286 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



EDITOKIAL GLEANINGS. 



Notes on the mode of growth of Tubicinella trachealis, the Barnacle of 

 the Southern Right Whale, have been contributed to the ■ Transactions' of 

 the South African Philosophical Society (vol. xi. p. I), by Dr. R. Marloth. 

 The question had been raised by what means these parasites were able to 

 penetrate into the epidermis of the Whale, seeing that their base was quite 

 unarmed, their mouth being turned outwards towards the water. Dr. Mar- 

 loth suspected that the Barnacle possibly secreted some fluid which possessed 

 the power of dissolving the epidermis, and tested this theory by chemical 

 experiment, which he details. This proved that a peptonising ferment 

 diffuses through the basal membrane of the animal, and this fact explains 

 its peculiar structure, as well as that of the skin of the Whale at the 

 infested parts of its head. The young Tubicinella simply dissolves the 

 epidermis with which it is in contact, absorbing the peptonised liquid. As 

 it continually grows at its lower end, it gradually descends in this way into 

 the epidermis, the digesting of the epidermal layers taking place at the 

 same rate as the downward growth. 



In the last published Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Glasgow (vol. v. n. ser. 

 pt. iii.), Mr. R. Hedger Wallace has concluded his communication on 

 " White Cattle ; an Inquiry into their Origin and History," the first part 

 of which was referred to in our volume for 1899 (p. 41). The author in 

 this instalment has dealt with the historical data relating to his subject, 

 and has gathered considerable evidence pointing to the sacrificial customs 

 connected with White Cattle, such as the erstwhile " Oblations of the 

 White Bull " at Bury St. Edmunds, and the autumnal sacrifices of cattle 

 in South-western Brittany, where at the present day the sacrifice takes the 

 form of an auction, instead of the more ancient burning. Mr. Wallace con- 

 cludes that this yearly custom in Brittany supports him in the views he has 

 already expressed, " that a study of the folk-lore of this country, coupled 

 with a study of the ceremonials, festivals, and traditions of the church, will 

 afford us a satisfactory explanation why White Cattle have been carefully 

 preserved, so that we yet find them preserved in parks." A most valuable 

 and extensive bibliography relating to the subject is appended to this very 

 thorough publication, 



