112 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
Origin of the Yertebrata. —The question whether the Yertebrata 
are derived from a worm-like ancestor or from a neinertine-like form, 
which gave rise to the Vertebrata on the one hand and the Annelids on 
the other, has long been of deepest interest to morphologists. Mr. J. 
T. Cunningham, Director of the Scottish Marine Survey, discusses the 
subject in the recent issue of the “ Quarterly Journal of Microscopical 
Science,” and strongly advocates the theory which regards theVertebrate 
as a worm turned on its back. Since in the Worm the oesophagus is 
embraced by two nerve-cords connecting the brain and ventral nerve- 
cord, but in the Vertebrate no such arrangement exists, the brain and 
spinal cord being entirely dorsal to the alimentary canal, the theory 
requires that a remnant of the original annelid mouth and oesophagus 
should be found in the vertebrate brain. This remnant Mr. Cunning¬ 
ham finds in the Infundibulum of the brain, which is a deep conical 
depression on the ventral surface in connection with the Pituitary body, 
the latter being regarded by Dr. Dohrn as the rudiment of a gill. Mr. 
Cunningham also regards the notochord as of mesoblastic, and not 
of liypoblastic origin, as hitherto supposed, and homologous with the 
three giant fibres beneath the nerve-cord in the earth-worm. 
Botanical Research. —A writer in “Nature ” (March 19th) gives afew 
very interesting particulars of the much-increased facilities which are 
now offered to a student who, having completed his botanical course 
at our Universities, desires to plunge at once into some original 
research. Instead of the customary method of visiting Germany, and 
there sitting at the feet of one of the giants of botanical science whose 
names have been so familiar to him throughout his University course, 
he can now avail himself of the opportunity offered at the Botanical 
Garden at Buitenzcrg, in Java, where, in a not unhealthy locality, he 
would have all the rich materials of a tropical flora at his command. 
Dr. Treub, the Director of the Garden, who speaks English, has 
accommodation in his laboratory for four investigators simultaneously, 
and the offer is made freely to those of any nation. But even in 
Europe we have now, besides the well-known station at Naples, a 
second marine station at Antibes, in the south of France, where, on 
suitable application, foreigners can obtain admission to the laboratories 
of the Villa Thuret, and prosecute their researches under the director¬ 
ship of M. Naudin. The writer also refers to the Jodrell laboratory at 
Kew, and laments that so little is done by us to utilise in our gardens 
at Calcutta and Peradeniya opportunities as great as those which ihe 
Dutch have at Buitenzorg. There is hope, however, that as regards 
Britain, the Marine Biological Associations will remove the reproach 
under which we now labour that there is no station at which an earnest 
student could prosecute his studies in marine botany, without accepting 
the help of a foreign Government. 
Encouragement of Scientific Research. —The Royal Society of New 
South Wales offers its medal and a money prize for the best commu¬ 
nication (provided it be of sufficient merit) on each of eight subjects of 
scientific interest. Among these are:—Anatomy and Life-history of the 
Echidna and Platypus ; Anatomy and Life-history of Mollusca peculiar 
to Australia ; Tin Deposits of New South Wales ; Iron-ore Deposits of 
New South Wales ; List of Marine Fauna of Port Jackson, with 
descriptive notes, Ac., as to habits, distribution, Ac.; Infusoria peculiar 
to Australia. The competition is open to all the world, without any 
restriction, excepting that the competition must be either wholly or 
in part original—mere compilation will not be sufficient. 
