1154 General Notes. [Nove 
Among the epithelial cells are to be distinguished two kinds, 
smaller oval cells filled densely with large colorless nuclei, and 3 
larger club-shaped ones whose contents, among other things, com 
sist of small crystals and larger drops of yellow, brown, grem — 
colors. ; 
The principal effect of the secretion of these glandular celsii 
the solution and digestion of fibrin, digested protoplasm, etc. 
The spiders take no solid nourishment. They dissolve the — 
assimilable, solid constituents of their prey, muscles, etc., and they 
suck the flowing blood. This passes into the ultimate branches — 
of the intestinal outgrowths. The hind gut or terminal section — 
of the digestive canal begins immediately behind the last pair of 
the intestinal outgrowths or diverticula. 
The malphigian vessels are dispersed through the intermediate 
tissue. Their excretions are guanin or an allied substance. 
same or an allied substance is found in many kinds, both depos 
ited in the external layer of the intermediate tissue and distrib- | 
uted prominently in the coloring and markings of animals. 
In the present condition of our knowledge it is fitting i 
ply the name “ liver” in the Arachnida by “ chyle-stomac 
We do not feel entirely satisfied with the last main conclusion. — 
onvê- 
There seems to us no good reason for not, as a matter of c 
nience, applying the term “liver” to the enormo 
outgrowths of the Arachnidan chyle-stomach. 
“liver” of a spider with its source, the chylc-stoma AEE ee 
would suggest, good morphology. Moreover, embryo 
that the diverticula are secondary outgrowths from the mid-gut 
of the embryo, which becomes finally the chyle-stomach of 
adult animal.—A. S. P. 
‘THE SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF THE Empup#.—lt al : 
membered that this singular group of insects 1S usu y placed 
next below the white ants (Termitidæ). Mr. J Wood-Mason fol 
added to our knowledge of these insects, and con tal i 
lows regarding their affinities: “In anticipation of t ae 
detailed account of the numerous and important dif 
tween them and the Perlidz which is in preparation, 
published as soon as the drawings needed to render MY = 
tions intelligible are ready, I may say that the Embiid& "M pion 
edly belong to the true Orthoptera, that they are in MY $ term 
in some respects the lowest term, and in others th 
but one, of a series formed by the families Acridioidea, so the 
dæ, Gryllide and Phasmatidze, and that their resemblan™ =r, 
much lower Perlidæ, which may well be direct descen 
form closely related to Campodea, are due to their per 
_ in the division of Orthopterous insects to which they 
will be re : 
Cos Pe 
rd wil 
the lowest tert - 
