ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 35 
the strongest are first in the field. The author’s facts form an im- 
portant contribution to the biology of sex and reproduction. 
Use of Spines in Nymphs of Hymenoptera.* — Herr C. Verhoeff 
finds that the spines of Antliracine nymphs (Diptera) are used not only 
in boring but in locomotion, as in Cossidae among Lepidoptera, but in 
the fossorial and other Hymenoptera the spines and tubercles are not 
locomotor but help in the last larval moulting. This, which is probably 
the primitive function, the author terms “ helcodermatic.” 
Life-history of Phryganidse.f — Grafin Maria von Linden has some 
interesting notes on Phryganid larvae, apparently Leptocerinae. She 
describes the protective gelatinous envelope of the eggs, the manner in 
which the larvae escape, the formation of the larval case, and so on. 
Proboscis of Diptera pupipara.J — Herr F. H. Miiggenburg de- 
scribes in great detail the proboscis of Melophagus ovinus , and also of 
Lipoptena cervi, Hippobosca equina , Anapera pallida , Braula cseca , and 
Nycteribia Leachii. His results go to show that Hippoboscidae and 
Braulidae are nearly allied to Muscidae. This conclusion is based on 
anatomical and embryological facts, but is corroborated by the occur- 
rence of species of Musca with reproductive habits like the Pupipara, 
and by the apparently oviparous habit of Braula cseca. 
5. Arachnida. 
Distribution of Spiders.§ — Dr. Marx finds that the Arctic Spider- 
fauna is composed of the ten families whose species constitute the main 
bulk of the entire Spider-fauna of the world ; they are cosmopolitans 
and are found almost everywhere where animal life is possible. The 
Arctic genera are, without exception, those which also occur in other 
regions of the world, and, as yet, no one genus has been found to be 
original to that zone of eternal ice and snow. This is a very remark- 
able fact, since in all other groups of Arthropods the polar fauna is 
distinguished by special and peculiar forms. Very many species occur 
which live in milder climates and under entirely different conditions 
and influences. The differences between the faunas of the eastern and 
western hemispheres are slight. 
Malayan and Papuan Spiders. || — Sig. T. Thorell describes (in 
Latin) 462 Indo-Malayan spiders, including 33 new genera — Euetria , 
Cnodalia , Milonia , Callinethis , Orsinome , Limoxera, Mitoscelis, Stethopoma , 
Perania , Badumna, Astratea, Urgulania , Libania , Boloihymus , Musseus , 
Narcseus , Hedana , Peltorhynchus, Micrccyllus , Zametopias, Nydia, 
Lycosella, Passiena , B,liomochirus, Tapinattus, Epocilla , Chrysilla, Gelotia, 
Oreevia , Bathippus , Carrhotus , Bindax, Nicylla. 
Two new Hydrachnids from the Rhaetikon.^— Herr F. Koenike 
describes Zsckokkea g. n., most nearly related to PLydropkanles and 
* Zool. Anzeig., xv. (1892) pp. 355-60 (5 figs.) 
t Biol. Centralbl., xii. (1892) pp. 523-7. 
X Arch. Naturgeschichte, lviii. (1892) pp. 287-332 (2 pis.). 
§ Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., ii. pp. 186-200. See Amer. Natural., xxvi. (1892) 
pp. 968 and 9. 
|| Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova, xi. (1891-2) pp. 1-491. 
f Zool. Anzeig, xv. (1892) pp. 320-6 (4 figs.). 
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