EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
Notes on the mode of growth of Tubicinella trachealis, the Barnacle of the Southern Right Whale, have been contributed to the 'Transactions' of the South African Philosophical Society (vol. xi. p. I), by Dr. R. Marloth. The question had been raised by what means these parasites were able to penetrate into the epidermis of the Whale, seeing that their base was quite unarmed, their mouth being turned outwards towards the water. Dr. Marloth suspected that the Barnacle possibly secreted some fluid which possessed the power of dissolving the epidermis, and tested this theory by chemical experiment, which he details. This proved that a peptonising ferment diffuses through the basal membrane of the animal, and this fact explains its peculiar structure, as well as that of the skin of the Whale at the infested parts of its head. The young Tubicinella simply dissolves the epidermis with which it is in contact, absorbing the peptonised liquid. As it continually grows at its lower end, it gradually descends in this way into the epidermis, the digesting of the epidermal layers taking place at the same rate as the downward growth.
In the last published Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Glasgow (vol. v. n. ser. pt. iii.), Mr. R. Hedger Wallace has concluded his communication on "White Cattle; an Inquiry into their Origin and History," the first part of which was referred to in our volume for 1899 (p. 41). The author in this instalment has dealt with the historical data relating to his subject, and has gathered considerable evidence pointing to the sacrificial customs connected with White Cattle, such as the erstwhile "Oblations of the White Bull" at Bury St. Edmunds, and the autumnal sacrifices of cattle in South-western Brittany, where at the present day the sacrifice takes the form of an auction, instead of the more ancient burning. Mr. Wallace concludes that this yearly custom in Brittany supports him in the views he has already expressed, "that a study of the folk-lore of this country, coupled with a study of the ceremonials, festivals, and traditions of the church, will afford us a satisfactory explanation why White Cattle have been carefully preserved, so that we yet find them preserved in parks." A most valuable and extensive bibliography relating to the subject is appended to this very thorough publication.
