326 Mr. A. Dendy on the 



fact, hermetically sealed. The tnrgescence of the body 

 would then take place by osmosis, and the apical pores of the 

 tentacles would have the double function (a) of the periodical or 

 perhaps constant discharge in small quantities of the excess of 

 liquid, (h) of its rapid discharge when, in defence, the animal 

 wishes rapidly to reduce its bulk. 



Note II. — The nephrostomes of Rotifers and many other 

 lower Vermes are described as having a single long flagellura 

 working inside them. Now from the same optical reasons 

 that make it impossible to conclude from the mere microscopic 

 picture what is the true structure of striated muscle or the 

 markings of a Diatom, it is equally impossible to conclude 

 what is the true structure of these " flame-like " nephrostomes. 

 A lining of fine vibratile cilia would leave an undulating 

 lumen that would be optically identical with the supposed 

 single flagellum. The precise attachments and working of 

 such a flagellum form a problem that no one has attempted to 

 tackle ; whereas the view that there is a lining of fine cilia 

 offers no such difficulties ; and this view is hence the more 

 plausible. It has, moreover, the advantage of completely 

 homologizing these structures with the nephridia of their 

 more highly organized allies. 



XLIII. — The New System of Chalininse, icith some Brief 

 Observations upon Zoological Nomenclature. By Aethue 

 Dendy, B.Sc, F.L.S., Assistant in the Zoological Depart- 

 ment of the British Museum. 



Through the kindness of my friend Dr. R. von Lendenfeld, 

 F.L.S., I have lately received a copy of a recent paper by 

 him on the Australian Chalininas *. For several reasons 

 this important memoir, consisting of no less than 105 pages 

 and illustrated by ten beautiful plates, seems to me to deserve 

 special comment in this place. 



The paper is founded mainly on the large collection of 

 Chalinine sponges made by the author during his residence 

 in Australia ; and he has also had access to the collection in 

 the British Museum. We are informed that the author's own 



* " Die Chalineen des australiscben Gebietes." Von Dr. R. v. Lenden- 

 feld. Separatabdvuck aus den Zoologischen Jahrbiichern. Zweiter Band, 



1887. 



