conclusion, I venture to quote two or three authorities whose opinions are of infinitely greater weight than mine. Dr. Berkeley (in the preface to his ‘ Cryptogamic Botany ’) says: “So long as essential characters are neglected, and fleeting external characters put in their place, difficulty must needs exist, and the student will never be certain that he has come to a correct decision till he has seen an au- thentic specimen, or compared his own with that of other botanists, as manifested in extensive herbariums. A state of uncertainty is always one of more or less pain, and the temptation to a solution of the difficulty by the supposition that he has made a new discovery present such attractions as to appear insurmountable. Nor will he find it possible, without that mental discipline which arises from a patient study of every detail of structure, and of the various shapes which organs may assume under different circumstances. The great “point in all cases is never to describe from single or imperfect specimens, where there is some form evidently very closely allied. A proposer of bad, ill-defined species is no promoter of science.” Another acute observer (Dr. G. A. W. Arnott), whose knowledge of diatoms is perhaps superior to that of any other observer of those forms, says, in his paper on ‘ Rhabdonema” (vol. vi, p. 87, of this Journal), “‘ That it is better not to publish a new species, or give it a name, than to do so from scanty or imperfect material, which leaves both genus and species doubtful. Even now I have some hesitation in writing on the subject, as my views are diametrically opposed to those who consider it necessary to give names to forms which to the eye appear distinct, butwhich have not structural differences sufficient for 142 KITTON, ON DIATOMACEZ. a specific character; and this alone entitles them to be acknow- ledged and referred to by others.” And again, at page 106, “Microscopical differences are by themselves of little im- portance. To see is one thing, to understand and combine what we see is another. ‘The eye must be subservient to the mind. Every supposed new species requires to be separated from its allies, and then subjected to a-series of careful observations and critical comparisons. *<'l'o indicate many apparently new species is the work of an hour ; to establish only one on a sure foundation is some- times the labour of months or years. A naturalist cannot be too cautious. It is better to allow diatoms to remain in the depths. of the sea, or in their native pools, than, from imperfect materials, to elevate them to the rank of distinct species, and encumber our catalogue with a load of new names, so ill defined, if defined at all, that others are unable to recognise them. ‘The same object may be more easily obtained by attaching them in the mean time to some already recorded species, with the specific character of which they sufficiently accord. In all such cases, the question to be solved for the advantage of naturalists is not whether the object noticed be a new species, but whether it has been proved to be such, and clearly characterised.’””* Dr. Carpenter, in the preface to his introduction to the ‘Study of Foraminifera,’ says: ‘‘ But nearly a parallel case, as regards the first of these points (the derivation of a multitude of distinguishable forms from a few primitive types) as presented by certain of the humbler groups of the vegetable kingdom, in which it becomes more and more apparent from the careful study of their life history—not only that their range of variation is extremely wide, but that a large number of reputed genera and species have been created on no better foundation than that afforded . by transitory phases of types hitherto only known in their state of more advanced development.” ‘‘ And the main principle, which must be taken as the basis of the systematic arrange- ment of the groups of Foraminifera and Protophyta, that of ascertaining the range of variation by an extensive com- parison of individual forms, is one which finds application in every department of Natural History, and is now recog- nised and acted upon by all the most eminent botanists, zoologists, and paleontologists.” * Since the above quotation was written, I have to deplore the loss of my old friend and correspondent,—a loss that will be acutely felt by all who have had the pleasure of corresponding with him, He was at all times most willing to assist the student with information and specimens.. SMITH, ON MICROSCOPIC ILLUMINATION. 143 If my previous paper was wanting in courtesy, as the Rey. E. O’Meara seems to think, I can only say that it was unintentional, and beg to apologise for it; my only desire was to protest against the addition of so many “new species,” their claim to that position (in my opinion) being more than doubtful. I could, if I thought it desirable, publish a score or two of new species, if the fact of their appearing different to any hitherto published is all that is necessary to constitute a new species. Microscopic ILLUMINATION. By Epwin Situ, M.A. Ir is often difficult to obtain an equally illuminated field for both eyes when a half-inch object-glass is employed with the binocular. The prism causes the field to be darkened on opposite sides for the two tubes of the body. This defect becomes more apparent when the lenses of the object-glass are further separated from the prism by the additional thick- ness of the nose-piece. Diffusing the light with ground glass partly remedies the defect, but not entirely ; moreover, diffused light is not suitable for many objects, where definite shadows are desired for the purpose of displaying structure. I find, however, that an achromatic combination with wide aperture as condenser, and a half-inch mounted in short cells, completely satisfy the conditions of the problem, and I am now able to employ the half-inch binocularly with per- fect ease, by night or day. Double diaphragm.—To the single diaphragm with which my Webster’s condenser is provided, I have added a second plate, revolving close behind the former, and perforated with various stops. By having a large opening in each plate, the stops of either can be brought into play at the choice of the operator, giving a vast range of modifying power, both for dark-ground and transparent illumination. I find the double diaphragm so exceedingly convenient that I wonder it is not always supplied by the makers, the additional cost being a mere trifle. Exclusion of incident light—When viewing transparent objects it is generally important to shade off the incident light. For this purpose I have found much satisfaction in the use of small blackened cardboard tubes, made to slide 144: SMITH, ON MICROSCOPIC ILLUMINATION. easily and firmly on the end of the object-glass, their length being adapted to the focus and form of the latter. When brought down upon the slide under examination, they slip back readily to allow of adjustment, and completely exclude light from the upper surface of the object. Light-modifier.—Some apparatus attached to the micro- scope is required for the purpose of diffusing and purifying light. It should admit of easy change from one kind of modification to another during the examination of an object, and without having to withdraw the eyes. The following contrivance suggested itself to me, and answers the purpose extremely well. Cut a sector of a circle of convenient size out of a piece of sheet brass, and make three holes, centred on the circumference of a circle concentric with the first, a short distance apart, each hole equal to the largest aperture of the diaphragm of the microscope. Fit a short slit tube at the angular point, at right angles to the plate, and having its central axis passing through the centre of the larger circles first mentioned. ‘lhe tube should fit closely on the round stem of the body-support beneath the stage and above the mirror. Be careful to take the radius of that circle which passes through the centres of the three holes, so that when the plate is moved from right to left, or vice versd, each hole shall in turn coincide with the large aperture of the dia- phragm. Solder three rings exactly round the three holes, a little larger than they, to form a ledge for the reception of the glass circles next to be described. Let in and secure, with gold-size or other cement, three circles of plane glass ; one white ground, for diffusing ordinary daylight; a second neutral tint ground, for diffusing lamp-light or strong sun- M‘INTOSH, ON YOUNG SALMON. 145 light; a third neutral tint, not ground, for use when the light has to be purified or subdued, but not diffused. The advantage of being able to bring any one kind of modifica- tion into play during an obseryation is great, whilst being always at hand the apparatus is likely to be employed, to the immense comfort of the observer, especially by artificial light. Lamp-light may be diffused by means of a small globe. The following plan, however, has certain advantages. Grind one side of the chimney itself at its lower part near the flame, which may easily be done with a piece of wetted sandstone. A strongly illuminated area of small extent is thus available as the source of light, when the breadth of the flame is not sufficient ; while, by half a revolution of the chimney on its support, the uncovered flame may be instantly substituted whenever it is to be preferred. EXPERIMENTS on YOUNG SALMON.* By W; OC. McIntosu, MID.) FES: Earty in 1862, and in the winter of 1862-3, the develop- ment of numerous salmon ova was observed, and some experiments performed on the young fish. Unfortunately, these had to be laid aside in March, 1863, for more pressing engagements, with the intention of again resuming them on a favorable opportunity ; but since this has not occurred, the results—such as they are—are now briefly narrated. I may likewise state that during the progress of the experiments much valuable advice was kindly given by Prof. Christison, some of whose experienced sugeestions were not fully car- ried out, on account of the sudden interruption of the work. The transparency of the young fish renders the central organs of the circulation, as well as the minutest capillary, equally visible, thus affording a much better subject for the examination of irritants and other poisons than the web of a frog’s foot, since only a limited area of the vascular system in the latter case can be observed by the experimenter, and better than can be afforded even by the very young tadpole. The most numerous experiments were those performed with Fleming's Tincture of Aconite. 'The doses of the drug * Extracts from this paper were read at the meeting of the British Asso- ciation last year at Dundee (Sept., 1867). 146 M‘INTOSH, ON YOUNG SALMON. were added to a vessel containing two drachms of water, and the chief features of its action were similar in all cases. The young fish experimented with were from two to six days old. In the healthy animal, before adding the poison to the water, the action of the heart is quite regular, the con- traction of the ventricle (a, Pl. III) succeeding that of the auricle (b) in a methodical manner, and varying from 70 to 100 per minute; the pectoral fins are also kept in rapid, whirring motion. In a few seconds after the addition of the aconite the young fish showed symptoms of uneasiness, dart- ing round the vessel, jerking its head, and twitching its body and tail. ‘The violent exertions of the animal increased the frequency of the heart’s action, and caused congestion of both cavities; but for a time the action of the organ was rhythmical. Before the expiry of ten minutes, however, it could generally be observed that there was a tendency to irregular action of the heart, both cavities occasionally con- tracting at once. The respiratory movements, as evinced by the action of the lower jaw, became very hurried, but the flapping of the pectoral fins was slower. In about a quarter of an hour the animal does not respond to irritation, unless the dose has been very small, pressure on the yolk-sac only causing a slight twitch. A diminution in the frequency of the heart’s action was noted in some at this time. A very remarkable symptom now appeared, viz. a tendency to a more rapid motion in the auricle, with a retardation ofthe ventricular movement, and this became more marked as the paralysis of the muscles of voluntary motion increased. When a single minim of the tincture was added the in- crease of auricular and diminution of ventricular action ap- peared more slowly, generally within an hour, at which period, e. g., the beats of the auricle in one instance were 124, those of the ventricle 62. The auricle resembles a circular caoutchouc bag in a state of rapid contraction and dilatation, while the ventricle retains its shape, but is less vigorous than in the normal animal, especially, in some instances, as re- gards every alternate contraction. Complete paralysis did not ensue with such small doses for a long time, though the fish kept its body motionless, the pectoral fins being in rapid vibration, and the respiratory movements of the lower jaw very hurried. This state continued for many hours, the jaw moving 160 times in a minute, and the pectoral fins resem- bling the rapidly vibrating wings of a butterfly or humming bird. ‘This vibratory action now and then became intermit- tent; but the animal gradually loses the power of responding M‘INTOSH, ON YOUNG SALMON, 147 to stimuli, fins and jaw become motionless, the current in the caudal capillaries (¢) fails, and the vis a tergo in the veins is little marked (these being evidently affected by the cardiac impulse) ; yet the auricle goes on pulsating twice for each ventricular contraction, and throws two rapid jets into the ventricle before the latter contracts. Animal lite is in abey- ance, with the exception of the heart and the larger blood- vessels. The current of blood in the cardinal vein (e) (great subvertebral trunk) seemed quicker in some than that of the aorta (f), and the minute branches (f’) of the latter had also a swifter current than their parent trunk. In one instance, after two hours’ immersion, and the oc- currence of the usual results, viz. the doubling of the auricular action as compared with the ventricular, and the general retardation of the circulation, two minims more were added to the water, with the effect of considerably improving the circulation in the vessels of the tail, yolk-sac, and other parts, apparently because the heart’s action, though slower, became more regular. The streams sent out of the ventricle were now uniform, and, not as before, alternately full and thready. In a normal specimen the pulsations amounted to 90, whereas in this they were 95, but the heart of the latter appeared to have little more than half the amount of blood. This state, however, is only temporary, as in twenty minutes the auricle again beat twice as quickly. When this condi- tion is gradually induced the vitality of the central organ is great, the contractions continuing for ten or twelve hours in water rendered milky by the poison; and at the end of that period a distinct increase in the frequency of the pulsations is noticed after a fresh addition of the tincture. If the water, however, be poured off, and a few drops of the tincture ap- plied to the animal, the action of the heart at once ceases, and every vessel remains paralysed and full of blood-discs. The body and yolk-sac also rapidly become opaque. After remaining for many hours in the state in which the ventricular contractions are but half the auricular, the blood does not distend the latter cavity to its normal size, and there is a white border apparent, while its contractions do not quite empty it of blood. ‘The ventricle again shows a large, pale, muscular border, a diminished cavity, and sometimes irregularity in the currents sent along the bulbus. Symp- toms of partial recovery now and then appear after small doses, such as twitchings of the tail and slight wrigglings, but these gradually pass off, and the animal remains motion- less. Some survived for two days, though neither cavity of the heart contained much blood, and the proportion of the 148 M‘INTOSH, ON YOUNG SALMON. auricular and ventricular contractions remained as before. Though the young fish were placed under running Mae little alteration ensued at this stage. On the third day, in some, the auricle was still contracting, while the ventricle was almost undistinguishable on account of its pallor. The auricle begins its contraction at the bulbus venosus first, and then a rolling, spongy, squeezing motion creeps over all the cavity. Though the auricle was thus filled and contracting with moderate “force, I could not see any blood passing into the ventricle, so that the quantity must have been small; and though the vitelline vein (g) showed motion, it was mere oscillations of the blood-discs backwards and forwards, without any actual progress, and the same was true of the brachial arteries. In regard to the gradual stoppage of the current in the blood- vessels, long before arriving at the state of exhaustion just described the capillary trunks (¢) are ob- served to be stagnant in the tail, as well as many of those in the yolk- “sac, while the current in the vessels of the trunk, and in the curving vessels (A) of the pectoral fins, continues in the apparently - dead animal. They gradually cease from without inwards, until mere oscillation, and finally stasis, occur in the aorta and larger veins. When a large dose (from six to ten minims) is added to the water, the symptoms are much more boldly marked. After the first turgidity of the cardiac cavities during the violent motions of the animal, the pulsations become slower, retaining, however, for a time, their regularity. They (pul- sations ) ‘steadily decrease in frequency, e.g. from 105 to 22 per minute, the ventricle occasionally missing a contraction, and the action of each cavity in the latter case being indis- tinctly double. The aortic stream moves in slow jerks, the yein in a more continuous current; only at the end of the arterial stasis it halts, and again proceeds as the fresh arterial impulse reaches it. ‘This happens in about a quarter of an hour in the case of the highest dose (ten minims), and the animal becomes completely paralysed. Ifthe dose is rather less (six minims), some interesting features may be observed in the heart’s action after half an hour’s immersion. In this case and at this time the ventricular action has fallen behind the auricular (vent. 78, auric. 88, per minute), and every now and then, on account of the non-rhythmical action of the heart, the two contractions are simultaneous, thus causing an arrest of the cardiac action; for the auricle contracting when the ventricle is distended finds no cavity to pump into, and only crams an already full cavity, and prevents its contrac- tion. The fault, doubtless, is primarily in the ventricular M‘INTOSH, ON YOUNG SALMON. 149 ] fibres, for after the cavity is filled by the rapid jerk of the auricle it does not immediately contract, and is thus thrown back a beat. ‘This is especially observed after the auricle has gained greater frequency of action. Occasionally there was marked jerking of the arterial system, very well seen in the branchial coils (i), and indeed throughout. The blood in the aorta appears of a deeper red than that in the vein, but this is probably due in some measure to the thickness of its coats, since the vein becomes about as dark when it passes beneath the muscular bands. When the animal has been reduced to a state of complete paralysis by a large dose it may sometimes be seen that the ventricle contracts only at wide intervals, while the auricle may be pulsating 68 to 70 times per minute. The auricular jet scarcely reddens the ventricle, and several are required before the cavity is tinged in the centre; then the ventricle contracts. Four, five, or even seven, contractions of the auricle ensued before the ventricle acted. In one case it was seen that only every second beat forced the blood through the auriculo-ventricular opening. ‘The blood in the early stage of the dilating ventricle assumed a Y-shaped outline, with the fork directed posteriorly; but after a few more auricular beats this became lost in the general red. In these and other instances in which the ventricle is filled with blood, and just before contracting, it may be observed that processes dip here and there into the whitish walls of the cavity, showing that even in this early stage the chamber contains muscular bands with interspaces. If the action of the heart be quickly reduced to 22 by a powerful dose of the poison, and the animal removed to run- ning water, the pulsations in some become regular and in- crease in streneth, and the circulation throughout the body improves; but before reaching the stage in which the auri- cular action is twice as frequent as the ventricular an inter- mediate state occurs, in which a pause takes place every sixth or seventh beat. When the fish experimented with is older, and the yolk- sac well absorbed, a very small dose (scarcely a minim) creates urgent symptoms, such as immediate irritation, oe respiratory movements, gasping, violent muscular tremors retardation of the Grenlationt gradual diminution of blood 1 = the heart, loss of voluntary motion, and death. Minute ob- servation, however, in such instances is difficult, on account of the opacity of the animals. The muscles of respiration were paralysed in common with the others, yet one could scarcely attribute death to this 150 M‘INTOSH, ON YOUNG SALMON. alone, and they certainly were much stimulated at the begin- ning. The increase of the auricular and the diminution of the ventricular action were independent of the respiratory process, as I have seen the latter in full action, while the ventricle contracted only half as frequently as the auricle. The action of the poison on the ventricular fibres is peculiar, yet, though produced in a circuitous manner, it is analogous to that on the ordinary muscles. Tincture of digitalis, in doses varying from three to seven minims in two drachms of water, first causes symptoms of irritation, the animal darting vehemently round the vessel, and wriggling convulsively. Ifthe dose is small the rapidity of the heart’s action is for a time increased during the period of excitement ; and the respiratory movements of the lower jaw are likewise very rapid, indeed in some instances so rapid that they would seem to be ineffectual or impede respiration. According to the strength of the dose, in ten or fifteen minutes the cavities of the heart become loaded, the pulsations much diminished in frequency and irregular, the contractions falling, perhaps, from 110 to 60, and even lower.* ‘There is a decided failure in the power of the ventricular contractions, and the cavity seldom empties itself completely. Moreover, shortly after this it could often be observed that both cavities*contracted at the same time, unless the dose was minute, e.g. a single minim, in which case the contractions were slightly alternate. Coincident with the retardation of the heart’s action is loss of power in the voluntary muscles and the diminution of respiratory efforts in the pectoral fins and jaw. After a time the auricular action is more vigorous and sharp than the ventricular, the latter being somewhat distended. ‘The action of the heart gradually grows feebler, and generally ceases in about an hour; and even with a dose of only one minim death occurs within an hour and a half. A probe was dipped in creasote and the small adherent quantity (less than one minim) mixed with the two drachms of water. When the fish is immersed therein the first symptoms are those of irritation, the animal darting about and wriggling spasmodically ; violent tremors and jerking also occur. In three or four minutes the heart’s action had been reduced from 90 to 50 per minute, but was regular, the ventricle slowly contracting after distension. The cardiac action gradually failed, and voluntary motion became indis- tinct. After the auricle contracts and is dilating, blood flows into it by the auriculo-ventricular opening before the ven- * Compare with effects on man, ‘ Poisons,’ by Prof. Christison, p. 633. M‘INTOSH, ON YOUNG SALMON. 151 tricle contracts, and the shrinking of the latter swells the cavity suddenly and distinctly. Regurgitation is thus ap- parent. The body becomes more or ‘less rigid in about one hour, and death ensues in about two hours, trom gradual re- eacinn of the cardiae action, the auricle continuing to act longer than the ventricle. Sulphuric ether had a simple iritant action at first, then depressed the circulation, there being a diminution of the quantity of blood in the heart in a quarter of an hour, so that both cavities presented a pale muscular ring. Before death ensues the animal is easily recovered by the proper measures. Chloroform exerted a peculiar influence on the action of the heart after the preliminary excitement had passed away. The cavities contracted slowly and regularly in a quarter of an hour, sometimes ceasing to beat for a few seconds, and again commencing, while there was a stasis in the vessels of the tail and vein (k) beneath the intestine. In the former the current in the vessels was gradually slowed, and the jerking of the arteries became more marked. A retrograde motion of the blood was apparent in both sets of vessels, i in the arteries backwards towards the heart, and in the veins away from the heart, the current in each by-and-by proceed- ing and again jerking backwards. The smaller vessels suffered first. The auricle performed its duty most vigo- rously, for the ventricle remained congested after every pulsation. The animal, however, wriggles convulsively, even after the heart’s action has altogether ceased for a minute. Thus, the continuance of muscular vigour would have been no criterion of the dangerous condition of the fish, since active wriggling took place a considerable time after the heart had ceased to pulsate. I did not see the heart’s action become irregular at any period ; it appeared solely to fail in contract- ing ‘at all, its beats becoming few, and then ceasing altogether. There were none of the tremulous contractions sometimes met with, and where portions of the fibres seem to show greater inability than others. Solution of the muriate of morphia was somewhat slow in its action on the fish, requiring a large dose (about fifty minims in two drachms of water) to produce complete loss of voluntary motion in an hour. A more lengthened immer- sion was necessary to produce the same effect on an embryo in ovo. Both recover completely if placed under running water before the circulation has altogether ceased. ‘This was but a mild poison when contrasted with others. A few minims of a clear solution of bleaching powder, added to three ounces of water, proved rapidly fatal to the young 152 M‘INTOSH, ON YOUNG SALMON. fish. They immediately evinced symptoms of extreme dis- tress, with a tendency to turn on the side. The motion of the pectoral fins was sometimes arrested, and the organs pressed close to the body. The respiratory movements of the lower jaw became slower and slower; starting and gasping occurred, and the operculum was stretched outwards to the utmost. Though placed under running water while still able to jerk, they did not recover. Chloric ether (one drachm to one ounce of water) caused congestion of the cardiac cavities and great diminution in the frequency of pulsation, viz., from 90 to 30 per minute in a quarter of an hour. In forty minutes the con- tractions almost ceased, and both cavities were gorged. After immersion in running water the heart began to act more rapidly, but recovery was gradual, the pulsations only amounting to 32 in three quarters of an hour. Death ensued very speedily when a little ammonia (liquor) was added to the water, after spasmodic and violent motions. Though plunged in cold water within a minute, recovery did not ensue. ‘lhe mouth remained widely distended after death, and the branchiz gorged with dark blood. Ten minims of foreshat, added to half an ounce of water, produced at first an instant action, with increase of cardiac movements, but the animal soon lay still. The heart’s action gradually slow ed, the large trunk sending off the blood into the capillary branches if’ *) with less and less force, so that the latter almost disappeared from sight. Sometimes only a single disc at a time passed along the vessel, whereas many passed formerly. Retrogade and oscillatory movements appeared in the vessels, and the cardiac congestion increased. Both cavities remained distended after death, which occurred in a quarter of an hour or less. When young fish about twelve days old are placed in pure sea water they display little irritability, swimming round the vessel perhaps once or twice, and then quietly resting on the bottom. For the first five or six hours little change is observed beyond a tendency to repose speedily after exertion. Towards the seventh hour there is a considerable diminution in activity, yet the animal readily responds to irritation. ‘The heart’s action, which in the fresh water had been 92, has now sunk to 60; both cavities are well filled, and, though rather feeble, the contractions are rhythmical. The pulsations steadily decrease ; and in ten or twelve hours the animal hes motionless. It is likewise apparent that the cutaneous textures are shrivelled and rendered more or less opaque. ‘he mouth gapes, and the pectoral fins stand stiffly M‘INTOSH, ON YOUNG SALMON. 153 out at right angles to the body. Both cavities of the heart are gorged with blood, and though in some there are feeble contractions (from 15 to 20 per minute), the dark central mass is never dispelled from either chamber. ‘This congestion is doubtless augmented by the shrivelling of the superficial textures of the body. In other cases the action of the heart becomes intermittent before ceasing, remaining inactive for a time, with the auricle dark and distended to the utmost, the ventricle also dark, but less bulky, but by- and-by it begins to contract, and pulsates, perhaps, for forty times, and again suddenly ceases, while the feeble circulation —for the moment set agoing—is arrested. No other action of a vital nature could be elicited. The most remarkable change, however, is that which ensues in the yolk-sac before death. ‘This consists of an alteration in its form (from a short to a more elongated condition), and what may be termed a coagulation of 1 its contents, which become at first doughy, so that after being dimpled by a glass rod the outline is re- covered very slowly, and finally resiling from the touch of the rod like arounded ‘and smooth bit of car tilage. Some, indeed, resemble a mass of amber, having a clear yellow aspect, and, when punctured, are not much softer than a fresh lens. Death in this case would seem to arise from cardiac conges- tion, aggravated by the shrivelling of the cutaneous textures and consequent shutting up of the blood-channels; and, secondly, from interference with nutrition, arising from the change in the condition of the yolk-sac.* Several young salmon were allowed to touch the tentacles of an Actinia (Tea/ia crassicornis), and then removed ; in all the instances death seemed to result slowly from the physical injuries inflicted by the dart-cells on the brain and other organs. The influence of a subtle poison or paralysing agent, at any rate, was not apparent. Operations.—When the tail of a young salmon, from eight to twelve days old, was cut off at any point behind the bend of the corda (e.g. through the dotted line a B), the following effects ensued :—The animal did not wriggle much, and soon rested; an immediate effusion of blood ‘oceurred from the ends of the divided vessels, and by-and-by, in some, four or five rounded knobs of blood, or clots, projected from the ends of the vessels, or else a general mass of clot along the cut * In asketch of the natural history of the Sa/mo salar, by Daniel Ellis, drawn up from evidence contained in two reports of a Select Committee of the House of Commons, &c. (Jameson’s ‘ Edin. Philos. Jour., vol. iv), it is mentioned that when ova were put in salt water none came to life, and that when a young hatched fish was similarly dealt with it died in a few hours. 154 M‘INTOSH, ON YOUNG SALMON. surface. No vein as yet carried back blood. Then a vein, running parallel with the bent corda (origin of the cardinal) was observed to commence its current, and soon carried it on most vigorously. This was due to the fact that the main arterial trunk tunnelled a channel in the clot, and poured its contents into the vein. Very rapidly, however, the vein ceased to carry back so much, and finally stopped altogether ; and the arteries, which for some time had been diminishing, grew indistinct, sending only a few corpuscles in single file. The clot soon became blanched (from solution and dispersion of its hamatoglobulin), and the cut border had its margin roughened in a few hours. In eight or nine hours the tip of the corda is protected by a continuation of the cellular border, and there is a considerable increase on the margin of the wound below this. Where the incision is close to the bend of the corda (between A B and B C) bleeding takes place to a greater extent, but the artery slightly contracts, and a clot forms. The animal respires slowly, gasps, and the heart is pale and slow in action. In this condition it is then seen that the aorta also grooves a channel in the clot and pours its contents at once into the vein. When the incision was on the proximal side of the bend of the corda (through B c) this peculiar channelling of the clot did not occur, but the current of the artery passed into the vein after a time by a communi- cating branch—before reaching the border of the wound. The animal will live for three or four days after the body is severed through the fatty fin, showing the comparatively unim- portant part played by the posterior part of its body at this stage, whereas a wound of the yolk-sac is generally fatal. Regeneration takes place very rapidly in wounds inflicted on the young fish from six to ten days old. For instance, when pieces (D) are removed from the fatty fin, the edges in twelve hours are found papillose from cellular processes, and the angles rounded, while the wound, which formerly was spade-shaped, has now the form of a V, the new texture being readily detected by its paler hue. The same ensues in inju- ries of the tail. When the wound has been deep and some- what narrow an arch of new texture closes in the cavity before cicatrization takes place at the sides. Considerable portions cut from the pectoral fins are also reproduced. TRANSLATION. On the S—ExuaL Repropucrion of the INFusortia. By Dr. Ernst EBERHARD. (From ‘ Zeitsch. f. wissenschaft. Zoologie,’ vol. xviii, p. 120.) AFTER a delay which must have appeared of long dura- tion to all who are interested in the study of the Iyrusoria, the second volume of I. Stein’s excellent work* has made its welcome appearance. The volume contains a general re- view of the present state of our knowledge respecting the Infu- soria ; and especially discusses the difficult problems that have arisen concerning their sexual reproduction, connected with which is the question of the value of the systematic arrange- ment of the Infusoria, as proposed by Stein himself, to be based upon the mode of disposition of the cilia. This part is fol- lowed by a detailed exposition of the systematic arrangement of the heterotrichous Infusoria, in which will be found a full account of Bursaria truncatella, one of the giants of a pigmy world, and whose structure and organization is, for the first time, fully expounded. Dr. Eberhard, who has had abundant materials at his command, has, in almost every essential point, arrived at the same results as those of Stein; and he proposes, in a subse- quent memoir, to explain where they appear to differ. On the present occasion he confines himself solely to the point of sexual reproduction, since his results in this subject, though in some respects agreeing with those of Stein, yet in others present a very marked contrast with them. Stein remarks that he has not unfrequently met with in- dividuals of Bursaria truncatella which were filled with a great number of indubitable embryos. The individuals in question, he says, are distinguished from the rest by their spherical form, and the almost complete closure of the peris- * «Der Organismus der Infusionsthiere.’ VOL, VIII.—NEW SER. N 156 DR, EBERHARD, ON SEXUAL REPRODUCTION. tomatous opening. The embryos were dispersed pretty uniformly throughout the entire parenchyma, and most of them closely embraced by the parenchyma, and were quiescent, whilst others had hollowed out, as it were, the surrounding substance, and moved about actively, and around their own axes, in the watery fluid. ‘The parent animal always had a strap-shaped nucleus, but which was not always as large as in the ordinary individuals. ‘The em- bryos were oval or obovate, and uniformly rounded, and beset with short, delicate cilia. At the anterior extremity they appeared to Stein to be furnished with a small tubular process, which he looked upon as a cecal suctorial dise. At the posterior end was situated a minute, round, contractile vesicle, and in the middle of the body a spherical or elon- gated nucleus. ‘The embryos certainly had no tentaculiform processes, such as are commonly observed in the embryos of other Infusoria. No conjugation of the mature animals was ever witnessed. The above is a summary of Stein’s observations, and the author proceeds to describe his own. In a series of glasses containing Lemna minor, for the most part in a state of decay, he was furnished with an abundant supply of Bur- saria truncatella, At the end of a few days, to his great astonishment, he noticed that all the animalcules were filled, and some of them even crammed with globular bodies of uniform size. Some among them, in which the peristome was almost entirely closed, resembled mere saccudi filled with globules, so that it seemed asif the animalcules had surfeited themselves with some kind of pollen, but that the process was in reality one of reproduction was evident enough. He soon remarked that some of the globules were protruded from the still open slit in the parent body, but remained adherent to its outer surface. After the disintegration of the parent— which occurs so readily in this Infusorium—had taken place, and the globular bodies had become liberated, the latter, which were furnished with a contractile vesicle and spherical nucleus, presented an Acineta-like form, whilst short tenta- cles, with transparent nodular extremities, sprung up irregu- larly, in greater or less number, all over the surface. These tentacular processes, in several of the quiescent globules, were scen to increase in size, and occasionally to attain such a length that it would be difficult to distinguish them from the sessile form of Podophrya fiza. Some of the more mature globules, soon after their liberation, and often in the course of a few minutes, became elongated, and assumed the form of a somewhat flattened grain of wheat, including even OO ——— PR. EBERHARD, ON SEXUAL REPRODUCTION. 157 the median furrow. ‘Towards the anterior pointed end, on one side, was situated the contractile vesicle, and behind this the rounded nucleus. The hinder end was more obtuse. ‘The surface of the body, as has been said, was furnished all over with the knobbed tentacular processes, which, however, were more closely set towards either end. Ina short time the entire surface became covered with cilia, from amongst which the tentacles projected. The creature now began to exhibit a slow and clumsy kind of movement, which became more and more brisk in proportion to the progressive development of the cilia. The mouth might be perceived in the anterior part of the longitudinal furrow. This end is termed the anterior, because it was in the direction towards which the movement tended. Here, the author remarks, we have an Acinetaform, which at the same time belongs to the group of the Ciliata. The tenta- cular processes gradually disappeared, and the transformation of the animalcule was completed into a ciliated Infusorium, with whose aspect the author had often been familiar, and which he had hitherto regarded as an independent species. The case above described, so far as he is aware, is the first recorded instance, in the young of Infusoria, of a transition from the Acineta- into the ciliate-form. The observation, moreover, confirms Stein’s notion that the minute Acinete proceeding from Paramecium are in reality its offspring, and not parasites, as asserted by Bal- biani. It is no longer doubtful that these forms also even- tually assume the ciliate-aspect, which approximates them to that of the parent. The author has satisfied himself that the embryos of Bur- saria truncatella above described originate from the nucleus of the parent body. Those individuals which were entirely crammed with embryonal globules had either no nucleus whatever remaining, or merely portions of it, in a decided state of disintegration. In conclusion, it should be remarked that the diameter of the globular bodies was about twice the usual diameter of the strap-shaped nucleus, and that the length of the ciliated form into which they passed was about two thirds of that diameter. It would seem, therefore, that the points with respect to which the author is at issue with Stein are— 1. That whilst the latter observer insists upon .the pre- sence of a nucleus in all the individuals filled with embryos, the author denies its existence. 2. Stein positively denies the occurrence of the Acineta- 158 DR. EBERHARD, ON SEXUAL REPRODUCTION. form of progeny, whilst the author, relying upon numerous observations, asserts 1t with equal positiveness. 3. The contractile vesicle which, according to Stein, is situated in the hinder part of the embryo, is placed by the author in the anterior ; and the latter was also unable to per- ceive any trace of a suctorial acetabulum. Such decided contradictions are probably to be explained by some diversity in the modes of propagation, which still demand closer investigation. REVIEW. The Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club. London: Robert Hardwicke. Wuewn the Quekett Club was originally projected we hailed it as an association of amateur microscopists that would diffuse widely a taste for scientific investigation, and contri- bute to the great object we had in view in establishing the ‘Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science.’ It is true that some of the members of the old Microscopical Society looked with a little jealousy at the young club, much as the old Fellows of the Linnean Society in their day regarded the Zoological Club, which terminated in the foundation of the Zoological Society; but in a vast population like London there is, undoubtedly, room for a number of new societies devoted to scientific pursuits. The result has shown that not only has the Quekett Club succeeded, but, so far from doing any injury to the old Society, it has gone on increas- ing in numbers and influence ever since the establishment of its supposed rival. The truth is, the Quekett Club has been a great feeder of the old Society, and the Members (the Fellows —we beg their pardon) recognised this fact when, at their last meeting, they received with cheers the announcement that the President of the Quekett Club was unanimously elected a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society. The President also, with that graciousness which has all along characterised his four years of laborious and useful office, pronounced from the chair his belief that the mother and daughter, after all, had but one common object in their constitution and pro- ceedings. Let us, then, hang down our heads and blush when we think of the hard words and ungenerous feelings which have been exhibited between the two societies. We do not feel called upon to give any opinion about the propriety of the Quekett Club starting ajournal of their own. Did we stand upon our dignity, we think they ought to have consulted ourselves, and asked us whether we thought 160 THE JOURNAL OF THE QUEKETT CLUB. their journal would interfere with our interests. But as they have not thought fit to do so, we heartily forgive them, and here hold out the right hand of fellowship to them as fellow-journalists. Of course, we hold our right to fall foul of them, to criticise them severely, and to encourage them benignly, as all elder journalists think they have a right to do with the younger and aspiring fry.; Our young competitor is small, as most babies are, but still it gives promise of a vigorous growth. The original papers are interesting, and we should have been glad to have pub- lished them in our own Journal had they been sent us. We think they would have been no disgrace to the ‘ Transactions’ of our own Royal Society. One of the features of the journal is a * Microscopical Bibliography,” which, if it is continued as well as it has been begun, will be a real acquisition to microscopic observers. Our young friend has not, in the present number, ventured on plates; and as these are ex- pensive things, as we know to our cost, it will probably, with the wisdom which has characterised all the proceedings of the Club, consider well this question in the future. In conclusion, we heartily wish the Quekett Microscopical Club and its Journal success, feeling assured that no earnest effort in scientific research is ever lost. The jealousies and rivalries, yea, even the noble ambition of seekers for the truth, will all one day be thrown into oblivion, but the smallest contribution to the accumulated stores of human knowledge will remain for ever, the imperishable record of the existence of the man who made it. . QUARTERLY CHRONICLE OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. Bibliotheque Universelle.—‘‘ Reisen im Archipel der Philip- pinen,” by C. Semper.