684 SUMMARY OK CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



curved fibres, and so on. It is interesting to notice that the number of 

 hooks on each hook-fibre (2-8) is constant in the same species. 



0. General. 



Antarctic Fauna.* — R. von Lendenfeld makes some comments on 

 the animals collected by the ' Discovery,' as reported by T. V. Hodgson 

 and E. A. Wilson. f The abundance of sponges (about 50 species) was 

 a striking feature. An Umbellula was found near the ice-wall at a depth 

 of 914 metres. Echinoderms abounded in Ross's Sea, e.g. Asterias 

 brandtii, Ophiosteira antarctica, Ophionotus victoria. A Nereis was found 

 symbiotic with an Alcyonarian. Purple-brown and sometimes white 

 Nemerteans up to a metre in length and 2'5 cm. in breadth were 

 common. Long brownish brittle ribbons were often found, which were 

 first referred to Nemerteans and then to a Cephalopod. [They are more 

 probably parts of a large Siphonophore.] The white seals and the pen- 

 guins feed abundantly on the large Euphausia australis. The ten-legged 

 Pentanymphon antarcticum is noteworthy. About 50 species of Molluscs 

 were obtained, and Cephalodiscus was abundant. Many fishes were 

 collected, notably species of Notothenia and Trematopus. Von Lenden- 

 feld refers to the principle of economy in organic nature in connection 

 with the suppression of colour in many forms. 



Zoologischer Jahresbericht.J — Paul Mayer continues to edit the 

 invaluable Naples Jahresbericht, and to bring it out in good time. 

 Many of the summaries are models of their kind. The pagination for 

 each class is independent. 



Fauna of Wells.§ — J. E. Lord has some notes on the fauna and 

 flora of English wells and surface troughs. He directs attention to 

 various species of Amoeba and to other Rhizopods : Englypha alveolata, 

 E. ciliata, Trinema acinus, Cyphoderia ampulla, and Pamphagus hyalinus. 

 He found Sientor roseus, Euglena deses, Astasia, and other Infusorians. 

 Rotifers were represented chiefly by a few Bdelloida, which are usually 

 moss-lovers. He notes Rotifer vulgaris, Philodina roseola, P. citrina, 

 P. megalotrocha, Diaschiza gracilis, and Diglena forcipata. The wells 

 also contained Anguillula, Tubifex, Canthocamptus, Cypris, and insect 

 larvae. 



Persistence of Trade Impressions. || — R. J. Anderson refers to the 

 structural features induced as modifications by the peculiar exercises 

 involved in certain trades. The shoemaker has his sternum affected by 

 the pressure of the boot and last, added to the muscle tension used in 

 sewing. " The skeletal characters do not end when the race ends, not 

 necessarily at least, the status quo is not immediately restored, and a 

 depressed sternum or modified sternum may be present in all the mem- 

 bers of a family who have not begun to practise the craft. The sebaceous 

 glands also get large, with large patent openings, or swell with accumu- 

 lated products." In tailors the hair is apt to disappear from the outer 



* Biol. Centralbl., xxv. (1905) pp. 574-80. 



t Geogr. Journ., xxv. pp. 392-401. J Zool. Jahrb. 1904 (Berlin, 1905). 



§ Trans. Manchester Micr. Soc, 1905, pp. 55-7. 



|| Anat. Anzeig., xxvii. (1905) pp. 467-8. 



