Notes and memoranda

Professor Claus, of Vienna, has written to us to point out that in 1874 he had published observations on the amoeboid movements of the endoderm cells of the stomach tube of Siphonophora (Monophyes), and had concluded from them, and from the presence of foreign bodies within the cell-substance, that food particles might be taken in by this same method. In his paper on Halistemma (‘Zool. Arbeiten aus der Wiener Institut‘p. 37), published in 1878, he says, “I have already elsewhere given an account (‘Schrift. Zool. Inhalts’ Wien, 1874, pp. 30, 31) of the amoeboid processes and of the movements which the ciliated stomach-cells of the polyps exhibit during life, which fully explain how it comes about that foreign bodies, such as exploded thread-cells, are so frequently found in their protoplasm. Probably, also, the observations of C. Vogt (‘Siphonophoren von Nizze’ 1854, p. 102) upon the entry of small indigo particles into the vacuoles of the cells are to be explained in this way, although no doubt the vacuoles were erroneously interpreted by him as shallow cavities or open gland-sacs.”

Professor Claus appears, therefore, to have been the first observer to suggest, as the result of direct observation of a Hydrozoon, that its endoderm cells were capable of ingesting solid food-particles.

—Mr. Saville Kent’s treatise on the Ciliate and Flagellate Protozoa, now in course of publication, is a carefully executed and valuable work of reference. The existing English books on the subject are quite out of date, and there are not complete systematic treatises on the subject in other languages.

Hence the naturalists (who, we are glad to know, are as numerous as ever) who occupy themselves with the special study of microscopic organisms have no standard of reference, no trust worthy guide either to enable them to assign a name to the forms which they observe or to satisfy themselves that a novelty has come before them. Mr. Kent’s manual will, by its very full and complete series of illustrative plates and the clear systematic descriptions which he has drawn up, efficiently supply the want we have indicated, so far as the ciliate and flagellate forms are concerned.

Mr. Kent’s work also embraces the general anatomy and physiology of the ciliate and flagellate Protozoa, in dealing the which he shows himself to be thoroughly acquainted with the most recent literature, and also a skilful exponent and able original observer. Mr. Kent still maintains James-Clark’s view as to the close affinity of the Flagellata and the Sponges, and although not altogether an acceptable theory, it serves in Mr. Kent’s hands to give a special interest to the various forms and colonies of the Flagellate Protozoa.

We are glad to hear that a volume on the ‘British Rotifera,’ by Dr. C. T. Hudson, of Manilla Hall, Bristol, who will always be remembered, not only for his numerous contributions to our knowledge of this group, but especially for his discovery and clear illustration of the most important member of the group, namely, Pedalion, is in course of preparation for the Ray Society. Dr. Hudson will have the advantage of making use of all Mr. Gosse’s beautiful drawings of Rotifera which that veteran student of microscopic organisms has placed at his disposal.