200 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
with the question whether the relation of oxygen to life may not alwayo 
he of this nature. 
Fauna of Alpine Lakes.* — M. Otto Fuhrmann gives faunistic lists* 
which represent a vast amount of work, relating to the Alpine lakes of 
Tessin. He has discovered numerous forms hitherto recorded only in 
the plains ; indeed, out of 67 forms, 34 have not been noticed hitherto in 
these high-lying waters. In short, the Alpine lake fauna is less peculiar 
than was supposed. Fuhrmann gives an interesting illustration of the- 
diversity that may exist in adjacent lakes. The Lago Punta Nera 
(2456 m.) and the Lago Scuro (2453 m.), are separated by 100 m. and 
united by a stream. The former is small and not deep, the latter is large 
and deep, otherwise they are much alike. From the former 33 species 
were obtained, from the latter 17, only 9 common to the two. Of the 
pelagic forms, only Cyclops strenuus and Diaptomus were common to the 
two lakes. The littoral forms were even more distinct. 
INVERTEBRATA. 
Mollusca. 
a. Cephalopoda. 
Oviposition of Nautilus.-f — Dr. A. Willey describes the oviposition 
of Nautilus macr omphalus, the species characteristic of the New Caledonian 
Archipelago, differing from N. pompilius in the umbilical region of the 
shell. The eggs are laid singly and at night, in concealed situations,, 
and are firmly attached to a suitable surface by a sponge-like reticulate 
area of attachment placed towards their hinder inflated extremity,, 
usually on one face of the egg-case, but sometimes quite posteriorly. 
The ovum is enclosed within a double casing, an inner closed capsule, 
and an outer capsule more or less freely open in front. These cap- 
sules are formed of a bright milk-white material, of firm cartilage-like 
consistency. The egg with outer covering complete is of remarkably 
large size, attaining a length of 45 mm. and a maximum height of 
16-25 mm. The vitellus does not fill the entire cavity of the inner- 
capsule, but is surmounted by a layer of cloudy viscid albumen. The 
yolk is of a rich brown colour, very fluid and sub-translucent. The 
breeding seems to be periodic. 
Arthropoda. 
a. Insecta. 
Means of Defence in Insects4— Prof. L. Cucnot gives a detailed 
account of reflex bleeding in insects, e.g. in Timarcha , Galeruca, Megalo- 
pus, Eugaster, and Ephippiger. A preliminary note was previously sum- 
marised. When disturbed these insects emit drops of blood from the 
mouth, or from the femoro-tibial articulations, or from the attachment of 
the elytra. The blood contains toxic, caustic, or repellent substances,, 
such as cantharidin, and is effectively protective against lizards and 
amphibians. A flow may be induced by slight chloroforming or other 
excitation. Compressed by the contraction of the abdomen the blood 
bursts through the cuticle at the points of least resistance. There is 
* Eev. Suisse Zool., iv. (1897) pp. 489-543. 
t Proc. Roy. Soc., lx. (1897) pp. 467-71 (4 figs.), 
t Arch. Zool. Exper., iv. (1896) pp. 655-80 (4 figs.). 
