484 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
sense-organs, and the animals are sensitive according to the number of 
setse present. The epidermis contains numerous scattered unicellular 
glands. The cells may reach a great size ; and when a number of glands 
are aggregated together, very conspicuous structures may be produced. 
Snch are the ventral glands of the Geopliilidae and the poison-glands of 
Chilopoda in general. The ventral glands produce a clear limpid fluid 
which coagulates in air and is slightly phosphorescent in some Geophi- 
lidae. The poison-gland, like the ventral glands, consists of a number 
of unicellular glands compacted together ; but an invagination of the 
integument has provided the cells with a common excretory canal, and 
made the gland appear internal. The poison is distinctly acid in reac- 
tion ; it acts only upon Arthropods and Vertebrates. The author also 
considers in detail the metameric glands of the anterior region of the 
body. He wholly rejects the idea of their homology with tracheas, but 
considers them homologous with the anterior glands (salivary glands, &c.) 
of insects. In connection with the mesenchyme the author has studied 
the anatomy of the circulatory system, and the histology of the blood- 
vessels and of the blood. In Scolopendra the very simple distribution 
of the vessels recalls the conditions seen in Annelids. Except in the 
anterior region, the latero-dorsal and latero-ventral vessels or their 
branches bear small rounded bodies, the corpuscles of Kowalevsky. 
These are confined to the family Scolopendridae. The author thinks 
that they are to be regarded as persistent portions of embryonic mesen- 
chyme, analogous to the spleen of Vertebrates. He does not agree with 
Kowalevsky, who assigns to them a very important phagocytic function. 
The blood contains the following formed elements : (1) small cells 
with large nuclei which probably arise from the corpuscles of Kowa- 
levsky ; (2) uninucleated cells of large size functioning as active 
phagocytes, and arising irom the preceding; (3) degenerating cells 
with small nuclei. In the connective tissue the most interesting cells 
are those which have the power of taking up carminate of ammonia in- 
jected into the blood. These are sometimes placed round the salivary 
glands, sometimes near the Malpighian tubules, sometimes round vessels 
or sinuses. These diverse situations recall the position of the similar 
cells in different Arthropods (scorpion, insects, &c.) Round the intes- 
tine the author finds a remarkable and previously undescribed perivis- 
ceral sinus which is not coelomic, but whose relations to the embryonic 
coelom are worthy of investigation. 
Studies on Myriopods.* — Dr. C. Verhoeff continues his account of 
palaearctic Myriopods, the present communication dealing with the 
comparative morphology, the phylogeny, and the taxonomy of the 
Chordeumidae. 
y t Frotracheata. 
American Species of Peripatus.f — E. L. Bouvier draws attention to 
certain minor peculiarities noticed in the American species of Peri- 
patus, and their systematic value. He finds that the New World forms 
can be arranged in regional groups, each locality being characterised by 
its peculiar species or varieties. He discusses the means of identifying 
the species and their relations to the other known species. 
* Arch. Naturgesch., lxv. (1899) pp. 95-154 (5 pis. and 4 figs.). 
f Comptes Rendus, cxxviii. (1899; pp. 1344-6. 
