ZOOLOGY. 363 



tertained by Mr. Gould that, when explored, it would prove one of the richest 

 and most interesting ornithological districts with which we are acquainted. 

 Among the birds exhibited were some Cotingas, differing from the ordinary 

 species found in the lower countries of Brazil, and remarkable from the splen- 

 dor of their coloring, together with species of Phcenicercus, Rhamphocelus, etc., 

 of the most dazzling brilliancy. As a contrast to these Mr. Gould exhibited 

 a series of dull-colored birds (ThamnopkiM\ also contained in the collection, 

 and remarked that this striking difference in the coloration of birds inhabiting 

 the same locality was due almost entirely to their different degrees of expo- 

 sure to the sun's rays ; the brilliantly-colored species being inhabitants of the 

 edges of the forest, where they fly about among the highest branches of the 

 trees, while the others form a group of short-winged insectivorous birds, 

 which inhabit the low scrub in the heart of the dense humid jungle, where 

 the sun's rays can rarely, if ever, penetrate. Mr. Gould also remarked that 

 the colors of the more brilliant species from the banks of the Ucayali, a dis- 

 trict situated toward the center of the South American continent, were far 

 more splendid than those of the species which represented them in countries 

 nearer to the sea ; and from this circumstance he took occasion to observe 

 that birds from the central parts of continents always possess more brilliant 

 colors than those inhabiting insular or maritime situations. This rule applies 

 even to birds of the same species the tits of central Europe being far 

 brighter in color than British specimens. Mr. Gould had observed a like differ- 

 ence between specimens of the same species inhabiting Van Diemen's Land 

 and the Continent of Australia. He attributed this principally to the greater 

 density and cloudiness of the atmosphere hi islands and maritime countries ; 

 and in farther illustration of the influence of light upon color, he remarked 

 that the dyers of England can never produce tints equal in brilliancy to 

 those obtained by then* continental rivals, and that they never attempt to 

 dye scarlet in cloudy weather. 



NEW GEXEKIC TYPE OF FISHES. 



At a meeting of the California Academy, February 26, 1855, Dr. Ayres 

 presented a specimen of a new generic type among fishes, which has been 

 named anarrhichthys occellatus Ayres. It has a very long body in proportion 

 to its thickness, being nineteen tunes the length of its greatest thickness, thus 

 resembling the eel, but in other respects it is very different. It is very rare ; 

 only two specimens of it have yet been seen. 



