ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, El'C. 391 



monaxonellida Deudy), and Sigmatotetraxonida Hentschel ( = Sigmato- 

 phora + Sigmatomonaxonellida Deiidy. Thus the old artificial distinction 

 between " Tetractinellids " and "Monaxonids " is got rid of. 



Protozoa. 



Reflexes in Protozoa.* — S. Metalnikov has studied the reactions of 

 Infusorians to food, and has been impressed by their variability. Both 

 in the movements which effect ingestion, and in the internal processes 

 of vacuole-formation and circulation there is considerable diversity in 

 the same animal. The variability depends (1) on the nature of the 

 excitant, i.e. the composition of the food; (2) on the environmental 

 conditions, e.g. of temperature ; and (3) on the physiological condition 

 of the Infusorians, which is affected by past experiences. The change 

 in the reflex is sometimes definitely regulative, furthering the interests 

 of the organism as a whole. Metalnikov refers to the distinction drawn 

 by Beer, Bethe, and Uexkiill between a uniform reflex and a variable 

 "antiklise," by Loeb between constant and temporary reflexes, by 

 Pavlov between unconditional and conditional reflexes. 



Metalnikov holds that reflexes in Infusorians are far from being 

 stereotyped. In regard to a digestive vacuole, for instance, it may vary 

 in size, shape, course, stoppages, and duration. Every reaction has an 

 original element. This is to be seen in all organisms. It may be 

 verified in the varied beating of the heart. An organism enregisters its 

 experience and is always changing. It is always doing something new, 

 "creating," expressing its changeful individuality. The individual 

 creation which we call variation is but a small part of the general 

 creation which we call evolution. Metalnikov makes no reference to 

 the author of " L'Evolution Creatrice." 



Foraminifera of West of Scotland.! — Edward Heron-Allen and 

 Arthur Earland report on a collection made in July-September, 

 1913, by W. A. Herdman on a cruise of S.Y. 'Euna' on the West 

 of Scotland. Though they record only one (or two ?) species, and a 

 variety or two, new to science, no fewer than twenty-seven species are 

 recorded for the first time for the British List. The total number of 

 species and varieties identified in the gatherings is 321. The number 

 would have been greater had there been a greater admixture of shells or 

 stones, and if the dredgings had not been restricted to comparatively 

 shallow waters, the greatest depth being 60 fathoms. 



Culture of Amcebse.:!:— Charles A. Kofoid calls attention to the 

 abundance of Amaha proteus among a felt of Oscillaria at the outlet of 

 a drain or among decaying Ceratophyllum. He has cultivated with 

 success for class purposes a small soil-amoeba, Naegleria gruheri, which, 

 though very small, not very mobile at room temperatures, lacking in 

 prominent pseudopodia, and apt to enflagellate on slight provocation, has 



* C.R. Soc. Biol. Paris, Ixxix. (1916) pp. 80-82. 



t Trans. Linn. Soc. (Zool.) xi. (1916) pp. 197-299 (5 pis. and map). 



X Trans. Amer. IMicr. Soc, xsxiv. (1915) pp. 271-4. 



