542 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
the scar-tissue abounds in regeneration-cells with large nuclei. These 
regeneration-cells seem to spring both from the epidermis and from the 
gut-epithelium. Nerve-fibres grow out from the old cord, and cells, 
hardly distinguishable from regeneration-cells, form by multiplication 
little nests in the cord. 
The nerve-fibres and the gut grow further into the regenerating 
area ; the fibres surround the gut at that spot where it is nearest the 
epidermis ; and along the whole stretch of the new nervous rudiment, 
cells are apposed from the young epidermis, especially at a dorsal spot 
just over the end of the gut (the future cerebrum). 
A funnel-like invagination of the epidermis forms a new stomodfeum, 
but the epithelium of the pharyngeal region arises from the cells of 
the old gut. Meanwhile, aggregations of cells with many mitoses are 
to be seen on the whole nerve-cord, as far back as the 15th segment. 
Most are like ganglion-cells, others seem to be non-nervous. 
The author refrains from generalisations and theoretical conclusions, 
for which there is not yet a sufficiently strong foundation of facts. 
Development of Nephridia of Earthworms in Regeneration and 
in Ontogeny.* * * § — A. Michel describes the single and somatopleural 
origin of the nephridium in Allolobophora foetida, and has convinced 
himself as to the remarkable parallelism between the embryonic and 
the regenerative development. 
Chilian Earthworms.f — Dr. W. Michaelsen has investigated Plate’s 
Chilian collection. The results correspond with what previous collec- 
tions have shown in regard to the earthworms of this region. There 
were two new forms : — Acanthodrilus platei and Microscolex pallidus — 
belonging to the two genera which have been already shown to be pre- 
dominant in Chili. 
Rotatoria. 
Asplanchna in Britain.^ — Mr. W. T. Caiman points out that if 
the occurrence of Asplanchna as a conspicuous member of the pelagic 
fauna of lakes has not hitherto been recorded in Britain, it can only be 
attributed to the lack of attention in this country to the systematic 
investigation of our fresh-water fauna. He has found A. priodonta in 
lochs near Dundee, and Mr. John Hood has long been familiar with its 
occurrence. 
Rotifera of Ceylon.§ — Dr. E. Y. Daday gives a list of 42 species 
of Rotifers collected in Ceylon by Dr. J. V. Madarasz in 1896, and 
brought home in spirit. Among these, one new species, Cathypna macro - 
dactyla , and two new varieties, Asplanchna brightivelli var. ceylonica , and 
Salpina macracantha var. ceylonica , are named and figured. 
The total number of species known from Ceylon is only 46. Is there 
no microscopist in the island who would take up the study of these 
creatures and make a fairly complete list ? 
* Comptes Rendus, exxvi. (1898) pp. 1820-1. 
f Fauna Chilensis, Heft ii. Supplement iv., Zool. Jalirb., 1898, pp. 471-80(1 fig.). 
% Nature, lviii. (1898) p. 271. 
§ ‘ Mikroskopisehe Susswasserthiere aus Ceylon,* Budapest, 1898, pp. 1-20 (4 figs.). 
