292 Gironicles of Science. [April, 



perfect state. Another genus of Myriapocls (Xylohius SigiUarix) 

 has been described by Dr. Dawson, from the Coal-shales of the (South 

 Joggins, Nova Scotia,* and since by Mr. AVoodward, from the Coal- 

 fields of Hnddersfield and Glasgow. f 



A still larger form, named EiqyJioheria major, resembling the 

 fossil from Coalbrook-dale, described by Mr. Salter as Euryiderus 

 (Arthrojjieura) ferox,X has been discovered in the Iron-stone Coal- 

 measure nodules of Grundy County, Illinois. 



A very well-preserved Scorpion — named by them Eoscorinus 

 carbonarius — is figured and described, which in structure closely 

 resembles the Scoijno Eurojpieus, now living, save that the dorsal 

 plates of the thoracic segments appear to be narrower than in the 

 living form. How vast is the measure of the life-time of this 

 species of an-breather of the Coal-period, whose descendants, appa- 

 rently unchanged in form or organs, are li"sdng now in America, 

 Europe, Africa, and Asia, and. even Australia, and the fossil remains ' 

 of which have now been discovered in the Coal-measures of Bohemia 

 and North America. A second form of Scorj^ion, but very unlike 

 any recent genus — named Mazonia Woocliana — is also recorded. 

 Whether it had a long and slender abdomen, hke the ordinary 

 Scoijyio, or — like Clielifer and Thehjphonus — the abdominal seg- 

 ments are coalesced, cannot readily be determined until more 

 perfect remains have been discovered. 



A supplement by Mr. Samuel H. Scudder gives figures and 

 descriptions of eight genera and ten species of fossil insects from 

 the coal of Illinois. As most of these new genera are established 

 on very fragmentary evidence, they should be dealt with leniently ; 

 but beyond the fact, which they well establish, that Insect-life was 

 rife in the Coal-period, they do not prove the presence of special 

 families of Insects quite to the satisfaction of the Entomologist. 

 We do not intend, however, by this to disparage the value of 

 Mr. Scudder 's labours, as we are well aware of the difficulties he 

 has to contend with in his researches. 



The Australian papers have shown, from time to time, that the 

 Legislative Assembly of Victoria was in a very unsettled state of 

 mind upon most questions of internal policy which it was called 

 upon to discuss, and the Ministerial party seemed usually to be m a 

 minority, whichever side happened to be in office. The stopp.age of 

 supplies was a favourite method of carrying on political war, the 

 paid officials thereby sufiering temporary inconvenience for the sake 

 of their leaders. 



But that this learned body should, in its wisdom, decide that 

 the Geological Survey of the Colony of Victoria — conducted thus 



♦ See ' Quart. Journ. Geo!. Soo.,' vol. xvi., p. 2G8. 



t Sec ' Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasgow,' vol. ii., j). 234. PI. III. 



X 'Quart. Journ. Gofil. Soc.,' vol. xix., p. 84, Fig. 8. 



