Feb. 9, 1871] 

blished, viz., G. spintcaudus, G. claripes, and G, tu) r- 
culatus; a fourth, G. Aum7lio, smaller than the other. 
is founded on a portion of alower jaw. Some general 
observations on the osteology of the genus are added. 
The next portion of the work is called “ Fauna Argen- 
tina, Part I., Fossil Mammals.” It commences by a geo- 
logical description of the fossiliferous-region, and then 
follows a list of the fossil mammals of the “ diluvian” de- 
posits, with some remarks upon each, This list coin- 
prises, of Carnivora, Machairodus neogeus, of which the 
museum possesses a nearly complete skeleton discovercd 
in 1844 near Lujan, about fifty miles west of Buenos Ayres, 
A short account of the osteological character of this in- 
teresting specimen is given, and a full and illustrated 
description is promised in one of the future numbers of the 
work. We have also Felis longifrons, Canis protiloprx, 
Canisavus, Mephitis primeva, Ursus bonerensis. With re- 
gard to Marsupialia, it is singular that no remains of this 
group have hitherto been found in the diluvial deposits of 
the region in question, although, as is well known, they are 
not infrequent in the Brazilian caves explored by Lund. 
The list of fossil rodents includes AZyopotamus boneren- 
sis, M. antiquus, Clenomys bonerensis, Lazostomus an- 
gustidens, and Cavia breviplicata. In the Eden‘ata, the 
district is of course especially rich, Notices are given of 
Megatherium americanum, Mylodon giganteus,M eracil s, 
M. robustus, M darwinii, and a plate is devoted to the illus- 
tration of details of the osteology of these two genera, 
especially the hitherto little known sternum, sternal ribs, 
and hyoid bones. Then follow Scelidotherium leplocepha 
lum, S. cuviert, Megalonyx meridionalis, and AM. jefferson’. 
The genus G/yptodon, now divided into several sections, 
is represented by the following species: G. (Panochthus) 
clavicaud tus, G.(P.) tuberciulatus, G. clavipes, G. (Hi plo- 
phorus) asper, G.(H.) elongatus, G. (H.) levis, with several 
species but incompletely known. Numerous details are 
given of the osteo!ogy of these animals, with three plates 
of illustrations, one containing a view of a complete 
skeleton of G. asfer. Under the head of Pachyder- 
mata, the teeth of two extinct species of horse, 2. curvidens 
and £. devillec are described and figured, further notes 
are added on Macrauchenia, together with a complete 
view of the skeleton, and a restored cutline of the animal 
with a slender elongated pendant proboscis, and some 
valuable details are given on the genus 7oxodon, for the 
first knowledge of which, as in the case of A7acrauchenia, 
we are indebted to Darwin’s collection, described by 
Owen. Three species are now distinguished, viz., 7. dur- 
meistert, T. owenit, and 7. darwintt, appropriately com- 
memorating the three distinguished naturalists by whose 
labours the history and affinities of this singular form have 
been made known. Three plates are devoted to the illus- 
tration of this genus. The list concludes with A/astodon 
humboldiii, to the osteology and dentition of which one 
plate is assigned. 
The next and concluding section of the volume 
is entitled “Fauna Argentina, Part I!f., Mammifera 
pinnata.” It is devoted to an account of the marine 
mammalia of the republic. Of tne Pinniped Carnivora, 
Otaria jubata and O. falkl:ndica are mentioned. The 
Manati is stated not to occur in the Argentine rivers. 
The Cetacea are represented by Poxtoporia blainvillit, 
Delphinus microps, D. obscurus, D, cymodoce, Lageno- 
NATURE 


283 


rhynchus cer:tleo-alius, Orca magel’anica, Phocena spini 
sinnts, Globiocephalus grayit, Epioaon austale, Bale- 
nopt-ra boneriensis, E. patachonica, Sibbal ius antarcticus, 
ind Meypiera burmetsteri: 
A very detailed description is given of the external 
characters and anatomy of a newly discovered species of 
Ziphius, named by Dr. Burmeister EZpiodon australe, 
which is not only valuable as being one of the most com- 
plete and fully illustrated accounts we possess of the 
structure of any Cetacean, but especially as the members 
of the particular group to which this one belongs are alle 
exceedingly rare, or, at all events, have a remarkable 
habit of keeping out of the way of naturalists, and, con- 
sequently, are less known than almost any other section of 
the Mammalia. Descriptions, more or less detailed, are 
also given of the following new species :—G/.4i0c-phalus 
grayit, and Ovca mugellan*ca, both founded on cha- 
racters of the skulls, which are figured. The former has 
much larger and thicker teeth than any other members of 
the genus to which it isreferred. Phocena spir tpinnis is 
charac'erised not only by the numerous and regularly 
placed horny tubercles on the anterior edge of the dorsal 
fin (which are a'so frequently found, though in a more 
rudimentary condition, in the European porpoise) but also 
by the peculiar form of that fin, the anterior edge being 
concave, and by the conformation of the skull. 
Not less valuable than the anatomical description of 
Epiodon australe is the article which concludes the work, 
which isa full and excellently illustrated account of the 
external characters and anatomy of a very singular and 
aberrant form of dolphin, hitherto but imperfectly known, 
called Pontoporia blainviliiz, This animal is one of the 
smallest of the Cetacea, being but five or five an] a-half 
feet long when adult. It inhabits the estuary of the river 
Plata and the adjoining parts of the ocean, but it is not 
truly fluviatile, like the AZza of the Amazon and the 
Platan‘sta of the Ganges, to which two forms it presents 
some structural affinities. 
We trust that the brief outline which we have given of 
the contents of the first volume of these “ Anales” will 
be sufficient to show that it is a book indispensable to every 
good scientific library, and, in conclusion, we wish to express 
our cordial hope that the inhabitants and government of 
Buenos Ayres will continue zealously to carry on the 
creditable work they are doing for science in keeping up 
and augmenting their valuable museum, and that Dr, 
Burmeister will long continue to be the exponent of its 
treasures. W. H. FLOWER 


RECENT PETROGRAPAICAL LITEKATURE 
I 
Lehrbuch der Mineralien und Felsartenkunde. Von Dr. 
F. Senft. Jena. (London: Williams and Norgate.) 
HE future historian of Geology who shall describe 
the rise and progress of the science in England, will 
find material for one of his most curious and interesting 
chapters in tracing out the causes which checked thegrowth, 
and finally all but extinguished the very existence of petro- 
graphical study in this country. While in all that relates 
to strat'graphical geolosy, we have kept well ahead of 
other nations, and have been quite abreast of them in 
palzontology, we have allowed petrography, or the study 
