244 NATURAL SCIENCE. April. 



It seems that this genus does not bring us anywhere near to the 

 ancestral Lemuroid. Dr. Forsyth Major is of opinion that it was a 

 highly-specialised type, mainly by reason of its tritubercular molars 

 and its small brain. The tritubercular molar has been held by 

 Osborn and by others to be the mark of the primitive Mammalia ; 

 but the author of the paper before us thinks differently. In Mada- 

 gascar this kind of molar occurs in the Viverridae (Carnivora), 

 Centetidae (Insectivora), and Lemuridae. This of itself points to 

 convergence, for the most bigoted adherent of " trituberculism " would 

 hardly insist upon a very close resemblance between these three 

 families. Moreover, each of these three families shows members in 

 which the reduction of the cusps has gone further. The genera in 

 which this occurs show other evidence of degeneration. It is an 

 interesting question whether this ancient and extinct Lemur was 

 contemporaneous with man, as was possible in the case of the 

 ^pyornis found associated with it. The skull examined by Forsyth 

 Major was scratched, as are the bones of the bird, but whether this 

 scratching is due to a sharp-pointed instrument of human manufacture 

 or to the teeth of a carnivorous neighbour appears to be uncertain. 



Carboniferous Insects. 



We learn from a letter in the American Journal of Science (February, 

 1894), written by Dr. Samuel H. Scudder from Paris, that we may 

 shortly expect Mr. C. Brongniart's work on the fossil insects of the 

 Commentry coal. Glimpses of this extremely rich fauna have from 

 time to time been given to the student, and considerable interest 

 naturally attaches to the complete record. The fact that mining at 

 Commentry is carried on in the open air offers the most favourable 

 opportunity for recognising and preserving the fossils. Dr. Scudder 

 writes : " I have had the opportunity of seeing not only a considerable 

 part of the collection, but also the illustrations prepared by M. Brong- 

 niart himself from the choicest specimens ; illustrations made with 

 a care and exactitude which leave nothing to be revised. 

 Leaving the cockroaches out of account, to which M. Brongniart will 

 give his attention later, the number of these illustrations, their 

 variety, the extraordinary character of the insects themselves and 

 their rare perfection, leave not the least room for doubt that when his 

 work appears, our knowledge of palaeozoic insects will have been in- 

 creased three- or four-fold at a single stroke, and an entirely new 

 point of departure for the future opened. No former contribution in 

 this field can in any way compare with it, nor even all former contri- 

 butions taken together. Besides it will offer such a striking series of 

 strange forms as cannot fail to awaken the attention of the least in- 

 curious. One may not enter into details, but mention may simply be 

 made of one species, regarded by M. Brongniart as one of the fore- 

 runners of the dragon-flies, in which the wings have an expanse of 



