ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 587 



Ostracods of Upper Cretaceous."' — Frederick Chapman reports on a 

 collection of Ostracods from the Upper Cretaceous of ISTeed's Camp, 

 Buffalo River, Cape Province. He describes Bairdia afrlcana sp. n. and 

 Gijthere postcultrata sp. n. 



Annulata. 



Pharyngeal Glands of Earth worms. f — J. Stephenson has investigated 

 the so-called " pharyngeal gland cells " in five common species of Lahore 

 earthworms belonging to tlie Megascolecid genus Phe.retima and the 

 Lumbricid genus Hdodrilus. They form a cellular mass, with white 

 projecting lobules on the dorsal and lateral aspects of the pharynx, and 

 penetrate inwards between the muscles of the dorsal wall. In various 

 earthworms they have often been referred to as glandular. But they 

 are not gland-cells in the usual sense, and do not communicate with the 

 pharynx. The term " chromophil cells " is proposed for them because 

 of their intense coloration by hgematoxylin and similar stains. The so- 

 called " septal glands " of earthworms are aggregations of similar cells at 

 a more posterior level. 



In the chromophil cells the deeply-staining matter is not equally 

 distributed through the cell-body ; the peripheral regions of the cells in 

 general s-tain more lightly, and appear to be disintegrating, or merge 

 into an intercellular substance. While most of the cells form a more or 

 less compact aggi'egate on the surface of the pharyngeal mass, a number 

 penetrate inwards towards the pharyngeal epithelium, and become pro- 

 gressively metamorphosed into fibrillar connective tissue. A capsule of 

 flattened cells covering the mass, though present in part, is incomplete. 

 The smaller masses of cells in Helodrilns parvus are frequently 

 continuous with the peritoneal membrane, of which they appear as 

 modifications. In Helodrilns parvus, and especially in all young earth- 

 worms, the inwandering and the connective tissue change of the 

 chromophil cells, is less marked ; in very young specimens neitlier has 

 taken place. The capsule is also more and more incomplete the younger 

 the specimen. 



The cells are to be looked on as of peritoneal origin ; that is to say, 

 they are modifications of the original lining cells of the coelomic cavity. 

 Hence the absence of capsule in the early stages ; and hence the original 

 limitation of the cells to the superficial portion of the pharyngeal mass. 

 The main function of the cells is probably metabolic ; but it is at 

 present impossible to particularize further. 



Siboga AphroditidaB.J— R. Horst describes a rich collection of 

 Aphroditid^e from the East Indies, includini; representatives of all the 

 sub-families. Three new genera are established : — ParaUpidonotus, 

 Farahalofiijdyia, and Weberia. Two large groups are recognized : 

 (1) Lepidonotidge, with the lateral frontal lobes of the prostomium 

 prolonged to form the basal joint of the paired antennae ; and (2) 

 Harmothoidai, with the lateral frontal lobes of the prostomium produced 



* Ann. S. African Museum, xii. (1917) pp. 107-18 (1 pi.). 

 1 Quart. Joui ti. Micr. Sci., Ixii. (1917) pp. 253-86 (1 pi.). 

 X " Siboga " Expeditie, Monograph xxiv lb. (1917) pp. 45-143 (pis. xi-xxix). 



2 R 2 



