414 Miscellaneous. 



veloped by the author ; but the preceding passage may suffice to in- 

 dicate his general opinion on this knotty subject. The remainder 

 of the book is devoted to a consideration of the principles of classi- 

 fication, and a discussion of the boundary between animals and 

 plants. Wo look forward to the publication of the second part of 

 Prof. Pagenstecher's book, and recommend it with confidence to the 

 notice of the readers of the 'Annals.' 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Organic Remains in the Metamorphic Rocks of Harris. 



To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 



Gentlemen, — It may interest the readers of the 'Annals ' to know 

 that we have recently discovered evidence of life in the so-caUed 

 " Laurentian Rocks " of Harris, in the Hebrides. The specimens 

 in question are as clearly organic in their nature, and as weU pre- 

 served in their minute structure, as is the case with Silurian or 

 Devonian fossils of an analogous structure (such, for example, as 

 Stromatopora). At present we have merely made a preliminary 

 microscopic examination of the specimens ; and we simply wish, 

 therefore, to draw attention to the fact, so interesting in view of 

 recent discussions, that unequivocal organic bodies occur in such 

 ancient deposits as the lowest metamorphic rocks of Harris. We 

 may add, however, that the specimens are little altered, the skeleton 

 of the fossil being calcareous, apparently dolomite, and exhibiting all 

 the minute details of its structure ; whilst the chambers are filled, 

 as so commonly in organic remains from younger deposits, with 

 transparent silica. Finally, though apparently differing from it in 

 important respects, we believe that our specimens wiU contribute 

 powerfully to the solution of the controversy which has been of 

 late years carried on as to the true natui'e of Eozoon. 



We remain. Gentlemen, 

 Yours faithfully, 



H. Alleyne Nicholson, 

 James Thomson. 



Reproduction of Amblystoma. 

 By M. Blanchard. 



The Mexican Amblystoma, the adiilt form of the axolotl, has just 

 deposited eggs for the first time in the menagerie of the Museum. The 

 fact is of considerable importance, as it does away with the ideas 

 which have arisen with regard to the sterility of adult Batrachia 

 which displayed extreme fecundity while they remained in the con- 

 dition of larvae. 



The researches of M. Aug. Dumeril upon the axolotls will not be 



