Abstract
EDINBURGH. Royal Society, March 17.—Dr. B. N. Peach, F.R.S., vice-president, in the chair.—Dr. W. S. Bruce Measurements and weights of Antarctic seals taken by the Scottish National Antarctic expedition.—Dr. S. F. Harmer and Dr. W. G. Ridewood: The Pterobranchia of the Scottish National Antarctic expedition. The pacer contained the description of a new species of Cephalodiscus (C. agglutinans), in which the colon is massive and branching, the pieces of the colony being 115 mm. in greatest length, and 55 mm. in greatest breadth. The specimens were obtained in one haul in 56 fathoms off the Burdwood Bank, south of the Falkland Islands. The Zooids, which are deep brown or black in colour, are 4·5 mm. long, and have usually nine pairs of arms, i.e. a greater number than in any species hitherto known. Buds are present in large numbers, being formed in the usual way on a disc at the end of a stalk of a full-grown individual.—Prof. J. Stephenson: Intestinal respiration in Annelids, with considerations on the origin and evolution of the vascular system in that group. The occurrence of antiperistalsis and ascending ciliary action in the intestine of aquatic Oligochaeta points to the intestine being a respiratory organ in those worms. The exceptional case of the genus Chætogaster is explained by assuming the descent of existing species (which are carnivorous) from endoparasitic ancestors, the antiperistalsis and the ascending ciliary action being given up on the assumption of the parasitic habit. From a consideration of the cryptozoic habits, the nature of the vascular system, and the occurrence of intestinal respiration, the author holds that the existing Polychsets are to be regarded as more primitive than the errant forms.—Dr. J. Ritchie and A. J. H. Edwards: The occurrence of functional teeth in the upper jaw of the sperm whale. In two of seven sperm whales examined about a score of maxillary teeth, with worn crowns, projected from the surface of the gum and were clearly used in masticating. Each of the whales had an enormous pre-oral rostrum sharply truncated at the extremity.
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Societies and Academies . Nature 91, 154–155 (1913). https://doi.org/10.1038/091154a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/091154a0