SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES 
RELATING TO 
ZOOLOGY AND 
BOTANY 
(principally inyertebrata and cryptogamia). 
MICROSCOPY, Etc.* 
ZOOLOGY. 
VERTEBRATA. 
a . Embryolog-y.f 
Egg-laying and Early Development of Splienodon.J — Dr. G. Thile- 
nius has studied the habits of Sphenodon, both in Stephens Island and in 
Te Karewa. In the former island the adults live in the burrows of a Pro- 
cellaria, in the latter in those of Puffinus brevicaudatus , or in both cases 
they may also dig their own burrows. The eggs are laid in burrows 
excavated under tufts of grass, the work of excavation being carried on 
by the female at night only. Each burrow contains usually twelve eggs,, 
but the number may vary from 9-17. They are packed in the egg- 
chamber by the help of the mouth, and the entrance is subsequently 
blocked with earth mixed with stems of grass. Only about one-third 
of the eggs seem to hatch, the embryos in the remainder dying at an 
early stage. This is possibly due in part to want of moisture, which is 
an essential, in part also probably to the pressure produced by the increase 
in volume of the eggs during development. This increase is due to 
absorption of water by the albumen. Monstrosities are also relatively 
frequent. When hatched, the young burrow their way out of the nest,, 
but remain in its vicinity, and do not seek the haunts of the adults till 
the end of their first year. 
The author describes the allantoic canal and the remarkable colour- 
changes of the embryo in terms similar to those of other observers. 
Parietal Eye and Adjacent Organs. § — Prof. Arthur Dendy has 
studied the development of the parietal eye and adjacent organs in 
Sphenodon , and has been led by his own results and those of others to 
the following general conclusions : — 
(1) The “ epiphysis ” of Selachians is formed by a pair of equally 
* The Society are not intended to be denoted by the editorial “ we,” and they do 
not hold themselves responsible for the views of the authors of the papers noted, 
nor for any claim to novelty or otherwise made by them. The object of this part of 
the Journal is to present a summary of the papers as actually published , and to 
describe and illustrate Instruments, Apparatus, &c., which are either new or have 
not been previously described in this country. 
f This section includes not only papers relating to Embryology properly so called, 
but also those dealing with Evolution, Development and ^Reproduction, and allied 
subjects. % SB. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1899, pp. 247-56. 
§ Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci., xlii. (18 9) pp. 111-53 (3 pis.). 
