108 NOTICES OF SERIALS. 



without metamorphose, without a velum, or even the temporary presence of 

 cilia. This last circumstance distinguishes it from the Annelides and Platodes, 

 but points to the analogy with the Nematodes, with which also the mode of de- 

 velopment agrees best throughout, except as regards the singular form of the 

 segmentation cells, and the first formation of the intestinal cavity. These pe- 

 culiarities tend to confirm the views of the first observer, Slabber, who placed 

 Sagitta among the worms, but as a peculiar group — Dart- worms, which Gegen- 

 baur would intercalate between the Nematodes and Annelides. (Schultze) On 

 the land Planariae, from the observations of F. Mueller in Brazil, and original 

 investigations — p. 18-38. Among the species observed by Mueller in Brazil, one 

 is colourless and destitute of eyes, its mode of life being subterranean, and its 

 food Lumbricus corethrurus. The terrestrial kinds as well as the aquatic ap- 

 pear to have a coat of cilia. Schultze's anatomical and histological observations 

 were made on a specimen belonging to a new species — Geoplana burmeisteri, 

 brought home, preserved in spirits, by Burmeister. He recommends for the pre- 

 servation of such delicate objects a solution of bichromate of potash, in the pro- 

 portion of one to two grains in an ounce of water, as preferable to spirits of wine. 

 (Herter) Sketch of the Lignite formation of Thuringia and Saxony ; with a 

 map — p. 39-85. Within this district two distinct formations occur, one, which 

 predominates, of marine deposition ; the other, confined to a small tract on the 

 western declivity of the high ridge of the Rothliegendes which separated it from 

 that ancient sea, is characterized by the great regularity of deposition in small 

 limited basins, the perfect stratification and the mineralogical character of the 

 rocks, plastic clays prevailing in the absence of coarse arenaceous deposits. In 

 this continental formation the beds of coal eonsist of well preserved pieces of 

 stems. The characteristic absence of fossils in the Lignite excludes direct 

 evidence of the Geological antiquity of these formations. The relative position 

 evinces the Lignite to be older than the Tongrian system, as it underlies a mem- 

 ber parallel with this. The marine formation at Bornstedt is unequivocally 

 superincumbent over the continental, so that the latter, in this locality at least, 

 may be referred to the most ancient of the Tertiary formations of Germany. 

 The dislocations of the rocks within the district investigated afford evidence of 

 violent convulsions that have occurred since the Lignite was deposited. 



Proceedings for 1856. (Volkmann) Regularity of action of the muscles — 

 p. 3. (Vogel) Change of the matter of the human body — p. 5. (Schultze) 

 Structure of the olfactory organ — p. 7. (Burmeister) Anomalura pelei allied 

 to Hystrix — p. 5. Dolichotis patagonica allied to Cavia — p. 7. On Ciconia 

 mycteria and the Storks in general— p. 10. On the Treefrogs of Brazil — p. 8. 

 (Schlechtendahl) On the genus Datura, the date of the introduction into Europe 

 of D. stramonium, and the specific distinction of D. tatula. On the most ancient 

 notices of the Flora of Halle — p. 17-20. On Placodium yussufii, the locomotive 

 lichen of the Sahara — p. 21. On the spontaneous growth of Hydrilla verticil! ata 

 and Najasflexilis in Pomerania — p. 21, 22. (Andrae) On conical and spherical 

 concretions in the Tertiary sand of the Heath of Nietleben— p. 12. (Girard) 

 On Volger's theory of the origin of Earthquakes — p. 13. On a model of the 

 Carboniferous formation constructed by Professor Goeppert in the Royal Botani- 

 cal Garden at Breslau— p. 16. 



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