—Prof. Claparéde gives a most inte- resting notice of this recently published and highly important work. M. Semper has resided for seyen years in the Philip- pines and Carolines, and now intends publishing the scientific results at which he has arrived, and the history also of his travels. This publication will comprise naturally two parts, and it is to the second, the more especially scientific, that the author has first put his hand. The three first livraisons of the first volume are devoted to the study of the Holo- thurie. They are accompanied by twenty-five plates, printed in colour, which do the greatest honour to the chromolitho- graphic studios of M. Hener at Hamburg, and of M. Bach at Leipzig, as well as to the celebrated publisher and true protector of natural sciences, Herr Wilhelm Engelmann. This first volume may with propriety be termed a monograph of the Holothurians, for the author offers us not only a careful zoological and anatomical study of the new species which he has met, but also a critical revision of the forms already known, and some general considerations on the entire class of Holothurids, and on the orders and families which com- pose it. Amongst the well-known calcareous corpuscles, of which the position is always in the Holothurians the corium, M. Semper distinguishes two categories: on the one hand the anchors and wheels, generally known from the Synaptids, as also the very characteristic corpuscle of the proper Holo- thurians, corpuscles which the author distinguishes because of their form by the name “stools” (Stiihlchen); on the other hand, the perforated plates, the ramified corpuscles, &c., which always have their position in deeper layers of the corium than the preceding. The author calls these last connective corpuscles. It is these which in certain cases give rise, by their union, to large calcareous plates (Psolus, 162 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. Ocnus, &c.), which recall the cutaneous skeleton of the Echinids. Either the ‘‘ stools” or the connective corpuscles may sometimes be entirely deficient. However, the case where calcareous corpuscles of all forms are absolutely wanting are very rare (in certain types of the family of the Synaptids and of the Molpadids). It is well known that all the Holothuriz are characterised by the presence of a ring composed of calcareous pieces dis- posed round the pharynx; a ring which one might, perhaps, consider as the homologue of the lantern of Aristotle in the Echini. This organ is formed, as a rule, by ten pieces, of which five are radial and five interradial, the former each pierced by an opening for the passage of the aquiferous ambulacral vessel. M. Semper cites'a case, that of a Pentacta from Japan, in which the interambulacral pieces are entirely absent, and the ambulacral pieces are reduced to little calcareous plates, lodged in the skin of the pharynx. M. Semper distinguishes two forms of ambulacral appendices : the ambulacral feet, furnished at the extremity with a sucker strengthened by a calcareous plate ; and ambulacral papille, which are conical and pointed. ‘The first belong, as a rule, to the ventral trivium; the second to the dorsal bivium. However, in certain cases, one can find ambulacral feet on the back, and also ambulacral papille on the belly—excep- tions which are both realised together in the genus Sporadipus. As is known, ambulacral appendices are totally wanting on the back of the Dendrochirotids. Among the Molpalids these appendages are absent throughout, though the branches corresponding to the five ambulacral vessels do not the less pierce the skin. Lastly, in the Synaptids of the tropics, the author establishes the complete absence of the five ambulacral vessels, which M. Baur had already done for the European Synapte. The organs of Cuvier sometimes are attached directly to the cloaca, sometimes to the stem of the lungs. ‘The author confirms afresh the view that they are not hollow, but solid, and he contests their glandular nature. He considers them as a sort of weapon that the animal can push out behind by the cloaca. It is true that this phenomenon is always accom- panied, like the projection of the viscera so peculiar to the Holothuriz, by the rupture of the wall of the cloaca. Among many Holothurie (Aspidochisotids) the dorsal vessel is broken up in the intestinal loop into a rete mirabile, which becomes entangled with the ramifications of the left lung. Johannes Miiller admitted that this entanglement does not constitute by any means a close union of the two QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 165 organs, but a simple juxtaposition. At the same time, M. Semper has established the existence of fine strands, which pass from the rete mirabile to the follicles of the pulmonary tree, and lose themselves in the connective tissue of this organ. It is true that, to judge from the expressions of the author, these “‘cordons” do not appear to enclose vessels, and that the respiratory function of the so-called lungs remains as ever somewhat problematical. ‘The new Holothuriz collected by M. Semper have been figured with very great artistic skill, some by the author himself, others by Madame Anna Semper. Many among them are remarkable not only for their form, but also for their size, since we find among them Synapte of five or even of seven feet in length, to which the natives of Celebes have with reason given the name of sea-serpents. Among the anatomical and zoological details which accompany the de- scription of each of them, we find many new and interesting facts. The anchors of the Synapte are by no means, as is often believed, locomotive organs; when they have laid hold of any part, the animal cannot disengage itself without sacri- ficing them. They are, it is true, movable on their basilar plate, but there are not any muscles destined to move them, and the will of the animal has no action on their movements. Besides, the body of the Synapt does not cling to the hand except when one touches it roughly. In reality the Synaptee crawl on stones and plants without hooking on to them, and in Synapta Beselii, the anchors are lodged so deeply in the skin that M. Semper believed in their complete absence until microscopic examination showed him the contrary. M. Semper has increased the number of known Synapte in a considerable manner. ‘The Archipelago of the Philippines ranks to-day as one of the best known tropical regions, thanks. above all to the researches of Mr. Cuming, that ‘prince of collectors,” as he has been called; and although before M. Semper’s work only a single Synapta was known from that archipelago, the number is now, owing to his re- searches, increased to eleven, without counting a Chirodota. It is true that Mr. Cuming appears to have collected among Invertebrates only those animals with a hard shell, since he has completely neglected the Cephalopods, which so abound in tropical seas. In 1859 the total number of known Synap- tids was thirty-three species. This number ought to be in- creased now-a-days by fifty-seven per cent.; for if we con- sider the fact that the majority of the new species come from the Philippines, and thence too from a single locality (the 164 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. little isle of Bohol), it is probable that researches made in other seas of the tropics will increase this number largely. Relatively to the ciliated funnels (Entonnoirs of d’Ude- kem) of the Synaptids the author affirms, as Miller and M. Baur also do, that they cannot be considered as the internal terminations of the aquiferous system any more than of blood-vestels. It is, then, impossible to assimilate the blood- vessels of the Holothurids to the vascular excretory appa- ratus of worms, and the ciliated funnels of the Synaptids cannot be compared to those of Annelids. They are, with- out doubt, an apparatus destined to excite a current in the liquid of the cavity of the body. The family of the Molpadids embraces a series of forms, united, it is true, by common characters, but connected, nevertheless, by certain points, to the most diverse genera of other families of Holothurians. One might consider them in a certain way as a collection of prototypical forms. The complete absence of feet approximate them in appearance to the Synaptids ; but the genus Echinosoma is the only one which justifies entirely this approximation by the complete absence of the radial canals of the skin. In the other genera studied by M. Semper, the aquiferous canals traverse the skin fully from part to part; but instead of being prolonged into feet, as in the Holothuriz, they terminate in ceca, under the epidermis. One part, at least, of this family appears to comprise hermaphrodites species. If the family of the Mol- padids comprises forms to a great extent heterogeneous, that of the Dendrochirotids is, on the contrary, very uniform. M. Semper is led to reduce notably the number of the genera which has been increased in a large proportion by M. Selenka. From what we knew till now as to this family, we had the right to consider it, in opposition to that of the Aspidochirotids, as belonging essentially to the boreal and to the temperate region. ‘This opinion would, however, have been entirely false. Before the recent work of M. Selenka, the relation of the known species in the tropical region to that of the species of the temperate and boreal zones was as one to twelve; after the work of this savant, the ratio was as one to five; and now, after the study of the species of the Philippines, it is become as one to one anda half. It is, therefore, probable that researches made in other tropical re- gions will continue to, modify the ratio in the same way. When one runs through the list of the Holothurie of the Museum of Cambridge (Massachusets), published by M. Selenka, that of the Museum of Berlin, and that of the Godefroy Museum at Hamburg, one might be disposed to QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 165 consider that the tropics are very poor in Dendrochirotids ; but this would be an error. These Echinoderms have not yet been collected by searching out their mode of life. In fact, whilst the majority of the Aspidochirotids live in the shallows within the reach of travelling naturalists, the Den- drochirotids of the tropics live all at a great depth, whence the dredge only can gather them. A thing well worth re- mark is, that these Holothurie, living at great depths in the Philippine Archipelago, are precisely of the forms which (as the Psoli, Cucumariz, and Echinocucumes) approach most nearly species of the boreal zone. It may be mentioned in passing, that it 1s in these conditions that M. Semper has fished up at the Philippines a Stellerid of the genus Pteraster, which he can scarcely distinguish from P. militaris of the coasts of Scandinavia. The Aspidochirotids, or Holothurians properly so-called, as well as being very numerous in species, constitute, like the Synaptids and the Dendrochirotids, an extremely uniform family. It has often been repeated that the inspection of a single calcareous corpuscle of the skin of a Holothuria is suf- ficient to permit of the determination with certainty of the species to which the animai belongs. M. Semper shows, on the contrary, that the majority of these corpuscles can fur- nish only very uncertain conclusions, not only as to species, but also as to genus. M. Semper adds to his ‘ Monograph of the Holothurie’ some very curious details as to the parasites of these Echi- noderms. With the exception of some little Copepods living as Epizoa on different Holothuriz, the Dendrochirotids ap- pear to be entirely free from parasites. The singular para- sites observed by M. Semper live all on the body or in the interior of the Aspidochirotids. Nearly all belong to zoolo- gical groups, in which parasitism is a rare exception. For example, in the first place, the fishes,—which belong almost all to the genus Fierasfer, Quoy and Gaimard. These fishes were first described by Risso, and Delle Chiaje has figured the two Mediterranean species very well. Their entrance into the Holothuria, as well as their exit, appears to take place through the lung. M. Semper possesses the pulmo- nary tree ae: a Holothuria, in which is lodged one of these fishes, which appears to be in the act of € entrance, for its head is turned towards the further ramifications of the organ. They appear to be true parasites, since the author has always found their stomach filled up with the débris of the lung of their host. Another genus of parasitic fishes of 166 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE, the Holothuria is that of Enchelyophis (Joh. Miller), which is entirely destitute of pectoral fins. As to Crustacea, M. Semper mentions, besides some small Copepods, two species of the genus Pinnotheres, which lives, as is well known, ordinarily as a parasite in Lamellibrancha, It is remarkable that these two species are parasitic in the same Holothuria, where they are constantly found in the right lung, that is to say, in that which has no connection with the enteric vessels. Sometimes the lung which lodges a Pinnotheres is completely atrophied, but in this case another is developed in au abnormal position. The Molluscs number several parasites of Holothurie ; and firstly the celebrated Entoconcha mirabilis, discovered by Joh. Miiller in the Synapta digitata of Europe, has its coun- terpart, not now in a Synapta, but in a Holothurian pro- perly so-called, found in the Philippines. This extraordinary Gasteropod has been christened by M. Semper by the name Entoconcha Miilleri. It appears to be restricted, as a rule, to the cloacal region. Mr. Cumming long since pointed out the presence of Eulima in the stomach of the Holothurie ; but it appears to have been generally considered that these Gasteropods had been swallowed by the Echinoderms. This opinion is erroneous. M. Semper possesses two or three spe- cies, which he has found alive and crawling joyously in the intestine of the Holothurie. These species are exceedingly active in their movements, in opposition to the epizoic spe- cies, the foot of which is in general buried in the skin of their host. The sole food these Gasteropods have at their disposal is the chyme, or indeed, the secretions of the intes- tinal epithelium. ‘They may, therefore, well be called para- sites. It is not improbable that conchologists are wrong when they state that the Eulime and the Stylifers (which live among the spines of Cidaris and other Echinids) do not ob- tain their food from their hosts. They appear to forget that the spines of the Echinoderms are not merely cuticular forma- tions, like the shells of molluscs. Parasitism is clearly evi- dent in a species of Eulima found by M. Semper in a cavity of the skin of a Holothuria, of the genus Stichopsis. During the life of the Echinoderm the shell is nearly entirely hidden in the skin, the summit of the spire alone slightly protrud- ing. If one tries to remove it a strong resistance is felt. But when the Holothuria is moribund, one can succeed in withdrawing the mollusc armed with a long and fine thread, which, in large individuals, at any rate, can penetrate right into the cavity of the body of the Holothuria. This thread is nothing else than the greatly elongated proboscis of the mol- | QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 167 luse ; and the mouth of this animal being thus deeply lodged in the skin of the Echinoderm, it is clear that it can only be nourished by means of the latter. This mouth, being de- prived of all trace of armature, is, without doubt, destined to absorb liquid or soft parts. M. Semper appears to be dis- posed to consider that all the other Eulime (equally destitute of jaws) which live on Holothurie, or on other Echinoderms, are nourished by the mucus secreted by the epidermis of their host. Lastly, a very singular parasite is a little Lamellibranch, which lives on the skin of a Synapta, where it is found crawl- ing actively by means of a large and almost membranous foot. This animal belongs to that small group of Lamelli- branchs which, like certain Cephalophora, have only an internal shell, or at least in which the mantle is reflected so as to envelope the primitive external shell. In the species in question the mantle is, it is true, completely closed, in such a manner that the shell is internal in every sense of the term, whilst in certain Erycine the suture of the two halves of the mantle is not complete. The richness of the materials of which this first volume gives us knowledge makes us impatient, concludes Professor Claparéde, to see the appearance of those which are an- nounced to succeed it. Max Schultze’s Archiv. Vol. IV, Part II. I. “ On the Nerves in the Tail of the Frog Larva,” by Dr. V. Hensen. II. “ On the Cells of the Spinal Ganglion and of the Sympathetic in the Frog,” by L. G. Courvoisier. Ill. “ On the Structure of the Lachrymal Glands,” by Franz Boll. IV. “ On the Taste-Organs of Mammals and of Man,” by G. Schwalbe. V. “ On Invaginated Cells,” by Dr. F. Steudener. VI. “ On the Structure, especially of the Vaterian Bodies, of the Beak of the Snipe,” by Franz Leydig, of Tubingen. This number of the ‘ Archiy ’ is remarkable for its papers on nerve-structure, especially as to nerve-endings. Dr. Hensen has carefully studied that favorite subject for investigation in these matters, the tadpole’s tail. He points out and figures very beautifully the termination of nerves in the epithelial cells. As the result of various researches, he is led to conclude that the nerves, with the exception of the sympathetic, are exclusively a tissue belonging to the cor- neous layer of the embryo ; that they, therefore, must end in cells or cell-derivatives of the corneous layer. to which, 168 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. according to Hensen’s experience, the striped muscles also belong ; and that the nerves do not grow out into a tissue, but, through the separation of particular cellsand tissues from one another, become differentiated. He quotes, in addition to his own observations, the ending of nerves in the salivary- gland-cells, in the epithelial cells of the cornea, the rods and cones of the retina, which are simply the epithelium of pri- mary optic vesicle, and therefore continuous with the body- surface originally; also, lastly, the ending of nerves in teeth. Kowalevsky, in his researches on the development of Amphi- oxus lanceolatus, recently pointed out the termination of nerves in the epidermic cells of the skin of this fish. Courvoisier’s paper is principally controversial, and intended to establish his claims in the matter of the spiral and straight fibres of bipolar ganglion-cells. It is illustrated by a plate. The views of Beale, Kolliker, Arnold, Sanders, and Krause, are fully discussed. Franz Boll’s paper is one of great interest, and, like his paper on the structure of the tooth-pulp and its nerves, which we recently noticed, is a most creditable example of the work which Professor Schultze enables his pupils at Bonn to accomplish. The author’s observations are similar to those of Pflueger on the salivary glands. He points out the existence of a network of multipolar nerye-cells in the tissue of the gland, and traces the termination of some of the nerve-fibres in the gland-cells. ‘These matters are illustrated in a clear and well-drawn plate. Dr. Schwalbe’s paper is a very extensive treatise on the minute structure of the papille of the tongue, the peculiar ““schmeckbechers,” and their relation to the nerves. He points out the existence of certain very remarkable nervous structures. ‘The paper is illustrated with two plates, and, taken in connection with that of Dr. Christian Loven, published in a previous number of the ‘ Archivy.,’ furnishes a very noteworthy addition to the knowledge of the structure of special-sense-organs. The invaginated cells observed by Dr. Steudener occur in carcinomatous lymph-glands and in carcinomatous livers. The appearance presented is such that the structure might be taken for mother-cells, with enclosed daughter-cells ; but by a series of transitional forms figured in his plate, the author shows that one cell may be gradually squeezed into, or closed in by, another. In the beak of the snipe (Scolopawx rusticola) are certain large corpuscles in connection with the fibres of the nerve, and surrounded by a densely vascular tissue. ‘These are EEE ae Ea QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 169 described, drawn, and their meaning discussed by Dr. Leydig. Societa Italiana di Scienze Naturali. “ Studies on Cochineal Insects,’ by A. Targioni Tozzetti.—Professor Tozzetti has been good enough to send us this and the following memoir, which are very exhaustive and valuable treatises. The com- plete history and anatomy of several Cocci is most elaborately worked out by the author, and illustrated by most faithful- looking drawings im seven large quarto plates. So thoroughly complete and careful examination as Professor Tozzetti has given to these insects makes his work a most important pendant to the researches of Huxley, Lubbock, Balbiani, Mecznikow, and Claparéde, on allied hemipterous forms. “On the Light-organ of Luciola Italica, and on the Muscular Fibre of Arthropods,’ by Targioni Tozzetti. This paper contains a full and careful description of the organs in question, illustrated by two plates. Miscellaneous.—‘“‘ 4 Monograph on the Structure and De- velopment of the Shoulder-Girdle and Breast-Bone in the Vertebrata,” by W. Kitchen Parker, F.R.S. (Ray Society.) —‘ ‘We cannot,” says Mr. Parker, “ take a step in this de- partment of anatomical science without a thorough acquaint- ance, not only with the histology of the skeleton, but also with that of the rest of the tissues that go to make a verte- brate animal.” Hence the last volume issued by the Ray Society has considerable interest for microscopical observers. The study of osteology is just now receiving from the hands of such men as Professors Gegenbaur and Huxley and Mr. Parker a turn in quite a new direction, the importance of which cannot be overestimated. Following in the steps of Rathke, the osteologist has now to consider in his determina- tions of homologous bones, not merely the position or rela- tions of the bone in question to other bones, but, above all, he has to ascertain and make allowance for its origin and mode of development. ‘‘ Skin-bones,” ‘“‘ membrane-bones,”’ and ‘cartilage-bones,” are now carefully discriminated. Mr. Parker, taking counsel, as he says, with Professor Huxley, proposes three terms—endostosis, ectostosis, and parostosis—by which to distinguish the three chief modes of ossification. ‘‘ Endostosis”’ is that ossification which com- mences in the intercellular substance of hyaline cartilage. That bony matter which is first found in the almost structure- less inner layer of the perichondrium, in immediate contact with the outermost cartilage- cells, is formed by a process which may be called “ectostosis.” Such a bony formation 70 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE, as appears primarily in the skin, in the subcutaneous fibrous mesh, or in the aponeurotic tracts, may be called “ parostosis.”” Bones which were thought to be homologous prove, when examined by the light of this division of the ossifying pro- cess, to be quite distinct, originating in many cases quite differently ; and others supposed to be simple prove to con- tain both ectosteal and parosteal elements. In the Elasmo- branch Fishes Mr. Parker has studied (as also has Gegen- baur) the essential cartilaginous part of the shoulder-girdle. In the Ganoid and Teleostean Fishes he is able to point out what membrane and dermal bones (parosteal elements) are added thereto; and thus, starting with a clear knowledge of these two distinct factors, he is able, when he arrives higher up in the scale, amongst reptiles, birds, and mammals, to trace out the gradual fusion of the two elements, and to show, in the simple-looking but often highly complex bones of the shoulder-girdle which part represents this or that membrane- or cartilage-bone in the fish, and what is special and peculiar to the class under consideration. The magnifi- cent volume, with its thirty coloured plates, which Mr. Parker has produced, contains the most accurate details concerning these structures, and is the result of a surprising amount of research and industry. Mr. Parker’s method has yet to be applied fully to other parts of the skeleton, and, as he him- self suggests, it is to be hoped that the present volume may be looked upon as a specimen of what sound osteological research should be at the present time, and that others may be induced to work in the same way and with as valuable a result. A new Rotifer—We recently noticed Professor Mecz- nikow’s discovery of Apsilus lentiformis, a Rolatorian entirely destitute of vibratile cilia, and M. Claparéde now communi- cates an account of an animal of the same kind observed by him some years ago in the Seine, a small river of the canton of Geneva. It was found creeping on the bodies of Tricho- drili, and other small Oligocheeta. The body of this animal, to which M. Claparéde gives the name of Balatro calvus, is more or less vermiform, and very contractile. Its poste- rior extremity (foot) is divided into two lobes, of which the ventral is semilunar, with acute angles, which are capable of invagination. The dorsal lobe forms a flattened cylinder terminated by three mammille. Between the two lobes the anus is situated. The anterior extremity, which is indis- tinctly annulated, is capable of retraction as in other Rota- toria. The mastax is not largely developed, and is armed with a very small incus, and with two curved mallei; it es a, ~ QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. i71 opens directly into a thick-walled intestine, the inner layer of which is brownish. The intestine is more simple than in the Rotatoria generally ; it extends in a straight line from the mouth to the anus, and its narrowed anterior part scarcely merits the name of cesophagus. No glands were observed in connection with the stomach. When the animal is extended the curved mallei project externally. All the individuals observed were females. The ovary occupies the ventral por- tion of the body ; beneath the intestine, the mature ovules are ovoid, and occupy the posterior extremity of the body. M. Claparéde characterises his genus Balatro as follows :—Body vermiform, very contractile ; posterior extremity terminated by two lobes—one ventral, of a semilunar form, transverse ; the other dorsal, nearly cylindrical, acting as a foot. Mallei in the form of crooks. No vibratile organs ; no eyes. Besides Apsilus and Balatro, Taphrocampa of Gosse is a genus of Rotatoria destitute of vibratile cilia. Mr. Gosse placed it originally near Notommata and Furcularia, but has since removed it to the neighbourhood of Chetonotus, among the Gasirotricha. In this M. Claparede thinks he is wrong, as Taphrocampa possesses a mastax, the structure of which is very near to that of the Furcularie and Monocerce. M. Dujardin also describes his genus Lindia as destitute of cilia ; and M. Claparéde regards it as nearly allied to his Balatro, which is still more closely related to Albertia. “ On the Mode in which certain Rotatoria introduce Food into their Mouths,’ by E. Claparéde —In the Zygotricha of Ehrenberg the vibratile apparatus may be regarded as double. The movement of the cilia is always in the same direction, namely, opposite to that of the hands of a watch; hence it is directed towards the mouth in the right wheel, and from it in the left one. But observation proves that food passes to the mouth both from right and left, which is incompatible with the received notion that the currents conveying the food are produced by the vibratile apparatus. The examination of such Rotatoria as the Melicertee and Lacinulariz leads to the same result. In Melicerta ringens, on the lower surface of the membranous vibratile organ and parallel to its margin, M. Claparéde finds a sort of crest, between which and the margin there is a deep furrow. The extreme margin bears the well-known large cilia; the crest also bears cilia, but these are long and delicate, and their movement is opposite in the two halves of the apparatus. By their means foreign bodies which get into the channel between the two ciliated crests are pushed gently along and conveyed to the mouth, being retained in their position by the inferior range of cilia. VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. ) 172 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. The action of the whole apparatus is explained as follows by Professor Claparéde :—The superior range of cilia, when in action, produces currents tangential to the vibratile organ and perpendicular to its plane. ‘These currents are closed, and appear to be nearly of an elliptical form; particles in- volved in them pass repeatedly over the same course, and if they are thus brought in contact with the extremities of the inferior cilia, which reach a little above the base of the superior range, they pass into the channel above mentioned, and are pushed along in it towards the mouth. The author remarks that the apparent movement of the inferior cilia is from the mouth; but this is illusory, and due to the circum- stance that the slow elevation of each cilium preparatory to its stroke produces a greater effect upon the eye than the more rapid stroke itself. This double row of ciliain Melicerta and Lacinularia has been observed and described in this country by Huxley and Williamson, and in Germany by Leydig, but its existence seems to have escaped the notice of subsequent observers. Professor Huxley has also observed this second row of cilia in Philodina, a genus belonging to the Rotatoria Zygotrocha. M. Claparéde here describes and figures it in Rotifer inflatus (Duj.), in which the inferior cilia are borne upon a crest which is oblique relatively to the plane of the vibratile wheel ; in all other respects the arrange- ment and action of these inferior cilia are the same as in Melicerta. ‘The same characters have been observed in Rotifer vulgaris (Ehr.). M. Claparéde appends to this paper a note confirming Mr. Gosse’s account of the mode in which Melicerta ringens builds up its tube, and remarks that this does not appear to have attracted attention on the Continent. “ Teeth of Fossil Fishes from the Coal-measures, North- umberland.”—Professor Owen has published a paper, illus- trated by very beautiful figures in fifteen plates, in the ‘Proceedings of the Odontological Society.’ He describes various new genera and species on these characters. Mr. Albany Hancock and Mr. Thomas Atthey, however, publish papers in the ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural History,’ in which they point out what they consider to be serious errors in Professor Owen’s paper, and refuse to admit some of his genera, they being founded on fragments only of the teeth of other genera. “ Dentition of the Mole.’’—Mr. C. Spence Bate has also sent us a copy of his paper on this subject, published by the Odontological Society. Mr. Bate’s researches on the develop- ment of the teeth are highly interesting, and clearly prove QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 173 that the tooth called canine in the upper jaw is no canine at all. Unaccountably, Mr. Bate comes to the conclusion that Professor Owen’s formula is the right one—a conclusion from which, on a former occasion, we dissented. * Researches on the Compound Eyes of Crustacea and Insecta.” (Untersuchungen wber die zusammengesetzten Augen der Krebse und Insecten.) By Max Schultze. **The percipient elements of the retina,” as the author observes, ‘‘ both in Invertebrate and Vertebrate animals pos- sess a definite structure adapted to the function they have to perform, and as this, in both cases, is the perception of one and the same motion in the waves of the ether upon which all luminous impressions depend, it is, primd facie, probable that the structure in question would be essentially alike. Another question, however, arises—whether we are at the present time or ever shall be able to discover by means of the microscope the actual physical conditions upon which it must be presumed the percipient power of the termination of the optic nerve depends. For although we know the length of the undulations, and are able easily to measure them, the difficulty still remains of reconciling the enormous rapidity of their recurrence with what we know respecting the rate of perceptivity through the nerves themselves; a difficulty which would seem calculated much to lessen the hope of our being able to discover any relation between the visible struc- ture and the undulations of light.” The discovery, however, by the author, of the universal existence of a very regular, laminated structure in the outer segments of the “‘ rods” and “cones” of the retina in man and other Vertebrata,* affords an inkling of the direction in which we may look for some definite view with respect to a purely mechanical theory of light- and colour-perception. If Zenkert+ is right in considering that in the case of the re- flection of light in the laminated structure of the rods, which may be compared to a set of glass-plates, a system of statical waves must be established (which can only take place, for the different coloured rays, where the reflecting surfaces are at the proper distances apart), we may arrive at some idea as to how the varying length of the undulations of the different coloured rays is perceived irrespective of their enormous rapidity. In this view the laminated structure of the percipient rods would seem to be of fundamental importance, and the author * «Archiv. f. microscop. Anat.,’ III, 1867; p. 215. + ‘Versuch einer Theorie der Farbenperception.’ 174. QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. has consequently been led to inquire whether it exists as well in the invertebrate as in vertebrate animals. The result of his observations is fully confirmatory of what had been already stated by Leydig in 1857, viz., that the bacillar stratum of the retina in the Arthropoda corresponds in all respects, physically and chemically, with that of the same elements in the vertebrate retina, and that the rods exhibit a fine transverse striation, which is readily perceptible, espe- cially on the addition of water, even in the large “ rods” of the naked Amphibians. But a still more important question was to be decided—as to what parts in the eyes of Crustacea and Insects were destined for the collection of the visual rays, and by which of them the percipient function was performed. Each segment of the compound eye, as is well known, represents a sort of tube closed at the outer end by a convex transparent cornea, and containing a conical crystalline body, supported on the outer end of the “‘ rod,” whose inner end is in connection with the optic ganglion, upon which the whole organ is, as it were, supported. Since Miiller’s researches in 1829, it has been generally conceived that the cornea and crystalline cone together formed the refractive apparatus, and that the image was perceived at the extremity of the nerve, where the point of the crystalline cone comes in relation with it. The question then arises as to whether each separate segment or tube of the eye receives and perceives a distinct image, or whether all of them together concur in the formation of a general image, and the conveying of its impression to the per- cipient centre. Miiller appears to have been inclined to adopt the latter view, but it has been since shown by several observers, and especially by Gottsche* and Zenker,+ that minute inverted images are formed in each facet; so that, as stated by Zenker and R. Wagner, “ the compound eye can only be regarded as an aggregation of so many simple eyes.” But this view demands the solution of the question as to the point and mode of termination of the nerve fibres behind the “crystalline cone,” and also as to the number of the percipient terminal points at that situation, since it is clear that a single nerve-termination cannot perceive an entire image. Leydig, whose opinion on any question of the kind is of the greatest weight, says that the “‘ nerve- * Miller, ‘ Archiv,’ 1852, p. 488. + ‘Anatomisch-systemat. Studien wiber die Krebsthiere,’ 1854, p. 30. QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 175 fibre,’ or “rod,” and the ‘crystalline cone” are con- tinuous in substance, and constitute merely divisions of one and the same structure; thus, in fact, regarding the entire apparatus as resembling the “rods and “cones” of the vertebrate eye. As this view is opposed to that of many other writers, amongst whom M. Claparéde may be cited in the first place, it became an object to determine the exact relation between the “crystalline cone” and the “ rod.” According to Max Schultze, its point is merely in apposition, and has no organic connection with the outer end of the “rod.” The next point he takes up is the intimate structure of the “rod” itself, which he shows to possess the same laminated structure that he had discovered in the outer segment of the “rods” and cones in the human and other vertebrate retinas. The memoir also includes an interesting account of the differences existing between the eyes of nocturnal and diurnal insects. In the nocturnal moths, for instance, the cornea is usually quite colourless, and thus is capable of transmitting all the luminous rays, whilst in the diurnal Lepidoptera the corneal facets have in most cases a yellow border, sometimes very intense, so that in these cases the rays towards the violet end of the spectrum must be in great measure absorbed. It is to be observed also that in the diurnal Lepidoptera the “crystalline cone” has itself a yellowish tint, and is im- bedded in a coloured pigment, whilst in the nocturnal it is colourless and at the same time larger, so as to be capable of collecting a greater number of rays. It is curious to observe the close analogy thus shown to exist between the “rods” and “cones” of the retina in night- and day-flying birds, as referred to in the notice of a former paper by Max Schultze, given in the Journal (Vol. XV, p. 25). Other interesting peculiarities respecting the differences between nocturnal and diurnal Lepidoptera will be found in the memoir. : “ Deuxieme Série d Observations Microscopiques sur la Chevelure.” Paris, 1868. (Extrait du Tome iii, des ‘ Mémoires de la Soc. Anthrop. de Paris.’) A ‘Second Series of Microscopic Observations on the Human Hair,’ by M. Pruner-Bey, has lately appeared, with five plates of figures, showing the forms of transverse sections of the hair in various races of mankind, and in many cases at different ages. Several of the more interesting races are represented by a considerable number of individuals, so that the characters of their hair have been established with great 176 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. precision. Other isolated specimens belong to less known races, but M. Pruner-Bey has thought it advisable to include them for future comparison. He says a few words with reference to the observations contained in his former memoir on the same subject respecting the characters of the hair, which are visible to the naked eye. 1. With respect to colour, he has established the fact that it is not always 4/ack in the negress. Besides a red colour, which is very exceptional, he has met with hair of an ashy (cendrée) tint in some cases, in which the other characters were perfectly nigritic. 2. Among two hundred specimens of hair from natives of India, only one occurred of a straw- colour, and even this might have been of foreign origin. The hair of every race south of the Himalayahs is jet black ; but in proportion as we ascend into the more elevated regions a brown colour occurs more and more frequently. In general, M. Pruner-Bey’s recent observations have con- firmed what he has before announced, viz., that the colour may differ in different branches of one and the same race, independently of any other change in the characters of the hair. But the same observation does not hold good between different races, especially when the pigmentation is examined microscopically in transverse sections. As was shown in his former communication, the differential characters of the hair of various races are found chiefly in the forms presented by transverse sections. Such sections, moreover, afford an opportunity of determining not only the form, but also the size of the hair, a character which M. Pruner-Bey considers of the greatest importance. Amongst the principal races whose hair forms the subject of the present communication may be enumerated amongst the Semitic—Arabs and Jews; and as types of the Arian family, Greeks, Brahmins, Lithuanians, &c. It would appear that, according to M. Pruner- Bey, there i isa marked difference between the Semitic and the Arian races. he latter show- ing a regular oval outline in the transverse section, and the former one of a more or less angular outline; so that, as the learned ethnologist remarks, we might almost fancy that the angular traits of the Hebrew visage were repeated in the transverse section of the hair ! Amongst the so-termed Turanian races, we find Fins, Esthonians, Samoyedes, natives of Sicily and Kabyles, &e. Other races are Korouglous, Nigritoes, Australians, Malays and Polynesians—Americans, Chinese, Annamites, Japanese, — Santals, and finally an ape; the hair of the latter having been Ee — QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 177 diagnosed by M. Pruner from its microscopic characters alone. It resembled in some respects the hair of the human infant, but differed from it in the perfectly uniform dissemination of the black pigmentary matter and the consequent entire ab- sence of any trace of structure. NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. Colour of the Sea.—As a pendant to the admirable paper by Dr. Collingwood, published in the April ‘ Quarterly Micro- scopical Journal,’ permit me to send you the following notes. During the voyage of this vessel from Valparaiso hither, at the end of last and beginning of this month, the sea was 500 INCH noticed to be sensibly discoloured for about 500 miles. Some sixty miles south of Callao (lat. 13° south) the colour was brownish-green ; close to and at about ten miles from Callao the sea was covered by many patches of thick reddish-brown . scum. This occurred at intervals; but more to the north, off the Lobos Islands, the scum had disappeared, and there —— MEMORANDA. 179 were only scattered clouds of bloody water. This was at some fifty miles from the shore. It was several times examined, either as scum or the strainings of the discoloured water, and always with the same results. I enclose a specimen, and also a very rough sketch, taken near Callao. It may not be irrelevant for me to say that I have many times seen and examined red water, more especially while off the West Mexican and Californian coast. The colour was not always due to Trichodesmium, but I do not re- member’ any instance of animal life being the cause. The Gulf of California is so notorious for its occasional tinging as to have been called by the old Spaniards colorado, red or ruddy.—J. Linton Patmer, F.R.C.S.E., Surgeon H.M.S. Topaze, at Panama. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Royant Mroroscopican Society. April 8th, 1868. JAMES GLAISHER, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. Tue minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Dr. Jayaker was duly elected a Fellow of the Society. The following presents were announced, and thanks voted to the respective donors ; Presented by Seven Slides of Crystals. : . . Mr. J. Norman. Six ditto from Tasmania . ; . Mr.E.D.Harrop. Journal of Linnean Society - ; » Society. Land and Water (weekly) ; é . Editor. Journal of Society of Arts (weekly) 5 . Society. Journal of Photographic Society . : . Editor. Journal of Quekett Club - “ . Club. The Student : : : . Publisher. Popular Science Review : A . Ditto. British Journal of Dental Science . : . Editor. Dental Characters of Genera and Species, chiefly of Fishes, from Shales of Coal, Northumberland. By Professor Owen, F.R.S., &e. . é . Author. Spectroscope and Microspectroscope in the Discovery of Blood-stains. By Dr. Herapath : . Ditto. The Works of W. Hewson, F.R.S. ; . G.Gulliver, F.R.S. Portrait of Professor Owen : : . Professor Owen. Album of Portraits of Fellows : : . Messrs. Maul. Schacht on the Microscope . : - Henry Lee. Ray Society’s Volume for 1867 . : . Ditto. A paper was read by Major Ross, R.A., “ On Micro-crystals and Iridescent Films obtained by the use of the Blow-pipe.” Major Ross showed his method of operation. He melted borax on a platina wire bent into a ring at one extremity, and then in- troduced the various metals. By employing a mechanical blow- pipe to maintain the borax bead in fusion, he was able to blow it into a thin bubble by means of an ordinary mouth blow-pipe. The borax bubbles exhibited iridescent colours, and after being left for some sime undisturbed micro-crystals made their appearance. Major Ross thought that the colours of the films and the forms of PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 181 the crystals were characteristic of the particular metals or other bodies fused with the borax. He then described at length the beautiful effects produced, and gave theoretical explanations of the phenomena. Before this paper was read the PRESIDENT stated that, as Major Ross was about to leave London, he had consented to its being brought before the Society, although the Council had not had an opportunity of seeing it. Under these circumstances they would exercise their discretion as to its publication. Mr. Brooxr, F.RS., remarked that the author had not discriminatedc between two distinct phenomena in optics, refraction and interference. He also referred to the attempts made by Newton (to which Major Ross alluded) to explain the colours of films by his corpuscular emission theory of light. The colours in Major Ross’s experiments were entirely produced by the well-known action of films, and were perfectly accounted for by the undulatory theory. Mr. Jasez Hoee thought that inferring the compesition of bodies from special forms of micro-crystals would easily lead to error. Mr. Waddington had shown him specimens of micro- erystals resembling those obtained in Dr. Guy’s sublimations, and showing the uncertainty of that class of evidence. Mr. Sxack, while differing entirely from the theoretical portions of Major Ross’s paper, was of opinion that he had indicated an interesting field of research, in which facts of importance might be discovered, In reply to observations of Major Ross, Mr. Brooke explained that, although various forms might be obtained from a crystallizable body by erystallizing it under different conditions, they would all be referred to the same system. Mr. Hoga then read a paper on “The Lingual Membrane of Mollusca, and its Value in Classification.”’ (See ‘ Trans.,’ p. 93.) At the close of the above paper Mr. Hoae pointed out the ad- vantage of mounting palates in glycerine. He found that Canada balsam materially damaged the delicate portions of the structure. The Rev. THos. H. Browne asked if Mr. Hogg thought “lingual” a proper term for all the structures to which it was applied. He considered that it should be restricted to palates in which one portion was detached and capable of protrusion. The best way to see the form of lingual teeth was to tear the palate from the outside towards the centre. Mr. Hoee thought Huxley’s term odontophore preferable to lingual membrane. Sorrte, Wednesday Evening, April 22nd. Tuer invitations issued by the President and Council were generally responded to, and the soirée was attended by upwards of 1800 visitors and Fellows. By the courtesy of the authorities 182 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. of King’s College the whole building was thrown open on this occasion, including the Museum of George III and the Natural History Museum, the interesting contents of which were a great source of attraction, and contributed to prevent the large hall and libraries from being overcrowded. The refresh- ment department, which proved insufficient on former occasions, was conducted this year on a much larger scale, an additional room having been assigned to it, and nothing omitted that could promote the comfort of the visitors. The exhibition of objects of beauty and interest was such as not only to afford satisfaction to the Society and their guests, but also to create a belief that the interest for microscopical research is greatly on the increase. There was, on the whole, a larger display of microscopes of every description than usual, contributed by nearly all of the London makers—Messrs. Ross, Messrs. Beck, Messrs. Powell and Lealand, Mr. Ladd, Mr. Baker, Messrs. Murray and Heath, Horne and Thornwaite, J. How, Crouch, Swift, Browning, Collins, Norman, Wheeler, Salmon, &c. &e. The collection of old microscopes, superintended by Mr. Williams, occupied one of the most attractive tables of the exhi- bition. Under the Martin’s microscope a splendid crystallized mass of bismuth, with iridescent colours, formed a most splendid object, while it demonstrated the large field and power of this remarkable instrument. There was also the microscope made for George III, with other curious early microscopes. A new reflect- ing goniometer was shown by Mr. Browning, as well as a number of spectroscopes. The absorption bands of the red feather of the Luracus albo-cristatus, in which Professor Church discovered the red organic pigment ¢wracine, containing copper, were exhi- bited by Mr. Browning, and the structure of the feather was shown by Mr. Slack. The platform was occupied by Dr. Carpenter and Mr. Henry Lee, the former bringing a beautiful collection to illustrate the structure of the Ophiuride, and the latter exhibiting a selection of objects from the Paris Exhibition, and some elegant drawings of snow crystals on the squares of a chess board. Mr. Ladd’s exceedingly fine specimens of Iceland spar were a source of much attraction; and under one of his microscopes a “ spirally crystallized sulphate of copper.” This salt, it appears, when permitted to crystallize from warm solutions, assumes, according to the temperature, a spiral appearance, as though the solution during the process of cooling had been full of minute whirlpools, or rather had taken on a rotatory motion. In this state it becomes an attractive object for polarized light. Mr. W.S. Waddington showed a beautiful and interesting series of micro-sub- limates ; and in one of the lecture-rooms Mr. How, by the aid of the oxy-hydrogen light, exhibited at intervals a series of Dr. Maddox’s micro-photographs, and a superb collection of photo- graphs from various parts of Europe. Mr. How’s kaleidoscope, applied to the gas microscope, was also much admired. Mr. Hopkinson’s collection of fossils, among which we noticed EEE ——— PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 183 a remarkable specimen of Diplograpsus angustifolius, Hall, in which the prolonged axis is enveloped in a non-celliferous portion of the periderm ; also a series of fossil woods illustrative of Mr. Carruther’s paper in the ‘ Intellectual Observer,’ May and June, 1867. Under the Society’s microscopes were shown an interesting series of objects from the Wallich and Beck collections, and objects pre- sented by T. Ross, Dr. Carpenter, and T. White. A series of bronzes reduced to scale from the antique, by Mr. Flaxman ’ Spurrell, were much admired, as also were a series of drawings of the British mosses by Dr. Braithwaite, and another series of tongues of mollusca illustrative of Mr. Hogg’s paper, a fine set of coloured figures of fungi by G. W. Smith, and micro-photo- graphs by Dr. “Millar. It would occupy too much space to particularise all the objects of novelty, but we must mention Mr. Ross’s new four-inch objec- tive, and his tank microscope; Ackland’s alcohol thermometers, graduated on an entirely new plan to ensure accuracy ; anew form of Reade’s double hemispherical condenser; Fiddian’s lamp chimney, by Mr. Collins; a new meteor-spectroscope, with an enormous field, by Mr. Brow ning ; an improvement on Nachet’s stereo- pseudoscopic microscope, by Messrs. Murray and Heath; a pocket microscope by ditto; a travelling microscope by Mr. Moginnie, &c. May 13th, 1868. JameEs GLAISHER, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. The following gentlemen were duly elected Fellows of the Society :—Arthur E. Durham, F.R.C.S., &.; Charles S. Baker ; Dr. Edward Dowson. The following donations were announced, and thanks returned to the respective donors: Presented by sath Object-glass 5 : . J. Smith, Jun. A Gondenser, with Polariscope, &e. : . J. Swift. Adams on the Microscope, 2nd edition : . R. Farmer. Catalogue of Royal Society’s Papers, vol. 1 . . Society. Six Slides of Podura Scales : : . 