ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 595 



form three or four groups in each cell, each group constituting a tubular 

 fibre. In E. proteiis each muscle-cell incloses a much larger number of 

 groups of fibrils, imbedded in unmodified protoplasm ; the cells are larger 

 than in the previous species, and there are fewer of them. In E. gigas the 

 cells are enormous, and each incloses an infinite number of groups of fibrils, 

 forming complicated fibres, surrounded by unmodified protoplasm. 



The transverse muscle-cells of E. Jieruca have the value of primitive 

 bundles, those of E. proteus have a lower morphological value, though still 

 portions of primitive bundles, and this value is still less in E. gigas. 



He draws attention to similarity between the muscle-cells of Ascaris and 

 those of E. heruca, but considers that the two groups are not closely related. 



y. Platyhelminthes. 



Stichocotyle nephropis.* — Mr. J. T. Cunningham describes a new 

 form of Trematode found parasitic in the intestine of the Norway lobster — 

 Nephrops norvegicus ; there is as yet no evidence as to how the fluke reaches 

 the intestine of the lobster ; in it they are found encysted ; the other host 

 is probably some large fish which feeds on Nephrops. It is a typical 

 Trematode, remarkable, however, for the arrangement of the suckers, 

 which is entirely novel ; they form a single series extending along the 

 median ventral line throughout nearly the whole length of the body, and, 

 unlike forms to which it may be allied, the suckers are not provided with 

 chitinous hooks. Stichocotyle may be placed with the Polystomidae, though 

 it differs from all known forms in passing through an encysted stage within 

 the body of another animal. The cyst appears to be a pathological product 

 of the tissue of the intestine of the host. The w^orms are from 0-75 to 

 8 • 6 mm. in length, white in colour, and somewhat opaque ; the mouth is 

 small, simple, and circular ; the suckers present some of the characters of 

 metamerism. The presence of closely-set transverse folds gives the body 

 a crenated figure ; these folds disappear when the body is much extended, 

 and are probably due to the presence of an inelastic cuticle. 



New Trematode.j — Dr. J. Brock describes a new genus of Trematode 

 — Eurycodum shuteri — which he found abundantly in the stomach of a 

 Percoid — Diacope metallicus. The body has an elongated cylindrical form, 

 slightly pointed anteriorly and posteriorly, with a small oral, and much 

 larger approximately median sucker. The germinal glands are not always, 

 but only temporarily connected with the efferent ducts. The connection of 

 testes and vesicula seminalis is notably transitional. The yolk-glands are 

 elongated sacs, occupying an asymmetrical dorsal position. They are not 

 connected with the oviduct or shell-gland till the period of female maturity. 

 Nor does the uterus acquire an external aperture till a late stage. There 

 is no common generative atrium. Although the uterus remains blind 

 during most of the female maturity, and there is no communication 

 with the male organs, both its proximal portion and the oviduct contain 

 very early abundant sperms which fertilize the ova. The possibility of 

 self-fertilization or of cross-fertilization is obviously excluded. The third 

 alternative remains of a communication via Laurer's canal. This was not, 

 however, demonstrated. The longitudinal stems of the excretory system 

 are so wide that they must be called spaces rather than canals, and look 

 like the beginning of a body-cavity. 



Ciliated Pits of Stenostoma.i—Herr B. Landsberg has found the 

 pyriform ganglia discovered by Vejdovsky at the base of the ciliated pits of 



* Trans. Eoy. Soc. Edinb., xxxii. (n.d.) pp. 273-80 (1 pi.). 



t Gottingen Nachrichten, 1886, pp. 543-7. J Zool. Anzeig., x. (1887) pp. 169-71. 



