278 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
fragile. In a newspaper they persisted in statu quo for three months 
and more. The gelatinous material of the body cements the sand. 
Trails of Littorina litorea and Lunatia heros have been studied in 
relation to fossil trails, like Climacticnites. Only one pre-Cambrian 
trail suggests a worm’s burrow. The preservation of marine trails 
requires the postulation of some such processes as have been noted in 
connexion with jelly-fishes. J. A. T. 
Fixation of Fats by Cortex of Suprarenals. — A. Policard and 
Juliana Tritchkovitch ( Gomptes Rendus Acad. Sci ., 1922, 174, 
960-1). The investigators have shown that the sebaceous glands are 
able to fix fats from the blood, and by means of the method of feeding 
mice with red-stained food they have shown that cells of the cortical 
zone of the suprarenal capsules with large adipose vacuoles are able to 
do the same. J. A. T. 
Functions of the Spleen. — L. Stern and G. de Morsier ( C '. R. 
Soc. Rhys. Hist. Nat. Geneve , 1922, 39, 29-30). Records of some 
experiments which support the theory that the spleen may function, 
through its hormone lienin, in maintaining the tonus of organs with 
smooth muscle-fibres. Removal of the spleen may throw m6re work on 
other organs, and notably on the suprarenal capsules. J. A. T. 
Habits of Tortugas Fishes. — W. H. Longley ( Proc . Amer. Soc . 
Zool. in Anat. Record, 1922, 23, 131). Various fishes occur in a 
“ sand-patch association,” being adapted to a substratum where they are 
concealed temporarily or in which they burrow. It is noted that 
Thalassoma nitidus seems to clean ectoparasites off other and larger 
fishes. These return again and again to submit to the process of groom- 
ing, and will drive others away which interrupt the attentions of the 
groom. This Thalassoma is closely resembled by a small blenny which, 
although rare, occurs along with it, and probably illustrates “ Batesian 
mimicry.” J. A. T. 
Poisoning Fishes with Lime. — M. Born and {Bull. Soc. Vaudoise- 
Sci. Nat., 1921, 54, 67-9). Experiments with goldfish showing the 
toxicity of lime, chloride of lime, hypochloride of lime, and calcium 
carbide. Poisoning with lime and calcium carbide is marked by a 
discoloration and ulceration of the gills, opacity of the eyes, and a 
corrosion of the epidermis. There is also a deposition of crystals of 
sulphate of lime in the gills after the addition of a minute quantity of 
sulphuric acid. J. A. T. 
INVERTEBRATA. 
Mollusca. 
<y. Gastropoda. 
Five Years of a Self-fertilized Line of Limnaea columella. — 
H. S. Colton {Proc. Amer. Soc. Zool. in Anat. Record , 1922, 23, 97). 
In 1911 a pond snail isolated in a vivarium laid a mass of eggs. The 
resulting young snails were isolated and cross-breeding prevented. Yet 