8) J. M‘Intire. Land and Water (weekly) ‘ : . Editor. Journal of Society of Arts : : . Society. Photographic Journal. F : . Editor. Journal of Linnean Society ‘ ; . Society. Journal of Geological Society . Society. Portrait of Charles Brooke, Esq., E.R. Se &e. . C. Brooke, Esq. The Student . Publisher. Untersuchungen ueber "Entwickelungsgeschichte des Farbstoffes in Eee ae von Dr. Adolf We 2 Parts . : Author. 184 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Presented by Beitrag zu einer Monographie der Sciarinen, von Joh. Winnertz in Crefeld F r Author. The Microscope, 4th edition, by Dr. Carpenter . Ditto. Die Diatomeen der Hohen Satra be&rbeit, von J. Schu- mann. , é F «, Uitte. Diagnosen der in Ungarn und Sclavonien Bisher Beo- bachteten Gefasspflanzen, Verhandlungen der kai- serlich-kéniglichen Zoologisch-botanischen Gessell- __ schaft in Wien : ’ : . Ditto. The attention of the Society was called to a set of models of the gizzard of the Philodina roseola, made by the Hon. and Rev. the Lord Sydney Godolphin Osborne. Mr. Hetscu read a description of improvements he had effected in Nachet’s Stereo-pseudoscopic Binocular Microscope. (See ‘Trans.,’ p. 112.) Mr. Brooke explained the action of Nachet’s construction. A paper was then read “On Fungoid Growths in Aqueous Solu- tions of Silica, and their Artificial Fossilization,” by Writ1am CuanpLER Roserts, F.C.S., Associate of the Royal School of Mines, and Henry J. Stack, F.G.S., Sec. R.M.S. (See ‘ Trans.,’ p- 105.) Mr. Roserts gave some further account of the mode of pre- paring silica solutions and their behaviour. Mr. Banrrr, F.C.S., stated that, in his experiments referred to in the paper, every care was taken to exclude dust. The silica solution was dialysed in a vegetable parchment dialyser covered with filtering paper. After the potash and acid had passed away, the solution of silica was filtered. Some growths were found on the filter, and growths came abundantly in the solutions kept in University College Laboratory. Some gelatinized specimens contain dozens of the fungoid plants. As the gelatinized silica dries, the process does not seem to go on by steady evaporation. He had observed a layer of water on the top of some silicain a flask, as if it had been squeezed out from the mass below. Peculiarities in the mode of drying might account for the fungoid branches keeping their form during the contraction of solidification. From some experiments he thought that the presence of alkalies prevented these fungoid growths. Where the growths had occurred the plants had no nutriment but what they might derive from silica, air, and water. He thought further observations might lead to a better understanding of the part. played by silica in agriculture. He considered that the importance of silica had not been fully recognised hitherto. Mr. Brownine said that he had heard the vegetable appearance compared with the peculiar fractures produced by electrical perfora- tions in glass, but their actual growth was conclusive as to their character. Mr. Suack observed that the foliated aspect of glass perforations bh PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 185 did not look like vegetation when properly examined, but did resemble certain mineral crystallizations. The Rev. J. B. Reape said he had been struck with the im- portant part played by silica in many plants. It was not confined to cuticles of straw, &c., and was deposited as part of a true process of growth. He inquired whether any carbon had been detected in the artificial fossils of moulds. Mr. Rogerts replied that the quantity was probably too small; that Mr. Slack and himself had obtained a carbonaceous appearance by heating mycelium threads, taken from silica solutions, in hot sul- phurie acid; nitric, hydrochloric, and nitro-hydrochloric acids, even when hot, acted slowly upon them. A paper was then read “On a New Form of Condenser with a Blue Tinted Field Lens,” by W. H. Haut, Esq., F.R.M.S. (See ‘Trans.,’ p. 108.) Mr. Hall presented to the Society, on behalf of Mr. Swift, a con- denser and paraboloid, made according to his pattern. The thanks of the Society were unanimously voted to Mr. Swift. The meeting was then made special, and the following amend- ments of the Bye-Laws unanimously passed : Proposed by the Rev. J. B. Reape, seconded by Mr. LeEE— “That Bye-Law Sec. 2, No. 7, shall be amended by the addition of the following words, viz.—‘ That, at the death of any com- pounder, the fee paid by him for his composition may, by the direc- tion of the Council, be released from such investment, and applied as the Council may think fit.’ ”’ Proposed by Dr. Miiuar, seconded by Cuas. Brooke, Esq.— “ That, for the future, Sec. 2, No. 14, shall be as follows, viz.— ‘Any Fellow who may be absent from the United Kingdom during the space of one year, or who may permanently reside out of the said kingdom, may, upon notifying such fact to the Secretaries in writing, be exempted from paying one half of the annual subscrip- tion of £2 2s. so long as his absence may continue. The publica- tions due to Fellows residing out of the kingdom (Honorary Fellows excepted) shall be delivered to such agent in London as they may appoint.’ ”’ June 10th, 1868. JaMES GLAISHER, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The following gentlemen were duly elected Fellows of the Society :-—Robert Luke Howard; Joseph Russell; Edward Davy Harrop. The PrestpENT announced that the Reading-room would be closed during the month of August, but, with that exception, it could be used by Fellows in the recess. The following donations were announced, and thanks returned to the respective donors : 186 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Presented by Slide of Spiral Sulphate of Copper . ‘ . Mr. Ladd. Journal of Linnean Society ; - . Society. Canadian Journal, No. 66 4 ‘ . Institute. Photographic Journal. : ; . Editor. The Student . : , . Publisher. Micro-sublimation, by H. J. Waddington _.. . Author. Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of Philadelphia, 4 Parts . ; : 2 . Academy. Abhanlungen herausgegeben von Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereine zu Bremen, 1868 ; : : Land and Water (weekly) ; : . Editor. Journal of Society of Arts : . . Society. Portrait of James Bowerbank, Esq., F.R.S., &c. . J. Bowerbank. Report of Board of Health on Cholera Epidemic of 1854 Jabez Hogg. Annals of Natural History : 2 . Purchased. The Secretary described “ A Reversible Compressorium, with a Revolving Disk,” designed by S. Piper, F.R.M.S. (See p. 114.) Dr. Tuupicuum delivered an interesting address “On the Relation of Microscopic Fungi to Pathological Processes, particu- larly the Process of Cholera.” He proceeded to a critical exami- nation of the latest inquiries of Klob, Thomé, Hallier, &c., all of whom attribute the symptoms of cholera toa “fungus contagium,” and which they say can be found in all the excretory fluids of persons affected with this disease. Their so-called “ micrococci,” which, as they suppose, destroy the villi of the intestines with much rapidity, were, in Dr. Thudichum’s opinion, the results of granular disintegration, and could be met with in all albuminous and nitrogenous matters after standing a few hours. As to the “eylindriform fungi” of Klob, they were not fungi at all, but bodies termed “vibriones,” which rapidly multiply by self-division, and when present have nothing whatsoever specifically to do with the cause of cholera. Mr. Hoae highly eulogised the scientific and valuable labours of Dr. Thudichum, and observed that the subject offered an attrac- tive and promising field of research for the Fellows of the Society, skilled, as most of them were, in the use of the microscope. He quite concurred in the views expressed by Dr. Thudichum ; and Dr. Hassall, who during the epidemic visitation of 1854 made twenty-five examinations of the rice-water discharges, stated “that in none could he find either sporules, threads, or any species of fungus.’ In some, however, after standing by for a space of twenty-four hours, he observed “ myriads of vibriones.” A full account of these examinations, with illustrations, appeared in the ‘ Annual Report of the Board of Health’ of the period, a copy of which Mr. Hogg had much pleasure in presenting to the Society. He would also direct attention to the valuable researches of Dr. Thudichum on this subject, published in the ‘ Blue Book’ of last year. In this report Dr. Thudichum shows, by the aid of PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 187 micro-spectroscopy, that a marked alteration of the blood takes place during the progress of choleraic disease. The PRESIDENT, upon rising to propose a yote of thanks to Dr. Thudichum, expressed the great pleasure with which he had listened to his interesting remarks, and repeated that the “ blue mist,” which he had described as being present during a cholera visitation, had been visible during the past fortnight, but with special differences in its appearance from that presented during the prevalence of the disease. A special vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Bailey and Mr. Collins for services rendered at the last soirée, which brought the work of the session to a close. QuEKETT MicroscopicaL Cius. March 27th, 1868. Dr. Titsury Fox, Vice-President, in the Chair. Mr. Curties read a paper by Mr. Tatem on “Some Rare and Undescribed Species of Infusoria.”’ Mr. R. T. Lewis read a paper on “The Application of Berlin Black to Microscopical Purposes.” Mr. 8. J. M‘Intire read a paper on “Some Cheap Aids to Micro- scopical Study.” According to notice given, the meeting was made special to con- sider the following proposition :—“ That ladies be permitted to be- come members of the Club, and that such alterations in the rules be made as may be necessary to effect this object ;’ which, on being put from the chair, was negatived. Fifteen members were elected. April 24th, 1868. Mr, Artuvr EK. Duruam, F.L.S., President, in the Chair. Dr. Braithwaite read a paper on “The Mosses gathered at a recent Excursion of the Club,” illustrated by a collection of dried specimens and numerous drawings, which he presented to the Club as the first of a series of mosses found in the metropolitan district. Mr. 5S. J. M‘Intire read a paper entitled “Some Additional Notes on Podure.”’ Twelve members were elected. May 22nd, 1868. Mr. Artuur E. Duruaw, F.L.S., President, in the Chair. Mr. James Martin read a paper on “The Crystallization of VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. P 188 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Sulphate of Copper at different Temperatures,’ and exhibited a series of specimens under the microscope. Mr. J. Slade read a paper on “ The Microscopic Structure of the Shells of Crustacea,” which he illustrated with several coloured diagrams. Dr. Braithwaite presented specimens of mosses in continuation of the series, and called attention to four as being rare, viz. Fissidens exilis, found by Mr. W. W. Reeves; Hypnum impotens and Bua- baumia aphylla, found by Professor Lawson; and Hypnwm Lile- cebrum, found by Dr. Braithwaite, who also exhibited specimens of Wolffia arhiza, the smallest of the British flowering plants, and recently discovered here. Thirty members were elected. Dusiin Microscorican Curve, 16th January, 1868. Dr. Moore, alluding to the exhibition at last meeting of the Protonema of Schistostega osmundacea, by Dr. Dickson, brought forward a frond of this little moss, which he had ix cultivation, forming a very pretty low-power object. Rev. E. O’Meara exhibited a new Navicula, to be hereafter described. Rev. T. G. Stokes exhibited a fine specimen of Actinoptyeus tricingulus ; also, on the same slide, a test of a Difflugia obtained from guano, which had withstood the action of the acid used in the preparation of the diatoms. This was a balloon-shaped pellucid form, externally marked by reticulations. Dr. Collis exhibited sections of a wart, which was passing into cancerous degeneration. The sections showed the first two stages of this degeneration, and corresponded with wonderful accuracy to some diagrams on the subject which had appeared in his work on ‘Cancer and Tumours.’ In one portion of the section, the cuta- neous papilla were seen in a state of simple hypertrophy, with the epithelial covering lying in a dense horny mass upon the surface of each papilla, and crowded irregularly in the interspaces between the papilla. In a neighbouring part, the horny epidermis had encroached on some of the papilla, and, by its pressure, produced ulcerative absorption of them. ‘Traces even of the third stage, or interstitial deposit of the eperdermic scales in the substance of the skin, could be faintly made out in some points. The difference of colour and of refractive power in the true skin and the epidermis brought out these points with more than usual sharpness. 20th February, 1868. Dr. John Barker mentioned his having seen in “ conjugation” that minute rhizopod Zrinema acinus, and described the alternate ee PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 189 transference of the granular contents to take place quite in the same manner as previously referred to by Mr. Archer in one or two species of Difflugia. Rev. E, O'Meara exhibited Swrirella reniforme. Mr. Archer exhibited a couple of instances of the conjugated state of the common and widely-distributed diatom, Stauwroneis phenicenteron, the more interesting as being for the first time seen seemingly in any species of that genus. The process in the form shown is, however, nearly a complete parallel to the mode of conjugation described by Carter for Navicula serians (‘ Ann. Mapes. V. xv:,, NSS ;4osth (fig. 2a). ‘The last mentioned are hardly distinguishable from some of * These apparent rods are not merely edge views of disks. 2. DEPTHS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. 207 the granules of the granule-heaps. The largest discoliths are commonly free, but the smaller and smallest are very generally found imbedded among the granules. The second kind of coccolith (fig. 4 a—m), when full erown, has an oval contour, convex upon one face, and flat or concave upon the other. Left to themselves, they le upon one or other of these faces, and in that aspect < apeeay to be composed of two concentric zones (fig. 4 d, 2, 3) surrounding a central corpuscle (fig.4 d,1). The central corpuscle is oval, and has thick walls ; in its centre is a clear and transparent space. Immediately surrounding this cor- puscle is a broad zone (2), which often appears more or less distinctly granulated, and sometimes has an almost moniliform margin. Beyond this appears a narrower zone (3), which is generally clear, transparent, and structureless, but sometimes exhibits well-marked Sstriz, which follow the direction of radii from the centre. Strong pressure occasion- ally causes this zone to break up into fragments bounded by radial lines. Sometimes, as Dr. Wallich has already observed, the clear space is divided into two (fig. le). ‘This appears to occur only in the largest of these bodies, but I have never observed - any further subdivision of the clear centre, nor any tendency to divide on the part of the body itself. A lateral view of any of these bodies (fig. 4 f—) shows that it is by no means the concentrically laminated concretion it at first appears to be, but that it has a very singular and, so far as I know, unique structure. Supposing it to rest upon its con- vex surface, it consists of a lower plate, shaped like a deep saucer or watch-glass ; of an upper plate, which is sometimes flat, sometimes more or less watch-glass-shaped ; of the oval, thick- walled, flattened corpuscle, which connects the centres of these two ‘plates ; and of an intermediate substance, which is closely connected with the under surface of the upper plate, or more or less fills up the interval between the two plates, and often has a coarsely granular margin. ‘The upper plate always has a less diameter than the lower, and is not wider than the intermediate substance. It is this last which gives rise to the broad granular zone in the face view. Suppose a couple of watch-glasses, one rather smaller and much flatter than the other; turn the convex side of the former to the concave side of the latter, interpose between the centre of the two a hollow spheroid of wax, and press them together —these will represent the upper and lower plates and the central corpuscle. Then pour some plaster of Paris into the interval left between the watch-glasses, and that will take the 208 PROF. HUXLEY, ON SOME ORGANISMS FROM GREAT place of the intermediate substance. I do not wish to imply,: however, that the intermediate substance is something totally distinct from the upper and lower plates. One would naturally expect to find protoplasm between the two plates; and the granular aspect which the intermediate substance frequently assumes is such as a layer of protoplasm might assume. But I have not been able to satisfy myself completely of the pre- sence of a layer of this kind, or to make sure that the inter- mediate substance has other than an optical existence. From their double-cup shape I propose to call the cocco- liths of this form Cyatholithi. 'They are stained, but not very strongly, by iodine, which chiefly affects the intermediate substance. Strong acids dissolve them at once, and leave no trace behind ; but by very weak acetic acid the calcareous matter which they contain is gradually dissolved, the central corpuscle rapidly loses its strongly refracting character, and nothing remains but an extremely delicate, finely granulated, membranous framework of the same size as the cyatholith. Alkalies, even tolerably strong solution of caustic soda, affect these bodies but slowly. If very strong solutions of caustic soda or potash are employed, especially if aided by heat, the cyatholiths, like the discoliths, are completely destroyed, their carbonate of lime being dissolved out, and afterwards deposited usually in hexagonal plates, but sometimes in globules and dumb-bells. The Cyatholithi are traceable from the full size just described, the largest of which are about >,),>th of an inch long, down to a diameter of =,!;,th of an imch. Their structure remains substantially the same, but those of ;2,,th of an inch in diameter and below it are always circular instead of oval ; the central corpuscle, instead of being oval, is circular, and the granular zone becomes very delicate. In the smallest the upper plate is a flat disc, and the lower is but very slightly convex (fig. 1 f). I am not sure that in these very small cyatholiths any intermediate substance exists apart from the under or inner surface of the upper disc. When their flat sides are turned to the eye, these young cyatholiths are ex- traordinarily like nucleated cells, and it is only by carefully studying side views, when the small cyatholiths remind one of minute shirt-studs, that one acquires an insight into their real nature. The central corpuscles in these smallest cyatho- liths are often less than = ,,th of an inch in diameter, and are not distinguishable optically from some of the granules of the granule-heaps. The coccospheres occur very sparingly in proportion to the coccoliths. Ata rough guess, I should say that there is not oo Sr —et an ae a —— DEPTHS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. 209 one of the former to several thousand of the latter. And owing to their rarity, and to the impossibility of separating them from the other components of the Atlantic mud, it 1s very difficult to subject them to a thorough examination. The coccospheres are of two types—the one compact, and the other loose im texture. The largest of the former type which I have met with measured about +3'ath of an inch in diameter (fig. 6e). They are hollow, irregularly flattened spheroids, with a thick transparent wall, which sometimes appears laminated. In this wall a number of oval bodies (1), very much like the “corpuscles” of the cyatholiths, are set, and each of these answers to one of the flattened facets of the spheroidal wall. ‘The corpuscles, which are about =s'soth of an inch long, are placed at tolerably equal distances, and each is surrounded byacontour line of corresponding form. The contour lines of adjacent corpuscles meet and overlap more or less, sometimes appearing more or less polygonal. Between the contour line and the margin of the corpuscle the wall of the spheroid is clear and transparent. ‘There is no trace of anything answering to the granular zone of the cyatholiths. Coccospheres of the compact type of ;,,th to -¢yoth of an inch in diameter occur under two forms, being sometimes mere reductions of that just described, while, in other cases, the corpuscles are round, and not more than half to a third as big (;;1,cth of an inch), though their number does not seem to be greater. In still smaller coccospheres the corpus- cles and the contour lines become less and less distinct and more minute until, in the smallest which I have observed, and which is only sith of an inch in diameter (fig. 6a), they are hardly visible. The coccospheres of the loose type of structure run from the same minuteness (fig. 7 @) up to nearly double the size of the largest of the compact type, viz. ~4,th of an inch in diameter. The lar gest (of which I have only seen one specimen) is obviously made up of bodies resembling eyatho- liths of the largest size in all particulars except the absence of the gr saree zone, of which there is no trace. IJ could not clearly ascertain how they were held together, but a slight pressure suffices to separate them. The smaller ones (fig. 7 b,c, and d) are very similar to those of the compact type represented in figs. 6, ¢ and d; but they are obviously in the case of 6 and ¢ made up of bodies resembling cyatholiths in all but the absence of the granular zone, ageregated by their flat faces round a common 210 PROF. HUXLEY, ON SOME ORGANISMS FROM GREAT centre, and more or less closely coherent. In a, only the cor- puscles can be distinctly made out. Such, so far as I have been able to determine them, then, are the facts of structure to be observed in the gelatinous matter of the Atlantic mud, and in the coccoliths and coccospheres. I have hitherto said nothing about their meaning, as in an inquiry so difficult and fraught with interest as this, it seems to me to be in the highest degree important to keep the ques- tions of fact and the questions of interpretation well apart. I conceive that the granule-heaps and the transparent gelatinous matter in which they are imbedded represent masses of protoplasm. ‘Take away the cysts which charae- terise the Radiolaria, and a dead Spherozoum would very nearly resemble one of the masses of this deep-sea ‘‘ Ur- schleim,” which must, I think, be regarded as a new form of those simple animated beings which have recently been so well described by Haeckel in his ‘ Monographie der Moneren.’* I proposed to confer upon this new “ Moner” the generic name of Bathybius, and to call it after the eminent Pro- fessor of Zoology in the University of Jena, B. Haeckelit. From the manner in which the youngest Discolitht and Cyatholithi are found imbedded among the granules; from the resemblance of the youngest forms of the Discolithi and the smallest ‘‘ corpuscles” of Cyatholithus to the granules ; and from the absence of any evident means of maintaining an independent existence in either, I am led to believe that they are not independent organisms, but that they stand in the same relation to the protoplasm of Bathybius as the spicula of Sponges or of Radiolaria do to the soft part of those animals. That the coccospheres are in some way or other closely connected with the cyatholiths seems very probable. Mr. Sorby’s view is that the cyatholiths result from the breaking up of the coccospheres. If this were the case, however, I cannot but think that the coccospheres ought to be far more numerous than they really are. The converse view, that the coccospheres are formed by the coalescence of the cyatholiths, seems to me to be quite as probable. If this be the case, the more compact variety of the coccospheres must be regarded as a more advanced stage of development of the loose form. On either view it must not be forgotten that the com- ponents of the coccospheres are not identical with the free cyatholiths ; but that, on the supposition of coalescence, the disappearance of the granular layer has to be accounted for ; * sooo vs 2215 11 je ” 2658 12 = of 2) Paris line 2880 13 low : 3101 i4 sre ‘s 3323 15 S000 » 3544. 16 8500 ”” 3766 17 aera ” 3987 18 rot * 4209 19 TOO0O0O0 9 4430 It will be seen that the lines of the 15th band of this plate are the same distance apart as those of the 30th of the thirty- band plate, and those of its 11th band are the same distance apart as those of the 20th band in the twenty-band plate de- scribed by Mr. Beck. Max Schultze* has published a short account of some ob- servations made by him with one of these new nineteen-band plates, from which it appears that with central illumination he succeeded in resolving the ninth band with two objectives, viz., Hartnack’s immersion system No. 10 and Merz’s im- mersion system =!;. By oblique light he was able to see the true lines in the 14th band. Mr. Charles Stodder,t} in a re- cent article on the Nobert plate, quotes the abbreviation of Schultze’s article in the ‘ Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science,’ January, 1866, as follows :—‘ With oblique illumi- nation he has not been able with any combination to get beyond the 15th.” This, I think, is hardly what was in- tended by Schultze’s somewhat ambiguous remark, “ Bei Schiefem Licht bin ich mit den besten systemen bis zur l5ten gruppe gekommen,”’ which I understand to mean that he resolved the 14th band, getting thus as far as to the 15th, which he did not resolve; an interpretation which is confirmed by the quotation made by Mr. Stodder in the same * «Archiv fiir Mikroskopische Anatomie,’ erster band. Bonn, 1865, p. 305. + “Nobert’s Test-plates and Modern Microscopes.” ‘ American Natu- ralist,’ vol. ii, p. 97. 228 WOODWARD, ON NOBERT’S TEST-PLATE. article from a letter recently received by him from Eulen- stein, of Stutgard, in which that microscopist says, “I have myself resolved the 14th band with a =';th of Powell and Lealand.” ‘‘ Nobert himself has never seen with his highest powers higher than the 14th band.” Eulenstein would hardly have written thus in 1868 if Schultze had resolved the 15th band in 1865. After commenting on the various observations hitherto published with regard to the Nobert lines, Mr. Stodder goes on to state—* With Tolles’ 4th immersion, angular aperture 170°, B eyepiece, power 550, Mr. Greenhaf and myself both saw the 19th band satisfactorily.” These gentlemen, how- ever, were not able to count the lines, and Mr. Stodder en- larges on the difficulty of counting such fine lines by any means in our possession. He says, “In counting lines of such exquisite fineness either the microscope or the stage must be moved, and it is next to impossible to construct apparatus that can be moved at once the +;jsosth part of an inch and no more.” Shortly before reading Mr. Stodder’s paper, I had com- menced a series of observations on Nobert’s nineteen-band plate. These observations have convinced me that Messrs. Stodder and Greenhaf saw spurious and not real lines, and as the difficulty of counting the lines is readily overcome by following the method I shall presently detail, I hope these gentlemen will repeat their observations, and endeavour to count the lines they see in the 19th band—an attempt which I am sure will convince them that my opinion is correct. The following is a brief account of my own analysis of the nineteen-band plate of Nobert. The plate used is the pro- perty of the Rey. Dr. F. A. P. Barnard, President of Colum- bia College, New York. As in all the Nobert plates which I have seen, the lines are ruled on the under surface of a thin glass cover, which is cemented at the edges with Canada balsam to a glass slide, on which the fractions of a Paris line corresponding to the principal lines are written with a diamond. This plate was obtained of Nobert in 1867, and by special request the ruling had been made on a cover much thinner than I have ever seen on other plates of Nobert. On trial I found that I could readily employ the th of Powell and Lealand, and even with some difficulty the =th of the same makers. Out of the series of lenses at my disposal, including a 1th of Ross made two years ago, a =!,th of Tolles made five years ago, an immersion system No. 11, by Hartnack, made two — eS WOODWARD, ON NOBERT’S TEST-PLATE. 229 years ago, a ith, an immersion ;!,th, and a ;4th, by Wales, 5 &c., I obtained the best results with the th and =,th of Powell and Lealand. In illuminating the object I found it best to use the larger diaphragm opening of the achromatic condenser without any central stop, and to give obliquity to the pencil by throwing the condenser to the right or left of its true centreing. With this management and both of the above-named lenses, I at first supposed I had seen the lines of all the bands, including the 19th. On attempting to count them, however, with a good cobweb micrometer made by Stackpole, of New York, I found myself unable to get beyond the 9th or 10th band, on account of the tremor com- municated to the instrument when the micrometer screw was turned. ‘This tremor, almost imperceptible with a 1th, appeared so considerable with a ~,th as to render an accurate count impossible. Under these circumstances, I requested my able assistant, Dr. E. Curtis, to undertake the prepara- -tion of photographs of each of the bands. This he did with the .,th, and a distance which gave as nearly as possible 1000 diameters. The photographs showed that the true lines had been seen up to the fifteenth band inclusive ; those seen in the last four bands were spurious. A subsequent count of the lines in the last four bands, by the method to be detailed hereafter, verified this opinion. ) 39 39 MOtn 50°). . 3OF The photographs of these bands present the following cha- racteristics:—In the first band, the space immediately bor- dering each side of the broad, deep, black lines is brighter 230 WOODWARD, ON NOBERT’S TEST-PLATE. than the rest of the field, and a spurious line is seen in the centre of the space between the adjacent lines. In the second, third, and fourth bands, the spaces between the lines are brighter than the rest of the field, and the first and last lines of each band have a similar clear space on their out- side, beyond which, again, is a line-like shadow, which, in the fourth and fifth bands, might be mistaken for additional true lines. By changing the illumination, however, the true character of these shadowy lines is plainly shown. Several such spurious lines are to be seen beyond the first and last true lines in some of the higher bands, but their true cha- racter can also be determined by changing the illumination. In the first four bands the ruling is extremely regular, and the lines in each successive band are not only closer but finer than in the preceding ones. ‘The same general characters are presented in the higher bands; but from the fifth band on, the difficulties in the way of ruling such fine lines evenly are not wholly overcome, and every here and there two lines are ruled too close together, with a corresponding too great distance on each side of the pair. The photographs of the eighth band, and of those subse- quent to it, would seem to indicate that the progressively ereater fineness of the lines noticeable throughout is obtained by diminishing the pressure on the point by which the ruling is effected; moreover, the lines are not only at unequal distances, but are somewhat wavy, as though, perhaps, the point moved with a certain amount of tremor. These pecu- liarities are best appreciated by examining the photo- graphs ; but it must be confessed that the degree of regularity and precision still exhibited in the fifteenth band is truly astonishing. The negatives of the fifteenth band show the lines per- fectly defined from one edge of the band to the other, but they are so fine and close that they are indistinct in the paper prints. A copy of this negative of twice the size has, there- fore, been prepared, from which prints have been made, which show the lines very well. A pale line at the right edge of this band in the photograph may, perhaps, be a real ruling, which would give 46 lines; on the whole, however, I am inclined to regard this line as a spurious one, and the real number of lines as 48. Two photographs of the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th bands have also been prepared, which show spurious lines in all the bands, which in one of these photographs do not exceed thirty in number; in the other forty. In the photographs, moreover, the spurious character of these lines is plainly re- WOODWARD ON NOBERT’S TEST-PLATE. 251 cognised by their appearance, as well as by their number. They are pale and broad, and their margins quite unlike the sharp, clear edges of the real lines; but in the microscope, even with the =,th of an inch, they look to the eye so like the real ones as readily to deceive. It is these spurious lines, no doubt, that Mr. Stodder saw in the 19th band, with Tolles’ immersion, +th. In order that no doubt of the character of these lines might remain, additional photographs have been prepared of the 12th, 15th, and 14th bands, with the illumination so arranged as to produce spurious lines. One mode of illumination gives lines which do not exceed sixteen in number in any of these bands. ‘The other gives about twenty-five lines for the 12th band instead of forty, which is the real number. The character of the lines in the last two photographs is quite similar to that of the lines shown in the photographs of the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th bands. The 15th band is therefore the highest which I have resolved with the glasses at my disposal. It corresponds to the last band of the thirty-band plate, and I believe the true lines have never been seen in it before. It is probable that if opaque markings of still greater fine- ness could be produced, the same objectives would resolve them, but with the superficial scratches on glass afforded by Nobert’s plate this result is not possible. Nevertheless, the opinion may be expressed that the lines of the last four bands have been ruled as Nobert claims, and that with lenses of better definition they could be seen. I may here mention that one of the photographs of the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 12th bands, showing spurious lines, was made at the museum by Dr. Curtis, with a Wales ith and amplifier, a few months previous to the other photographs. I supposed at the time, and, indeed, until quite recently, that the lines shown in the 16th and 17th bands by this photo- graph were the real ones, and accounted for their being too few in number (the 16th counting only thirty-seven, the 17th only forty, lines) by supposing that the whole of each band was not to be seen in any one position of the focal adjustment. I have since learned more of the appearance of spurious lines, and recognise that all the lines shown in this earlier photograph were such. I learn from Dr. Barnard that Nobert, to whom it was shown by Eulenstein, accounted for the small number of lines in this photograph by supposing that Dr. Curtis had, by mistake, copied the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th bands. I can assure the distinguished optician that we have made no such 282 WOODWARD, ON NOBERT’S TEST-PLATE. error, as he will doubtless acknowledge when he examines the photographs of the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th bands now prepared, and copies of which I have sent him. It only remains to indicate how the Nobert’s lines may be counted, even in the highest bands, without photographing them. ‘To do this, we set up the microscope as though to take a photograph, remove the eyepiece, receive the image on a piece of plate-glass, and view it with a focussing glass, on the field-lens of which a black point is remarked. As the focussing glass is moved on the plate from side to side, the black point is moved from line to line. The lines may thus be counted with as much ease and precision as though they were large enough to be touched by the finger. . Or they may be counted by a cobweb micrometer, if the precaution is taken to keep the micrometer eyepiece separate from the microscope, clamping it firmly about half an inch from the end of the body of the instrument on a stand, which should be screwed down to the table >},, unc.; cellule perdurantis ;,55 unc. Diam. = UES prime articuli maximi ;,1,5 unc.; cellule oo a vue: Forme secunde articuli longi 355 fo! unc., lati to =o5, articuli globosi 53,5 to a4 une. Adherent to, and often more or less imbedded in, the fronds of the Nostoc, were scattered frustules of several species of diatoms, none of which was I able to identify. In some of the fronds there were numerous unicellular Alge, all of them representatives of a single species belonging to Ses ST0;0I0 254 WooOD, ON ALGH FROM A CALIFORNIAN HOT SPRING. the genus Chroococcus, Nageli. This genus contains the very lowest known organisms—simple cells without nuclei, multiplying, as far as known, only by cell-division. These cells are found single or associated in small families ; and in certain species these families are united to form a sort of in- determinate gelatinous stratum. In these species the families are composed of but very few cells, surrounded by a very large, more or less globular or elliptical mass of transparent firm jelly. The species is very closely allied to Chroococcus tur- gidus, var. thermalis, Rabenh., from which it differs in the outer jelly not being lamellated. The following is the technical description of the species: C. thermophilis, sp. nov. Ch. cellulis singulis aut geminis vel quadrigeminis et in familias consociatis, oblongis vel subglobosis, interdum angulosis, haud stratum mucosum formantibus ; tegumento crassissimo, achroo, haud lamelloso, homogeneo; cytioplas- mate viridi, interdum subtiliter granulato, interdum homo- geneo. Diam. Cellule singule sine tegumento longitudo maxima 4/ aa : aso latitudo maxima 731”. TRANSLATIONS. On the Mutririication and Reprropucrion of the Diaro- MACEH. By the Contre As. FRANCESCO CASTRACANE DEGLI ANTELMINELLI. (From the ‘Atti dell’ Academia pontificia de Nuovi Lincei,’ April 19, 1868.) THE numerous improvements in the microscope, of late years, have made us acquainted with an infinite number of new forms belonging to the lower divisions of the vegetable kingdom, and especially to the Diatomacee, the Known number of which has advanced from the two or three species which had been distinguished at the end of the last century, to not less, according to Br ébisson, than 2000 at the present time. But however great this addition to the number of facts serving to elucidate the natural history of these most interesting organisms may have been, the same cannot, un- fortunately, be said regar ding our knowledge of their organic development and gener al” economy. This lamentable condition of things must be attributed to the too natural desire which observers entertain to associate their name with the discovery of a new form, to which end, consequently, the majority devote themselves. And an a idicional reason may be found in the difficulties which are met with in the inves- tigation of the mode of development of organisms of such astonishing minuteness, which renders it almost a matter of chance when we are able to observe the various phases of the organic life of the Diatomaceze. Whence arises the necessity of examining with the utmost attention everything that is presented in the field of the microscope, and especially in the case of living diatoms, which should be daily observed at all seasons to enable us to watch all the epochs of their develop- ment. The apparent function of the Diatomacee in the economy of nature, viz. to vivify, as it were, the immensity of the ocean, as well as all fresh and brackish waters , decomposing, as they do, carbonic acid under the arenes of light, ml 256 CASTRACANE, ON DIATOMACEZ. consequently giving off oxygen, is sufficient to show that organisms of such excessive minuteness must be endowed with an extraordinary reproductive capacity in order to supply, by their number, the vast scope of the office they are destined to fulfil. Their most obvious mode of reproduction or multiplication is by a process of spontaneous division or fissiparity, similar to that which is seen to take place in the unicellular alge and protophyta generally, and as may also be said to be universal in the vegetable cell. This process of division is effected in the same way as in the Desmidiee, commencing with an internal movement in the granular sub- stance or endocrome, which exhibits a tendency to separate into two portions. These separate portions become applied to the extremities of the cell, that is, to the two valves, whilst at the same time may be observed the secretion of two siliceous lamelle or valves, which are probably invested with a delicate mucous layer (or membrane) on either surface. These two siliceous lamelle are the counterparts of the two primitive valves, and exhibit the same markings and structural pecu- liarities. In this way the primitive cell ultimately becomes divided into two cells, each formed of an old and new valve, and each having a siliceous border or cingulum, in the way I have on another occasion observed, at any rate, in the genera Navicula, Pinnularia, Stauroneis, Eunotia, and Grammatophora. In some species the two frustules or individuals after divi- sion remain free, and enjoy an individual, independent life, and in turn undergo a new division. In many other species the two new frustules continue more or less adherent to each other at one of the angles, as takes place in Diatoma, Gram- matophora, Tabellaria, Isthmia, and Biddulphia; or closely applied side to side, as in Odontidium, Himantidium, Denti- cula, Meridion ; or, finally, remain imbedded in an amorphous mucuous substance, or disposed in tubes or fronds. This process of multiplication in the Diatomacee is a generation and an extension of the individual life, of which an infinitude of instances will at once present themselves to any one accustomed to consider the general laws of the vege- table kingdom. But every plant which is capable of multi- plication, by gemmation or offsets, is more commonly repro- duced by seed. ‘It cannot, therefore, be supposed that the highly interesting class of the Diatomacez is not also capable of true and proper reproduction by seeds or by germs. With respect to this, we may refer to the statement contained in the classical work of Mr. W. Smith, ‘Synopsis of British Diatomacee,’ founded on his own observations, and on CASTRACANE, ON DIATOMACES. 257 those of Thwaites, Griffith, and Carter. According to these observers, cases of conjugation have been noticed in the Diatomacee similar to that which occurs in the Desmidiee, and this in thirty-one distinct species belonging to seventeen genera ; and from which conjugation resulted the formation of one or two sporangia, and of one or two sporangial frus- tules. According to Mr. Smith, the various conditions which accompany the state of conjugation may be ranged in four classes—1. From the two conjugate frustules are produced two sporangia, as in the genera Epithemia, Cocconema, Encyonema, and Colletonema. 2. From the conjugation of two frustules arises a single sporangium, as is witnessed in Himantidium. 3. ‘The two valves of a single frustule separate, the contents increase rapidly in volume, and finally become condensed into a single sporangium, as has been observed in Cocconeis, Cyclotella, Melosira, Orthosira, and Schizonema. 4. Lastly, from the two valves of a single frustule as above, results, by a process of conjugation, the formation of two sporangia, as in the genera Achnanthes and Rhabdonema. The formation of one or of two sporangia, the result of the process of conjugation, can only be regarded as a reproduc- tion of the species by germs, which is the most ordinary mode by which plants are propagated, the sporangium in the present case being considered as the organ destined to elaborate and emit the fecundated germs. But all this is at the present time involved in such obscurity that the author of the ‘Synopsis of British Diatomacez’ merely observes that it ‘seems to him” that the result of the sporangium may be the production of a swarm of diatoms. Nor does Dr. Carpenter, in his valuable work, ‘ The Micro- scope and its Revelations,’ appear to be more explicit on this point, saying only that he is inclined to believe in the multi- plication of the Diatomacex by the subdivision of the endo- chrome in the gonidia, from which they emerge either in the active condition of zoospores or in the state of hypnospores. For this doubtful observation he relies upon the authority of Focke, who, in relating certain observations relative to the multiplication by germs, makes use of the argument from analogy with what takes place in other protophytes, which, besides Possessms the faculty of organic multiplication by fission of the cell, are also capable of being formed by the ordinary method proper to all organisms, both vegetable and animal, in which reproduction is effected by peel con- junction. Moreover, various observations have already been recorded, 258 CASTRACANE, ON DIATOMACEZ. from which it appears to me that it may be concluded and positively admitted beyond all doubt that in the Diatomacee reproduction takes place by means of germs emitted from the sporangia and sporangial frustules. And in the first place it should be remarked that, whilst the existence of sporangial frustules, very easily distinguishable by their unusual size, can be recognised, we may at the same time note their paucity in proportion to the ordinary frustules—a circumstance that (if I am not wrong) appears to indicate their partial and transitory scope for the elaboration of the reproductive germs. Besides which Rabenhorst, in his work on the ‘ Freshwater Diatoms,’ noticed in 1853 a Melosira with sporangial frus- tules, from one of which, from a lateral aperture, he witnessed the escape of the germs, an occurrence of which he gives a figure in pl. x. In the Sixth Volume of the ‘ Quart. Journ. Mic. Sci.’ it is stated that, at the meeting of the Dublin Natural History Society on the 7th of May, 1858, the excellent microscopist Mr. O’Meara read an account of a circumstance which he had for the first time observed some days before in a recent gathering containing Pleurosigma Spencerii. In these diatoms the endochrome, ‘Instead of the usual colour, was of a beautiful green, with scattered granules of a bluish green. These individuals were seen to move with sudden starts to the lower part of the vessel, until first one or two, then others, and at last seven or eight individuals, at some distance from the diatoms, were seen to be furnished at the extremity with vibratile cilia moving with great activity. On the following day the appearance of the frustules was changed, inasmuch as but few granules were visible, and the colour of the endochrome had become olive green, whilst, in- stead of being disposed across the cell, it appeared collected in narrow bands along the two sides of the valves. These two observations of Rabenhorst and of O’Meara conclusively prove the formation of the germs of the Dia- tomaceee in the sporangial frustules, and their exit from the interior of the cell. Moreover, other instances have been noticed in which numerous minute diatoms have been ob- served within a cyst, a circumstance which was recorded by. Mr. Smith in April, 1852, in a gathering of Cocconema cistula, in which instance he remarked the perfect resemblance between the included frustules and the surrounding ones, amongst which some of the most minute, both of those con- tained in the cysts and the rest, presented every gradation in dimension up to those of the adult form and in the state of conjugation. Similar cysts were observed in October, 1851, by Mr. Christopher Johnson, in a gathering of Synedra CASTRACANE, ON DIATOMACE. 