INVERTEBBATA, CRYPTOGAMIA, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 



879 



known free Nematodes in tlie caverns of Carniola. The following- 

 examples of known genera are found •.—BoryJahmis, 2 species; Tijleu- 

 chis, 2; Aplieleuchns, 1; Tripyla, 1; Monhystera, 1; Anguillula, 1; 

 Monononchus, 1 ; Ceplialohiis, 2 ; Bhahditis, 3 ; and Ilectm. One 

 species of the latter genus was especially interesting, partly because 

 of its size as compared with P. granulosus, the species it most resembled 

 (11-13 mm. as against 1*3 mm. in the male, and 9-10 as against 

 0*8 in the female), and partly because it was found both in the sand 

 of the Recca-grotto and in the sea-sand near the mouth of the grotto ; 

 in other words, an animal probably originally marine is able to adapt 

 itself to a life in fresh water and in darkness. Further observations 

 are necessary to show whether this migration into the dark cave has 

 relation either to wintering or to breeding. 



Aniirsea longispina. — This rotifer, discovered by Professor Kelli- 

 cott at Buffalo, N.Y., and described in our April number,* has now 

 been found by Mr. J. Levick t in this country, in the prolific Olton 

 Eeservoir near Birmingham. 



Mr. Levick was not able to see the pair of well-defined " wheels " 

 described by Professor Kellicott, and thinks them probably a mistake, 

 a view which Professor Kellicott, in a recent letter to ourselves, con- 

 firms. 



Studies on the Gephyrea.J — Dr. Spengel in treating of the forma- 

 tion of the ova in Bonellia, points out that the organs described in 

 1852 by Schmarda as being those of the female generative system 

 were very diflferently regarded by Lacaze-Duthiers in 1858 ; and that, 

 since then, twenty years elapsed before the female generative organs 

 were again carefully examined. Armed with the latest methods of 

 modern histology, Vejdovsky has returned to the subject, while the 

 investigations of Greef have led the latter author to confirm the 

 results of Lacaze-Duthiers as to the uterus and ovary. 



Dealing with Speugel's own observations, we find that the ovary of 

 Bonellia, discovered by Lacaze-Duthiers, is placed in the ventral aspect 

 of the animal, between the nerve-cord and the coils of the enteron ; 

 extending through the two hinder thirds of the body, the ovary is 

 connected with the ventral blood-vessel, which accompanies the 

 ventral cord ; the anterior part of this vessel consists of a peritoneal 

 investment succeeded by a membrane in which are contained muscular 

 fibres ; the part which takes a share in the formation of the ova is the 

 peritoneal investment, which in its anterior portion, where it is not 

 connected with the ovary, consists of flattened cells with small 

 elongated nuclei; about its median third the vessel is seen to 

 become provided with cells remarkable for their great size. Tliese 

 are the youngest germ-cells, or, more correctly, "primitive ova," 

 and at the margin of each there are to be made out some flat- 

 tened cells, which are so arranged as to form a kind of investment. 

 Connected with the primitive ova is a more or less large number of 

 cells which are placed on pedicels, and in groups which are made up 



* Tliis Journal, ii. (1879) p- 157. t ' Midi. Nat.,' ii. (1879) p. 241. 



I 'Mittb. Zool. Stai. Neapel,' i. (1879) p. 357. 



