120 SUMMAKY OF CUERENT KESEAKCHES RELATING TO 



matter, and the eggs may be accidentally eaten by the millipede. For 

 Muscid larvte, probably of Limosina, are sometimes found on the gut of 

 the millipede and are passed out living. In these cases there is more 

 than phoresis. 



Medical and Veterinary Entomology.* — W. B. Herms has written 

 a systematic introduction to this subject, dealing with parasitic insects 

 and Arachnids, disease-disseminators, poisonous forms, and the ways of 

 coping with them. 



Structure of Mesenteron of Insects .f—F. Supino refers especially 

 to the intestine of the larva of Oryctes and related Lamellicorns. There 

 are two layers of muscles, an external set of longitudinal fibres and an 

 internal set of transverse fibres, the two sets being at right angles. Thi. 

 bundles of fibres appear to be embedded in a delicate amorphous elastic 

 membrane. Most externally there is a connective layer ; second, there 

 is the amorphous elastic membrane and the associated sets of muscle- 

 fibres ; third, there is an amorphous basal membrane of a connective 

 character ; fourth, there is the lining epithelium. The fundamental 

 elastic membrane is interpreted as having to do with the dilatation of the 

 mesenteron when filled with food. 



Origin of Wings. J — H. E. Crampton has subjected to critical ex- 

 amination the various theories as to the origin of wings. Tracheal gills 

 and wings belong to different developmental series and are not homo- 

 logous. The integumentary outgrowths on the sides of the tergum 

 which are known as paranota are homodynamous with wings. It is 

 probable that wings were derived from paranota. 



Remarkable Ootheca from Nyasaland.§— James AVaterston de- 

 scribes a peculiar ootheca from thorn-bushes. There appear to be no 

 separate chambers, the eggs being merely embedded in layers in a 

 matrix. The colour is light chocolate, more or less rufous ; the surface 

 entirely rough and dull ; the whole hard. The eggs contained mature 

 embryos, with strong mandibles pointing to phytophagous habits. The 

 choice appears to lie between Hymenoptera and Coleoptera. Two 

 parasites, an Acarid (Fediculoides) and a Chalcid (probably a new 

 genus), were found within the ootheca preying on the ova. 



6. Arachnida. 



Toxins of Spiders' Eggs.|| — Robert Levy has made a thorough 

 study of the toxins of spiders' eggs. In Epeirida there is a hasmolytic 

 toxin (called arachnolysin by Sachs) in the female reproductive organs ; 



* Medical and Veterinary Entomology. New York : (iyi5) 394 pp. (illustrated). 

 See also Trans. Amar. Micr. Soc., xxxv. (191G) pp. 160-1. 

 t Rend. R. 1st. Lombardo, xlviii. (1915) pp. 316-21. 

 J Journ. New York Entomol. Soc. xsiv. (1916) pp. 1-39. 

 § Journ. Zool. Research, i. (1916) pp. 91-6 (3 figs.). 

 II Ann. Sci. Natur.|(Zool.) i. ser. 10 (1916) pp. 161-399. 