259 radians, and by Smith in November of 1853 in the same species; and I had myself an opportunity of making the same observation in the spring of 1856 in a gathering of Cocconeis placentula made near Palazzuolo, under the aque- duct of the Fountain of Albano. But it appears to me impossible longer to entertain any doubt as to the reproduction of the Diatomaceze by germs after the observations which I have been able to make during the months of February and March last (1868). With the view of studying the development of these organisms I com- menced by exposing to the light a cup of water of Trevi, in which on the 10th of February I had immersed a small piece of a green pellicle, which was picked by the point of a lancet from a small mass of refuse. This little aquarium, covered with a piece of glass and exposed in the window, at the end of a few days presented a beautiful vegetation of minute green masses, many of which rested on the bottom of the aquarium, whilst others coated its sides, and some were seen floating on the surface. On the 26th of February one of the minute floating masses was subjected to microscopic observa- tion under a thin glass cover. It exhibited an innumerable multitude of beautiful green spherical spores, inclosed in a granular substance, in which might be perceived some nuclei or rounded corpuscles of a bluish or glaucous green colour. All the spores did not present the “apparently uniformly granular contents, many exhibiting, together with a gradual disappearance of the granular aspect, some in more and some in less degree, a disposition to become organized into various distinct masses, with such gradations as to show the identity of nature between the gre anular spores and the very numerous hyaline cysts which were visible in the same mass. These cysts included two, three, or more navicular forms, furnished with a glaucous green endochrome and with two lar ge vesicles, probably oily from their strongly refractive aspect. It was impossible to entertain any doubt as to these bodies being diatoms, for, having slightly moved the covering-glass, some of the cysts were ruptured, and allowed the escape of the navicular corpuscles, which, as they were carried away by the current, exhibited alternately ‘the elliptical side and rectangular front of the frustules. Besides this some valves were noticed deprived of their endochrome, which, when attentively examined, plainly showed the usual median line and central nodule. Amongst the numerous hyaline cysts in a State of quies- cence enclosing diatoms I noticed two which exhibited a gyrating motion, which was at first extremely active, and 260 CASTRACANE, ON DIATOMACEZ. gradually became slower, and at last scarcely apparent. Some minute floating corpuscles in proximity to these active cysts were suddenly attracted, as it were, into a vortex whence I concluded that the movement of the two cysts in question was due to vibratile cilia. In fact, I discovered two excessively delicate cilia in both of the cysts, dis- posed in opposite directions, in the most lively motion, and longer than the diameter of the cyst, which, from the presence of these appendages, was proved to be a true zoospore. I have since omitted no opportunity of making further observations respecting the circumstances accompanying the production of the Diatomacee, being persuaded that, from an exact knowledge of these conditions, we may probably be able to deduce laws serving to fix the limits of the species at present so uncertain, by distinguishing in the various forms of the diatoms the true diagnostic characters from the varia- tions, affording either temporary indications of the age of the individual or abnormally arising from a monstrous produc- tion determined by accidental circumstances, amongst which may be enumerated the place of birth and the development of the diatom. Among the different observations 1 have made, and the peculiarities I have noticed, I would relate that, having placed another of the little green masses, taken from the same aquarium, in an apparatus in which an object could be re- tained in water for many days without being disturbed, after some time the glass with which the preparation was covered began to exhibit a considerable extent of surface sprinkled over with extremely minute green corpuscles. Some of these appeared as round points, whilst others were slightly oval, amongst which the smallest appeared to be composed of a ereen substance, whilst others, of larger size and more deve- loped, presented the aspect of an oval cell enclosing two distinct masses, and the largest exhibited no difference from a very small Navicula. These observations respecting the reproduction of diatoms from isolated germs is in no way opposed to the endogenous mode above referred to, according to which they are organized within a cyst, since the different mode of reproduction might indicate specific differences, and in any case the occurrence of such apparent anomalies in the reproduction of the lowest members of the vegetable kingdom is familiar to any one engaged in their study. : A more constant character, that I have observed on every occasion in which I have noticed diatoms in the nascent or young condition, is the peculiar colour of the endochrome. CASTRACANE, ON DIATOMACEZ. 261 This colour, from the bright green hue of chlorophyll, passes into a glaucous or bluish-green, olive-green, and yellow, until it assumes the rusty yellow or ochraceous tint belonging to the endrochrome of the perfect or adult diatom. ‘This observation of mine accords with a circumstance noticed by Mr. O’Meara in Pleurosigma Spencerii, which at the moment of emitting the germs exhibited a green colour, which, on the following day, had become olivaceous. This seems to me confirmatory of the view that the endochrome of the Diatomacee is composed of chlorophyll, which takes on the ferrugineous yellow or ochraceous colour in proportion as it assimilates iron, the presence of which metal in the Dia- tomacez has been proved by the analyses conducted by Pro- fessor Frankland at Manchester. And the identity thus proved of the endochrome of the diatoms with chlorophyll affords a further insuperable argument in favour of their vegetable nature. ‘After these observations I was further desirous of subject- ing to the action of nitric acid some of the green masses in the aquarium above mentioned, and which I judged to contain nascent diatoms, with the view of proving the presence of silica in them, and possibly of determining the period at which that mineral element 1s developed. I conducted the experiment with the utmost care I could bestow, so as, in the repeated necessary washings, I might lose as little as possible of these delicate corpuscles. From the minute traces of siliceous matter thus procured as the ultimate pro- duct I mounted a preparation in Canada balsam; and although the embryonal forms had been inevitably lost, I was able clearly to distinguish, though unusually small, Nétzschia minutissima, linearis, and amphioxys, Pinnularia radians, and an Amphora. But in order to discern these I was obliged to employ an oblique illumination, to which was adapted an excellent objective No. 10, with correction for immersion, by Hartnach. In the same preparation, besides others of difficultly recognisable forms, were some of extreme minuteness, in which I was unable to distinguish any details on the ce of the valves; and others, again, which I was able to determine, are of such astounding minuteness as I have hitherto never witnessed in all the numerous circum- stances under which I have studied these species. This would be the place to consider the question whether the frustule, when once formed, is capable of further develop- ment or growth, and if new striz continue to be added to the valves; or if, on the other hand, those already existing may become wider apart, so that in a given space of the 262 BOLL, ON THE STRUCTURE OF valve a smaller number of séri@ may be counted. Although my opinion may not agree with that of any one of the most distinguished microscopists, I am at present inclined to the belief that the Diatomacee, like any other organism which is produced from a germ, is born of small size, and grows as it passes through the various stages of life. ‘And I believe that this erowth may take place in various ways in different species. “But as an inquiry of this kind is ultimately con- nected with the very thorny question of the true limits between the genera, species, and varieties of the Diatomacee, I will reserve it for a future occasion. On the SrructuRE of the LacHRYMAL GLANDs. By Franz Bo... RECENTLY, 1n histological researches, peculiar star-shaped cells have been noticed in the aciniferous glands. Krause was the first man who isolated these, in the case of the parotid of a cat, by means of maceration in vinegar. He is inclined to treat them as nervous organs. Henle also describes stellate cells in the walls of the rennet glands, as well as the parotid and mamme. He also thinks that they are most likely of a nervous character, although he has never seen any connection with the nerve-fibres. Pflueger describes multipolar cells in the salivary glands of the rabbit. He holds them to be multipolar ganglion- cells, and observed on one side their connection with the fibres, and on the other side with the secretory epithelial cells. Finally, Kolliker has made closer researches concerning the cells in question in the salivary glands. He considers them to be simply forms of the covering structure of the alveolus, which seem to him to represent a kind of reticulum. I began to give my attention to these doubtful objects whilst examining the lachrymal elands in the summer vaca- tion of 1867, and continued in Bona later on to do so. The lachrymal glands of the pig, sheep, calf, and dog, also the submaxillary of the rabbit, calf, and dog , and the parotid of the cat and rabbit, served me as objects of examination. The following are the methods of isolating these cells :— Maceration in vinegar (Krause) ; treatment with bichro- mate of potash (Henle) ; with 33 per cent. liquor potassze (Pflueger); and placmg in a solution of iodine, later on THE LACHRYMAL GLANDS. 263 by twenty-four hours in chromic acid =; per cent., and bichromate of potash 5 per cent. (Pflueger). I have found the last two methods of Pflueger the most useful, and all the results laid down herein are obtained by this process. If the glands are examined by any other method but macera- tion the star-like cells are only partly, or not all, seen. What now appears in the preparation by means of maceration in a solution of iodine is the peculiar form of epithelium, the cells of which swim about in the liquid, either singly or two or three together. I must agree with Pflueger, as against Giannuzzi, that they all show a distinct nucleus. Also, the cell itself is very rarely simply round or polygonal, but mostly breaks out into one or more projec- tions. ‘The projecting forms are peculiary numerous. Besides the epithelium here noted, all other glands that I have examined by this method have shown the star-like cells, so that I must note it as being a constant appearance. These cells show generally a granular nucleus without nucleoli, which comes out more clearly by the addition of acetic acid. The cell-substance is not true granular protoplasma, but appears to be more homogeneous, soft, pale, and shows a feeble but clear striping in the direction of the outshooting projections. Only in the substance immediately surrounding the nucleus can a fine granulation be seen. ‘The delicate, nearly transparent, smooth projections show the longitudinal strize the most clearly. The form and size of the real cell- body, the number of projections, and their more or less secondary division and branching, present numerous varia- tions. I only need draw attention to fig. 2, where different forms are represented from the lacrhymal gland of a calf. The species of animal in which they are found also gives 264 BOLL, ON THE STRUCTURE OF rise to differences. Thus, for instance, in the glands of the calf the cells have large dimensions, and a distinct, richly developed cell-substance. The projections become prominent by gradual contraction of the cell-body, and branch very numerously, generally at a very acute angle. The cells of the rabbit and dog are very thin and small; the processes, which project sharply from the cell-body, branch much less. Between these two forms stand the isolated cells of the lachrymal glands of the sheep. If, now, we trace these interesting cells by means of the above method (best in the lachrymal glands of the calf), we soon find that they do not present themselves alone, but form singular nets, with tree-like branched tendrils and complicated anastomoses ; it may even so happen that we obtain one of these networks which still retains the form of the alveolus, like a basket in which the acinus of the gland lies. The epithelial cells adhere to the spaces in the net which open from the periphery into the hollow enclosed by the net- work, as by a “ scaffolding” (fig. 1). By the inner connec- tion of the surrounding cell-basket with the secreting cells of the alveolus, it often seems as though two kinds of cells were in direct connection. On the other hand the branched cells of the first can easily be mistaken for those of the alveolus—for instance, in such a case as where one or more of the processes are knocked off. The radiate and much branched tendrils of the cells are, as already shown, smooth and band-like. In the rabbit and sheep the cells themselves are so. In the glands of the calf, and particularly in those of the dog, the parts of the net where the nuclei lie, that is, the cell-bodies, show a distinct thickening. Here we have, according to my idea, a perfectly undeniable explanation of the peculiar formations, which some time ago were described and figured by Giannuzzi from the submaxillaries of the dog, as “‘méndchen” (lunula). The crescent-shaped forms (fig. 2) are to be obtained in numbers from the lachrymal glands of the calf by means of maceration. They are multipolar cells, which have retained the curve of the alveolus, and are seen in profile, their processes lying in the plane of the profile. If one allows such a form to roll about under the microscope, the transformation of the peculiar crescent form into’a multipolar cell takes. place under one’s eyes. Fig. 2 shows two forms, which appear not unfre- quently, where one or more processes are disposed about the crescent, and, coming out of the profile-plane, become visible. If this explanation is adopted the want of the lunule in the submaxillaries of the rabbit, where both Pflueger and K6lliker THE LACHRYMAL GLANDS. 265 missed them, is of no consequence. ‘The special thinness of the multipolar cells in the rabbit does not allow the profile view to appear as a half-moon; but yet in these glands the peculiar net-like structure is found, although not nearly so strongly developed as in the calf. All the above-named glands were examined also as to their nerve-endings by means of the capital method of Pflueger, that is, by the use of very diluted chromic acid. Concerning this method, I need only to mention the writing of Pflueger, and again repeat the advice not to overlook any of the pre- cautions given by him. In the preparations kept by means of this method the cells which le close to one another within the alveolus appear irre- gularly polygonal, and, as Pflueger says, nearly of the same size. If not at first sight, at least by different focussing, all show sometimes a simply round, but generally an excen- trically placed nucleus, which often sends out a pointed pro- jection. We sce no trace of the multipolar cells, and it is only in the glands of the calf and dog that we see peculiar crescent-shaped forms, which generally are disposed about the blind end of the alveolus. The alveoli appear to be surrounded by connective tissue. In the rabbit this is‘scarcest and the fibrils finest, and attaches itself very loosely to the alveoli. In old rabbits it is more mixed with stronger fibrils and elastic tissue, and more solid, and is with difficulty detached from the alveolus. It is the carrier of the blood-vessels and nerves. As a peculiarity of the lachrymal glands of the sheep, I may here mention the enormous abundance of stellate pigment-cells which accom- pany the nerve-branches. We will now direct our attention to the examination of the course and endings of the nerve-fibres. I will begin with the lachrymal glands, where the relations are simpler, because one nerve, namely the n. lachrymalis, has the whole care of the glands, whilst in the salivary glands the nerves which rule the secretion are difficult to be seen by naked-eye anatomical preparation. If one examines quite freshly-prepared n. lachrymalis in a solution of iodine, serum, or chromic acid, it will be found that by far the greater portion of the nerve-fibres (in my opinion four fifths) are medullary nerve-fibres. It is worth remarking that all sizes lie close to one another, from the rudest to the finest. Besides these fibres there are also others. ‘Their diameter is very changeable. They consist of a yery soft, very easily burst, connective-tissue-like covering, in which granuli are often to be seen, and of a pecuharly 266 BOLL, ON THE STRUCTURE OF weak, shining, and finely granulated contents. In the inside of the cov ering it appears finely granulated, pale, or in some places striped. with peculiarly fine longitudinal markings. If, however, it should have burst, as may be the case by a careless placing of the covering-glass, it forms peculiar dark balls and shapes, which are to be distinguished from the characteristic pipe-like forms of the nerve-tubes through their more finely granulated character, and therefore more clouded appearance, as well as through the want of double outline. It is well known that Pflueger saw that in the salivary glands the nerve-fibres approached the alveolus, entered the same, branched out between the single cells, and at last came into connection with the epithelium. I can only endorse these statements of Pflueger. Some of my figures are taken from the lachrymal glands of the sheep. In some, exactly as in the. plates of “Pflueger (taf 1, 1—4), are to be seen the fibres, already known, which come from the stem of the lachrymal nerve, and enter the blunt end of the alveolus, where they pass into an obscure mass, which is not clearly separated from the neighbouring epithelium. Whilst some of these fibres do not show : any ‘further difference, and are, therefore, not to be separated from the common fibres of Remak, as M. Schultze has pictured them from the spleen- nerves of the ox, there are others which have the peculiar property of containing, buried in their inside, two and even four peculiar, shiny, soft fibres, which are certainly to be considered as axis-cylinders. Cases such as Pflueger pictures in table i, figs. 5—9, are comparatively seldom seen in the lachrymal glands of the sheep and calf. Nevertheless, I have twice undoubtedly observed the entrance of a large medullary nerve into the alveolus, and have been able to con- vince myself of the frequent appearance of these forms in the submaxillaries of the rabbit, which cer tainly, of all glands, is the best for the study of nerve-endings. Oftener, howevers forms are to be seen in the lachrymal glands of the sheep, as in fig. 3, where an undoubted fine medullary nerve enters the alveolus, and branches off amongst the epithelial cells. To follow the continuation of the axis-cylinder, which is enclosed in the fibres of Remak, through the finely granu- lated mass of the place of entrance, is very difficult, although some of my preparations show undoubtedly a soft fibre which branches out amongst the epithelial cells; but whose connec- tion with the axis-cylinder at the place of entrance is not proved with certainty. Lastly, I must shortly mention the peculiar organs which aXe ee -_ THE LACHRYMAL GLANDS. 267 Pflueger discovered, and to which, in the submaxillaries, he has given the name of salivary canals (Speichelréhren). ‘These are clothed with cylinder epithelium, and must by no means be mistaken for the excretory ducts of the salivary glands, which are covered with pavement epithelium. They appear to me to be forms of a very high functional importance, because in the submaxillaries of the rabbit, where, after treat- ment with 1 per cent. hyperosmic acid, they come out beautifully, they take up a fourth of the volume of the whole gland. That they do not act only as a conducting apparatus, that is, as passages for the secreted saliva, is seen from the fact that some end blindly. By the above-mentioned method one can see very plainly, at the end of the cylinder epithelium, when it is turned to the light, a striping, which might be the indication of a fine system of fibres, or fibrilla- tion. “ Lachrymal canals” also appear in the lachrymal glands of the animals examined, but by no means in such numbers as the canals in the submaxillaries of the rabbit. VOL. VIII.—NEW SER. x U QUARTERLY CHRONICLE OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. Kolliker’s and Siebold’s Zeitschrift fur Wissench. Zoologie. Part II, 1868. 1. “ A Contribution to the Knowledge of the Tenia,’ by Johannes Feuereisen, of Dorpal. One plate, forty-five pages. 2. “ Anatomy of the Bed-bug (Cimex lectularius, L.), by Dr. Leonard Landois, of Greifswald.—This is a detailed memoir of nineteen pages, illustrated by two plates, and is a worthy successor to the author’s treatises on the anatomy of the Pediculi infesting the human species. The various glands of the insect—salivary, Malpighian, and stink-glands—are carefully described and figured. Dr. Landois has examined especially the secretion of the last. He finds that it crystal- lizes from an ethereal solution in colourless prisms, and has a powerfully acid reaction. Its chemical formula appears to be C,,H,,0,. The name Cimicin acid is given to this body. 3. “ On the Tunics which surround the Yelk of the Bird’s Egg,’ by W. von Nathusius, of Konigsborn.—This is a memoir of forty-six pages, illustrated by five large plates, and worthy of more detailed notice than we can now give to it. 4. “ Onthe Genus Cynthia as a Sexual Form of the Mysidian Genus Siriella,” by Prof. Dr. C. Claus. Four pages, one plate. 5. “ On the Snake-like Amphibians (Cecilie) ; a Contribu- tion to the Anatomical Knowledge of the Amphibia,” by Prof. Leydig, of Tubingen. Eighteen pages, two plates. 6. “ On Deposits of Tyrosin on Animal Organs,” by Carl. Voit——This notice, as explanatory of an appearance not un- frequently met with in ill-preserved preparations of animal tissues, is of some interest, amongst others, to the micro- scopist. Some years since specimens of fish which had been kept in weak spirit were sent to Herr Voit to determine the nature of a peculiar deposit upon the surface of the scales, which was so copious as entirely to destroy the value of the speci- mens. ——EO a ts QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 269 The deposit in question was composed of a multitude of snow-white globular masses about the size of a pin’s head. When viewed under the microscope, the globules were seen to be formed of groups of minute radially disposed needles. They could be easily detached from the scales, and conse- quently afforded a tolerably pure material for chemical ex- amination. They were very difficultly soluble in cold water, insoluble in alcohol and ether, whilst they were readily dis- solved in cold hydrochloric acid and alkalies. From the ammoniacal solution, by evaporation, the characteristic acicular bundles of tyrosin were readily procurable. De- composed by concentrate dnitric acid, they afforded a yellow solution, which on evaporation left a yellow-brown re- siduum, which when moistened with a solution of caustic soda gave a deep reddish-yellow colour, which became brown on evaporation, and finally black (Scherer’s test). From these and other indications no doubt could be enter- tained that the crystalline material was tyrosin, and further investigation only confirmed this conclusion, and proved the distinction of the deposit in question from xanthoglobulin and leucin. Leucin and tyrosin, as is well known, occur in many animal organs, even when quite freshly prepared, and the demon- stration by Kine, that albuminous matters can be trans- formed into these products by the action of the alkaline pancreatic juice, is extremely interesting. Stiideler and Frerichs have shown their presence also in the lower animals, and especially in the Crustacea, Arachnida, and Insects. But with respect to fish, they were unable to procure leucin and tyrosin from the Ray and from several organs of the Dogfish, although a small quantity of /ewcin was procurable from the spleen and pancreas, and some fyrosin from the spleen of the latter It is consequently impossible to assign the deposit of ¢tyrosin in the preparations above referred to to any pre-existing in the fish. From many considerations it is obvious that in these and in numerous other cases cited the tyrosin is the product of decomposition of the albuminous substances, although it would seem that putrefaction, or an approach to it, is un- necessary to produce the effect, as the author cites an instance of some smoked ham in which the intermuscular substance was studded with innumerable white points, standing in Strong contrast with the red flesh, and which had been regarded by the dealer as encysted Trichine, but on examina- tion by the author proved to be nothing more than minute deposits of tyrosin. @ 270 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. In this case it was indeterminable whether the deposit had being formed during life, or whether it was the product of incipient putrefaction before the smoking. But this seemed to be unlikely, as the ham appeared quite fresh, and tasted and smelt quite sweet. ‘The author is convinced that similar deposits of tyrosin will often be met with, and it seems useful to bear the likelihood of such an occurrence in mind when the microscope may be called upon to determine the nature of doubtful appearances in ham or pork. Max Schultze’s Archiv—Part III has not yet been received in this country. Bibliotheque Universelle. June.—“ On the Contractile Tissue of Sponges,” by N. Lieberkiihn.—In a recent supplement to his numerous investigations of Sponges, Lieberkiihn has paid special attention to the ciliated embryos of the Spongille. The ova present a perfectly regular segmentation. ‘They are situated, like the embryos, in lacune of the parenchyma of the body. It is there also that the spermatic cells are found. To observe the embryos, Lieberkiihn divides the Spongilla into thin sections, which he leaves to soak in water for a day. The embryos, up to the moment when they commence their independent life, remain in the envelope formed by the con- tractile tissue of the sponge, in which they turn about by means of their ciliary coat. During this period the cayity of the body, which is filled with liquid, is formed. A portion of the spheres of segmentation which have not undergone much modification are crowded together in the posterior part of the body, where they form an opaque mass. The cilia of the embryo are very long, and implanted upon still amorphous sarcode, and not upon true cells. The mass of the embryo properly so called, however, is formed by contractile and nucleated cells, a portion of which enclose siliceous spicules in their interior. This tissue is identical with the contractile parenchyma of the sponge itself. July.—* On Inflammation and Suppuration,” by J. Cohn- heim.—The labours of Herr Virchow on connective tissue have inaugurated a new era in histology, in which all authors are agreed in attributing to the stellate corpuscles of this tissue an extreme importance.* Perhaps this importance may have been exaggerated ; at any rate, a reaction against the ideas of the school of M. Virchow is beginning to make itself felt. ‘The corpuscles of the pus, on the origin of which anatomists have so much disserted, are considered generally at present, with Herr Virchow, as resulting from the ab- * See Translation of Franz Boll’s paper on the Lachrymal Glands in this number of the Journal. . QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. ar | normal multiplication of the stellate cells of connective tissue. ‘The labours of Herr Cohnheim have, however, con- ducted him to a very different result. He has assured him- self that the colourless corpuscles of the blood, the ameboid movements of which are well known, possess the property of passing through the wall of the capillaries without tearing them. They appear to make themselves a way by the dilata- tion of “stomata” in the vascular epithelium, or perhaps even they may actively pierce the wall. It is, therefore, right to consider whether there may not exist between the colourless cor puscles of the blood and the corpuscles of pus something more than a simple resemblance of form, and whether they are not actually identical one with another. M. Cohnheim gives his adhesion to the affirmative, and he tests his theory by an ingenious experiment. He impreg- nates with a coloured substance the ameboid corpuscles of a lymphatic sac in a frog, whose cornea he has previously put into an inflammatory condition by a lesion ; then he searches with the microscope, among the globules of the pus of the cornea, for the cells impregnated with the colouring matter. As a matter of fact he finds them there, which appears singu- larly favorable to his view of the matter. The globules of pus would then be lymphatic corpuscles extravasated from the capillaries, although one cannot affirm that these cor- puscles are not capable. of multiplying themselves outside of the circulatory system. ‘ Comptes Rendus. May.—“ The Tactile Corpuscles.”—M. Rouget believes he has demonstrated the actual structure of these bodies, which have so often baffled anatomists. He prepares the tissues by soaking them for some time in acidu- lated water. He then acts on the specimens with strong nitric acid; this, he says, stains the nerve-fibres, and not the adjacent structures. Preparations made in this way lead him to believe that the nerve-fibres are not simply coiled round the cone-like corpuscle, but absolutely enter its substance, and penetrate it. We shall shortly notice M. Rouget’s observations more fully, since he has recently published them, illustrated by two plates, in the ‘ Archives de Physiologie,’ a publication which we are glad to see has just made its appearance under the distinguished direction of MM. Brown-Séquard, Charcot, and V ulpian. “ Development of Bacteria.” —M. Béchamp,in a note, which was read to the Académie on May 4, entered into a long account of the developmental relations of Bacteria and Micro- zymata. Indeed he considered the latter to be the first stage © 272 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. of the former. The Microzymata are normally simply minute spherical bodies. In this state they exist normally in the human body. But when the tissues are exposed to the air they grow into chains and become Bacteria. MM. Béchamp and Estor seem to think it a proof of these Bacteria being normal constituents of the body, that they are found in the liver. But after all, what is to prevent any organie germs from reaching the inmost centre of the liver, through the mouth, stomach, and gall-duct ? July.—“ On the Existence of Capillary Arterial Vessels in Insects. By Jules Kiinckel.*—Zoologists supposed that the circulation of the blood in insects was limited to certain cur- rents detected by Carus in transparent larvee, when in 1847 M. Blanchard proved that the trachez of these animals ful- filled the function of arteries, by conveying, in a peripheral space, the nutritive fluids to all the organs. He ascertained, by means of delicate injections, the existence of a free space between the two membranes composing the trachee: the injected fluid expelled the blood and replaced it. After having verified and confirmed M. Blanchard’s dis- covery, M. Agassiz insisted upon the evidence of the demon- stration. Seeking afterwards to complete this discovery, he paid particular attention to the termination of the trachee. In a memoir published in 1849,+ this naturalist distinguished the ordinary trachez terminating in little ampulle, and the trachee terminated by little tubes destitute of a spiral fila- ment, which he named the capillaries of the trachea. M. Agassiz expresses himself as follows :—“ In the grasshoppers which I injected by the dorsal vessel I found in the legs the muscles elegantly covered with dendritic tufts of these ves- sels (the capillaries of the tracheze) all injected with coloured matter ; and in a portion of a muscle of the leg of an Acri- dium flavovittatum, submitted to a high magnifying power, I observed the distribution of these little vessels, which has a striking resemblance to the distribution of the blood-vessels in the bodies of the higher animals.” Nearly twenty years have passed since the period when M. Agassiz announced these facts, which appear to have been but little understood; for the authors who have written on the anatomy and physiology of insects have not even men- tioned them. The direct observation of the phenomenon of circulation was wanting ; no one had succeeded in detecting the move- * Translated in the ‘Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist.,’ Sept., 1868. + ‘Proc. American Association,’ 1849, pp. 140—143; translated in ‘Ann. des Sci. Nat.,’ 3° sér., xv, pp. 358—362. QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 273 ment of the blood either in the peritracheal space or in the capillaries ; and M. Milne-Edwards indicated as a fact to be regretted that ‘‘the existence of currents in the tubiform lacune had not yet been ascertained.” Having been led, by general researches upon the organization of the Diptera, to study the apparatus of circulation and respiration, I have frequently examined the trachee. 1 always saw, without difficulty, the globules between the two coats; but, the animals being dead, the blood was motionless. In pursuing my investigations of the distribution of the tracheze in the muscles, I was too much struck by the character of this dis- tribution not to dwell upon it. Having succeeded in remov- ing a muscular bundle from a living Eristalis, without tearing it, and brought it quickly into the focus of a powerful micro- scope, I had the surprise of seeing the blood imprisoned between the two membranes of the trachez running in this peritracheal space, and penetrating into the finest arterioles. I observed the course of the blood-globules with the same facility as in the capillaries of the mesentery or the membrane uniting the digits of a frog. I was, therefore, fortunate enough to see the circulation of the blood in the capillaries of insects. I have been able to convince myself of the existence of a system of arterial capillaries in all insects: the most delicate arterioles creep, not only through the muscles, but also over the other organs. In general the blood thus observed by transmitted light presents a rosy tint very favorable for observation. When the blood abandons the trachea and its arterioles, which I have frequently seen, they lose their coloration. The trachea, recognisable by its spiral filament, may always be perceived ; but it is very difficult to distin- guish the arterioles, so delicate and transparent are their walls. | The difficulties of the experiment are great. The insect must be quickly opened, a muscular bundle must be taken from the living animal, and this bundle conveyed under the microscope; and then, under favorable conditions, the blood is seen flowing rapidly through the arterioles. For these investigations a considerable magnifying power is necessary. I have been singularly aided by the very perfect immersion- objectives which M. Nachet was kind enough to place at my disposal. It is necessary to give a precise explanation of the structure of the arterioles and their mode of distribution. The trachee, as is well known, are composed of two coats: the inner coat forms the envelope of ‘he aériferous 274 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. canal; the outer coat, or peritracheal membrane ( peritoneal membrane of the Germans), surrounds the former enve- lope, leaving an interval, the peritracheal space. But at the point where the tracheze penetrate between the muscular fibres, the inner coat disappears, and the aériferous canal terminates cecally, whilst the outer coat or peritracheal membrane becomes the wall of the blood-vessels or arterial capillaries. It is not only the spiroid thickening of the inner coat, or spiral filament, that disappears, it is the inner coat itself that stops and suddenly closes the aériferous canal. In this way we see, starting from a more or less voluminous tracheal stem, very delicate blood-vessels, in larger or smaller number, which divide and subdivide regularly to their extremities. The blood retained in the peritracheal space remains throughout its course in contact with oxygen ; it reaches the capillaries perfectly vivified, and is a true arterial blood. ‘The capillaries are not in communication with venous capil- laries ; the blood diffuses itself through the tissues, nourishes them, and falls into the lacune ; the lacunar currents convey it again to the dorsal vessel. Thus, to sum up, the tracheze of insects, which are aéri- ferous tubes in their central portion and blood-vessels in their peripheral part, become at their extremities true arterial capillaries. August.—‘‘ Note on the Microzymata contained in Animal Cells,” by M. A. Estor.—The author makes additional re- marks as to the evolution of Microzymata, or molecular granu- lations, normally in cells of animals. These Microzymata, in the conditions specified, group themselves two and two, or in still larger numbers; then elongate slowly, at length in such a manner as to represent true Bacteria. These facts are the results obtained from a great number of experiments made on different animals. The following observation shows that the same transformations may take place in man. A cystic growth, cut out three days before, and filled with a. half- liquid, greenish matter, was submitted to a microscopic examination. Microzymata at all periods of development ~ were observed: isolated granulations, others associated, others a little elongated, and lastly true Bacteria. Robin's Journal de l’Anat, et dela Physiol —“ Micrographic Society of Paris.”—The reports g given in ‘ Robin’s Journal’ of the meetings of this Society are very interesting, and show that a great deal of real work is being done by its members. M. Balbiani drew attention, at the February meeting, to the tubular prolongations of the nucleolus in certain cells; QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 275 which, he said, Lubbock had noticed in the ova of Myria- pods, though he had not regarded them as tubes. As to the question of the movements of cells, they are of two sorts— amoeboid or movements of reptation, and movements of con- traction. ‘These last may be observed in the ovules of Myria- pods and of Arachnida. Thus, in the ovule of Phalangium, the central globule possesses several vacuoles, called gene- rally nucleoli by the German authors. The greater part re- gard them as solid bodies, but La Valette St. George con- siders them as vacuoles. Ifone examines one of these ovules without the addition of any liquid, on a preparation closed with wax, one sees one of these vacuoles enlarge. It becomes sufliciently voluminous to be excentric relatively to the nucleus, and to make the surface bulge. It bursts then, and is replaced by a depression, and finally disappears. Several of these vacuoles enlarge and burst successively in the same way, which can be confirmed by looking for two hours at the same preparation. This is very different to movements of reptation. A German botanist, Dr. Cohn, has seen similar vacuoles. M. Mecznikow has observed them in the cells of the salivary glands of insects. It is vacuoles similar to these which communicate with the tubes which M. Balbiani described in various cells. M. Balbiani has discovered what he considers to be Psoro- sperms in the Myriapod Geophyllus. This is interesting, as widening the area of habitat of these parasitic growths. M. Balbiani considers the fungoid growths whichoccurin the Silk- worm disease to be Psorosperms. If these bodies, which are clearly vegetable, be identified with the Psorosperms of Fish, then must we be very careful to draw a sharp line between Pso- rosperms and Pseudonavicells—the bodies which result from the breaking up of the Gregarine; for it requires very much more proof than we at present possess to admit the Grega- rine into the group of half-plants half-animals which bas been brought to light by Cienkowski’s observations on Monad-forms, and De Bary’s on Myxogastres. At present the Gregarinz are known almost solely in the active animal form. At the May meeting M. Lionville described corpuscles from serosities of blisters and burns, which are active, and capable of developing movements. ‘They are minute vesicles, with a black central poimt; others appear as irregular cor- puscles. M. Lionville has also detected vibriones in urine taken fresh from its passage. M. Vulpian remarked that the observations of these motile corpuscles in serosities tended very much to lessen the significance of Hallier’s 276 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. recent observations.* M. Balbiani stated that the epidermic cells of the skin often contain Bacteria, and may thus be the means of introducing them into blisters, pustules, &c. Miscellaneous.—“ Action of the Poison of Snakes on the Blood.”—Dr. Halford, of Melbourne, some time since drew attention in this Journal to the remarkable abundance of white corpuscles in the blood of animals killed by snake- bites. Dr. Joseph Jones, of New York, relates some careful experiments on the action of the poison of the American copperhead snake in the ‘ Medical Record.’? Of several cases observed the following appears to have been the most fully studied. The dog lived six days, and directly after being bitten alteration of the red blood-corpuscles was noticed about the wound. A post-mortem examination was made thirty hours after death. The fore-leg which had been struck by the copperhead was infiltrated by the bloody serum ; all the fibrous tissues of the leg and thigh beneath the skin, up to the abdomen and beyond, were greatly infiltrated with dark purplish-black serum. Under the microscope this presented numerous oil- globules and altered blocd-corpuscles, with ragged star-like edges ; long acicular crystals were also seen floating amongst the altered blood-corpuscles. The blood, from the swollen infiltrated cellular structures of the head and nose, where the snake inflicted the severest bite, presented a peculiar appearance; thousands of small acicular crystals were min- gled with the altered blood-corpuscles, and as the bloody serum and effused blood dried, the blood-corpuscles seemed to be transformed into crystalline masses, shooting out into erystals of hematin in all directions. The blood-vessels of the brain were filled with gelatinous coagulable blood, which presented altered blood-corpuscles and acicular crystals. The muscular system everywhere presented a dark pur- plish colour. The heart was filled with coagulated black blood. When spread upon a glass slide, the blood-corpus- cles almost immediately commenced to assume a crystalline form. Blood-vessels of brain filled with dark blood; mem- branes and structures of brain presented a normal appear- ance; there were no lesions of the brain recognisable to the eye. ‘The exterior fibrous sheath of the spinal cord presented a red appearance, as if the colouring matters of the blood had been effused ; structure of spinal cord natural; vertebral arteries filled with coagulated blood. From this and other cases in which the blood was ex- amined of the living animal, Dr. Jones concludes that the * Vide Rev. M. J. Berkeley’s Address in this number of the Journal. QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 277 special toxic effect of the poison of the snake is due to its destructive effects on the red blood-corpuscle. Mr. Frank Buckland also, in a recent note on this subject, arrives at a similar conclusion. He says that the poison seems to “ curdle” the blood. “ The Microscopical Illumination of Diatoms.”—A paper read before the Société Philomathique, of Paris, on April 18th, on the above subject, contains one or two points of in- terest. The author, M. Fréminau, makes the following remarks :—“ The ordinary method of examining the Dia- tomacez consists in illuminating the object by means of oblique light, so arranged that the reflected bundle strikes it at an angle of 45°. This method he considers most unsatis- factory. Here, then, are three other ways of illuminating, say Navicula. The first consists in passing solar light directly through the object, and protecting the retina by a blackened class placed over the objective. This mode, he says, gives the strize very well. The second consists in em- ploying the solar spectrum, reflecting from the mirror the light between orange-yellow and greenish-yellow. The third consists, whatever may be the magnification, in illuminating the Navicula directly, as opaque objects are illuminated, but by a somewhat different process. We place, says the author, an equilateral prism on the level of the stage, and then we direct a bundle of rays—either white or spectral—between the preparation and the object, and we see the striz black upon a coloured ground. These processes do not require great experience for their satisfactory employment, but may readily be adopted by the amateur. These methods, says the author, have given me valuable assistance in the examination of Diatomacez, and they are equally applicable to other sub- stances. He suggests the following substitute for solar hight :—A hemispherical condenser is placed in front of a conical reflector, and a lamp is set between the two. This lamp should be a magnesium lamp, or a lamp in the centre of whose flame a cylinder of solid magnesia has been placed. British Association 1. ‘‘ On the Homolog gies and Notation of the Teeth of Mammalia,” by W. H. Fitower, F.R.S. The author stated that he proposed to bring before the meeting an endeavour to ascertain how much of the generally adopted system of classification of the homologies and notation of the teeth of the mammalia, a system ‘mainly owing to the researches of Professor Owen (whose labours in this: depart- ment of anatomy he gratefully acknowledged), stands the test of renewed investigations, how much seems doubtful and requires further examination before it can be received into 278 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. the common stock of scientific knowledge, or how much (if any) is at actual variance with well ascertained facts. One of the most important of the generalisations alluded to is the division of the class mammalia in regard to the times of formation and the succession of their teeth, into two groups ; the Monophyodonts, or those that generate a single set of teeth, and the Diphyodonts, or those that generate two sets of teeth ; the Monophyodonts including the orders Monotre- mata, Edentata, and Cetacea, all the rest of the class being Diphyodonts. The teeth of the former group are more simple and uniform in character, not distinctly divisible into sets to which the terms incisor, canine, premolar, and molar, have been applied, and follow no numerical law. The group is, in fact, equivalent to that which the term Homodont has been applied by some authors. On the other hand, in the Mammalian orders with two sets of teeth, these organs are said to acquire fixed individual characters, to receive special denominations, and can be determined from species to species, being equivalent to the Heterodonts. The author then showed that among the Homodonts the nine-handed Armadillo was certainly a Diphyodont, having two complete sets of teeth, and among the Hetorodonts many were partially, and probably some completely, Monophyodonts. Moreover, that almost every intermediate condition between complete Diphyodont and simple Monophyodont dentition existed, citing especially the Sirenia, Elephants, Rodents, and Mar supials. He then, by the aid of diagrams, showed particularly two modes of transition between monophyodont and diphyodont dentition— one in which the number of teeth changed was reduced to a single one on each side of each jaw, as in marsupials, and the other in which the first set of teeth, retaining their full number, were reduced to mere fanenanelend rudiments and even disappearmg before birth, as in the case of the seals, especially the great elephant seal. These observations showed that the terms ‘‘monophyodont ” and ‘‘ diphyodont,” though useful additions to our language as a means of indicating briefly certain physiological conditions, have not, as applied to the mammalian class, pr ecisely the same significance that their author originally attributed to them. The classification and special homologies of the teeth of the heterodont mammals was next discussed. Certain generalisations as to the pre- vailing number of each kind of teeth in different groups of animals were sustained, but deviations were shown from some of the rules laid down—such as that when the premolars fall short of the typical number, the absent ones are from the fore-part of the series. The general inference was that, QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 279 although in the main the system of notation of the mamma- han teeth prepared by Professor Owen was a great advance upon any one previously advocated, we must hesitate before adopting it as final and complete in all its details, and need not relax in our endeavour to discover some more certain method of determination. Professor Huxley gave an account of the observations which form the the subject of his paper in this Journal. Other papers relating to microscopical science were the Rey. A. M. Norman’s, on “A New Sponge (Oceanapia) from the Shetlands,” and on “ Hyalonema boreale of Lovén.” That by Mr. Moggridge, on the ‘‘ Muffa,” appears in another part of the Journal; whilst the President’s (Rev. M. J. Berkeley) Address we have also given in full, since it con- tains a valuable review of some recent speculations in crypto- gamic botany. There was, we regret to state, a very marked absence in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, of papers on histological subjects. Medical Meeting at Oxford.