5 8o 



NA TURE 



[Oct. ii, 1883 



Ceratorhinus. In America are found a number of large rhinoceroses 

 in the Loup Fork deposits of the River Platte, which are variously 

 designated as Uppermost Miocene and Oldest Pliocene. These 

 have left no successors unless P. inenius of Le Gros should turn 

 out to be an Aphelops. In brief, the rhinoceros line branched 

 off from the Lophiodontidx in America during the Middle 

 Eocene, in early Miocene times the genus Aceratherium 

 migrated to the Old World, and there gave rise to the horned 

 genera, which still live there, as well as the larger species 

 which became extinct in the Post-Pliocene. The second line 

 mentioned is represented by the curious genus Diceratherium. 

 The third line is that of Hyracodon, small hornless animals of 

 the Miocene. This retains the full set of incisors and canines in 

 both jaws, but with rhinoceros-like premolars and molars. 

 Many lophidont characters are still retained. 



The Polymorphism of Alcyonaria, by Prof. Marshall. — The 

 author directed attention to the occurrence of tentaculato-zooids 

 in two members of the group Pennatuhdre — the first the variety 

 of Pennatula phosphorea, known as aculeata, and the second a 

 new species of Umbellula, U. gracilis, obtained in the Faroe 

 Channel during the Triton dredging expedition in 1882. In the 

 first case the tentacles, which vary from one to five in number, 

 are fused together to form a conical spire strengthened by very 

 stout calcareous spicules, and projecting a considerable distance 

 beyond the mouth. In the ca«e of U. gracilis the tentacle is 

 single, and differs from that of all other pennatulid zooids in 

 presenting a fringe of pinnules along each side identical w ith 

 those of the typical polyps. The morphological importance of 

 this unitentacular condition was discussed at some length, the 

 single tentacle being shown to have constant anatomical relations 

 and to correspond to the single tentacle present in the young 

 embryos of Actinia mesembryanthemum. In conclusion, argu- 

 ments were adduced against Prof. Kblliker's statement that 

 Umbellula is one of the more primitive genera of Pennatulidae. 



The Differences between the Males and Females of the Pearly 

 Nautilus, by Mr. A. G. Bourne, B.Sc. — The author bases his 

 observations upon the dissection of two specimens, male and 

 female respectively— both adult and well preserved — of N. pom- 

 pilius obtained by Prof. Lankester for the museum at University 

 College, and a specimen of N. macromphalus placed in his 

 hands for examination by Prof. Hubrecht, of Utrecht Univer- 

 sity. The author regards the tentacular lobes as homologous 

 with the arms of a Dibranch, while the tentacles probably re- 

 present the suckers, this view, which has already gained con- 

 siderable ground, receiving very strong support from the 

 hectocotylised condition which the author describes. Eight 

 tentacular lobes may be recognised, four internal, two superior, 

 and two inferior, the latter two being fused together, and four 

 external, the two superior being fused to form the "hood," and 

 the two inferior completing the external ring. In the male four 

 tentacles of the left superior internal lobe become hectocotylised, 

 while the corresponding four upon the opposite side exhibit an 

 exactly similar modified condition, though in a very slight degree, 

 forming a most interesting example of a "rudimentary organ." 

 In the male the inferior internal lobes are present in a very much 

 reduced condition. 



Budding in Poly soa, by Prof. Haddon. — This author asserted 

 that according to most observers the buds in ectoproctous 

 Polyzoa are derived solely from the endocyst, or according to 

 Juliet, from the endosarc (funicular tissue). It is possible that 

 a combination of these views may be the more correct, since the 

 development of the bud itself appears to prove that several 

 distinct tissues are implicated, and that as a matter of fact all the 

 three embryological layers are concerned in this process. 



On a Young Specimen of the Grey Seal (//. gryphus) from Bos- 

 castle, Cornwall, by Prof. Lankester. — Prof. Lankester had 

 the good fortune to find a specimen of this seal at the above 

 place about a fortnight ago. He carried it about a quarter of a 

 mile to a more sheltered place, but found it in the original place 

 the next morning. As the specimen was not more than twenty- 

 four hours old, was very weak, and could not swim, it is very 

 probable that the mother had carried it during the night. The 

 animal was taken and fed on milk ; he was sent to the Zoological 

 Gardens, and when last heard of was doing well. Mr. Cordeaux 

 said it was extremely interesting that this specimen had been 

 found, as previously it had not been seen so far south. Prof. 

 Moseley remarked that the dislike of young seals to the water 

 had probably some connection with their descent from ancestors 

 winch inhabited the land quite as much as the water. 



