BihliograpMcal Notice. 201 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE. 



Conch'jloriiscJie Mittheilungen als FortsctzniKj der Novifate.<} Concho^ 

 logicce. 8vo. Cassel : Verlag von Theodor Fischer, 1881. 



Such is the title of a work, of Avhich the first volume is now 

 before us, brought out under the able supervision of Dr. E. von 

 Martens, of Berliu. It is published in octavo form, instead of quarto 

 like the important work of which it is a continuation, consists of 101 

 pages of text and 18 coloured plates. The entire volume, with the 

 exception of a single treatise by Dr. Bottger, of Prankfort, on the 

 species of Papa of Oceania, is from the pen of Prof. Martens, which 

 in itself is a guarantee of its excellence. In an introductorj- chapter 

 the author explains the sense in which he employs the different terms 

 of measurements of univalve shells, also the terms applied to the 

 various colour-markings on their surface, and the direction iu which 

 they are placed, concludiiag with similar observations regarding 

 bivalve Mollusca. The thirty succeedingpages give an account of a 

 number of interesting Helicidse, principally from Central Asia, All 

 of these are fully described and figured ; and although many of them 

 are not absolutely new to science, still the detailed descriptions, 

 accompanied by many valuable notes on allied species, and a 

 complete synonymy, are none the less welcome. Further on, other 

 species of Pulmonata are treated upon, of which Toniatellina grgcis, 

 from the Caroline Islands, is j)erhaps the most striking. Pages 33- 

 49 contain descriptions of some remarkable marine Gastropods, 

 notably a large species of Pleurotomaria from Japan, being the fourth 

 living representative of a race which until quite recent times was 

 regarded as extinct. Dr. Botrger's paper on the Pupid;e of Oceania 

 is a most valuable contribution to our knowledge of these minute 

 forms. In conclusion, we must call attention to the excellence of 

 the plates, which, without exception, have every appearance of 

 accuracy ; and in some individual cases the figures are reallj- artistic. 

 The coloration is good, not 1)eing exaggerated, as is the case in some 

 works on conchology. We trust that a publication of such utility 

 to conchologists will meet with the support it deserves, and that the 

 second and succeeding volumes will retain the high character of the 

 first. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



On S07ne 2'>cculiar Organs of Eudendrium ramosum. 

 By Dr. August Weismaxk. 



In investigating the origin of the sexual products in Eudendnum 

 ramosum Dr. Weismann has discovered some singular organs, of 

 which there is never more than one upon the side of each calyx. 

 They have nearly the appearance of the tentacles, but arc three 



