QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 283 
sitic and Free; with Observations on their Zoological Posi- 
tion and Affinities to the Echinoderms,” is the title of an able 
memoir by Henry Charlton Bastian, M.A., M.B., F.L.S., 
communicated to the Royal Society on the 13th of June last. 
After commenting upon the many conflicting statements 
which have been made concerning the anatomy of these ani- 
mals, the author alludes to the increased interest which has 
lately been thrown over this order by the discovery of so many 
new species of the non-parasitic forms, marine, land, and 
fresh water. He has entered fully into the description of the 
tegumentary organs, and has recognised a distinct cellulo- 
granular layer intervening between the great longitudinal 
muscles and the external chitinous portion of the integu- 
ment. He confirms Dr. Schneider’s conclusions as to the 
nature of the transverse fibres attached to the median-lines, 
and also with regard to the form of the nervous system. That 
which Mr. Bastian has to say about the water-vascular sys- 
tem is interesting im connection with the paper of Mr. Maca- 
lister which we have noticed above. Mr. Bastian considers 
the water-vascular system of Trematoda and Tveniada, as well 
as Nematoda, a purely excretory glandular apparatus, there 
being little or no provision for the oxidating portion of the 
process of respiration, and thinks that this deficiency may be 
compensated by a greatly increased activity of glandular 
eliminating organs. ,The author also brings forward some 
interesting facts with regard to the “ tenacity of life”’ of some 
of the free Nematoids, and their power of recovery after pro- 
longed periods of desiccation. He concludes by pointing 
out some resemblances between these animals and the 
Echinoderms, particularly in the nervous system and integu- 
mental pores, and states that he would regard the order 
Nematoda as an aberrant division of the class Hchinoder- 
mata, to which expression of opinion but few zoologists will 
feel inclined at present to consent. 
Dr. Wilson Fox, of University College, has a paper on the 
“* Development of Striated Muscular Fibre,’ on which subject 
it may be remembered that we published a memoir some 
time since, by Mr. Lockhart Clarke. 
** Researches on the Structure, Physiology, and Development 
of Antedon (Comatula, Lamk.) rosaceus,”’ is the title of an 
important memoir by Dr. Carpenter, on a subject in which he 
has been for some time engaged. The gradual series of changes 
by which the plates of the calyx of the young pentacrinoid 
larva become converted into the skeleton of the adult are 
fully and carefully traced. In the adult the oral and anal 
plates have completely disappeared, and no part of the pri- 
