520 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



question we may only mention a curious negative argument from 

 the guard-cells of stomata. In the autumn, as is well-known, the 

 organic contents of the cells in deciduous leaves retire in great 

 part into the stem, but in the guard-cells alone the protoplasm 

 remains in tact even after the fall of the leaf. As we have 

 just seen, these are the only cells which possess no protoplasmic 

 connection with the other elements, and the inference is easy that 

 this is why their contents are not withdrawn. Reasoning from 

 the converse it appears probable that the connecting threads 

 among the other elements are the structures active in removing 

 the organic substances from cell to cell, and finally out of the 

 leaf into the stem. These facts taken alone would have but little 

 weight but in conjunction with various other phenomena furnish 

 a particularly interesting bit of evidence. The article closes 

 with an excellent bibliography of the subject. b. l. r. 



10. Protoplasmaverbindungen bei Algen ; (Berichte der deutsch. 

 bot. Gesellsch., ix, pp. 9-16). — In a paper of this title Dr. F. G. 

 Kohl describes a series of observations upon the continuity of 

 protoplasm in various cryptogams ranging from the Conjugatce 

 to the ferns, thus neatly supplementing the work of Kienitz-Ger- 

 loff just discussed. Kohl's methods of bringing the connecting 

 threads to view are very interesting, since they are novel as 

 applied for this purpose. Instead of using some reagent to act 

 upon the cell-wall, he produces a slow plasmolysis, employing a 

 solution of tannin-anilin (as recommended by Loefner to show the 

 cilia of bacteria), and then, after staining the preparations, em- 

 ploys dilute glycerine to remove the coloring matter from the 

 cell-walls. The well-known Spirogyra^ which has been studied 

 from so many different points of view, is once more made to do 

 service as a typical example, and the continuity of the protoplasm 

 in adjoining cells of its filaments is described and figured in 

 detail. Kohl states further that he has observed similar phe- 

 nomena in Cladophora, Ulothrix and other related forms. While 

 in some of the algaB, notably in certain Floridece the continuity 

 of the protoplasm can be very readily demonstrated, — indeed it 

 was here that it was first observed — there has been considerable 

 doubt as to the extent to which the cells of the Ficoidece are 

 thus connected. As examples of the latter group Kohl studied 

 Himanthalea lorea and several species of Fucus. He states that 

 by the use of the method just described he has been able to dem- 

 onstrate a general continuity of protoplasm between the various 

 cells of these plants ; and that the phenomenon is by no means 

 confined, as some have supposed, to the so-called sieve-hyphas. 



B. L. R. 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. The Journal of Comparative Neurology. A Quarterly 

 Periodical devoted to the Comparative Study of the Nervous 

 System. Edited by 0. L. Herrick, Professor Biol. Univ. Cin- 

 cinnati. 106 and xviii pages, 8vo. Cincinnati, Ohio. — This first 



