ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 549 



details, of the gland-pouches on the abdomen of Periplaneta orientalis 

 and Phyllodromia germanica. As to their significance, no definite con- 

 clusion is arrived at, although it is noted that in Periplaneta they occur 

 in both sexes, in young as well as adult, whereas in Phyllodromia 

 germanica they are found in the mature male only. Haase has shown 

 that the secretion of the pockets in Periplaneta spreads the charac- 

 teristically unpleasant smell, while the odour of the organ in Phyllo- 

 dromia is not unpleasant. 



Structure and Function of Malpighian Tubules.*- — A. Veneziani 

 has investigated these structures with a view to elucidating their bio- 

 logical significance. There appears to be a definite relation between 

 the extent of excretory surface of these tubules and the mass of the body. 

 Their number is not indefinite, they are reducible to three groups of 

 2, 4, or 6, which may be simple or ramified. They are really parts of 

 the intestine differentiated for a renal function. The colouring matter 

 present in the tubules is definite in composition, resembles urochrome, 

 and is termed entomurochrome. The excreted substances are identical 

 with those of vertebrates (uric acid, urea, urates, phosphates, calcium, 

 oxalates), together with carbonates, leucin, lime salts, and an undetermined 

 acid. The tubules possess gland-cells, identical in structure with renal 

 epithelium. These absorb electively waste materials from the blood, 

 which are excreted through pore-canals and subsequently transported to 

 the exterior. To the excretory function is added that of eliminating 

 colouring matters from the circulation, and of elaborating calcareous 

 material. 



Himalayan Ants.f — A. Forel discusses the characteristics of the 

 Himalayan ant fauna. He recognises 54 specialised Himalayan species, 

 51 Indo-Malay, and 10 Palsearctic. The fauna is very specialised, and 

 comparable to that of the Swiss mountains. Two new species from over 

 8600 metres are described. 



Fossil Hymenoptera from Colorado.^ — T. D. A. Cockerell describes 

 certain Hymenoptera from the Tertiary shales of Florissant, Colorado, 

 probably of Miocene age. In general terms, it may be said that these 

 insects do not differ greatly from their modern representatives. While 

 some of the extinct genera are apparently more primitive than the 

 dominant genera of the same groups to-day, they are scarcely more so 

 than certain genera which still exist in the modern fauna. The types 

 represented do not suggest tropical or sub-tropical conditions ; they 

 accord well with the vegetation in indicating a climate like that of the 

 austral zones of the temperate region. The families represented are 

 exactly those dominant to-day in North America, and the absence of 

 certain groups must no doubt be regarded as accidental. 



Biology of Hymenopterous Parasites.§— P. Marchal has investi- 

 gated the development and relations to host of the minute hymen- 

 opterous parasites known as Platygasters, belonging to the family 



* Redia, ii. (1904) fasc. 2, pp. 177-230 (3 pis.). 

 t Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat., xlii. (1906) pp. 79-94. 

 X Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard, 1. (1906) pp. 33-58. 

 § Arch. Zool. Exp6r., iv. ser. 4 (1906) pp. 485-640 (8 pis.). 



