68 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



(amoeboid bodies), and from these alone, Cystoplasta. The plasmodia 

 exhibit radiating prolongations, pigments, calcareous corpuscles, &c. 

 This division contains the forms that are phylogenetically the 

 youngest. 



It will be seen that Dr. Gabriel finds the best key to the arrange- 

 ment of this group by a reference to the mode of development of the 

 young. At any rate, whether it be accepted or no, it seems pretty 

 clear that the progress of investigation has clearly shown that it is 

 impossible to be content with Stein's classification ; for 



(1) The presence or absence of a septum is not associated with 

 any important morphological or reproductive characteristics. 



(2) There is a form intermediate between the Gregarinidse (sen. 

 strict.) and the Monocystidse ; and that form is a true Monocystis in 

 youth, but develops a number of septa when mature. 



(3) Many of the Monocystidea have a more complicated develop- 

 mental-history than many of the Gregarinidse proper. 



The author here again repeats the statement that reproduction in 

 the Gregarinidse is not always preceded by an encysted condition. 



Radiolaria in the Italian Jasper.* — Professor Dante Pantanelli 

 publishes a description and plates of the Eadiolaria, which he a few 

 months ago announced f having found in the Italian Jasper (diaspro), 

 of Tuscany, &c. He describes 32 species, of which 7 occur in 

 the lias, 1 in the chalk, and all of the 32 in the eocene ; among 

 which the Peripylsea and Monopylfea are well represented, while the 

 Actometrge furnish only one species of Dorntaspis. The family of 

 Discidse, with several Euchitonice, is most abundant. 



This brings up the total number of known Radiolaria to 895, of 

 which 492 are fossil. 



The deposit of jasper is considered to have taken place at a 

 depth of not less than 1000 metres. 



Cycloclypeus and Orbitoides.J — Dr. K. Martin wishes to extend the 

 knowledge of the results of his investigations into the Foraminifera 

 from the tertiary strata of Java. After an account of the characters 

 of the first genus, he expresses the opinion that it is almost impossible 

 to make " good species " in it without the aid of microscopical exami- 

 nation ; the chambers vary greatly in size in diiferent individuals. On 

 the other hand, the embryonal chambers always appear to have a 

 specific value. To take an example from the new species {C. communis) 

 which the author here forms, we find him commencing with a descrip- 

 tion of the lens-shaped shell of the young ; and so again for the next 

 (G. neglectus), in which attention is drawn to the centre of the shell. 

 G. annulatus would appear to be especially distinguished by its sculp- 

 turing. In the genus Orhitoides he forms the new species 0. Garterl, 

 0. gigantea, and 0. radiata, and he takes occasion to point out that ho 

 thinks that Carpenter and his followers have gone too far in enlarging 



* Mem. R. Accad. Lincei, viii., June 6th, 1880. 



t See this Journal, iii. (1880) p. 819. 



X Niederl. Arch. Zool., v. (1880) pp. 185-206 (2 pis.). 



