124 Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 
mination. It seems not at all improbable that the corpuscular bodies 
in connection with nerve-ending and muscle fibre may be connected 
with sensation—that form of it, which is called the muscular sense, 
just as other corpuscular bodies (tactile, &c.) are connected with 
the more obvious perception of heat, cold, and other vibrations. 
“Plaques motrices” will have to be abandoned as such, and re- 
garded merely as corpuscles of muscular sense. 
Development of Cuttle Fish—The distinguished Russian ob- 
server Mecznikow has been studying the development of Sepiola—a 
little Cephalopod common at Naples. He is led to deny some state- 
ments of Kolliker, and shows that the development proceeds from 
two layers. The skin and sense organs are developed as in Verte- 
brata, and what is most remarkable, a relationship between the Ver- 
tebrate’s notochord and the so-called “cuttle-bone” is maintained. 
M. Mecznikow rejects all analogy between the foot of ordinary 
mollusks and the siphon, as advocated by Huxley. He is equally 
adverse to the hypothesis of Hackel (a natural philosopher of the 
Darwinian school) that the Pteropoda are the immediate ancestors 
of the Cephalopoda. 
Insect Architectwre—A curious example of the weaving powers 
of insects is recorded by Mr. Tomes, of Christ Church, Oxford, in 
a recent number of the ‘Microscopical Journal.’ Mr. Tomes found 
in ponds on Hampstead Heath small cases made of green conferva 
and an animal basis ; the fibres of conferva were very regularly and 
neatly interwoven, forming a tube open at each end. In this an 
insect-larva was found, which is minutely described and figured 
with its case in a coloured plate. Mr. Tomes considers that the 
larva belongs to the Trichopterous genus Hydroptila. He describes 
the habits of the animal and its method of building the case it in- 
habits. The perfect insect is not known to Mr. Tomes. 
Structure and Differences of Egg-shells—Dr. Blasius undertook 
the microscopic examination of birds’-eggs, in order to ascertain 
whether they presented any characters which would serve to sepa- 
rate the larger groups of birds. An account of his researches, 
which have been most extensive and detailed, appears in ‘ Kdlliker’s 
Zeitschrift,’ 3rd part. It appears that the microscopic differences 
are not constant or reliable, and that oology must stand just where 
it did as regards systematic ornithology, even after such careful 
observations as those of Dr. Blasius. 
