SCIENTIFIC SUMMAEY. 
119 
been made by Herr Binz, and reported in tlie CentmlhlaU [No. 20], are of the 
highest interest. Herr Binz particularly examined the actions of these 
agents upon the Paramecium so commonly found in putrid infusions of 
hay. The infusion and the antiseptic were allowed to come into contact 
with each other on a glass slide, while he observed the result by means 
of a low magnifying power. Binz classifies the substances that injured 
the Paramecium into two groups : — 1. Those that kill by producing 
osmosis ; among which are chloride and hyposulphite of sodium, chlorate of 
potassium and alum. 2. Those that have a directly poisonous influence : 
among which are nitric, sulphuric, tannic, and acetic acids j creasote, per- 
manganate of potassium, corrosive sublimate, iodine, bromine, chlorine, and 
quinia. Of the acids, acetic is the most powerful poison. Solutions of 1 
part of corrosive sublimate in 1,500 of water, of 1 of iodine in 5,000 of water, 
of 1 of bromine in 12,000 of water, of 1 of chlorine in 25,000 of water, were 
poisonous. Quinia has also a powerful action on the Paramecium 1 part in 
400 of water produces instant death, and 1 in 10,000 kills in two hours. 
Strange to say, salacine does not injure this animalcule, even when employed 
in a solution of 5 per cent. and a 1 per cent, solution of nitrate of strychnia 
produced no injury within two hours. 
The Anatomy of JSdihle Bats has formed the subject of a splendid 
memoir by M. Alix, which was read before the Societe Philomathique of Paris. 
The author described the structure of the Pteropus Edioardsii, a species 
closely allied to the celebrated edible bat of Java, P. edidis. The former 
species differs from the latter in being smaller and more slender, and in 
certain peculiarities of the hair. — Vide L’ BistiUd, Sept. 18 and 25. 
Cordylophora Lacustris abroad. — M. VanBeneden lately read a paper on this 
interesting fresh-water zoophyth before the Belgian Academy of Sciences. The 
cordylophora was first discovered by Professor Allman, now of Edinburgh, 
then of Dublin, in the Dublin canals. M, Van Beneden found it in canals in 
the neighbourhood of Ostend. He proposes to obtain its medusoids, and work 
out the problem of its development. — Vide V Institut, No. 1760. 
An Eyg of JEpyornis has been presented to the Academy of Sciences at 
Paris by M. Grandidier. Having lately returned from Madagascar, he 
states that the eggs of ^Epyornis are found on a plain at one side of the 
island, and at a height of several metres above the sea-level. Strange that 
though numerous eggs have been discovered, the bones of this creature are 
rarely found. M. Grandidier supposed the egg to be that of JE. maxima j 
but in a paper read before the Zoological Society of London on the 28th of 
November, Mr. G. 0. Bowley expressed the opinion that the egg discovered 
by M. Grandidier belonged to a different species, which he proposes to name 
Grandidier i. 
A Neiv Group of Organisms, to which the name of Labyrinth ulae has been 
applied, has been described by M. Cienkowski.' The creatures typical of 
this new family were found beneath the marine algae which encrust the 
piles of the harbour of Odessa. The Labyrinthulae are minute, orange- 
coloured bodies, forming reticulated threads which enclose spindle-shaped 
bodies. Cienkowski sums up their peculiarities of structure and develop- 
ment thus : — 1. They present masses of cells which enclose a, nucleus, and 
which increase in number by division, and possess a certain degree of con- 
tractility, and which now and then are covered with a cortical substance. — 
