ZOOLOaY AND BOTANY, MICEOSOOPY, ETC. 943 



the stomach, and that its composition and degree of digestion are varied 

 bj the bee according to the age and sex of the larva. 



Odoriferous Glands of Blaps.* — Prof. G. Gilson thus sums up the 

 principal results of his researches on the odoriferous glands of Blaps 

 mortisaga and several other species : There exists in Blaps mortisaga a 

 well-developed odoriferous apparatus formed by cells, the so-called uni- 

 cellular cutaneous glands. These cells are grouped so as to form lobes 

 resembling glandular tubes, but they are specialized in having an excretory 

 tube connecting each cell with the exterior. Each cell possesses a 

 secreting apparatus consisting of four parts — a radial vesicle, a central 

 ampulla, a thin excretory tube, and a tube-sheath analogous in structure 

 to the radial vesicle. The solid portions of these parts are continuous 

 with the reticulum of the protoplasm. The inner rays of the vesicle 

 and of the sheath are regular, strengthened, radial trabeculse of proto- 

 plasm. The membrane of the vesicle, and those of the sheath, tube, and 

 ampulla are similar in structure to the cellular and nuclear membranes ; 

 they are productions of the j)rotoplasm. The reticulum does not 

 necessarily radiate from the nucleus of the cell ; many of the trabecule 

 radiate from other protoplasmic structures such as the radial vesicle, the 

 sheath, and the excretory tube itself. 



Alimentary Canal in Metamorphosis.f — Dr. D. Casagrande reports 

 the results of his researches on the transformation exhibited by the 

 alimentary canal of Lepidoptera in the metamorphosis from the larval 

 to the adult state. His research was based on the silkworm. The 

 general conclusion of his investigation of this important point is as 

 follows : — The epithelium of the oesophagus and of the hind-gut of the 

 perfect insect is derived from the epithelium of the mid-gut ; in such a 

 case the oesophageal and hind-gut epithelium in the adult insect cannot 

 be regarded as ectodermic in origin as they are in the larva, but must be 

 endodermic, arising as they do from the mid-gut. 



Nerve-terminations in Lepidoptera. :j: — M. J. Chatin has studied the 

 nerve-terminations in Lepidoptera. In the proboscis below the skin 

 they form a rich network of fine filaments and cells. From multipolar 

 cells fine prolongations proceed outwards and are lost between the 

 elements of the hypodermis. In many cases (Sphinx, &c.) the nerve- 

 filaments were observed to dilate into a fusiform cell and then to enter 

 into relations with a tactile cell of the hypodermis. Soft cones with 

 similar innervation were observed on various parts of the proboscis, on 

 the labial palps, &c. 



In a further paper the author describes the nerve-terminations on the 

 antenna of Tinea tapezella. Two types occur — tactile hairs and -long 

 soft cones. With thesB, nerve-filaments are associated as above described. 



Basal Spot on Palps of Biitterflies.§— Herr E, Eeuter states that in 

 all the species of Butterflies (between two and three hundred) which 

 he has examined, there is at the base of the inner surface of the palps a 

 naked spot which can always be easily seen. He consequently regards 

 it as typical of the order Lepidoptera. It is generally well defined and 

 ordinarily occupies the basal half of the first joint of the palp. The 



* La Cellule, v. (1888) pp. 1-21 (1 pi.). 



t Bull. Soc. Entom. Ital., xix. (1887, pub. 1888) pp. 323-33 (3 pis.), 

 i Boll. Soc. Entom. Ital., xix. (1887) pp. 188 and 367. Bull. Soc. Philom. 

 Paris, X. and xi. (1887) p. 145. § Zool, Anzeig., xi. (1888) pp. 500-3. 



3 s 2 



