May 28, 1885 | 
Laboratory according to Mr, Stevenson’s design, and tenders are 
to be obtained as early as possible. 
Mr. J. W. L. Glaisher, F.R.S., is to be Additional Examiner 
in Part III. of the Mathematical Tripos in January, 1886. 
Prof, Bonney and Mr. J. J. H. Teall are appointed Examiners 
for the Sedgwick Prize to be adjudged next year. 
Prof. Macalister will take a class in Osteology during the 
Long Vacation. There will also be an Introductory Practical 
Course in Anatomy, illustrated by that of the Dog, superin- 
tended by the Professor and Mr. Rolleston. The Demonstrator 
will take a practical class in Histology during the Long Vacation. 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 
Fournal of Anatomy and Pirysiology, vol. xix., Part 3, April r, 
contains :—On the development of the blood-corpuscles in the 
emryo of Perca fluviatilis, by K. F. Wenckebach (plate 11). — 
Movements of the ulna in rotation of the fore-arm, by Dr. J. 
Heiberg.—The nature of ligaments, part iii., by J. B. Sutton 
(plate 12).—Supernumerary cervico-dorsal vertebra-bearing ribs, 
with vertebral and costal asymmetry ; abnormal articulation in 
a sternum, by W. A. Lane.—Some points in the histology of 
the medulla oblongata, pons varolii, and cerebellum, by Dr. 
W. A. Hollis (plate 13).—The external auditory meatus in the 
child ; the relations of the larynx and trachea to the vertebral 
column in the foetus and child; a rare abnormality of the 
pancreas, by Dr. J. Symington (plate 14).—The existence of 
a fourth species of the genus Balenoptera, by Dr. G. A. 
Guldberg.—Some variations in the anatomy of the human liver. 
—Notes on some unusual variations in human anatomy, by Dr. 
A. Thomson.—Observations in reference to bilateral asymmetry 
of form and function, by Dr. F. Tuckerman.—Case of exostosis | 
of the ulna, by Dr. R. J. Anderson.—The mu culus sternalis 
and its occurrence in (human) Anencephalous monsters, by Dr. 
F, J. Shepherd (plate 15).—The venous system of the bladder 
and its surroundings, by E. H. Fenwick (plate 16). 
The Fournal of Physiology, vol. v., Nos. 4, 5, 6, contains :— 
Observations of the gastric glands of the pig, by M. Greenwood. 
—Hematin compounds, by V. D. Harris.—Papain digestion, by 
S. H. C. Martin. —The secretion of oxalic acid in the dog under 
a varying diet, by T. W. Mills. -On the comparison of the con- 
centrations of solutions of different strength of the same absorb- 
ing substance, by S. Lea.—On the mutual antagonism between 
lime and potash salts in toxic doses, by S. Ringer.—The be- 
haviour of the red blood corpuscles, when shaken with indifferent 
substances, by S. J. Meltzer and W. H. Welch.—On the cardiac 
rhythm of Invertebrata, by W. B. Ransom.—Some experiments 
on the liver ferment, by Florence Eves.—An experimental in- 
vestigation showing that Veratria is similar to lime salts in many 
respects as regards their action on the ventricle; also showing 
that veratria and lime salts are reciprocally antagonistic, by S. 
Ringer. —Some observations on the influence of the vagus and 
accelerators on the heart of the turtle, by T W. Mills.—On the 
anatomy of the cardiac nerves in certain cold-blooded verte- 
brates, by W. H. Gaskell and Hans Gadow. 
Vol. vi., Nos. 1 and 2.—Is the nervous impulse delayed in the 
motor nerve terminations? by A. W. Hoisholt.—Observations 
on some of the colouring matters of bile and urine, with special 
reference to their origin ; and on an easy method of procuring 
hematin from blood, by C. A. MacMunn.—The edible bird’s 
nest, or nest of the Java swift (Callocalia nidifica), by J. R. 
Green.—The velocity of accommodation, by J. W. Barrett. — 
—On the physiology of the salivary secretion ; part 3, the para- 
lytic secretion of saliva, by J. N. Langley. 
Gegenbaur's Morphologisches F ahrbuch, Bd. x., Heft 4, contains: 
On the morphology of nails, by C. Gegenbawr.—On direct 
nuclear division in the embryonal membranes in the scorpion, 
by F. Blochmann (plate 22).—On the derivation of the neural 
system in the nematodes, by O. Butschli (plate 23).—Studies on 
the developmental history of the cceloms and Ccelom-epithelial 
in the amphibia, by B. Solger (plates 24 and 25).—Some re- 
marks on the true relations of organisation in the so-called cilio- 
flagellates, and in the noctiluca, by O. Butschli; with a note by 
E. Askenasy (plates 26 to 28).—The foramen magendii, and the 
opening in the recessus laterales of the fourth ventricle, by C. 
