266 
the same time the cyst which they contain. The insects 
and their cysts thus arrive in its intestine ; the insects are 
digested by it, the membranes of the cysts are dissolved, 
and the embryos included in them are set free. The 
latter settle immediately in their new living abode; by 
their cephalic prickles they penetrate into the membrane 
of the intestines and encyst themselves again. 
But that new cyst is not like the one that protects the 
embryo in the body of the insect ; it is spherical or ovoid, 
not lengthened, and provided with a membrane not thick 
and opaque, but slender and perfectly transparent. 
In that second state it undergoes another and im- 
portant transformation and becomes a larva. The tail, 
hardly as long as the body, extends more and more, roll- 
ing up on itself; the body extends likewise, and the 
groove situated between them vanishes and the volume 
of the cyst increases at the same time. The worm, thus 
merely transformed, resembles a hematoid in its general 
appearance, though its unmodified head makes what is 
more like acanthocephalus. 
When in autumn one of the above-named fishes is 
dissected and the intestine is laid over a glass slide, mi- 
croscopical examination shows that it is strewed with 
numerous cysts containing embryos and larvz of gordins 
at different stages of growth. The author has always 
found some. Sometimes they almost touch each other, so 
numerous are they. 
The gordins offer, then, in the course of their growth, 
complete metamorphosis and very complicated migra- 
tions ; they take successively three distinct forms, encyst 
themselves twice, and change three times their abode. 
In the embryo state they at first live in water, then in the 
body of several aquatic larvae of Diptera, and in the state 
of larvae they inhabit the intestines of fishes; at last, in 
the perfect condition, they cease to be parasites and be- 
come river worms. 
There exists, however, an important hiatus in the history 
of the growth of these worms. How can we harmonise 
what has just been said with the assertion (that seems to 
be trustworthy) of the naturalists who have seen real 
gordins in the abdomen of terrestrial insects (grass- 
hoppers, crickets, &c.) ? Has there been an error of obser- 
vation committed? Or would these be single individuals 
gone astray from the water where they had to lay their 
eggs? M. Villot adopts the latter opinion. 
Should any one ask of what service are such curious, 
difficult, and apparently useless researches, it could 
be replied that many illnesses, some of them mortal, 
arise from parasites that attack certain parts of our body 
(the intestines, the liver, &c.) ; and every advance in our 
knowledge of the habits of those beings is a service ren- 
dered, not only to science, but also to humanity. 
M. CORNU 
A PRIVATE CIRCUMNAVIGATING EXPE- 
DITION 
[= Les Mondes, for some time past, details have 
been given of a proposed expedition, partly 
scientific and partly for pleasure, on a somewhat gigan- 
tic scale. The proposed scheme seems to be the 
idea of a single gentleman, M. le Capitaine Bazerque, 
who has been twice round the world; though it has 
the hearty commendation of the Abbé Moigno, editor 
of Les Mondes, and of Le Comte Pennazzi, as well 
as others. The scheme is called “La Caravane Uni- 
verselle,” and has for its main object a grand voyage for 
scientific exploration over the five parts of the globe. 
The excursion-party may be joined by men of science, 
and also, we understand, by artists and others belong- 
ing to all nationalities, who wish to see the world for 
themselves under intelligent guidance. A subscription 
has been opened in the various European countries and 
in America, to provide Captain Bazerque with a steam- 
NATURE 
[ Fed. 6; 1873 
vessel suitable for the expedition. The modus operandi, 
we understand, will be that the vessel shall visit in suc- 
cession all the most interesting parts of the world, stay- 
ing long enough at each place to enable all its features to 
be investigated by the sevants and artists composing the 
expedition. ‘The material organisation of the expedi- 
tion,” says Count Pennazzi in commending it, “ will allow 
those who form part of it to investigate thoroughly the 
rich treasures of Nature. The eastern slope of the Cor- 
dilleras, the sources and upper course of the Amazon, the 
Rocky Mountains, the country of the Mormons, the 
eastern coast of Africa, Australia, Japan, China, Indies, 
are among the regions whose flora, fauna, geology, and 
ethnography will furnish to the caravan much that is 
unknown to discover, and many interesting problems to 
solve.” Verily the Count is right in calling the scheme 
“ sympathetique et seduisant.” 
The organiser of the scheme intends, of course, that the 
vessel shall be fully furnished with all necessary scientific _ 
instruments. As concerns the material and moral well- 
being of his “sage companions,” Captain Bazerque pro- 
poses to make the following provisions :—(1) Bi-monthly 
telegraphic communication between each of the members 
of the caravan and his family. (2) A Roman Catholic 
and Protestant chaplain to accompany the expedition. 
(3) Special and easy camping material, allowing the ex- 
pedition to sojourn in the midst of countries hitherto 
unexplored. (4) To ensure the possibility of transit 
everywhere, a company of sappers will be provided, to go 
before and clear the way of wood; to construct rafts, 
bridges, to help as instrument-holders, constructors of 
beacons and of marks, It is supposed that 35 sailors 
will fulfil these and many other useful functions. 
The Captain proposes to divide the scientific work of 
the expedition as follows :—(1) Meteorology, astronomy, 
and terrestrial magnetism ; (2) Geography and cosmo- 
graphy ; (3) Mineralogy, geology, palzontology, botany, 
zoology ; (4) Anthropology, ethnology, ethnography ; (5) 
Hygiene, medicine and surgery ; (6) Photography applied 
to the works of man ; (7) Study and collection of agricul- 
tural processes and implements; (8) Study, collection, 
and photographing of pottery: (9) Metallurgy and me- 
tallurgic history ; (10) Dye-stuffs ; (11) Histology, archee- 
ology, biography ; (12) “Compte rendu anecdotique de 
Yexpedition.” In order to keep the eager world informed 
of the conquests of this scientific army, the bold origina- 
tor contemplates the establishment of a periodical, Za 
Caravane Universelle, exclusively devoted to the chro- 
nicling of its deeds. This journal will be under the care 
of a central editorial committee, located in Paris, we 
suppose, to whom will be sent, every month, collections 
of plants and other objects, photographs, drawings, and 
statistics of all kinds, together with a scientific and de- 
scriptive narrative of what is seen and done. The journal 
will be printed in handsome type, embellished with en- 
gravings, maps, and drawings “by the best European 
artists ;” and each number will appear in English, French, 
German, Spanish, and Italian, 
When we say that Zes JZondes publishes an elaborate 
table, showing the states and countries to be visited, the 
families, tribes, and races of the Aborigines, and the con- 
quering families, our readers will perceive that from 
beginning to end the scheme is thoroughly French in the 
ideal perfectionand completeness of its conceptionandplan, 
Much, no doubt, can be accomplished by a judicious 
division of labour ; and if the 100 or 150 gentlemen who 
are expected to compose the expedition should always be 
of one mind, be all animated by such a love for science 
as to be willing to endure any hardships, be prepared to 
submit implicitly to the guidance of a man of perfect 
organising faculty, wide knowledge and sympathy, com- 
bined with promptness and decision ; if each confines him- 
self strictly to the department for which his experience and 
attainments fit him, and if various other important condi- 
