268 Miscellaneous. 



Schomburgk ascertained that the important species of this region is 

 Strychnos toxifera, Schomb., accompanied by S. Schomburgl-ii, 

 Klotsch, and S. cogens, Benth. 



2. The very extensive region of the Upper Amazons, giving the 

 curare of the Pebas Indians, the Javari, the Yapura, &c. The plant 

 forming the basis of this curare was found during the expedition of 

 M. de Castelnau, and described by Weddell under the name of S. 

 Castelnceana. It is usually associated with a menispermaceous plant, 

 probably the Abuta ; it is the Gocculus toxicoferus, Wedd. MM. 

 Jobert and Crevaux have recently brought home these species, and 

 confirmed the statements of M. Weddell. 



3. The region of the Rio Negro. The roots, stems, and leaves of 

 the important species of this region were communicated to the 

 author during the Exposition of 1878 ; and he has described them 

 in the ' Journal de Therapoutique.' The venation of the leaves and 

 the structure of the stem and roots prove this plant to be a Strych- 

 nos which does not answer to any known species ; and for it the 

 author has proposed the name of S. Gubleri. 



4. Upper French Guiana, furnishing the curare of the Roucou- 

 yenne and Trios Indians. The important species of this region is 

 a plant indicated by the author in a communication to the Academy 

 of Sciences on December 22, 1879. It is the most interesting of the 

 two new species of Strychnos brought back by M. Crevaux from his 

 recent explorations ; and the author here describes it under the name 

 of Strychnos Crevauxii. On the banks of the river Parou, an 

 affluent of the Lower Amazons, it bears the name of ourari or urari; 

 but it is perfectly distinct from the plants so designated in other 

 regions. — Comptes Rendus, Jan. 19, 1880, p. 133. 



On the Systematic Position of the Sponges. 

 By Dr. Conrad Keller,. 



At the Meeting of the Societe Helvetique des Sciences Naturelles 

 in August last, Dr. Conrad Keller communicated some observations 

 upon the systematic position of the sponges, which he regarded as 

 forming a third natural division (Spongozoa) of the Coelenterata. 

 He stated that in the spring of 1879 he had the opportunity at 

 Naples of thoroughly observing the development of a new siliceous 

 sponge, which he names Chalinula fertilis. In this species he 

 ascertained that the sexes are separate, and that, during the period 

 of reproduction, the female actually presents a nuptial dress, which 

 varies from carmine-red to lilac. The ovum undergoes a complete 

 but irregular segmentation, which results in the formation of a 

 larva consisting first of two and afterwards of three lamellae. The 

 transformation of this into a young sponge could be traced with 

 certainty ; it gave origin to a form which, with the exception of 

 the tentacles, agrees in all essential points with a young polype. 

 Dr. Keller exhibited drawings illustrative of the details of these 

 transformations, which he regarded as leaving no doubt that the 

 true position of the sponges is among Coelenterata. — Bibl. Univ., 

 Arch, des Sci. December 15, 1879, p. 713. 



