( 759 ) 
SUMMARY 
OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY 
(principally Invertebrata and Cryptogamia ), 
MICROSCOPY, Ac., 
INCLUDING ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM FELLOWS AND OTHERS * 
ZOOLOGY. 
A. VERTEBRATA : — Embryology, Histology, and General, 
a. Embryology. f 
Gamophagy.J — Herr J. Muller believes that one germinal sub- 
stance assimilates or devours the other with which it has become 
intimately associated in fertilization. His theory is more or less 
analogous with the opinions of those who believe that fertilization in- 
cludes a chemical influence between substances qualitatively different, 
and is, therefore, it is hardly necessary to say, far from harmonizing 
with Weismann’s theory of Amphimixis which the author criticizes. 
Theory of the Mesoderm. § — Prof. C. Rabl continues his discussion 
of the mesoderm, with special reference to embryos of Pristiurus. We 
cannot do more than notice a few of his conclusions. The vertebral 
bodies arise by a gradual differentiation of the skeletogenous sheath 
from without inwards. Long before the appearance of the bodies the 
arches and intercalated pieces are formed, and also the transverse 
muscle-septa. Perhaps the centripetal progress is also true phylo- 
genetically. 
The ribs have no genetic connection with the ventral arches, 
although at an early date connected with them. At no time do the 
ribs appear as direct prolongations or as lateral processes of ventral 
arches, but are throughout independent. But there are ribs and ribs. 
The ribs (“ pleural arches ”) of Ganoids, Teleosteans, and Dipnoi arise 
* The Society are not intended to be denoted by the editorial “ we,” and they do 
not hold themselves responsible for the views of the authors of the papers noted, 
nor for any claim to novelty or otherwise made by them. The object of this part of 
the Journal is to present a summary of the papers as actually published , and to 
describe and illustrate Instruments, Apparatus, &c., which are either new or have 
not been previously described in this country. 
f This section includes not only papers relating to Embryology properly so called, 
but also those dealing with Evolution, Development, and Reproduction, and allied 
subjects. 
X ‘ Ueber Gamophagie. Ein Yersuch zum weiteren Ausbau der Theorie der 
Befruchtung und Yererbung,’ Stuttgart, 1892. Bot. Centralbl., li. (1892) pp. 
279-80. 
§ Morphol. Jahrb., xix. (1892) pp. 65-144, pis. iv.-vii. and figs. 10-13. 
