ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 39 



settle down in crowded groups, combining to capture nauplii. The 

 ectoderm breaks at the apex, the naked endoderm protrudes and begins 

 to work on the dead nauplius. The larva becomes four-lobed and gives 

 off planuliform buds, which also settle down. The larva elongates and 

 forms two tentacles, and then a third and a fourth. 



Study of Cerianthus oligopodus.* — Paul Cerfontaine gives a detailed 

 account of this species from the Gulf of Naples, which he established in 

 1891. He proves the occurrence of spontaneous scissiparity. Artifi- 

 cially cut specimens are also capable of regeneration, and the same is 

 true in C. solitaries. 



Hydroid parasitic on Hydroid.t — Ernest Warren describes Lafcea 

 dispolians sp. n., which was found in two cases growing up inside the 

 hydranth of Sertularia bidens Bale, replacing the original polyps by its 

 own. It is interesting in many ways. " It exhibits in a striking manner 

 the struggle of the host to squeeze out the parasite and shut it off from 

 its depredations. It also illustrates the economy exercised by the para- 

 site in the secretion of perisarc." For there is practically no perisarc 

 within the shelter, but a substantial one is formed when the parasite 

 passes beyond its host. 



Porifera. 



Phylogeny of Amphidiscophora.J — R. Kirkpatrick discusses the 

 relations of the two suborders of the Hexactinellida — namely Amphi- 

 discophora and Hexasterophora, and inquires into the characters of 

 their common ancestor. In an interesting discussion of amphidisks, 

 he points out that the teeth, with all their wonderful developments, 

 have arisen in response to the necessity for keeping the spicule orientated 

 at right angles to the opposing planes of tissue, and of restoring it to 

 its position when displaced. They serve, in fact, as the points d'appui 

 for bands of contractile tissue passing from the parallel planes to the 

 teeth. It is suggested that dwellers in earthquake countries might, 

 with advantage, follow the methods adopted by the Amphidiscophoran 

 sponge, for in each case there is the same problem to solve. 



Protozoa. 

 Microzoa in Shales from New South Wales. § —Frederick Chapman 

 describes a number or Foraminifera, and Ostracods, from a hard, grey, 

 calcareous shale ; e.g. a Miliolid, Nubecidaria nitida sp. n., and two 

 Rotalids, Discorbina cymbuloporoides sp. n., and Pulvinulina insiynis 

 sp. n. Two new Ostracods Beyrkhia mesozoka sp. n., and Darwinula 

 australis sp. n., are described. 



Haemoproteus orizivorae.|| — G. Anschiitz describes this new species 

 of Hsemoproteus from the rice-bird, or padda (Spermestes orizivora). It 

 shows two methods of schizogony in unpigmented forms, and also a 

 division of pigmented macrogametes. 



* Arch. Biol. xxiv. (1909) pp. 653-707 (1 pi.). 



t Ann. Natal Museum, ii. (1909) pp. 105-112 (1 pi. and 2 figs.). 



% Ann. Nat. Hist., iv. (1909) pp. 479-84 (5 figs.). 



§ Rec. Geol. Survey, N.S.W., viii. (1909) pp. 334-8 (1 pi.). 



|| Centralbl. Bakt. Parasitenk., Ii. (1909) pp. 654-9 (2 pis.). 



