206 Miscellaneous. 



the centrum ; this is also the case with the Cretaceous serpent. 

 When we examine the vertebra) from above, the costal tubercle 

 appears immediately outside of and a little behind the diapophysis, 

 reminding us of what is seen in Acrochordus. The process of the 

 neural spine is united to the diapophysis by a slightly excavated 

 line. The neurapophysis is robust, and the neural spine broad, 

 tolerably high, and flattened at its upper margin, which must have 

 given attachment to a powerful ligament ; this neural spine occupies 

 the greater part of the length of the centrum, as in the Crotalians. 

 The inferior surface of the centrum is flattened, which recalls the 

 vertebra of the Amphisbaeniaus ; we may also recognize the absence 

 of any hypapophysial tubercle, as in the Tj^phlopians, which, as is 

 well known, form the passage from the Ophidians to the Saurians. 



The Cretaceous serpent, at present the most ancient known 

 Ophidian, presents such manifold analogies that it is not possible 

 to refer it to one rather than another of the great divisions accepted 

 for existing snakes : it indicates the existence as early as the 

 Cenomaniau epoch of a peculiar genus, which we propose to name 

 SimoUophis, giving the species the denomination S. Rocliehriini, from 

 the name of the zealous naturalist to whom the discovery of this 

 interesting type is due. — Gomptes liendus. Oct. 18, 1880, p. 671. 



On some Arctic Holoihurida. 

 By MM. D. C. Danieissen and J. Koren. 



Among the Holothurida obtained by the Norwegian arctic expe- 

 dition of 1878, the authors notice some new forms, and indicate 

 certain points in the synonymy of previously described species. One 

 of the former is described as the type of a new genus under the 

 name of Kolga Jn/alina, the generic name being derived from that of 

 one of the daughters of the goddess of the sea in the old northern 

 mythology. The genus belongs to Thoel's family Elpididse, and is 

 characterized as follows : — 



Genus Kolga, g. n. 



Body bilateral. A buccal disk, furnished with ten tentacles, 

 turned towards the ventral surface. Anal aperture on the dorsal 

 surface (near the posterior extremity). On the anterior part of the 

 back a projecting collar, furnished with papillge. Just in front of 

 this (and usually concealed by it) are two apertures, one for the 

 generative organs, the other for the stone-canal. Feet on both 

 sides of the body and around its posterior extremity. Sexes sepa- 

 rate. No intestinal appendages (lungs). 



Kolga hyalina, sp. n. 



Body 50 millims. long, 15-20 high, and 12-15 broad. Back very 

 convex ; on the collar six transversely arranged papiUse, of which 

 the two middlemost are the longest. Sixteen long, thick, almost 

 retractile feet, five on each side and six around the posterior end. 

 Skin of the body diaphanous. Tentacles five-lobed, each lobe 

 trifid. 



Hab. Station 295, 71° 59' N. lat., 11° 40' E. long., at a depth of 

 1110 fathoms, temperature — 1°-3 C.,in BilocuUna-ooze; Station 303, 



