ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICKOSCOPY, ETC. 581 



embryonic investment. The antennae are primitively postoral, and at 

 first consist of three segments ; after the rudiments of the limbs have 

 appeared, a second embryonic ecdysis occurs. The development of the 

 different organs and the habits of the adults are described in some detail. 

 The interesting ecdysis of the mid-gut was studied with great care; the 

 author regards it as a forecast of the complicated changes which occur 

 during the metamorphosis in the Holometabola. As a whole it may be 

 said that the development, like the anatomy of larva and adult, displays 

 an extraordinary mingling of primitive and adaptive characters. 



/3. Myriopoda. 



The Ascospermophora.* — Dr. Carl Yerhoeff, in the course of his 

 researches on Palasarctic Myriopods, has come to this sub-order, whose 

 structure, phylogeny, and classification are fully discussed in the present 

 paper. The sub-order is held to consist of two families, the Chordeumidaj 

 and the Craspedosonridte, each containing sub-families of which lull 

 definitions are given. The paper includes descriptions of two new 

 genera and a number of new species. 



Coloration of Grlomeridse. — Dr. Carl Graf Attems f draws attention 

 to the fact that in the genus Glomcris there is much variety of colouring, 

 combined with much structural constancy. The differences in colora- 

 tion show a certain regularity which makes it possible to indicate the 

 course of colour evolution. In Glomeris conspersa black spots are 

 present on the light ground-colour. In others the spots coalesce to 

 form longitudinal stripes, separated by pale bands. The dark bands 

 are four in number, and show a gradual increase in breadth combined 

 with a gradual diminution of the pale ground-colour, which takes place 

 after a different fashiou in the different species and sub-species. The 

 author arranges the species according to the colour scheme which they 

 display. 



In an independent paper on the Glomeridae, Dr. Carl Verhoefft 

 discusses the same phenomenon along similar lines, and draws up the 

 following list of the stages in colour evolution in the family. In sub- 

 terranean forms pigment is absent, in others the colouring is uniformly 

 pale, this pale ground-colour becomes flecked by dark spots arranged 

 in a median line ; regular longitudinal bands of dark colour then make 

 their appearance, and increase so that the primary pale colour is con- 

 fined to longitudinal rows of spots ; these longitudinal rows become 

 transverse bands, which later diminish or disappear. In the case of the 

 forms displaying the more specialised forms of colouring, the young 

 stages may resemble more primitive forms, and display recapitulation 

 in development. The author believes that in other Diplopoda the same 

 colour evolution is discernible, and regards black as being always a 

 specialised colour in the group, red, brown, and yellow as primitive 

 tints. 



Diplopoda of Siebenburgen.§ — Dr. Carl Verhoeff has continued his 

 previous observations on this fauna. He classifies the forms found in 



. * Arch. Naturgesch., lxvi. (1900) pp. 347-402 (4 pis.). Cf. this Journal, ante, 

 p. 322. t Arch. Naturgesch., lxvi. (1900) pp. 297-320 (2 pis.). 



% Tom. cit.. pp. 403-13. 

 § Tom. cit., pp. 205-30. Cf. this Journal, 1897, pp. 202, 379. 



