ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICKOSCOPY, ETC. 345 



region; the infundibula are conical, and have, in optical section, a 

 triangular form ; the wall is here again transparent and hyaline. It 

 is interesting and important to note that in sections of these worms, 

 though prepared by different methods, no trace of the existing canals 

 has yet been detected. 



The Dendrocoela (as represented by Polycodis nigra) would appear 

 to be without the secondary canaliculi, the infundibula being connected 

 with the principal by five canals. The principal canals here form a 

 plexus and would seem to open to the exterior ; the highly refractive 

 wall here again appears to be without any definite structure. Through- 

 out their whole extent there is a continuous vibratile line lining the 

 canals. The infundibula are conical and their wall is formed by the 

 walls of the canals into which they open, but the black pigment of 

 the form examined prevented the author from seeing whether or not 

 the canals are completely closed. 



New Parasites.*— J. Fraipont describes some parasites of Uro- 

 mastix acanthinurus. Only five TcenicB are yet known from any of the 

 Saurians ; the new form, T. alata, has two aliform delicate expansions 

 on the neck ; the transparency of the joints allows of the easy detection 

 of the two pairs of longitudinal canals belonging to the excretory 

 system, which extend throughout the whole of the body. In the 

 terminal segments there were detected a considerable number of eggf, 

 with a thin but resistent membrane, and each containing a hexacanth 

 embryo, surrounded by an embryonic envelope. 



The presence of an Echinorliynclius is interesting as, apparently, no 

 species of the genus has ever yet been found in a Saurian ; the present 

 species is called E. uromasticis. Filaria candazei is a new species 

 found in the subcutaneous connective tissue and between the different 

 muscles of the body ; the female is much larger and longer than the 

 male (100-120 mm.). The muscles are arranged on the poly- 

 myarian type. Special organs in the shape of four pairs of pediculated 

 appendages bearing each two small papilliform growths on their free 

 end, are arranged symmetrically on either side of the sheath of 

 the penis. 



Tube of Stephanoceros Eichornii.t — Mr. T. B. Eosseter, on sever- 

 ing the longitudinal muscles that extend down the peduncle (cutting 

 the tail through close to the base), saw the Stephanoceros swim out of 

 the tube at the oral orifice, leaving it intact, and thus confirming the 

 view of Mr. Slack, as against that of Mr. Pritchard, that it is tubular 

 and not a solid gelatinous mass. He considers it clear that ''it is per- 

 fectly hollow : there is no attachment between the cell and the creature, 

 and it is quite as independent of its cell as Melicerta ringens is of its 

 cell." The dragging down of the upper portion of the tube is caused 

 by the teeth of the tentacles overlapping the sides and not from 

 attachment to the neck of the creature. 



Mr. J. Badcock, however, considers that both parties are right in 



* Bull. R. Acad. Belg., li. (1882) pp. 99-106. 

 t Sci.-Gossip, 1881, pp. 107-9 (6 tigs.). 

 Ser. 2.— Vol. II. 2 A 



