iga 



NATURAL SCIENCE. 



March, 



" important " as they are usually held to be. It may be noted that 

 the stomatogastric nervous system of Oligochaeta is often connected 

 to the oesophageal commissures, and the chambers of the body are 

 not completely isolated inter se as might be inferred from the language 

 of P- 355" The spermatophore of the order is mentioned under 

 Hirudinea (p. 402). Goehlich's observation on the nephridia, reproduc- 

 tive habits, and cocoon of the earthworm should have found a place. 

 It is a pity Mr. Beddard did not figure Chi^togasiey, Nais, or Ttibifex as 

 common British types, or give details as to the fission of aquatic 

 forms. The circulatory system, ccelomic spaces, and genitalia of Hiru- 

 dinea are clearly explained. There is a brief reference to the 



Fig. 5 — Bonellia viridis, a Gephy- 

 rean, adult male x 133. a, generative 

 pore with spermatozoa issuing ; b, an- 

 terior end of intestine {i) ; c, wandering 

 cells containing chlorophyll; (/, parenchy- 

 matous connective tissue ; e, epidermis ; 

 /, vas deferens opening internally at I ; 

 7)1, " left nephridium " (Shipley, but see 

 text) ; n, spermatozoa in body-cavity. 



nephridial network of certain leeches. Mr. Beddard probably con- 

 siders it, as in analogous instances among Oligochaeta, to be a 

 development from simpler conditions. 



Sipimculiis nudus is described as a type of the Gephyrea, and Mr. 

 Shipley has given a welcome key to the many genera of the Sipuncu- 

 loidea. An error should be noted in the description of the figure of 

 the male Bonellia (fig. 5) : the letter m refers to what is really the homo- 

 logue of the left anal vesicle of the female; the homologue on the right 

 side is also shown. The remarks on the afiinities of the Gephyrea 

 should be carefully studied. The same advice applies equally to the 

 interesting genus Phoronis, of which an excellent description is given. 



