^TumL,^LTrisTa'] PROaRESS OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 45 



a most extensive memoir on the anatomy of the earth-worm to Siebolcl 

 and Kolliker's Zeitschrift, Band 19, Heft 1. This extends over more 

 than sixty pages, and is illustrated by five large and handsomely 

 coloured plates, in which all the structural details are dealt with. 

 We are glad to see that our countryman, Mr. E. E. Lankester, meets 

 with an appreciative analysis of his researches on the Lumbricus 

 terrestris. 



BJiythnical Contractions of Lymphatics. — Dr. A. Heller alleges that 

 he has witnessed this phenomenon in the lymphatics of mammals, 

 especially of guinea-pigs. — Vide 'Archives de Physiologic,' December. 



The Development of Insects. — This is a full and good memoir, by 

 Professor Melnikow, of Kasan. It is well illustrated, and treats of 

 the different phases undergone in the development of the ovum. — 

 Vide Troschel's Archiv filr Naturgeschichte, Heft 2, 1869. 



New Minute Bones in Fishes. — In the December number (1869) of 

 the ' Ann. Nat. Hist.,' Professor Gulliver gives an account, with an 

 engraving, of imde scribed bones or pieces in the skull of osseous fishes. 

 These ossicles occur in pairs, and in pits of the post-frontals, mastoids, 

 and paroccipitals. The development and microscopic structure of 

 these new ossicles, compared with the connected bones, might afford 

 an interesting inquiry, and probably prove as instructive as the mor- 

 phological question. It was while confirming, by dissection, the 

 accuracy of Mr. Gulliver's discovery of the new bones connected with 

 the post-frontals, that Mr. James Flower discovered the other two new 

 bones ; and we presume they may be all seen at the College of Sur- 

 geons. Mr. Gulliver remarks that, " a correct understanding of the 

 bones which enter into the composition of the skull of the fish is said 

 to be the key to the composition of the skull of all vertebrata. But 

 now it seems that all these bones or pieces in fishes have not yet been 

 recognized, much less understood ; while it is obvious that, until 

 every part of the skull has been estimated at its true value sepa- 

 rately, as well as with its connections in the species and homologies 

 as regards other vertebrata, no coanplete view can be given of this 

 important part of osteology." 



Terminations of the Nerves in the Skin. — The recent researches of 

 M. Podcopaew on the relation of the nerves to the Malpighian layers 

 of the skin of the rabbit lead him to believe that he can trace the 

 nerves, in specimens acted on with gold chloride into the Malpighian 

 layer. It is to be questioned, however, whether the structm-e described 

 beneath are not purely artificial. Branched lines come into view lying 

 between the cells of the rete, continuous with easily demonstrable 

 nets lying beneath the rete. From the former, very delicate darkly- 

 tinted lines may be traced, which run up between the epithelial cells, 

 and near the surface again form fine plexuses. The subepithelial 

 plexus of nerves consists of non-medullated fibres, on the sides of 

 which a few nuclei are attached. 



The Blood-corpuscles as diagnostic of Species. — We see from a 

 report of a lecture by Professor Gulliver* given to the East Kent 

 * ' Scientific OiJinion,' December. 



