018 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



below the funnel is a vesicular structure which partly projects into 

 it. The funnels aro often pretty close together. 



The generative organs are represented by a spherical body which 

 lies at the hinder end of the proglottis, and gives off posteriorly a 

 short tube, and anteriorly a longer one, which may be several times 

 coiled; this last is the uterus; the spherical body is to be regarded 

 as the shell-gland. The uterus is invested in a hyalino membrane 

 formed by a cell-layer ; the epithelium ceases where the uterus passes 

 into the shell-gland ; between the ova there is a ground-substance, in 

 which the eggs lie; in very thin sections this substance is seen to 

 form a fine plexus, in which amoeboid cells are imbedded ; these 

 appear to be unfertilized germ-cells. The vas deferens has its loops 

 turned towards the dorsal surface. The vagina opens beneath the 

 cirrus, and the orifices are (and this is important) on tho flat surface 

 of the body, not marginal. 



The author points out the differences between this species and the 

 Taenia of man — they lie in the form of the oviform organ which ho 

 regards as representing the complex of gland-cells, which in other 

 Taeniae form the shell-gland ; the position of the orifices, and the fact 

 that the vaginal orifice lies above instead of below that of the cirrus ; 

 the uterus recalls that of Bothriocephalus, as do too the forms of the 

 eggs. The statements of Griesbach as to the tissues of Cestoda, of 

 Salensky as to the musculature, and of Pintner as to the water- vascular 

 system are examined and compared with the author's results. 



In conclusion the author raises the questions, firstly, does the 

 position of the generative orifices form a sufficient reason for 

 establishing a new family for the reception of this species? and 

 comes to the conclusion that it does not ; secondly, does the fact that 

 the uterus is coiled, instead of consisting of a median trunk with 

 lateral branches, justify the formation of a new genus ? the answer to 

 this is in the affirmative, and the name of Ptycliophysa is suggested. 

 The forms, already described by previous writers as Taenia lineata, 

 arc, in the last place, examined. 



Genital Organs of Pontohdella muricata.* — M. G. Dutilleul 

 reminds us that the male orifice of the hermaphrodite Pontohdella is 

 lar^e, and surrounded by a folded welt, and that the female orifice is 

 small and not so surrounded. The male apparatus consists of testicles, 

 deferent canal, seminal vesicle, efferent canal, and sperinatophore- 

 pouch. There are six pairs of white ovoid testicles, which decrease 

 in size from before backwards ; each is placed in a pouch formed by 

 the dorso-ventral muscles, and consists of a poorly developed muscular 

 investment, which is lined by the male epithelium ; the canal from 

 each testicle opens into a common duct which leads to the seminal 

 vesicle. Below the sixth testicle it continues its course parallel to 

 the seminal vesicle, then curves on itself at the level of the point of 

 union of the vesicle with the efferent canal, forms a descending spiral, 

 and opens at its base. This arrangement reminds us of what Quatre- 



* Bull. Sci. Dep. Nord, vii. aud viii. (1884-5) pp. 349-54; ix. (1886) pp. 

 125-30 (1 pl.> 



