92 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 
in this disease, the muscular fibres become the seat of a 
thorough change, which, pursuing its various stages of develop- 
ment, presents, as a final result, the conversion of the 
protein substance of the muscular fibre into fat. The changes 
are carefully traced, and a plate illustrating the structure of: 
the diseased tissue is given. 
8. “ Echiniscus Sigismundi, an Arctiscoid of the North 
Sea,” by Max Schultze.—In the first number of the ‘ Archiv ” 
was a very valuable paper by Dr. Richard Greef on the ner- 
vous system of the Tardigrada, and here we have a no less 
interesting paper by the editor on a new species of these very 
curious little ‘‘ bear-beasts.”” Though Arctiscoids are to be 
met with in moss on the roofs of houses, on trees, and in 
dykes and ditches—everywhere (so says Professor Schultze) 
in great numbers—yet the sea has only as yet furnished one 
species to the observations of zoologists. This form, called 
Lydella, was discovered by a pupil of Dujardin’s, while crawling 
on the side of a glass vessel containing sea water, and was 
described and named by the French savant. Professor 
Schultze, while at Ostend, searching the weed-grown piles of 
the harbour for Anguillula, Ameba, and Infusoria, was for- 
tunate enough to discover a new form of Tardigrade living on 
the sea-weed, and belonging to the genus Echiniscus. Dr. 
Richard Greef at the same time observed this form in 
Heligoland, in various positions, but especially among the 
weed subjected to tidal action. The greatest length of the 
specimen observed was ‘08”’ to ‘09”’, so that the extreme 
minuteness of these animals may well explain the paucity of 
marine species known to us. Professor Schultze names this 
form E. Sigismundi, in honour of his father, who did some 
valuable work in connection with the Arctiscoida. The ceso- 
phagus and intestinal canal appear to be the only organs 
which are conspicuous when the Echiniscus is placed beneath 
the microscope, the curious little legs and eye-spots, and a few 
dermal hooklets, being also noticeable. Professor Schultze’s 
paper also contains some general remarks on the genus 
Echiniscus, and is illustrated by a coloured plate. 
9. There is also a notice of the compendious little micro- 
scope constructed for Dr. G. Harley, of University College, 
by Mr. Collins, of Great Tichfield Street, and a few words 
from Herr H. Frey “ On Good and Sound Microscopes.” 
The microscopes of Oberhausen of Paris, Merz of Munich, 
Zeiss of Jena, and the cheap instruments of Pillischer and 
Smith and Beck, are noticed. The finer instruments of our 
three great London houses are not known to Herr Frey, nor 
is he able to give an opinion on Messrs. Powell and Lealand’s 
4th, on accouut of its great expense. 
