104 Historical Sketch of Improvements in [Aug. 



new membrane in the eye, which is pubUshed in the volume for 

 the year 1819, p. 300. 



Magendie still continues his zootomical inquiries with great 

 7eal. He has lately given a note on the mesenteric nerves of the 

 green woodpecker, picus viridis. — (Bull, des Sciences, 1819, 

 p. 119.) 



ZOOLOGY. 



Type I, VERTEBROSA. 



Class I, Mammalia. 



In the Journal de Physique, Dr. Leach has pointed out the 

 pjsneric differences that exist between the Black and the Jxed 

 Orang-otans. The first genus, Mimetes, Leach {Chimpnnse), 

 the nearest animal to man, has no intermaxillary bone ; it has 

 the last joint of the great toe perfect ; and has the ligamentum 

 suspensorium of the thigh bone. The type is Simia Troglodytes. 

 The second genus Pithect;s {Orang-ola)i),\iz.?, an intermaxillary 

 hone, but wants the last joint of the great toe, as well as the 

 saxspensotory ligament of the thigh bone. Simia Sati/rus, of 

 Linne, is the type of this genus. Specimens of both these 

 genera have lately died in London, and are preserved in the 

 lloyal College of Surgeons. 



GeoftVoy St. Hilaire, who has written several dissertations on 

 the classification of bats, has this year discovered a new genus, 

 which he has named Glossopliaga. It belongs to one of the 

 groupes, having leaf-like processes above their nostrils. The 

 tongue is long, slender, and capable of extension. Four incisors, 

 two canines, and six grinders, in each jaw. He mentions four 

 s^pecies. The type of the genus is Vespertilio soracinus of Pallas. 



Rafinesque has this year commenced a work entitled " Annals 

 of Nature," in which he has described one new genus of bats 

 named Eptesic/is, characterized by four acute incisors in the upper 

 jaW;, which are placed in pairs, being separated by an interval 

 and by a flat wart. The outer tooth on each side is largest, and 

 is unequally biped. Six lower incisors, equal in size, set close 

 together and truncated. Canine teeth long, shai'p, and curved. 

 Grinders unequally trifid. Nose simple. Ears distant, with 

 auricuke. Tail mucronate. Of this genus, he describes two 

 apecies. 



Of his old genus of bats, Atelapha, he has likewise described 

 a new species. 



Dr. Leach has sent two papers to the Linnean Society on 

 seven new genera of bats ; but as the volume is not yet printed," 

 we must defer our notice of it till a future period. 



In the Annals of Nature, Rafinesque has described a new 

 species of Mephitis; a new Spalax; two new species of 

 Gerbim.us; one new Cricetus; three new Lemni ; and one 

 ) ew SciURi s. 



Mr. Old has established a new genus of the natural family 



