76 NOTES. 



MeisenheimeP, J. — Zur Morphologic der Urniere der Pulmonaten. Zeit. f. 

 wiss. ZooL, 1S99, Bd. Ixv, pp. 709 — 724, T. xxxiii, u. 4 figs. 



Dr. Meisenheimer here describes the results of an investigation upon the morph- 

 ology of the primitive kidney of the I'ulmonata; briefly these may be summarised 

 as follows: Ahhough flitilering widely in the Basommatophora and Stylommatophora, 

 the nephridium may be reduced in bolh cases to a common type, which consists 

 essentially of a simple tube, with an internal, terminal, ciliated cell. Regarding 

 this as the typical form the author finds that in the Basommatophora there are only 

 four cells, one of which, the giant cell, is the true excretory cell; whilst in the 

 Stylommatophora there are a large number of cells all of which are excretory in 

 function. In the former sub-order the ciliated cell retains its excretory function, 

 but in the latter there are a number of these ciliated cells, all of which almost 

 entirely lose their excretory function. 



The similarity of this nephridium with the end cells of the ncphridial system of 

 the Turbellaria is quite surprising, and sufficiently clear, in the aulht)r"s opinion, to 

 contirm the view that the ancestor of the mollusc was a Turbellariandike animal. 



W. E. C. 



Da.ll, W. H. — Synopsis of the recent and tertiary Leptonacea of N. America and 

 the West Indies. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1899, vol. xxi, pp. 873 — 97, pis. 

 87—88. 



Professsor Dall here gives a most valuable synoptical review of the Leptonacea, 

 the fuller details of which are promised in a volume of the " Transactions of the 

 JFagncr Inst, of Science" (vol. v, pt. 5). The group is a most perplexing (^ne and 

 malacologists will welcome an attempt at revision. The synopsis and classification 

 of the American species we leave for more lengthy consideration, confining our 

 remarks to the author's introduction in particular. 



Anatomically we know very little of the various genera which go to form the 

 Leptonacea. Although they cannot be regarded as prototypes, they exhibit many 

 supposed prototypic characters. Commensalism, or parasitism has here probably 

 "produced degeneration accompanied by a revival of atavistic primary characters." 

 Hitherto the "dentition" of the hinge has played an all too important feature in 

 the classification, and we are glad to find that the value of this character is con- 

 siderably lessened by the author's researches. Dr. Dall finds that often it is indis- 

 tinctly developed and liable to many variations, due to the dynamic reactions of one 

 tooth upon another, and to inherited tendencies of form. Further, a part or the 

 whole of the hinge may become obsolete, so that to assume, as Bernard has some- 

 times done, that the position of a dental lamina is in itself sufticient to settle 

 homology, is, in the author's opinion, certainly unsafe. 



Eighteen new species are described, of these 9 are founded upon single valves ! 



W. E. C. 



EDITOR'S NOTES. 



We regret to have to record the deaths of Sylvanus Charles Throp Hanley on 

 April 5th, 1899, age 80; Franz von Hauer, Director of the Vienna Museum, on 

 March 21st, 1S99, age 77, and H. T. Soppitt, on Aprit 1st. 1899, age 40. 



At a meeting of the Midland Malacological Society, held on May 12th, 1899, 

 Dr. Henry Fischer and Professor H. A. Pilsbry, were, on the unanimous recom- 

 mendation of the Council, elected Honorary Members of the Society. 



Professor Dr. E. von Martens has recently been elected a Foreign Member of 

 the Linnean Society of London. 



The University of Iowa has recently conferred the degree of Doctor of Science 

 upon Professor H. A. Pilsbry. 



