236 Miscellaneous. 



of the family of Miliolina the query, " An status juvenilis reliquo- 

 rum?" M. S. Schultze makes of Orbulina a family among his 

 Monothalamia, whilst Globigerina is included in a subfamily of the 

 family of Turhinoida among the Polythalamia. 



I think I am now able to show, by numerous preparations, that 

 these two supposed genera are only different stages in the cyclical 

 or alternate generation of the same species. Having had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining large numbers of well-preserved specimens ob- 

 tained from the bottom beneath the Gulf Stream by the U.S. Coast 

 Survey, and entrusted to me for examination by Prof. Bache, Super- 

 intendent, I have found in nearly one-half of the Orbulince examined, 

 young Globigerince more or less developed, and attached to the inside 

 of the Orbulina by numerous very slender spicules. Only one Globi- 

 gerina is developed in an Orbulina, whose cavity it gradually fills 

 up, and whose shell it finally bursts to make its escape. At that 

 time the Globigerina has already nearly attained its full size, and I 

 have counted as many as sixteen cells in a specimen having yet room 

 for several more before filling up the parent Orbulina. 



How the Orbulina-form is reproduced I have not yet traced out. 

 None were noticed of very small size among those examined. Large 

 individuals are frequently found containing a smaller one filling the 

 cavity exactly ; the old shell is finally cast off, and appears to remain 

 attached in fragments to the young one for some time. I am un- 

 able to say as yet whether this is to be considered as an act of re- 

 production, or merely as a renewing of the shell. It is not rare to 

 find Orbulince with this double shell containing already a young 

 Globigerina. 



I hope to be able to follow out the whole chain of development of 

 these beings ; but the above facts have appeared to me interesting 

 enough to be at once communicated. — Sillimarf s Journal, July 1858. 



On the Anatomy and Development of the genus Myzostoma, Leuckart. 

 By C. Semper. 



The discovery of a new species of Myzostoma, living, like the three 

 others already known, parasitically upon Comatulce, has afforded 

 M. Semper opportunity for renewed studies on the affinities of this 

 singular genus. The systematic position of the Myzostomce remains 

 as problematical as before. These parasites remind us, by their 

 suckers, of the Entozoa, Annelida, and Crustacea; their feet are 

 formed like the rudimentary extremities of the setigerous Annelida ; 

 their digestive apparatus allies them either to the Entozoa and the 

 Annelida, or to the Arachnida ; and their hermaphroditism has its 

 analogue among the Entozoa, Annelida, Arachnida (Tardigrada), 

 and Crustacea. As to their nervous system, it is unlike that of any 

 other animals. The form of very young individuals has some simi- 

 larity to that of the Tardigrada. — Zeitschr. fur wiss. Zoologie, ix. 

 p. 48, 1857. 



