SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES 



RELATING TO 



ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY 



(principally invertebrata and cryptog-amia), 



MICEOSCOPY, Etc.* 



ZOOLOGY. 



VERTEBRATA. 



a. Embryolog'y.t 



Factors in Artificial Parthenogenesis.! — Isidor Traube applies his 

 theory of osmotic pressure to cases of artificial parthenogenesis. There 

 is a relation between the surface-tension of various acids and their 

 efficacy as agents in artificial parthenogenesis. Substances like chloro- 

 form and benzene, which, according to Loeb, produce a membrane on 

 eggs in sea-water, also lower the surface-tension of water. The salts of 

 fatty acids are less active than the fatty acids themselves, and it is 

 shown that they produce a smaller lowering of surface-tension than the 

 acids. The fundamental factor is the difference in capillary pressure 

 between the surface of the egg and the surrounding aqueous medium. 



Degeneration of Ovarian Follicles in White Mice.§— A. Chappellier 

 has studied the fragmentation of ova and the chromatolysis that goes 

 on in the degenerating Graafian follicles. A follicle with two ova is to 

 be distinguished from one in which the degenerating ovum has divided 

 into two (always very unequal) parts. In much disintegrated ova 

 crystals may occur. The production of Graafian follicles goes on 

 continuously ; only some reach maturity ; the rest degenerate, and the 

 cellular disorganisation is probably not without its influence on the life 

 and function of the ovary. 



Function of Corpus Luteum.|| — P. Bouin and P. Ancel, continuing 

 their studies on the rabbit, find evidence that the profound changes 

 which go on in the uterus — preparatory to the fixation of the ovum — are 

 due to the influence of the corpus luteum. 



* The Society are not intended to be denoted by the editorial "we," and they 

 do not hold themselves responsible for the views of the authors of the papers 

 noted, nor for any claim to novelty or otherwise made by them. The object of 

 this part of the Journal is to present a summary of the papers as actually }mb- 

 lislied, and to describe and illustrate Instruments, Apparatus, etc., which are 

 either new or have not been previously described in this country. 



t This section includes not only papers relating to Embryology properly so" 

 called, but also those dealing with Evolution, Development, Reproduction, and 

 allied subjects. 



X Biochem. Zeitschr., xvi. (1909) pp. 182-6. See also Journ. Chem. Soc, 1909, 

 p. 325. § C.R. Soc. Biol. Paris, lxvi. (1909) pp. 543-5 (9 figs.). 



Tom. cit., pp. 505-7. 



June 16th, 1909 2 a 



