1872.] Biological Notes. 133 
On these and other grounds the author considers that the order Lemuride 
must be removed from the Simiade, and placed in close affinity with the 
Carnivora. 
The embryo of Macropus major, the giant kangaroo, has been carefully 
studied in situ by Professor Pagenslecher, and we extra@ the following 
remarks from his article in the “‘ Verhand. des Naturh. Vereins zu Heidelberg,” 
as translated in a late number of the “‘ Annals of Natural History :”— 
‘The left tube contained an embryo, although no yellow body was to be 
recognised in the ovary. The very vascular decidua separated pretty readily 
from the walls of the tube, except a few stronger vascular adhesions. The 
chorion had no connection at all with the decidua, so that it slipped quite 
easily out of the envelope. The embryo was exactly of the size and maturity 
of the specimen of which Owen says that it was born thirty-eight days after 
copulation, and which he has figured. It was enveloped in the amnios. The 
length from the snout to the extremity of the tail was about 4 centimetres. 
“ Nothing was to be observed in the way of a preparation of the median sac 
for the further retention and nourishment of the ovum, nor anything of a pre- 
paratory dilatation of the lateral passages. 
**In the ventral pouch the left teat was much longer than the right one; but 
whether from previous sucking or as a preparation I cannot say. 
** In comparison with other embryos that of the giant kangaroo is very con- 
siderably inferior to an unborn rabbit or a newly born ferret; its size agrees 
pretty closely with that of an unborn mouse. 
“In this comparison the small development of the hinder extremities is 
remarkable. Whilst on the fore feet the five toes are very distin@ly formed 
even to the claw tips, the hind feet resemble a short-stalked fin, slightly 
notched into three lobes; the inner lobe is again scarcely perceptibly divided 
to correspond with the ultimate number of toes. This imperfection of a sub- 
sequently most important pair of limbs, in contrast with the perfection of a 
pair which are afterwards much weaker, is doubtless in accordance with the 
general law, according to which early completion of form limits growth. 
“In the anatomy of the adult animal it may be interesting to mention the 
existence of a long but fine ductus Botalli, showing that even before birth the 
formation of the partitions of the heart arrives at the same completeness as 
in placental mammals.” 
‘Professor Cope, of Philadelphia, has recently visited both the Mammoth 
and the Wyandotte Caves, and has studied the forms of life occurring in each. 
As the inhabitants of the former have been often described, we shall merely 
give his list of the latter, with his remarks on their peculiarities and mode 
of life. 
““VERTEBRATA.—Amblyopsis, sp. (blind fish.) 
“ ARTICULATA.—Insects: Anophthalmus Tellkamp fii (beetle); Anophthalmus, 
No. 2 (beetle); Staphylinide, sp. 1 (beetle); Staphylinide, sp. 2 (beetle) ; 
Phalangopsis, sp. (crickets); Flies: 2 species. Spiders: (beetle); Avanea- 
like, Ofilio-like. Centipedes: Pseudotremia, sp. 
“‘Crustacea.—Astacus pellucidus (blind crawfish) ; aquatic species with egg- 
pouches external ; Lern@ide, species parasitic on blind fish, 14 species. 
“The blind fish is very much like that of the Mammoth Cave; and dire& 
comparison will be necessary to determine any difference if it exist. It must 
have considerable subterranean distribution, as it has undoubtedly been drawn 
up from four wells in the neighbourhood of the cave. Indeed it was from one 
of these, which derives its water from the cave, that we procured our specimens; 
and I am much indebted to my friend N. Bart. Walker, of Boston, for his aid 
in enabling me to obtain them. We descended a well to the water, some 
twenty feet below the surface, and found it to communicate by a side opening 
with a long, low channel, through which flowed a lively stream of very cold 
water. Wading up the current in a stooping posture, we soon reached a 
shallow expansion or pool. Here a blind crawfish was detected crawling 
round the margin, and promptly consigned to the alcohol-bottle. A little 
