38 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
a cold chamber. The author recommends the careful filtration of water, 
as he thinks it possible the parasite may be introduced by this fluid. 
Platyhelminthes. 
New Freshwater Nemertean.* — Dr. T. H. Montgomery jun. de- 
scribes a freshwater Nemertean from Pennsylvania, to which he gives 
the name of Stichostemma asensoriatum. This barbarous specific name is, 
we are told, given in consequence of absence of the supraoral sense-pit, 
though we don’t think that this is any excuse. A few details are 
given as to the characters of these worms, which are remarkable for 
having been found in a stream less than a yard in breadth and at no 
place more than a foot in depth. Most freshwater Nemerteans, it will 
be remembered, have been found in larger streams and rivers. Only 
three other Nemerteans are known from the fresh waters of North 
America. 
Turbellaria of the Michigan State Fish Commission. -f — Mr. Yd. 
M‘M. Woodworth has a short report on the Turbellaria collected by 
the Michigan State Fish Commission, during the summers of 1893 and 
1894. The collections, though few in number, contributed to the Tur- 
bellarian fauna of the United States four new species. The author points 
out that it is a matter of regret that in many cases new species have 
to be described from alcoholic material, for the action of killing and 
preserving reagents tends to destroy or bleach the pigments, and alter 
the shades of the animal, so that descriptions of this kind make sub- 
sequent identification difficult. The descriptions of the worms contain 
no point of any general interest. 
Haplodiscus.J — -Herr H. Sabussow has studied some specimens of 
Haplodiscus obtained from Naples, which are not only the first recorded 
European forms of this pelagic Atlantic genus, but represent a new 
species, H. Ussowii. The body is flat and lens-like, with almost circular 
outline; the dimensions are *8 mm. in length, *86 mm. in breadth, 
160 /x in height ; the anterior end is quite rounded, the posterior end 
invaginate ; the mouth lies in the second third of the body ; pharynx 
and frontal organ are absent ; the brain lies far forward ; otocysts occur ; 
the ovaries form two compact ventral strands connected in the middle 
line ; the testis is unpaired and dorsal ; there are no vasa deferentia, 
but there is a seminal vesicle and a tubular penis, covered with small 
warts. The new species is nearest H. orbicularis. 
Anatomy and Histology of Amphistomida 0 .§ — Dr. B. Otto has had 
the opportunity of investigating seven species of this group belonging 
to the genera GastrocTiscus, Ampliistomum , and Gastrothjlax. In the first 
part of his work the author deals with the anatomy of these forms, while 
in the second part he treats the organs from the standpoint of compara- 
tive histology. He regards the cuticle of these worms, which ordinarily 
consists of two layers, as an excretory product of the parenchyma. 
There are no tegumentary glands. The musculature of this group does 
not differ from that of other Trematodes. Especial attention appears to 
* Zool. Anzeig., xix. (1896) pp. 436-8. 
t Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., xxix. (1896) pp. 239-43 (1 ph). 
J MT. Zool. Stat. Neapel, xii. (1896) pp. 353-80 (2 pis.). 
§ See Zool. Centralbl., iii. (1896) pp. 769-71. 
