ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 
Moll. 13 
Q. J. Micr. Sci. xxi. pp. 595-608 ; abstract in Arch. Z. exper. ix. pp. lix. 
& lx. 
F. G. Penrose states that no red blood-corpuscle could be found in 
the pericardial cavity of Solen legumen, in the only individual which 
allowed a favourable examination. Rep. Brit. Ass. 1881, p. 183. 
Chemical note on the hseraolymph of Planorhis corneus^ Limncea 
stagnalis, and Paludina vivipara, the former owing its colour to haemo- 
globin ; C. F. W. Krukenberg, Verb. Ver. Heidelb. (2) iii. pp. 86-88. 
5 . Excretion and Secretion. 
J. Carriere denies the existence of a special system of vessels for the 
reception of water from outwards in the Gastropods and Bivalves ; the 
opening attributed to it by authors is the opening of a mucous gland, 
according to his observations in 12 genera of marine Gastropods. Zool. 
Anz. iv. p. 433. 
The excretory funetion of the venous appendages in the Cephalopoda 
is confirmed by chemical experiments by B. Solger, Zool. Anz. iv. 
p. 379. 
Glands opening in a median slit at the front end of the foot in Val- 
vata piscinalis described by H. Simroth, tom. cit. p. 328. 
H. Simroth maintains that land snails take water into their body, not 
only by the mouth, but the whole skin ; 1. c. p. 528. 
6 . Nervous System. 
The commissures and net-like communications between the pedal 
nerves of Chiton, Patella, Fissurella, and Haliotis are described by B. 
Haller, Zool. Anz. iv. pp. 92 & 93 ; they are more numerous in Chiton 
than stated by Ihering, and the author concludes that Chiton is in this 
respect not so very isolated, but really allied to the other-mentioned 
genera. 
Abstract of Simroth’s paper on the pedal nervous system of Paludina 
[Zool. Rec. xvii. Moll., p. 13] in Arch. Z. exp4r. ix. p. xxv. 
Nervous system of Onchidium described by J. Joyeux-Laffuie, 0. R. 
xcii. pp. 144 & 145. 
7 . Action of Poisons. 
E. Yung states that poisonous substances act in the Cephalopods very 
slowly and feebly by subcutaneous absorption ; crystalloid poisons are 
absorbed rapidly by the gills, colloid poisons must be injected into the 
cephalic artery. Young specimens of Sepia survive in fresh- water only 
1 minute, adult ones about 20 minutes, and in a mixture of equal parts of 
sea and fresh- water about 45 minutes. Acids and alkaline substances do 
not act on the Cephalopods in proportion to their chemical energy ; both 
cause acceleration of the respiratory movements. Chloride of mercury first 
attacks the muscular contractility. Curare, strychnine, and veratrine 
act on the Cephalopods nearly in the same manner as on the Vertebrates. 
