Vertebrata. Zoological Collections, 45 



The only difference which exists between the oviduct of the axoloti and that 

 of the salamander is, that in the former this organ has no thickening or swell- 

 ing in the form of a uterus posteriorly ; the oviduct of the salamander, on the 

 other hand, has its parietes uniformly thickened from one end to the other. 



From these data we have the general result, that the structure of the genito- 

 urinary organs of the axoloti differs from that of the neighbouring genera, and 

 that in this respect alone it may rank as a distinct genus in the systems of the 

 animal kingdom. (Meckel's Archiv.) — Bull, des Sci. Nat. xxi. 476. 



The Dugong — The head and tail of a dugong has recently arrived in Edin- 

 burgh from Singapore, as a donation from G. Swinton, Esq. to the Royal So- 

 ciety. The thoracic and abdominal organs are on their way in another vessel. 

 "We shall thus soon have it in our power to determine the relation between the 

 ■sex and the development of the tusks, according to the view suggested in a pre- 

 ceding number of this Journal. 



It is due to Mr. Swinton that we remark how great a service he has rendered 

 to science, by the trouble he has at various times taken to extend our knowledge, 

 by furnishing us with the means of investigating the structure of rare or unknown 

 animals of Eastern climes. 



Hood of the Crested Sea Lion (Phoca cristata.) — M. Rapp is of opinion that 

 the hood which is placed on the forehead of the Phoca cristata, and which is 

 susceptible of considerable distention, must be considered as a reservoir of air to 

 supply the wants of the animal whilst it is in search of food beneath the water. 

 This hood, situated before the osseous part of the nasal fossse, is nothing more 

 than the fleshy portion of the nose highly developed, and so organized as to be 

 capable of great dilatation ; it is internally divided into two parts by a membran- 

 ous partition, which is a continuation of the osseous septum. "When the disten- 

 tion of the hood takes place, the external nares, which pierce it anteriorly, are 

 closed by means of proper sphincter muscles, and then the air, driven by the 

 lungs through the posterior nares, fills the hood, and gives it the extraordinary 

 dimensions which it has been seen to possess. {MeckePs Archiv.) — Bull, des 

 Sci. Nat. xxii. 101. 



Original Country of the Golden Pheasant (Phasianus pictus.) — Since the 

 time of Buffon, the golden pheasant has been supposed to come originally from 

 China, but upon what authority is unknown. M. Bureau de la Malle has re- 

 cently determined the true country to which this beautiful bird belongs, and in 

 which it is even now found in the wild state. 



A passage in Pliny (Hist. Nat. x. 67. Tom. I. p. 569. Ed. Hard.) notices 

 this bird by a characteristic feature, which has been overlooked by naturalists, but 

 which cannot be mistaken. The golden pheasant has on each side of the head, 

 beautiful orange-yellow feathers, which curve into a sort of conch or ear, and 

 which are susceptible of voluntary motion. The common pheasant does not 

 possess this ornament. Now Pliny expressly says : " Phasiance in Colchis ge- 

 minas ex pluma aures submittunt subriguntque.^^ The country of the bird is 

 thus fixed. It is Colchis or Mingrelia, wherefrom also we have the common 

 pheasant, whose name is derived from Phasis, the principal river of Colchis. 



The assertion of Pliny has been confirmed by M. Gamba, French Consul at 

 Tiflis, who has seen and hunted the golden pheasant in the chain of the Caucasus, 

 where large flocks are found in company with the common pheasant. — Ann. des 

 Sci. Nat. xviii. 274. 



Sexual characters of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda.) — M. de Rochebrune has 

 remarked that Buffon, and all ornithological writers who have followed him, have 

 been mistaken in supposing that the male of the great bustard is distinguishable 

 by certain peculiar ornaments, such as the moustaches, or tuft of feathers, at the 



