52 NATURAL SCIENCE. JAN., 
Fischer, is poor in 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 Tevebratella 
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 
Magellamia venosa were found in the stomach of a cod in New Year’s 
Sound. Tevebvatulina septentrionalis 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. 
QGéhlert 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 Magellane. 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 C£hlert, D.-P.—Brachiopodes provenant des campagnes 
de |’Hirondelle en 1886, 1887, 1888. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, vol. iv., p. 118, 
1890. 
Sur la répartition stratigraphique des Brachiopodes de mer profonde, 
recueillis durant les expéditions du Travailleur et Talisman. Comptes 
Rendus. July, 1890. 
3. —————_ Expéditions scientifiques du Travailleur et du Talisman, Brachiopodes, 
4to, 8 pls., r891. 
i) 
