ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
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as to existence of peripheral multipolar nerve-cells. It does not follow 
that these are the same as the elements described by Bethe in 1896, 
which Holmgren suspected to be mesenchymatous. There is no doubt, 
according to Holmgren’s observations, as to the multipolar nerve-cells 
in the skin of caterpillars ( Sphinx ligustri ) ; and his fresh investigation 
of Palsemon, &c., leads him to believe that the same is true of Crus- 
taceans. The nerve-cells are connected by their dendritic processes with 
one another, and perhaps also with axis-processes. In caterpillars the 
state of affairs is clearer, since there are no mesenchymatous elements 
which could lead to confusion. 
Distribution of Deep-Sea Brachyura and Anomura.* * * § — MM. A. 
Milne-Edwards and E. L. Bouvier comment upon the comparative 
thoroughness with which the abyssal fauna has been explored in the 
area limited by the Western Mediterranean, the Canaries, the Azores, 
and the Gulf of Gascony. Far over a thousand dredgings and the 
like have been made. Yet the results are in some respects strange. In 
the later expeditions conducted by the Prince of Monaco only one new 
form was found — Sympagurus Grimaldii , of which only one specimen 
is known. Of the eight known species of this genus, six were obtained 
in this area. Many other primitive Paguridaa have been found in the 
same region, which may perhaps be regarded as one of their head- 
quarters. At the same time, it is strange that while the first explora- 
tions revealed many new forms, so to speak, at each haul of the dredge, 
the six later explorations have resulted in scarcely anything new. This 
seems to the authors to suggest that something is wrong with the 
mechanical methods of capture at present in use. 
Fossil Apodidae.f — Mr. C. Schuchert makes a welcome contribution 
to our knowledge of fossil Phyllopod genera, describing Dipeltis Packard 
(emend.) which is closely allied to Apus, Diplodiscus carri sp. n., and 
the synthetic type Protocaris Walcott. He discusses the geological 
history of the Apodidae, which he divides into two new sub-families, — 
Apodinae ( Protocaris , Lepidurus, Apus ) and Dipeltinae ( Dipeltis ). 
New Gall-making Copepod.J — M. Jules Bonnier describes a Cope- 
pod, Pionodesmotes phormosomse g. et sp. n., which lives at the expense 
of a deep-sea Echinoid ( Phormosoma aranus), and makes galls protruding 
into the interior of the test of its host. At first sight it suggested the 
Choniostomatidae, which are parasitic on Arthrostraca, but it is distin- 
guished by a perfectly developed second antenna, by the absence of a 
prebuccal sucker, by the single pair of maxillipedes, &c. A new family 
seems necessary to receive it, probably near Auliostoma and other forms 
described by Canu. 
Deep-Sea Crustacea from the South-West of Ireland. § — Mr. W. T. 
Caiman describes a number of new forms, of which the most remarkable 
is Bresilia atlantica g. et sp. n. It seems to require a new family, 
BresiliiDjE, since it occupies a somewhat isolated position among the 
Caridea. The following points indicate its primitive character 
* Comptes Rendus, cxxvi. (1898) pp. 1245-7. 
f Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., xix. (1897) pp. 671-6 (1 pi.), 
j Comptes Rendus, cxxvi. (1898) pp. 769-71. 
§ Trans. R. Irish Acad., xxxi. (1896) received 1898, pp. 1-22 (2 pis.). 
