50 
NATURE 
[May 18, 1871 

examples of about one millim. in diameter are the most 
abundant. They are generally so densely filled with mud- 
particles, Diatomacez, shells cf Dijlugia and Arcedla, 
&c., that by transmitted light they can scarcely be dis- 
tinguished from the actual mud without experience 
and careful examination; they may consequently be 
compared to a living mud. By direct light, on 
the other hand, they appear as grayish-white, yel- 
lowish, or brownish bodies. Their movements consist 
in an amceboid and often lively creeping by means of 
processes which are usually broad and lobate; during 
this process, the transparent body-substance often pro- 
trudes at the margins in elevations and undulations. This 
fundamental substance of the body consists of a hyaline 
protoplasm of irrezularly frothy or vesicular consistency, 
containing, besides the above-mentioned ingested par- 
ticles, a great number of very peculiar elementary par- 
ticles. Among these there may be distinguished round 
or roundish oval nucleiform bodies, and fine bacilliform 
structures. Of the former by far the greater number con- 
sist of shining pale bodies without any special structural 
characters, but of great firmness, and presenting con- 
siderable resistance to reagents (acetic acid and caustic 
potash). These bodies may possibly be correlated 
with the coccoliths, &c., of Bathybius. Besides these, 
however, there are less numerous roundish nuclei of softer 
consistency, and with more or less finely granular con- 
tents, which, from their whole nature, must undoubtedly 
be regarded as equivalent to the ordinary cell-nuclei. 
Hence in spite of its great simplicity in other respects, 
Pelobius represents a fluricellular organism, and is not 
to be referred to the so-called Monera, like Bathybius 
Haeckelit, according to the investigations of Huxley and 
Haeckel. Nevertheless, in connection with its possible re- 
lationship to Lathybzus, it must be noticed that the cell- 
nuclei of Pe/odius may occur in very variable quantity, 
often in so small a number as almost to disappear alto- 
gether ; and further, that they can be detected only in 
the perfectly fresh state. This latter statement applies 
also to the frothy vesicular arrangement of the body-sub- 
stance, which disappears immediately after death or the 
application of reagents. 
The second kind of the chief elementary parts of 
Pelobius consists of fine, clear, shining bacitli, which are 
scattered through the whole body, and likewise present 
great resistance to the action of acetic acid and caustic 
potash. These were mentioned by Dr. Greeff in a former 
publication, when he expressed the opinion that they 
originate in certain nuclei, which, however, he has since 
seen reason to doubt. 
The author has devoted much time and trouble to the 
investigation of the developmental history of this interest- 
ing organism, an exact knowledge of which would be in 
many respects of the greatest importance. He proposes 
to publish what has hitherto been observed upon this 
point (which in some respects recalls the Myxomycetes) 
in a detailed memoir upon Pe/odius in Max Schultze’s 
“Archiv fiir mikrosk. Anatomie,” in which some other 
Rhizopods found under the same conditions as Pe/odzus, 
and resembling it, will also be described. 


NOTES 
THE intelligence of the death of Sir John Herschel will fall 
on the whole scientific world with a sense of personal bereave- 
ment. Though he had attained above the ordinary span of life, his 
mind was still in the maturity of its powers; and few men have 
been so familiarly known by their writings and their discoveries 
beyond the narrow pale of the world of science. Next week we 
hope to give a biography of the great astronomer whose loss we 
deplore. It is fitting that Herschel II. should be buried in 
Westminster Abbey, and itis creditable to the authorities that 
his ashes will be permitted to rest there, 



THE annual visitation of the Royal Observatory by the Board 
of Visitors is fixed to take place on the 3rd of June. 
LETTERS have been received in this country from Dr. Adolf 
Bernhard Meyer, who left Europe last year for a journey through 
a part of the Malayan Archipelago and New Guinea. He 
reached Manado in Celebes in November last, just as the wet 
season commenced. He had chosen this place as his starting © 
point, because he had been informed by a celebrated traveller in 
the East that the fine season commenced at Manado inthe month 
of October. Nevertheless, he succeeded in making large collec- 
tions of birds, reptiles, and fishes, which are on their way home, 
THE Anniversary Meeting of the Geographical Society takes 
place on Monday next at I P.M., and that of the Linnean on 
Wednesday at 3. The Victoria Institute holds its annual meet- 
ing at eight o’clock on Monday, 22nd May, at the Society of 
Arts Rooms, John Street, Adelphi, when the Rey. W. J. Irons, 
D.D., will deliver the address. 
A MANUAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, by Dr. Henry E. 
Armstrong, F.C.S., Professor of Chemistry in the London In- 
stitution, is advertised by Messrs. Longmans and Co., as being 
in preparation for their admirable series of Text-books of 
Science. 
AT a session of Council on Saturday last, the Right Hon. 
Lord Belper, vice-president in the chair, Mr. E. J. Poynter, 
A.R.A., was appointed Slade Professor of Fine Art in the 
College. The buildings, forming part of the north wing, which 
have been designed for the Fine Art School, are nearly com- 
pleted, and it is intended to open the classes for drawing, paint- 
ing, and sculpture at the beginning of the College session in 
October next. The late Mr. Felix Slade has established at the 
college six scholarships for proficiency in those branches of Art, 
each of the value of 50/. per annum tenable for three years, and 
which may be held by ladies. 
AN exhibition of Paleolithic Stone Implements will be on 
view at the rooms of the Society of Antiquaries, Somerset House, 
from May 19th to 25th inclusive, from 11 A.M. to 6 P.M. 
AT the General Examination of Women at the University of 
London, just concluded, four passed in honours and nine in the 
first division. It is understood there were about double that 
number of candidates. 
WE learn from the Academy that the Zoological Collection of 
the British Museum has been lately enriched by the purchase of 
a magnificent series of Sponges from South Africa, the majority 
of which are likely to prove new to science. It is to be hoped 
that the group of the Sfozgiade, now attracting so much atten- 
tion in scientific circles, will receive a more liberal allotment of 
space in the new museum to be erected at Kensington. The 
utter unfitness of the present building to meet the daily increasing 
requirements of the national collection is evidenced from the fact 
that numerous groups of the /nvertebrata are literally ‘‘ crowded 
out,” and entirely unrepresented in the series devoted to public 
exhibition, for want of the necessary space. This, and the in- 
adequacy of the present slender staff of the Natural History de- 
partment to effect the thorough and systematic arrangement of 
the extensive and valuable collection, and to elevate it to that 
high scientific status enjoyed in the leading continental museums, 
demand the most earnest and speedy attention, 
Mr. Boucarp, the well known dealer in specimens of Natural 
History, and traveller, formerly living in Paris, but now resident 
in London, proposes the publication of a work on the Coleoptera 
of Mexico and Central America, including the adjacent portions 
of the United States, especially the Pacific region. He earnestly 
desires contributions of specimens, whether named or not, to be 
used in his investigations, and will return such as he is not per- 
