52 NA'IURAL SCIENCE. Jan.. 



Fischer, is poor m species but rich in individuals. Favoured by 

 abundant marine vegetation, the species so numerously represented 

 attain relatively gigantic dimensions. Seven species occur, one of 

 which, Magellania fontaineana, Davidson held to be only a synonym of 

 M . venosa. The French conchologists consider it distinct, and as 

 still inhabiting the littoral. It is found fossil in Chili, and Tevebvaiella 

 cruenta occurs in far distant New Zealand. A close similarity, it is 

 evident, exists between the brachiopodal fauna of the Magellanian 

 province, where the species are practically colourless, and the bright- 

 hued forms of the Novo-Zealandian. The rich colouring is regarded 

 as an adaptation to the brilliant marine vegetation. The Kerguelen 

 islands occupy an intermediate position, both as regards geographical 

 situation and specific distribution, although the temperature of the 

 bottom currents is identical with that of Tierra del Fuego. The fauna 

 of the Magellanian province differs radically, alike from the Boreal 

 and from that of the Tasmanian region, which is linked by its charac- 

 teristic Kraussinoid types with the Cape of Good Hope, and connected 

 with the Kerguelen islands by the occurrence of the same genus, a 

 species of which abounds in the latitudes of St. Paul's islands. 

 Fishes seem to be ardent collectors of Brachiopoda. Two specimens of 

 Magellania venosa were found in the stomach of a cod in New Year's 

 Sound. Terehvattilina septentrional is occurs frequently in the same 

 situation off the banks of Newfoundland, and a much rarer species of 

 the genus was originally described from a single specimen taken 

 under similar conditions from a fish captured at a depth of 80 fathoms 

 off the Mauritius. 



A detailed comparison of the Austral species leads Messrs. 

 CEhlert and Fischer to confirm the hypothesis " of the existence of 

 an extended but hitherto little-known Arctic and circumpolar fauna." 

 In a short paper, just issued, the authors summarise the results of 

 their observations " On the evolution of the brachial apparatus of 

 certain Brachiopoda " (6), and present a tabular view of the affiliation 

 of the Magellan^. They suggest the subdivision of the genus into two 

 sections, differentiated by distinct lines of development and by the 

 characters of the adult species. By their original and well-executed 

 researches they have added considerably to our knowledge of the 

 distribution and generic evolution of the recent Brachiopoda. 



REFERENCES. 



1. Fischer, P., and (Shlert, D.-P. — Brachiopodes provenant des campagnes 



de I'Hirondelle en 1886, 1887, 1888. Bnil. Soc. Zool. France, vol. iv., p. 118, 

 1890. 



2. Sur la repartition stratigraphique des P.rachiopodes de mer profonde, 



recueillis durant les expeditions du Travailleur et Talisman. Comptes 

 Rt'iuhis.. July, i8go. 



3. Expeditions scientifiqiies du Travailleur et du Talisman, Brachiopodes, 



4to, 8 pis., 1891. 



