Miscellaneous. 229 



These different salivary liquids have the properties of not under- 

 going alteration spontaneously in contact with the air, and of pre- 

 serving unaltered albuminoid substances immersed in them. 



The part played by these acids, which are secreted in such con- 

 siderable quantities, is stiU very obscure. The authors remark that, 

 in the moUusca in question, the blood is still alkaline ; they promise 

 further investigations of the subject. — Bibl. Univ., February 15, 

 1868, Bull. Set. p. 170 ; abstract from Eendiconto d. B. Accad. Sci. di 

 Napoli, August and September 1867. 



On an Hermaphrodite Nemertian (Borlasia hermaphroditica) from St. 

 Malo. By W. Kefersteiist. 



Great importance was formerly attributed in zoology to the union 

 of the two sexes in the same individual, or their separation in two 

 distinct individuals ; and quite recently a French naturalist has en- 

 deavoured to distribute the Invertebrata into classes, chiefly in ac- 

 cordance with this character. 



It is, however, now certain that monoeciousness and diceciousness 

 have only a secondary value. Thus we know, for example, that 

 both in the Annelida and in the Nematoda, which generally have 

 the sexes separate, a certain number of hemaphrodite species are to 

 be met with ; we also know some dioecious Trematoda, in a group 

 otherwise entirely hermaphrodite ; and recently, in the group of her- 

 maphrodite PlanaricB, we have become acquainted with a species in 

 which the sexes are separated (Planaria dioica from St. Vaast). 



Hence the discovery made by M. Keferstein at St. Malo of an her- 

 maphrodite Nemertian is not particu.larly surprising ; but in any 

 case it is an important fact, since it is the first example of herma- 

 phroditism in this group. In this animal, to which M. Keferstein 

 gives the name of Borlasia hermaphroditica, the testes were found 

 full of mature spermatozoids, and the ovaries of ovules in course of 

 formation. The author having studied only a single individual, it 

 might be suspected that the organs designated by him under the 

 name of testes were seminal receptacles filled with semen ; never- 

 theless M. Keferstein believes he has ascertained that this interpre- 

 tation would be erroneous. 



However this may be, the author asks whether the discovery ot 

 an hermaphrodite Nemertian would not serve to throw a little light 

 upon the Nemertians in the perivisceral cavity of which well- 

 developed living young have been found by M. Max Schultze, M. 

 Claparede, and M. Keferstein himself. — Gottinger Nachrichten, Janu- 

 ary 15, 1868 ; abstract by E. Claparede in Bibl. Univ. February 

 15, 1868, Bull. Sci. p. 173. 



Anatomical Investigation of some Blind Coleoptera. 

 By M. C. Lespes. 



Many insects destitute of eyes have been described in the last few 

 years, and among these the Coleoptera especially have attracted 

 A7m.& Mag. N. Hist. Ser.4. Vol.i. 17 



