G. GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY AND ZOOLOGY. 251 



species and a great number of groups. A remarkable fact 

 here is the occurrence of types no longer known in Europe, 

 such as parrots, the salanganes,swifts, the trogons, the secre- 

 tary bird, marabout storks, flamingoes, etc., recalling more 

 the peculiarities of Central Africa than' those of any other 

 part of the world. 



As might naturally be supposed, the species most abundant 

 are those belonging to the water, their remains being more 

 likely to be preserved. Gallinacea of large size, and little 

 inferior to the peacock, and genuine pheasants, have, how- 

 ever, also been met with. The gypsum beds in the vicinity 

 of Paris have also furnished large numbers of the remains of 

 birds, some of them very different from the modern forms, 

 rendering it necessary to establish quite a number of new 

 groups. 



The many peculiarities observed in the species of this fauna 

 render it a still greater cause of regret that those of the cre- 

 taceous period are unknown, this resulting from the fact that 

 there were very few fresh-water deposits daring that period 

 in which such remains could have accumulated. Could we 

 be more successful in exploring these forms, Professor Ed- 

 wards thinks the immense gap which exists between the 

 Jurassic Arclmopteryx and the typical birds of the present 

 period might be satisfactorily filled up. G Z?, April 15, 1872, 

 1030. 



FOSSIL BIRDS OF THE MASCARENE ISLANDS. 



M. Alph. Milne-Edwards, of Paris, the son of the eminent 

 naturalist of the same name, has been engaged for many 

 years in the publication of a great work upon fossil birds, 

 which he is just about bringing to a conclusion. To this 

 labor he has brought a thorough knowledge of comparative 

 anatomy, and especially that of birds, both recent and fossil, 

 such as perhaps is possessed by no other living naturalist ; 

 and the work in question, although unfinished, has already 

 become a standard and guide to those who are engaged in 

 similar pursuits. 



In a late communication to the Academy of Sciences in 

 Paris, referring to the approaching completion of his book, 

 he makes some general remarks, which contain matter of 

 much interest. In reference to the birds of the Mascarene 



