594i TUE liATUEAL HISTOET REVIEW. 



LIII. — MlSCELLATs^EA. 



1. The teansfee of tue Maesupial Tcetus ii^to the mateenal 



POUCH. 



The mode in wliich the young Marsupial is transferred after 

 birth into the pouch of its mother, has been often discussed by- 

 Naturalists, but, from the great difficulties encountered in attempting 

 observations on this point, has hitherto remained, to say the least 

 of it, obscure. From the following notes, communicated by Mr. 

 James Gr. Shute to the Boston Society of Natural History, it would 

 appear that that gentleman has succeeded in witnessing the operation 

 as performed by the American Opossum (JDideljphys Virginiana). 



" During the delivery of the young, the parent lay upon the right 

 side with the body curved in such a manner as to bring the vulva 

 nearly opposite the mouth of the pouch, which was opened, or draw^n 

 down, by contraction of the muscles, so as to receive the young when 

 delivered. The young were seven in number. The time occupied 

 in the delivery was about four hours. The parent remained in the 

 same position about thirty-six hours, and refused all sustenance. 



" Immediately after the transfer of the young to the pouch, I 

 removed one, by detaching it from the teat, in order to ascertain if 

 the movement of the foetus was instinctive. I found that it was 

 at least partly voluntary, as it made an eftort to regain its place in 

 the pouch ; and the same movement was made on the part of the 

 parent to receive it as at first. I did not notice any use of the lips 

 or limbs of the parent during the transfer." — Proc. Boston, Soc. 

 N. H. ix. p. 332. 



2. The cause of submeegence dueing the Glacial Epoch. 



Prof. Eamsay has recently sent to the " Eeader" the following 

 letter addressed to him by Mr. James Croll, observing that the sug- 

 gested theory " not only throw^s a great deal of light on the mean- 

 " ing of many well-known observations, but is fertile in future 

 " results." 



Glasgow, August 22, 1865. 



I send you a fcAv lines on a subject on which I know you feel 

 very much interested. It has been found both in Europe and in 

 America, or, in fact, wherever there have been any records left of 

 the glacial epoch, that a general submergence of the land followed 



