228 MisceIIa7ieous. 



the Pennatidce the varicosities of the trunk correspond to the places 

 where the asexual individuals are seated ; Fimkulina quadrangularis 

 shows them arranged in longitudinal rows between the sexual indi- 

 viduals ; lastly, the Virgularice always present behind each lamella, 

 upon their trunk, a simple transverse row of asexual individuals. 



It is probable that all the Pennatulidae present a similar dimor- 

 phism; at least, in RenlTla we see, between the fully developed 

 polypes, rudimentary bodies which seem to be individuals of a dif- 

 ferent form. On the other hand, with the sole exception of the 

 genus Sarcophyton, M. Kolliker has sought in vain for dimorphism 

 in the Alcyonidae and Gorgonidse. It must not be forgotten, how- 

 ever, that there seem to exist some relations between the buds of 

 the sexual and asexual individuals in the polymorphic polyparies ; for, 

 in Veretillum at least, the asexual individuals seem, under certain 

 conditions, capable of being transformed into sexual individuals. 



M. Kolliker has also been able to investigate a polypaiy of Tuhi- 

 pora, still enveloped by the soft parts, obtained from the Fiji archi- 

 pelago. Notwithstanding the great resemblance of the polyparies 

 of the T^ibiporce to those of the Madripores, the author considers that 

 in their whole structure and development these polypes are Alcyo- 

 naria which must occupy a place by the side of the genus Clavularia. 

 Both the tentacles and the body of the polypes of Tiihipora contain 

 spicules. — Wilrzburger Zeitimg, January 4, 1868; abstract by E. 

 Claparede in Bibl. Univ. February 15, 1868, Bull. Set. p. 171. 



On the Saliva and Salivary Organs of Dolium galea ami other 

 Mollusca. By MM. S. de Ltjca and P. Panceri. (Note by E. 

 Claparede.) 



Ten years ago M. Troschel made the unexpected discovery of the 

 presence of a considerable quantity of free sulphuric acid in the saliva 

 of a Gasteropod, namely Dolium galea. MM. de Luca and Panceri 

 have lately resumed the investigation of this subject, and have con- 

 firmed, in their general features, the results obtained by their prede- 

 cessor. They find the quantity of free anhydrous sulphuric acid 

 varying from 3-3 to 3*42 per cent., a quantity which is even a little 

 more than that ascertained by M. Troschel. On the other hand the 

 Neapolitan naturalists have found no trace of free hydrochloric acid, 

 whilst the analysis formerly made by Boedeker at the request of 

 Troschel indicated 0-4 per cent, of this. 



It was interesting to ascertain how far this phenomenon is iso- 

 lated. MM. de Luca and Panceri have for this purpose investigated 

 the saliva of various mollusca, and found free sulphuric acid in nota- 

 ble proportion in four species of Tritonium, in a Cassis, a Cassi- 

 daria, two Murices, and an Aplysia. Moreover in aU these mol- 

 lusca, including the Dolium, these naturalists have seen a gas evolved 

 from the salivary liquid at the moment of the rupture of the gland. 

 This gas was found to be pure carbonic acid, and its volume in one 

 case amounted to as much as 20-6 cubic centimetres from a gland of 

 about 75 grammes in weight. 



