149 

 CURRENT LITERATURE. 



Mollendorff, 0. F. von.— Semper's Reisen in Archipel der Philippinen. Land- 

 mollusken. — Ergiinziingen und Berichtigungen [Includes at pp. 54 — 60, a 

 contribution " On the Anatomy and Systematic Position of the Genus Philip- 

 pi7iella, Mlldff," by Walter E. CoUinge], 1899, Bd. viii, p. 51 — 98, T. v— x. 



The continuation by Dr. Mollendorff of Semper's great work is valuable, not 

 only for the new material that he has studied, but especially for the critical notes 

 and figures of little-known species. 



In the present part he deals with the genus Helicarion, of which he admits 18 

 species, and then passes to Macrochlamys with 20 species, next to Macroccras with 

 its single form M. spedabilis, and concludes with the first portion of his review of 

 Otesia. PJiotropis as a sub-genus of Otcsia (type 0. biangulata, Pfr.) is not marked 

 as new, but the name appears unfamiliar. 



Mr. Collinge has contributed some interesting details on the anatomy and 

 systematic position of the recently described PhilippincUa. Of the three species 

 placed in this genus by Dr. Mollendorff, Mr. Collinge points out that P. philip- 

 pincnsis, Semp., is really generically distinct from the other two, being more nearly 

 related to Parmarion, and the genus Parmunrulus is proposed fur its reception. 

 This genus may be separated from PhilijipincUa by the external form of the animal, 

 and also by differences in the generative organs. The anatomy of PhilippincUa is 

 also dealt with and a new species described. P. mollendorffi, from Mindoro. — 



E. R. Sykes. 



BoUVier, E. L., et Fischer, H.— Etude Monographique des Pleurotomaires 

 actuels. Journ. de Conchyl. , 1S99, PP- ^ — 75; P^- i^' — ^"'i- 



MM. Bouvier and Fischer have given an interesting and valuable account of the 

 anatomy of the nervous system of Pleurotomaria quoyana. This is prefaced by a 

 general systematic and historical review of the genus. The anatomical part opens 

 with a short description of the external features, followed by that of the radula and 

 organs of sense. The two otocysts are interesting in that thev illustrate an im- 

 portant primitive character, the presence of a considerable number of unequal-sized 

 otoliths. In the absence of the figures we can only very briefly summarise the 

 work. In general form the nervous system shows affinity to that of the Fissurellidae 

 and Trochidae, but in detail there seems to be resemblances to the condition which 

 obtains in the Amphineura. The investigations on the pedal and pallial ganglia, 

 throw considerable light upon the subject of the origin of the pedal nerves, and the 

 relation of these two ganglia to each other in the Gastropoda generally. Although 

 at first sight the pallial ganglia appear to be absent, it is seen on a closer investi- 

 gation that they lie in close proximity with the pedal, and the authors' conclude 

 from the condition present in Pleurotomaria, and a comparison with that in 

 many other Gastropods, that what have been generally termed pedal nerves in the 

 Gastropoda are really mixed nerves, originating from the pedal and pallial ganglia. 

 These latter ganglia, in many forms, have an anterior part, usually termed the 

 pallial ganglion, and a posterior part which is fused with the pedal ganglion. In 

 Pleurotomaria the pallial ganglia are not divided in this manner, and further, 

 they are clearly marked off from the pedal by a deep groove. The authors discuss 

 in detail the origin of the nervous system of Prosobranchs, and conclude that the 

 condition found in Pleurotomaria may be regarded as intermediate between the 

 Amphineura and Prosobranchs. Many other points of interest are discussed, not 

 - the least interesting of which is perhaps the origin of the visceral commissure. — 



W. E. C. 



Creighton, Charles.— Microscopic Researches on Glycogen. Pt. ii. Glycogen 

 of Snails and Slugs in Morphological and Physiological correspondence with 

 the Lymph System of Vertebrates. 8vo., pp. 127, 9 col'd plates. London: 

 1899, Adam and Charles Black. 



It has long been known that molluscs, particularly the land Pulmonates, contain 

 in their tissues large quantities of glycogen. In the work before us Dr. Creighton 



