Miscellan eous. 339 



body and of various parts. It is scarcely necessary for me to point 

 out that differences of this kind, although easy to see, are sometimes 

 difficult to express in words. 



It is true that in the males of Molge the specific characters, espe- 

 cially at the breeding-season, are considerably more prominent than 

 in the females ; moreover, they catch the least practised eye, and I 

 readily admit that it is extremely difficult to escape from the beaten 

 path of many systematists and to strike out a new way in order to 

 preserve the conception of the species. The fact is that the males 

 of Molge possess a pronounced tendency towards variation, and that 

 this inclination expresses itself especially in the development of their 

 nuptial characteristics ; while the females exhibit isolated instances 

 of variability, in general possess a limited capacity for seasonal 

 variation, rather incline to the preservation intact of their primitive 

 characters, and in consequence of this, moreover, check rather than 

 facihtate the development of the specific type. 



Cases of dimorphism in the one sex are known in our species of 

 Molge. Molge vulgaris, L., and var. oriental'is vel meridionalis are 

 forms which are distinguished solely by the difference in the nuptial 

 equipment of the males ; and it almost appears that in the ease of 

 the males modifications of the nuptial dress occasion the dimorphism 

 of that sex, and that this dimorphism may lead to the formation of 

 two species. On the one hand a nuptial dress, a tendency of the 

 males to varj-, and a dimorphism of the male sex in the spring give 

 rise to specific characters which are obvious, although sometimes 

 temporary, while on the other a want of special nuptial characters 

 and an absence of the impulse which leads to variation produce 

 females which remain almost alike and of similar aspect. Owing to 

 this circumstance the attempt to draw up a series of characters 

 which shall be really serviceable, permanent, and common to both 

 sexes is fraught with unusual difficulty. 



The following table will perhaps induce those who are interested 

 in tlic subject to take up for themselves the question which has been 

 raised and to lend us their aid and advice. It is absolutely neces- 

 sary that we should at last bo able to satisfy ourselves as to the 

 reasons why this jwst nuptias male must be called Molge Boscai rather 

 than M. Montandoni and why that female is termed M. palmata. 



Table for the Determination of the Species. 

 I. The strongly developed process of the frontal 

 unites with the squamosal or its anterior 

 process, and constitutes an ossified, or partly 

 cartilaginous, partly bony, arch bridging over 

 the orbit. 

 A. An unpaired septum cartilagineum nasi arises 

 from the othmoidal plate, and extends as far 

 as the inferior opening of the cavum inter- 

 nasale. 



Vomero-palatine rows of teeth extend- 

 ing beyond the choana; anteriorly. M. Waltli, IMichali. 

 Vciiii('ro-]);ilatiuf' rows of teoth not 



extending beyond the choanoc. ... M. asperii, DugiYs. 



