ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
27 
the subcutaneous nerve-plexus is a true plexus, and not a network ; the 
nerve-fibres which form it never anastomose with one another, though 
they interlace in a very complicated way. The number of fine nerve- 
fibrils which penetrate vertically into the epidermis is truly incalculable ; 
in good preparations a very forest of fine nervous branchlets may be seen 
penetrating the epidermis and conveying sensibility to all points of the 
skin. 
Golgi’s Method and the Distribution of Nerve-fibres.* — At the 
annual meeting of the German Anatomical Society, in June 1892, a 
discussion followed a paper by Dr. Retzius on the peripheral mode of 
termination of auditory nerves. Prof. Waldeyer thought it a matter for 
consideration whether Golgi’s method really showed the final termina- 
tions of the nerves ; Prof. Claus thought that there was no doubt that 
in Invertebrates there was passage between nerve-fibres and peripheral 
sensory cells ; Prof. Kolliker thought it possible that in lower animals 
nerve-fibres arose from epithelial cells, though it was not the case in 
higher forms. Prof. Merkel related the experience of a worker in his 
laboratory who used the methylen-blue method. Dr. Retzius remarked 
that the images of epithelial and sensory organs obtained by Golgi’s 
method were quite sharp and certain. Herr Zimmermann gave an 
account of the connection between sensory cells and nerves as shown 
by Ramon’s method. 
y. General. 
Survey of Fishing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland.f — Mr. E. W. L. 
Holt, in a report to which Prof. A. C. Haddon prefixes an introductory 
note,f gives a very valuable account of the marine fauna of the West 
Coast of Ireland. Echinoderms appear to be the chief food of the Piper, 
Haddock, and Common Dab, while they are largely eaten by others, 
and occasionally by Cods and Skate. Annelids are the chief food of 
the Lemon Dab, Pole Dab, and Common Sole ; Gephyreans are occa- 
sionally eaten by the Plaice and Common Sole ; Nemerteans are rarely 
eaten by the Cod. Of this last, as of some others, the chief food is- 
Crustaceans. Lamellibranchs form the chief food of the Plaice, and are 
largely eaten by the Spotted Ray. Gastropods and Cephalopods are 
less frequently eaten. Some fish live chiefly or almost altogether on 
other fish ; Sand-eels appear to be the most universally persecuted, and 
it is noted that the Dragonet and Weever are not infrequent victims, in 
spite of their formidable armature. 
Plankton of Plymouth.§ — Mr. E. J. Bles was engaged during the 
past summer in investigating the surface-fauna of the Plymouth waters. 
It appears, during that period, to have been exceptionally small, and 
it is possible that one may associate with this fact three others — the 
Plymouth mackerel fishery was a failure, dog-fishes were not obtainable 
during June and July, and Aurelia aurita , which in summer is usuallv 
common, was extremely scarce in the Sound and tidal waters of Plymouth. 
* Verhancll. Anat. Gesell., 1892, pp. 79-81. 
t Scientific Proc. R. Dublin Soc., vii. (1892) pp. 225-177. 
X Tom. cit., pp. 221-4. § Journ. Marine Biol. Assoc., ii. (1892) pp. 340-3. 
