Miscellaneous. A473 
To sum up. The Yerebripore and Spathipore constitute a very 
natural group, of which the species are probably very numerous. 
The interest which it presents is increased by the evidence of its 
existence during the whole series of secondary and tertiary deposits. 
I arrange the family Teredriporide in the order of Cheilostomatous 
Bryozoa, side by side with the Hippothoide. The latter family is 
composed of the true Hippothoe (H. divaricata, patagonica, &c.) 
and the new genus Cercaripora, Fischer, established for the reception 
of Gtea truncata, ligulata, argillacea, &c.— Comptes Rendus, April 
30, 1866, pp. 985-987. 
On the Systematic Position of the Lepidosirens. 
By Professor W. Prrers. 
The author recapitulated the external and internal characters 
which he considers to prove the piscine nature of the genera Lepido- 
siren and Protopterus, and then indicated the circumstances which 
appear to be opposed to the union of these animals with the Ganoids, 
as recommended some years ago by Gill (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 
1861, pp. 13 ef seg.) and more recently by Brandt (Bull. Acad. 
St. Pétersb. 1865, p. 139). He remarked that the distinctions of 
the six subclasses of fishes established by J. Miller were to be sought 
chiefly in the central organs of the circulation and respiration, and 
that, according to this view, the Lepidosirens differ essentially from 
the Ganoidei (without taking into consideration the structure of the 
auricle and the valves of the aorta) by the absence of a muscular coat 
in the base of the aorta, and by the form of the laminar branchie, 
united to each other as far as the middle and destitute of cartilaginous 
supports. 
In opposition to the opinion put forward by Dr. Steindachner, 
that the external branchiz of Protopterus are of importance only 
during the embryonal and earliest periods of life, it was shown that 
these organs increase in size even after the animals have attained a 
reproductive age (at less than + métre in length), and that, if they 
are found quite aborted in very old individuals, this cannot be re- 
garded as a normal, but only as an individual occurrence. This is 
the more probable, as the branchize are wanting on the left side of a 
specimen only 4 métre in length in the Berlin Museum. The author 
further indicated that, even if external branchiz similar to those of 
Protopterus were to be discovered on Lepidosiren, the composite 
structure of the paired fins of Rhinocryptis (Protopterus) would 
remain as an essential difference between the genera.—Monatsber. 
Berl. Akad, Wiss. January 11, 1866, pp. 12, 13. 
Remarks on some Bones of the Dodo (Didus ineptus) recently col- 
lected in the Mauritius. By Aupu. Mitne-Epwarops. 
Some months since, in draining a small marsh called the Mare 
aux Songes, Mr. George Clark, of Mahébourg, discovered therein a 
considerable number of bones of the Dodo. ‘These benes were sent 
