544 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Seminal Apparatus in Helix.* — A, Popovici-Baznosauu publishes a 

 note on this subject. There are three distinct organs in this apparatus, 

 viz. the seminal canal, the copulatory vesicle, and the diverticulum. The 

 two first are always present, the third only in certain species. The 

 species may be arranged in three groups : (1) where all parts are present 

 and the diverticulum functions for the reception of the spermatophores ; 

 (2) where the diverticulum is absent ; and (3) where it is reduced or 

 absent in some examples. Helix pomatia is an example of a species which 

 may or may not possess a diverticulum. Of examples from Paris, 25 

 per cent, had one, from Roumania 50 per cent., and from Banat 100 per 

 cent. The conclusion is that in the third group of species, Helix 

 nemoralis, H. lucorum, H. pomatia, etc., the diverticulum is a rudi- 

 mentary organ. 



Arthropoda. 

 a. Insecta. 



South Orkney Collembola.t — G. H. Carpenter describes the Aptera 

 collected by the Scottish Antarctic Expedition in the South Orkneys. 

 There are three species, all referable to the family Entomobryidse, two 

 being members of the cosmopohtan genus Isotoma, and the third being 

 referable to Willem's recently described Antarctic genus Gryptopygus. 

 The two species of Isotoma indicate affinities of the apterous fauna of 

 the South Orkneys to that of other Antarctic lands eastwards and west- 

 wards, as well as to that of the Arctic regions, and " even to that of the 

 land whence the Scotia sailed." The distribution of these primitive 

 wingless insects affords evidence for the discussion of the problem of 

 ancient land connections. The facts established in this paper point to 

 the former existence of extensive land tracts south of the American 

 continent with connection either by way of Antarctica or of South 

 Africa to Kerguelen. There is also a presumption of a former connection 

 by way of America with the Northern continents. 



Ecological Study of Sarcophagidse.J — W. B. Herms has made a 

 study of the habits and life-histories of several Sarcophagidfe, which fed 

 on beach debris at Cedar Point. Ohio. Their first impulse after drying 

 subsequently to pupation is to seek food, w'hich they detect rapidly. 

 Sarcophaga sarracenice is rarely found in large numbers about a carcase, 

 while the screw-worm fly is most abundant nearer the water and on 

 larger carcases. Lucilia ccBsar may be very numerous. Lucilia deposits 

 its eggs in irregular masses on the softer portions of stranded fish where 

 there is liquid food. This the adults suck while depositing eggs. The 

 larvffi on emerging find themselves amongst suitable food. Sarcophaga 

 deposits living young anywhere upon or near a carcase, thus leaving the 

 larvas to find suitable food. Compsomyia, the screw-worm fly, deposits 

 very minute living young, but is careless about placing them upon fish. 

 Under favourable conditions of food supply the larvas reach full-growth 

 in three days or less and then burrow into the sand, a short distance at 



* Comptes Rendus, cxliii. (1906) pp. 70-2. 

 • t Proc. Roy. Soc. Ediuburgh, xxvi. (1907) pp. 473-83 (2 pis.). 



t Joum. Exp. Zool., iv. (1906) pp. 45-83 (7 figs.). 