—A most interesting and care- fully arranged series of preparations, under nearly 120 microscopes, was exhibited by Dr. Lionel Beale at the August meeting of the British Medical Association at Oxford. The series was described in an illustrated catalogue presented to each member, and formed, perhaps, the most complete histo- logical exhibition ever arranged. NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. Microscopy.—When mounting objects in fluid, I have used for a long time, a simple contrivance, which, as I have seen it nowhere described, and as it is so simple and useful, seems worthy of a note. Its use is for holding the thin glass cover firm, when applying the cement. I make it of a piece of hoop-spring, about three inches long, heating and bending into a large curve, to approxi- mate the ends, as in Fig. 1. ‘The lower arm, A B, should Fic. 4. be quite straight, and the curve should not project below its level ; the end A should project a little beyond the end C, that it may catch under the edge of the slide in applying it. ‘The arm C D should not be quite parallel to the arm A B, but so inclined that when applied to the slide (see Fig. 2) the thickness of the slide will bring them parallel. The arm C D must be quite short, so that it shall not oceupy more than half of the thin covering glass. The large curvature allows the cement to be applied quite round the cover. It may be tempered to suit—some stiff, others more flexible. One can be made in five minutes; and, to me, they have proved very useful.—T. F. Arten, M.D., New York. _ MEMORANDA. 28] Heuriscopometer.—'l'hose who study the animalcules, and who make researches among the diatoms or other microscopical shells as a matter of preference, experience great difficulties in exploring a preparation which often contains several millions of these little creatures, each of which has a siliceous carapace, and which have played such an important part in the earth’s phenomena of the tertiary epoch. The difficulty is much greater still when it is necessary for them to refind in a considerable number of individuals those which particularly attracted their attention at the time of a first examination. It sometimes happens that, after several hours of research, they cannot attain it, and if patience is not wanting to them, fatigue, at least, obliges them momentarily to relax their labours. Not to refind what one has already seen in a preparation which can scarcely be a centimétre in diameter will doubtless appear extraordinary to those who are strangers to micro- scopical studies. Whilst the smaller the animals one exa- mines the greater ought the magnifying power of the microscope to be, it is certain that the field of the instrument diminishes in proportion as the extent of the preparation in- creases. With a magnifying power of 2000 diameters, for instance, a preparation of one centimétre square will attain, then, a superficies of twenty centimetres on each side. Every one will comprehend the difficulty of finding in so large a space, of which the field of the microscope occupies but a very small part, the little being which at first attracted atten- tion, whether on account of its peculiar formation, or by certain characteristics indicating in the individual a new species which it is necessary to ” classify. To obviate this inconve- nience several methods have been used. In 1855 Professor T. W. Bailey, of the United States, proposed a universal indicator ; it was not really an instrument, for it consisted but of a divided card that was placed on the stage of the microscope, and which offered, as one may suppose, no guarantee for the exactitude of the researches. The one lately indicated by Mr. Wright, in the ‘ Microscopical Journal,’ was not more practical. I sent to the London Universal Exhibition, in 1862, a metal indicator of a very simple construction, depending on a geometrical principle, and being adaptable to all microscopes. It was entered in the general catalogue, No. 1419, in the 15th class. This instrument was very simple; in fact, one of its movements is regulated by a micrometric vice, the other by the fingers only. This indicator, once placed on the stage of the microscope in a fixed and invariable position, the object 1s refound by the help of the co-ordinates, of which the figures have been written 282 MEMORANDA. down. I have just made another indicator, a little more complicated, but on the same principles. It is provided with two grooves, cutting each other at right angles, and moving, one on the top of the other, by the help of micrometric vices. With this instrument, not only do I immediately refind the objects, but I can measure them with a certain precision by means of divided circles placed near to the racked heads of the vices, opposite an index or fixed needle. Each turn of these vices equalling 3th of a millimétre, the circles being divided in a hundred parts, one division corresponds to =},th of a millimétre. With this new indicator I can first explore in full a microscopic preparation, then refind, nearly instan- taneously, the object which I desire to examine afresh. ‘To conclude, I can also tell the exact dimensions of the object ; I therefore call it the Heuriscopometer. Before finishing this note I ought to say a word about Maltwood’s Finder. 1 have used this instrument several times, and it has ren- dered me some service. But to substitute photography for the preparation, or the preparation for photography, when one wishes to seek or refind objects, is trouble, and, above all, a loss of time. The shortest way is always the best.— Movucuet, Rochefort-sur-Mer. [We shall be glad to haye a further account of this instru- ment.—Eps. | Soiree of the Royal Microscopical Society—In your report on the Soirée of the Royal Microscopical Society you mention a series of fossil woods as being exhibited by me in illustra- tion of a paper by Mr. Carruthers in the ‘ Intellectual Observer.’ The fossils I exhibited comprised about thirty species of Graptolites (anextinct order of Hydroid Zoophytes) , with graptolite germs, &c.; but not a single specimen of fossil wood. ‘The papers by Mr. Carruthers in the ‘ Inteilectual Observer,’ and in the ‘Geological Magazine,’ to which I re- ferred, contain our latest and most accurate information on these interesting fossil zoophytes. — JouHn Hopxinson, 8, Lawn Road, Haverstock Hill. Cutting Thin Glass.—A correspondent inquires how or with what instrument the thin glass for mounting objects is cut ? Blood-stains.—The ready detection of the presence of blood in a medico-legal case is a matter of importance and interest, and several adyances have been made of late years in this = t_AAe pie ae MEMORANDA, 288 direction. The microscope was found to be of great value, when first introduced, in showing, by the form of the blood- corpuscles, the class of animals whence the blood came ; and even now it can hardly be dispensed with, inasmuch as the appearances which it discloses are characteristic, and can be made to last for some time. Further, it introduces no fallacy into the test. A few years later, fhe discovery of blood- crystals of definite shape and reactions led observers to believe, not only that this was a test more delicate than that which the corpuscles afforded, but that, by noting the different crystalline forms, we might ascertain the animal from which it came, or at least distinguish the blood of man from that of other mammals. Observation, however, proved the incorrect- ness of this view; and also that, in cases where there was a mere stain, the test was applicable. The process, too, was one of by no means easy application. The next advance was made by examining the blood-solu- tion by means of the spectroscope, and noting the position of the dark bands in the green portion of the spectrum. This process has the advantage of dealing with very minute quan- tities ; but it requires considerable practice and a good deal of scientific knowledge to be certain of the result. A simpler test, and one easy of application, has been lately devised by Dr. Day, of Geelong. It consists in the addition of tincture of guaiacum and “ ozonized ether ” to a weak solu- tion of blood, when a bright blue colour is produced. Schonbein, it will be remembered, first described accurately the existence of two differently active states of oxygen, called ozone and antozone. A molecule of oxygen may, in this view, be looked upon as neutral or passive, and formed by the union of a negative and positive particle. Ozone, as is well known, is supposed to be found in atmospheric air, in certain electrical conditions ; and it may be produced by passing currents re- peatedly through a tube containing oxygen. Some inorganic bodies, as the peroxides of manganese, lead, and potash, con- tain oxygen in the state of ozone ; others, as the peroxides of hydrogen and barium, are supposed to be in an opposite state, and to contain antozone. Ozone has an oxidizing in- fluence on guaiacum resin, and turns it blue, and thus differs from antozone, which has no effect on it. Further, antozo- nides differ from ozonides, in converting red chromic acid into blue perchromic acid. Van Deen many years ago drew attention to this subject, but Dr. Day has more fully worked it out. See a paper on “ Allotropic Oxygen ” in the ‘Austra- lian Medical Journal, May, 1867. When tincture of guaiacum is exposed to air or oxygen, it becomes blue; and this change VOL. VIII. NEW SER. Ki 284. MEMORANDA. takes place more or less readily, according as more or less ozone is present. ‘‘ Ozonides,’’ or bodies “containing ozone, have a similar effect. Among organic substances s, gum, gluten, and unboiled milk render the resin blue. The reac- tion with the pulp of the raw potato is well known. Other bodies, as starch, fibrine, boiled milk, and the red colouring matter of the blood, have no such effect. Boiling prevents the development of this blue colour ; ; nor do these bodies recover it when cool. But while neither blood nor antozone, when applied separately, have any bluing action on guaiacum, yet, when they are applied ¢ogether, an intense blue is the result. If a drop of blood be mixed with half an ounce of distilled.water, and a drop or two of guaiacum be added, a cloudy precipitate of the resin is thrown down, and the solu- tion has a faint tint, due to the quantity of the tincture used. If now a drop of an ethereal solution of peroxide of hydrogen be added, a blue tint will appear, which will gradually deepen and spread after a few minutes’ exposure to the air. This test acts better when very small quantities of blood are used ; as otherwise, if the blood is in excess, the solution is | red, and gives, with antozone, a purplish or dirty green colour. So minute and delicate is the reaction, that in a case where the microscope failed to identify any heey from a stain in a man’s trousers Dr. Day succeeded in obtaining sixty impressions. Water has the effect of destroying the shape of the blood- corpuscle, and so it cannot sometimes be recognised by the microscope, but it in no way interferes with this new chemical test. Its accuracy may be thus shown. A piece of linen was stained with blood in the year 1840 (Guy’s ‘ Forensic Medicine,’ 3rd ed., p. 316) ; from this a fibre was taken, containing at its extremity a most minute stain of blood; this was placed on a white slab, and treated first with a drop of tincture of guaiacum, and then with a drop of * ozonized ether ;” and, although the quantity was so small, and no less than twenty-eight years old, the characteristic blue appeared at once. We have found same result in blood obtained from the urine in a case of hematuria, and also in blood drawn from different animals. Dr, Taylor, in ‘ Guy’s Hospital Reports,’ has shown that red colouring matters, cochineal, kino, catechu, carmine, &c., exert no such influence; and, as far as it 1s at ‘present known, no other red stain will pr oduce this result. Black currants will cause a stain resembling that of blood more than any other; but antozone has no effect upon it. Ink-stains will cause a blue with guaiacum ; so will rust- MEMORANDA. 285 stains produced by citric or acetic acid on iron; but then no *ozonized ether’? need be used, and this at once distin- guishes such stains from blood. “ Ozonized ether” is a wrong term to use; for it contains antozone, and not ozone, and to this is due its reaction. Ether which contained an ozonide would blue guaiacum resin, whether blood was pre- sent or not. ‘The test solution is the ethereal solution of peroxide of hydrogen, which is an antozonide. The so-called “‘ ozonized essential oils,” as oil of turpentine, lavender, &c., really contain antozone ; and to this may be ascribed their use in detecting blood; for at first oil of tur- pentine was used, instead of the peroxide of hydrogen, but the results were unsatisfactory. If the blood-stain be on dark cloth, the test, as above described, may be used; but then an impression must be taken off on white blotting-paper, otherwise the blue colour will not be visible. The exact nature of the chemical change that takes place is doubtful; but the test is so simple and easy of applica- tion, and, above all, so very delicate, that it is likely to become very generally used. This test fails, as other tests have failed before, to show whether the blood-stain is human or not. The microscope will point out whether a corpuscle comes from a fish, a reptile, or a mammal; but we do not think any microscopist would rely on the mere size of the corpuscle to say whether a cell came from one class of mam- mals or another, seeing that slight differences in the density of the fluid considerably alter the shape of the corpuscle. When to this delicate chemical test of Dr. Day we shall add one that is decisive as to the derivation of the stain, we shall require no more aids in detecting blood for the purposes of medico-legal investigation.— British Medical Journal. We have received from Mr. W. Andrews a specimen of sponge which he conceives to be Amphitrema M‘ Collii (Pachy- matisma), Bowerb. “ It is,” he says, “from the most western land in Europe, Innisveikelane, the western Blasket Island.” The swell was too heavy to allow Mr. Andrews to collect some fine specimens he saw. No one else, he observes, has met with this sponge in Ireland but Mr. M‘Colli and him- self, the former in Roundstone Bay, and the latter on the coast of Kerry. It has never been met with on the south coast, as mentioned by Bowerbank. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Dustin Microscorican Cuius, 16th April, 1868. Dr. John Barker showed specimens of Micrasterias fimbriata, Ralfs, taken near Carrig Mountain, new to Ireland, possessing, besides the ordinary characteristics of this fine species, the additional one furnished by the presence of a number of acute, somewhat curved spines, variously, but seemingly definitely, dis- posed over the surface. -;5th of an inch. 18th June, 1868. Dr. John Barker again showed the little parasite exhibited at last meeting, in a seemingly more mature condition, in which the cell-contents of the inflated upper portion had become balled together into a spore-like, greenish body, suspended in the centre of the balloon-shaped parasite by means of radiating, linear, pel- lucid processes, reaching to the inner surface of the pellicular covering; the hyaline stipes and outer investment had become contracted and, so to say, withered-looking. Dr. Barker likewise showed another minute parasitic structure inhabiting the interior of a number of specimens of Closteriwm attenuatum. These, too, had greenish contents, and were of an elongate form, rounded at ends and somewhat contracted at the middle, and they lay in single or double, or even triple rows, longitudinally disposed, and more or less evenly end to end, though occasionally somewhat irregularly scattered. These had been noticed some weeks ago, and remained up to the present without any perceptible change. , Mr. Archer showed a pretty and well-marked little Staurastrum, seemingly very rare, and now noticed for the first time in Ireland —Staurastrum arachne. Rev. E. O’Meara exhibited a new Navicula, remarkable for its undulate outline ; of this, as of other novelties, he is preparing a detailed description and figures. Dr. Traquair showed scales of Calamicthys. Mr. Archer recorded the occurrence of Micrasterias jfimbriata (Ralfs) from Callery, a locality still closer to Dublin than that in which it had been first met with by Dr. Barker. It was singular that this fine species had so long escaped observation here, being shown for the first time only the meeting before last by Dr. Barker, and for the second time at last meeting by Mr. Crowe, and this third instance was from a locality different from either of the other two. The present specimens, Mr. Archer thought, were caleu- lated to bear out his yiew as to the spines drawn attention to by PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 297 Dr. Barker not being of specific value, for the same spines were to be seen here in those now shown, only much more diminished, and in a few they were very scarce or seemingly absent. There could not be a question, however, as to their being quite the same, nor had Mr. Archer any doubt but that the Irish form must be regarded as one and the same thing with that of Ralfs and Focke, so identical were they in outline and figure of the cell, and its lobes and teeth. Mz. Yeates showed a new Pocket Microscope, recently con- structed by him, adapted for high powers, and very manageable ; also some nice mounted objects. 9OR NOTICE. Tue Editors of the QuarTERLY JoURNAL or Micro- SCOPICAL ScrENCE haye received a notice from the Royal Microscopical Society of London, cancelling the agreement which has hitherto existed between them as to the supply of copies of the Journal to the members of the Society, and the admission of the papers read at the Society into the pages of the Journal. Henceforward, therefore, the Fellows of the Royal Microscopical Society will not receive the Journal gratis, but should order it through their booksellers. The few pages hitherto taken up by the Society’s transac- tions in the Journal will now be occupied with valuable original articles or translations, whilst any papers of real interest read to the Society will be fully reported with illustrations. The Journal will retain its present form, each quarterly part being illustrated, as before, with lithographic plates and engravings on wood. The Editors take this opportunity of inviting communica- tions from all engaged in microscopic research in this country and abroad. Besides extended papers, they will be glad to receive short notices, proceedings of Microscopical Clubs and Societies, and to enter into correspondence as to specimens, new apparatus, or other matters relating to Microscoprcan SCIENCE. PND VOT 7 OU RN AL. VOL. VII, NEW SERIES, Acari, on the anatomy, &c., of, by A. Fumouze and Ch. Robin, 45. Agaricini, on fructification in the, by Prof. A. 8. Oersted, 18. Alge, handy book for the collection of, by Johann Nave, 86. » froma Californian hot spring, by Dr. H. C. Wood, 250. Allen, T. F., M.D., on microscopy, 280. Annals of Nat. Hist., 47. Annelida, on the structure of the, by K. Claparéde, 47. Anthozoaria and Tubipora, by Alb. Kolliker, 98. Archiv f. Mikr. Anat., Max Schultze’s, 27, 167. Arctic Seas, discoloration of, by R. Brown, F.R.G.S., 240. Bacteria, development of, by M. Béchamp, 271. Bacterium termo, on the origin and de- velopment of, by Joh. Liiders, 32. Balanoglossus, on the anatomy of, by M. A. Kowalewsky, 47. Bate, C. Spence, on the dentition of the mole, 172. Bathybius, Prof. T. Huxley on organ- isms (so called), 203. Berkeley, Rev. M. J., address at the British Association, 233. Bessels, Emil, contradiction of Landois’ theory, 90. Bibliothéque Universelle, 42, 97, 161, 270. Birmingham and Midland Institute, proceedings of the, 124. Bird’s egg, tunics of the yelk of, by W. von Nathusius, 268. Blood-corpuscles, on red, by Prof. Brucke, 42. » Sstams, 282. VOL. VITI.— NEW SER. Boll, Franz, researches on the tooth pulp, 94. i. on the structure of the lachrymal glands, 262. Boston Society of Natural History, 50. British Association, address of Rev. M. J. Berkeley as president of biological section, 233. 5 paper by W. H. Flower, F.R.S., 277. Brown, Robert, F.R.G.S., on discolo- ration of the Arctic Seas, 240. Brucke, on red blood-corpuscles, 42. Bug, bed, anatomy of the, by Dr. L. Landois, 268. Butterfly scales, as characteristic of sex, by T. W. Wonfor, Hsq., 80. Capiniartizs, on, by Dr. Stricker, 46. Castracane, Count, on Diatomacez, 255. Charter fund of the Royal Microsco- pical Society, list of subscribers, 75. Chimney, Fiddian’s metallic, 107. Cienkowski, Prof. L., on Clathrulina, dl. Claparede, on the mode in which cer- tain Rotatoria introduce food into their mouths, 171. 45 on the structure of the Annelida, 47. Clathrulina, on, by Prof. L. Cien- kowski, 31. Cohnheim, J., on inflammation and suppuration, 270. Condenser, on a proposed form of, 106. Corethra plumicornis, 106. Corpuscles, tactile, by M. Rouget, 271. Curteis, F. R. M., on a “ slide-cell,” or new live-box, for aquatic objects, 108. 300 DIATOMACE®, on new species of, by Frederic Kitton, 13. on new genus of, &e., by ditto, 16. M. Eulenstein’s series of, 64, 104. on new species of, being a reply to Mr. Kitton’s re- marks, by the Rev. EH. O’ Meara, 73. new species of, by F. Kitton, Esq., 139. o multiplication and repro- duction of, by Count Crastracane, 255. Dublin Microscopical Club, proceed- ings of, 64, 118, 188, 286. EBERHARD, Dr. Ernst, on the sexual reproduction of the Infusoria, 155. Eberth, C. J., researches on the liver of vertebrates, SHE Edwards, Arthur Mead, on living forms in hot waters of California, 247. Enchytreus vermicularis, by Fritz Ratzel, 89. Engelmann, T. W., on the termination of gustatory nerve in the frog’s tongue, 90. Epithelium, pulmonary, byC. Schmidt, 101 Kstor, M. A., on Microzymata, 274. Kulenstein’s series of Diatomaces, 104, Eyes, compound, researches on, of Crustacea and Insecta, by Max Schultze, 173. Fippran’s metallic chimney, 107. Fishes, osseous, studies on the central nervous system, by Dr. L. Stieda, » teeth of fossil, in the coal- measures, Northumberland, by Prof, Owen, 172. Flower, F.R.S.,.on the homologies and notation of mammalian teeth, 277. Fructification in the Agaricini, by Prof, A. 8. Oersted, 18. Ganeia, spinal, &c., by Dr. G. Schwalbe, 94. Gas chamber, description of, by 8. Stricker, 40. Genital organs of vertebrates, by Ch. Legros, 102. INDEX TO JOURNAL. Glyciphagi, by MM. Fumouze and Robin, 102. Green wood, 103. Gustatory nerve, on the termination of, in the frog’s tongue, by T. W. Engelmann, 90, Hair, human, by M. Pruner-Bey, 175. Halford, Dr., on action of snake’s poison on blood, 276. Hemiauscus, a new genus of para- sitic Isopods, 49. Hepworth, John, M.R.C.S. (late), 130. Heuriscopometer, by Mouchet, 281. Histological demonstrations, by Geo. Harley, M.D., F.R.S., and G. T. Brown, M.R.C.V.S., 85. Hogg, Jabez, F.L.S., Sec. R.M.S., on the microscope, $4. Holothuri, anatomy and classification of the, by Dr. Emil Selenka, 90. Hunterian lectures, by Prof. T. H. Huxley, F.R.S. (abstract), 126,191. Huxley, Prof. T. H., F.R.S., Hunte- rian lectures (abstract), 126, 191. on organisms living at great depths i in the Atlantic (Bathybius), 208. ILLUMINATION, microscopic, by Edwin Smith, M.A., 143. of diatoms, 277. Inflammation, by J. Cohnheim, 270. Infusoria, on ‘the sexual reproduction of the, by Dr. Ernst Eberhard, 155. JamMES-Cuiark, H., on Leucosolenia botryoides, 50. Kerrerstein, Prof. W., on an herma- phrodite Nemertine from Saint Malo, 99. Kitton, Frederic, on new species of Diatomaceer, 13, 139. on new genus of Diatomacer, &e., 16, Kitton’s, Mr., reply to remarks of, by Rey. RE. O’Meara, 73. Kolliker, Alb., on Anthozoaria and Tubipora, 98. ,. and Siebold’s Zeitschrift, 268. LacuryMaL glands, on the structure of, by Franz Boll, 262. Landois’ theory contradicted by expe- riment, by Emil Bessels, 90, INDEX TO Landois, Dr. H., on the hearing organ of the stag-beetle, 96. » Dr. L., on the bed-bug, 268. Lankester, E. R., on a new parasitic Rotifer, 53. Leucosolenia botryoides, by H. James- Clark, 50. Lichens, on the polymorphism in the fructification of, by W. Lauder Lindsay, M.D., F.R.S., 1. Lieberkiihn, N., on the contractile tissue of sponges, 270. Lindsay, Lauder, M.D., F.R.S., on polymorphism in the fructification of Lichens, 1. Linnean Society, proceedings of, 76. Liver of vertebrates, on the, by C. J. EKberth, of Zurich, 91. Liders, Joh., on the origin and deve- lopment of Bacterium termo, 32. Liitken, Dr., “Om Vestindiens Pen- tacriner,” 97. Mancuester Literary and Philoso- phical Society, proceedings of, 92. Manz, Prof. W., on the sacculi of Miescher, 35. McIntosh, W. C., M.D., F.L.S., ex- periments on young salmon, 145. Mecznikow, Elias, on the development of Sepiola, 42. Medical meeting at Oxford, 279. Microscope, the, by Jabez Hogs, F.L.S., Sec. R.M.S., 84. Microscopes, cheap achromatic, by G. S. Wood, 108. Microscopical Society, Royal, proceed- ings of, 56, 110, 180. 5 soirée of, 282. Microscopy, by T. F. Allen, M.D., New York, 280. Microzymata, by M. A. Estor, 274. Mogeridge, J., on the Muffa of Val- dieri, 223. Mole, dentition of, by Mr. C. Spence Bate, 172. Mouchet, on the heuriscopometer, 281. i test diatoms, 105. Muffaof Valdieri, by J. Mogeridge, 223. Muscle, the ciliary, of man, by F. E. Schultze, 92. Nemertine, hermaphrodite, on an, from Saint Malo, by Prof. W. Keferstein, 99. JOURNAL. 301 Neurilemma, nerves of (or nervi- nervorum), on the, by M. C. Sappey, 100. Nerves, motor, on the termination of, by Prof. 8. Trinchese, 44. Nobert’s test-plate and modern micro- scopes, by Charles Stodder, 131. * J.J. Woodward on, 225. Norman, Rev. A. M., on new and rare British Polyzoa, 212. Oxsiruary, John Hepworth, M.R.C:S., 130. Oersted, Prof. A. S., on fructification in the Agaricini, 18, O’Meara, Rey. E., on new species of Diatomacez, being a reply to Mr. Kitton’s remarks, 73. Owen, Prof., on fossil fish teeth in the coal- measures, Northumberland, 172. Paimer, Linton, F.R.C.S.E., on the colour of the sea, 178. Papille vallate, the epithelium of the, by Dr. G. Schwalbe, 93. Parker, W. Kitchen, F.R.S., mono- graph on the shoulder-girdle and breast-bone in the Vertebrata, 169. Pentacriner, Om vestindiens, by Dr. Liitken, 97. Pharynx, on adenoid tissue of the pars nasalis of the human, by Prof. Dr. H. von Luschka, 93. Philippine Archipelago, voyages in the, by C. Semper, 160. Polymorphism in the fructification of Lichens, by W. Lauder Lindsay, M.D ERS. 2. Polyzoa, new and rare British, by Rev. A. M. Norman, 212. Pruner-Bey, on the human hair, 175. Purkinjian fibres, by Dr. Max Leh- nert, 94. QueExkeEtTT Microscopical Club, proceed- ings of, 64, 117, 159, 187. Ratzet, Fritz, on Luchytreus vermicu- luris, 89, : Reproduction, on the sexual, of the Infusoria, by Dr. Ernst Eberhard, 25. Robertson, Charles, on a new nozzle, &e., for injecting syringes, 54. 802 Robertson, W., M.D., on a proposed form of condenser, 106. Robin’s Journal de Anatomie et de la Physiologie, 44, 100, 274. Rotatoria, mode in which certain, in- troduce food into their mouths, by EK. Claparede, 171. Rotifer, a new, 170. te parasitic, on a new, by HE. Ray Lankester, 53. Saccutt of Miescher, by Prof. W. Manz, 35. Salmon, experiments on young, by W. C. McIntosh, M.D., F.L.S., 145. Sappey, M. C., on the nerves of neu- rilemma, or nervi-nervorum, 100. Schmidt, C., on pulmonary epithelium, 101. Schultze, F. E., on the ciliary muscle of man, 92. Se Max, Archiv f. Mikr. Anat., OT, 675270: KA ,, on the compound eyes of the Crustacea and Insecta, 173. Schwalbe, Dr. G., the epithelium of the Papille vallate, 93. Sea, colour of, by Linton Palmer, F.R.C.S.E., &c., 178. Selenka, Dr. Emil, on the anatomy and classification of the Holothuriz, Semper, C., Reisen im Archipel der Philipinen, 160. Seminal corpuscles, on the genesis of the, by La Valette St. George, 27. Sepiola, on the development of, by Elias Mecznikow, 42. Shoulder-girdle and breast-bone in Vertebrata, by H. Kitchen Parker, F.R.S., 169. Siebold and Kolliker’s Zeitschrift, 41, 87, 268. *Slide-cell,” or aquatic objects, F.R.M.S., 108. Smith, Edwin, M.A., on microscopic illumination, 143. Snake’s poison, action of, on blood, by Dr. Halford, 276. Societa Italiana di Scienze Naturali, 169. new live-box, for by T. Curteis, INDEX TO JOURNAL. Spectroscope, a new animal colouring matter in the, by Prof. Church, 102. Sponges, on the contractile tissue of, by N. Lieberkiihn, 270. Spongological notes, 41. Stag-beetle, the hearing organ of the, by Dr. H. Landois, 96. Steinlin’s paper on the rods and cones of the retina, remarks on, by Max Schultze, 93. Stieda, Dr. Ludwig, studies on the central nervous system in the osseous fishes, 87. Stodder, Charles, on Nobert’s test- plate and modern microscopes, 131. St. George, La Valette, on the genesis of the seminal corpuscles, 27. St. Petersburg Academy, memoirs of, 47. Stricker, Dr., on capillaries, 46. 53 S., a description of a gas- chamber, 4.0. Suppuration, by J. Cohnheim, 270. Syringes, injecting, on a new nozzle, &c., for, by Charles Robertson, 54. TASTE-PAPILLE of the tongue, by Dr. Christian Lovén, 96. Test diatoms, 105. » lines, on Nobert’s, by J. J. Woodward, Surgeon, 225. Tooth pulp, researches on, by Franz Boll, 94. Trinchese, Prof. S., on the termination of the motor nerves, 44. Tyrosin, deposits of, on animal organs, 268. Vienna AcApEmy, proceedings of, 41. Voit, Carl, on deposits of tyrosin on auimal organs, 268. Wonror, T. W., on certain butterfly scales as characteristic of sex, 80. Wood, Dr. H. C., on alge from a Californian hot spring, 250. Woodward, Surgeon, on Nobert’s test lines, 225. ZeItscurirt, Kélliker and Siebold’s, 41, 87, 268. PRINTED BY J. E. ADLARD, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE. ac fb ro os 7 =. a ee w= . x a = - | \\ os | : 5 TW.Wonfer del T West se ee JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. DESCRIPTION OF PLATE I, Tilustrating Mr. Wonfor’s paper on “‘ Certain Butterfly Scales characteristic of Sex.” 1.—Polyommatus alexis. (Common blue.) 2.— s argiolus. (Azure blue.) 3.— re acis. (Mazarine blue.) 4.— _ corydon. (Chalk-Hill blue.) 5.— Zs adonis. (Clifden blue.) 6.— re argus. (Silver-studded blue.) 7.— mn arion. (large blue.) 8.-- ss alsus. (Little blue.) 9.— = batica. (Tailed, or Brighton blue.) 10.—Relative arrangement of battledore and ordinary scales. 11.—Pieris brassice. (Large white.) 12.— ,, cardimines, (Orange tip.) 13.— ,, rape. (Small white.) 14.— ,, wzapi. (Green-veined white.) 15.— ,, daplidice. (Bath white.) 16.—Hipparchia tithonus. (Large heath.) 17.— a janria. (Meadow brown.) 18.— 5 semele. (Grayling.) 19.— ‘ pamphilus. (Small heath.) 20.— 53 megera. (Wall argus.) 21.— A agria. (Wood argus.) (All, except fig. 10, magnified 240 diameters.) JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. DESCRIPTION OF PLATE II, Illustrating the Structure of the Tooth-pulp, and of the Stag-beetle’s Auditory Organ (from Max Schultze’s . Archiv 2). Fig. 1.—Section through the tooth-pulp of an embryo calf, 30 centim. long, treated with nitric acid, showing the multicaudate odontoblasts. 2.—The same, in which the layer of cells has been separated from the “* substance” of the dentine. 3.—Nerve-endings in the pulp of the incisor of a young rabbit. The pro- cesses of the odontoblasts are torn away. 4. —Terminal joint of the antenna of the stag-beetle, partly opened, show- iug the auditory “ pit” and hairs on the surface; tlie large nerve sending its twigs, one to each hair, the trachean vessels, and the hypodermic tissue. 5.—More magnified view of the hairs, showing their connection with the nerves by oval cells; also the two chitin-layers, the superior ex- eavated, and the cellular hypodermis. 6.—Lucanus cervus, drawn in outline to show the origin of the antennary nerve, and the antenna themselves, with the shoe-shaped terminal joint. Nior Journ Vd VIINS ALL | WEES Digs Fat) Cathy ya : ual AAR Oe meee ss Tutfen West sc WWest amp. So CO SS Ene VP? toe =i i - ee eta oe naeowarn gf SPA ALE RU Aa i LP OAL. & JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. DESCRIPTION OF PLATE IIT, Illustrating Dr. McIntosh’s paper on Experiments on Young Salmon. The figure represents in outline the general structure of a salmon one day old, reduced from a drawing nineteen inches in length. Fig. a.—Ventricle. 6.—Auricle. c.—Caudal capillaries. d.—Venous dilatation at tail. e.—Cardinal vein. * e'—Branches of the latter. f—Aorta. J'.—Larger branches of the latter. J"'.—Smaller branches. g-—Vitelline vein. h.—Curving vessel of the pectoral fin. i.—Branchial coils. &.—Visceral (portal) vein lying beneath the digestive tract. 4 B.—Section beyond the chorda. B c.—Section within the bend of the chorda. p.—Outline of portion cut from the fatty fin in its early state. The dotted internal lines represent the condition of the parts some hours afterwards. ay hey Hor Seurn VAVINS A. | J. Alder del. T West lith. W.West imo. ite hl \ ert S (SH. r / ‘Lh j Vi ¥ t Y, itt UUM: 4 At Rion es J 2as0ed ss Th JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. DESCRIPTION OF PLATES V, VI, & VII, Illustrating the Rev. Alfred Merle Norman’s Notes on British Polyzoa, with Descriptions of New Species. PLATE V. Fig. 1.—Serupocellaria inermis, Norman. Front view. 2— 5 % Back view. 3.— ” »” 4.—Menipea Jeffreysit, Norman. Natural size of fragment. 5.— a 3 The same magnified, front view. 6.— = = on side view. 7.— x # Avicularium more highly magnified. 8.— s ¥ Another specimen, showing ovicells and operculum. PLATE VE. 1.—Hippothoa expansa, Norman. Natural size. 2.— . x Portion of same, magnified. 3.—Bugula calathus, Norman. Natural size. 4,— 3 - Portion magnified, front view. 5.— nh oF back view. 6,7,8.— ,, Lateral avicularia. 9.— Bugula flabellata, J. V. Thompson. Portion magnified, front view. 10.—Eschara rosacea, Busk. Natural size. 11— . i Cells magnified ; British specimen. 12.— - Cells of typical Norwegian specimen, from Mr. Busk, to show ovicells. PLATE VIL. 1.—Eschara quincuncialis, Norman. Natural size. 2.— - * The same, magnified. 3.— as e Portion more highly magnified. 4.—Celleporella lepralioides, Norman. Natural size. 5.— 53 a Cells of the same, magnified. 6.—Hemeschara struma, Norman. Fragment, natural size. 7.— ‘3 _ Cells of same, magnified. 8.— = a A cell, more highly magnified. 9.—Hemeschara sanguinea, Norman. Fragment, natural size. 10.— ~ 5 Cells, magnified. 11— 3 Bs A cell, more highly magnified. JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. DESCRIPTION OF PLATE IV, | Illustrating Prof. Huxley’s paper on Organisms from Great Depths in the North Atlantic Ocean Fig. 1,—Masses of the gelatinous substance. 2.—Discolithi from Atlantic mud. 3— 5, from the chalk of Sussex. 4.— Cyatholithi from the Atlantic mud. 5.— - from the chalk of Sussex. 6.—Coccospheres of the compact type. To $5 of the loose type. 8.—A crucigerous disk from Atlantic mud. All the figures are drawn to the same scale, and are supposed to be magnified 1200 diameters. Mordourn VAVINS PLIV ~s ‘TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. NEW SERIES. VOLUME XVI. OUND ON: JOHN CHURCHILL AND SONS, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, 1868. i ghad TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. On Microscoritc Susiimates; and especially on the Susut- MATES of the ALKaLoips. By Wituiam A. Guy, M.B., F.R.C.P., F.R.S., Professor of Forensic Medicine, King’s College, &c. &e. (Read Oct. 9, 1867.) Tue paper which I submit to the Society this evening has for its object to extend and strengthen the union which already exists between micro-chemistry and the microscope. I wish to show that, by a very simple chemical operation, we may obtain a vast number of new microscopic objects ; and that by the application to them of a few chemical reagents, of which the immediate and remote effects must also be studied under the microscope, the number of such objects may be almost indefinitely increased. Let me add that this subject, if I am not greatly mistaken, will be found to com- mend itself to the Society by combining in an unusual degree the claims of novelty, largeness of scope, and _ practical utility. I will offer a few remarks under these three heads. 1. Novelty.—The history of this subject dates from the year 1858, when I proposed to substitute for the reduction- tube in common use a short specimen tube, closed above by a flat disk of glass, and, in certain cases, a slab of white por- celain, a ring of metal or glass, and the same glass disk. The heat of a spirit lamp was to be applied to the tube or slab, and the vapour of the object under examination was to be received on the disk. This simple method was first applied to arsenions acid and the metal arsenic, and bore as its first fruits the analysis of the arsenic crust, and the dis- covery that metallic arsenic is deposited from its vapour in the form of globules ; and that the crystals of arsenious acid assume forms not previously described, among which the tetrahedron is not to be found. The new method was re- commended, and these facts recorded, in ‘ Beale’s Archives of . VOL. XVI. a 2 Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. Medicine’ (No. iii, 1858), and in a paper read at a meeting of this Society, and published in your Journal, in 1861. At that time, and till within a few months of this date, I limited the application of this method of procedure to the volatile metals, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, tellurium, and some of their salts, and to a few other volatile matters, such as the muriate of ammonia, camphor, and sulphur. It was no part of my plan to test these sublimates by reagents ; and the use of the microscope was restricted to the examination of the sublimates themselves. But in the year 1864, Dr. Helwig, of Mayence, made the unexpected discovery that the alkaloids when submitted to this treatment could be made to yield sublimates ; and in 1865, he published a work under the title of ““The Microscope in Toxicology,’’* in which the sublimates of the alkaloids and their reactions are minutely described, and largely illustrated by photo-micrographs. This work I have recently made the subject of serious study ; and in verifying its statements, have been led to transgress its limits, and have found that the method of procedure first suggested for such mineral substances as arsenic and mer- cury, and their salts, and then extended by Helwig to the alkaloids, strychnine, morphine, veratrine, &c., might be still further extended to such animal products as the constituents of the urine and the stains of blood, and indeed to all vola- tile and decomposable matters, whether of vegetable or of animal origin. A few specimens of sublimed alkaloids were shown, a few months ago, at a soirée of the Pharmaceutical Society, and a larger number, with sublimates of blood-stains, and choice specimens of arsenious acid and corrosive subli- mate, at a subsequent meeting at the College of Physicians ; while an account of several investigations bearing on the subject, which I have carried on during the last six months, has appeared in five successive numbers of the ‘ Pharmaceu- tical Journal.’ Still, I believe myself justified in speaking of the whole subject of microscopic sublimates as novel, though no longer new. 2. Largeness of scope.—Heat, as applied by the flame of the spirit lamp to the reduction-tube or platinum foil, is one of the chemist’s familiar tests and means of identifying arsenious acid and corrosive sublimate ; and it has long sup- plied an element in the description of the alkaloids and other * «Das Mikroskop in der Toxikologie.’ ‘‘ Beitrage zur mikroskopischen und mikrochemischen Diagnostik der wichtigsten Metall—und Pflanzengifte, fir Gerichtsarzte, gerichtliche Chemiker und Pharmaceuten, mit einem Atlas photographirter mikroskopischer Praparate,’ von Dr. A. Helwig, pract. Arzte und Grossherzoglich Hessischem Kreiswundarzte in Mainz. 1865. Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. 3 analogous bodies. It is now proposed to apply this test of heat in such a way that not only shall the direct changes of form, colour, and position be noted, but the deposit from the vapour or smoke be collected and examined, and then sub- mitted to the action of reagents. So that to the one test of heat the two important subsidiary tests of the microscopic character of the sublimate, and that of its reactions, are superadded, the three together constituting a compound test, or method of procedure, obviously admitting of most extensive application. Indeed, if we reflect on the number of distinct elements which a full description of the results of this com- pound test, as applied to a minute particle of any solid body, or to the deposit from a solution, must involve, it will be obvious that there are very few, if any, substances volatile or decomposable by heat, which by its means we should fail to identify. This result would be still more certain if we first submitted the substance to microscopic examination. 3. Practical utility.—To turn this simple method of pro- cedure to practical account in chemistry and toxicology, three things are necessary. ‘The results obtained should be cha- racteristic ; the quantities which yield them should be ex- tremely small; and the method should admit of application, not only to the substance itself, but to the deposit from its solutions. All these conditions are fully satisfied, not only in the case of such simple matters as arsenious acid and corro- sive sublimate, but also in the cases of the principal poisonous alkaloids, such as strychnine, morphine, and veratrine. I will illustrate these three conditions by instances in point. As examples of characteristic changes of form due to the application of heat, I may instance the complete dispersion in white vapour of arsenious acid and corrosive sublimate ; the change of colour, melting, fuming, and deposit of carbon, which mark the alkaloids as a class; the deposit of carbon and reduction of silver from the tartrate of silver; the ex- plosion of the oxalate of silver; and the quick rosy dis- coloration of alloxan. As examples of characteristic sub- limates, I may mention the brilliant octohedral crystals of arsenious acid, contrasted with the radiating and projecting groups of needles of corrosive sublimate ; the jointed plates and prisms of cantharadine; the crossed twigs of solanine; the detached rhomboidal crystals of veratrine ; and the com- pound crystals and radiating patterns of strychnine, mor- phine, cryptopia, &c. As examples of characteristic reactions I may specify that of morphine with distilled water, and with dilute hydrochloric acid ; and those of strychnine with the solutions of bichromate of potash and carbazotie acid. 4 Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. That the test of sublimation succeeds with very small quantities is sufficiently proved by the case of strychnine, of which I have shown that the ;4,th of a grain will give four- teen successive sublimates (of these eleven were obtained prior to any change of form), and that one of the smallest of these yielded three characteristic secondary sublimates. So that sublimates may certainly be obtained consisting of as little as the ~,!,,th of a grain.* That this mode of procedure is applicable to deposits from solutions equally with the substance dissolved I showed long since in the case of arsenious acid, and recently in that of strychnine, by procuring five well-marked sublimates in suc- cession from a spot of the alkaloid containing the +,!,,th of a grain deposited from its solution in ether. I have obtained similar results from a solution of strychnine in benzole, and from a solution of the acetate neutralized by the vapours of ammonia. I have now said all that I deem necessary under the three heads of novelty, largeness of scope, and practical utility, and shall content myself, by way of preface, with repeating what I have said elsewhere of one variety of the sublimates of morphine, that ‘in the size and brilliancy of the crystals, and the rapidity of their formation, they surpass every che- mical reaction of which I have had experience.”+ I speak of the reactions of the smoky sublimate of morphine with dis- tilled water and one or two saline solutions; but words nearly as emphatic might be very justly used in speaking of some of the reactions of strychnine. And now, having introduced my subject by these prefa- tory remarks, I am keenly alive to the embarrassment pro- verbially ascribed to a superabundance of materials. I find that I have already accumulated a store of new and curious microscopic objects, which I am naturally tempted to dis- play, but am restrained by the fear that some at least of those objects may prove to be exceptional, and not typical, speci- mens. I have, therefore, determined to select, as the staple of this paper, the two alkaloids—strychnine and morphine, to describe and illustrate the leading varieties of their subli- mates and some of their reactions, introducing other subli- mates and their reactions only so far as may be required for the purpose of illustration. I will speak of strychnine first, and describe the results of an experiment made with this alkaloid when I had brought my paper to this point. I * «Pharmaceutical Journal,’ July, 1867. Tt Ibid., September, 1867. Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. 5 placed the +;'55th of a grain of pure crystallized str ychnine on a clean slab of white porcelain, in the centre of a glass ring about an eighth of an inch thick, and with an opening iaths of an inch wide. Over this ring I placed a disk of window glass, the size of a shilling, quite clean, and dried and warmed in the flame of the spirit-lamp. ‘This simple apparatus I supported on the ring of a retort-holder, and placed before me at such a height that the glass disk was a little below the level of the eye, so that I could catch the reflection of the light from the surface of the disk, at the same time that I could see through the glass the changes taking place on the porcelain, I then applied a small flame of a spirit-lamp to the part of the slab bearing the strych- nine, beginning with the point of the flame barely reaching the slab, and gradually approaching nearer and nearer, till I perceived a mist on the glass disk. As soon as this happened I withdrew the lamp, and found that a milk-white spot formed in the centre of the mist, and speedily enlarged, till it became a white circular stain about the sixth of an inch wide. As the mist settled on the glass, the strychnine was observed to darken. After an interval of about a minute, | removed the disk, adjusted a second, and repeated the operation, with the same result, only that the white spot was larger and the strychnine darker. A third disk received a still larger sublimate, and the strychnine melted into a brown layer. The melted alka- loid, growing darker with each fresh operation, yielded six more well-marked sublimates, and was then reduced to a jet-black spot of carbon about the size of a split-pea. The seventh spot was the largest, and was formed by several small, white, circular spots, spreading and coalescing. In this instance, then, a thousandth of a grain of crystal- lized strychnine yielded nine distinct sublimates in succes- sion; and among these ving must have been more than one weighing less than the =,1,,,th of a grain. Of these nine sublimates I took the third in order, sub- mitted it to the heat of the spirit-lamp, and obtained from it two distinct white sublimates, leaving on the disk itself a stain which was not removed by the further application of heat. Now, if I assume, what I think I am justified in > that this third sublimate did not weigh more than tie =jsath of a grain, the smaller of the two (for they were of unequal size) ieee have consisted of less than the ;,,th of a grain. I may add that from each of three or four succes- sive z>¢5aths of a grain (a quantity visible as a bright speck on a slab of black glass) I have obtained a single well- 6 Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. marked sublimate of strychnine, and a single black speck of ‘arbon, as a residue. The same sublimate, with the same residue, may be ob- tained from strychnine in powder, and from strychnine as deposited from its solutions; but, in this last case, the alka- loid does not melt, though it leaves a speckled black stain. I will now describe the sublimates of strychnine, with these ten sublimates at my side, with notes of the results of former experiments at hand, and assisted by the recollection of some hundreds of specimens. Strychnine yields three kinds of sublimate: a sublimate consisting of a white spot or spots; a sublimate consisting of colourless drops, or a colourless waving pattern ; and a sub- limate consisting of the same drops, or waving lines, more or less discoloured by smoke. All the first sublimates of the series have the first form; the second variety shows itself when the alkaloid is nearly exhausted; the third when the alkaloid, being also nearly exhausted, is submitted to excess of heat. Of the watered and smoked varieties I will merely observe that, though not characteristic in themselves, they may behave quite ‘characteristically with certain reagents, of which I shall speak presently, and that, therefore, they ought not to be rejected. The sublimates which belong to the first class consist of a single white spot, often, though not always, circular, and often surrounded by an outer circle of mist; or of several circular spots, distinct or coalesced. Fig. 1 shows a spot of this compound form of natural size, as seen by a good transmit- ted light. These white spots or sublimates present, under the microscope, many forms. I will specify those with which I am most familiar. 