ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
749 
time, this is not true for all the cells of the epithelium. In Ajpolemia 
especially the development of the cells varies in a really extraordinary 
way ; there are some which possess, in addition to the longitudinal 
muscle, fibres which run transversely and vertically ; others have no 
transverse processes and end roundly on the surface. The peripherally 
rounded cells are, in ForsJcalea, chiefly found on the dorsal surface. 
Their form is very much that of the neuromuscular cells described by 
Korotoeff ; but they are not epithelial in position, and are merely 
special forms of epithelial cells. There are, in addition to them, other 
abnormal cell-forms. Sometimes, for example, the central process is 
completely wanting ; pretty often it happens that the processes divide, 
and then there are what look like typical ganglionic cells. However, 
whatever the extent of the resemblance may be, there is always some- 
thing or other in the cell which prevents our supposing that we have to 
do with a nervous element. 
KorotnefFs views as to what should be called nervous are very wide ; 
the presence of quite irregular protoplasmic processes leads him at once 
to conclude that the cell is nervous. However, the giant-cells on the 
trunk of ForsTcalea possess processes, which in length, form, and struc- 
ture leave nothing wanting to justify their being called nervous. These 
cells form aggregates with their long axis set transversely to the trunk ; 
they are connected with the rest by short, thick connecting bridges, and 
the nerve-fibres which radiate out from them are often of extraordinary 
thickness, branch like ganglionic-cell-processes, and extend below the 
epithelium and into the muscles. The fluid which comes from the fibres 
may perhaps be compared with the hyaloplasm of the ganglionic cells 
of higher animals. The finer the processes — some are very delicate — 
the more difficult is it to distinguish them from processes of epithelio- 
muscular cells. 
After some remarks on stinging-cells, the author states that he has 
been able to come to definite views on the formation of the spicules 
by a study of Alcyonium acaule. Indifferent ectodermal cells here and 
there form groups and give rise by fusion to the matrix-elements of the 
spicules. They take the form of the future spicule, and secrete cal- 
careous substance, in which at first nuclei can be recognized : later on 
the organic groundwork becomes completely lost. 
Organization of Anthozoa.* — M. P. Cerfontaine describes a new 
species of Cerianthus from the Red Sea, which he calls C. brachysoma. 
The body has the form of a cone slightly flattened transversely ; the 
anterior extremity is marked by a strong dorsoventral costa, the presence 
of which causes the animal to appear to be bilaterally symmetrical. 
The tentacles are few but large. 
The author next discusses the arrangement of the tentacles in 
C. membranaceus, as to which a number of discordant statements have 
been made. He finds that the number of marginal tentacles constantly 
varies during the existence of an individual Cerianthus , for fresh 
tentacles are always being formed, alternately to the right and left. 
A few physiological observations on Astroides calycularis are 
offered; if pieces are cut off a polype we may see that individuals 
* Bull. Acad. Roy. de Belgique, lxi. (1891) pp. 128-48 (1 pi.). 
