CURRENT LITERATURE. 29 



organs. Externally it somewhat resembles a Parniariou, but here the mantle- 

 sac is more prominent. The mantle is perforated on the left posterior surface, 

 and through the opening the shell projects. The shell consists of a basal, 

 calcareous plate, upon which an extraordinarily thin, wide, and structureless 

 conch-like shell fits close. The hermaphrodite gland lies embedded in the 

 liver, much more posteriorly than the remaining parts. Before the vas 

 deferens passes into the penis it gives off three short, thick tfagella. The 

 retractor muscle originates quite close to the inner root ot the right amma- 

 tophore. From the point of origin proceed two cords, one the normal seminal 

 duct, the other a thick muscle, consisting of a series of plate-shaped discs, 

 perforated by a canal (?) 



The author proposes a new family for the reception of this peculiar genus, 

 the OstracoJethidae. 



Dean, BashfOPd. — Notes on living Nautilus. Amer. Nat., 1901, vol. xxxv., 

 pp. 819—837, 15 figs. 



The author contributes some very welcome and interesting notes, made 

 whilst on a visit to Negros. In the straits between this island and that of Cebu, 

 Nautilus seems to flourish in abundance. 



In examining fresh specimens the author noticed that there appeared to be 

 sexual differences in the shells, although in as many instances as three out of 

 ten these were not distinguishable. The irregular growth lines frequently 

 exhibit an undulation of a somewhat regular pattern, reminding one of the 

 markings present at the septal rims in Ceratite or Goniatite. It is suggested 

 that, although these cannot be directly related to those of the fossil forms, they 

 may represent " a tendency during special periods of shell-forming activity, . . 

 for the mantle to contract in crenulate lines, a tendency which during the 

 decent of the tetrabranchs may well have been seized upon by selection and 

 made of use in the formation of the specialised margins of the septa. And 

 from this standpoint the recent markings may be regarded as related to the 

 curiously expressed lines on the ancient shells." 



The general appearance of the living animal is next described, and 

 illustrated by capital figures, also the tentacles and their movements. Although 

 Professor Dean was not able to induce the animals to feed, from observations 

 on the living and dead specimens, he thinks that there is little doubt but that 

 the jaws can be used in a position which one would hardly be led to expect 

 from an examination of preserved specimens. Accordingly he infers that the 

 tentacles are of less importance in the mechanical operation of feeding than is 

 popularly believed. 



If the information supplied by the fishermen in the region of the southern 

 Negros is to be relied upon, there should be no difticulty in securing the eggs 

 and embryos of Nautilus in abundance. 



Dupuis, p. et Putzeys. — Diagnoses de quelques especes de coquilles 

 nouvelles et d'un genre nouveau provenant de I'etat independant du 

 Congo, suivies de quelques observations relatives a des especes deja 

 connues. Ann. Soc. roy. Malac. Belgique, 1901, T. xxxvi — xlii., figs, 

 I— 18. 



The new species and varieties are Pcridcropsis formosa and var. pallida, 

 P. humicola, P. diapliana, Sitbidiiia (Subulova) iiiartcnsi, Ccras (gen. nov.) 

 dautzcubergi, C. manyeinaciisc and var. ciiigulata. The following three 



