Miscellaneous. aor 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Note on Mr. Minchin’s Paper on Ascetta. 
By R. v. LenpenreE.p. 
In the ‘Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science’ (vol. xxxu. 
p. 260) Mr. Minchin argues against the statement—made, as he 
says, by me—that the central cavity of Huplectella aspergillum is & 
pseudoscular tube forming part of the inhalant system. 
In reply to this I must observe that I never said anything of the 
kind, and that in perusing the passages of my ‘ Monograph of Horny 
Sponges,’ from which Minchin quotes, I fail to see how he could so 
. far misunderstand my statements. What I dosay is “ that I think it 
may not be impossible that in some of the cup-shaped or tubular 
Hewactinellida” the central cavity may be pseudoscular (inhalant). 
I never said that the central cavity 7s inhalant in any Hexacti- 
nellid, not to speak of Huplectella, where such an assumption would 
be quite preposterous. 
As a foreigner I am unable to express myself in English as 
clearly as I might desire; but nevertheless I feel that in this case 
some hostile motive must have prompted Minchin to so surprising 
ap interpretation of my statements. 
I can only say, (1) that I never doubted the exhalant nature of 
the central cavity in Huplectella ; (2) that I fail to see how any one 
ean gather from my statements such a meaning as Minchin imputes 
to them ; (3) that I uphold all my statements and conclusions on 
this subject as correct and logical; and (4) that I regret to see a 
misinterpretation of this kind used by a student of natural history 
as a Weapon in a scientific controversy. 
University, Innsbruck, 
March 8, 1892. 
Gymnorhyuchus reptans, Rud., and ats Migration. 
By M. R. Monizz. 
Among the parasites of marine fishes one of the most curious is 
certainly Gymnorhynchus repians, which is harboured by several 
hosts, and is in particular very common in the rough sun-fish 
(Orthagoriscus mola), in which it inhabits by preference the liver and 
muscles. This species is distinguished from the other species of 
Tetrarhynchide which are known in the larval state by the curious 
appendage which is found at the extremity of the vesicle into which 
the animal retracts the anterior portion of its body, after the manner 
of a Cysticercus. This appendage, which, in our species, may attain 
the length of a metre, forms an inextricable network in the tissues 
Ann. & Mag..N. Hist. Ser. 6. Vol. ix. 25 
