
1890.] Zoblogy. 81 
The Mesenteries in the Antipatharia.—At a recent meeting 
of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Mr. George Brook described the 
structure of the radial septa or mesenteries in the Antipatheria. The 
usual directive pair of septa were found, but besides these traces of 
bilaterality were not seen, and their positions were not explicable on 
the usually received explanations, but on applying the law developed 
by Lacaze-Duthiers for the Hexactiniz to the septa of the antipatha- 
rian polyps, and regarding the order of the formation in the one as 
comparable to their length in the other, order was at once introduced. 
The Eyes of Limulus.—Mr. S. Watase has made a careful study 
of the structure and development of the lateral and central eyes of 
Limulus, a preliminary account of which appears in the Johns Hopkins 
Circulars, No. 70. The compound lateral eyes have a faceted cornea, 
each facet corresponding to a conical lens projecting from the inner 
surface. Surrounding each lens is an ommatidial pit consisting of a 
single layer of ectodermal cells. In the centre is an axial process of 
a gigantic ganglion cell, while around it are arranged the pigmented 
ommatidial cells, each of which secretes on its inner (central) surface 
a finely striated ‘‘ rod.’ Each of these retinular cells is in connection 
with nerve fibres, while around it are elongate pigment cells developed 
from the ectoderm. Mr. Watase does not find the intrusive mesodermal 
pigment described by Messrs. Lancaster and Bowne. In connection 
with the development of the eyes there is a formation of a V-shaped 
groove, which later flattens out, forming a partial optic invagination. 
The optic nerves arise as fibres from the ectoderm cells of the outer 
wall of the groove. The median eyes are also described, but without 
diagrams it is not easy to follow the account either of structure or 
development. Apparently the dorsal ectoderm gives rise to the 
“ vitreous body ’’ or corneal hypodermis, while the retina is produced 
by an invagination of ectoderm from the central surface, which grows 
forward and upward to connect with the other elements. Mr. Watase 
does not attempt to account for this strange condition. 
Note on the Feeding Habits ot Cermatia forceps Raf.— 
From an observant public school teacher, Miss Kate Rondeau, of Gol- 
conda, Illinois, I have received an item of information concerning the 
feeding habits of Cermata forceps, new to me and to the literature of 
the species, so far as I am acquainted with it. 
This myriapod was quite abundant during one summer in Miss 
ndeau’s residence (upon one of the islands of the Ohio River), 
nat eg in the pitchen and dining room. It seemed to be strictly 
a ee : 

