Miscellaneous. 319 
Notice of a Skeleton of the Great Auk found in Guano near New- 
Joundland, By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., &e. 
An almost perfect specimen of the Great Auk (Alcea impennis), in 
a “mummy state,’”’ has been found on an island to the northward of 
Newfoundland, several feet below the surface of a Sept of frozen 
guano. 
With the exception of the extremities of the toes, this example i is 
perfect in every respect. Even the pen-feathers are on the wings. 
The beak is as perfect as on the day the bird died. 
The specimen is on its way to the Zoological Department of the 
British Museum, to which it has been presented by its discoverer. 
I believe this is the third skeleton of this bird in European collec- 
tions: there is one in Paris, and another in the possession of Mr. 
Alfred Newton, which was found also in guano. 
Second Note on the Anatomy and Histology of Branchiostoma lubri- 
cum, Coste (Amphioxus lanceolatus, Yarrel). By M. J. Mar- 
CUSEN*. 
MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 
All observers before M. Quatrefages, and M. Quatrefages himself, 
agreed that the lateral muscles of the Lancelet have fibres with trans- 
verse strize, and this I have been able to confirm; but with regard 
to the abdominal muscles, Miller was the first to indicate the sin- 
gular fact that they have not striated fibres. M. Quatrefages also 
had not seen them, but it seemed to him that these muscles presented 
strize during their contraction. In the muscles of the cirri of the 
buccal apparatus, and indeed of the entire ring, neither Miiller nor 
Quatrefages saw the least trace of strive. Quatrefages remarked that 
the abdominal muscles presented a singular exception, as in the 
entire vertebrate series they are under the influence of the will, and 
in all other forms present strize. I find that this exception has no 
existence. The abdominal muscles of the Lancelet are composed of 
primitive fibres with transverse striz ; and the muscles of the cirri, 
of the buccal ring, and of the fold which separates the mouth from 
the branchial cavity are also muscles with transversely striated fibres. 
The primitive fibres of these muscles are very delicate, which may 
perhaps prevent the striz from being seen unless the animal be 
dissected, especially as, at this point, they have rather the character 
of tendons. Miller thought he saw muscles in the midst of the 
branchial arches ; but I have been unable to find them. 
CONJUNCTIVE TISSUE. 
This is completely transparent and nearly gelatinous, or it pre- 
sents the form of a fibrous tissue in which many elastic fibres are 
found ; the latter may be either long or short. The long fibres are 
met with chiefly in the fin; the short ones, which are recurved at 
* See ‘Annals,’ August 1864, p. 151. 
