ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 991 



present, and it seems that the two pairs of rudimentary legs in Lagoa 

 are survivals of these embryonic temporary feet. Although the 

 prop legs are not popularly regarded as true legs, they are un- 

 doubtedly so, as embryology proves. In the lower Noctuidae, such 

 as Catocala, Aletia, &c., the larvae are at first geometriform, having 

 but three pairs of prop legs ; in the Geometrids there are but two 

 pairs, while in the Cochlidife there are not even any rudimentary 

 feet, thoracic or abdominal. The primitive lepidopterous larva must 

 have had a pair of feet on each abdominal segment, and may have 

 descended from Neuroptera-like forms allied to the Pano-pidee as 

 well as Trichoptera. 



Orientation of the Embryo and Formation of the Cocoon of Peri- 

 planeta orientalis.* — M. P. Hallez understands by the " orientation 

 of the embryo " the exact determination of the relations which exist 

 between the organic axis of the egg, the principal axis of the embryo, 

 and that of the maternal organism. He finds that the egg falls into 

 the genital armature with its camlal pole inferior ; this pole is that 

 which is opposite to the line of dehiscence in the cocoon. From this 

 it follows that the organic axis of the egg is the same as the jirincipal 

 axis of the embryo, and that it has the same orientation as the mother, 

 for its anterior pole corresponds to the head of the embryo, and the 

 opj)osite pole to its caudal extremity. The author thinks that we 

 may agree to his general conclusion that every histological element 

 possesses the two j^olarities of the animal, polarities which would 

 persist in the egg-cell after it has ceased to be part of the maternal 

 tissues. 



Physiology of the Alimentary Canal of Blatta periplaneta.f — 



Dr. A. B. Griffiths finds that the secretion of the salivary glands is 

 alkaline to test-paper, and has the power of transforming starch into 

 dextrose sugar but has not the power of dissolving albumen. Further, 

 the secretion gave indications of sulphocyanates and calcium, showing 

 that it resembles to a certain extent that of the salivary glands of the 

 Vertebrata. 



The secretion of the chylific ventriculus is slightly acid, due to 

 the presence of hydrochloric acid. It also contains a substance which 

 has the power of dissolving albuminous substances, such as white of 

 egg, casein, fibrin, &c., producing turbid solutions which are like the 

 peptones produced by the secretions of the stomachs of the higher 

 animals. This substance, from its various reactions, is similar to 

 pepsin. The investigation proves that the chilific ventriculus is a 

 true stomach. 



The secretions of the Malpighian glands contain uric acid and 

 urea, as crystals of both substances were extracted from the gl mds, 

 as from Astacus and Anodonta. 



Uses and Construction of the Gizzard of Larvae of Corethra 

 plumicornis.| — Mr. T. B. Kossitcr describes the structure of the 

 anterior part of the enteric tract of the larvjo of Corethra jdumicornis 



* CompleB Rcndua, ci. (1885) pp. 444-6. 



t Chcuikal NcwH, lii. (1885) p. 195. J Paper read J Itli Oct. 188.5. 



