Miscellaneous. 155 



It is represented by two species — one, Parascaptor leucuras, Blyth, 

 found in Tenasserim and Sylhet ; the other, P. Upturns, Thomas, 

 discovered in China. 



4. The genus Scaptoehirus, which I made known in 1867, con- 

 sists only of a single species, forming part of the collections made 

 in China by the Abbe A. David. It is Scaptoehirus moschontus. It is 

 characterized by the number of premolars, which is reduced to three 

 in each jaw. Its dental formula is therefore — 



I. i=|,C. ;-i, PM. g,M. g, = 40 teeth. 



The investigation that I have just made of various species belonging 

 to these groups has proved to me that, in giving them the rank of 

 genera, we have exaggerated their zoological value, and that they 

 must be regarded only as subgenera. The discovery of a new 

 species, intermediate in its characters between Scaptoehirus and 

 Parascaptor, would indeed suffice to prove this. 



This species was discovered in the neighbourhood of Akbes, on the 

 confines of Syria and Asia Minor, by the Abbe A. David. By the 

 number of its premolars it resembles Scaptochirm and differs from 

 Talpa ; but the form of the molars, the small development of the 

 last premolar, and the narrowness of the face approximate it to 

 the Moles, and especially to Parascaptor. The lower jaw presents 

 an anomaly, which shows how little importance should be attached 

 to the number of the small incisiform teeth, including the true 

 incisors and the canines. In fact, on the right side there are four 

 of these teeth, and on the left side we can only count three ; so 

 that, on the right, the arrangement of the anterior teeth is that of 

 the Common Mole and of Scaptoehirus, while on the left it is iden- 

 tical with that of Mogera. 



I have named this species Scaptoehirus Davidianus, to recall the 

 name of our learned Correspondent ; it differs very little in its aspect 

 from the European moles. Its size is smaller, an adult male indi- 

 vidual only measuring 0-12 metre ; the tail is short, its length 

 being 0-02. The muzzle is pointed ; all over the body the hair is 

 thick, velvety, and of a grey colour, approaching black. The habits 

 of this animal are the same as those of our mole ; but it is com- 

 pletely blind ; the eyelids do not open, but extend over the globe of 

 the eye, the dimensions of which are much reduced, as in the Italian 

 Talpa ca'ca. — Comptes Rendus, December 29, 1884, p. 1141. 



Biological Evolution of the Aphides of the Genus Aphis. 

 By M. Lichtensxein. 

 I have at various times brought before the Academy the evolu- 

 tional cycle of various Aphides of the tribes Phylloxerinse and 

 Pemphiginse, and have indicated, in the case of the latter, curious 

 migrations from the galls of trees to the roots of grasses. Recently, 

 in the ' Comptes Rendus ' of November 10, 1884, I described the 

 biology of the maple Aphis ( Chaitophorus aceris), which, without 

 quitting the tree on which it was born, passes three months under 

 an anomalous form, benumbed in a lethargic slumber, only to become 

 developed towards the autumn and produce sexual individuals. 



