SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES 



RELATING TO 



ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY 



(principally invertebrata and cryptogamia), 



MICROSCOPY, Etc.* 



ZOOLOGY. 



VERTEBEATA. 



a. Embryology, t 



Post-natal Remains of the Notochord in Mammals.} — J. Schaffer 

 discusses the view that the gelatinous nucleus pulposus in the inter- 

 vertebral disc represents the residue of the notochord. He has especi- 

 ally studied the " intervertebral chorda-segments " in mouse, rat, mole, 

 guinea-pig, pig, and man. The chorda-tissue has markedly vesicular 

 cells, and because of the resulting elasticity it retains some mechanical 

 functional importance. In other cases it is of use in forming a mucous 

 mass, penetrated by chorda-reticulum and cell-remains, like a synovia. 

 Many details are given in regard to the remains of the notochord in 

 various Mammalian types. 



Maturation of the Mammalian Ovum. — M. Athias describes the 

 maturation-divisions in various rodents (Mus musculus, Gavia porcellus, 

 Eliomys quercinus, and Microtus incertus), and bats ( Vesperugo noctula, 

 V. serotinus, and Kfiinolophus hippos icier os), and compares these with 

 what occurs in Insectivores, Carnivores, etc. The main general questions 

 connected with maturation are discussed, e.g. as regards the number 

 of chromosomes, their individuality, the reduction-process, the role of 

 the centrosomes, the polar bodies, and so on. The memoir is beautifully 

 illustrated. 



Early Development of White Mouse. || — J. Sobotta describes (1) the 

 blastocyst before there is any trace of mesoderm ; (2) the first appear- 



* 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 

 jmblished, 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. 



t SB. k. Akad. Wiss. Wien., cxix. (1910), pp. 409-65 (5 pis. and 2 figs.). 



§ Sobre as Divisoes de Maturacao do Ovulo dos Mammiferos (Lisbon, 1910) 

 pp. 1-192 (4 pis.). 



|| Arch. Mikr. Anat., lxxviii. (1911) Festschrift Waldeyer, pp. 271-352 (3 pis.). 



