608 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1884. 



recognized, but it is supposed that " its center is perhaps represented by 

 the small rounded mass of cells which lies on the anal side of the an- 

 terior wall of the pharynx." Spermatoblasts are '• derived from the re- 

 peated subdivision of the spermatophores, but they do not form rounded 

 or oval masses of regularly arranged cells placed on a nutrient blasto- 

 pbore"; when they become converted into spermatozoa they are at first 

 pyriform, and only later does the tail arise at the narrow end and become 

 of some length. The histolysis of the digestive tract was investigated, 

 and to the brown body is attributed a nutrient function. The cystid and 

 polypid are parts of a single individual, as is proved by the history of 

 the process of germination as well as by the organization of the complete 

 nutrient animal. 



The perigastric space is regarded as a true coelon, but the polyzoa 

 are claimed to be pseudo-ccelia.. [Biol. Centralblatt, iii, pp. 705-721; 



J. E. M. S. (2), IV, p. o71.) 



Brachiopods. 



Anatomy of Argiope. — Several species of Argiope have been dissected 

 and studied within the last two years by Dr. A. E. Shipley and Dr. A. 

 Schulgin, the former having worked at Naples on the A. NeapoUtana 

 and A. enneafa, and the latter on the A. KowalevsML The brachial 

 appendages, to which in typical Terebratulids the gills are attached, 

 are wanting in Argiope. There is, according to Schulgin, a feebly de- 

 veloped suboesophageal ganglion overlooked by Shipley, who mistook 

 the external sensory for the central nervous system.. 



The relationships of the Brachiopods are considered by both authors. 

 Dr. Shipley accepted essentially the views of Professor Gegenbaur. (See 

 S. 1. Eeport for 1883.) Dr.' Schulgin thought it " probable that the 

 Polyzoa and Brachiopoda arose from a side branch or phylum, which 

 also gave rise to Annelids," and they maybe "grouped together under 

 the class of Vermoidea." [ZeitscJir. f. Wis. Zool, V. 41, pp. 11(3-141, 2 

 pi. ; J. B. M. S. (2), V. 5, pp. 49, 50.) 



MOLLUSKS. 



Acephals. 



A new Classificaiion of Bivalve SlieUs.—Mnch dissatisfaction has been 

 expressed with all the current arrangements of the Acephals, or bivalve 

 mollusks, and Dr. M. IsTeumayr has proposed a new one which he 

 thinks has some advantages compared with the others. The shells are 

 considered from a palseoutological point of view, and the data derived 

 from palaeontology being co-ordinated with those obtained from a study 

 of the hinge of the shell. Dr. Neumayr was led to segregate all the 

 known forms into three orders, all differing from those of his predeces- 

 sors, and to whicii he has given new names. The definitious of the 

 groups, as rendered in English by Dr. von Martens, are as follows: 



" Ord. 1. PAL^^ocoNCHiE, or Gryptodonta. Shell thin, without teeth. 



