530 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
to find any transverse connections between tbe large longitudinal nerves 
of the two margins of the proglottids. He himself has, by the aid of 
Yom Bath’s killing mixture, been able to demonstrate certain well- 
defined commissures in Moniezia expansa and 31. pianissimo,. The 
lateral nerve-trunk of these worms is elliptical in cross-section. Near 
the posterior end of each proglottis the lateral nerve becomes enlarged 
and forms a distinct ganglionic mass, consisting of larger central and 
smaller outer cells. From the outer side of each of these ganglia there 
arises a large nerve which passes off towards the margin of the proglottis. 
This is the marginal nerve, and in addition to it there are several small 
nerves which are distributed to the hinder marginal portions of the 
proglottis ; from the dorsal surface of the ganglion there arises a large 
nerve which passes directly across the proglottis to join the corre- 
sponding part of the posterior lateral ganglion of the opposite side of 
the body. This the author calls the dorsal commissure. A nerve cor- 
responding in size, position, and connection likewise unites the ventral 
surfaces of the two posterior lateral ganglia. This is called the 
ventral commissure. These two commissural nerves are band-like. 
Along their whole length occur ganglionic nerve-cells either singly or 
grouped into clusters. They are united with each other by means of 
two dorsal ventral nerves. In addition to this, which is merely, it 
appears, a preliminary notice, the author gives some other interesting 
details as to the distribution of nerves in the body of tapeworms. 
Gctocotylidse.* * * § — M. P. Cerfontaine has brought together in a col- 
lected form the results of his studies on these worms, the preliminary 
notices of which we have already reported, j For the details which he 
adds to these notices we must refer the student to the original. 
Rotatoria. 
New American Rotifera.J — Hr. A. C. Stokes describes a number 
of Rotifers which were all taken from a shallow clear water pool in a 
rocky wood near Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.A. 3Ionostyla bipes is a 
somewhat remarkable concoction of names, but Dr. Stokes says that when 
the animal was dead he distinctly saw the two claws slightly parted. 
Rotifera of Illinois River. § — Mr. A. Hempel has found in or near 
Illinois River no less than ninety species of Rotifers ; of these three, 
belonging to the genus Brachionus, appear to be new. B. variabilis is 
remarkable for losing its posterior spines with age. It is very restless 
and active, and occurs only in open water free from vegetation. B. mollis 
is peculiar for having a very thin soft lorica, and no spines. 
Incertae Sedis. 
Sexual Phases of Myzostoma.||— Prof. W. M. Wheeler commences 
with a descriptive account of the species which infest in various "ways 
Crinoids. Some are migratory, i.e. they move about freely on their 
hosts; others are stationary, these are sluggish species which can never 
* Arch, de Biol., xiv. (1896) pp. 497-560 (1 ph). 
t See this Journal, 1S95, pp. 536-634. 
X Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., xviii. (1896) pp. 17-27 (2 pis.). 
§ Bull. Illinois State Laboratory, iv. (1896) pp. 309-13 (3 pis.). 
|| MT. Zool. Stat. Naples, xii. (1896) pp. 227-302. 
