ccii GENERAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



The structure of the central nervous system of the turtles 

 and of the axolotl has been elucidated by Dr. Stieda in 

 Siebold and Kolliker's Zeitschrift. 



The Crocodilia are divided by Professor Huxley into three 

 sub-orders, as follows: 1. JParasuchia, containing the genera 

 Stagonolepis and Belodon ; 2. Mesosuchia, with the genera 

 Steneosaurus, Pelagosaurus, Teleosaurus, Teleidosaurus, 3fe- 

 triorhynchus ( Goniopholis f Pholidosaurus ?) ; 3. Eu&uchia 

 (Thoracosawus, IIolops, and recent forms). 



In last year's Record we announced the discovery of the 

 crocodile by the late Professor Wyman in Florida. During 

 the past year M. Hornaday has published an article on this 

 animal in the American Naturalist^ with figures of the head 

 and skull. A large male measured fourteen feet in length ; 

 its mate, a female, ten feet eight inches. It is regarded by 

 the author as a new species, for which he proposes the name 

 Crocodllus Floridanns. 



Another link in the chain of evidence showing the affin- 

 ities of the birds with the reptiles a subject engrossing the 

 attention of comparative anatomists is afforded by fresh 

 studies by Professor Morse on the "intermedium" bone of 

 birds. Last year he found this bone in the tern. During 

 the present year he ascertained the presence of this bone in 

 the petrel, sea-pigeon, and eider-duck. This additional evi- 

 dence showed beyond question the existence of four tarsal 

 bones in birds, as well as four carpal ones. In making these 

 investigations he had also discovered embryo claws on two of 

 the fingers of the wing the index and middle finger. Here- 

 tofore in the adult bird a single claw only had occurred in a 

 few species, such as the Syrian blackbird, spur-winged goose, 

 knob - winged dove, jacana, mound bird, and a few others, 

 and in these cases it occurred either on the index or middle 

 finger, or on the radial side of the metacarpus. All these 

 facts, he claims, lend additional proof of the reptilian affin- 

 ities of birds. 



By far the most important discovery proving the reptilian 

 affinities of birds was the discovery in 1872, by Professor 

 Marsh, of birds with veritable teeth in sockets in the jaws, 

 much as in reptiles. Professor Marsh now fully describes and 

 figures these bird-skulls and teeth, and proposes the term 

 Odontomithes for the new sub-class, with two orders : Ich- 