1. Smooth uniform layer, bordered with a sort of fringe or lacework. 2. The same, but with the layer made up of minute disks. 3. The same, but sprinkled with a fine black dust. The same, but with black feathers, fern-leaves, or furze- bushes, or with groups of feathers or leaves, projecting from the layer or crust. 5. Sublimate of varying thickness, white or opalescent, consisting of parallel waving or curved lines, conchoidal pat- terns, straight twigs radiating from a point, fine trellis or ie W ork, and various arborescent forms. Confused mixture of square or oblong patches, finely Fig. 1. Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. 7 marked with radiating or concentric lines, discs, prisms, needles, and arborescent forms. 7. Detached crystals blended with any of the foregoing forms, and assuming the shapes of the crystals deposited from solutions in aleohol, ether, benzole, chloroform, or fusel oil ; —prisms, rosettes, groups of needles, square and oblong plates, envelopes, and well-marked octohedra. 8. Surrounding any of the foregoing sublimates a thin mist, consisting of colourless globules, or a colourless waving network ; or the same discoloured by yellow or yellowish- brown empyreumatic matter. Of the dark-feathered crystals of No. 4, I may remark that they are such as gather on the lip of a short reduction-tube, when we adopt that mode of sublimation. Many of them, in shape and colour, resemble some of the finer crystals of the silver- tree, obtained by placing a fragment of zine in a drop of a solution of nitrate of silver (one grain to eight fluid ounces) on a glass slide (fig. 2). The description which I have just given is such as any person experienced in crystallization on the small scale, in whatever way the crystals may be obtained, would have expected. And I may state at once, as the result of large experience of the sublimates of strychnine, that it would be unsafe to infer their composition from their form. It can only be stated, in general terms, that the compound crystals of strychnine (the lattice-work especially) are generally built up of elements arranged at right angles. Curved forms are rare, and oblique arrangements also, except in the dark- feathered or fern-like crystals of No. 4. But though we cannot infer the composition of the subli- mate from its microscopic characters, we can draw certain safe inferences from the incidents of the sublimation itself. We have been dealing with a sparkling crystal, or particle of white powder; it has changed colour and yielded sublimates, melted and yielded others, dried into a black spot of carbon, and, in doing so, still yielded sublimates. I might add, that the darkened and melted alkaloid did not travel over the porce- lain slab, but left its black spot where the substance was first placed. From these facts I infer that my crystal or speck of white powder must be either an alkaloid, glucoside, or analogous substance, or some substance of which we have at present no knowledge, that also darkens, melts, yields sublimates, and deposits carbon. And if, before I sublimed the substance, I 8 Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. had been told that it was one of a poisonous character, and probably strychnine, the presumption in favour of that par- ticular poison would have been greatly increased. Let me mention some of the poisons which the results of the process would have excluded. Arsenious acid would have been shut out; for that poison is wholly sublimed, without change of colour or residue, the sublimate consisting of brilliant octohedral crystals; and corrosive sublimate, for it also is sublimed without change of colour and without residue, and yields a sublimate not to be confounded with any sublimate of the alkaloids. The active principle of the blistering fly, cantharadine, too, would have been excluded; for it sublimes without residue or previous change of colour. ‘Then, among the alkaloids themselves, solanine would have been excluded by the form of its sublimate, which is very characteristic; and veratrine, of which the sublimate assumes the form of detached crystals. Then, the very peculiar development of the milk- white spots in the thin mist will probably be found to occur only in the case of strychnine, morphine, and of one or two other alkaloids at the outside. But happily we are able to convert this likelihood into absolute certainty, by treating the sublimate with appropriate reagents. We owe this good fortune to a circumstance which was hardly to be expected, that, in spite of change of colour, melting, and deposit of carbon, the vapour given off by strychnine holds the alkaloid itself in suspension; as is proved by the occurrence in many sublimates of detached crystals, such as we meet with in deposits from solutions of strychnine, as well as by the close resemblance of the re- actions of the sublimate to those of the commercial alkaloid and its solutions, and the solutions of its salts. Among these reactions there is one of great delicacy and beauty, known as the colour test. When a drop of strong sulphuric acid is added to a particle of pure strychnine it dissolves it without change of colour; but if we bring this acid solution in contact with a minute particle of peroxide of manganese, peroxide of lead, bichromate of potash, ferridcyanide of potassium, or permanganate of potash, a rich blue, passing quickly into other colours, is produced, and stamps the substance as strychnine. Now, this reaction takes place wlth the sublimates of strychnine, and, as I have good reason to believe, more certainly than with the alkaloid in any other form. It succeeded, for instance, in two sublimates containing each the =,!5,th of a grain, when 9000 it failed with two deposits from a solution in ether containing Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. 2 the same quantity ; and I may state, in illustration of the great delicacy of this reaction, that on dissolving one of the sublimates spoken of in this paper, which certainly did not contain more than the ;,),,th of a grain, in the strong acid, and bringing a thin line of the acid solution in contact with a speck of each of the colour-developing substances in turn, the characteristic rich blue, followed by the equally characteristic changes of colour, took place in each instance, and with marked brilhancy and distinctness in the case of the permanganate of potash. Here the ~,1,,th of a grain gave a distinct reaction. In applying this test, it is not necessary to resort to the aid of the microscope. But I am now to speak of two reactions in which the use of this instrument may be invoked with the greatest advantage and with equal confidence. The test solutions should be applied to the sub- limates under the microscope, and the immediate effect, as well as the more remote effects, carefully observed. And here I would take occasion to insist on the special value of the imstantaneous or speedy effects of our reagents, as ob- served under the microscope, in all cases in which they con- sist of saline solutions. For these solutions, I need scarcely observe, themselves leave crystalline deposits, especially at and near the outer margin of the drop; and it very rarely happens that the reagent is so nicely proportioned in strength and quantity as not to leave its own crystalline deposit blended with that due to the reaction itself. This is one of those fallacies of observation against which we cannot be too much on our guard; and the reality of the danger cannot be better proved than by the fact that Helwig himself, though well aware that such mixed results are of common occurrence, nevertheless, both in his descriptions and in more than one of his photo-micrographs, shows how easy it is to neglect this most obvious and familiar precaution. In order, then, to guard against this fallacy, and to be able to distinguish in the dry result of a reaction the appearances due to the reaction and reagent respectively, the first step to be taken is to pro- cure, and figure for reference, the crystalline forms yielded by the reagent itself; and, as I am about to treat of two re- actions with the sublimates of strychnine, to which I have been led to attach great importance, I will first present to you the appearances worn by the reagents in question when they are allowed to dry on a glass disk or slide. The first of these reagents—a solution of bichromate of potash (,1,)—presents, with a solution of this strength, the form shown in PI. I, fig. 10. 10 Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. The second—a solution of carbazotic acid (4 when dry, the appearances shown in fig. 11. I take this opportunity of submitting photographs of one other test—the niiro-prusside of sodium, which not only yields a very beautiful arborescent erystal, but appears to be somewhat modified and improved by more than one of the alkaloids (see fig. 12). The effect of the dichromate of potash is sometimes instan- taneous, often speedy, occasionally slow. It varies, probably, with the thickness and character of the crust, and is influ- enced by other causes difficult to determine. When instan- taneous, the crust is dissolved, and the whole field is sprinkled over with groups of fine prisms, radiating from a point and projecting into the field; when more slowly formed, the field is strewn with thin plates of various forms, among which the square plate is most common. When the process goes on still more slowly (and this seems to happen most frequently with the thicker crusts) groups of larger plates, square and oblong, triangular and irregular, spring up in blank spaces of the crust formed by its partial destruc- tion. The colour of these crystals, in all their forms, is a lemon-yellow by transmitted, and a rich golden by reflected, light. The dry crust shows one or more of these forms blended with the arborescent crystals of the reagent. This reaction is, I believe, quite characteristic. (See Pl. I, fig. 16, from which all crystals of the reagent are omitted.) The effect of the carbazotic acid is equally characteristic, and much more uniform in its occurrence, and constitutes a test for strychnine, upon which, I believe, that the utmost reliance may be placed. Helwig, who describes the reac- tions of this test with solutions of the salts of strychine, but not as a test for its sublimates (for he only describes the re- actions with the sublimates of distilled water, liquor ammo- nize, dilute hydrochloric acid, and dilute chromic acid)— Helwig describes this acid as among the most delicate tests for strychnine, and says that a solution containing one part in 20,000 will develope sharply-defined crystals. Dr. Letheby also, in his papers published in the ‘ Lancet, in the months of June and July, 1856, figures the crystals formed by car- bazotic acid and the acetate of strychnine, as seen in the dry spot. Helwig, following the entire reaction as it takes place under the microscope, describes the formation of delicate, greenish-yellow ‘‘ millfoil-leaves,” and, at the close of the reaction (in the dry spot), large colourless plates, which are, doubtless, the crystals proper to the reagent. But he does not notice that which forms the leading feature of four =) —puts on, Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. 1] several reactions of a solution of the muriate of strychnine and carbazotic acid, confirmed by like reactions with the acetate, nitrate, sulphate, and phos- plate of strychnine (three with each), namely, groups of curved crystals waving in the liquid like tufts of grass. Figure 3 shows these curved crystals as they appeared in the dried spot resulting from the reaction of carbazotic acid with a solution of the phosphate of strychnine. It is of these tufts of curved crystals and layers of “ millfoil” that IT am now to speak as developed, when a solution of carbazotic acid is dropped upon the sublimate of strychnine. This reaction is not instantaneous, but very speedy. Some- times, however, the transparent solution thickens as it touches the spot, just as, when added to a solution of a salt of strychnine, a dense precipitate is formed. But the reac- tion commonly shows itself, after the lapse of a minute or two, in the development of circular, greenish-yellow spots, in the centre of which a still darker spot appears. These spots grow in size, and soon display an arborescent form ; and still growing, often coalesce with neighbouring spots to form a large continuous layer, or they remain distinct. In these spots themselves, and often as separate formations, that feature of the hook or claw to which I wish specially to in- vite attention develops itself, sometimes springing up into the liquid, sometimes lying flat upon the glass, and often forming a delicate and characteristic fringe to the yellow carpet into which the coalesced spots have formed them- selves. In the dry spot, the coarse prisms, groups of needles, and long colourless plates, or plates with markings like those of the common razor-shell of the seashore, all belonging to the reagent, intrude themselves, and tend to confuse the bright yellow patterns, like delicate sea-weeds, and the bun- dles of hooks which result from the union of the carbazotic acid with strychnine. Some of these curved forms, in the case of the sublimate, and several in the case of the coltons of the salts of strychnine, are delicately feathered. Some- times, though rarely, and then in the case of the coarser sublimates, these peculiar hooks or claws are absent; but the distinct arborescent forms, forming and growing under the eye, are always present, and, as I have reason to believe, are also characteristic. Sometimes, again, when the subli- mate of strychnine consists of well-marked crystalline forms, 12 Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. the lines forming the crystals remain distinct, and the curved lines form a border to them. No such reactions as these occur either with morphine or brucine, or with any other alkaloid with which I am acquainted ; and as to this reaction with strychnine, I be- lieve that I am justified, by certainly upwards of a hundred experiments at the least, in speaking of it as equally uniform in occurrence, delicate in succeeding with the smallest sub- limates, and characteristic in the appearances which it puts on (fig. 17). I begin what I have to say of the alkaloid morphine by comparing its reaction with carbazotic acid with that just described. Its characteristic feature appears to be the forma- tion, at or near the very margin of the spot, of coarse yellow masses, approaching the circular form, single, double, like a dumb-bell, or triple, like a fleur-de-lis. The reagent seems to contribute largely to these spots, for its own crystalline forms are rarely to be seen in the dry spot (fig. 18). With the sublimate of brucine the carbazotic acid produces a brown, mottled pattern, with, in some parts of the field, a curious growth of twisted and gnarled roots (fig. 19). My remaining observations on the sublimates of this alkaloid must be condensed into as few words as possible. Morphine, like strychnine, yields its crystalline, its watered, and its smoked sublimates; and, lke strychnine, the milk-white circular patch may be seen forming on the disk of glass. But the alkaloid generally melts before the sublimates begin to form, and yields fewer subli- mates before it is exhausted and reduced to a spot of char- coal. It is probable that the minimum quantity which will yield a sublimate is more than the =,4,,th ofa grain, which suffices in the case of strychnine. I think that it may be stated at some such quantity as the =),,th of a grain. The thicker sublimates very generally present a distinct erystal- line arrangement, and the prevailing element in their struc- ture is the sweeping curved line so rarely seen in the subli- mates of strychnine. The body of the sublimate accordingly is made up of very graceful figures, and the fringed border resembles more some delicate twisting weed than the mossy border of the strychnine crust. The dark penniform and fern-like crystals which I mentioned when speaking of strych- nine are also common in the sublimates of morphine (fig. 20). The reactions of morphine contrast strongly with those of strychnine. The sublimate is very soluble in water, caustic am- monia, dilute hydrochloric acid, and solution of bichromate of potash ; andthe crystals are remarkable for theirsize, brilliancy, Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. 13 and beauty of form, no less than for the magical quickness with which they spring up and spread. Their colour, again, is peculiar, and may be fitly compared to that of smoked quartz; and they often rest upon a uniform brown layer, which cracks as it dries, and throws off the crystals, which adhere lightly to its surface. The finest crystals are often yielded by the smoked variety of sublimate. They are some- times detached masses tilted upwards, nearly circular, like grindstones ; but they often assume the form of such insects as the dragon-fly, the wings being beautifully marked with radiating lines. In the dry spot they become, as it were, en- tangled in the brown cracked layer of which I have just spoken (fig. 25). The reactions with ammonia (fig. 24) and spirits of wine (fig. 23) show some curious crystalline forms ; andthe large drops of the smoked sublimate aresometimes filled with dark tracings. These drops, too, show these dark tracings instantaneously, on the addition of carbazotic acid (fig. 21). Of morphine sublimates it may be stated, that they con- trast with those of strychnine by their greater solubility no less than by the size, brilliancy, and strange forms of the erystals which result from their reactions. Of the other alkaloids I have little to say at present. I content myself with showing photographs of two of their number—meconine, with its tufts; and the new alkaloid, cryptopia, with its beautiful stellate patterns (figs. 7 and 8). I also show one photograph of the sublimate of an animal product—hippuric acid (fig. 9). I now bring this paper to a close, and trust that the Society will accept it as a brief, though not a careless or superficial introduction to a large and very important subject, in the treatment of which I may claim to have had very considerable experience of the peculiar method of sublima- tion which it has been my desire to explain and recommend. *,%* Tt may be well to explain that the paper, whenread to the Society, was illustrated by a series of admirable microphotographs by my friends, Dr. Julius Pollock and Dr. Maddox, from which photographs, aided by the objects themselves, the drawings of Mr. Tuffen West were made. These illustrations, equally faithful and artistic, may be found in one or two instances not to correspond precisely to my verbal description in the text. Where this is the case, the verbal description must be preferred, as it is based on the examination of many specimens, and fairly portrays their gene- ral features. For the specimens of the alkaloids which have yielded the sublimates, I am indebted to the Messrs. Morson, with the exception of the new alkaloid, Cryptopia, kindly given to me by my friend Dr. Cooke, of King’s College. 14. On a Pecutiar Distrripution of VEIN in Leaves of the Natural Order UMBELLIFERa. By Jouxn Goruam, M.R.CSS., &c. (Communicated by Janez Hoca, Esq., F.L.S., Hon. Sec. Roy. Mic. Soc.) (Read Nov. T3th, 1867.) Some short time since I was induced to examine the mode of distribution of the veins in the leaves of that extensive and difficult family belonging to the natural order Um- bellifere. Difficulf and distasteful as this order had always heretofore appeared to me, notwithstanding the charm with which its classification had been invested by the beauty and symmetry of the sections of its pomts (pericarps), it was not long before I was induced to alter my opinion, for, as leaf after leaf came under review, a freshness, a character, an individuality, seemed to spring up and portray itself in each ; and after some twenty or thirty specimens had been exa- mined I was almost constrained to admit, not only that my prejudices were unfounded, and that the plants themselves were really very beautiful, but, further, that it was sufficient merely to investigate this particular portion (venation) of the plant in order to determine its species—a conclusion which, so far as my present experience will permit me to decide, I do not feel disposed to modify, and less to forego. Before proceeding to the immediate subject of this paper I would beg to make a few remarks, at the:risk of appearing somewhat egotistical, as to my investigation of leaves in gene- ral, with a view to their venation, and | do so for the purpose of clearing the way, of showing, in other words, the grounds of any claims I may have on the attention of the Fellows of the Royal Microscopical Society of London, but especially in answer to a very pertinent question which has been put to me by the Honorary Secretary of the Society, as to “ Whether I have examined other classes, and feel sure that the mode of venation I have presently to describe is not pretty general, rather than confined to the Umbelliferz ?”’ Now, in answer to this question, it 1s necessary that I should state that so long since as 1845 I made a collection of many thousands of leaves, taking their impressions, and classifying them, in order to illustrate every mode of venation that was described by Dr. Lindley. Many of the impressions of leaves forwarded by myself to this celebrated botanist were submitted to him for the purpose of showing that a place could not be found for them in any single class, owing to the twofold character of their venation—one part of the leaf Goruam, on the Umbellifere. 15 presenting one kind of venation, another part of the same leaf another kind of venation. ‘Take, for example, the com- mon sow-thistle (Sonrchus oleraceus); the lower portions of this leaf are true feather veinal, while the upper portion, on the other hand, is as truly notted. ‘This leaf, therefore, fur- nishes us with an example of the transition or connecting link ‘between these two kinds of veining, and its position when classified is intermediate. Many examples of this and analogous transitions were fur- nished to the late Dr. Lindley, who expressed his obligations to me in the course of a correspondence. There is, be it observed, no paucity of leaves in the county of Kent. I had abundant means, therefore, at my command for specimens. Neither were any pains spared to make a thorough investigation of them, so that, after collecting and classifying a goodly number in strict accordance with the received nomenclature, my labours for the time seemed to have come to an end, and I rested satisfied that, so far as the venation of leaves was concerned, I at least knew nearly all about it. But when recently, and after a lapse of some twenty-two years, I began for a special purpose to re-examine the distri- bution of the veins in leaves, and when I found a peculiar vein occupying a perfectly different position in the leaf to that of any heretofore seen by myself or, so far as I could find, described by others, it seemed to me that the position and course of such a vein were worthy of notice and descrip- tion. Hence this present communication. It may be as well here to premise a few remarks as to the simple experiments by which the result of my inquiries were arrived at. In the first place, the leaves themselves were pressed, well dried, and then mounted between two slips of glass. No one should ever grudge the time spent in care- fully putting up an object for the microscope, for a well- mounted object affords such facilities for its examination that the specimen itself becomes doubly valuable. The glasses are three inches square, this size being found sufficiently large to hold a leaflet which is placed between them, and the edges are then secured with gummed paper. Leaves thus treated will keep for years, retaining their integrity, while the veins become bold and sharp, and stand out in stronger relief as they become drier by age. With regard to the lenses used for examining the veins in leaves, I have found a magnifying power of about twelve diameters amply sufficient to show every vein from the mid- rib in the centre to the finest reticulations in the margin. A 16 Goruam, on the Umbellifere. far better idea is gained, indeed, of the structure and real appearances of any object by using the weakest power com- patible with correct definition, than by a display with a regular microscope, which shows only small detached parts prodigiously amplified. As microscopists, it is possible we have paid too little attention to a large class of objects re- quiring powers intermediate between those of the naked eye and those of the highest magnifiers to make them visible. Instruments of low powers, though by far the most amusing, and in many cases the most useful instruments also, seem to have been quite neglected, while the higher powers have been brought to the greatest perfection of which, per- haps, they are capable. It must be recollected, however, that the more we magnify any object, the less we must be content to see of it, according to the law of optics. A lower power, then, with a wide field, becomes a most useful optical instrument for examining the structure of leaves ; and if it be placed on a tripod, the proper focus may be obtained once for all, and thus a large number of leaves may be examined easily and expeditiously. It may be necessary to view the specimens either by trans- mitted or by reflected light. If the greater spaces are to be investivated, the glass should be held up before the window, when t + reticulations will be seen presenting a firm, trans- parent, and often coloured network, the colours differing from that of the leaf itself, and often conferring great beauty and brilliancy upon it. If, on the other hand, it is desirable to notice the veins at the margin of the leaf, they will be seen to the greatest advantage by holding the glass horizontally in front of the window and placing a piece of white paper underneath, so as so view them on a white ground. The anomaly of a marginal venation in a leaf to which I am about to direct attention will be better understood, and more properly appreciated, I presume, if the ordinary modes Goruam, on the Umbellifere. 17 of distribution of the fibro-vascular tissue in leaves generally are first considered. To prosecute the study of the venation in leaves with advantage, it is necessary to have appropriate names for all the varieties of veins that may possibly present themselves in a perfectly formed leaf (netted), and then rigidly to classify them, so that every leaf that may be presented for our inspec- tion may have its proper place assigned to it as regards its mode of venation. A perfectly formed netted leaf, such as we find in the lilac, the rose, burdock, the peach, the nectarine, and in dicotyle- donous plants generally, was chosen by Dr. Lindley for this purpose ; and a reference to the mode in which any given vein named in this leaf distributes itself in other leaves fur- nishes at once a clue to their classification. The midrib (1, 1, Fig. I) in a perfectly formed netted leaf, sends forth alternately, right and left, along its whole length, ramifications. ‘These are called primary veins (2, 2, 2, 2). They diverge from the midrib at various angles, and pass towards the margin of the leaf, curving in their course, and finally forming a junction or anastomosis with the back of the vein which lies next them. That part of the primary vein which les between the junc- tion thus described, haying a curved direction, may be called the curved vein (3, 5,3). Be- tween this latter and the mar- i gin, other veins, proceeding Fre. I.—Netted lec? , from the curved veins, occa- 1,1. Midrib. sionally intervene. They may 2,2. P eae Means. eee nehedin; thewamoot 1) 9) ould vem. e ae ¥ HE 4, 4. External veins. external veins (4, 4,4). The 5, 5. Marginal veinlets. margin itself and these last are 6, 6. Costal veins. connected by a fine network 7, 7. Proper veinlets. 8, 8. Common veinlets. of veins, marginal veinlets (5, 5, 5).) Lastly, from the midrib are generally produced, at right angles with it, and alternate with the primary veins, smaller veins, which may be called costal veins (6, 6,6). The primary veins are themselves connected by fine veins, VOL. XVI. b 18 Goruam, on the Umbellifere. which anastomose in the area between them. These veins, when they sory leave the primary veins, may be called proper veinlets (7, 7,7); and when they anastomose, common veinlets (8, 8, 8). In the feather-veined leaf (see Pl. III, fig. 6), the primary veins diverge from the midrib in right lines, and lose them- selves in the margin; while, if the same veins are curved instead of straight, the leaf is called curve-veined (Fig. 5). But the different modes of venation are clearly shown in the analysis at the commencement of this paper, and which I have tabulated for the purpose, so that they will not require to be repeated in this place. In the foregoing remarks, and in the table of venation, I have adhered “rigidly to the distinctions given by Lindley, distinctions which, as the doctor observes, may to some appear over-refined ; while at the same time he states his convictions that no one can accurately describe a leaf without the use of them, or of equivalent terms yet to be invented. A cursory examination will suffice to show that many kinds of venation, defined in the foregoing table, are to be found amongst the leaves of the Umbelliferee. The netted leaf is seen in Sium latifolium ;* the feather veined in Heracleum Sphondylium, and Angelica sylvestris; the falsely-ribbed in Pimpinella Saxifraga, Sanicula Europea, and Bupleurum fruticosum* This last is an exotic ; and when examined by the naked eye only, is sufficiently peculiar to excite admira- tion ; but under the lens, and by transmitted light, its reti- culations are surpassingly beautiful. A ribbed leaflet is seen in Peucedanum officinale. Examples of the radiating leaf are found in the Eryngium maritimum,* and in Sanicula Europea. It is not my intention, however, to notice the venation in every individual species of this interesting group of plants, but rather to point out a peculiar distribution of vem which I have found to occur in several of them, and of which, so far as I can ascertain, no mention has been made either in our systematic works, when treating of the organography of flowering plants, or in our manuals of descriptive botany. As this deviation from the ordinary course of a vein is, so far as | have noticed, constant for the same species, and as invariable in its direction as that of other veins in other classes, it would seem to merit a particular description. It was while examining a fresh specimen of Aithusa Cyna- pium (fools’ parsley)* that my attention was aroused by the * See mounted specimens. Gornam, on the Umbellifere. 19 curious anomaly, as I supposed, of a vein which seemed to be situate at the very margin of the leaf, but which was espe- cially visible at the edges of its lobes. ‘The question natu- rally arose whether the supposed vein was a vein at all, or whether the appearance was due to a thickened state of the margin of the leaf. Fie. Lil.—Leaflet of Hthusa Cynapium. Showing the primary veins (p, p), the proper veinlets (v, v, v) proceeding from the primary veins, bifureating at the sinus or angle of the lobes (s, s,s), and becoming confluent with a vein which entirely surrounds the leaf at its very edge or margin, form- ing the marginal-veined leaf. Happening to have by me a dried specimen of a leaf from the same species, which had been left accidentally in a manual of botany many years since, I submitted this leaf to examination, when I discovered that the supposed veins could be seen distinctly, and could be traced without trouble to the sinus of two adjacent lobes, where they met with a single vein proceeding from the interior of the leaf, and which bifurcated and became confluent with them.* The next leaf which came under notice was that of the Ginanthe crocata (water dropwort). (Pl. III.) In this leaf the actual existence of the vein was even still more evident, anda smaller veinwas seen clearly to proceed to the angle of the lobes, there to divide into two portions, which emerged and traversed the * See mounted specimens. 20 Goruam, on the Umbellifere. very margin of the lobes. In order to assure myself that these appearances represented realities, and that the sup- posed veins were real ones, I enclosed the two specimens, the dried one of Aithusa Cynapium and the fresh leaf of Ginanthe crocata, to Mr. Jabez Hogg, who submitted them to careful examination under a power of 50 diameters, and kindly en- closed to me a very succinct account of their microscopic ap- pearances, accompanied by a couple of diagrams. ‘The insertion of this memorandum, together with a sketch of the diagrams, will, I am sure, not be offensive to Mr. Hogg. He says, “My rough sketch will show you that I entirely concur in the view you have taken. I submitted the leaf to a power of 50 diameters, which is the best to determine one in the opinion that the venation (fibro-vascular tissue), as it proceeds from the stem, is distributed to the outer portion of the leaf, and runs on to the summit of the apex, where it unites and comes to a point with its fellow of the other side. At the angles of the leaf the vein bifurcates, and gives off a portion of itself to each side of the leaf, forming a marginal portion of each. “In CEnanthe crocata it appears to differ slightly, imas- much as the leaf is thicker, the layer of parenchyma is greater, and the veins appear to enclose a thin layer of the a -- _ Magnified portion of leaf of Hthusa Outer layer of fibro-vascular Cynapium, showing venation. tissue. Veins. colouring matter of the leaf, so that one can see the chloro- phylle between two dark veins; but here, as in the former case, the veins form a marginal frame, as it were, to the parenchyma. Goruam, on the Umbellifere. 21 “Viewed with the binocular, you see that the veins are not imbedded in the parenchyma, but partially raised above it, giving strength and support to the whole.” In a correspondence with Dr. Maxwell Masters on this subject, this gentleman tells me that he has found the vein at the margin more or less distinct in the Umbellifers— Nas 2G, 8, 9, 10, 16; 17,,18; 19, 20,24, 25; 26:27, 32, 33, of the following list. I have noticed the vein myself in the rest, and in fourteen of those mentioned by Dr. Masters. CO 00 2 > OT A 09 2 . Apium graveolens. Celery. . Aithusa Cynapium. Fools’ parsley. . Bupleurum tenuissimum. Slender hare’s ear. . Carum Carui. Caraway. . Caucalis daucoides. Small-bur parsley. . Cherophyllum sylvestre. Wild chervyil. a temulum. Rough chervil. . Cicuta virosa. Water hemlock. . Conium maculatum. Common hemlock. . Daucus Carota. Common carrot. , Eryngium maritimum. Sea holly. 65 campestre. Field eryngo. . Helosciadium nodiflorum. Procumbent marshwort. if repens. Creeping marshwort. me inundatum. Lesser marshwort. . Libanotis vulgaris. Mountain meadow saxifrage. . Myrrhis odorata. Sweet Cicely. . Egopodium podagraria. Gout weed; herb Gerarde. . Ginanthe crocata. Hemlock waterdrop. 3 pimpinelloides. Parsley waterdrop. >» jistulosa. Common water dropwort. iS Phellandrium. Fine-leayed water dropwort. . Pastinaca sativa. Parsnip. . Petroselinum sativum. Parsley. os segetum. Corn parsley. . Pimpinella Saxifraga (2). Common Burnet saxifrage. ie magna. Greater Burnet saxifrage. . Peucedanum officinale. Sulphur weed. 3 sylvestris. Milk parsley. . Scandix Pecten-veneris. Venus’s comb. . Silaus pratensis. Meadow pepper saxifrage. . Sison Amomum. Stone parsley. . Smyrnium olusatrum. Alexander. . Torilis Anthriscus. Upright hedge parsley . Trinia glaberrina. Glabrous stonewort. that about one half of the plants belonging to the 22 Goruam, on the Umbellifere. natural order Umbelliferee, and doubtless several more not yet examined, have their leaves bordered or fringed with a thickish vein. But of all the varieties in venation those which are seen in the two Eryngia (Eryngium maritimum, sea holly, and E. campestre, field eryngo) are perhaps the most singular and illustrative of the vein in question. In Eryngium maritimum the leaf, says Sir Wm. Hooker, is “ beautifully veiny.” This is true; but the same remark will apply to more than half the leaves of this order, if the eye is assisted by the use of a lens of moderate power in their examination. Nevertheless, there are peculiarities in the veining of this leaf which are not to be found in any other plant, excepting Eryngium campestre, amongst all the Um- belliferee. Its veins are prodigiously large, and, when the leaf is well dried, look more like massive skeletons of ivory or carved woodwork than delicate veins of leaves. Almost all the veins, too, are visible to the naked eye, especially those at the margin, which are exceedingly thick, well defined, and are essentially typical of what I have ventured to call a marginal venation. Besides which, every vein is seen to be much bigger at its termination than at its origin, and every primary vein enlarges as it proceeds towards the circumference, until it terminates in a bulge, which finally tapers off abruptly into a spine. In fact, the leaf presents us with the curious anomaly of having almost every costa, vein, and veinlet, larger at its termination than at its commence- ment. Hence the central costa is actually narrower than the vein by which the circumference of the leaf is bounded. From the whiteness of the veins the leaf is seen to best advantage on a black ground—a piece of black paper, for in- stance, held under the glasses in which the leaf is mounted ; and as the magnitude of the vein at the margin, conjoined with the fact of its anastomosis with so many other veins, precludes the possibility of its being mistaken for a mere thickened margin, and as the coste themselves, as they ramify within the leaf, are radiating, I propose to class such a distribution by itself, under the name of Radio-margi- natum. The Eryngium campestre (field eryngo), which is becom- ing extinct, is similar to the sea holly in the magnitude and whiteness of its veins, but dissimilar in their distribution. The field eryngo is feather-veined (pennivenium). I would, therefore, classify it under the name of Marginato-pennive- nium. Again, the leaf of Bupleurum rotundifolium (common Goruam, on the Umbellifere. 23 hare’s-ear or thorow-wax) has no proper place assigned to it in our present classification, This leaf is disposed of by Sir William Hooker, of course with- out any allusion to its venation, as “ perfoliate roundish oval.” Its veins are, nevertheless, distributed in a manner so remark- able, as to characterise this leaf from all the other Umbellifere. A cursory examination only would leave the impression that it was a ribbed leaf; but, on closer inspection, it will be seen that, although the costee have one common origin, and proceed in curves towards the apex, yet that they never reach it, but join back to back, forming curves like the yvenze arcuate in a netted leaf, and these, again, are joined by a few straggling veins which pass to the margin. This leaf, therefore, is not a ribbed leaf, because none of its costze pass to the apex. It is not a netted leaf, because it has no primary veins ; but it partakes partially of the twofold character of both. Hence I would suggest that its proper position should be called Costato- reticulatum. It may be presumed that the addition of a marginal vein in the leaves of the Umbelliferous class is for the purpose of giving soli- dity and strength tothe leaf. I have seen the integrity of leaves destroyed by caterpillars, parasites animal and vegetable, and burns from the concentration of the sun’s rays by drops of rain, but I have never yet seen a leaf ¢orn by the wind. ‘This power of resistance is to be attributed partly to the flexibility and elasticity of the boughs and branches, but also to that due adjustment of the fibro-vascular tissue to the parenchyma, the skeleton to the green part of the leaf, whereby this latter becomes expanded in space and supported. Now, the leaves of this order are, many of them, exceedingly thin. Every one at all conversant with the subject will know that if such leaves are not submitted to pressure almost as soon as gathered, they curl up and are troublesome to be laid out on paper. Take, for example, the leaves of Conium, Mithusa cynapium, Sison amomum, and a host of others, when, on the contrary, the parenchyma is thicker and stronger, the neces- sity for the vein no longer exists, as in Heracleum, Angelica, and others, while the leaf of Apiwm graveolens (celery) is so thin that a small type may be read through it when held up to the light. The number and course of the veins is, no doubt, very nicely adjusted to the requirements of the leaf, amongst which a state of extreme tenuity would appear to demand a peculiar provision. The netted cordage which envelopes a balloon contributes, doubtless, in no small degree, to its safe ascent, and its return to the earth without bursting ; while 24 Goruam, on the Umbellifere. the absence of this in a boy’s kite, which has, so to speak, only a marginal vein outside, and a midrib in the centre, is the reason why it is so often torn into tatters. In the foregoing brief and very partial survey of the veins in the Umbellifers, sufficient has been said, I trust, to make that portion to which I was anxious to direct attention clear and intelligible ; while it may serve to show, also, that the distribution of the veins in leayes, in this as well as in many other natural orders of plants, will bear revision, which, when accomplished, will render the description more complete, and so facilitate classification. It is clear that the examination of the leaf in the way described in this paper is both interesting and instructive. The truth is, that the different parts of a flowering plant often require lenses of different powers to define them clearly. It is then only that they become intelligible ; for, as might naturally be expected, the more minute the object to be examined, the higher the power necessary to present it to the eye. ‘This is well exemplified in a fern leaf during its fructification, although any other plant, having several organs, all differing in size, would do as well. In the fern the thin layer of cellular tissue (éndusium) which envelopes the fruit is visible to the naked eye, but is seen to the best advantage by using a low power of from ten to twelve diameters. Next in order come the capsules or sporangia (cases in which the seeds are contained). ‘These demand a power of about from 80 to 100 diameters. Next the spores (seeds) themselves, which cannot be well defined under a power of less than 200 or 300 diameters. Besides these fructifying organs there are the veins in the leaves, which can generally be seen under about 12 diameters. In this way, and this only, by careful adjustment of the power to the size of the object, can the parts of a plant be presented to the eye intelligibly. For suppose the order of arrangement to be reversed—a strong power for an object of larger size, and a weak power for one of smaller dimensions—all would be confused and indefinite. The spores themselves would be seen only as amorphous specks of matter under a weak lens ; and the indusia, under a strong lens, too little of their area being thus exposed to render their shape visible, would be reduced to a mere aggre- gation of dots of cellular membrane. ‘The bursting of the sporangia, too, with the scattering of its spores, is a sight worth seeing under a weak power, the spores shooting in all directions across the field of view. This is well shown in a recently gathered frond of Scolopendrium, the transit of the spores reminding one of the saltatory movements observable Goruam, on the Umbellifere. 25 in certain of the insect tribe, which are prone to disturb our peace, and especially to induce a strong presentiment of a nocturnal vigil. By way of conclusion I would offer the following brief re- capitulation : 1. That the distribution of the veins in Umbellifere is very variable in different species, but constant and highly charac- teristic in each species. 2. That many of the leaves of this order have a venation like that in other leaves, and may be classified with them; but that a considerable number of them, on the other hand, have a kind of yenation peculiar to themselves, which does not find a place under any of the divisions that have heretofore existed. 3. That this peculiarity consists in the existence of a vein at the very edge of the leaf itself, and which, more or less, entirely fringes its whole margin. 4. ‘That this marginal vein is to be found certainly in one half, if not more, of the species belonging to the Umbellifere, and hence that it may be said to constitute a form of venation peculiar to this order, and to give a character to it which does not belong to other orders of plants. 5. ‘That when a leaflet is placed between two pieces of glass, and examined with a low power of 12 diameters, the vein becomes distinctly visible. 6. But that it is also visible, even to the naked eye, in certain of the species—EHryngium maritimum, E. campestre, Silaus pratensis, &c. 7. And, finally, that it is possible that a more attentive study of the venation of leaves in the manner recommended in this paper might prove of considerable assistance in the classification of plants. For a full description of the veins in ferns I would beg to refer to the elegant volume, ‘ Ferns, British and Foreign,’ by Mr. John Smith; but I am not aware that an analogous description of the venation in any one single order of flower- ing plants has ever been attempted. I now beg to offer my thanks, first to the worthy Honorary Secretary of the Royal Microscopical Society, for the kind and flattering manner in which he has received and disposed of my paper; and, secondly, to the President and Fellows themselves, for the honour they have conferred upon me in allowing me to read and discuss its merits before them on the present occasion. 26 On the ANATOMICAL DIFFERENCES observed in some SPECIES of the Hexices and Limaces. By Epwin T. Newron, Geological Survey. (Read December 11th, 1867.) AxurnoueH in all the pulmonated Gasteropoda the general type of structure remains the same, yet in the different species there are some important modifications of the various organs. Mr. Binney, in his work on the ‘ Land Shells and Mollusca of the United States,’ has considered very fully the anatomy of many of the Pulmonata, and has given several plates of dissections. He, however, includes only a few of the species found in this country. A paper by Mr, Nun- nely, in the first volume of the ‘ Leeds Society’s Transac- tions,’ treats of the comparative anatomy of the Limaces of that district, and some of the facts mentioned by him will be referred to in this paper. The differences which we shall have to notice are—in the reproductive organs, where some of the parts become modi- fied or suppressed ; in certain additions to the alimentary canal; and in the variations which the muscles undergo. The ovotestis in the Helices occupies the apex of the shell conjointly with the liver, with which, indeed, it is closely connected. In the Limaces it is perfectly distinct from the liver, and varies in different species as to its position with re- gard to other organs in the visceral cavity. In L. maximus it occupies the posterior extremity of the internal cayity ; in L. flavus it is in front of the first flexure of the intestine; in L. agrestis it occupies a position beside the intestinal flexure ; and in Arion ater it is situated midway between the posterior extremity of the visceral cavity and the flexure of the in- testine. Some of the accessory parts of the reproductive organs found in the Helices are absent from the Limaces, L. maximus and L, flavus do not possess either the dart, the flagellum, or the multifid vesicles ; and all the Limaces have a short sper- mathecal duct. JL. agrestis has at the internal extremity of the penis three short cecal tubes, which occupy the position of the flagellum in the Helices (Pl. IV, fig. 4’). These ap- pendages of L. agrestis are alluded to both by Mr. Binney and Mr. Nunnely. L. Sowerbii possesses the multifid vesi- cles, and in this species they consist of several ovoid masses, connected by very minute threads, or ducts, with the vagina, near its junction with the duct of the spermatheca (fig. 2g). The spermatheca is proportionately large in L. Sowerbii, and Newton, on the Helices and Limaces. 