.504 Short Communications. 



is larger, exceeding that of the latter nearly one line in length, 

 and about half a line in breadth.* It is also more sparingly 

 punctured on the upper parts, and so is likewise the thorax. 



The elytra, as before stated, are much broader (having the 

 proportion of ten to eight), less convex, the lateral margins 

 are more distinctly recurved, and the minute pointed tu- 

 bercles (which are observed on the elytra of both species) are 

 not quite so distinct, nor do they extend so far inwards as in 

 M. maxillosa. The disc of the elytra is smooth, rather glossy, 

 and has a pitchy hue. — G. B. JVatcrhousc. Aug. 19. 1837. 



Bridlington Tertiary Deposit {Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. viii. 

 p. 355.) — " The Bridlington crag bed remains in the same 

 state, and many years may pass away ere any portion of it be 

 again laid bare." — William Bean. Scarborough, Aug. 7- 

 1837. (Extract from a Letter to the Editor.) 



Notice respecting Bhea Darwinii Gould. — We observe, 

 by a letter which lately appeared in one of the French 

 scientific journals, that M. D'Orbignv claims the right of 

 having first described the Rhea brought home by Mr. 

 Darwin from South America, and which Mr. Gould named, 

 a few months since, R. Darwinii. It appears that D'Orbigny 

 gave it the specific appellation of R. pennata, but in his 

 letter he does not refer either to his published characters, 

 or to the specimen which he examined. 



Literary Notice. — Dr. Andrew Smith has just obtained from 

 the government a grant of money to enable him to publish 

 the whole of the zoological drawing s made during the late 

 expedition into Africa, and which are now included in the 

 exhibition of the South African Museum, Egyptian Hall, 

 Piccadilly. In consequence of this, an arrangement is being 

 made with the intended publishers (Smith and Elder, Corn- 

 hill), by which the public will obtain the work at one fourth 

 or fifth of the actual cost price, the government grant defray- 

 ing the whole expense of engraving the plates. A grant, for a 

 similar purpose, has also been made to Charles Darwin, Esq., 

 who brought to this country, after the voyage of the Beagle, 

 such an immense addition of species in different branches of 

 zoology. In our next Number we shall probably be able to 

 furnish our readers with more definite information as to the 

 plan which will be adopted in carrying the above objects 

 into effect. The works will, of course, be quite distinct. 



* I am now comparing the new species with two specimens (of different 

 sexes) of the M. maxillosa ; these, however, have been selected by me 

 from a number of individuals of that species, and with which they agreed 

 very closely. 



