138 Miscellaneous. 



by a narrow canal with this second aperture, close to which he has 

 found sperm atophores attached in a Doropygus. M. Buchholz has 

 seen nothing of the kind ; but the important observation of M. Tho- 

 rell appears to have been unknown to him at the time of his own 

 investigations. He saw the eggs quit the uterus by the dorsal aper- 

 ture, and did not think of seeking any other sexual pore. 



M. Buchholz figures and describes the larvaB of the Notodelphyidae. 

 These are Nauplius-forms very similar to those of the other Cope- 

 poda. This, however, was already well known from the researches 

 of Mr. Allman and M. Thorell. — Siebold Sf KolUJcers Zeitsclirift, xix. 

 pp. 99-162 ; Bihl.Univ. xxxv. July 15, 1869, Bull. Sci. pp. 246-248. 



On the Caeciliae. By M. F. Leydi&. 



The little group of the Ccecilice presents so many remarkable 

 peculiarities from a zoological point of view, that the memoir of 

 M. Leydig, although essentially histological, deserves the attention 

 of zoologists. The investigations of that naturalist relate to two 

 species, viz. Ccecilia lunibricoidea, Daud., and C. {Siplionops) anmi- 

 lata, Mikan. 



The structure of the skin of the Caeciliae, leaving out of considera- 

 tion the scales which exist in some species, agrees with that of the 

 Batrachia in general. The nature of the epidermis was, indeed, 

 long misunderstood. Following Mikan, several authors regarded it 

 only as a mucosity secreted by the cutaneous pores or even by the 

 anus. This error recurs even in the fine memoir of Johannes MiiUer 

 upon the anatomy of the Amphibia. Eathke was the fii'st to recog- 

 nize in this supposed mucosity a true epidermis. M. Leydig now 

 actually finds this epidermis covered by a distinct homogeneous 

 cuticle. This epidermic layer is reflected into the numerous excre- 

 tory^ canals of the cutaneous glands. 



The scales, first discovered by Schneider, have given rise to nume- 

 rous discussions among naturaUsts, more especially because these 

 organs are deficient in all other Batrachia. The difiference of opi- 

 nion arises from the fact that one species, C. annulata, according to 

 the decisive observations of Bischoff, Kathke, and Leydig, is in reality 

 completely destitute of scales. The histological examination of C. 

 lumhncoklea has shown M. Leydig that the deeper layer of the scale 

 is formed by a sohd stratified connective tissue filled with stellate 

 cells. Its upper surface is adorned with shining corpuscles, arranged 

 in rather irregular concentric series. M. Mayer calls them globules, 

 M. Mandl cells. They are in reality calcareous concretions. The 

 skin of the Ccecilice presents a laminated structure, already noticed 

 by several authors. This structure is due to numerous cutaneous 

 folds, in the thickness of which the glands arc lodged. The scales 

 are placed between these laminae. They are, however, not free, but 

 attached to the corium by a deKcate connective tissue. 



The eyes of the Ccecilice deserve particular attention, on account 

 of their rudimentary state. Ccecilia annulatct, although living at a 

 depth of several feet in the mud of the marshes, has nevertheless 