27 tapers at both extremities (fig. 2s¢). Professor Allman (‘ Rep. Brit. Assoc.,’ 1846, p. 82) notices that the multifid vesicles, and a peculiar dart, exist in this species, both of these organs relating it to the Helix. In iY i AL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. On a Microscopic FERMENT found in Rep Frencu Wink. By Henry J. Stack, F.G:S., Sec.R.M.S. (Read December 11th, 1867.) In ‘Comptes Rendus’ for the 18th January, 1864, will be found one of M. Pasteur’s papers, entitled “ Etudes sur les Vins,” accompanied by a plate showing the character of fifteen kinds of ferments as exhibited by the microscope. ‘The third of these illustrations represents small rounded and ovoid cells, some of the latter being pointed at one end. They are arranged in groups of from ‘two or three to seven or eight cells, and attached to some of the larger ones are extremely small ones, apparently growing from them. Fig. 2 in his cuts represents more elongated cells, with a tendency to a branched arrangement. In the text, M. Pasteur says that, if these two kinds of cells only are seen in wine, the Mycoderma vini or fleurs du vin only is developed. He describes this plant as consisting of globular cells or joints, more or less elongated, and vary- ing in diameter from 0°002 mm. to 0:006 mm., and is pro- pagated by budding. These ferments, he states, do not injure the wine, but in some cases improve it, and are essential to the good matu- rition (bonne confection) of white wines. By causing them to grow artificially, he obtained a “portion of the bouquet” belonging to wines of this description. It may also be observed that M. Pasteur figures the My- coderma aceti, as found in wines of the Jura that had turned sour, much like strings of minute spores of the commen blue mould, radiating from a dense central mass of similar cells. He says that, so long as the Mycoderma vini finds plenty of nourishment, its erowth tends to prevent that of M. aceti; but as soon as nourishment becomes deficient, the VOL. XVI. d 36 Stack, on a Ferment found in Red French Wine. latter ferment is formed at its expense. He adds, ‘‘ red wines commonly produce only the Mycoderma vini, because this plant multiples with the greatest facility in wines which contain most nitrogenous and extractive matter.” In the beginning of November the writer opened a bottle of so-called ‘ light claret,” which he believes to consist of a mixture of a strong red wine from the South of France with a thinner white wine from some neighbouring locality. Mixtures of this sort, if properly made of sound wines, are not objec- tionable in point of flavour, and there is no reason to suppose them unwholesome. ‘The wine in question was a good spe- cimen of its kind, and nothing particular had been observed in bottles previously tapped. In this case, however, upon pouring out a quantity in a tumbler, there soon floated to the top, and adhered round the sides of the glass, a reddish matter looking much like the powder of a decayed cork. Microscopical examination with a power of 240 showed a prodigious number of small cells, which, under this magnifi- cation, looked pretty much alike. Powers of from 900 to 1400, obtained with Messrs. Beck’s z!yth objective, enabled the form and structure of the cells to be distinctly seen. It was then found that they varied in size and shape much more than was apparent when larger powers were employed (Fig. 1), and many cells that had appeared simple were discovered to be jointed. The majority of the cells were ovoid, and jointed at one or both ends. Small cells were, in many cases, attached to larger cells, as if growing out of them, and a few very short mycelium threads were mingled with the cells. Amongst the largest of these formations were triple groups, consisting of a small round cell, and a larger round one, surmounted Siac, on a Ferment found in Red French Wine. — 37 by an elongated pointed cell. These, in their largest trans- verse diameter, measured about 1-7000”, and about double that length. The cells all contained minute dots of whitish matter. Some of the cells, taken up on a knife, were placed in a solution of moist sugar. In a few days a smell of butyric acid became very noticeable. ‘This increased so as to be ex- ceedingly powerful, and mingled with it a nauseous scent of other and unknown substances was observed. A portion of the sugar was transformed into a slimy, ropy mass. Micro- scopic ‘examination of the fluid and of the ropy mass dis- closed only a few cells of minute size, and no bacterium bodies, like those described by M. Pasteur, which are some- times associated with the butyric fermentation. Ifany such bodies were present, they were certainly not in quantities proportioned to the vigour with which the butyric fermenta- tion went on; and that fermentation seemed rather to be a purely chemical action, excited, perhaps, by the decomposi- tion of some of the cells, than an action correlative with the growth of any organisms. While this process was going on, an open tumbler, con- taining the wine and cells, was standing in the same place, and soon exhibited patches of mould, which in due time be- came continuous, and were covered with myriads of Peni- cilium glaucum spores. The wine left in the bottle—rather more than half full and corked—did not turn noticeably sour, and no mould ap- peared upon its surface. A little of this wine was mixed with a solution of treacle, in a wide-mouthed bottle, placed on a warm shelf in a greenhouse, and covered over with a garden-pot to keep out the light. A thick crop of blue mould soon appeared, covering up the surface, but at the end of three weeks the fluid was only slightly acid, as mani- fested by a feeble action on litmus paper. The non-formation of butyric acid in this case, and the formation of that substance in the previous experiment, would seem to be accounted for by difference in the nutri- ment supplied to the cells, and in the temperature to which they were exposed When the butyric acid was formed, no blue mould appeared; and when the blue mould was deve- loped, no butyric acid could be detected. Jt is obvious that the experiments are far from sufficient to explain the nature of the different actions and results, but they serve to indicate a useful direction for research. In a few weeks, the contents of the bottle in which the butyric acid was developed underwent a spontaneous change. 38 Stack, on a Ferment found in Red French Wine. The butyric and other nauseous odours gradually lessened in intensity, and just before disappearing, were accompanied by distinct, though faint, smell of some ether—a fact which may be connected with the function, ascribed by M. Pasteur to his Mycoderma vini cells, of assisting to develop the bouquet of white wine. When the smell of butyric acid and that of the unknown cenanthic ether had disappeared, the liquid remained odour- less for a few days, and mycelium threads, together with cells, chiefly ovoid, became abundant in the ropy mass (Fig. 2). Two thirds of the clear fluid was poured off, and Hie. 9. replaced by a weak solution of moist sugar. On this the mycelium threads and their cells now operated, the odour of fresh vinegar became apparent, and the liquid acted power- fully in reddening blue litmus paper. Chemists obtain butyric acid by the process of Pelouze and Gélis. A solution of sugar is excited to fermentation by mixing it with poor cheese. Lactic acid is formed, and unites with lime, which is added in the form of chalk. The lactate of lime then undergoes a change, carbonic acid and hydrogen are evolved, and butyrate of lime remains. The butyrate of Ruvert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. 39 lime is mixed with dilute hydrochloric acid, and the butyric acid distilled off. The nitrogenous matter of the Mycoderma vini cells pro- bably acted in the experiment above described just as the casein of the cheese operates in the process of Pelouze and Gélis; but whether the butyric acid disappeared by simple evaporation, or by chemical action, is not evident. Professor Miller states, in his ‘ Elements of Chemistry,’ that butyric acid volatilizes at ordinary temperatures, but a chemical change probably occurred. Our great authority upon Fungi, the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, and Mr. Hoffman, of Margate, raised penicilium from insu- lated cells of yeast;* and as penicilium has been raised in the experiments just detailed from the Mycoderma vini of M. Pasteur, it would appear that the cells of that organism belong to one of the many forms which the yeast plant is able to assume. Bivatvep Enromosrraca, RECENT and Fossiu. By Pror. T. Rupert Jones, F.G.S. (Read January Sth, 1868.) Ever since naturalists have clearly seen that the many different layers or beds of stone, clay, and sand, of which the earth’s surface is composed, were formed by the deposits of mud, silt, and shingle of old oceans, not by any mysterious inexplicable agglomeration of shapeless matter, they have not been content with observing the extent, the thickness, and the general characters of each bed of stone; but they have searched diligently for fossils, both large and small—that is, the petrified remains of animals and plants preserved in those old sea-deposits. As the naked eye cannot sufficiently dis- tinguish all the peculiarities of the grains of sand and minute crystals of carbonate of lime, of which a great part of these rocks and stones are composed, so also do we require a lens or a microscope to see in a clay or a limestone all the particles that have originally belonged to animal structures. These organic particles are not always fragments and atoms of bones, of corals, or of shells, but very often are perfect little organisms themselyes—perfect shells, perfect cases and coatings of minute animals, or perfect frameworks of micro- scopic plants. * See article “ Yeast,’’ in ‘ Black’s Cyclopedia of Agriculture.’ 40 Rurrrt Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. Whether we crumble down a friable freestone, such as the Bath stone or many of the Oolites of the Midland Counties— ‘whether we powder a piece of Chalk, or reduce a piece of Lias or other clay in water, we shall find abundant well-pre- served relics of ancient Microzoa in the dried and sifted dust. If we take a piece of limestone, whether from Dudley, Mat- lock, or Westmoreland, or go abroad for our specimens to any part of the world, we shall find in polished slices of the lime- stone more or less distinct evidences of perfect little shells of peculiar forms, requiring a strong microscope for their eluci- dation. Among these microscopic fossils are some that play a more important part than others in the making up of the stony masses of many parts of our own country and of other lands. There are in particular two kinds of very frequent occurrence in clays, freestones, limerocks, marbles, chalk, &c., namely, minute Crustacean animals, and another set of Microzoa called Foraminifera. Of each of these kinds there are innumerable individuals living at the present day. ‘These tiny creatures are as easily to De found in the living state as in the fossil condition; they have had great books written about them ; and they not only afford much instruction to naturalists who study their structures and observe their habits, but they can be a source of much interest to any one who has an aquarium —the now frequent ornament of our parlours. On this occasion I have to explain the nature of the micro- scopic Bivalved Crustaceans, to allude to their ways of life, and to draw attention to some of the facts connected with their being found fossilised in clays and stones. The common Crab and Lobster are important members of the Crustacean group of Animals; so also are Shrimps, Prawns, Sandhoppers, Woodlice, the WKing-crab of the Moluccas, and many others, which are only noticed by the naturalist and seen in museums. A characteristic feature of the Crustaceans is their jointed structure (placing them among the Articulata or Arthropoda), and their being for the most part coated with a hard, tough armour—the part that covers the front of the body being usually formed of a large plate or buckler (called the Cara- pace or Cephalothorax), and the rest consisting of ring-like segments. The Shell (or Test) of the Lobster well illustrates this. In the Crab, however, the body is more shrunk up, as it were, beneath the Carapace, which is widened and enlarged, whilst the jointed tail-piece is very small and folded neatly underneath. The organs in the Crab are, as it is said, Rurvert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. 4) concentrated; and the traces of the many ring-joints (or “somites ”’) of which the Crustacean Animal is typically or theoretically constructed are nearly lost to sight. Indeed, if we trace the modifications of structure from one Crustacean to another—from the many-segmented Brine-shrimp to the more definitely jomted W dodlouse and Sandhopper, almost equally ringed throughout the length of their bodies—and through Squills and Shrimps with their carapace in front and their armoured tail behind, and the Anomoura or short- tailed members of the Lobster Tribe, until we get to the Crabs, with scarcely any tail at all, we follow, as it were, the footsteps of Nature in her advance from the lower and simpler structures, with their many times repeated parts and organs, to the higher, more concentrated, more complicated, more specialised, and, in one sense, more perfect type of animal structure. We see the carapace flat in the Crab; in the Lobster it is folded down on either side, and so we have it in many other species; but this folding is carried a step further in some groups, the two halves being quite separate at the back, along the central line that is well marked in the Lobster, and becoming the two valves of a two-sided carapace, re- sembling that of a common Bivalved Mollusc. This bivalved structure is not met with among the larger Crustacea, but only in the smaller and fr equently 1 microscopic forms. These are members of the group known by the gener al term ‘‘ Water-fleas,” or Entomostraca (“shelled insects’ ae Some live in the sea, some in ponds and rivers. ‘They exist in countless numbers. Like the Sandhoppers, Shrimps, Lob- sters, &c., they assist in the health-economy of the watery world; they are scavengers, using up all dead matters. The Crustaceans have been termed ‘“ the Insects of the Sea,” and well they may, for they not only take the place of Insects, Centipedes, and Spiders in the ocean, on every shore and at nearly every depth, but they emulate the Insect-tribe in the extremes of grace and ugliness. ‘Though they can scarcely be said to resemble the Insects in their flight, yet in their flittings to and fro they are not unlike; and in their ceaseless, unwearying crawlings the likeness holds good ;—as scavengers, too, they claim brotherhood with a a osld of Beetles and other Insects. In this, however, as well as in the less amount of concentration of their organs, they differ from Insects—namely, the changes which the latter undergo are from one distinct stage to ‘another, such as caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly; but in the Crustacea we have successive moultings of the crust, with some alteration in the body, 4.2 Rurverr Jongs, on Bivalved Entomostraca. corresponding with the growth of the individual ; and though these changes are often ‘striking (in the young state of Crabs, for instance), yet there is no ‘break in the line of life, no dormant period, no transition from one mode of living to another, as there is in Insects. However diversified the forms of the different kinds of Crustacea may be—however varied the number and disposi- tion of their limbs, yet this great group have, with few exceptions, their articulated framework as a feature in common ; and if that be wanting, still (according to Huxley) the uniformly similar, six-limbed, and Nauplius-like form in which so many members of the lower groups of Crustacea begin their existence, furnishes a strong connecting link among them. The diversity of organs among the Crustacea is almost endless; what serves as jaws in one division are legs in another; the antenne in one may be organs of sense, in another of locomotion or of prehension: then there are thoracic branchie in some (Decapods), sac-like branchial appendages in others (‘Tetradecapods); whilst the Ento- mostraca rarely have any true branchiz, the surface of either some part or of the whole of the body serving for aération. In the Crabs, which present the condition of highest centralisation for the Crustacea, the three front segmental elements are coalesced and modified as the organs of ‘feeling, sight, and hearimg; the next six supply the mandibles, maxille, and palpi for the mouth; five are devoted to the organs of locomotion and prehension ; and the remainder are lost in the abbreviated abdomen or tail-piece. In the other Decapoda (with ten limbs) also, such as Lobsters, &e., nine segments and their pairs of appendages are thus concentrated into the organs of sense and the mouth. In the 'Tetradeca- poda (with fourteen limbs), such as the Woodlouse, &c., only seven segments are concentrated for these cephalic organs. In the Entomostraca, only siz thus coalesce for the senses and mouth in the Cyclops group, only five in the Daphnia and Caligus, and only four in Limulus. The essential points in the framework of the body of an Entomostracan of low organization, and in the arrangement of the organs, are well seen in the Brine-shrimp (Artemia). Here the body has numerous articulations or segmented por- tions. The head-part takes up four or five coalesced somites, bearing the antenne, eyes, and masticatory organs ; eleven pairs of natatory and branchial limbs follow on eleven seg- ments; the next two joints or rings have their own modified appendages ; seven segments succeed, without appendages, Ruvert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. 43 except that the last ends with the caudal flaps (post-abdomen or telson). Others also of these lower Crustacea, or Phyllopoda (whether bivalved or not), have more than twenty segmented parts in their body; but of the twenty theoretical typical somites or segments (twenty-one,* including the telson) characteristic of a well-developed Crustacean, several of the hindmost are absent in most of the Bivalved Entomostraca ; and this cur- tailed form is wholly enveloped in the two more or less closely fitting carapace-valves of the cephalothorax. Thus in the Phyllopodous Linnadia, after the front part of the body, bearing the antenne, eyes, and mandibles, suc- ceed twenty-two pairs of branchial limbs, more or less de- veloped, followed by the post-abdomen. Locomotion is here effected by the antennz and post-abdomen. In the Cladoce- rous (Daphnioid) and Ostracodous (Cyproid) groups, how- ever, of the Entomostraca, the antennz, eyes, mandibles, and maxille, two to six pairs of feet (with branchial appendages attached to some of them), a short abdomen, and a strong, hooked post-abdomen, are the chief features; so in these Bivalved forms, instead of the numerous branchial laminz of the Phyllopods, we have a few pairs of locomotive organs with their branchial appendages. The disposition of the organs in various orders, families, and genera, may be studied in detail in the works of Baird, Dana, Zenker, Lilljeborg, Fischer, Grube, Sars, Norman, Brady, and others. For the family and generic characters of the Ostracoda, see G.S. Brady’s memoir in the ‘ Intellectual Observer’ for September, 1867; and for the specific charac- ters of many of the Cladocera, see Norman and Brady’s memoir on the Bosminide, &c., in the ‘ Nat. Hist. Trans. Northumberland and Durham,’ 1867. The Bivalved Entomostraca differ among themselves not only with respect to the arrangement and characters of the organs of sense, mastication, locomotion, and aération, but also very markedly in the shape and structure of their carapace-valves. In Apus, one of the Phyllopods, the carapace (or shell covering the cephalothorax) is nearly flat and shield-like, but ridged along the middle. In Neda/ia, another Phyllopod, the carapace is folded down, as it were, on either side of the animal; the abdomen extends beyond it behind, the legs below, and the antenne in front, with a small, arched, * The twenty-one theoretical somites are thus allocated by some natu- ralists :—seven to the lead or cephialon, seven to the thorax or pereion, and seven to the abdomen or pleon. 44 Rurert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. moveable projection above the eyes. In the Cladocera (Daphnia, &c.) the carapace is still more flatly folded down, with a bend along the dorsal line ; and the whole of the body is included within it, except that the antenne (as swimming limbs) protrude at the head from lateral notches, which give to the front of the carapace a hood-like or quaintly beaked shape. In other Bivalved Entomostraca the two sides of the folded carapace are quite distinct, forming separate valves, but united in life along their dorsal margins by either a simple membranous attachment (as in Estheria, &c.), or by amore complex system of ridge and furrow, or teeth and sockets (as in the Cyproidea). In outline the carapaces of Cladocera range from orbicular to oblong, with varying contours. They are horny or chitinous, thin, usually transparent, and ornamented often with some reticulate pattern, having reference to the hexagonal cell- system of the typical crustacean test, or the network resolves itself into delicate bands and furrows by the greater develop- ment of one set of mesh-lines than another. This carapace is periodically moulted and renewed; but occasionally it is re- tained, and one layer succeeds on the inside and at the outer edge of another until the valve is marked with several con- centric boundary-lines of the periodic stages of growth. Mr. Norman points out that this feature, normal in Menosphilus tenuirostris, is occasional in Lynceus elongatus; see ‘ Nat. Hist. Trans. Northumberland and Durham,’ 1867, p. 53. It is also normal in the Limnadiade, which retain their valves, whilst they cast only a chitinous skeleton or framework of the body. Fossil carapaces of Cladocera have not been recognised, their extreme tenuity probably being neither favorable for their preservation nor, if preserved, to their detection in the fossil state. The Bivalved Phyllopods, such as Limnadia, Estheria, and Limnetis, are larger than the Cladocera, and their valves are usually thicker and stronger. In shape round, oyal, or oblong, they often resemble the shells of Conchifera or Bivalved Molluses, and have been mistaken for them when living, and much more frequently in the fossil condition. The presence of a straight hinge-line, of umbones, and of concentric lines of growth, are special features in which they more or less imitate the Conchifera, such as Avicula, Tellina, Pisidium, &c. Estheria donaciformis came to the British Museum as a Nucula ; but Dr. Baird recognised its crustacean characters, disguised as they are by the molluscan shape, Rurert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. 45 Estheria minuta long passed as a little shell among geologists until Prof. Quekett’s microscope detected the hexagonal cell- tissue of the Crustacean in fragments of the fossil: see my ‘Monograph of the Fossil Estherie’ (Paleeontographical Society), 1862, pages 3, 11, &c. Very different kinds of carapace-valves belong to the Ostracoda. A synopsis of the recent British forms of this great group, carefully drawn up and illustrated by Mr. G. S. Brady in the ‘ Intellectual Observer’ for September, 1867, gives us a good general view of these very interesting Bivalved Entomostraca, amongst which are (excepting some of the Copepoda and Cladocera) the most common of the marine and treshwater forms, both recent and fossil. Thus— Cypripa.—Cypris ; Cypridopsis ; Paracypris ; Notodro- mas; Candona; Pontocypris; Bairdia ; Macrocypris. CyTHERID®.—Cythere (and Cythéreis); Limnocythere ; Cytheridea (and Cyprideis) ; Cytheropsis (to be changed to “* Eucythere’’) ; Hyobates; Loxoconcha (= Normania) ; Xesto- leberis ; Cytherura; Cytheropteron; Bythocythere ; Pseudo- cythere ; Cytherideis ; Sclerochilus ; Paradoxostoma. Cypripinip ®.—(Cypridina ;) Philomedes ; Cylindoleberis ; Bradycinetus. Concua@ctaD®.—Conchecia, Po.Lycorip ®.—Polycope. CYTHERELLID &.—Cytherella. The valves of the Cypride (Brady) are small, usually either kidney-shaped, oblong, or boat-shaped, smooth or bearing only faint punctation and delicate sete, and rarely thickened on the hinge-margins. The Cytheride, on the other hand, though often smooth, have frequently thick and highly orna- mented valves, coarsely or neatly pitted, sculptured with fret-work (more or less reticulate), or bristlmg with spines and spikes. Hither ovate or oblong in many shapes, they have usually thick hinge-margins, with furrows and sockets for bars and teeth. The other families mentioned have smocth valves; those of Cypridina are large, thick, and convex, mostly round or oval, and are marked with an antero-ventral notch Conchecia has an oblong, and Poly- cope a subspherical shell; both thin. Cytherella has oblong, compressed, thick valves, usually smooth, one fitting into the other somewhat like the lid of a wooden snuff-box. Of the Ostracoda very many are found fossil, such as belonged to fresh waters, to brackish waters, and to the sea, in great variety. Munster, Roemer, Reuss, De Koninck, Bosquet, Bornemann, and others have described many species 46 Rupert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. from the strata of Germany, France, Belgium, &c.; and at home M‘Coy, Salter, Kirkby, Holl, G. 8S. Brady, and myself are among those who have treated of such as have been met with in the British Isles; but a large number still remained undescribed. Amongst the fossil specimens are several that cannot be readily co-ordinated with the groupings made out of the existing forms, as may be expected both by naturalists who are accustomed to look on the existing races as successional representatives of older forms, and by those who may regard successive faune as creational replacements. Among such fossil forms are many from the older (“ Palzo- zoic”’) strata; but even for these existing representatives occasionally turn up, such as Brady’s Heterodesmus, lately brought from the Japanese seas, which has apparently a close affinity with M‘Coy’s Entomoconchus of the Mountain- limestone. Some, indeed, of the old forms are scarcely dis- tinguishable, as far as the valves are concerned, from their modern representatives; for imstance, Cypridina primeva (M‘Coy, sp.) of the same old limestone, and its associates Cyprella and Cypridella, present in the various valves of their multiform species gradations among themselves, and an easy passage into Cypridina itself. Others among the ancient faunz possess two or more of the characteristics that are now divided amongst the several members of a group; thus the carapace of the Leperditia of the Silurian period has resemblances in outline to members of the Limnadiade, Cypridinine, and Cypride ; in muscle-spot to the first two ; in vascular markings to the first and to the Apodidee ; in the place of the eyes to the second and fourth; and in the eye- tubercles to the third and fourth. Altogether Leperditia, and its paleeozoic congeners Lsochilina, Entomis, Primitia, Beyrichia, and Kirkbya, seem to be more nearly within the alliance of the Limnadiade than of the others. Nevertheless, in these as well as in other groups of Bivalved Entomostraca, we have always to be careful in assigning special value to differences of outline, ornament, and structure, because it isnot unusual, among these little Crustacea, to find that similar shells may belong to different genera, when we examine them alive; and on the other hand very closely allied species may have dissimilar valves. As a general rule the fossil Entomostraca of freshwater, brackish, and marine strata, respectively, correspond in family and generic characters to species found in such waters at the present day; and therefore the geologist often finds his supposition as to the origin of a set of strata confirmed by the Rurert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. AT presence of this or that kind of Entomostraca; and in some instances thin intercalated bands of freshwater or of estuarine deposits, amongst marine strata, can be indicated by the pre- sence of Hstherie, which in past, as in present, times appear to have avoided sea-water, though living abundantly in salt- marshes and lagoons. See the ‘ Monograph of Fossil Esthe- riz,’ 1862, Thus, also, Mr. G. 8. Brady observes (‘ Intellectual Ob- server, 1867, p. 111), in noticing the geological interest of Entomostraca, “‘ My belief is, therefore, that those strata which exhibit such very abundant and closely packed re- mains of the smaller Cypride and Cytheride have most likely been formed in shallow, brackish lagoons, or at the mouths and deltas of rivers. The species of Ostracoda which I have found in these situations are Cytheridea torosa (Jones), Cythere pellucida, Baird, and Loxoconcha elliptica, Brady ; while in water a little further from the saline influence, but still slightly partaking of it, it is not uncommon to meet with Cypris salina, Brady, and Cypridopsis aculeata, Lalljeborg, as well as Entomostraca belonging to other orders.” The Entomostraca act pre-eminently as scavengers in both salt and fresh waters. Most of the groups (as Copepods, Ostracods, and Phyllopods) comprise both marine and fresh- water species; but the Cladocera are confined to fresh water. The excessive swarming of the pink Daphnia or Water-flea has occasionally reddened pond-water so strongly as to have seemed supernatural to our ancestors, and to have produced terror, as an evil omen, among the ignorant. Amongst the British Ostracoda, Cypris, Cyprodopsis, Noto- dromas, and Candona, are inhabitants of lakes, ponds, ditches, streams, and rivers; and they can be readily obtained and conveniently kept and studied in the aquarium. Paracypris, Pontocypris, Bairdia, and Macrocypris, are marine members of Mr. Brady’s group “ Cypride.” Excepting the fresh- water Limnocythere, all the Cytheride are marine, Cythe- ridea and Loxoconcha having also a taste for brackish water. These salt-water species of the Bivalved Entomostraca are distributed in deep and shallow seas, in pools on the beach between tides, in lagoons and back-waters, and in the brack- ish water of estuaries and salt-marshes. The ‘ Trans. Zoolog. Soc.,’ 1867, contains a memoir, by Mr. G. S. Brady, descrip- tive of some new forms of Ostracoda, in which we find some “habitats” referred to as. being in “ shallow water,” and others at 14, 17, 39, 45, 60-70, 223, 360, 470, and even 2050 fathoms. The Cypride, having plumose “ antenne,” or natatory 48 Rupert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. limbs, possess a greater or less power of swimming, Candona being a marked exception. On the other hand, the anterior locomotive limbs of the Cytheride have usually short sete and hook-like spines, instead of bunches of long, delicate filaments; and consequently these animals crawl about on the weeds, shells, and mud, and few among them can swim at all. The Cypridinide are mostly free-swimming, oceanic forms. Mr. Brady observes that “some of the members of this family have very slight swimming powers, and live chiefly amongst mud ; others are very agile swimmers, and are often taken in the towing-net—more especially at night—near the surface of the sea. ‘They seem, indeed, to contribute very materially to the production of the wonderful phosphores- cence of the tropical seas” (‘ Intellectual Observer,’ 1867, p- 115). The removal of dead animal matter is easily accomplished by Entomostraca and other small Crustacea; and, as the Emmets and their little fellow-labourers pick bare the bones of large land animals, so these minute creatures of the water use up the dead bodies of animals in the ocean, the lakes, and rivers, foraging for the dead zoophyte, and swarming over the lifeless mass of mollusc, annelid, and star-fish, and taking their share of the dead Fish that had lived by eating their “fellows,* and of the dead Whale that had strained from the water myriads of their congeners for his daily food. When the sailors, in one of Parry’s Voyages, hung their salt beef over the ship’s side in the water for a while, it soon dis- appeared under the combined attack of these little devourers ; and if a fish be put in a perforated canister in a suitable stream or pond for a couple of days, its skeleton will be pre- pared by the tiny Crustaceans. Just as Mr. Charles Moore has found in the Lias of Somersetshire, the fossil Reptiles overlain by a swarm of Ammonites, buried with the half- eaten carcase in the mud, so the fossil remains of Fishes (as noticed by Phillips, Binfield, myself, and others) are often and often found imbedded with innumerable cayapace-valves of the Entomostracous scavengers in mud-beds of all ages, especially the Carboniferous, Wealden, and Tertiary clay: 8) ; nor are Entomostraca wanting among the bones of fish and reptile in the Lias above alluded to. Thus also we have seen acrowd of Cyprides and Candone cleaning out the shell of a Paludina or a Linneus in an aquarium ; and in the fossil state we know that valves of ¥* See Dr. Baird’s “ Notes on the Food of some Fresh-water Fishes, more particularly the Vandace and Trout.” 1857. Rupert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. 49 Entomostraca are sometimes associated in the shells of Mol- luses. ‘Thus Mr. J. W. Kirkby says (‘ Trans. Tyneside Nat. Field-Club,’ vol. iv, 1859), The convex valve of a Conchifer appears to have been a popular place of resort with the Bairdie, for out of one I procured some dozens of indi- viduals.” The rapid increase of some kinds of Entomostraca, and the tenacity of life possessed by the eggs, are circumstances that have attracted the attention of naturalists. The almost sudden appearance of Apus and of Estheria in great numbers in ditches, and even in cart-ruts, after heavy summer rains, in Germany and France, have been particularly noted. Here allusion need be made to these facts only to remind the reader that the dried mud of ponds will nearly always be found to contain the still vital eggs of various species of Entomostraca ; and if small portions be sent home from abroad, and placed in pure water, the species belonging to the original pond may be produced under the eye of the naturalist and properly re- corded. Thus, Mr. Henry Denny and Dr. Baird had the pleasure of raising in England, from dried mud sent by Dr. Atkinson from Jerusalem, several species of Entomostraca new to science. (See ‘Ann. Nat. Hist.’ for October, 1859, and September, 1861. Flourishing, then, in every water-area, fresh or salt, deep or shallow, running or still,—possessing strong powers of vitality and reproduction, and furnished with relatively hard or tough coverings, calcareous or corneo-caleareous in substance, these minute but innumerable Entomostraca have left their valves, either as the exuviz of periodical castings, or as the lasting remains of hosts of animalcules buried in the tide-shifted silt or the mud and sand of the freshet, to be fossilized in laminated clays, hardened mud-stones, and solid rocks of limestone. Tn the extremely old ‘ Silurian” strata we find abundant specimens of Primitia, Beyrichia, Leperditia, and Entomis, apparently related to the Phyllopods, and always associated with marine fossils. In the “ Devonian” beds of marine origin we find Kntomis, &c.; and in the fresh-water beds of the same period there is an Estheria, both in Scotland and Russia. ‘The “‘ Carboniferous ”’ formations next succeed, and contain a host of Bivalved Entomostraca, many of them not yet described. Cypridina is well represented in these old strata with Hntomoconchus (before alluded to); Leperditia lived on, with Beyrichia ; and Kirkbya flourished with Cythere and Bairdia. In the fresh-water or estuarine bands Estheria occurs in several species, and Cypris or Candona is present 50 Rupert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. also. The persistence of these genera from so old a time to the present is what is expected of such relatively low forms of life; wide geographical extension and long-continuance belonging to such creatures as have not been highly spe- cialised. In the “ Permian ” formations (“‘ Magnesian Lime- stone” of Durham and ‘other strata) Bairdia, Cythere, and Kirkbya play an important part. In the ‘‘ Trias” or ** New Red Sandstone ” we find Estheria, where marine conditions failed and fresh water had an influence, not only in Europe, but in India and America. (See my ‘ Monograph on Fossil Estherie,’ 1862.) The Entomostraca of the “ Lias” and the *‘Oolites” are not few, though not well known. In the ** Purbeck ”’ and “‘ Wealden” beds they are better known. Masses of Purbeck building stone are wholly composed of the valves, and some of the Weald clays split like paper along the layers of shed valves of Cypridea: nor are Estheria want- ing in these old freshwater beds. The ‘ Gault” and “Chalk” are full of Cythere, Bairdia, and other allied genera, all marine. The “ London Clay,” the ‘ Brackles- ham Beds,” and ‘ Barton Clay,” swarm in some places with similar forms, whilst the “ Woolwich Beds” below them, and the ‘‘ Hampstead” and ‘* Osborne ”’ formations of the Isle of Wight, above, are characterised by Candona, Cythe- ridea, &c., such as love estuaries, lakes, and rivers. Lastly, for England, the “ Crag ” of Suffolk, and that of Bridlington, abound in marine forms. If we had only these little fossils whereby to form an opinion of the probable conditions under which the clays, sandstones, and limestones were formed in the long past eras of this planet, we should have, in nearly every case, ample evidence of the history of each bed of mud, silt, and shell- sand, in which these minute Entomostraca can be found. The seas of the Silurian period had their thick-shelled Leperditie and Beyrichie very distinct from*their now living congeners, but linked to them by close affinities readily dis- coverable by the naturalist. When land was increased, in the Devonian period, the sea-coasts still abounded with marine Crustacea; and the lakes and rivers abounded with Estheria, like those of the present day. The coral-seas, which gave birth to the Derbyshire limestone, abounded with strange forms of Entomostraca. Land still extended, and miles and miles of swampy coasts and lowlands crowded with the dense vegetation of the Coal-period, and, intersected with black, muddy lagoons, offered a home for endless tribes of Entomostraca, feeding on animal and vegetable refuse—the rotting plants and shoals of fish, poisoned by the black mud Ruerert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. 51 of the peaty rivers. These muds and silts, and all their buried shells, and plants, and fish, and crustaceans, sank down, and were covered up and hardened—petrified, often baked by heat, and then, pushed up again by subterranean force, reappearing at the surface as the hard, rocky base of many a new country, and forming the bed of new seas, were eaten into by the ever-working waves, worn down by periodic rains, aided by the scorching sunbeams, the splitting frost, and the incessant agency of the atmospheric gases chemically affecting the surfaces of the rock. The sea, now occupying fresh areas, continued its great work of destruction and reparation—wearing down the shores to make up the sea-beds; and it continued to be the abode of life in its myriad forms; but they were mostly new forms. In the new deposits laid down on the upturned edges of the old strata we find Entomostraca again, similar to those of to-day, and in the lagoons and lakes of the Triassic period Estherie abounded. The varying seas, the estuaries, bays, gulfs, and oceans of the Oolitic period, when land was rising here and sinking there—the sea ever rolling under its tidal laws, and coming and going amongst the ever- shifting land—these seas, we know, swarmed with Entomos- traca, amongst the world of marine creatures, and the rivers and lakes were swarming too. ‘The land that bore the great Iguanodon and Megalosaurus—gigantic lizards wandering over the marshy grounds, just as the amphibious Hippopotami of to-day wallow along the African swamps —had its great rivers ; and their deltas, like those of the Ganges and Missis- sippl, consisted of mudbanks and muddy lagoons, full of Uniones, Paludine, Cyrene, and other shell-fish, and above all with Cypride and Estherie, feeding on the dead molluscs and fish. The Sussex marble is mainly composed of these sometimes ; some beds of freestone at Swanage are wholly made up of them, and flake after flake of black clay, once mud, may easily be picked by the hand, in the Isle of Wight, in cliffs some miles extent, from beds of shale nearly two hundred feet thick, every surface being thickly coated with the shells or carapaces of these minute creatures. What durable wit- nesses of a long-past age ! The ‘‘ Age of Reptiles” passed away, the land and its rivers went down, the sea-bed and the estuaries were coated over with new sands and clays, derived from new cliffs and new lands, washed by the untiring, enduring sea. *° Some parts of what is now the European area sank several hundred feet, and was covered by a deep sea, and in this were formed VOL. XVI. ' e 52 Rurert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. successively the Greensand, Gault, and Chalk. The shores were thus gradually changed, and the new land elsewhere raised up, or remaining as islands here and there, bore new plants, new trees, and new animals; the sea also brought forth new Entomostraca, which may be easily obtained by washing the Gault clay into mud, drying and sifting it, and by washing the Chalk into powder, and examining it with a glass.* Another great change occurred over half the world, at least ; the strata that had been accumulating in gradually deepening seas, and on sinking sea-beds, were hoisted up again by subterranean force, and a new era was inaugurated —recognised by geologists in the sands, clays, and limestones which they denominate “ Tertiary.” The land was diversi- fied more than before,—more islands, more bays, more rivers, more seas; hence a greater variety of life in every shape, animal and vegetable, and not least in Entomostraca. From some beds of sand and clays we get Cytheridea Muelleri, such as now covers the estuarine muds not far from mouths of rivers ; in other beds we get Bairdia subdeltoidea, such as is chiefly found in deep seas and warm climates: in another stratum we get the carapaces of Cytheres, such as we find in the shallow water of our own coasts. Here we have evidences of the existence of different conditions of sea- bottoms, contemporaneous or successive, as the case may be, in a series of deposits now converted into clay or stone. Elsewhere we have layers of clay or stone filled and covered with the shells of Cyprides, as thickly strewn as in the mud of any river now running. Tracing these river-deposits and these sea-deposits, the Geologist traces out the ancient outlines of land and sea in the long past periods of the earth’s history, of which we have no other record. But this is a record sufficient; and it teaches us, also, that not only to great things but to small, not only to monsterb easts—Iguanodons, Elephants, Whales —but to microscopic Entomostraca, is our attention to be turned if we wish to learn aright what has passed on this earth’s surface, if we wish to carefully study God’s creation, and to see all the evidences of perfect design and perfect adaptation that the history of successive forms of life, with their successive modifications of structure and habits, can supply. * See some notes on the preparation of clays, sands, and chalk, for micro- scopical purposes, in the ‘ Geologist,’ 1858, vol. i, p. 249. Rupert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. ays) Table of the Crustacea; provisional, and compiled from various sources, to illustrate more especially the Groups of Bivatvep EnromostTRaAca. * These are known in both the recent and the fossil state. + These are known only as fossils. Lowry’s ‘Chart of Fossil Crustacea,’ 1865, shows admirably the range in time for all the groups, from the earliest to the present period. CLASS. CRUSTACEA. Susetass 1. Decapopa.* (Cancer, &c.) 2. TETRADECAPODA.* (Oniscus, &c.) 3. Enromostraca.* Order I. Gnathostomata.* Legion 1. Lophyropoda. Tribe 1. Cyclopoidea. (Copepoda.) Families. Cyclopide, &c. Tribe 2. Daphnoidea. (Cladocera.) Families. Penilidee, Daphnide, Bosmi- nide, Lynceide, &c. Tribe 3. Cyproidea.* (Ostracoda.) Family I. Cypride* (Brady). Genus. Cypris.* Chlamydotheca. Newnhamia. Candona.* Cypridopsis. Paracypris. Notodromas. Pontocypris.* Bairdia.* Macrocypris.* Family II. Cytheride. Genus. Cythere.* Limnocythere. Cytheridea.* Eucythere. Ilyobates. Loxoconcha.* Xestoleberis. Cytherura.* Cytheropteron.* Bythocythere.* Pseudocythere. Cytherideis.* Sclerochilus. Paradoxstoma. 54 Ruvert Jones, on Bivalved Entomostraca. Family III. Cypridinide.* Genus. Cypridina.* Asterope. Philomedes. Cylindroleberis. Bradycinetus. Cypridella. + Cyprella.t Entomis.t Family IV. Halocypride. Genus. Halocypris.* Heterodesmus. Entomoconchus.t Family V. Concheciade. Genus. Conchecia. Family VI. Polycopide. Genus. Polycope. Family VII. Cytherellide. ' Genus. Cytherella.* Legion 2. Phyllopoda. Tribe 1. Artemioidea. Family I. Artemiade. Genera. Artemia, Chirocephalus, &c. Family II. Nebaliade. Genus. Nebalia. Hymenocaris.t Ceratiocaris.t Tribe 2. Apodoidea. Family. Apodide. Genus. Apus.* Dithyrocaris.t+ Tribe 3. Limnadoidea. Family I. Limnadiade. Genus. Limnadia. Estheria.* Limnetis. Family Il. Leperditiade.+ Genus. Leperditia.t Primitia.t Beyrichia.t+ Kirkbya.t Report on the Microscopes. 55 Order II. Cormostomata. Suborder 1. Pecilopoda. (Caligus, &c.) 2. Pycnogonoidea. (Cyamus, &c.) Order III. Merostomata. Suborder 1. Eurypterida.t = (Pterygotus,+ Eury- pterus,t &c.) 2. Xiphosura. Genus. Belinurus.t+ Prestwichia.t Limulus.* [ Trilobita.+] Susporass 4. CrrRipepta. 5. Rorarorta. ANNIVERSARY MEETING, February 12th, 1868. JAMES GLAISHER, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. Report on the Microscopes and Cabinet of Objects. On no previous year have we had to report so favourably as on the present ; it is, therefore, with much pleasure that we present the following statement as to the number of microscopes and objects the property of the Society. First, as regards microscopes. No. 1. Wilson’s Simple Microscope, with compound body, several object-glasses, and various adjuncts. This micro- scope is made of silver, and is of admirable workmanship. No. 2. Culpepper’s Compound Microscope, with various object-glasses and appliances. No. 38. Benjamin Martin’s Compound Microscope, sup- posed to be made for King George the Third. ‘This in- strument is a marvel; and it is indeed a matter of surprise to what perfection workmanship was carried in those days; the more it is looked into, the more is the spectator struck with astonishment; and many things have since been brought out as new which were made for this instrument. There is a good description of it in our “ Transactions,” by Mr. Williams, late Assistant Secretary, and also in Quekett’s third edition of ‘The Microscope,’ with a good engraving. No. 4. Powell and Lealand’s best Compound Microscope, made for the Society in 1841, with a full range of object- glasses and every needful appliance; this instrument has lately had Mr. Wenham’s Binocular arrangement added. 56 Report on the Microscopes. No. 5. Andrew Ross’s best Compound Microscope, made for the Society in 1841, with a full range of object-glasses, and every needful appliance. No. 6. Smith and Beck’s best Compound Microscope, made for the Society in 1841, with a few object-glasses, and some appliances; the object-glasses of this instrument are much damaged. No. 7. A Compound Microscope, presented to the Society by the late Edwin Quekett, Esq., with one object-glass. “No. 8. Best Compound Binocular Microscope, presented to the Society by Thomas Ross, Esq., with a full range of object-glasses and every appliance. ‘This instrument was used too much, but the generous donor has just put it into thorough repair. Mr. Ross has also presented to the Society his new 4-inch object glass. No. 9. Baker’s best Compound Binocular Microscope, with bull’s-eye condensor, Webster’s achromatic condensor, 83-inch, 13-inch, and 43-inch object-glasses. No. 10. Swift’s Compound Binocular Microscope, with bull’s-eye condensor, diaphragm, and Webster’s achromatic condensor and adjusting diaphragm. No. 11. Swift’s Compound Binocular Microscope, with bull’s-eye condensor and diaphragm. The three last have been purchased from the Society’s funds, and to see how they are used on Wednesday evenings is a plain proof that they were altogether needed, and have given general satisfaction. No. 12. Browning’s Micro-Spectroscope, improved to the present time, purchased out of the Society’s funds. No. 13. Wray’s 2rds object-glass, 50° aperture, presented by the maker to the Society through the Rev. J. B. Reade. No. 14. The Writing Machine, which gained the medal at the Great Exhibition, in 1862, is of world-wide fame. Writing has been obtained from it so small, that the whole Bible could be written twenty-two times in one square inch. This machine, the invention of William Peters, Esq., and in a great measure his own handicraft, was most generously presented to the Society through R. J. Farrants, Esq., in 1862. The value of this instrument is not sufficiently re- cognised by the Society, and it is hoped that our friend Mr. Farrants will kindly give his helping hand that this valuable instrument may be of real use, which can only be done by instructing others to use it. We now possess eight microscopes, all in good working order, four of them binocular, with thirty-two object-glasses, and every appliance that can be required. It is only during this last year they have been properly looked into and re- Report on the Cabinet of Objects. 