786 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1885. 



western coutiuent seven species bave been found in Carboniferous and De- 

 vonian deposits — six in the former and one in the latter. During the past 

 year however, Dr. Paul Fischer has described a species referable to the 

 genus Dendropupa from a Permian deposit at Saone-et-Loire. The new 

 species is related, in Dr. Fischer's opinion, to the first-discovered species 

 of the genus Dendropupa (D. vetusta), found in the coal-joggins of Nova 

 Scotia, but the form is different, and although larger, there are only seven 

 (instead of nine) whorls. Only a single cast of the species was found 

 in the midst of various vegetable remains. The form has been named 

 Dendrox)upa Wolchiarum. {Journ. de Conchyl. (3), v. 25, pp. 99-105.) 



Characteristics of Tectihranchiate Gastropods. — In the first part of a work 

 devoted to zoological and anatomical researches on the Opisthobranchi- 

 ate mollusks of the Gulf of Marseilles, Dr. A. Vayssi^re has treated of 

 the Tectibranchiates. The memoir is valuable on account of the use 

 made in it of characteristics which have hitherto been neglected. The 

 author, with Dr. Fischer, divides the grouj) into three divisions, named 

 Cephalaspidea, Anaspidea, and Kotaspidea. Besides much other infor- 

 mation, details are given as to the food of various forms. Some are 

 carnivorous, such as species of Scaphander, Philine, and Doridium ; 

 others are omnivorous, like Gastropteron and Pleurobranchus, and still 

 others are completely herbivorous, as the sea-hares (Aplysia) and No- 

 tarchus. {RechercJies zoologiques ct anatomiques s%ir les mollusques opis- 

 tliohranches du GoJfe de Marseilles, 181 pp. ; Journ. de Conchyl. (3), v. 25, 

 pp. 206-209.) 



Cejphalopods. 



Cartilages of Sepia. — The "cartilages occurring in the head of Sepia" 

 have been examined by W. D. Haliburton. "The basis of the cartilage 

 is a chordrin-like body, which gives the re-action of macen and gelatine. 

 But the gelatinous element is exceedingly small and no gelatinization 

 occurs on the cooling of the hot-water extract. The cartilage differs 

 however from that of vertebrates in containing a small percentage of 

 chitin." In Sepia the percentage is 1-22 per cent. {Quart. Journ. Micr. 

 Sc, v. 25, pp. 173-181 ; J. R. M. S. (2), v. ^, p. 222.) 



PROTOCHORDATES. 



Tunicates. 



Relations of Tunicates. — An elaborate monograph of the genus Dolio- 

 lum has been published by Dr. B. TJljanin as a contribution to the 

 " Fauna und Flora des Golfes von i^eapel (x, 1884), and in it are detailed 

 the structural characteristics and the embryology. Various mooted 

 questions as to the morphology and relationships of the group, as well as 

 the Tunicates in general, are considered. The author inclines to the view 



