INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR 1872. x lix 



Allen (see p. 321) and Ridgway, with respect to certain coin- 

 cidences of physical characters and geographical range pre- 

 viously indicated in part by Baird. New works have been 

 published or commenced by Coues (see p. 310) and Maynard 

 (see p. 320). Morse has contributed an important mono- 

 graph on the condition of the carpus and tarsus in embryonic 

 birds, and has discovered four bones in each (see p. 336). The 

 anatomy of several forms has been examined by Murie. The 

 important work on the fossil birds of France by A. Milne-Ed- 

 wards (see p. 250), replete also with information respecting 

 recent forms, and data for the amelioration of the system, 

 lias been completed. The fossil birds of this country have 

 been the object of study by Marsh, and a very remarkable 

 form (Ichthyomis) has been announced by him, which, in his 

 opinion, constitutes a new sub-class (Odontornithes). In this, 

 the vertebra} are bi-concave, and the tail was probably length- 

 ened like that of the Archmopteryx. Another noteworthy 

 feature is seen in the skull, which, although possessing the 

 cranial characteristics of normal birds, is provided with armed 

 jaws with conical teeth, as in the pterodactyl. Another spe- 

 cies of fossil birds of the same or an allied genus is also an- 

 nounced by Professor Marsh, together with some that are less 

 peculiar, and more nearly related to more recent types. 



Papers upon the fossil birds of France and of the Masca- 

 rene Islands have been published; and the researches of Dr. 

 Hector in New Zealand have revealed a new fossil from that 

 country, which is supposed to have been one of the Rapa- 

 cious group, of very large size, and fitted, perhaps, for pursu- 

 ing the gigantic moa and its congeners. 



Numerous publications upon birds of various parts of the 

 world, of greater or less extent, have been published dur- 

 ing the year, among them a valuable memoir upon the North 

 American species by Dr. Coues. Several monographs of groups 

 have also been presented to the public, and the average prog- 

 ress has been made generally in this fascinating branch of 

 natural history. 



Among the -Reptiles, important work has been done by Gray 

 for the chelonians, and by Fayrer for the poisonous serpents 

 (Thanatophidia) of India. A memoir by Leydig on the rep- 

 tiles of Germany is also of value. The most interesting fossil 

 type has been made known by Cope, as Protostega yigas, a 



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