126 Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 
X. ZOOLOGY AND ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY, INCLUDING. 
MICROSCOPY. 
Tue Boston Society of Natural History have issued the subjects for 
the Walker prizes, viz. Annual prizes of sixty and fifty dollars ;—sub- 
ject for 1865-66: “ Adduce and discuss the evidences of the co- 
existence of man and extinct animals, with a view of determining 
the limits of his antiquity ;”’—for 1866-67: “ The fertilization of 
plants by the agency of insects, in reference both to cases where this 
agency is absolutely necessary, and where it is only accessory.” 
There is also a grand honorary prize for 1870, to which the sum 
of 500 dollars may be awarded, for such scientific investigation or 
discovery in natural history as they may think deserving thereof, 
provided such investigation shall have first been made known and 
published in the United States of America. In case the merit of 
the investigation or discovery be extraordinary, the Council may 
award 1,000 dollars. 
Mr. J. G. Shute has made an interesting communication to the 
Boston Society of Natural History, upon the method of transference 
of the new-born marsupial into the maternal pouch. It was seen 
by him to take place in the case of the opossum (didelphys yirgi- 
nica). 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 drawn down, by contraction of the muscles, so as to receive the 
young when delivered. The young ones were seven in number, 
and the time occupied in the delivery 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 Mr, Shute removed one, by detaching it from the teat, 
in order to ascertain if the movement of the foetus was instinctive. 
He found that it was at least partly voluntary, as it made an effort 
to regain its place in the pouch; and the same movement was made 
on the part of the parent to receiveitas at first. He did not notice 
any use of the lips or limbs of the parent during the transfer. 
The Rey. Professor Haughton, who lately made some ctrious 
researches into the anatomy of the leg of the ostrich, with a view 
to discover the secret of its singular movements, has carried on his 
observations by examining the hind-leg of the crocodile. To this, 
he says, he was incited by the late Professor Gratiolet, who assured 
him he should find in it a problem, exceeding in complexity that 
presented by the leg of the ostrich. In the Annals of Natural 
History he details the description of the muscles, and finds the 
prediction of the anatomist fully borne out. The interlacing of 
the muscles in the thigh and leg of the crocodile is, he says, very 
