Miscellaneous. .'}07 



author. It is distinguished by its very long and thick coat, the 

 hairs of which are grey at their base and silvery yellow towards 

 the i)oint ; the latter colour predominates on the limbs, the beUy, 

 and the sides of the face, and is mingled with a very brilliant red 

 tinge on the frontal region. The upper margin of the nostiils is 

 much developed, forming a true nose. 



Two species of Inscctivora form the types of new genera. One 

 of these seems to be a transition form between the Desmans and the 

 Shrews ; like the former it has the posterior feet dilated into nata- 

 tory pallets, and its tail is long and laterally compressed ; but its 

 snout is short, and its teeth resemble those of Sorex. It has sixteen 

 teeth in the upper and twelve in the lower jaw. To this animal the 

 author gives the name of Nectogah elegans. The second form is 

 nearly allied to the Shrews, but is distinguished by having scaly feet 

 and a tail so short as to be concealed by the hairs ; it has only 

 twenty-four teeth, twelve above and twelve below. For this genus 

 the author proposes the name of Aaourosorex. A mole, named Talpa 

 lonr/irostris, is characterized by its very elongated muzzle, which 

 gives it a certain resemblance to the Japanese T. moof/ura. The 

 latter has only six inferior incisors ; the new Thibetan species has 

 eight. 



The most interesting animal is one called by the Abbe David 

 Ursus melanohucus. The author states that it is not a bear, although 

 resembling one in its external appearance, but in its osteological and 

 dentary characters it approaches the Pandas (Aihiriis) and Raccoons. 

 It forms a new genus, for which the name of Ailaropoda is proposed. 

 The author also notices a fine Fl5dng Squirrel, which has the head 

 and breast covered with a mixture of bright-red and white hairs. 

 He names it Pteromys alhorufus. — Comptes Eenclus, February 14, 

 1870, tome Ixx. pp. 341-342. 



On the Transformation of the Nests of the House-Martin (Hirundo 

 iirbica, Linn.). By M. A. Pouchet. 



M. Pouchet has noticed a change in the design of the nests of the 

 common House-Martin, which he says has been cfFcctcd within the 

 last forty years, and the observation of which leads him to think 

 that the notion of the exact persistence of the same mode of ncst- 

 building is by no means so certain as has generally been supposed. 

 He refers to several instances in which we may presiime that a 

 change took place on the birds of certain species quitting the open 

 countrj' and coming to take up their abode among human habitations. 



"With regard to the House-Martin, M. Pouchet states that, having 

 procured some nests in order to draw them, he was surprised to 

 find that they diSered considerably from those which he had collected 

 forty years ago, and which are still preserved in the Museum at 

 Rouen. A reference to published figiu'cs of the Martin's nest fur- 

 nished further evidence of the same kind. 



The nests of the older form are hoUow quarters of hemispheres 

 apphed by three sections to the embrasures of windows or to the 



