Monthly Microscopical ( Al ) 
Journal, July 1, 1870. 
PROGRESS OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 
* The Anatomy of Tunicates.—Some observations recently made by 
the President of the Halifax and Nova Scotia Institute of Natural 
Science appear to bear out the impression of the vertebrate resemblances 
presented by Tunicates. In describing the anatomy of Boltenia clavata, 
in a paper read before the Institute (April 11), Mr. J. M. Jones gave 
the following particulars :—Length of sac, 2 in. 2 lines; breadth of 
ditto, 1 in. 5 lines; length of peduncle or stem, 9 in. Onopening the 
peduncle from sac to base, I found it hollow the entire length, except- 
ing, perhaps, half an inch immediate to the root itself, which is com- 
posed entirely of fibrous cords, traversing and interlacing each other, 
and, in some parts, forming a solid mass, particularly at the base. On 
careful search, I could discover no communication between this hollow 
stem and the sac. Traversing what may be termed the dorsal region 
of the peduncle, I found a fibrous or muscular cord continuous through- 
out its length, evidently serving the purpose of a vertebral column. It 
was hollow for about half an inch from the sac, and communicated 
with its interior. As regards this muscular column, it is probable 
that it can be stiffened or relaxed at the will of the creature, and that 
in either case to enable it to bend its sac to the surrounding sea-bottom, 
or keep erect. The peduncle is wholly ramified by muscular fibre, 
which evidently gives it the peculiar toughness which characterizes it. 
The sac also is of a, leathery consistence, but more delicate in appear- 
ance, although thicker and equally tough. 
* Perfect Eyes in the Foetal Mole.—In a paper read before the Royal 
Society by Mr. R. J. Lee (April 28), the author detailed with much 
minuteness his researches on the anatomy of the eye of the adult 
and foetal mole. Mr. Lee thus modestly concludes :—It must neces- 
sarily happen that many interesting observations are made in the 
course of an investigation like that which has been briefly described, 
and many minute details might have been added to this account: but 
it appeared to me to be desirable to limit the details, as far as possible, 
to those which were sufficient to establish the remarkable physiological 
fact that the mole, at the time of birth, is endowed with organs of vision of 
considerable perfection, while in mature age it is deprived of the means of 
sight in consequence of certain changes which take place in the base of the 
skull, terminating in the destruction of the most important structures on which 
the enjoyment of the sense of sight depends. 
* Structure of the Mammalian Kidney.— At the meeting of the Vienna 
Academy of Sciences (March 10) Herr Hofrath and Prof. Hyrtl pre- 
sented a memoir on the pelvis of the kidney of mammalian animals 
and man. It contains a detailed description of the urinary organs 
(ureters, pelvis, calyces, and papille) of three genera of Cetacea, two 
of Monotremata, three of Marsupialia, two of Solidungula, six of 
Ruminantia, twelve of Carnivora, four of Insectivora and Cheiroptera, 
* The paragraphs marked * have been standing over since our last number.— 
Ep. M. M. J. 
