ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 799 



vesicle, just beneath these cells, thcro is an aggregation of cells from 

 which fibres (possibly nerve-fibres) are given off in various directions. 

 These fibres are best developed at the base of the otolith-sac, and give 

 off on either side a branch which traverses the pai'cnchyma of the 

 body, and some fine branches which supply the sensory tentacles. 



In their movements Ctenoplanse present some resemblances to the 

 Polyclads. In the form of their body they differ from the Ctenophora 

 and approach the Planarians ; as in Polyclads the body is flattened 

 from above, and there is a similar investment of cilia. In the ribs or 

 ctenophores they resemble the Ctenophora. Their gastro-vascular 

 system is like that of Cceloplana, while the arrangement of the canals 

 recalls rather the Polyclads than the Ctenophora. The musculature 

 appears to be special and peculiar. On the whole, we must conclude 

 that Ctenoplana, like Cceloplana, is an intermediate form between the 

 Ctenophora and the Planaria ; Ctenoplana is more like the former, 

 Cceloj/lana the latter, and yet the two genera are very closely allied. 



Bipalinm kewense.* — rrof. F. Jeffrey Bell particularly directs 

 attention to the fact that, during life, the form of this species of 

 Bipalium varies so much that the " hammer-headed-shark " like form 

 of the head must not bo depended on as a generic character. The 

 worm varies much in form and size. This species appears to have 

 now become acclimatized in this country, but its original home is still 

 unknown ; Mr. 0. Salvin f thinks that it must be from some temperate 

 region. 



Floscularia ornata.J — Mr. W. N. Hastings writes that he found 

 Floscularia ornata abundant in small ponds (peat-holes) early in the 

 spring, while the ice was thawing. Their occurrence under these 

 conditions he has observed for several seasons, but has not seen the 

 fact recorded. 



Revivification of Rotatoria and Tardigrada.§ — That even science 

 does not escape a certain taint of traditionalism has been frequently 

 illustrated. Thus Trembley's often-cited statement that a Hydra 

 turned inside out, still survived and may be modified into the original 

 form, has been shown by recent experiment to be without foundation. 

 In the same way, it seems certain that another fragment of received 

 doctrine — which asserts the resurrection or revivification of desiccated 

 Rotifers and Tardigrades — must give way before a less mysterious 

 interpretation of the facts. The original observations of Spallanzani 

 and Duges, though corroborated in such an excellent monograph as 

 that of Eckstein, have been not a little discredited by the results of 

 Plate and Pouchet, while Prof. 0. Zacharias has been led most con- 

 clusively to the same result, viz. that the desiccated forms always die, 

 while their encysted and protected eggs frequently survive. 



Near Prof. Zacharias's residence is a large granite block which 

 has lain there for 200 years, and having a cavity holding 2-3 litres, 



* Proc. Zool. Soc. Lcmd., 1SSG, pp. 166-S (1 pi.). f Tom. cit., p. 205. 



J Anur. Mon. Micr. Joiuu., vii. (1886) p. US. 

 § Biol. Ceutralbl., vi. (lSSti) pp. 230-5. 