On Wool Plugs and Fertilised hlnid, by Mr. Duncan 

 Matthews. — This paper describes in detail a series of experi- 



ments undertaken with the object of testing the filtering action of 

 cotton wool plugs upon the atmosphere, and the consequent 

 possibility of permanently preserving fluids sterilised in flasks 

 plugged with wool. The author found, after a long series of 

 experiments, that sprayed water carrying germs could pass 

 through wool plugs as well as between it and the glass, when an 

 inward current was produced by the cooling of the flask. He 

 therefore sees no reason why air should not in the same manner 

 carry germs through or alongside the wool. As an experimental 

 fact, he found this to be so in a very large percentage of his 

 experiments. All the experiments related to one kind of bac- 

 terium, the hay-bacillus. 



The President then introduced the next four papers, which all 

 related to various phases of the germ-theory, by a few remarks 

 on bacteria. Micrococcus, bacillus, spircechcete, spirillum, and 

 leptothrix were briefly spoken of, and the terms saprogenous, 

 cromogenous, and pathogenous explained ; the first of these 

 papers was then read. 



On the Germ Theory of Disease from a Natural History Point 

 of View, by Dr. Carpenter. — Dr. Carpenter stated that many of 

 the existing genera and species of animals and plants were 

 altogether uncertain, that as fresh knowledge was gained, so it 

 was found necessary to modify our accepted views ; this espe- 

 cially holds good with genera which have great power of 

 adapting themselves to various circumstances, and which con- 

 sequently produce numerous variations. This power of modifi- 

 cation, the author slated, was much more marked in the lower 

 than in the higher forms of either kingdom, and was especially 

 found in bacteria. The author then cited the case of the germ 

 producing smallpox, in which he stated the germ had undergone 

 such a modification, that whereas two centuries ago the disease 

 was very severe, and known as "black-pox," it now existed 

 only as a mild disease. During the last siege of Paris, however, 

 the conditions were such that the germ reverted to its original 

 form, and produced the same severe disease as two centuries ago. 

 Many facts were brought forward to confirm this view. 



On some Cell Contents in Coffee and other Plants, by Marshall 

 Ward. — The author has for some time past been engaged in re- 

 searches among the fungi, particularly those which attack living 

 plants ; and his attention was necessarily directed to cell contents 

 of the host plants ; among others the cells of Coffea, Cinchona, 

 Pavetta, and Canthium, and one or two cryptogams have re- 

 ceived special attention. The present paper refers particularly 

 to one class of bodies found in the cells of the cultivated species 

 of Coffea — C. arabica, C. liberica, &c. Certain fatty bodies, mixed 

 with pro'eids, found in the endosperm, are traced into the em- 

 bryo and seedling, and their reactions and changes noticed. In 

 the leaves, cortex, and other soft parts of the mature plant are 

 found "fat-bodies," under circumstances which compel the 

 author to conclude that they are the result of constructive 

 activity, and not products of destructive metabolism. These 

 " fat-bodies" consist of varying mixtures of fats and other sub- 

 stances, probably, in part, proteid, and show considerable simi- 

 larity to the fatty masses of the endosperm. Details are given 

 of their reactions and changes, and the author believes that they 

 represent temporary stores, to be worked up further in the con- 

 struction of higher bodies. 



On the Closed Condition of the Seed Vessel in Angiosperms, 

 by Alexander S. Wilson, M.A., B.Sc. — Flowering plants 

 maybe divided into two classes, according as their seeds are 

 contained w ithin a closed seed vessel, or are exposed without 

 any such covering. The former, having their seeds included in 

 a pod or pistil, are called Angiosperms or cover-seeded ; and 

 the latter, on account of their naked seeds, Gymnosperms. The 

 Angiosperms, which form by far the more important division, 

 embrace most of the common plants which make up the bulk of 

 our flora, and are universally regarded as the more highly 

 organised of the two. Corresponding to the lower degree ot 

 organisation, Gymnosperms (yew, cypress, fir, Xc.) appear 

 earlier ifi the geological strata, and are largely represented in a 

 fossil state. The pod of an Angiosperni, such as that of a wall- 

 flower, is composed of metamorphosed leaves termed carpels. 

 In nearly every instance these leaves are so united as to form a 

 completely closed case enveloping the young seeds. At first 

 sight it would seem as if the presence of such a covering were 

 a disadvantage, for before the young seeds or ovules can develop 

 to maturity they require to be fertilised. The process of fer- 

 tilisation is effected by the agency of pollen dust, which is 

 brought to the flower either by the wind or by insects visiting 

 the flower in search of honey. Now in the case of Gymno- 

 sperms, where the seeds are exposed uncovered, this pollen dust, 



