ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 581 



section as if it were made up of gland-like cell-complexes. The enteric 

 gills are irregularly invested by two kinds of epithelium ; in the terminal 

 portion of the hind-gut the enteric gills disappear, and are replaced by 

 typical rectal glands, the presence of which speaks in favour of Chun's 

 supposition that the rectal glands are not structures which have been altered 

 by disuse. 



Glandular Secretion of free Iodine.* — Dr. J. C. C. Loman found that, 

 on keeping for five days a specimen of the rare beetle Gerapterus 4:-macu- 

 latus, a distinct odour of iodine was perceptible. This was excreted in drops, 

 and when tested by ether, alcohol, and starch, found to be truly iodine. 

 The iodine was found, on dissection, to be secreted by the anal glands. 

 These, as in other species of Coleoptera, consist of two extremely fine coiled 

 tubules, provided with a pyriform lateral swelling. The walls of this are 

 thickly covered with muscular tissue ; and it may be regarded as a reser- 

 voir or propulsive organ. The function of this secretion apj)ears to be 

 defensive. 



Modification of Habits in Ants throug^h fear of Enemies.f— Dr. H. C. 



McCook observed a raid of Formica sancjuinea on a nest of F. fusca, which 

 proved a failure. The instinct for kidnapping has appeared to develope, on 

 the part of those who are the victims, a corresponding strengthening of instinct 

 in the way of concealment. When the latter are not exposed to the acts of the 

 former, they raise above the surface of the ground a mound of more or less con- 

 siderable size, and over its summit and at the base the gates are scattered 

 without the least attempt at concealment. But when a colony of their 

 enemies is near, they omit or subdue elevations above the surface, their 

 gates are few and cunningly concealed, and quantities of rubbish are scattered 

 around, with the evident intention of hiding the locality of their nest, or 

 making the approach to it more difficult. A similar faculty has been observed 

 in F. schaufussi. 



Vesicating Insects. J — Continuing his monographic researches on 

 Meloidae, M. H. Beauregard discusses the spermatogenesis, and the various 

 external and internal structures associated with the reproductive system. 



1. Spermatogenesis. — On the internal wall of the testicular tubules (a) 

 large cells are seen with spherical nucleus, and among these (b) small 

 spherical groups of four or six cells of pyramidal form, and arranged in 

 stellate fashion, with convergent summits. These groups of small cells 

 arise from the division of the larger. The cells of the groups multiply by 

 division, and not by budding, and form the spermatic spheres described by 

 Balbiani. The final result of division is the formation of what Beauregard 

 calls " spermatoblasts," each of which gives origin to a spermatic filament. 

 The spermatic sphere is from the first to last enveloped in a fine protoplasmic 

 layer with a nucleus. This is due to one of the original halves of the male 

 ovule, the other half, of course, dividing to form the " spermatoblasts." 

 The further ontogeny of the sperms is traced, and notice is taken of the 

 relevant observations of Gilson and Wielowieyski. 



2. The external male organs are next described in a number of typical 

 forms. The bivalved copulatory apparatus, with the groove surrounding 

 the penis, is also described in detail. 



3. Female apparatus. — The third part of the memoir discusses the 

 various structures which make up the female organs. These do not difier 

 in any marked feature from those usually found in Coleoptera. M. Beau- 



* Tijdschr. Nederl. Dierk. Ver., i. (1886-7) pp. 106-8. 



t Proc. Acad. Sci. Philad., 1887, pp. 27-9. 



t Journ. Anat. et Physiol., xxiii. (1887) pp. 124-63 (6 pis.). 