Hess (plate 29).—Reply to Dr. Baur, by Dr. W. Dames.—On 
the beaks of birds and dinosaurs, by Dr. G. Baur. 
Zeitschrift fiir Wissenschafiliche Zoologie, Band xli., Heft 3, | meal can become apparent. 
contains :—On the history of the formation and on the morpho- | 
NATURE op 
logical value of the ova of Vepa cénerea and Not-necta glauca, 
by W. Will (plates 20-22).—On the powers of transformation 
in the Mexican Axolotl, by Marie von Chauvin.—Contribution 
to a knowledge of the Trematodes, Déstomum palliatum, nov. 
spec., and D. reticulatum, nov. spec., by A. Looss (plate 23). 
—The formation of the radula in the Cephalophorus Mollusca, 
by R. Rossler (plates 24 and 25).—Studies of the fauna of the 
larger and smaller ponds in the Riesengebirge, by O. Zacharias 
(plate 26).—On some common developmental processes in 
Vertebrates, by J. Kollman. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
LONDON 
Royal Society, April 23.—‘‘The Essential Nature o 
the Colouring of Phytophagous Larvee (and their pupze) ; with 
an account of some Experiments upon the Relation between the 
Colour of such Larvze and that of their Food-plants,” by Edward 
B. Poulton, M.A., of Jesus and Keble Colleges, Oxford. 
Abstract. 
The Essential Nature of the Colouring of Phylophagous Larve. 
—Phytophagous larvz are coloured by pigments derived from 
the food-plant, pigments proper to the larvee, and tissues such 
as fat, which lend incidental aid to the colouring. The altered 
plant-pigments hitherto detected in larve are chlorophyll and 
xanthophyll, causing the colours green and yellow. The former 
is termed metachlorophyll, because of the difference between its 
spectrum and that of unaltered chlorophyll (in the leaf), and 
because of the chemical differences between its solution in larval 
blood, &c., and any known solution of plant chlorophyll. The 
evidence is at present insufficient to warrant the use of a separate 
name for the derived larval xanthophyll. Other colours hitherto 
examined are due to true pigments or tissues. 
The following table indicates the situations occupied by the 
different causes of colour, and gives to some extent the historic 
order of their employment. 
a, Digestive tract. 
b. Fat. 
c. Dorsal vessel. 
I. The internal tissues and organs \ 
with ready-made colour... ... } 
Il. The passage of derived pig- e Theblood: 
ments through the walls of the ¢ 5” The subeuticular tissues. 
digestive tract into ccinkeees 
III. The appearance of true pig- | a. The hypodermis. 
ment in Foes ... J 6. The cuticle. 
These causes explain larval and pupal colour, except such 
instances as the metallic tints of certain pup. ‘The different 
stages of coloration mentioned in the table were not often 
mutually exclusive, but each new method was an additional 
resource. The derived pigments more often confer general 
resemblances, the true pigments special resemblances. In many 
cases the green colour is due to metachlorophyll in the blood! 
only (many Noctuz), while in other cases it is also placed in the 
subcuticular tissues (Sphingidz). The former larvee lose their 
colour locally on slight compression, while the swollen uncom- 
pressed part becomes of a deeper tint. When larve are di- 
morphic—green and brown—the colours of the former are 
mainly due to metachlorophyll, of the latter to true pigments. 
Such important differences in the causes of colour commonly 
occur among larvee from the same batch of eggs, or in the life- 
history of a green larva, which becomes brown, or v2ce versa, 
The blood of brown larvz, with transparent skins, is colourless 
except in very thick layers; in the brown Cherocampa elpenor, 
the blood becomes brown, but the bands of metachlorophyll and’ 
xanthophyll can be faintly seen. Hence these pigments are not 
destroyed beyond the point at which they cease to interfere with 
the changed colour. The derived pigments may exist unchanged 
in the blood after the larva has altered in colour, if the super- 
ficial pigments are completely opaque (many geometers). This 
persistence of the derived pigments may be very important to- 
the organism. Thus the larva of Axnomos anzularia is an 
opaque brown geometer, but pupates in a cocoon of loosely- 
attached leaves through which it can be seen. Before pupation 
the true pigment disappears, and the larva and pupa are 
coloured by metachlorophyll. Again, in many instances the 
derived pigments are retained in the blood of the pupa and’ 
segregated in the ova, when these are yellow or green, serving 
to tinge the newly-hatched larva before the effects of its first 
But after such a long period, and 
the alternation of solution in blood and deposition in tissue, the- 
