674 
SUMMARY OP CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
pJiilus. The Carabicidaa illustrate the simplest state: a simple blind 
tube on each side produces spermatozoa, stores the elements, and secretes 
mucus ; each tube opens into a somewhat stronger duct, and the two 
ducts unite in a common ejaculatory canal. The terminal portion in 
this case is lined with chitin, and is therefore ectodermic, not the result of 
the confluence of the mesodermic vasa deferentia. The regions correspond- 
ing to testes, vasa deferentia, and seminal vesicle are mesodermic, and 
Escherich calls them “ primary sexual organs ” ; as “ secondary ” he dis- 
tinguishes the ectodermic penis with its “ parameres,” the ejaculatory 
duct, and two tubular glands — the “ ectadenia.” Starting from such a 
simple case as Cardbus , the author shows how the endless variety of 
complications may be reduced to some order, as illustrations of pro- 
gressive specialization. 
Tertiary Rhynchophorous Coleoptera of the United States.* * * § — Mr. 
S. H. Scudder finds that the general facies of this fauna is American, 
that all the species are extinct, and none common to the Gosiute lake 
and the basin of Florissant ; no species is identical with any European 
Tertiary form. Indeed the Coleoptera appear to tell the same story as 
other groups of American Tertiary insects. j* In the preparation of the 
monograph 753 specimens were examined. 
Seminal Receptacle of the Wasp.f — Dr. P. Marchal finds that this 
organ has three layers, an internal chitinous layer, a medium layer of 
elongated epithelial cells whose inner parts are striated, and an external 
layer of imperfectly striped muscle elements. The middle layer is 
particularly interesting, as an instance of epithelio-muscular cells. 
As regards structure, the author differs from the late Mr. Cheshire, 
maintaining that the seminal canal, from the receptaculum to the vagina, 
is simple and not bifurcated. 
He also describes the copulation. The males may copulate several 
times ; a second copulation on the female’s part is rare. No pairing can 
occur between the nearly related Vespa germanica and V. vulgaris. The 
epithelio-muscular cells, probably by a peristaltic movement, serve to 
draw up the seminal fluid. In the nests there are no special cells for the 
males, and it seems likely that the occurrence of males in the queen’s 
progeny is due to a diminution in the amount of spermatic fluid. 
Fertile Workers among Bees.§ — Dr. P. Marchal discusses the occur- 
rence of fertile workers, as alleged by several naturalists from Aristotle 
to Huber, but still doubted by such an authority as Prof. J. Perez in his 
recent work on Bees. From a case furnished by M. Huillon, the author 
has convinced himself of the reality of the alleged occurrence. A 
queenless hive supplied many examples of workers with fully developed 
ovaries ; the numerous eggs were laid with much irregularity (thus there 
might be ten in one cell) ; the progeny consisted of males. Dr. Marchal 
does not, of course, claim that his observations are novel, but they are 
useful as corroborations. 
* Monographs U.S. Geol. Survey, xxi. (1893) xi. and 206 pp., 12 pis. 
t See ante, p. 446. 
X Ann. Soc. Entomol. France, lxiii. (1894) pp. 44-9 (1 fig.). 
§ Bull. Soc. Entomol. France, 1894, pp. cxcv-vii. 
