BY WILLIAM A. HASWELL, M.A. 



as entirely composed) of small nerve-cells similar in form to the 

 ganglion-cells of the ventral nerve-cord but considerably smaller. 

 But here and there, if not in all the ganglia, are to be found cells 

 of a different kind. These are bipolar cells of finely gi-anulated 

 appearance with large vesicular nuclei, nJyjth of an inch in diameter, 

 and thus about thrice the size of the ordinary cells. Cells of 

 precisely similar form are found in groups at the ba.ses of the dorsal 

 cirri, so that it seems unlikely, as might otherwise be reasonably 

 held, that they have any dii-ect relation to the production of the 

 phosphorescence for which the elytra are remarkable. 



In .sections of male specimens of Polynoe it will frequently be 

 found that the cavities of the segmental organs are densely jiacked 

 with spermatozoa ; and in some instances this will be found to be 

 the case when there are no spermatozoa remaining in the perivis- 

 ceral cavity itself. This fact, together with the observations whiich 

 I have repeatedly made of the passage outwards of the spermatozoa 

 through the efferent ducts, must set at rest entirely the question of 

 the chief function of the.se organs. 



NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 



Mr. Haswell exhibited specimens of Alepas parasita, Quoy and 

 Gaimard, a barnacle which is parasitic on large Scyphomedusse. 

 The .specimens were obtained from Mr. Alex, Moreton, Curator of 

 the Hobart Museum. 



The President exhibited a specimen of Glossopteris Brovmiana 

 found in a large pebble of the Hawkesbuiy drift, derived from 

 some portion of the upper coal series which had been hardened by 

 volcanic activity in its vicinity, j 



19 



