Reviews and Records in Anatomy and Physiology. 107 
Robin has argued that the Psorospermia are plants because they 
contain cellulose; but as the investigations of Kolliker, and of 
Owig and Schacht have shown that this substance occurs indu- 
bitably in animal tissues, this can no longer be considered as a 
criterion.* Weare reduced to voluntary motion as the only now 
known differential criterion on this subject, and as this must bea 
point on which different observers will vary, the subject must 
still remain unsettled ; but we protest against any fusion of the 
two organic kingdoms on this obscure arena. 
Il. On roe.Mermirues.t 
A memoir of great worth has recently appeared upon these sin- 
gular parasites, which has a double importance of quite clearing 
up the history of these animals in all their stages, and of furnish- 
ing a contribution to the histology of the lower animals o 
most valuable character. ‘This memoir is by G. Meissner of Min- 
chen, under the direction of Siebold who furnished him with 
Specimens and other opportunities for its successful prosecution. 
Seldom have we met with a paper of more careful and extended 
detail, and which leaves so little behind for investigators in the 
Same direction. Added to this textual detail, each and every an- 
atomical point is illustrated by admirably executed figures. Wit 
our limited space we can at best notice only a few of the more 
prominent points of this paper. 
In the first place it should be remarked that the natural history 
of the Gordiacei was for a long time quite obscure and little un- 
derstood, and many detached observations not of a parallel char- 
acter did not improve the subject. ‘I'o the sagacity of Siebold 
We are indebted for the successful resolution of the whole enigma, 
and the results he has obtained are as singular as new.{ It ap- 
ke peesies are almost exclusively Insects of different orders in 
at 
_* For full reference to the subject of cellulose in the tissues of the lowe 
See Siebold and Stannius's Comparative Anatomy, Amer. ed., vol. i, $ 172. 
i, Beitrage zur ei ie von Mermis albicans. Von Dr. 
1858, p. 207 n Siebold and Kélliker's Zeitschrift fir ftliche % 
» P. 207-285 
Siebold. See “imo zu Stettin, 1848, p. 292, 1850, p 329, also 
Fe ee ee en, ia tld aid: Kaliiberls fite 
nsch. Zool, y, 1858, p. 211. 
