Miscellaneous. 79 
crease, and finally disappear. In the woods in which they abound 
I have found the earth-nut (Bunium flecuosum) very common, and 
have observed that its tubers are frequently scratched up and de- 
voured by some small animal in the latter part of spring. I suspect 
(for I have not seen them in the act, nor indeed is it likely that a 
erepuscular animal would be seen at work) that this is done by 
-Dormice, and that there must be plenty of earth-nuts, as well as 
of acorns and hazel-nuts, for the Dormice to be numerous. 
I am, yours truly, 
Epwarp Giuuett, M.A. 
Vicarage, Runham, Filby, Norwich, Vicar of Runham. 
May 20, 1864. 
Examination of the Structure of the Hair-follicle in Man 
and in the Rabbit. By Dr. WERTHEIM. 
The author’s investigations of the structure of the hair-follicle in 
man and in the rabbit have led him to the conclusion that the 
follicle is not a blind sac embracing the hair, but a calyciform 
structure which is borne upon a peduncle of considerable length, 
so that its similarity to the cup and stalk of a flower is very 
striking. The peduncle finally passes over into one of those fibres 
which run in great numbers through the reticular part of the 
corium and the subcutaneous areolar tissue in a more or less hori- 
zontal direction. Observations made upon series of parallel trans- 
verse sections show clearly that this structure is a normal one, and 
common to the hair of all parts, and that it is not identical with that 
long since described by Professor Langer, and regarded by him as 
standing in close relation to the change of hair. In a transverse 
section of the peduncle three concentric layers are observed ; these 
are described by the author as the pith, sheath, and cortical layer of 
the hair-peduncle. 
In conclusion, Dr. Wertheim states that for the purpose of harden- 
ing organic tissues, especially the skin and the preparations referred 
to in his memoir, he has employed aniline, and that he has found 
this substance very advantageous in several respects.—Bericht der 
Akad. der Wiss. zu Wien, 28 April, 1864, p. 74. 
On Independent Movements of Embryonal Cells observed in the 
Ova of the Frog (Rana temporaria). By Dr. Stricker. 
When examined in a fresh state, without the addition of reagents, 
and under circumstances which protect the preparation from evapo- 
ration, the embryonal cells of the ova of the Frog exhibit peculiar 
movements. They send forth processes, and retract them again ; 
sometimes they become elongated, and then again round. These 
changes implicate the whole cell-mass, and last only for a few mi- 
nutes; then the well-known structureless humps protrude them- 
selves, which were formerly regarded as diverticula of the cell-mem- 
brane caused by diffusion. As, however, no reagent was employed, 
the author considers that diffusion has nothing to do with the pro- 
duction of these humps, which he regards as also manifestations of 
the life of the cell, Dr. Stricker adds some observations on seg- 
