ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
425 
by exercising the greatest caution in not confusing convergent adapta- 
tional characters with true genetic resemblances.” 
Brain of Glyeera.* — M. Ch. Gravier has studied the brain of Glycera 
convoluta and related forms, and finds, as his chief result, that it shows 
the same general characters as that of other Polychaete Annelids. The 
division of the prostomium into rings is quite superficial, and only 
affects the epidermis. It has no relation to segmentation, and there is 
no essential difference between the prostomium of the Glyceriidae and 
that of allied forms. 
Elytra of Aphroditidae.j — G. Darboux fils argues that the elytra 
are not homologous with dorsal cirri. In segments without elytra the 
elytrophore has its homologue in a dorsal ridge, sometimes called 
the gill. The insertion of the cirrus is definitely parapodial. A study 
of development confirms the conclusion that elytron and cirrus are quite 
distinct. In some abnormalities, e. g. in Acholoe astericola Clpd., an 
elytron and a dorsal cirrus may occur on the same segment. What are 
called gills in these worms are not homologous throughout, not even in 
the same family. In Acholoe, for instance, they are homologous with 
elytrophores ; in Sigalion, where there are gills even on the segments 
with elytra, they are evidently not so. 
New Species of Litoral Oligochaeta.J — Akira Jizuka describes 
Pontodrilus matsushimensis sp. n., found burrowing in the sand, under 
half decayed leaves of Zostera marina , along the shores of Matsushima 
Bay, Japan. It tallies well with Beddard’s definition of the genus 
Pontodrilus , except that the vas deferens opens into one end of the 
glandular portion of the spermiducal gland, the other end leading to 
the male pore, whereas in Pontodrilus the vasa deferentia open “ at the 
junction of the glandular and muscular parts.” It is probable, however, 
the author thinks, that his reference of this new species to the above 
genus is correct. 
Annelids of ‘ Travailleur ’ and ‘Talisman’ Expeditions^— M. Louis 
Roule makes a preliminary report on these, — seven already known, and 
seven new. He establishes two new types — Aphrodilella and Letmoni- 
cella — satellites of Aphrodite and Letmonice respectively, and of con- 
siderable systematic interest. The two most abundant species were 
Eunice G'unneri, living in commensalism with Lophohelia prolifera and 
Amphihelia oculata , and Hyalinecia tuhicola, living in a tube of its own 
making. The author makes a few notes on bathymetric and geographical 
distribution. 
Phagocytic Organs in Earthworms. || — Herr G. Schneider points 
out that in 1896 he clearly described two indubitably phagocytic organs 
in Allolohophora, — (a) a portion of the typhlosole ; and (6) a region in 
each nephridial canal. This note is in reference to the fact that Cuenot. 
in a recent communication on the functions of Oligochaeta, says very 
little about the typhlosole, and seems to have misunderstood Schneider. 
* Comptes Rendus, cxxvi. (1898) pp. 972-5. f Tom. cit., pp. 1226-7. 
X Annot. Zool. Japon., ii. (1898) pp. 21-7 (1 pi.). 
§ Comptes Rendus, cxxvi. (1898) pp. 1166-8. 
II Zool. Anzeig , xxi. (1898) pp. 295-6. 
