272 KECORD OF CURRENT RESEARCIIES RELATING TO 



of Beroe, but they have likewise spindle-shaped bodies embedded 

 here and there amongst them; so also, just as in Beroe, they re- 

 peatedly branch in a dichotomous fashion when they approach the 

 tactile setse, and these branches first arise from swellings, which have 

 a tripolar or multipolar character, according to the number of fila- 

 ments which arise from them. Owing to the repeated division the 

 terminal filaments are very fine, and their final direction is lost ; the 

 author has, however, no doubt that they become connected with the 

 Beta3 and with the terminal cells. The former are tactile setae, and 

 the latter have either an offensive secretion or one which enables 

 them to attach to themselves nutrient matter ; at the same time the 

 possibility of their being capable of receiving tactile impressions 

 must be borne in mind. 



New Fossil Coral.* — The Eev. J. E. Tenison-Woods describes a 

 coral — TrematotrocJms fenestratus, nov. gen. et sp. — of most singular 

 and interesting character, combining some of the leading character- 

 istics of several families and subfamilies. It is a Turbinolidian coral, 

 with pali, without a columella, and with a perforated wall. In ex- 

 terior form it is very like a Turbi7iolia, and like some members of 

 that genus it has what seem to be deep pores between the costae. But 

 in the true Turhinolia these pores go no further than the wall ; they 

 follow a groove between the costje, and, though deep, never go through. 

 In the new species they go through the wall ; in fact, as the pores arc 

 very large, the portion of the wall which separates them becomes little 

 more than a flat transverse bar. 



Haeckel's 'System of the Medusae.'f— This first instalment of 

 Haeckel's greatest work since the appearance of his monographs on 

 the Eadiolaria and Calcispongiae, is devoted solely to Gegenbaur's 

 Craspedota (which are nearly equivalent to the naked-eyed Medusae 

 of Forbes or Cryptocarp® of Eschscholtz). The author's treatment 

 of his subject, though resting necessarily on anatomical characters, is 

 purely systematic. Without any introduction, he at once enters on 

 details. There is a table of contents, but no index or general list of 

 synonyms ; the synonyms of old species are cited in each case. 



Revisions of orders and families occupy rather more than 100 

 pages, and about 250 pages treat of genera and species. The defini- 

 tions of the genera and higher groups are further exhibited in 

 analytical tables. The etymology of each genus is given, and notes 

 are ai^pcnded to the generic diagnoses. The name of each species is 

 followed by a diagnosis, a special description (or in its place a com- 

 mentary with reference to a description elsewhere), and short para- 

 graphs under the heads of colour, size, and station. The develop- 

 ment, when known, is indicated but not described. 



In Haeckel's system the Craspedota constitute the first legion of 



* ' Journ. and Proc. Eoy. Soc. N. S. Wales,' xii. (1879) p. 57. 



t " Das System der Mednsen. Erster Theil einer Monographie der Mediisen. 

 — Erste Hiilfte des crstcn Theils : Svstem der Craspedoten." ' Denkschr. Jen. 

 Gcscll. Med. imd Naturwiss.,' i. (1879) 3G0 pp. 20 plates. [Analysis by Dr. J. 

 Reay Greene.] 



