718 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1883. 



Norwegian sea. A new species, named Dentalium ergaticum, was ob- 

 tained by the Travailleur Expedition, which, when living, was 9 cen- 

 timeters (about 3£ inches) long, and another even larger was found 

 which could not be specifically distinguished from an Italian Pliocene 

 fossil. (Gomptes Rendus Acad. Sc., t. xcvi, pp. 797-799.) 



The gastrula-mouth of Vivipara. — Dr. Carl Kabl has investigated souk 1 

 questions respecting the development of certain organs and structures 

 in the pectinibranchiate Gastropods, and among others the history of 

 the mouth of the gastrula-stage of the common Vivipara or Paludina of 

 Europe. His conclusions are at variance with those of his predecessors, 

 and, on account of the interest of the subject, a notice will be in place 

 here. Dr. Eabl's observations convinced him that the gastrula mouth 

 gradually but completely closes in the median line of the ventral sur- 

 face. About the place where this obliteration occurred the anus soon 

 afterwards appears, but is in no way connected with the gastrula mouth ; 

 finally the permanent mouth becomes developed at the spot where the 

 last residue of the gastrula mouth had closed up. (Anzeiger Akad. 

 Wiss. Wien, 1883, p. 13; J. R. M. S. (2), vol. in, pp. 192, 193.) 



The Doridoid Nudibranchiales. — Prof. Rudolph Bergh,in a summary of 

 his views on the classification of the Dorididae proposes to divide 

 them into primary groups called by him subfamilies, (1) the I), crypto- 

 branchiata, or Dorididae proper, distinguished by the combination of the 

 branchiae into a single large retractile crown, and (2) the D. phanero- 

 branchiata, in which the branchiae are numerous and severally retractile. 

 The " subfamily" of the D. phanerobranchiata are in their turn divisible 

 into groups named Polyceradae and Goniodorididae. The Polyceradae 

 (or Polyceridae) have a simple pharyngeal bulbus and are represented 

 by 16 generic types. The Goniodorididae have sessile or petiolate 

 tympaniform and suctorial pharyngeal bulbus, and are exemplified 

 under 10 generic types. The essential characters mentioned here are 

 co-ordinated with a number of others. A phylogenetic table gives Dr: 

 Bergh's ideas as to the relations and divergence of the Polyceridae and 

 Goniodorididae. These are connected with the typical Dorididae through 

 Staurodoris. The genus Heterodoris of Verrill and Emerton is believed 

 to belong to a peculiar family of the Ichnopoda. ( Verhand. 1c. k. zool.- 

 bot. Gess. Wien, vol. xxxin, pp. 152-175.) 



Gephalopods. 



Digestion in the Gephalopods. — The physiology of various organs of 

 Cephalopods concerned in digestion has been investigated by E. Bour- 

 quelot. The secretion of the salivary glands exhibits no influence on 

 raw or hydrated starch ; the hepatic secretion converts the latter into 

 sugar, and the pancreatic juices exercises a similar function; "in 

 other words, we may say that the ferment produced by the liver and 

 pancreas is identical with the salivary ferments of higher animals." It 



