258 Dr. K. C. Schneider on some 
which, besides the longitudinal muscle, also possess muscular 
formations running in a transverse and perpendicular direc- 
tion; others, again, are entirely without the transverse 
processes, and have a rounded termination upon the surface. 
(Concerning the remarkable muscular formations, which 
always lie enclosed in the protoplasm of the cell, I refer the 
reader to my detailed paper.) The peripherally rounded 
cells are found in the case of Forskalea chiefly upon the dorsal 
surface. In shape they agree tolerably well with the “ neuro- 
muscular ”’ cells described by Korotneff*, but they have an 
epithelial and not deep-seated position, and are merely special 
forms of the epithelial cells in general. Other divergent 
forms of cells, however, occur. ‘Thus here and there the 
central process is entirely wanting ; the cell may then become 
very similar to a bipolar ganglion-cell, though it lies at the 
periphery ; however, the processes also divide tolerably fre- 
quently, and thus cells also appear which look like typical 
ganglion-cells, and I was able to determine the subepithelial 
position of such structures. Nevertheless, however great the 
similarity may become, there is always something in the cell 
which tells against the supposition of a nervous element 
therein. In all respects the Siponophoran stem appears to be 
in little accord with the customary views as to ganglion-cells 
in Ccelenterates ; this is particularly noticeable in Forskalea, 
In this form we find in the middle line of the dorsal side 
quite colossal cells beneath the epithelium, which are regarded 
by Korotneff* as the central nervous system (an interpreta- 
tion which is adopted by Bedot +). This follows from his 
description, however, just as little as does the nervous nature 
of his ‘‘ neuro-muscular”’ cells, although I believe all the 
same that his explanation is admissible. I incline to this 
view, however, only because I succeeded—difticult process 
though it is—in satisfactorily isolating these cells, for from 
the figures of sections, as drawn by Korotneff, every other 
conclusion is really more probable than his own. Never- 
theless Korotneff’s views as to what is to be termed nervous 
are in general very far-reaching; the presence of quite 
irregular protoplasmic processes upon a cell causes him at 
once to decide upon their extraordinarily sensitive nature. 
Yet the giant cells in the stem of Forskalea possess offshoots 
which in length, form, and structure really leave nothing to 
be desired, and enable us, in all probability with justice, to 
* Korotneff, “Zur Histologie der Siphonophoren,” Mittheilungen Zool. 
Stat. Neapel, 5 Bd. 
+ Bedot, “Sur VAgalma Claus?, n. sp.,” Recueil zool. suisse, T. v. 