57 paired, and new instruments and new object-glasses obtained, so that the Society can really boast of having a set of instru- ments, object- glasses, and appliances of which they may be proud. It is to be hoped our funds will soon enable us to add more, for the attendance on Wednesday evenings is greatly increasing, and the Fellows are finding out that - they have privileges and advantages of no mean order, and it will be the duty and pleasure of your Committee to render all under their care more beneficial to the Society. Cabinet of Objects. Number of objects in the Cabinet on Pepe 13th, LOOt ¢. ; : : ‘ . 1414 1867. Mar. 13. Presented to the Society by Professor H. L. Smith, of Kenyon College, Gambia, United States, 146 slides of Diatomaceze : 146 », 13. Presented by W. Ladd, Esq., seven slides wm Mineral Salts. | May 8. Presented by Major Owen, ‘eleven slides of the family Colymbitze : 11 » 8. Presented by Thomas Ross, Esq., twenty slides of Gold dust . 20 Noy. 24. Presented by Dr. Carpenter, twenty-four slides of Foraminifera : 24 Dec. 12. Presented by Thos. 8. Ralfs, Esq., of Mel- bourne, twelve specimens of Blood-discs . 12 1868. Jany. 8. Presented by Mr. Lobb, nine slides of Test objects : : 9 ;, 8. Presented by Dr. Wallich ; ; i + 1081. 2674 The objects are being entirely rearranged ; the Cabinet has been altered to take them all horizontally, instead of verti- cally, as heretofore. A new classification is about to be adopted, which will lead to the formation of a new catalogue, and to every object being reticketed ; this cannot be hurried, and, no doubt, extra assistance will be required ; no time will be lost, and no trouble spared, in order to render the Cabinet of Objects i in every way efficient. The munificent donation of Dr. Wallich will receive special notice at the hands of our President. Exits G. Loss. Ricu. MEstTayer. AUDITORS’ REPORT. From ReEceEIPTs. £. 8. ded Sy ee Cash Balance at Bank of-England . 230 4 10 Subscriptions received for 1858 1. ae t a 1859S. Midas tod hy | y s 1860 . ; MA, ee “ i 1861 are if a 1862. Bd oh ag pic: ¥ is 1863. pe SO = Pe 1864 =. s7 166: 10 ie i 1865. . 97 6 0 if bt 1866. .107 2 0 $ % 1867. 956 4 0 5 53 TSoo eee 96 Fee 617; 3.8 Admission Fees :— 7 Fellows at £1 Is. ; mes er ee 61 Fellows at £2 2s. . ee ee — 1385 9 0 Compositions :— 14 Fellows at £10 10s. : . 147 0 0 1 Fellow at £21 . A 2 OG ——— 168 0 0 Dividends on £1023 8s. 5d. Consols 30 oe2 Interest on £300, whilst on deposit at the Union Bank 2 3 3 Donation to Library Fund, from W. T. Suffolk 1 680 Sale of ‘ Transactions,’ &c. 1412 0 Cash : : : : 2.9) 0 £1201 2 3 ASSETS :— S84 a. 2. see Consols : . 860 19 10 Ditto : . 162 8 7 — 1023 8 5 Compositions at Union Bank : 168 0 0 Charter Fund Balance. " 143 17 0 Quekett Medal Fund :— India 5 per cent. Stock 6713 7 Cash Balance . 9 6.8 —. 90s List of Fellows :—Compounders, 90; Annual Subscribers, 353; Abroad, 1; = 444, Foreign Fellows, 4; Associates, 2; Honorary, 1; = 7. (New Fellows elected, 74.) February 11, 1868. W. 4H. INCE, Acting Treasurer. Feb. 12th, 1867, to Feb. 11th, 1868. PAYMENTS. Oi aes Os ee as: oh Salary of Assistant Secretary - macy pat s Curator 3 ‘ Ae lOueO —— 5414 6 Editors of Journal (3 quarters). 3 AO: PAS Delivery and Postage of ditto , 2 22) le. 6 — 192 2 9 Delivery of President’s Address. : 5 16 0 Rent to Christmas, and Gas 47 3 2 Paid King’s College—part of Soirée Expenses 9411 7 Refreshments and Soirée Expenses. iG Le 6 ——— 41 3 1 Printing F : : 4 48 19 6 Stationery : : : : 12 6 3 Reporter : A 828) “0 Commission paid to Collectors ; pt DET ee) oe) ” : : 1 SA ———._ 2311 0 Lamp Oil, &c. : 417 8 Ray Society—Subscription for 1867 dee Oe!) Petty Expenses, Postage and Receipt Stamps 1416 4 Fire Insurance on £800 to Nov., 1868 3 2 One 45619 9 Compositions of 1866 invested in £162 8s. 7d. Consols 147 0 0 eS 1867 Houeaiied at the Union Bank 168 0 0 Furniture : 7012 3 Library : ; « 8L.5 -~9 Cost of Two Binoculars . : a ey Ae 0 Repairs to Microscopes . : seals 1 ———— 18217 6 95417 3 Petty Cash Balance— With Treasurer . ead ee) With Assistant Secretary .2 9 6 ——— 410 8 Cash Balance at the Bank of pee (Western Branch) . . 241 14 4 ———— 246 5 0 £1201 12 38 LiIsBILITIES :— Bookbinder . : . £2419 38 ‘ Journal’ for January, 1868. - 50 aR 6 Instruments : “LO = 6 Neal’ &e:) «. san GO LGter 9 Kine’ s College, on account of Soirée We, whose names are hereunto attached, have examined the Treasurer’s accounts, and find that he has received the sum of £1201 Qs. 3d., and paid the sum of £954 17s. 3d., leaving a balance to the credit of the Society at the Bank of England of £941 14s. 4d. (Signed) CHARLES TYLER, February 11, 1868. CHARLES STEWART, } Auditors. Auditors’ Report. 60 —EEes € LT SlstF € LL Slsls Perl Tho, purpsug Jo yuu oy} ye souvyeg ysep IL @ Pl0lF 8 OLP ee, 9 6 @ Aseqzor0Ig-qURYSISSY YITA 6 TL CF «=: AoswaIT, 944 YTA—YsegQ AyWoq OF 0L.6e =: : "quo pied "pg “88 STF Wns oY} WO poyonpap ‘poyoojjoo Aouoy vay, 0 ¢ g : ‘ 901M porloyue suorjdrosqng 0 ¢ ¢ " Qd14\4 {pad 0} TOIT UT pard}ta suoydiosqng | 0 OL 6 : ‘ y poqoajjoo Lauoyy vay, Oo O08. > * yuvg, worn) 94} 48 qisodoq uo yseg 0 00k * pournjer YUL Worm] oq} qe qisodaqy ¢ JT p96 ° sjuomkeg | § % TLOZL* ' qevak 10j sydieoayy po 8 ae ‘VULNOD UAT ‘LOVULSEY LEIHG DONVIVG € AL Slsls '§ LL SISlF ¥~ EL TPS * : ; Soy ‘Arenaqoiy WIL ‘pursug jo yuegq oy} ye aouyeg ysep | § LT STST * "Sst ‘Areniqoy TILT °F ‘L98T IL 8 PBI ° : * yooq-yseg sod syuowdeg ‘Kreniqa,T WSL Woy ‘yooq-yseg sod sydreoayy ps g ps g "S981 ‘XUVAUGE] HITL ‘ALAIOOS TVOIAOOSOUOIN TVAOW FHL 61 The PrestpENt’s ApprEss for the year 1867-1868. By James GuatsHER, Esq., F.R.S., &c. GENTLEMEN ,—It gives me pleasure again to address you after you have heard the report of your treasurer, which shows the finances of our Society to be in a prosperous and good condition. At the present time, too, we have a larger number of Fellows than at any time of the history of this Society. We have lost some Fellows by the hand of death, and this is always a painful subject upon which we have to dwell yearly. During the past year four Fellows have been thus removed, namely, Henry Black, Henry Clark, Robert Warington, and Michael Faraday. Professor Farapay was born at Newington, Surrey, in the year 1791, and was apprenticed to a bookseller and book- binder, with whom he continued till 1812. At this early period of his life he showed his thirst for science, not only reading such works on science as fell in his way, but applied himself to the construction of electric and other machines. In his letter to Dr. Paris, in reference to his first introduc- tion to Sir H. Davy, he says, “I was very fond of experi- ment, and averse to trade. It happened that a gentleman, a member of the Royal Institution, took me to hear some of Sir H. Davy’s last lectures in Albemarle Street. I took notes, and afterwards wrote them out more fully in a quarto volume. My desire to escape from trade (which I thought vicious and selfish) and to enter into the service of science, which I imagined made its pursuers amiable and liberal, in- duced me at last to take the bold and simple step of writing to Sir H. Davy, expressing my wishes, and a hope that if an opportunity came in his way he would favour my views. At the same time I sent the notes I had taken at his lectures.” The result of this letter was that in 1813 Faraday was ad- mitted into the Royal Institution as Chemical Assistant to Professor Brande. He soon became the favourite pupil and the friend of his patron, and in October, 1813, he accompanied Sir Humphrey Davy on a tour through several countries of Kurope, return- ing to the Royal Institution in 1815, and in which he con- tinued up to the time of his death. 62 The President’s Address. In 1821 he discovered the mutual rotation of a magnetic pole and an electric current; in 1823 the discovery of the condensation of gases; in 1831 and following years the de- velopment of the induction of electric currents, and the evolution of electricity from magnetism. In 1846 he ob- tained the Rumford medal, and that of the Royal Society, for the establishment of the principle of definite electrolytic action, and the discovery of diamagnetism and the influence of magnetism upon light. He made known the character of oxygen, and the magnetic relations of flame and gases, in 1847. When Mr. Fuller founded the Chair of Chemistry in the Royal Institution, in 1833, Faraday was appointed First Professor. In 1835 he received a pension from Government of £500 a year, for his important services to science. In 1836 he was appointed Scientific Adviser on Lights to the Trinity House, and was subsequently nominated to a similar post under the Board of Trade. From 1829 to 1842 he was Chemical Lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Wool- wich. In 1823 he was made a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences in Paris; in 1825 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society; and in 1832 the honorary degree of Doctor of the Civil Laws was conferred on him by the University of Oxford. He was a Knight of the Prussian Order of Merit, of the Italian Order of St. Maurice and Lazarus, and one of the eight Foreign Associates of the Imperial Academy of Sciences of Paris. In 1855 he was nominated an Officer of the Legion of Honour, and in 1863 he was made an Associate of the Paris Academy of Medicine. His death occurred on Sunday, August 25th, 1867; and he was buried at Highgate on Friday, the 30th. Of the two former—Henry Black and Henry Clark—I haye been unable to gather any particulars. I will therefore pass to Robert Warington. Mr. WARINGTON was born at Sheerness on September 7th, 1807. A considerable part of his school days were spent at Merchant Taylors’ School. In 1822 he was apprenticed as house pupil to Mr. J. T. Cooper, then Lecturer on Chemistry to the Medical Schools of Aldersgate Street and Webb Street. When University College opened in 1828, Mr. Warington was chosen assistant by Dr. E. Turner, at first in conjunc- tion with Mr. W. Gregory (afterwards Professor of Chemistry at Edinburgh), then by himself. Three years later he was recommended by Dr. ‘Turner to Messrs. Truman, Hanbury, Buxton, and Co., who desired to have a young chemist in The President's Address. 63 their establishment. He held the post of second brewer there for eight years. During this period he communicated several papers to the ‘ Philosophical Magazine,’ and also published a set of ‘Chemical Tables’ for students, &c. Eight years later, having resigned this position, he canvassed for the formation of a Chemical Society, and finally convened the meeting of chemists at the Society of Arts which resulted in the formation of the present Chemical Society. He held the office of Secretary to that Society for ten years, and read many papers before it. On Mr. Hennell’s death he was appointed Chemical Operator, in 1842, to the Society of Apothecaries, which office he held until ill health compelled him to resign in 1866. Soon after his appointment, and for many years, his professional engagements became very numerous. In the course of his duties there he was struck with the singular properties of glycerine. Being thought to be useless, it was allowed to drain away into the common sewer without further notice. Warington, however, saw this waste with regret, and, having some empty and unemployed carboys on hand, he collected the glycerine, and stored 1t away. He found it valuable in the mounting of objects for the microscopes, and mentioned its properties to his medical friends, amongst others to Erasmus Wilson, F.R.S., and Mr. Startin. Erasmus Wilson says—*‘ It was not long before we were startled by the complaint of one of our patients of the ex- travagant price of the substance. We had recommended it as inexpensive, and we soon discovered that Warington’s hoard was exhausted, and that the enhanced price resulted from want of supply. Then a supply was obtained from the soap-boilers, but was so inferior to the first, and so offensive in odour, that glycerine for awhile lost its popularity. Its reputation, however, was eventually restored by passing into the hands of Price’s Candle Company, by whom the best glycerine in the market is at present manufactured. In the hands of Warington, and with a prevision of its future utility, glycerine was a waste product of no value whatever by the side of the materials from which it was obtained. Soon, however, the product rose to occupy the first place, and the materials were sacrificed in its production; and for this we haye to thank the foresight, the providence of Warington ; for the increased consumption of the article was the best proof of its usefulness to man, and glycerine occupies at present an important place in the ‘ British Pharmacopeeia.’ The reputation of Warington and glycerine will for all time be inseparable ; and we know of no more glorious monument 64 The President’s Address. than the association of man’s name with an object of acknow- ledged utility to man. He was especially connected with questions of water- supply and gas (from 1854 to 1861 he was chemical referee to four of the metropolitan gas companies), and also took a prominent part in most of the great patent cases, &c., in- volving chemical questions. His scientific activity and earnestness were unabated ; and when, in 1846, the Cavendish Society was founded, Mr. Warington became Secretary for the first three years. In 1849 he commenced experiments on the relations of animal and vegetable life, which resulted in the establishment of aquaria, both for fresh and sea water. He first communicated his results to the Chemical Society in 1850. Subsequently, many natural history observations made by him were published in ‘ Annals of Natural History,’ and he delivered a valuable lecture on the Aquarium at one of the Friday evening meetings of the Royal Institution in 1857. He was an active member of the Microscopical Society, and invented a portable microscope for the aquarium. He was appointed one of the jurors of the Chemical Section of the International Exhibition, 1862; also selected for the Paris Exhibition in 1867, but was then unable to attend. In 1864 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Mr. Warington was Consulting Chemist to the London and Edin- burgh Pharmacope@ia Committees engaged in the preparation of the first ‘ British Pharmacopeeia,’ 1864. He had pre- viously assisted the College of Physicians with the ‘ Pharma- copeeia Londinensis’ of 1850; and edited, with Mr. Denham Smith, Phillips’s translation of the same, on the death of the author. He was joint editor, with Dr. Redwood, of the ‘ British Pharmacopeeia,’ 1867; and assisted Dr. Farre in preparing a condensed edition of Pereira’s ‘ Materia Medica.’ Few men have passed a life of more continuous and honor- able usefulness. He died at Budleigh Salterton, Devon, on Nov. 12th, 1867, universally respected and widely lamented. The most important of his papers were on the following subjects : 1. Chemical.—Sulphuret of Bismuth (1831); Chemical Symbols (1832); Chromic Acid, several (1837-41-42) ; Coloured Films produced by Electro-Chemical Influence and by Heat (1840); Molecular Changes in Solid Bodies (1842-43); Biniodide of Mercury (1842); Turnbull’s Blue (1848); Animal Charcoal (1845); The Teas of Commerce (1844-52-53); Production of Boracic Acid and Ammonia by Volcanic Action (1855); Refining Gold (1861); besides many minor notes and memoranda. The President's Address. 2. Pharmaceutical.—Distilled Waters of the Pharma- copeeia (1845); Alcohol as a Test for the Purity of Croton Oil (1855) ; Spirit of Nitrous Ether and Nitrite of Soda 1865). 3. Microscopical.—New Media for Mounting Crystals and Organic Substances (1844-48) ; Portable Microscope (1856- 58-59). 4. mibival History.—The Balance between Animal and Vegetable Life in Fresh and Sea Water (1850-53); Natural History of Water-Snails and Fish (1852); Habits of Common Prawn (1855) ; Habits of Stickleback (1855) ; besides various other lesser memoranda. I would now direct your attention to the state of our Library, and this will be best done by quoting the report of the Library Committee, as follows: “That upon examining the books of the Society, with a view to their guidance in making purchases, in conformity with the orders of the Council, they found that the number of distinct works, exclusive of tracts and short papers, was about 240. A large portion of these works, though valuable for tracing the history of microscopical science, would be of little use in answering the inquiries of practical workers at the present day. Another considerable portion of the Library consists of works which would be rarely required, either for study or reference, on account of their relating to objects not often seen by English observers, or to subjects which seldom engage their attention. Deducting these two portions from the general mass, and also deducting a few works of inferior merit, there remained only a few dozen volumes adapted to the ordinary requirements of students and observers. There was a great want of text-books on subjects of Natural His- tory, Botany, Anatomy, Physiology, Geology, Mineralogy, Chemistry, and Physics. There was also an absence of Dictionaries, so that, with the exception of an occasional Glossary attached to a particular work, the Library could afford no assistance in ascertaining the meaning or derivation of technical terms. “With a few exceptions, the purchases made by the Library Committee may be described as text-books of recent date, by acknowledged authorities, on various branches of the subjects enumerated above. In the selection of works— other things being equal—the Committee gave preference to such as were supplied with reliable illustrations, and in a few instances, where they have procured more than one work 66 The President's Address. on the same subject, a diversity of illustrations has been one of the reasons by which they have been guided. The forced sale of works published by M. Bailliére, consequent upon the decease of that gentleman, enabled many purchases of volumes abounding in microscopical illustrations to be made at unusually low prices; and the Committee have availed themselves of other opportunities of obtaining pub- lications on the most economical terms. Your Committee have felt it their duty to avoid the purchase of any works of unusual costliness, although there are many publications of this class which it would be very desirable to place in the Society’s Library whenever it may be prudent to make such an application of the necessary funds. ‘The orders given by the Committee are nearly completed. Up to the present they have purchased of Mr. Wheldon to the extent of rather more than £60; of Messrs. Nock, to the extent of £10 8s. ; and of Mr. Quaritch, £2 5s. *« A notice of the opening of the Library has been sent by post to each Fellow, accompanied by a request for donations of books, or of money for their purchase. The minutes of the proceedings of the Society will show that some valuable additions to the Library have been recently obtained through the liberality of various donors. Your Committee believe that so excellent an example will be extensively followed, as the wants of the Society become known. **The Library Committee hope that the financial arrange- ments of the Society will permit the continued expenditure, from time to time, of moderate sums in the purchase of most — important works relating to microscopical science, or of older works of established reputation, whenever they can be advan- tageously obtained. “While the Library remains so small that the number of works likely to be in request amounts to only a small fraction of the number of Fellows of the Society, the Committee do not see their way to recommend a resumption of the plan of lending books; but they hope that, by donation and pur- chase, the Society may, ere long, be in possession of suffi- cient duplicates to permit an issue of works without destroy- ing what they believe will constitute its chief value, namely, its offering at all times, to Fellows who think proper to visit it, the means of reference and research.” Yet some arrangements, I think, must be made to meet the special wants of hard-working Fellows residing at a dis- tance from London. I am not prepared to say yet what those arrangements should be. Perhaps the best plan at present is to leave the application for books from any Fellow The President’s Address. 67 to the consideration of the Council, who would comply with such request as far as possible. From the Library let me direct your attention to our col- lection of Microscopic Slides. The whole collection last year amounted to 1414. I have always felt that the deve- lopment of this part of our property should be one of our primary objects, and that by exchange of duplicates, by pur- chase, and by donations, the last mentioned particularly, we should have a museum of objects worthy the dignity of the Society. Perhaps there is no source of instruction more important to a young inquirer than the opportunity of making himself acquainted with properly-named specimens, and I think this Society should aid, in all possible ways, the young observer. It is a real pleasure to have to report that in the past year the number of microscopic slides have been nearly doubled. The first present I have to announce is that of Professor Smith, of Kenyon College, U.S., who generously gave us 146 slides of Diatomacez ; and 83 other slides have been pre- sented by W. Ladd, Professor Owen, T. Ross, Dr. Carpenter, T. Ralfs, and Mr. Lobb. The next present is one of very high importance, being the presentation of 1031 slides, a first mstalment of the collection of microscopical slides by Dr. Wallich. The circumstances under which this present has been made, I think, should be stated. The first announcement of Dr. Wallich’s intention was in a letter dated October 23rd, 1867, addressed to W. H. Ince, Esq., in which he says: “JT have a very large collection of microscopical slides and material, partly worked out by me already, and published, but to a large extent still requiring further examination. Such examination, if under- taken by anyone, would, however, be greatly facilitated from the cir- cumstance of nearly every remarkable specimen I have come across having been carefully figured by me, and commented on im a series of rough notes, written whilst sitting over the microscope. “TJ have no numerical list of my slides or drawings, but know that both amount to several thousands. “T wish to present the whole to the Microscopical Society, feeling sure that the Council for the time being will form the best medium for determining the mode in which my material can be utilised. “There are one or two preliminary conditions which I should like to see observed, should the Society think fit to accept my gift. But these I would only impose in consultation with and under the willing sanction of one or two friends on whose scientific judgment I could rely, and in whose hands I should feel I was placing myself with perfect safety. *T would name Mr. Glaisher and yourself and Dr. Carpenter as my advisers in the matter. Ofcourse I cannot say whether you and they would undertake a task of the kind. Should it be so under- VOL. XVI. 68 The President’s Address. taken, however, I would pledge myself to accept the suggestions of this committee, and to allow my materials to be utilised, subject only to such conditions as it might think right to impose. “This is what I want. What Ido not want is, that my material should be employed merely for dilettante work. “Knowing the keen interest you take in the Society, I do not hesitate to make these proposals to you, and to ask you to commu- nicate with Mr. Glaisher on the subject.” On receipt of this letter I carefully thought over the sug- gested conditions, and I kept the letter for some time, but experienced very great difficulties indeed in drawing up any conditions which would not restrict the Council, for all time to come, in such a way as would lessen the Council’s power to utilise the gift, and thus far lessen its value. It seemed to me that so much material, needing a good deal of work to prepare the results for publication, might be undertaken by some of our hard-working Fellows in the country, and therefore the conditions should be such as to leave the Council free to let them, for atime, be in the hands of country members, if necessary. On November 26th I had a long and final interview with Mr. Ince upon this matter, who undertook to communicate to Dr. Wallich my views and the results of our conference, which he did on November 27th. On November 28th, Dr. Wallich wrote to Mr. Ince as follows: “Lest any misgiving may exist or arise on the subject, I think it as well to put thus on record, in order that you may make whatever use you like of the information, that I submit the offer of my collec- tions, drawings, &c., to the Society, hampered by no condition or reservation whatever. The few words in which you conveyed to me last evening your opinion that means would be taken to prevent slides, &c., from being lost, having at once met the sole purpose I had in my mind when I previously wrote to you on the subject. “When I add that I feel sure the Society will, through its present executive (supposing my offer to be deemed fit for acceptance), do whatever is best in the matter, I have said all I have to say.” Thus, generously and unconditionally, Dr. Wallich pre- sented the “ Wallich Collection” to this Society. It then appeared to Mr. Ince and myself, that if Dr. Wallich could go over the slides, and make brief notes on anything necessary, that great additional value would be given. On December 5th, Dr. Wallich, in a letter to Mr. Ince, says: “T have commenced going over the slides in my cabinet, and see so much that I should like to make a brief note of, for submission to the Society, with the specimens themselves, that I cannot help think- ing it would be highly desirable to defer making over the collection The President’s Address. 69 till the January meeting. A few words indicating the object espe- cially pointed at, the questions they are calculated to throw light upon, and so forth, could soon be put into shape by me; but it would be impossible for me to devote more than a very brief period daily to the task, and to do it at all by Saturday next isimpossible. I should also like to offer a few remarks (the last, in all probability, I shall ever make on subjects of the kind) on the drawings. These would greatly help any observers who might wish to work out the history of structures referred to, and, both in the case of the slides and figures, would save others a vast deal of trouble. Now I know each slide and drawing as if they were old, well-known friends, and to me the labour would be but trifling. It is the time I want, and there is no way of gaining this except by the delay I speak of. “But pray accept this only as a suggestion, meant to do good in the end. Ifyou would rather your original idea of presenting the things to the Society at the next meeting were carried out, I shall be quite willing and happy to be guided by you. Under any cireum- stances I hold myself pledged to do as you and Mr. Glaisher wish in the matter.” After this, at an interview with Mr. Ince and Dr. Wal- lich, I having expressed my desire that, as the slides and drawings had relation to subjects of natural history carefully collected and as carefully studied by him in different parts of the world, I should be glad if he would classify and ex- plain the collection of the slides and drawings, and, if possi- ble, have such a description ready for my address to-day. I regret to say that, since then, Dr. Wallich has been con- tinuously ill, and unable to do so; but I do hope still that he will enrich our Procedings by such a description, which I feel would greatly enhance the interest and value, and perhaps act as a guide to their usefulness in the future. By the report of the Cabinet Committee, it will be seen that they are engaged in rearranging, reclassifying, and they contemplate relabelling every slide. ‘This will necessitate the printing of a new Catalogue. I would now call your attention to the state of our Instru- ments. Upon examining them, preparatory to placing them in our new Library, many pieces of apparatus were found wanting. For instance, from the old microscope, by A. Ross, there were wanting—frog plate, two large animalculz cases, case of animalcule tubes, + object-glass, cabinet micrometer, l-inch Lieberkiihn, single lens cover, case of single lenses. Since then, Andrew Ross’ instrument has been put into thorough working order, and the objectives have been adapted to the Society’s screw. Mr. Thomas Ross has presented us with a new 4-inch objective. Mr. Wray has presented us with a 4rd-inch objective, haying 50° of angle of aperture. 70 The President’s Address. Mr. Browning has supplied us with a very beautifully made micro-spectroscope, and fitted it to our large Ross. We therefore possess, omitting the ancient instruments, Mr. Peters’ instrument for microscopic writing and eight microscopes, including a most complete binocular by T. Ross; a good Andrew Ross, wanting the jth objective, which seems to be lost; an old Smith and Beck; a good working instrument by Powell, lately converted into a binocular ; a binocular by Baker; two binoculars by Swift, purchased this year. All these instruments are most useful and serviceable ; and IT have reason to believe that good use has been made of them on the Wednesday evening meetings of the Fellows, and in the Library. Our various instruments also mark the progressive stage of improvement in the microscope, beginning with Martin and Culpepper, to the best of modern makers. We therefore possess, at present, as complete a set of in- struments and working tools as it is possible to obtain; and I hope, as they will be more used and more constantly under observation, that we shall not experience more losses; and I also hope the Council will always be able to purchase all the latest improvements of the best makers of the respective in- struments. You are already aware that the authorities of King’s College kindly entertained the application of the Council for a room in the College, and that now we possess, for the first time, accommodation for the proper use of our instruments, admitting frequent access to them by our Fellows. We have had to fit the room up, to furnish it with bookcases, &c. When we came into possession of this room, it was neces- sary to examine carefully all our property. ‘This examina- tion proved that some books were missing, some slides broken, and some parts of instruments wanting. These ex- periences have taught us that all the property of the Society should be carefully catalogued, and, I think, has also taught us the necessity that once, at least, in every year every book, slide, and parts of instruments, should be compared with their catalogues. On the collecting the property of the Society at our room, and seeing its value, your Council resolved to insure the property, and have done so, the amount of insurance being for £800, a sum, I believe, below its real value. I have thus endeayoured to speak of the work of your Council during the past year; and I would ask those Fellows who have expressed disappointment at the temporary suspension in lending books, to consider the circumstances The President's Address. 71 in which the Council, as trustees of property, found them- selves placed, and how necessary it was to examine every- thing we have, to ascertain our deficiencies, and, as far as possible, to supply them, in order to make our Library, our Cabinet, and our Instruments, as perfect as possible. The papers which have been brought before the Society during the past year have presented many features of con- siderable interest, and relate to various branches of micro- scopical science. Two of these papers have related to parasites—one by Dr. W. C. McIntosh, F.L.S., on the ‘ Gregariniform Para- site of Borlasia ” (March 13), and another on the “ Parasites found in the Nerves, &c., of the common Haddock,” by Dr. Maddox (June 12). Dr. McIntosh found abundant specimens of Gregarine in the Nemertian worms, known as Borlasia octoculata and Borlasia olivacea. He likewise discovered numerous ova containing embryos that appeared to be Gregarine parasites, though he did not witness an actual birth. It was remarked that these parasitic ova were most plentiful in August, while the Borlasia deposited its ova towards the end of January. Dr. Maddox’s paper gives an elaborate account of curious parasites discovered and partially described by Monro secun- dus, more fully investigated by Prof. Sharpey in 1836, and Mr. H. Goodsir in 1844. Dr. Maddox states that on making an incision along the caudal extremity over the spinal column of the common haddock, and dissecting back the muscles, the series of nerves, as they pass from the spinal cord, are found studded with flattened bead-shaped bodies, plainly visible to the naked eye. Observed under the microscope, these bodies are found to be cysts, averaging about ;3,ths of an inch in diameter, and containing a living parasite similar to Distoma. Many of the anatomical details deseribed by Dr. Maddox do not appear to have been noticed by previous observers ; and for these I must refer to the paper itself, citing only one passage on which certain important conclusions are expressed. Dr. Maddox says, ‘‘ According to the opinion of many, the encysted entozoa are regarded as immature parasites or in their pupa condition, and doubtless this may be the case ; but how far the peculiar creature under consideration has deviated or passed to a higher grade and become partially sexually mature, I cannot say, but venture to hazard the following suggestion : “That we have here, as in other Diatomata, a herma- 72 The President’s Address. phrodite creature, which in its progress towards a reciprocal sexual maturity yet carries on self-impregnation, so that, at the death of its host, and thus within a moderate time of its own death, impregnated ova may be set free to again become, perhaps, Monostoma embryos to pass through a Cercarial stage, or the lowest phase of a Trematode life” (Q. J. M.5., Oct., 1867, p. 94). Dr. Maddox thinks it possible that the earliest stage of the parasites may be passed in the bodies of shell-fish, which the haddock eats. In March, Mr. Whitney brought before us a series of re- markably interesting researches in a paper “ On the Changes which accompany the Metamorphosis of the Tadpole, in re- ference especially to the Respiratory and Sanguiniferous Systems ;” and those who had the pleasure of hearing this paper read will remember the beautiful series of coloured drawings and anatomical proportions with which it was illustrated. Mr. Whitney explained the nature of the two sets of gills, one external and the other internal, with which the tadpole is furnished. He showed the way in which the respiratory function is transferred from the outer to the inner gills; the development of the latter taking place in proportion to the atrophy experienced by the former. After showing, stage by stage and step by step, the de- velopment and the changes which take place in these two sets of gills, Mr. Whitney described the true lungs which co-exist with the gills of the tadpole in an incipient form, and pass through their gradations of development simul- taneously with those phases of maturity, decline, and decay exhibited by the gill organs. To see the action of the inner gills in a living tadpole, Mr. Whitney applies a single drop of chloroform to render the creature insensible, and then carefully cuts away the integument with fine scissors, thus laying the gills bare, while the circulation is vigorous, and capable of affording a splendid spectacle on the stage of the microscope. In May we were indebted to Dr. Lionel Beale for a paper on “Nutrition exhibiting many facts of the highest im- portance, arrived at by Microscopic Investigation, and con- troverting opinions expressed by Mr. Herbert Spencer and other well-known writers on Biological Subjects concerning so-called ‘ Vital Action Processes.’” Dr. Beale, as my hearers are well aware, divides the matter contained in living bodies into three classes—germinal matter, formed material, and pabulum. The first only he considers alive, or possessed of vital properties. The formed material he regards as no The President’s Address. 73 longer living, and the pabulum consists of appropriate matter derived from food, and capable of being acted upon by the germinal matter and converted into its own substance. He says, in the paper to which I am referring, “ calling the germinal matter which was derived from pre-existing germinal matter a, the pabulum 8, and the formed material resulting from changes in the germinal matter c, that 6 be- comes @, and a@ becomes converted into c, but 6 can never be converted into c, except by the agency, and, in fact, by passing through the condition, of a.” Dr. Beale considers that, in the present state of our know- ledge it is impossible to explain the conversion of pabulum into germinal matter by physics or chemistry, but he believes that “‘ vitality excites germinal matter to divide itself into smaller portions under the influence of some ‘ centripetal force.” ‘This moving away of particles from a centre will necessarily create a tendency of particles around to move towards the centre,’ and then the nutrient pabulum may be drawn in. It is not my purpose to discuss the very important ques- tions upon which Dr. Beale is at issue with certain other distinguished authorities; but the value of that discussion will be apparent if I bring before you another passage from his paper, and contrast it with a citation from M. Berthelot, in whose hands Synthetic Chemistry has made such remark- able progress. Dr. Beale says, ‘The point in which every nutritive operation differs essentially from every other known change is this: the composition and properties of the nutrient matter are completely altered, its elements are entirely rearranged, so that compounds which may be detected in the nutrient matter are no longer present when this has been taken up by the matter to be nourished. The only matter capable of effecting such changes as these is living matter. * * * * Desirous as I am to yield all that can be yielded to those who maintain that there are no vital powers distinct from ordinary force, I might say that a particle of soft transparent matter, called by some living, which came from a pre-existing particle, effected, silently, and in a moment, without apparatus, with little loss of material, at a temperature of 60° or lower, changes in matter, some of which can be imitated in the laboratory in the course of days or weeks by the aid of a highly skilled chemist, furnished with complex apparatus and the means of producing a very high temperature and in- tense chemical action, with an enormous waste of material. It is, therefore, quite obyious that an independent, scientific 7A The President's Address. man must, for the present, hold that the operations by which changes are effected in substances by living matter are in their nature essentially different from those which man is about to employ to bring about changes of a similar kind out of the body; and until we are taught what the agent or operator in the living matter really is, it is better to call it vital power than to deny its existence altogether.” I am not aware of a better expression of the other side of the controversy than a passage from M. Berthelot.* M. Berthelot observes that ‘the general problems of the nutrition of living beings are chemical problems, and so are those of respiration. The study of these problems rests upon data supplied by organic chemistry. In animal tissues, as soon as the solids, the liquids, and the gases are brought into reciprocal contact, under the influence of movements which are referable to the nervous system and to a special structure, which we do not know how to imitate, purely chemical affinities develop themselves amongst these solids, gases, and liquids, and the combinations to which they give rise depend exclusively on the laws of organic chemistry.” In another place M. Berthelot affirms that “ synthesis con- ducts us to this fundamental truth, that the chemical forces which rule over organic matter are really, and without re- serve, the same as those which rule over mineral matter.” It is evident that while chemistry may do much to solve questions of this description, the microscope is an essential instrument in their investigations, for without it the student would be utterly unable to understand the character of the apparatus which nature employs in living beings, and the chemist himself would be in constant danger of treating as homogeneous wholes portions of matter which the micro- scopist can demonstrate to consist of separate and dissimilar materials. I will only further allude to Dr. Beale’s paper for the sake of observing that it contains important reasons for regarding the materials contained in the serwm of the blood as the pabulum of the tissues. At the same meeting at which the paper on Nutrition was read, Dr. Beale made a brief communication to meet an objection made by Dr. Ransom to his plan of staining tissues with carmine, on the alleged ground that the ammonia present in the solution rapidly dissolved the germinal vesicle and contents of the Ovarian oya of a stickleback. Dr. Beale explains that there must have been some * * Lecons sur les Méthodes Générales de Synthese en Chemie Organique.’ By M. Berthelot. p. 9. The President’s Address. 75 mistake in Dr. Ransom’s method of procedure, as ammonia does not exert the action he supposed. In May, Mr. E. Ray Lankester contributed a paper on “The Structure of the Tooth of Ziphius Sowerbiensis,” and in Noyember Mr. Edwin T. Newton brought before us certain “‘ Anatomical Differences observed in some Species of the Helices and the Limaces,” the difference being “ in the reproductive organs, where some of the parts become modified or suppressed ; in certain additions to the ali- mentary canal; and in the variations which the muscles undergo. In December, Mr. C. Stewart brought under our notice the “‘ Structure of the Pedicellarie of the Cidaride,’’ and on January 7th Prof. T. Rupert Jones, F.G.S., gave us an account of ‘ Fossil Bivalved Entomostraca,” showing their extensive range of distribution in geologic times. In this last paper allusion was first made to the great abundance of Entomostraca recognisable in the fossil state in clays, marble, freestones, chalk, &c., as having left their shells and cases in the sediments of seas, lakes, and rivers of all geologic dates, just as at the present day we find the living species swimming in the water, crawling on the sands, or burrowing in the mud. Prof. Rupert Jones explained the general nature, structure, and habits of the Entomostraca, and of the bivalved forms in particular, pointing out their relations to other Crusta- ceans. He also gave an account of their distribution in various rocks, from the Silurian to the Post-pleiocene, for the details of which I must refer to his paper. Only one paper during the session referred to Entomology, which was read in June by Professor Rymer Jones, F.R.S. The subject was ‘* The Structure and Metamorphosis of the Larva of Corethra Plumicornis,” one of the most elegant inhabitants of fresh water ponds. ‘The anatomical details in this paper will be found of much interest, and the description it gives of the bursting of the four remarkable air sacs with which this creature is provided, followed by the rapid appearance of a tracheal system, suggests very interesting inquiries, which it is hoped Fellows of this Society will undertake. It cannot be supposed that an elaborate tracheal system is made of a sudden; and it does not appear that either Pro- fessor Rymer Jones or any other observer has hitherto suc- ceeded in tracing the usual process of development. In November Mr. John Gorham read the only truly botanical paper of the session, on a “‘ Peculiar Distribution of the Veins in Leaves of the Umbellifere.” Mr. Gorham 76 The President’s Address. observes that “the distribution of the veins in Umbelliferz is very variable in different species, but constant and highly characteristic in each species :” “ that many of the leaves of this order have a venation like that of other leaves, and may be classified with them; but that a considerable number have a kind of venation peculiar to themselves, which does not find a place under any of the divisions that have heretofore existed: “that this peculiarity consists in the existence of a vein at the very edge of the leaf itself, and which more or less entirely fringes the whole margin:” ‘This venation he finds in one half if not more of the Umbellifere. In December Mr. Tatem described new species of micro- scopic animals belonging to the genera Epistylis and Czno- morpha. Two other papers of the session relate to microscopic organisms: the first by Mr. Sheppard, communicated by the Rey. J. B. Reade, who previously had investigated the sub- ject. This paper, “On the Production of Colour by Micro- scopic Organisms,” brought a subject before us interesting in itself and new to English observers. Dr. Cohn of Breslau had, however, made similar researches, which are recorded in our ‘ Journal’ for last July, and in a letter to Mr. Shep- pard, dated Breslau, Nov. 1, 1867, which I read at a recent Council meeting, Dr. Cohn says, “ Curiously enough in the last summer a third memoir about ‘ Phycocyan’ (his own name for the colouring material) has appeared in the ‘Botanische Zeitung von Mohl und De Bary,’ from Dr. Aschkenasi, each observation quite independently made from the others.” We may therefore hope that the question, “‘ Whence the colour?” will be soon and fully answered. Mr. Sheppard is of opinion that the intense colour produced in a few hours by a few grains of almost colourless organisms, in more than two ounces of albuminous fluid, is due to the action of life on this suitable vehicle; and he supports his opinion by a reference to M. Pasteur’s statement on the similar action of certain monads and vibrios on nitrogenous substances. Dr. Cohn, on the other hand, is of opinion that his Phy- cocyan already exists along with Chlorophyll in the cells of these low organisms, and “ on the death of the cells the phy- cocyan is dissolved in the water, which penetrates by endos- mosis, and then appears by dialysis as a blue fluid, whilst the chlorophyll remains in the cells.” (‘ Journal,’ p. 209. But Dr. Cohn, in thanking Mr. Sheppard “ for his highly interesting communication,” admits the necessity of further experiments, “ that the truth may be established ;” and after The President’s Address. ra intimating his intention to pursue the subject further, he con- cludes, “‘ I shall also endeavour to repeat your experiments with albumen, the influence of which upon the colour seems very curious after your investigations.” The Rey. J. B. Reade exhibited a ‘‘ thousand grain ” bottle of the dichroic fluid at the Society’s Soirée, and Messrs. Sorby and Browning have described its remarkable spectra. In a letter from Rey. J. B. Reade, dated Feb. 3, 1868, he informs me that the convervoid mass, which produced that splendid colour in a solution of albumen, is growing again, and that Mr. Sheppard will soon gather it again in velvety sheets, in sufficient quantity for different observers to work upon, and no doubt we shall soon know the truth. The second paper referring to minute organisms was by our Hon. Secretary, Mr. Slack (read in December), “On a Ferment found in French Wine,” corresponding in proper- ties with M. Pasteur’s Mycoderma vini, and shown to be one of the series of forms assumed by the Yeast plant, the Blue Mould Penicillum glaucum, &c. It was incapable in its original state of exciting either vinous or acetous fermentation. The subject of Micro-chemistry and Toxicology came be- fore the Society in a paper read in October by Dr. Guy, *‘ On Microscopic Sublimates.” This paper was richly illustrated by specimens of the objects described by photo-micrographs of Dr. Julius Pollock and Dr. Maddox, and by drawings of Mr. ‘Tuffen West. By carrying further than previous ob- servers had done the preparation and examination of micro- scopic sublimates, Dr. Guy has opened new and important fields of inquiry and analysis, which bid fair to be useful in medico-legal and other investigations. His preparations were remarkable for the elegance and variety of their forms, and for the very small quantities of matter which sufficed to pro- duce them. In one instance +,; > Py ip Q QB