ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 137 



there are sixteen nuclei, which spread throughout the yolk ; after a few 

 more nuclear divisions the resulting amoeboid cells tend to the peri- 

 plasm ; there a blastoderm is established, the periplasm being broken 

 into a chain of cell-like territories, each with a iiucleus in its centre. 

 The cells of the blastoderm and those in the yolk now show a large 

 nucleolus. The completion of the blastoderm is achieved when the cells 

 become sufficiently numerous to form a continuous epithelium. A 

 pjortion of this is differentiated to form the ventral plate or germ- 

 rudiment, consisting of columnar epithelium. The amnion fold arises at 

 its margins. There is an inward movement of the germ-rudiment into 

 the yolk, which becomes broken up by vitellophags. There is a remark- 

 able turning movement of the germ-rudiment, which becomes crescentic 

 in outline. The germ-rudiment assumes the form of a germ-band, with 

 cells still more columnar and closely apposed, with two procephalic lobes 

 at the head-end, with a narrow median groove which sinks in to form the 

 •"inner layer," which soon becomes segmented. J. A. T. 



Pupae of Sphingidae. — Edxa Mosher (Ann. Entomol. Soc. America, 

 1918, 11, 403-42, 1 pi.). It is shown that pupal characters indicate 

 natural relationships and confirm those indicated by adult characters. 

 The majority of the sphinx moths spend their pupal life in a cell in the 

 ground, v^hich is formed by the mature larva ; the body-surface is 

 generally punctate, with indeterminate transverse striations between the 

 punctures, and the sides of the abdomen in the spiracular region are 

 usually more strongly sculptured than the rest of the body ; the cephalic 

 margins of abdominal segments 5-7 ai-e strongly furrowed or carinate 

 in most cases; the furrows (called " spiracular") may be sometimes 

 so deep as to form a sort of pocket-like cavity ; no setse have been 

 observed on the body ; the length of the maxillae in the pupee often 

 greatly exceeds the length of the wings, in some instances being twice 

 their length, and there are three different ways of providing for this 

 extra length. The spiracular furrows and the maxillae afford the best 

 characters for classifying the pupte, and a key to the genera is submitted. 



J. A. T. 



South African Bagworms. — C. B. Haedenberg (Annals Natal 

 Museum, 1919, 4, 143-227, 1 pi., 25 figs.). In -continuation of previous 

 studies the author gives a detailed account of twelve species, taking 

 account not only of structure, but of life-history and economic import- 

 ance. The species belong to the genera Acanthopsyche, Clania, Manatha, 

 Semimanatha, and Monda ; and many minute details are given as to the 

 setae and mouth-parts of the larvai. There' is much interesting informa- 

 tion in regard to the structure of the bags and the habits of the larvae. 



J. A. T. 



Pulsatile Tergal Organ in Lepidoptera. — Frank Brocher (Arch. 

 Zool. Exper., 1919, 58, 149-71, 8 figs.). In Sphinx convolvuli there is 

 a mesotergal pulsatile organ like that in water-beetles. It is in a sense 

 the true heart, being much more important than the dorsal blood-vessel 

 in driving the blood. Its importance makes it easier to understand the 

 prolonged survival of insects which have lost their abdomen or have 



