1883.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 12T 



was manufactured in the manner above described, the time 

 needed for development being in proportion to the size of the 

 fragments into which the Actinospliseria were divided. The 

 above experiments were tried on many individuals, the only dif- 

 ference of result, in the various instances, being in the degree 

 of completeness with which the protoplasm separated itself from 

 the water. It was argued from the above facts, that the power of 

 any part of an Actinosphserium to develop into a perfect individual 

 was inherent, and not dependent upon any peculiar condition of 

 the animalcule. 



Fig. 8, Pl.XLI of Leidy's Rhizopods of North America, which 

 he doubtfully refers to the Actinosphseria, exactly' resembles a 

 medium stage in the development of the globules ejected from 

 the body of the Actinosphserium. 



The observer stated that the rays of Actiriosphaerium, when 

 irritated by being compressed, would be retracted completely 

 on all sides, and would again appeal* on the cessation of the 

 disturbance. 



The length of time needed for the development of the Actino* 

 sphseria, in the reproduction by natural means^ was from seven to 

 fourteen days ; that needed for the development, in the reproduc- 

 tion by artificial means, was ft'om one to two days. 



In the latter case this length of time was needed only in cases 

 when tlie crushing was carried to extremes, as, when the Actino- 

 sphserium, was simply divided into small pieces, a feW hours were 

 all that was needed to complete the development of the fragments. 



June 12i 

 Mr. John H. REbFiELD in the chair. 

 Twenty4hree persons present. 



Cutaneous Nerves in Mammals. — Dr. Harrison Allen, in con- 

 tinuation of his remarks on the trophic value of the cutaneous 

 nerves spoke of the distribution of the larger setae-bearing hair- 

 follicles in mammals as exposed after depilation. He described 

 the oral, the mental, the supra-orbital and the proximo-carpal 

 groups as well as those placed on the latei'al aspects of the limbs. 

 H^ had succeeded in tracing nerve-filaments to the follicles in all 

 instances and held that they bore close analogies to the pteryls of 

 the birds. In specimens in which the follicles were rudimentary 

 he had observed failure of the nerve also, and he was thus induced 

 to believe that a close relation existed between the setse-bearing 

 follicles and the nerves themselves. 



The following was ordered to be printed :-^ 



