480 RECORD OF SCIENCE FOR 1886. 



Physiology of the imstriated muscles of invertebrates. — The physiology 

 of the uustriated muscles of invertebrates has been iuvestigated by Mr. 

 E. D. Varigny, and, as a result, he came to the couclusiou that "do essen- 

 tial differeuce exists between the unstriated and the striated muscles. 

 The unstriated muscles, under certain conditions, even surpass the 

 striated ones from a physiological point of view. In the invertebrata 

 their role is an important one, for whilst remaining the active agents of 

 the movements of nutrition, they become the agents of voluntary move- 

 ments, and in contact with the nerves of voluntary motion derive such an 

 energy and acquire such a perfect physiological development that they 

 occupy in the functional hierarchy a superior rank to that of certain 

 striated muscles, whilst the striated muscle is the most perfect and most 

 developed contractile agent, and the one whose evolution is most ad- 

 vanced." In fine, "there is no ground for dividing the physiology of 

 muscles into two classes," the diflt'ereuces existing in certain points being 

 not essential, but of secondary moment only. (J. E. M. S. (2), v, p. 791.) 



PROTOZOANS. 



General. 



A new classification of protozoa. — In an article entitled "Protozoa," 

 published in the Encyclopaedia Britaunica, Prof. E. Eay Lankester has 

 given his views as to the best mode of groui)ing all the protozoa, in 

 which he includes the mycetozoa. lie admits no less than thirteen 

 classes in the sub-kingdom, which he segregates under two groups or 

 "grades." The names and relations of the various classes will appear 

 in the subjoined tabular enumeration: 



PROTOZOA. 



Grade A. — Gymiwmijxa. 



Section. Class. 



Proteana I. rroteomyxa (Vanips'rella, Protoiuyxa, Archerina). 



Plasmodiata II. IT^ceioj^oa (Eumycetozoa). 



LoBOSA III. Lobosa (Amwba, Arcella). 



f IV. LahryrinthiiUcIca (Labyrintliula, Chlamyilomyxa). 

 J V. HeUozoa (Actiuophrys). 



\ VI. Bcticidaria {Gromia, Lituola, Astrorhiza, Glohigcrina). 



l^VII. Eadiolaria. (Very uumeroua.) 



Grade 13. — Corticata. 



LiPOSTOMA I. Sporozoa {Gregarina, Coccidiiim). 



( II. Flagcllata {Monas, Englena, Folvox.) 



I III. Diiwflagellata. {Prorocentrum, Ceratium.) 



Stomatophora { IV. lihynchoflageUata. (Noctiluca.) 



I V. Ciliata. {Vorticella, Paramoecium, Stentor.) 



{ VI. Acinetaria. (A acineta, Dcadrosoma.) 



(Enc. Brit., 9th ed., xix, 830-866.) 



