Miscellaneous. 75 



to detect it within the perfected Purkinjean corpuscle, not only 

 corresponding to the nucleus of the remaining unossified cartilage- 

 cells in granular structure, but also in its measurements. After the 

 Purkinjean corpuscle has been formed a short time, the nucleus dis- 

 solves away or disappears. 



The newly-formed Purkinjean corpuscle is about the same size as 

 the remaining unossified cartilage- cells, as indicated in the list of 

 measurements appended to these notes. 



Size of cell of temporary cartilage from the unossified os frontis 

 of a human embryo, yg 1 ^ of an inch ; nucleus of ditto, jj2j of an inch ; 

 nucleolus, ^557 of an inch ; Purkinjean corpuscle, ys^j of an inch ; 

 nucleus within the same, -^q-^q of an inch. — Proceedings of the Aca- 

 demy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. iv. p. 116. 



MODE OF PROGRESSION WITH ANIMALS. 



It has been noticed by nearly all naturalists, as one of the pecu- 

 liarities of the Giraffe, that it moves the two legs on the same side 

 of it together ; I have however noticed that most other animals walk 

 in that manner, although few run so; among others I will mention the 

 following as verifying my observations : — the Camel, the Lion, the 

 Tiger, and Leopard, and all animals of the Felidae, the Wolf, and 

 Hyaena, and all the canine race. 



Sometimes I have observed the same peculiarity in the Horse and 

 Ass, though rarely ; the Camel runs so ; the other animals which I 

 have mentioned, I have never observed to walk in the usual manner. 



W. A. Pike. 



Descriptions of new species of the genera Nyctale, Brehm., and Syco- 

 bius, Vieill. By John Cassin. 



Genus Nyctale, Brehm. Handb. Nat. Vbg. Deuts. p. 111. 



Nyctale Harrisii, nobis. 



Front, face, nuchal collar, and under surface of the body yellowish 

 white, or buff colour. 



Spot between the eye and the bill, and a broad occipital band, 

 black, the latter covering the greater part of the hind head. 



Feathers covering the ear black. 



Throat with a few black feathers, and many of the feathers of the 

 ruff on the front neck conspicuously tipped with black. 



Upper surface of the back and wings deep reddish brown ; wing- 

 coverts with conspicuous round spots of white ; all the quill-feathers 

 also irregularly marked and spotted with white on the edges of both 

 webs ; scapulars largely edged with white and buff. 



Upper tail- coverts brown, spotted with white. Tail black, with 

 about three pairs of rounded white spots on every feather. Tarsi 

 thickly feathered to the toes, and with the whole under surface of 

 the body buff colour. 



Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 1\ in. ; 

 wing, 5| ; tail, 2f . 



Hab. South America ? 



The specimen now described was obtained from Mr. J. G. Bell, 



